Friday Afternoon Linkapalooza: 8/2/13

My buddy from work is hosting an all-day pig roast at his friend's bar in Milwaukee tomorrow.  $10 all you can eat.  Not conducive at all to having to write West Coast game recaps.  Consider that my pre-explanation for why there won't be one on Sunday.  Now onto the links!

- On Tuesday, William Juliano of The Captain's Blog mused on Bud Selig's history of pursuing baseball's best interests and how that has all led up to his unfair singling out of Alex Rodriguez in the Biogenesis case.

- Mike Axisa of RAB discussed the Yankees putting themselves into the "no man's land" position I touched on earlier in the week thanks to their questionable roster construction/payroll management plan.

- Dan Dechenaux of Yanks Go Yard paid tribute to Hideki Matsui on his retirement day.

- On Wednesday, Rebecca Glass of This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes looked back on one of A-Rod's greatest Yankee moments, one she'll never forget regardless of how his Biogenesis punishment comes out.

- Chad Jennings of LoHud weighed the options the Yankees had with Phil Hughes at the deadline.  We know now that they chose to hold him.

- Vizzini of NoMaas made an impassioned and very practical argument for why the Yankees should have traded Robinson Cano before the deadline.

- SG of RLYW used updated postseason projections to argue against the Yankees taking a buyer's position at the deadline.

- On Thursday, Michael Brown of Pinstriped Bible discussed the role timing played in the Yankees' inactive deadline, and how they might be better off because of it.

- Michael Eder of IIATMS/TYA pointed out the biggest weakness Cash displayed in handling the roster this season, both before and at the deadline.

- Steve Lombardi of Was Watching reviewed David Robertson's previous closing experiences to question whether he was the right fit for Mo's successor.

- On Friday, el duque of It Is High... took a very interesting stance on the whole A-Rod/Yankees/MLB situation and how it should or shouldn't affect our fandom.

- Daniel Burch of The Greedy Pinstripes riffed on the "Cash or Steinbrenners" decision debate and argued that not much has really changed when it comes to ownership gets the final say.

- Chris Mitchell of Pinstripe Pundits talked up Ivan Nova's big turnaround in performance since returning to the rotation.

This week's jam is more new stuff, this time from Pearl Jam.  I finally caught "Mind Your Manners" on the radio the other day.  Didn't even realize it was out and as usual it's some pretty good rock and roll.  PJ might be the most consistent rock band of the last 25 years.  Even if they didn't knock it out of the park, you could always count on their stuff to be good.



Enjoy your weekends, everybody.

AB4AR "Best Of The Month" Awards: July 2013

July 2013 was basically a tale of 2 mini-seasons separated by the All Star break.  The Yankees went 9-5 pre-ASB in a stretch that started off with 6 straight wins, and then just 5-7 after the break in a key stretch of games that left them doing little more than treading water in the playoff race.  Still, 14-12 overall is a better month than June and they aren't completely buried yet.  A trade deadline addition and the return of a few key veterans has the lineup looking better as we move into August.  Here's a look back at the highlights of the last month.

C-Grand Brings Respectability Back To The Lineup

(Courtesy of MiLB.com)

(Originally published at IIATMS/TYA)

Barring any really unforeseen setbacks in the next few hours, all expectations are that Curtis Granderson will rejoin the Yankees and return to the lineup this weekend.  He wasn't in the Double-A Trenton lineup yesterday and Josh Norris reported that he was off to rejoin the team in Cali.  There was no formal confirmation or announcement by the team - they were basically on media blackout yesterday with the A-Rod stuff still hanging out there - but I can't imagine they would give up a day of rehab ABs for C-Grand if they and he were confident he was ready.  Personally, and I don't think I'm alone here, I'm hoping to see him back tonight.

Whether it's tonight or tomorrow, the return of Granderson to an already upgraded lineup should bring that lineup up out of the "upgraded" category and back to a level more befitting of a competitive Major League team.  While "good" would still be a bit of a stretch, these boys should now be at least respectable against both righty and lefty pitchers.

Last Time On "As The Quads Strain"...

Alex returned to the field yesterday, in a simulated game somewhere near the team's Tampa complex.  Shielded from the media, he got 6 at-bats in and also played the field and ran the bases.  The team announced plans for his next rehab assignment, which he is scheduled to start today in Double-A.

Meanwhile, things off the field were getting just as hot (and even heavier) than the action on the field.  After early reports came out that A-Rod and his team of lawyers were working with MLB on a plea deal, Joel Sherman reported last night that those talks were off and his team was back on the plan to appeal any suspension handed down.  T.J. Quinn of ESPN reported later last night that the settlement talks had stalled between A-Rod and MLB based on the amount of games he was willing to accept and his desire to recoup at least some of his remaining contract.  Obvious sticking points for both sides, so it doesn't sound like there's a deal to be made there.

Is A-Rod making a deal?  Is he not?  Will the suspension be announced today?  Will he appeal?  Will we ever see him in a Yankee uniform again?  And how much champagne is ownership putting on ice for the celebration of not having to pay him next year?  Find out next time on "As The Quads Strain."