About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind.

The Yankees were eliminated from the postseason in the ALDS last season. Well, it's a new year now and hope springs eternal; not Bob Hope unfortunately for him, but regular hope. Pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training for the Yankees in ten days. Position players will arrive four days later. Thank goodness we don't have to worry about Pasqual Perez anymore, because that would take another four weeks. Since I don't have any games to recap, I will now move from topic to topic as if I was in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, chasing old Phil around trying to see if he saw his shadow.

·      It is possible that the Yankees will make another move before Spring Training or the beginning of the regular season. Let me qualify that statement. I'm talking about a major move, not the acquisition of a 36-year-old relief pitcher who has been DFA’d 16 times. I really don't think they will make a move. I think it's a case of “what you see is what you get”. There is some talk that the Yankees may be interested in bringing back Austin Slater. I hope it doesn't turn into anything other than talk. They brought Slater in here via a trade last season and it was a disaster. He was injured almost immediately and did not do much when he returned to the lineup. He was not even included on either the Wild Card or ALDS rosters. I understand that the Yankees want right-handed hitting. However, Slater will never be confused with Manny Ramirez. I think if the Yankees did bring him back, Aaron Boone would feel obligated to use him and that would push Jasson Dominguez further down the bench. That in and of itself is something I am opposed to.

·      The pipe to my kitchen sink is still frozen. When I call the management office about it, they have no solution. I'm expecting Yul Brynner to get on the line and say, “is a puzzlement.” My pipe has not burst and hopefully it will not. The management is preoccupied with the multiple burst pipes in their various rental units. This is because they don't believe in insulating pipes and instead want all the tenants to keep the water on a trickle all night long. I was told the plumber would not be available any time soon and that they would try to figure out who else they could send. I'm imagining it will be a painter or someone with no actual plumbing experience. I did look on their website and the winter weather and snow removal policy for the management company is very clearly stated: “Wait Until Summer.”

·      I'm looking forward to seeing a full season with Cam Schlittler in the starting rotation. I think he will surpass both Luis Gil and Will Warren in the pecking order on the Yankees’ pitching staff. I think Schlittler has a chance to be something special. I find it interesting that young pitchers have had greater success with the Yankees during the Boone regime than young hitters I don't believe it's because the Yankees have better pitchers. I think it's because of Matt Blake. Matt Blake handles the pitching. He is the buffer between the pitchers and Aaron Boone. The hitters don't have a safety net like that. Boone is able to get his sticky little fingers all over the position players and yank them in and out of the lineup willy-nilly. That is a problem.

·      On Thursday, my second published novel, “The Sea Change of Doctor Abernathy”, was presented on Amazon on a list of recommended books for the new year. The list was presented by Ellen Sudderth, who interviewed me multiple times regarding this book and my first one. It was very flattering and humbling to have my book make that list, let alone the fact that both of my books have made the list. 

·      I have not read a lot about him, but I certainly hope that Oswaldo Cabrera is ready to go at the beginning of Spring Training. I hope he makes a full recovery and is able to be on the field for the Yankees this season. He's not a great player, but he provides a spark and contributes at multiple positions.

·      As I am writing this, Eugenio Suarez has come off the list of available players. He signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds for $15 million. Now if the Yankees desperately wanted a right-handed hitter, he certainly would have fit the bill. It's too late now.

·      I have been writing my son, Jack, while he is in basic training in South Carolina. He has been writing back as well. His drill instructor asked him if he was Stephen King because he has received so many letters. Jack seems to be doing quite well and has been given a few leadership positions already. He will be qualifying in shooting his weapon very soon. I let him know that my father won a few marksmanship medals during World War 2. I haven't shot a pistol or a rifle in years, but I was a very good target shooter when I did. Now that my cataracts are being repaired, I may try it again someday when my mobility improves. 

·      I was very happy to hear that Willie Randolph will be joining the YES network as a studio analyst for the upcoming season. I always liked Willie Randolph very much as a player and I thought he did a fine job as a manager. It was unfortunate that he never got a second chance after being fired as Mets’ manager. Who knows, maybe he will be the right-handed hitting infielder we need. If Hal and Cashman can figure out a way to do it without paying him extra, they will probably do so.

·      I started watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO, which is another show in the Game of Thrones universe. It centers around Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg. There is more humor in this show than in the other ones from the George RR Martin books. The acting is superb and the lad who plays Egg is extraordinary. The chemistry between Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg is what makes the program special.

·      I am excited to see the Yankees’ young players during Spring Training. Although Jasson Dominguez has been around for a while, he will still only be 23 years old this season. I'm still hopeful that he may get opportunities to play almost regularly this season. But as I have stated repeatedly, with Aaron Boone at the helm, that will be an uphill battle. I also want to see what Spencer Jones can do in the spring. I am very intrigued to see the young pitchers to see if any of them have a chance to make the Major League team out of spring training.

·      By the way, if Brian Cashman saw his shadow this morning, that means six more seasons of the Yankees not winning a World Series.