George and Hal Steinbrenner: How The Apple Falls Far from the Tree

Hal Steinbrenner says he’d consider all options if the New York Yankees don’t qualify for the postseason in 2015.

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“It would be horrible not to make the playoffs three years in a row,” Steinbrenner told the New York Post. “We’d be embarrassed. So anything (firings, etc.) would be on the table, yes.”

Does that mean Baby Boss would like to shake up the organization just like dad used to? Not so much.

"We are at the beginning of the season, no one is on a hot seat right now," Steinbrenner said. "I am absolutely comfortable with [general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi]. Nobody wants to hear me whine about it, but what Girardi dealt with the last two years with injuries. I think he has done a good job, given two abnormal years [for injuries] that I hope doesn't happen again. As far as Cashman, I think he made some great trades [last] July. That certainly went into my thinking [in re-signing the GM this past offseason]. But more importantly he is a smart guy. I like the people he has under him."

Hal is more laid-back , more compassionate than his win-at-all-costs dad. 

George had the attitude of getting rid of staff members if they didn't get the job done.

Joe Torre won four world series and he was constantly pressured with his job being on the line. 

The loss of Yoan Moncada has really left Yankee fans bitter. The fan base was really hoping for the young talent. With stars like Jose Abreu and Jorge Soler emerging, Yoan Moncada represented the Yankees' potential jump into the Cuban market right now. Three private workouts and a $25 million offer later, he's heading for Boston. Moncada would have boosted the Yankees' farm system to one of the top farm systems in baseball. Incidents like this make it easy for the fan base to lose trust in Hal and Hank Steinbrenner. Big Stein would have never let the Yankees get outbid by a measly $5 million, especially when bidding against their rival team.

Does Hal lack the desire to win or is he too nice? Either way, he should learn from what his dad did to win championships.

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

Yoan Moncada: Why the Yankees Didn't Get Him and How It Might Hurt Them

Switch-hitting Cuban sensation Yoan Moncada, just 19, will be playing his future home games at Fenway Park because the Yankees reportedly did not want to spend an extra $9 million. 

After months of speculation and rumors, the auction for Yoan Moncada's services has ended and the Red Sox have signed the Cuban prospect for about $63 million in total bonuses and penalties. People had initially blamed Brian Cashman for for not signing him, but it seems that he couldn't Hal Steinbrenner to get any higher than $32 Million. 

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Image Credit: bostonglobe.com 

The days of the blank checkbook seem to be over the Yankees. 

The Yankees clearly have the money and financial might to acquire a player in that dollar range, so seeing the Steinbrenners place a hard cap on bidding is quite illogical. This all under the assumption that Hal did in fact place a cap, which is not obvious, so we may never know the truth. If the front office's dollar value estimation was at all higher than their rival's bid, then this strategy is not only illogical, but largely damaging to the long-term health of the club. 

The Yankees, under GM Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family without George, spend most of their time figuring ways to pay less luxury tax and scheming for angles to avoid paying Alex Rodriguez bonus money on a contract they stupidly agreed to extend back in 2007.

When they fell to last place in the AL East during the lost summer of Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox took a fire hose to both the manager’s office and the roster, and stormed back to win the World Series in 2013. Now, after again finishing last in the AL East in 2014 at 71-91,they’re again positioned to make significant hay in the division. They played it smart in July, dealing away most of their rotation and jump-starting the rebuilding process toward 2015. Then this offseason, the acquired Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, which will greatly boost both their offense and defense. 

The Red Sox have acted wisely in order to revamp their team. The Yankees, however, have been less than efficient in rebuilding their team. They could learn a lesson from the Red Sox in the art of wheeling and dealing. Boston formed a team that all the teams in the AL East will struggle greatly against- especially the Yankees. 

Yoan Moncada’s talent is unquestioned, and he would have immediately bolstered a lackluster Yankees farm system that desperately needs a boost. That bonus money would not count against the Yankees’ salary number, and would get them a high-end player that they would control for years to come at a reasonable yearly salary. The Yankees might not have access to that type of player ever again.

Not only did Boston acquire a five-tool, 19-year-old infielder who has been the talk of baseball all winter, the Yankees failed to acquire young talent- which they desperately need- and let the talent fall into the hands of their rivals.

Brian Cashman made a mistake on Monday, one that he might regret in a big way in a few years. Hopefully, Moncada will not pan out the way people thought, and the Yankees will have made the right choice. 

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

Why Brett Gardner Should Be the New Face of the Yankees

During Derek Jeter‘s career, he was the undisputed face of the New York Yankees. He was “The Captain," he was a leader and he was a respected player around baseball. But with Jeter retiring, the Yankees need someone to represent the team. That player should be Brett Gardner.

He has spent his entire eight-year career with the Yankees. Gardner did exhibit leadership qualities while Jeter was out for the 2013 season and did so again even with Jeter on the team last year. 

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The New York Yankees produced the third worst offense in the American League last season, but Brett Gardner was not a part of the problem, at least not until August. Gardner enjoyed one of his better overall statistical seasons in the Bronx and solidified his place atop the Yankees batting order with an amazing first four months. 

This season Gardner, who's signed through 2018 and coming off abdominal surgery, will start the year in left and likely lead off. Last year he popped 17 home runs while his average dropped nearly 20 points from 2013. Will the power surge continue? Sure, the Yankees will take 17 home runs again, but if he can steal bases like its 2011 and get on base at a higher rate than last year (.327 on-base percentage, a career-low), well, the home runs can shrink in the name of more production elsewhere.

A .265/.340/.415 line with 50+ extra-base hits is not out of the range of possibilities given a full season of plate appearances. There is still plenty of upside in Gardner’s abilities at the plate. Gardner’s importance to the lineup cannot be understated. The Yankees offensive success starts at the top with Gardner leading the way. Further, much like Ellsbury, Gardner might need to be at the top of his game for an entire season to make up for the possibility that the aging middle of the lineup cannot turn things around as hoped.

Homegrown players have an obvious financial impact on a baseball team, and successful player development is surely the easiest way to build a roster without having to enter the murky waters of free agency. But beyond all that, homegrown players who stick around build common ground with the fan base. They create an easy connection. They spark loyalty.

Christine O'Connor

Are the Yankees in Pursuit of Yoan Moncada?

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @ChristineeeeO

Image Credit: yahoo.com

Late in the Hot Stove season, James Shields suddenly has some company. In fact, given the rules surrounding international signings, young Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada might wind up costing teams more than Shields, the veteran free-agent pitcher whose unemployment continues to confound the baseball industry.

On Tuesday, an industry source confirmed, Major League Baseball officially revitalized its rules for Cuban refugees, making the 19-year-old a free agent once he signed an affidavit affirming he won’t be returning to Cuba. 

The Yankees are among the clubs that already have worked out Moncada in the United States, at their complex in Tampa last month.

According to an American League team’s talent evaluator, who opined on the condition of anonymity, Moncada is “an exceptional talent,” a switch-hitter with power from both sides and all five tools.

A second evaluator from a different AL team noted Moncada’s “great body” — Baseball America lists him as 6-feet and 210 pounds — and athleticism.

There is debate over what his best position is. He has played second base primarily but also played some shortstop and center field last season in Cuba, the publication reported.

Naturally, the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers are among the rumored teams to have interest in signing the player whose services could command up to $80 million.

Moncada would be the latest Cuban player to make an immediate impact at the big league level--the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman, and Yoenis Cespedes in Oakland and Boston have all had serious impacts upon arriving stateside. Moncada is allowed to sign as soon as he wants.