Most casual baseball fans don’t even know what the Rule 5 Draft is. That’s because over the decades since its inception there hasn’t been many players that have made a huge difference in the annals of baseball history. But that doesn’t make it any less important.
Tag Archives: New York Yankees
The Yankees, Braves and Cubs stake their claim at MLB Winter Meetings
There is nothing like the MLB Winter Meetings. Rumors fly around all day long and then when nightfall hits, you are blind sided by the most astounding trades you can imagine. It’s not a coincidence they put the Winter Meetings right near Christmas.
Yesterday, three big moves went down that left three teams big winners. Brace yourselves…
Start spreading the news in today’s random thoughts
Man, that got scary Yankees fans. Leave it to the old Boston Red Sox to try and salvage their disappointing season by ruining ours. I don’t care how good or bad either team is, this rivalry to me is still the greatest.
The future ain’t what it used to be — Remembering Yogi in today’s random thoughts
He was a decorated war veteran there on D-Day. He won more World Series than any other player in Major League history. His quotes became part of the American lexicon. He was so cool, a cartoon was named after him. Today, we mourn the passing of one of baseball’s greatest.
New York Yankees: Reflections from #PettitteDay
Although the wife and I live in Atlanta, and despite the fact that I can’t shake that Red Sox fandom out of her, each summer we make a trek to the Bronx to take in a New York Yankees game with Big Lar and Stace. This year, D-Sant tagged along, which was fitting.
You see, D-Sant, Big Lar, Greene and myself lived at the old Stadium across the street when I lived up North. It was a time when The Captain was king, The Sandman put you to bed and this big lefty stared you down over the end of his glove. While many people questioned this weekend’s activities, I couldn’t have been happier to be at Andy Pettitte Day.
A New York Yankees prospect discussion with SWB’s John Sadak
You may remember the name John Sadak from the annals of Wayniac Nation. Mr. Sadak, the voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the New York Yankees Triple-A squad, was the first interview in my new writing career (which you can check out right here if you’d like). Since then, I have actually met John in person at a game and got to talk some shop, and this past week, I was fortunate enough to have him answer some questions about the future of Yankees baseball.
Unlike last year, where the RailRiders — and Yankees themselves — were struggling, the RailRiders — and the Yankees themselves! — are atop their division. John has had the opportunity to watch top Yankees prospects like Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Greg Bird develop into full fledged superstars. The Yankees farm system went from the bottom third in baseball to a top ten organization. Who better to ask about the exciting turnaround than the man who watches and talks RailRiders baseball every day of the season?
Enjoy!
(The interview was featured on John Sickels SB Nation site, MinorLeagueBall.com, my new home for all of my Minor League Baseball musings.)
Sports, Lies and Video Tape Vol. 1
What if I told you everything you ever knew about sports was a complete lie?
Don’t be so dramatic, Morpheus. But seriously, folks. What if some of the biggest truths you have been force fed by the media and disenchanted fans turned out to be a total lie?
Where’s The Wayniac?
I know what your asking yourself. Where the heck has The Wayniac been the last few months? Well, you can take that sigh of relief and finally get some shut eye, for The Wayniac has returned.
I haven’t stopped writing, in fact, I have been writing too much, if there is such a thing. I mean after all, I am a writer… what the heck else would I be doing?
When the calendar turned from the Year of Jeter to 2015, I was promoted to the editorial position at Grading on the Curve. So, along with writing about the Minor Leagues, which you know I love so much, I also run a team of top prospect analysts. It has been an awesome experience, but of course, very time consuming. But it is worth every minute.
I also have been writing for NCAA.com more often, which has been an experience like no other. I have covered everything from the DI Men’s Soccer College Cup where I got to interview legendary NCAA player and coach, UCLA’s Jorge Salcedo. I watched Lance Leipold lead his Whitewater Warhawks to one last exciting victory in the DIII Football Championship (The Stagg Bowl) before he makes the jump to DI this coming season. And I got to talk to George Williams, one of the best coaches in NCAA Track and Field History, as well as a US Men’s Olympic Track and Field coach. I even did some work for the New Orleans newspaper The Advocate covering the SEC Gymnastics Championships. It has been a very humbling adventure which I am so very grateful to continue on.
But why am I telling you all of this? I’m not here to gloat and say look at me… well, it is my blog, so I am kind of here to say that. But since I have all of these pieces across the wonderful World Wide Internet, I thought maybe every Monday, I would share with you a few of my better pieces over the week.
So, this new feature: Where’s The Wayniac, will come out every Monday. Instead of having to search through all the sites I write for (Baseball Hot Corner, Yanks Go Yard, Grading on the Curve, and NCAA.com), I’ll just bring them all to you. This way, if you don’t give a crap about Minor League baseball, you can skip it and be on your way to the next article. You know me by now, always looking out for the well being of The Nation!
At Grading on the Curve:
There was a lot of talk this past week about the Yankees and the Braves attempting to trade some of their top prospects. Personally, it made no sense. I tell you why write here!
Another pitcher, Andrew McKirahan, was suspended for PED use today. Last week I looked at the drug and PED problem in Minor League baseball, and what can be done to fix it right here.
If you have been keeping up with all the money thrown around on Cuban prospects the past year, you’ll also realize that few of them can handle the Major Leagues. Here’s the problem with what I have coined the Cuban Prospect Crisis.
At Yanks Go Yard:
My fellow Yankees fans need to pipe down about A-Rod. It’s time everyone accepts A-Rod is here to stay and THE reason our Yankees are winning ball games. My weekly Monday feature: The Bronx is Boiling.
Baseball Hot Corner:
Every Monday, I bring the baseball world recaps of the NL East. Here are Weeks One and Two so you can get caught up!
That’s a good start. I felt it my duty to check in with the Wayniac Nation because I have been kind of silent as of late, but that’s not because I haven’t been pumping out my views on sports. Hopefully, I have won your viewership back, and I will start pumping out some more of your favorite rants on what grinds my gears in the world of sports more often.
Till next time, make sure you wish Le’Veon Bell a Happy 420!
WOW: #RE2PECT
No words needed. An amazing tribute and send off to the Yankees Captain and baseball icon. Courtesy of Jordan Brand!
A Minor Yankees Fantasy Challenge
As most of my followers already know, I am the head of the Yankees Minor League Coverage Team at YanksGoYard.com. Week in and week out, I bring you roundups of all the nights scores, features on individual prospects, as well as the bi-weekly Prospect Watch. To say I know a little something about the Yankees’ farm system is an understatement.
If you follow me on Twitter (which I hope you do by now!), you know I constantly get in discussions with other minor league junkies about our depleting farm system. @Draft2Dynasty is one of those such followers. Recently someone posed the question to @Draft2Dynasty: If you could take the entire Yankees’ farm system and make a 25-man roster of people who will make the bigs, what would it look like? Not only has @Draft2Dynasty posted his, he invited a couple of us minor league coverage guys to chime in with ours. Of course I jumped on any opportunity to make some sort of fantasy baseball roster!
The following 25-man roster (we are allowed an additional five roster spots for the DL, which in the minor leagues can be because you sneezed softer than usual) encompasses the four active Yankees’ minor league affiliates: The Charleston RiverDogs, the Tampa Yankees, the Trenton Thunder, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. @Draft2Dynasty hasn’t followed Charleston much this season, so he excluded them. I however, have watched them on the internet, so I am taking a few of their brightest stars. Again, these are the 30 players that I see having a shot to play in pinstripes, not just good ball players. That is pretty much the challenge in a nutshell, so without further ado:
Wayne Cavadi's Online Portfolio 