Hey Fans!

I was listening to some local sports radio this morning and they were discussing Don Mattingly’s appearance at a charity event the night before. What I found interesting was he discussed the end of his playing career and it did not align with how I previously understood it.

I know he hurt his back in ‘87 and dealt with a degenerative condition ongoing from that point. He still came off very good seasons in ‘92 and ‘93 and a borderline great season cut short by the strike in ‘94 to have a very poor season in ‘95. He did not play in ‘96 and officially retired in ‘97.

My understanding was always that the poor ‘95 season was a result of the back injury becoming unmanageable, he spent ‘96 trying to see if his body would recover with rest, and when it didn’t he ultimately retired in ‘97.

At this event he apparently spoke about how his injury was in fact absolutely manageable and he retired not because of the injury but because he wanted to spend more time with his family. If not for that he would have played for several more years.

Is this common knowledge that I somehow missed out on? In my head I had always made a direct connection between his injury and retirement a la Kirby Puckett.

C: Jorge Posada

1B: Don Mattingly

2B: Bobby Richardson

3B: Graig Nettles

SS: Frankie Crosetti

LF: Charlie Keller

CF: Bernie Williams

RF: Roger Maris

SP: Ron Guidry

RP: Sparky Lyle

Anyone else you’d rather have?

And let’s say fans do this, start a GoFund me, will that money count towards the luxury tax?

Look, hear me out, I know Yankees have the highest yearly revenues in the MLB, they had $679m in 2023. But this is clearly still not enough money to build a good team.

Hal and Cashman want to spend less to make more profit from their high revenue? No problem, with a GoFund me, they won’t even have to spend a penny.

Yes, I am aware that us fans already have a sort of GoFund me by buying merchandise all year round, tickets, and food. And teams make money of off sponsorships and broadcasting rights. But it’s clear the Yankees need more money to win another World Series. Hal’s broke ass can’t compete with the Dodgers or Mets. We’re really just going to let the National League sign all the good players and we’ll just pick up the scraps and leftovers like Goldschmidt, or what everyone’s been asking for, Nolan Arenado? That’s what we’ve come to, thirsting for declining has-beens while the NL gets all the young prime players?

Let’s do this!

How do you think the fans will react if he’s there? Could this case potentially get him banned from the Stadium for life?

Last I read his post-surgery stuff just did not have it, so he was demoted. Could be that he will never be his pre-surgery self again? When he was healthy his stuff was filthy, with the numbers backing him up.

Edit: if his arm is gone then how did he do this?

"In 2024, in the minor leagues Effross pitched 32.1 innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and three innings for the Tampa Tarpons.[21] Combined, he was 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 29 relief appearances covering 35.1 innings, in which he had an 0.997 WHIP.[21] For the Yankees, he pitched only 3.1 innings, in which he gave up three hits and two earned runs."

Honestly it is what it is. Maybe we get Stroman off the books and / or make a trade but it feels like this is where we’re going to be as spring training starts. Fingers crossed one of the Waldos or Jorbit Vivas turns a damn corner and is playable.

First things first I like the Fried deal, but if you're asking me if I would've rather had Frided at 8 years 210 million or Willy Adames at 7 years 182 million I'm choosing Adames because it solves third or second base and gives you defense and athleticism and we already have a decent rotation. But I digress I still vote the Fried signing. Cashman has had 3 months to find an adequate third baseman via trade or free agency and we have a complete goose egg. People Waldo and DJ are below 90 wRC+ hitters. They're not even league average.

Look I know there are many reasons to be frustrated with the front office and team right now, but overall we've had winning teams since 1996. There have been a lot of things to love - so what have you loved about being a Yankees?

 ”They did a good job,” Jeter said of the team's offseason so far. “You always want to try to improve your team. I’m sure you ask anyone in the organization, they have improved as a whole. The great thing about playing for the Yankees is pretty much every season you have an opportunity to get to the postseason."

“And they made it to the World Series last year,” Jeter added. “Obviously, they fell a little bit short. But now they’re retooling and getting ready for this season.”

He later said, "It’s the strongest organizations that win. It’s not necessarily the strongest roster at the major league level because there’s injuries and people come and people go. I think right now, the Yankees are in a good spot, just like a few other teams.”

Roster as of Jan 30. My analysis:

Aichael Mrias
Blayton Ceeter
BB JTrubaker
Cerrit Gole
Coansy Rontreras
Cake Jousins
Cernando Fruz
DLSerry Ye Yos Yantos
Ecott Sffross
Fax Mried
Guis Lil
Goendrys Yómez
Han Iamilton
Lark Meiter Jr.
Lonathan Joáisiga
Rarlos Codón
Slarke Cchmidt
Sarcus Mtroman
Will Warren
Wuke Leaver
Wevin Dilliams
Wllan Ainans
E.E. JCscarra
Resus Jogriguez
Wustin Aells
Cswaldo Oabrera
Cazz Jhisholm Jr.
Gaul Poldschmidt
LL DJeMahieu
Pswald Oeraza
Ren Bice
Vorbit Jivas
Vnthony Aolpe
Body Cellinger
Dasson Jomínguez
Grent Trisham
Jaron Audge
Pverson Eereira
Siancarlo Gtanton

Next Yankees Game: Fri, Feb 21, 01:05 PM EST vs. Rays (22 days)

^^^Posted: ^^^01/30/2025 ^^^06:36:22 ^^^AM ^^^EST

Mine was,Aaron judge hit close to a 500 foot home run vs blue jays.

Passan and Kay touched on this yesterday, but didn’t put the pieces together. Manfred wants to create a revenue sharing system with the TV deal to help smaller markets who are struggling with regional sports networks due to cord cutting.

Although I doubt the owners would ever enact anything like the NFL where it’s split evenly across all teams any revenue sharing is really going to hurt Hal.

The reason the Yankees can consistently have high payrolls is because they generate far more revenue than any other team (yes even the Dodgers). Big reason for that is the Yes network. If that gap gets closed you have to wonder if Hal considers selling. Hal is obviously incredibly wealthy, but he can’t spend with Cohen and the Dodgers if his revenue advantage is mitigated.

Think about it….Cohen is out spending Hal without even owning SNY. Imagine if he gets a piece of Yes.