[OOTP17] A Yankee never changes his Stripes!

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 06:58 AM

NEW YORK YANKEES
A Yankee never changes his Stripes!

Game Setup:
OOTP 17
Standard 2016 MLB Game
Manager / GM Mode

Note: Apologies that this is another Yankees dynasty. Ive been setting up my game and writing up the 'pre-game' stuff over the past couple of days and then noticed that they are quite popular.

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 07:04 AM

The Shoestring Yankees?
Not quite, but new approach raises questions rather than answers

Above: Chapman will have to wait for his 'Pinstripe' debut, as he faces 30 games on the sidelines due to his recent suspension

(NY) - The Yankees are now 6 years removed from being World Champions, alas its just 1 crown in 15 years as arguably the grandest of all baseball teams remains in transition.

2016 promises to see in a wind of change, gone are the days of spending over the odds to acquire anyone worth a dime, infact the Yankees appear to be re-tooling their organisation and taking a different route to what they hope will be Championship number 28.

Those cynical enough to know the Yankees may well point to an already bloated payroll that dwarfs many of their peers, but with contracts expiring and a new generation of players making the headlines, the Yankees appear to be placing themselves in the queue to compete once more.

The recent off-season saw the team acquire Starlin Castro, Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman in their most notable moves (the latter currently serving a league wide suspension). A frugal attempt at putting together a team capable of making the playoffs, whilst keeping an eye on the upcoming 2018 free agency market that could well include some of the headline names in the league today.

Joe Girardi once again retains the reigns and its his job to mold and inspire some of the new blood, alongside a gaggle of veterans who have seen it all before. Success has been easy to buy, but are the Yankees patient enough to build for it this time round?

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 07:14 AM

Yankees Ready!
Girardi positive; Yankees to rely on consistency

Above: Can Girardi inspire his team to a 28th World Series Championship in 2016?

(NY) - With Spring training in the books, the Yankees today announced their 25 man roster to open up their 2016 campaign. Joe Girardi faced the press and remained upbeat about the teams chances.

"Its been a good workout for us, we have added some fresh faces, retained some experienced guys and have a resilience about us that we kind of lacked in our loss to Houston last year"

He added "We will be looking at Tanaka to pitch for us on opening night, Castro will fit into second and you can fill in the pieces around that. Everyone knows that seasons are not finished in April, Championships cant be won or lost, but a good start sets the right tone and thats our focus"

Many Yankee fans will still be wondering if the team should have gone deeper in free agency trying to sign up David Price or Jordan Zimmerman to anchor their rotation. However the frugal approach may pay off for this team, with large contracts expiring and exciting free agent classes coming up in 2017 and 2018, it may well be a case of positioning the team ready for a real run in a few years time.

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 07:15 AM

New York Yankees 25-man Roster:

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 11:20 AM

The Yankees in April 2016:

A crazy yet wonderful month for the Yankees as they surpass expectations by racking up 19 wins, to just 4 losses. Their league best winning percentage of .826 puts them 5 games clear of the pack in the AL East, with no sign of things slowing down.

New York won all but 1 of their series (losing 2 from 3 at the Trop'), sweeping Detroit, Seattle, Oakland and Texas en route to the 19 wins. Included in those were an 11-0 shutout of the Tigers, that saw Sabathia complete the game, fanning 10 and giving up just 2 hits. Whilst Pineda pitched a CG shutout in the 4 zip win over the Mariners, striking out 8.

By the Numbers:

At the plate the Yankees have thrived, Teixeira has joined the 400 club, as he leads the team with 7 dingers, closely followed by Chase Headley on 6. Alex Rodriguez continues his chase toward 700, by slugging 4 over the fences.

The team sits 5th in the AL with a .261 BA, whilst their 35 HR and 123 runs scored puts them 3rd in the offensive category.

On the mound its a similar story, not only have they seen Sabathia and Pineda pitch complete game shutouts, but the teams 2.53 ERA helps them lead the AL. With just 62 runs allowed and 200Ks on the board, the Yankees pitching staff is the dominant factor in the league thus far.

Individual Highlights:

C.C. Sabathia and Michael Pineda have pitched complete game shutouts this month

Mark Teixeira joins the 400 club with a long ball at home to Seattle

Masahiro Tanaka leads the team with 34Ks, whilst Pineda tops the charts with his slender 1.24 ERA

Teixeira leads the team with 7HR and 17RBI through April

Starlin Castro has made his mark in his Yankee debut season with 3 triples and a .305AVG

Aaron Hicks goes 5-5 against Seattle with 1HR and 2RBI

Roster News:

Brett Gardner has been placed on the DL due to recurring back spasms. He is likely to miss all of May and is slated to return mid-June. Puerto Rican Deibinson Romero has been called up, as he hit .389 at AAA Scranton, a move that will see Dustin Ackley cover as the 4th outfielder.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 12:48 PM

The Yankees in May 2016:

An up and down month for the Yankees as although they add .5 to their division lead (now 5.5 over Baltimore), the team suffered 13 losses, going 16-13. Things did start brightly with the team opening the month 7-1 thanks to back to back sweeps of Baltimore and Boston, but a 2-6 finish to May dampened spirits slightly.

Problems began to mount when Rodriguez suffered a strained quadriceps, leaving him on the DL for 5 weeks, a big hole for the offense to bridge. Things continued to motor along nicely for Teixeira, now on 15HR for the year, whilst Headley and McCann have also notched double digits.

Michael Pineda again pitched a gem, going all 9 without giving up a run against Oakland, however overall the staff has struggled, seeing the team ERA to balloon to 3.28, whilst the team has given up 36 home runs in May compared to 19 thru April.

By the Numbers:

Carlos Beltrans struggles are beginning to become an issue for the team as continues to hit just over .250, slugging just 4 long balls in the process. Alongside that, Didi Gregorius is running cold as he struggles to hit .200, although he has managed to drive in 20 runs. Positives thrive through the power hitting combination of McCann, Teixeira, Headley and Rodriguez who have combined for over 40 of the teams home runs.

Pineda remains the teams highlight on the mound as his 4-1 record encompasses the 2 shutouts and a 2.66ERA, eclipsed only by Severino (2.53). On the backend of that, Sabathia is showing more signs of his age, relying on run production to dig him out of a few holes, as he pitches to a 4.04 ERA thru 10 starts. In the bullpen Andrew Miller has 15 saves but looks shaky on a 3.70ERA, in contrast to Dellin Betances who has been solid as the teams setup man (23.1IP / 37K / 1.93 ERA)

Individual Highlights:

Pineda hurls his 2nd complete game shutout in the win over Oakland

Mark Teixeira continues to hum along nicely, leading the team with 15HRs and 31RBIs

Ellsbury (leading off in replacement of Gardner) has notched 7 stolen bases in May, improving on 0 from April

Luis Severino comes to the fore as the team 'ace, leading the team with a 2.53 ERA, 6 wins and 60 strikeouts

Alex Rodriguez is just 3 home runs shy of the 700 club; but will be waiting a few weeks longer to join the elite as he remains on the DL for at least 2 more weeks.

Roster News:

Chris Denorfia comes up from AAA Scranton to replace the injured Rodriguez. The experienced outfielder relieves Ackley of his outfield duties, yet comes a scabby slash of .222 / .263 / .485 in AAA this year.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 01:37 PM

The Yankees in June 2016:

Poor form carried over from May as the Yankees would lose 7 of their first 10 in June, watching their lead in the AL East whittle away to the chasing pack.

A turnaround in fortunes came at the same time Alex Rodriguez (who had just returned from the DL) would be ruled out for 7 months (and the season) thanks to a broken elbow. The team would go on to lose just 6 more times in the month, shutting out both Colorado and Texas, whilst winning 5 of 7 against the Minnesota Twins.

The upshot however is the team went 13-13 and at just .500, its the first month the Yankees fail to post a winning record.

By the Numbers:

With Rodriguez now out of action, more pressure is heaped on Teixeira and he responded with 4 more home runs and 15 RBIs in the month. Chris Denorfia has slotted in with a regular contribution, starting 9 games and driving in 8 runs with a .313 AVG.

Gregorious and Beltran remain a concern, with 24 year old Aaron Judge (Scranton) a serious candidate to replace the latter, as he has now clubbed 17 homeruns with a .290 / .378 / .673 slash in AAA.

Pitching remains a consistent for the team as their 3.48 ERA is the 2nd best in the AL. Severino has taken a couple of licks as his ERA shoots over 3.00 for the first time this year, whilst Sabathia could well see his time coming to a close as he has failed to reach 5 innings in each of his last 3 starts for the time, giving up 14ER in those outings.

Individual Highlights:

Brian McCann tops the AL list of Catchers in this years All Star voting with over 1.5m nominations.

For all his struggles at the plate, Didi Gregorious sits in the top 5 for fielding assists, as his defense continues to keep his name in the lineup card.

Tanaka leads the team with 96Ks, but with his 5-6 record and a 3.43 ERA, there is room for improvement

Its been a ropey year for Beltran so far, however on the 30th June he would crack his 2500 hit, going 1-4 against Texas. It may well be his last monument at the backend of his career.

Roster News:

Its goodbye to Alex Rodriguez as he is done for 2016 thanks to a broken elbow. Other injury news saw Starlin Castro go day to day thanks to an oblique strain.

Aroldis Chapman has returned from his suspension and managed to pitch 2 innings for a 13.50 ERA, struggling to find the form that saw him so devastating in Cincinnati.

Finally Aaron Hicks will miss the next 8 games due to his ejection in the win over Texas. His league suspension comes as he continues to lead the team in AVG, hitting .312 over the course.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 01:39 PM

Batting Team Leaders (thru June):

Pitching Team Leaders (thru June):

jtsly2000 · 04-03-2016, 01:42 PM

Nicely done!! Will be following as I'm doing a Yankees dynasty as well.

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtsly2000

Nicely done!! Will be following as I'm doing a Yankees dynasty as well.

Thanks mate, I am following yours with interest

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 06:02 PM

Tex Wants More!
Veteran hopes to end his playing days in New York

Above: Could this be the last year for Teixeira in the famous pinstripes?

(NY) - You would think clocking 19 home runs and leading the team with 41RBIs would lock you in for a bonus, or in Teixeiras case, a contract extension.

However the Yankees have stalled on talks with the soon to be free agent, as the 36 year old veteran may not fit into their future plans, certainly not for the 3yr / $50m that he appears to be asking for.

The Yankees who have room to make man-oeuvres, could re-sign Teixeira and have plenty of change, appear to be heading with a different mindset. Teixeira may not have the skills to command 1st base for much longer, leaving him looking at the DH role. That role is currently filled by another high salaried player in Rodriguez (who himself is due for renewal in 2017).

With the league coming to a crux with a loaded free agent class in 2018, committing $16m + per year for 3 years is not a wise move and it appears this time the Yankees are ready to take the hint and keep their cards close to their chest.

For Teixeira? Well if he continues to perform, someone will take that gamble that in his twilight, he can provide value for the $50m he is asking for.

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 06:36 PM

The Yankees in July 2016:

Another stinker of the month as although we scrambled to a 13-13 record, our division lead has dwindled to just .5 over Baltimore. Ironically we had beaten the Orioles 3 from 4, alas performances elsewhere dented our gap.

We somewhat made up for a bad month by sweeping the Rays to end July, that coming off a run where we had lost 5 from 6, including a miserable 3 game set at home to San Francisco that saw the Giants put up 23 runs and win all 3 games.

By the Numbers:

Teixeira and Headley have both cracked the 20HR barrier, with McCann not far behind on 18. However our batting average and OBP remain a consistent problem, with our .250 AVG leaving us 12th in the AL, whilst a .317 OBP puts us a shade higher in 11th.

We currently rely on power to get us through and should that begin to drop, we could well find ourselves in a bit of trouble down the stretch.

Again all the plaudits go to our pitching staff as our team ERA of 3.57 is the best in the American League. We also lead the league in Strikeouts at 881 and have given up the fewest walks in 238.

These numbers are in no small part due to the emergence of Severino and the improvement of Pineda, both AL All Stars this past month and both anchoring our rotation. Complementing the starters is our bullpen that with a 3.10 ERA is the league best, with Dellin Betances stunning with a 1.48ERA, 77Ks and 0.95 WHIP.

Individual Highlights:

Brian McCann got the nod to start as the AL Catcher for the All Star game. Unfortunately he went 0-3 at the plate as the AL lost 4-2.

Michael Pineda and Luis Severino also made the All Star team. The former doing well for his inning, however Severino was unable to say the same as he gave up 3 runs and 3 hits, to take the loss.

Rob Refsnyder has turned heads with his .444 AVG that included 2HRs in the last week of July.

Roster News:

Another Yankee dresses down for the rest of the season as Reliever Bryan Mitchell will be out for 9 months thanks to a torn elbow ligament. Mitchell had impressed going 4-2 with a 2.66ERA in his 44IP.

Aaron Judge has earned a call up in time for August as he replaces Chris Denorfia at the big club. Judge lit up AAA with 19HR and a .288 / .376 / .644 line, as he will now fill a platoon role in the outfield.

Andrew Miller continues as the teams closer, however pressure is on to give the role to Aroldis Chapman who has been impressive in his recent outings, striking out 13 batters, giving up 1 hit in his last 6 outings.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-03-2016, 07:06 PM

The Yankees in August 2016:

The same old problems remain for the team as we rely on power to get us out of jams. Teixeira is on course to break 30 homeruns once more, with McCann and Headley not far behind.

But its the failure to find consistency down the order that is causing the team problems, highlighted by our 15-19 record in 1-run games and our meager hit total (1130) that puts us in the cellar in the AL.

Pineda and Severino have hit rough spells, as their ERAs are beginning to rise steadily over 3.00. Whilst Tanaka continues to improve and holds the team lead with 160Ks for the year.

Miller remains the teams closer and has clocked up 32 saves, blowing just 4 chances, striking out 82 from his 57 innings work.

By the Numbers:

This month we check out those in the system who could make the 40-man roster for the key month of September.

First up its Tyler Olson, a 26 year old pitcher at AAA Scranton. Olson leads the team with a 2.92 ERA, clocking up 12 wins and 125Ks in the process. He is solid across the board, but is not seen as someone who can make a real difference long term.

24 year old John Barbato is a more intriguing option for the teams bullpen, as he has improved over the year to post a 3.27 ERA, striking out 81 from 77.1IP. Barbato has steadily improved and could well earn a callup this time round.

Chris Denorfia is the likeliest candidate to be a part of the Yankees in September, however the wildcard for the lineup could be Dante Bichette Jr. The 23 year old infielder impressed at AA Trenton and continued that this past month in Scranton. With an average of .300, he may get a chance to show if he can reproduce that form in the Majors in the coming weeks.

Individual Highlights:

Brian McCann got the nod to start as the AL Catcher for the All Star game. Unfortunately he went 0-3 at the plate as the AL lost 4-2.

Michael Pineda and Luis Severino also made the All Star team. The former doing well for his inning, however Severino was unable to say the same as he gave up 3 runs and 3 hits, to take the loss.

Rob Refsnyder has turned heads with his .444 AVG that included 2HRs in the last week of July.

Roster News:

Injuries have ravaged the team this month and could derail any attempt to win the division. Ivan Nova and Branden Pinder have been lost from the bullpen, Nova for 7 months due to shoulder inflammation.

A further setback came when Sabathia left the field fof play at the end of the month with an elbow strain that is likely to be the end of his season and potentially Yankee career with his contract coming to a close.

Mexican Luis Cessa will take on the 5th slot in the rotation, after impressing in 5 bullpen outings earlier this year.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 07:21 AM

The Yankees in September (+ a smidge of October) 2016:

This was it, the season boiled down to a final run in and race to the pennant and a shot at the playoffs. All but 3 of our games would be division matchups, 6 of those against the chasing Orioles.

The month started as bad as it could with the O's taking 2 from 3 against us at Camden Yards. However a 5 game winning run would put us back in charge of our destiny, as Baltimore slipped back during a slump of their own.

Then things got interesting again as we went 5-14, yes thats right 5-14 in a ropy stretch that should in reality have cost us our chance. Included in that stretch would be 3 home losses to the Red Sox in which we failed to score a single run!

However we went into the final series with Baltimore knowing that 1 win would secure the AL East pennant. First game, 7-2 and the pressure was lifted, we had achieved our primary goal and not long we swept the series, winning 4-3 in both games, an outcome that put the Orioles into a 1 game shootout with the Twins for the second Wildcard place.

By the Numbers:

We finish the regular season without a single player hitting over .300, infact at .286 from 103 games, Starlin Castro had the teams best average.

Teixeira unsurprisingly led the team with 35 bombs, Headley rolled back the years to post 28, 2nd highest in his career to date. Whilst McCann with 23 was the only other player to break the 20 mark.

No one batted in 100 runs, Teixeira with 96 led the team, whilst he would also clock up 150 strikeouts in an all or nothing year at the plate.

On the mound, Pineda, Severino and Tanaka provided the punch with Pineda posting a team best 3.15ERA. He would also lead with 191Ks, walking just 33 batters in 219.2 IP.

In the bullpen Andrew Miller chalked up 39 saves with a 2.61ERA, but it was Dellin Betances who shone pitching to a 1.53ERA and 120Ks in just over 76 innings work.

Chapman flattered to deceive after returning from suspension and may well leave the club with his contract due to expire.

Individual Highlights:

Gary Sanchez would earn the AL rookie of the month award in September thanks to a stunning run that saw him hit for .352, with 7 doubles, 1 triple and 10 long balls. He would drive in 19 and score 18 times. At 23, he is slated to replace McCann behind the plate sooner rather than later.

Carlos Beltran has had a miserable year by his standards but the 39 year old came to life at the backend and would slug his 400th career homerun in the 6-2 win over Tampa. With just 9 for the year and an average of .250, its unlikely that he remains a Yankee for 2017.

Remember the name Jordan Ovalles as he wins the Dominican Rookie League pitcher award, thanks to a 5-0 record with 18 saves and a tasty 1.61ERA. At 22 he is a long way off the bigs, but should find himself moving through the farm if he remains on track.

Roster News:

Our rotten run in the final month of the season has coincided with a devastating injury list that will probably derail any hopes we have in the playoffs.

Luis Severino who has been outstanding this year has been lost due to shoulder inflammation and is done for 2016. He joins Sabathia on the sidelines to decimate our rotation.

Aaron Judge who was called up as a 4th outfield option is out with a fractured finger and will only be back should we make the ALCS.

We are left with limited options going into the playoffs and naming our roster for our October run.

Standings:

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 07:26 AM

MLB 2016 Standings:

Batting Leaders:

Pitching Leaders:

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 07:44 AM

The Yankees Playoff Story 2016:

American League Division Series vs Houston Astros

5 games in a chance to advance as we meet the Astros in a rematch of our 2015 encounter that saw Houston come out on top.

First up a trip to Minute Maid Park and we edge past the Astros as Pineda and Keuchel duel for 7 tough innings. Then a Gregorius dinger in the 8th allowed us to break clear and snatch a key 5-2 opening game win.

NEW YORK YANKEES 5 HOUSTON ASTROS 2
Yankees lead the series 1-0

Game 2 and the series swings back toward Houston as they win 7-3 thanks to a wild 8th that saw them score 4 to break the tie. Betances solid in the regular season would give up a grand slam to Carlos Gomez and that would be that.

NEW YORK YANKEES 3 HOUSTON ASTROS 7
Series tied at 1-1

Back to New York and misery for the Yankees as this time they cough it up in the 9th, with Jose Altuve driving in a 2 run single off Andrew Miller. All night the Yankees struggled, mustering just 4 hits, 2 of those being homeruns via Headley and Teixeira.

HOUSTON ASTROS 4 NEW YORK YANKEES 2
Astros lead the series 2-1

Game 4 and goodnight New York as the Astros light it up scoring 10 runs and eclipsing their hosts 10-5 to seal a consecutive Division series win over the Yankees.

At no point were New York in touch and when the Astros put up 3 runs in both the 4th and 5th frames, it was all over. Beltran and Hicks would go long, but once again Series MVP Carlos Gomez did the work with a 2 run shot, as he winds up with 3 for the series.

HOUSTON ASTROS 10 NEW YORK YANKEES 5
Astros win the series 3-1

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 08:22 AM

2016 Playoff Bracket:

MLB Season Awards:

Code:

			AL			NL			
MVP			Manny Machado (BAL)	Giancarlo Stanton (MIA)
Cy Young		Cody Allen (CLE)	Stephen Strasburg (WAS)
Rookie of the Year	Nomar Mazara (TEX)	Corey Seager (LAD)
Rolaids Relief		Cody Allen (CLE)	Trevor Rosenthal (STL)
Manager of the Year	Terry Francona (CLE)	Chip Hale (ARI)

joshbrady91 · 04-05-2016, 12:33 PM

Great read, thank you and please continue to update regularly

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbrady91

Great read, thank you and please continue to update regularly

Thanks for checking in, hope you continue to enjoy

bestbrother · 04-05-2016, 04:29 PM

Yankees Make a Splash!
No end in sight for Yankee' spending; Strasburg to earn record amount

Above: 10 years, almost $400,000,000 puts Strasburg in new 'Stratosphere' of earnings

(NY) - If 2016 was quiet in terms of the Yankees spending power, then 2017 went all the way to the other end of the scale as after back to back Division Series defeats, New York is spending to become Champion.

With the free agent class offering a range of options, the Yankees immediately made their intention clear and snapped up the highest profile deal by acquiring Stephen Strasburg (NL Cy Young Winner) for an astonishing $38m per year for the next 10 years.

Strasburg who broke onto the scene with the Nationals has been one of the premiere pitchers ever since and after winning the NL Cy Young award in 2016, posting a career best 2.21ERA and winning 21 games its no wonder the Yankees went in hard.

Complementing Strasburg would be the addition of Carlos 'Go-Go' Gomez, the man who helped dent the Yankees hopes this past season. After a career high 25HR / 86RBI, Gomez attracted alot of attention. Yet the Yankees came in high and snapped the 31 year old up to a 6yr $155m deal.

Further big money additions saw Jay Bruce add yet more depth to a loaded outfield, as he hopes to leave his troubles behind in Cincinnati and make the best of an 8yr $145m deal in New York.

With Teixeira now off the books, the Yankees would go on to sign up Pedro Alvarez, who himself hit new heights with 39HR in 2016 with the Orioles to a 3yr $51m deal, as the team looked to add more depth and power to an already dangerous looking lineup.

3 more free agents would sign in the form of Relievers Greg Holland and Brett Cecil, whilst Japanese free agent, Toshimitsu Asano, known as 'The Artist' in his homeland, would make the switch to the MLB and compete for a role at 2nd base in 2017.

The Winter meetings would bring about 2 trade deals that saw Kyle Hendricks (RP) and Nick Ahmed (SS) join the team, but its the free agency impact that will be remembered this year as the Yankees have spent big and with intent.

04-03-2016, 06:58 AM	#1
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	[OOTP17] A Yankee never changes his Stripes! NEW YORK YANKEES A Yankee never changes his Stripes! Game Setup: OOTP 17 Standard 2016 MLB Game Manager / GM Mode Note: Apologies that this is another Yankees dynasty. Ive been setting up my game and writing up the 'pre-game' stuff over the past couple of days and then noticed that they are quite popular.

04-03-2016, 07:04 AM	#2
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Shoestring Yankees? Not quite, but new approach raises questions rather than answers Above: Chapman will have to wait for his 'Pinstripe' debut, as he faces 30 games on the sidelines due to his recent suspension (NY) - The Yankees are now 6 years removed from being World Champions, alas its just 1 crown in 15 years as arguably the grandest of all baseball teams remains in transition. 2016 promises to see in a wind of change, gone are the days of spending over the odds to acquire anyone worth a dime, infact the Yankees appear to be re-tooling their organisation and taking a different route to what they hope will be Championship number 28. Those cynical enough to know the Yankees may well point to an already bloated payroll that dwarfs many of their peers, but with contracts expiring and a new generation of players making the headlines, the Yankees appear to be placing themselves in the queue to compete once more. The recent off-season saw the team acquire Starlin Castro, Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman in their most notable moves (the latter currently serving a league wide suspension). A frugal attempt at putting together a team capable of making the playoffs, whilst keeping an eye on the upcoming 2018 free agency market that could well include some of the headline names in the league today. Joe Girardi once again retains the reigns and its his job to mold and inspire some of the new blood, alongside a gaggle of veterans who have seen it all before. Success has been easy to buy, but are the Yankees patient enough to build for it this time round? Last edited by bestbrother; 04-03-2016 at 07:14 AM.

04-03-2016, 07:14 AM	#3
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Yankees Ready! Girardi positive; Yankees to rely on consistency Above: Can Girardi inspire his team to a 28th World Series Championship in 2016? (NY) - With Spring training in the books, the Yankees today announced their 25 man roster to open up their 2016 campaign. Joe Girardi faced the press and remained upbeat about the teams chances. "Its been a good workout for us, we have added some fresh faces, retained some experienced guys and have a resilience about us that we kind of lacked in our loss to Houston last year" He added "We will be looking at Tanaka to pitch for us on opening night, Castro will fit into second and you can fill in the pieces around that. Everyone knows that seasons are not finished in April, Championships cant be won or lost, but a good start sets the right tone and thats our focus" Many Yankee fans will still be wondering if the team should have gone deeper in free agency trying to sign up David Price or Jordan Zimmerman to anchor their rotation. However the frugal approach may pay off for this team, with large contracts expiring and exciting free agent classes coming up in 2017 and 2018, it may well be a case of positioning the team ready for a real run in a few years time. Last edited by bestbrother; 04-03-2016 at 08:52 AM.

04-03-2016, 11:20 AM	#5
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in April 2016: A crazy yet wonderful month for the Yankees as they surpass expectations by racking up 19 wins, to just 4 losses. Their league best winning percentage of .826 puts them 5 games clear of the pack in the AL East, with no sign of things slowing down. New York won all but 1 of their series (losing 2 from 3 at the Trop'), sweeping Detroit, Seattle, Oakland and Texas en route to the 19 wins. Included in those were an 11-0 shutout of the Tigers, that saw Sabathia complete the game, fanning 10 and giving up just 2 hits. Whilst Pineda pitched a CG shutout in the 4 zip win over the Mariners, striking out 8. By the Numbers: At the plate the Yankees have thrived, Teixeira has joined the 400 club, as he leads the team with 7 dingers, closely followed by Chase Headley on 6. Alex Rodriguez continues his chase toward 700, by slugging 4 over the fences. The team sits 5th in the AL with a .261 BA, whilst their 35 HR and 123 runs scored puts them 3rd in the offensive category. On the mound its a similar story, not only have they seen Sabathia and Pineda pitch complete game shutouts, but the teams 2.53 ERA helps them lead the AL. With just 62 runs allowed and 200Ks on the board, the Yankees pitching staff is the dominant factor in the league thus far. Individual Highlights: C.C. Sabathia and Michael Pineda have pitched complete game shutouts this month Mark Teixeira joins the 400 club with a long ball at home to Seattle Masahiro Tanaka leads the team with 34Ks, whilst Pineda tops the charts with his slender 1.24 ERA Teixeira leads the team with 7HR and 17RBI through April Starlin Castro has made his mark in his Yankee debut season with 3 triples and a .305AVG Aaron Hicks goes 5-5 against Seattle with 1HR and 2RBI Roster News: Brett Gardner has been placed on the DL due to recurring back spasms. He is likely to miss all of May and is slated to return mid-June. Puerto Rican Deibinson Romero has been called up, as he hit .389 at AAA Scranton, a move that will see Dustin Ackley cover as the 4th outfielder. Standings:

04-03-2016, 12:48 PM	#6
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in May 2016: An up and down month for the Yankees as although they add .5 to their division lead (now 5.5 over Baltimore), the team suffered 13 losses, going 16-13. Things did start brightly with the team opening the month 7-1 thanks to back to back sweeps of Baltimore and Boston, but a 2-6 finish to May dampened spirits slightly. Problems began to mount when Rodriguez suffered a strained quadriceps, leaving him on the DL for 5 weeks, a big hole for the offense to bridge. Things continued to motor along nicely for Teixeira, now on 15HR for the year, whilst Headley and McCann have also notched double digits. Michael Pineda again pitched a gem, going all 9 without giving up a run against Oakland, however overall the staff has struggled, seeing the team ERA to balloon to 3.28, whilst the team has given up 36 home runs in May compared to 19 thru April. By the Numbers: Carlos Beltrans struggles are beginning to become an issue for the team as continues to hit just over .250, slugging just 4 long balls in the process. Alongside that, Didi Gregorius is running cold as he struggles to hit .200, although he has managed to drive in 20 runs. Positives thrive through the power hitting combination of McCann, Teixeira, Headley and Rodriguez who have combined for over 40 of the teams home runs. Pineda remains the teams highlight on the mound as his 4-1 record encompasses the 2 shutouts and a 2.66ERA, eclipsed only by Severino (2.53). On the backend of that, Sabathia is showing more signs of his age, relying on run production to dig him out of a few holes, as he pitches to a 4.04 ERA thru 10 starts. In the bullpen Andrew Miller has 15 saves but looks shaky on a 3.70ERA, in contrast to Dellin Betances who has been solid as the teams setup man (23.1IP / 37K / 1.93 ERA) Individual Highlights: Pineda hurls his 2nd complete game shutout in the win over Oakland Mark Teixeira continues to hum along nicely, leading the team with 15HRs and 31RBIs Ellsbury (leading off in replacement of Gardner) has notched 7 stolen bases in May, improving on 0 from April Luis Severino comes to the fore as the team 'ace, leading the team with a 2.53 ERA, 6 wins and 60 strikeouts Alex Rodriguez is just 3 home runs shy of the 700 club; but will be waiting a few weeks longer to join the elite as he remains on the DL for at least 2 more weeks. Roster News: Chris Denorfia comes up from AAA Scranton to replace the injured Rodriguez. The experienced outfielder relieves Ackley of his outfield duties, yet comes a scabby slash of .222 / .263 / .485 in AAA this year. Standings: Last edited by bestbrother; 04-03-2016 at 12:51 PM.

04-03-2016, 07:15 AM	#4
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	New York Yankees 25-man Roster:

04-03-2016, 01:37 PM	#7
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in June 2016: Poor form carried over from May as the Yankees would lose 7 of their first 10 in June, watching their lead in the AL East whittle away to the chasing pack. A turnaround in fortunes came at the same time Alex Rodriguez (who had just returned from the DL) would be ruled out for 7 months (and the season) thanks to a broken elbow. The team would go on to lose just 6 more times in the month, shutting out both Colorado and Texas, whilst winning 5 of 7 against the Minnesota Twins. The upshot however is the team went 13-13 and at just .500, its the first month the Yankees fail to post a winning record. By the Numbers: With Rodriguez now out of action, more pressure is heaped on Teixeira and he responded with 4 more home runs and 15 RBIs in the month. Chris Denorfia has slotted in with a regular contribution, starting 9 games and driving in 8 runs with a .313 AVG. Gregorious and Beltran remain a concern, with 24 year old Aaron Judge (Scranton) a serious candidate to replace the latter, as he has now clubbed 17 homeruns with a .290 / .378 / .673 slash in AAA. Pitching remains a consistent for the team as their 3.48 ERA is the 2nd best in the AL. Severino has taken a couple of licks as his ERA shoots over 3.00 for the first time this year, whilst Sabathia could well see his time coming to a close as he has failed to reach 5 innings in each of his last 3 starts for the time, giving up 14ER in those outings. Individual Highlights: Brian McCann tops the AL list of Catchers in this years All Star voting with over 1.5m nominations. For all his struggles at the plate, Didi Gregorious sits in the top 5 for fielding assists, as his defense continues to keep his name in the lineup card. Tanaka leads the team with 96Ks, but with his 5-6 record and a 3.43 ERA, there is room for improvement Its been a ropey year for Beltran so far, however on the 30th June he would crack his 2500 hit, going 1-4 against Texas. It may well be his last monument at the backend of his career. Roster News: Its goodbye to Alex Rodriguez as he is done for 2016 thanks to a broken elbow. Other injury news saw Starlin Castro go day to day thanks to an oblique strain. Aroldis Chapman has returned from his suspension and managed to pitch 2 innings for a 13.50 ERA, struggling to find the form that saw him so devastating in Cincinnati. Finally Aaron Hicks will miss the next 8 games due to his ejection in the win over Texas. His league suspension comes as he continues to lead the team in AVG, hitting .312 over the course. Standings: Last edited by bestbrother; 04-03-2016 at 01:39 PM.

04-03-2016, 01:39 PM	#8
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Batting Team Leaders (thru June): Pitching Team Leaders (thru June):

04-03-2016, 01:42 PM	#9
jtsly2000 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 173	Nicely done!! Will be following as I'm doing a Yankees dynasty as well.

04-03-2016, 06:02 PM	#11
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Tex Wants More! Veteran hopes to end his playing days in New York Above: Could this be the last year for Teixeira in the famous pinstripes? (NY) - You would think clocking 19 home runs and leading the team with 41RBIs would lock you in for a bonus, or in Teixeiras case, a contract extension. However the Yankees have stalled on talks with the soon to be free agent, as the 36 year old veteran may not fit into their future plans, certainly not for the 3yr / $50m that he appears to be asking for. The Yankees who have room to make man-oeuvres, could re-sign Teixeira and have plenty of change, appear to be heading with a different mindset. Teixeira may not have the skills to command 1st base for much longer, leaving him looking at the DH role. That role is currently filled by another high salaried player in Rodriguez (who himself is due for renewal in 2017). With the league coming to a crux with a loaded free agent class in 2018, committing $16m + per year for 3 years is not a wise move and it appears this time the Yankees are ready to take the hint and keep their cards close to their chest. For Teixeira? Well if he continues to perform, someone will take that gamble that in his twilight, he can provide value for the $50m he is asking for. Last edited by bestbrother; 04-03-2016 at 06:04 PM.

04-03-2016, 06:36 PM	#12
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in July 2016: Another stinker of the month as although we scrambled to a 13-13 record, our division lead has dwindled to just .5 over Baltimore. Ironically we had beaten the Orioles 3 from 4, alas performances elsewhere dented our gap. We somewhat made up for a bad month by sweeping the Rays to end July, that coming off a run where we had lost 5 from 6, including a miserable 3 game set at home to San Francisco that saw the Giants put up 23 runs and win all 3 games. By the Numbers: Teixeira and Headley have both cracked the 20HR barrier, with McCann not far behind on 18. However our batting average and OBP remain a consistent problem, with our .250 AVG leaving us 12th in the AL, whilst a .317 OBP puts us a shade higher in 11th. We currently rely on power to get us through and should that begin to drop, we could well find ourselves in a bit of trouble down the stretch. Again all the plaudits go to our pitching staff as our team ERA of 3.57 is the best in the American League. We also lead the league in Strikeouts at 881 and have given up the fewest walks in 238. These numbers are in no small part due to the emergence of Severino and the improvement of Pineda, both AL All Stars this past month and both anchoring our rotation. Complementing the starters is our bullpen that with a 3.10 ERA is the league best, with Dellin Betances stunning with a 1.48ERA, 77Ks and 0.95 WHIP. Individual Highlights: Brian McCann got the nod to start as the AL Catcher for the All Star game. Unfortunately he went 0-3 at the plate as the AL lost 4-2. Michael Pineda and Luis Severino also made the All Star team. The former doing well for his inning, however Severino was unable to say the same as he gave up 3 runs and 3 hits, to take the loss. Rob Refsnyder has turned heads with his .444 AVG that included 2HRs in the last week of July. Roster News: Another Yankee dresses down for the rest of the season as Reliever Bryan Mitchell will be out for 9 months thanks to a torn elbow ligament. Mitchell had impressed going 4-2 with a 2.66ERA in his 44IP. Aaron Judge has earned a call up in time for August as he replaces Chris Denorfia at the big club. Judge lit up AAA with 19HR and a .288 / .376 / .644 line, as he will now fill a platoon role in the outfield. Andrew Miller continues as the teams closer, however pressure is on to give the role to Aroldis Chapman who has been impressive in his recent outings, striking out 13 batters, giving up 1 hit in his last 6 outings. Standings:

04-03-2016, 07:06 PM	#13
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in August 2016: The same old problems remain for the team as we rely on power to get us out of jams. Teixeira is on course to break 30 homeruns once more, with McCann and Headley not far behind. But its the failure to find consistency down the order that is causing the team problems, highlighted by our 15-19 record in 1-run games and our meager hit total (1130) that puts us in the cellar in the AL. Pineda and Severino have hit rough spells, as their ERAs are beginning to rise steadily over 3.00. Whilst Tanaka continues to improve and holds the team lead with 160Ks for the year. Miller remains the teams closer and has clocked up 32 saves, blowing just 4 chances, striking out 82 from his 57 innings work. By the Numbers: This month we check out those in the system who could make the 40-man roster for the key month of September. First up its Tyler Olson, a 26 year old pitcher at AAA Scranton. Olson leads the team with a 2.92 ERA, clocking up 12 wins and 125Ks in the process. He is solid across the board, but is not seen as someone who can make a real difference long term. 24 year old John Barbato is a more intriguing option for the teams bullpen, as he has improved over the year to post a 3.27 ERA, striking out 81 from 77.1IP. Barbato has steadily improved and could well earn a callup this time round. Chris Denorfia is the likeliest candidate to be a part of the Yankees in September, however the wildcard for the lineup could be Dante Bichette Jr. The 23 year old infielder impressed at AA Trenton and continued that this past month in Scranton. With an average of .300, he may get a chance to show if he can reproduce that form in the Majors in the coming weeks. Individual Highlights: Brian McCann got the nod to start as the AL Catcher for the All Star game. Unfortunately he went 0-3 at the plate as the AL lost 4-2. Michael Pineda and Luis Severino also made the All Star team. The former doing well for his inning, however Severino was unable to say the same as he gave up 3 runs and 3 hits, to take the loss. Rob Refsnyder has turned heads with his .444 AVG that included 2HRs in the last week of July. Roster News: Injuries have ravaged the team this month and could derail any attempt to win the division. Ivan Nova and Branden Pinder have been lost from the bullpen, Nova for 7 months due to shoulder inflammation. A further setback came when Sabathia left the field fof play at the end of the month with an elbow strain that is likely to be the end of his season and potentially Yankee career with his contract coming to a close. Mexican Luis Cessa will take on the 5th slot in the rotation, after impressing in 5 bullpen outings earlier this year. Standings:

04-05-2016, 07:21 AM	#14
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees in September (+ a smidge of October) 2016: This was it, the season boiled down to a final run in and race to the pennant and a shot at the playoffs. All but 3 of our games would be division matchups, 6 of those against the chasing Orioles. The month started as bad as it could with the O's taking 2 from 3 against us at Camden Yards. However a 5 game winning run would put us back in charge of our destiny, as Baltimore slipped back during a slump of their own. Then things got interesting again as we went 5-14, yes thats right 5-14 in a ropy stretch that should in reality have cost us our chance. Included in that stretch would be 3 home losses to the Red Sox in which we failed to score a single run! However we went into the final series with Baltimore knowing that 1 win would secure the AL East pennant. First game, 7-2 and the pressure was lifted, we had achieved our primary goal and not long we swept the series, winning 4-3 in both games, an outcome that put the Orioles into a 1 game shootout with the Twins for the second Wildcard place. By the Numbers: We finish the regular season without a single player hitting over .300, infact at .286 from 103 games, Starlin Castro had the teams best average. Teixeira unsurprisingly led the team with 35 bombs, Headley rolled back the years to post 28, 2nd highest in his career to date. Whilst McCann with 23 was the only other player to break the 20 mark. No one batted in 100 runs, Teixeira with 96 led the team, whilst he would also clock up 150 strikeouts in an all or nothing year at the plate. On the mound, Pineda, Severino and Tanaka provided the punch with Pineda posting a team best 3.15ERA. He would also lead with 191Ks, walking just 33 batters in 219.2 IP. In the bullpen Andrew Miller chalked up 39 saves with a 2.61ERA, but it was Dellin Betances who shone pitching to a 1.53ERA and 120Ks in just over 76 innings work. Chapman flattered to deceive after returning from suspension and may well leave the club with his contract due to expire. Individual Highlights: Gary Sanchez would earn the AL rookie of the month award in September thanks to a stunning run that saw him hit for .352, with 7 doubles, 1 triple and 10 long balls. He would drive in 19 and score 18 times. At 23, he is slated to replace McCann behind the plate sooner rather than later. Carlos Beltran has had a miserable year by his standards but the 39 year old came to life at the backend and would slug his 400th career homerun in the 6-2 win over Tampa. With just 9 for the year and an average of .250, its unlikely that he remains a Yankee for 2017. Remember the name Jordan Ovalles as he wins the Dominican Rookie League pitcher award, thanks to a 5-0 record with 18 saves and a tasty 1.61ERA. At 22 he is a long way off the bigs, but should find himself moving through the farm if he remains on track. Roster News: Our rotten run in the final month of the season has coincided with a devastating injury list that will probably derail any hopes we have in the playoffs. Luis Severino who has been outstanding this year has been lost due to shoulder inflammation and is done for 2016. He joins Sabathia on the sidelines to decimate our rotation. Aaron Judge who was called up as a 4th outfield option is out with a fractured finger and will only be back should we make the ALCS. We are left with limited options going into the playoffs and naming our roster for our October run. Standings:

04-05-2016, 07:26 AM	#15
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	MLB 2016 Standings: Batting Leaders: Pitching Leaders:

04-05-2016, 07:44 AM	#16
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	The Yankees Playoff Story 2016: American League Division Series vs Houston Astros 5 games in a chance to advance as we meet the Astros in a rematch of our 2015 encounter that saw Houston come out on top. First up a trip to Minute Maid Park and we edge past the Astros as Pineda and Keuchel duel for 7 tough innings. Then a Gregorius dinger in the 8th allowed us to break clear and snatch a key 5-2 opening game win. NEW YORK YANKEES 5 HOUSTON ASTROS 2 Yankees lead the series 1-0 Game 2 and the series swings back toward Houston as they win 7-3 thanks to a wild 8th that saw them score 4 to break the tie. Betances solid in the regular season would give up a grand slam to Carlos Gomez and that would be that. NEW YORK YANKEES 3 HOUSTON ASTROS 7 Series tied at 1-1 Back to New York and misery for the Yankees as this time they cough it up in the 9th, with Jose Altuve driving in a 2 run single off Andrew Miller. All night the Yankees struggled, mustering just 4 hits, 2 of those being homeruns via Headley and Teixeira. HOUSTON ASTROS 4 NEW YORK YANKEES 2 Astros lead the series 2-1 Game 4 and goodnight New York as the Astros light it up scoring 10 runs and eclipsing their hosts 10-5 to seal a consecutive Division series win over the Yankees. At no point were New York in touch and when the Astros put up 3 runs in both the 4th and 5th frames, it was all over. Beltran and Hicks would go long, but once again Series MVP Carlos Gomez did the work with a 2 run shot, as he winds up with 3 for the series. HOUSTON ASTROS 10 NEW YORK YANKEES 5 Astros win the series 3-1 Last edited by bestbrother; 04-05-2016 at 07:58 AM.

04-05-2016, 12:33 PM	#18
joshbrady91 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England Posts: 89	Great read, thank you and please continue to update regularly

04-05-2016, 04:29 PM	#20
bestbrother Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 371	Yankees Make a Splash! No end in sight for Yankee' spending; Strasburg to earn record amount Above: 10 years, almost $400,000,000 puts Strasburg in new 'Stratosphere' of earnings (NY) - If 2016 was quiet in terms of the Yankees spending power, then 2017 went all the way to the other end of the scale as after back to back Division Series defeats, New York is spending to become Champion. With the free agent class offering a range of options, the Yankees immediately made their intention clear and snapped up the highest profile deal by acquiring Stephen Strasburg (NL Cy Young Winner) for an astonishing $38m per year for the next 10 years. Strasburg who broke onto the scene with the Nationals has been one of the premiere pitchers ever since and after winning the NL Cy Young award in 2016, posting a career best 2.21ERA and winning 21 games its no wonder the Yankees went in hard. Complementing Strasburg would be the addition of Carlos 'Go-Go' Gomez, the man who helped dent the Yankees hopes this past season. After a career high 25HR / 86RBI, Gomez attracted alot of attention. Yet the Yankees came in high and snapped the 31 year old up to a 6yr $155m deal. Further big money additions saw Jay Bruce add yet more depth to a loaded outfield, as he hopes to leave his troubles behind in Cincinnati and make the best of an 8yr $145m deal in New York. With Teixeira now off the books, the Yankees would go on to sign up Pedro Alvarez, who himself hit new heights with 39HR in 2016 with the Orioles to a 3yr $51m deal, as the team looked to add more depth and power to an already dangerous looking lineup. 3 more free agents would sign in the form of Relievers Greg Holland and Brett Cecil, whilst Japanese free agent, Toshimitsu Asano, known as 'The Artist' in his homeland, would make the switch to the MLB and compete for a role at 2nd base in 2017. The Winter meetings would bring about 2 trade deals that saw Kyle Hendricks (RP) and Nick Ahmed (SS) join the team, but its the free agency impact that will be remembered this year as the Yankees have spent big and with intent.