The Basement View

   Now that the World Series is over five days from now the offseason begins. With that in mind, this is the biggest offseason that Brian Cashman will have in his 25-year tenure as Yankee General Manager. For the first time since 2016 the Bronx Bombers watched the postseason from their couches, and they earned that right. Amazingly, this team finished over .500, although not that far above that mark. This iteration of the Bronx Bombers finish with the same record as that 2016 team—but the feeling with this squad feels different. Following the 2016 season, there was hope of the two power bats that would usher in the “Baby Bombers,” and in that offseason, the farm system was rated in the Top 10 in all of baseball. There was almost certainty that Brian Cashman would put a championship team around Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, and Luis Severino that would be a title contender for years to come. There was hope. And that hope almost turned into reality. Almost. But, that was then

We’ve reached one of my favorite times of year. If only Baseball Reference, Major League Baseball, or even some of the “hardcore” fans cared about something that matters as much as the MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of the Year. 2023 for me seems like a changing of the guard. New rules breathed life into old-style baseball. Superpower teams have fallen flat, and new blood has burst onto the scene. After years of screaming “let the kids play” the next wave of youth has shown up in the game and is staying for good. So, let’s highlight that new talent and celebrate the best game on the planet as it has entered its newest era in its wonderful history: 1 st Team All-MLB: Catcher: Adley Rutschman After all this time, Rutschman has delivered on the hype that comes with the tag of a number one overall pick. On a team that is up and coming, the Baltimore backstop is the heart and soul of the team. In his sophomore season, the 25-year-old catcher was the catalyst for Baltimore’s incredible season fro