New York Yankees Editorial: Bronx is Boiling: ASG Edition

By Wayne Cavadi |

The New York Yankees are heading into the All Star Break sitting at 48-40. They have a three and a half game lead over the Rays and are tied for the second best record in the American League. Rob Refsnyder ended the weekend with his first home run, and things are looking great.

The Yankees are sending three representatives to this year’s All Star Game. While Yankees are usually well represented in the All Star Game, this year a little something is missing. The Bronx is boiling and I need to blow some steam.

WHO IS THE NEXT ALL STAR LEGEND?

The All Star Game will look a little different for Yankees fans this year. For the first time since 2003, Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera won’t be there. It gave something for Yankees fans to look forward to year in and year out when those Core Four guys were around. We pretty much knew we’d see a few big plays by the Yankees legends.

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2013 of course saw The Sandman’s final appearance. Mariano Rivera triumphantly took the mound to start the eighth inning alone, ending an All Star career that saw him allow one unearned run over his nine appearances.

Rivera recorded four saves over his nine All Star appearances. He won the 2013 All Star Game MVP by very uncharacteristically being a set-up man. A 1-2-3 eighth inning preserved the win for the American League and Mariano rode off into the sunset behind his first MVP award.

Last year was Derek Jeter’s turn. While he didn’t win MVP, he certainly made some fireworks early in the game. Jeter ripped a controversial double — one that Adam Wainwright eluded to serving up some juicy pitches for him — and started the scoring for the American League’s victory. Jeter, too, was an All Star Game mainstay throughout his career, making 13 appearances.

Jeter, as he always did on the biggest stages, shined brighter than most All Stars. He finished his All Star career going 13-for-27, with a home run and three RBI, while scoring six runs. He captured his lone All Star MVP Award in 2000.

So, who’s next? Who will take the Yankee torch as a mainstay at the Midsummer Classic? Who will consistently be one of the focal points when the American League wins?

Sep 4, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) doubles to right center during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The early candidate, thanks to an Alex Gordon injury, is Brett Gardner. Gardner is making his first All Star appearance but as a player he is developing more into an all around player each year.

Gardner used to be speed guy, who would get on base, steal a lot of bases and score runs in bunches. Now, he is becoming a well rounded player who plays the game fast. He’s on pace to set career highs in home runs, runs and doubles, as well as all three categories in the slash line. He is an exciting player, and exciting players are just the type of players who make a lot of noise in All Star games.

Betances is heading to his second straight All Star Game. The downside that makes Betances an unlikely candidate to make a huge impact right now is that he will most likely be used as the set up man, and unless you are Mariano Rivera, being the set-up guy is not going to etch an everlasting memory on anyone.

What Betances has going for him is that he is just 27-years old and is most likely the closer of the not so distant future. Betances has sick stuff, and he, like Gardner, is exciting to watch. Those are the types of players that rise to the occasion in games like these. Those are the players that people remember and give MVP honors to.

Who knows what is in store at this year’s All Star Game, but it certainly is a changing of the guard for the Yankees. Will Gardy, Tex or Betances step up and capture the limelight? One thing is for sure: for the first time in a few years, it looks like the postseason may matter. Hopefully the Yankees representatives bring home a win for that home-field advantage.

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