Wednesday will mark the 100 year anniversary of Babe Ruth’s first major league homer, as Ray Cavanaugh of the New York Post writes. In 1915, Ruth, then playing for the Red Sox, took Jack Warhop deep to right in the top of the third inning. Ruth also pitched the complete game that day and reporters of the day were already picking up on his potential. Wilmot E. Giffin, journalist for the New York Evening Journal, said of Ruth: “When he is not pitching, they can use him for an outfielder and pinch hitter. In these days of efficiency he is the ideal player.” Here’s a look at the Yankees in 2015..
- Alex Rodriguez deserves to cash in on his home run milestone, Bob Klapisch of the Boston Herald opines. However, Klapisch hears from sources that the Yankees’ hierarchy is convinced that they have an airtight case against paying A-Rod for his accomplishment. Last night, GM Brian Cashman confirmed that the Bombers will not pay Rodriguez his home run bonus. Of course, the final determination will be made by an arbitrator if Rodriguez appeals.
- Josh Hamilton’s free agent deal stands as the worst contract ever, leaving Rodriguez’s ten-year, $275MM free agent pact with the Yankees in the dust, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The Yankees didn’t get their moneys worth on the whole but they did get something out of Rodriguez unlike the Angels who essentially gave Hamilton $105MM for two years.
- Yankees homegrown talent Dellin Betances is the real deal for the Yankees, Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News writes. Through 13 appearances this season, Betances has yet to allow an earned run.
My man-crush on Dellin has reached unhealthy levels. My girlfriend has started to worry…
Just reassure her you’d still give him up for Mike Trout.
I met him at an autograph signing in NJ when he was still in the minors. He was a very nice guy talkative.
Congratulations Lupica for catching on to what the rest of us noticed within the first month of last season. Yes Betances is a really, really good player.
Dellin Betances is a beast! Another name to look out for is Carson Smith. Haven’t allowed an earned run yet in his career.
Did it really take this long to find out Betances is absolutely filthy? Yes, he’s the real deal, despite taking a bit to lock in his command this year. He makes batters look absolutely lost at the plate. He quickly became one of my favorite pitchers in the league.
Yeah, wasn’t he on the All-Star team last year?
I don’t know that Hamilton’s deal or A-Rod’s deal with the Yankees are worse than A-Rod’s deal with the Rangers, the Chan Ho Park deal with the Rangers or Choo’s current deal with the Rangers. I know the money is higher, but in terms of production for the dollar…
I don’t think you can complain with A-Rod’s contract with the Rangers. He was a fantastic player with them.
Yep. Three years of 8+ WAR for them. Plus they got Soriano, who had a couple of decent seasons before getting traded as well.
I just hope the Red Sox don’t have to face Betances or Miller tonight and win the game.
Betances won’t be because he won’t get used 3 days in a row, miller is available though
Hamilton is the worst contact ever? Mike Hampton, Ryan Howard, Vernon Wells, and maybe Barry Zito all strike me as much worse for their teams
LA still owes Pujols $175mm.
I can’t really call that a bad contract when you take into account the 2 billion dollar tv deal the Angels signed almost right after signing Pujols. Production wise definitely a bad deal but business wise it was still a great deal.
In that case, Hamilton was signed after the $2b TV contract, so that makes his a good contract too, as it was less money than Pujols got.
What does a TV deal had to do with a player contract being good or bad?? So just because the Angels have money it’s ok for them to throw it around?
So far, Hamilton’s deal with the Angels looks great compared to Choo’s deal with Texas.
The Yanks knew who and what Alex was when ARod opted out of his contract and the NYY choose to come after him with an incredible NEW contract in spite of his age. Same thing with CC Sabathia as well. The fault lies with the Yanks and I suspect the arbitrator will rule for Alex.
This has nothing to do with his age. This is a marketing contract and not a performance contract. Look at the details before commenting as people dont seam to understand what this means. This was a celebratory type of bonus and there was ZERO marketing on this home run #660 and there will be ZERO marketing on any further ones.
As I said in another post, none of us have read that contract and it’s up to the arbitrator to decide if the Yanks owe him or not for these “marketing” bonuses.
I guess Sherman hasn’t looked at Pujols’ contract yet.
The Angels’ still owe him $175mm and will be paying him for the next 16 years.
Pujols is still producing for the Angels where Hamilton not only is not producing for them, but “helping” another team
The Yankees have an unbelievable 8th and 9th inning pitching duo. Both of them post a 0.00 era.
The yanks other three setup guys have been very solid so far as well.
I DO NOT RESPECT THE YANKEES for making such a stupid comment while this team is trying to have an unexpected winning season