DON'T BLAME CASHMAN...

There were plenty of people calling for Brian Cashman’s head on a platter after it was announced that Michael Pineda would require shoulder surgery and was done for possibly 12 months. Many questioned why Brian didn’t know about this injury before the trade that sent Noesi and Montero to the Mariners. But according to Cash they did everything possible to have discovered any potential problems prior to the trade. The Mariners GM said he was shocked to hear this news (what else was the guy going to say?). I think there was very little Brian Cashman could have done to discover that Pineda was going to break down this early in the season. Hopefully, when Pineda returns next year, he will be the pitcher Brian Cashman and the Yankees had hope he would be.

With that said, Brian Cashman and the Yankees need to make some changes to fix what is clearly broken with regards to the pitching. The usual route the Yankees have taken in the past is to just let struggling pitchers keep going until they can figure out a trade for another big named arm. This is definitely not what they want to do this time.

It’s time for Cash to go in a different direction for a solution. The Yankees have the talent they need to have a good starting rotation. He just needs to pull the trigger and make some difficult decisions.

If Cashman can make this work without sacrificing any of the current talent, I will applaud him. I hope he makes the right choices in the next weeks to get this team back on the right track toward the post season.

If I could say anything to Brian Cashman it would be to remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Don’t do it Brian – think outside the box this time. I promise you won’t regret it.

SWISHER BEING SWISHER IS JUST FINE BY ME

Once again the Yankees are wrong in the eyes of the talking heads. Specifically former MLB player and ESPN analyst, John Kruck. Who on this past Sunday Night Baseball called out Nick Swisher for what Kruck called excessive celebrating during the come from behind win against the Boston Red Sox the day before. So instead of just giving credit to an incredible win by the Yankees, Kruck and Terry Francona took umbridge with Nick pounding on his chest after hitting a 2 run double. Hypocrite is the first word that came to my mind when I saw this on ESPN.

Let us start with the fact Swisher was NOT showing up the Red Sox pitcher. He was elated that he had contributed more runs to get his team what turned out to be a win. The previous inning, Swish hit a grand slam. When you watch the replay of the home run, you notice Nick didn't do anything but run the bases after the ball went out. He didn't stand there and watch it - like say David Ortiz (right TERRY?).

It really irked me (to say the least) that Nick is getting criticized for being excited. Don't forget this time last year Nick got off to a slow start and those same talking bobble head dolls at ESPN and the like were saying the Yankees should trade Swisher.

Nick Swisher brings fun and energy to the Yankees and the game in general. His smile could light up Yankee Stadium and his kindness and generosity warms your heart.

So if Saturday night in Boston was Swisher being Swisher - that is not only perfectly fine with me - I'll sign up for more. After all, this is a boys game played by men. Let's try not to forget that.

Because Nick is simply Swish-a-lishous

YANKEE FANS - TIME TO PANIC? NO BUT TIME FOR SOME CHANGES...

The Yankees lost their second consecutive game tonight against the Rangers. Phil Hughes started the game and only went 2.2 innings, giving up 5 hits and 4 runs. Unlike the Red Sox game on Saturday where Freddy Garcia had only a slightly worse outing, the Yankees were unable to rally back.

This bad outing by Hughes came on the heels of the news this afternoon that Michael Pineda is finished for at least this year (probably until May 2013). So, now Garcia and Hughes have struggled and Pineda is gone. So now what?

First, Phil Hughes needs to go to the bull pen. He honestly was better in relief. The Yankees and Phil need to face that fact and move him there. Don't get me wrong, I like Phil a lot and want him to do well, but sometimes we need to face what our strengthens and weaknesses are. I don't think you give up on him, just adjust his role on this team. There is nothing wrong with making him a relief pitcher. It's not a sign of failure but a sign of playing to your strength. As for Freddy Garcia - I'm sorry but he does need to go. He is not happy about the potential of losing his spot - so how well will he do if he does. I just don't think he will accept that role in the pen.

Phelps can't take Garcia's next spot because he pitched a couple of innings tonight. Unfortunately, the Yankees are going to have to deal with whatever Garcia gives them in his next rotation spot (probably Sunday against the Tigers). Hopefully, Kuroda has figured some things out after his well pitched game yesterday and can win the games CC and Nova pitch.

That said, the Yankees need to consider calling up DJ Mitchell who is pitching pretty well in Triple A. Make the Mitchell and David Phelps starters (replacing Hughes and Garcia). Yes, it will mean shifting people around - but it can be done. Lastly, we hopefully will also have Andy Pettitte back by mid May (fingers crossed).

Although it is early in the season and the Yankees are not in any real trouble right now - that can change quickly with a losing streak. The Yankees have to figure this out soon and going to your young pitchers may just be the answer. The Yankees have the talent to pull this together.

Pitching aside, the Yankees also need to start getting hits in key situation. The teams are leaving too many runners in scoring position.

It's not time to hit the panic button - but it really is time for changes to me made.

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FREDDY GARCIA: A YANKEE UPDATE

Last night Freddy Garcia threw 5 2/3 innings and gave up 8 hits and 5 earned runs. Not awful in the world of baseball - since the Yankee offense only scored 3 runs (of which 2 were solo home runs by Jeter and Granderson), all in the first inning.

What concerns me about Garcia is that he is pitching like he's waiting for Andy Pettitte to return and losing his spot in the rotation is a far gone conclusion. Let's face it, when the Yankees announced Pettitte's return, Freddy didn't attend the Welcome Back Andy dinner.

Baseball is full of personal do or die moments in a player's career. Whether it's pitching for your spot in the rotation or in the hitting line up. Times when a player has to dig down deep and find the ability and talent that got them to the majors in the first place.

Freddy has a few more starts to prove he belongs in the rotation. He has to put his pride aside and just pitch. There is a difference between playing with determination and playing pissed off. For his sake, I hope Freddy stops playing pissed. Because if not, Freddy is not only in jeopardy of losing his spot, but losing his pinstripes.

THIS WEEK IN MLB: MY FUNNY VALENTINE, DONNIE AND THE DODGERS AND REMEMBERING JACKIE

Well another week of baseball is in the books and it was interesting yet again.

On Sunday Red Sox Manager, Bobby Valentine called out one his players,
Kevin Youkilis. Valentine stated he didn't think that Youk was playing with the same intensity and drive as he had previously. Everyone knows a big baseball no no is to call out your player in public. Kevin Youkilis is many things but lacking intensity and heart is not one of them. It's possible Pedroia has a point when he said "Maybe that's how they do things in Japan..."regarding his skippper's comment. As a die hard Yankee fan this stuff is better than the Kardashians reality show.

The Yankees are now 5-4 and that's without Andy Pettitte. If he comes back as 2010 Andy, the Yankees may have the team they having been trying to assemble since 2009 and make Cashman look like the genius he thinks he is. Time will tell.

Don Mattingly is showing the West Coast some East Coast old school ball playing. The Dodgers have magic alright, but it's not Johnson - it's Mattingly.

Last but not least, yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day. On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major league baseball. All the death threats and name calling endured by Jackie can never be imagined. What Jackie Robinson Day should remind us, is that the civil rights movement did not begin at a lunch counter or on a bus in Selma or Birmingham Alabama; but on a ball field in Brooklyn New York. That truly makes me a proud to be a fan.

MY FAVORITE YANKEES

There have been so many great Yankee players, naming one favorite is impossible. But here are a few of mine and why. Most are recent or current Yankees and some from my childhood. These are in no particular order:

DEREK JETER
No surprise here. "The Captain" What I admire about Jeet is his ability and his will to do just about anything he sets his mind to. I once said if Jeter wanted to will himself to fly, he could. His friend Jorge Posada said once It would be Derek he would want next to him in a foxhole. I get why.

JORGE POSADA
If Jorge wants Derek in a foxhole - I want Jorge in mine. Jorge is what you call a "grinder". Being a catcher is the hardest job in baseball and he never gave anything less than his ALL in every game and every at bat. He also knows that baseball is a boys game played by men and loves the fun aspect of the game.

PAUL O'NEILL
"The Warrior" Intense does not begin to describe Paul. But intensity is what made Paul a winner. When the game was on the line, he was one of the players you want at the plate.

RON GUIDRY
When I think of "Gator", I think of the of a line from Springsteen's Glory Days: "He could throw that speedball by you make you look like a fool boy" Part of his legacy in baseball will be fans clapping for a pitcher with two strike and two outs - that started with Guidry's 18 strikeout game and now a part of baseball.

MARIANO RIVERA
Mo is one of those players every team dreams of. Not just for his pitching ability but for what he brings to a clubhouse. He encourages young players to play the game the right way. He also brings a calmness to a team and makes sure no player ever thinks they are bigger or more important than the team. He also happens to have the BEST smile in baseball!

DON MATTINGLY
Who didn't love "Donnie Baseball" in the 80's? Don was one of those players that just wanted to win - at any cost. He was a captain, like Jeter, that lead by example. He was never going to let the other team get the best of him. In his mind, you had to play your best to beat him.

ANDY PETTITTE
I am THRILLED Andy is back! I love watching Andy pitch with the stare to home plate and one of the best pick off moves in the game. Is there anything better than watching Andy getting pumped after getting a big strike out? There is also no one more humble than Andy - which you find less and less of in the game today.

CURTIS GRANDERSON
Forget the foxhole - if I am stranded on the side of the road, I am hoping Curtis is driving by. One of the best embassadors in baseball today. He brings his intelligence to the game on and off the field. Oh and his sweet swing and power to hit it out isn't bad either. Like Yankee Centerfielders before him, he plays the position hard and with everything he has to give.

Well, that is just some of my favorites. So many others I could name - Joe Torre, Bernie Williams, Thurman Munson, Robinson Cano and so on. Yankee players have brought so much joy to their fans and still do to this day.

To paraphrase Joe D:

I thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee fan!