The New York Yankees finished the 2023 campaign with a disappointing 82-80 record.

They missed the postseason for the first time since 2016 and had the worst run differential in the division at -25.

Overall, it was a lousy year for a team that had obvious World Series aspirations.

It wasn’t all bad, though.

Even while missing 56 games with various injuries, Aaron Judge finished with 37 home runs and a 1.019 OPS, Gleyber Torres was consistently productive, and Gerrit Cole is primed to win his first Cy Young award.

That wasn’t all.

The bullpen was excellent all year despite losing key names such as Jonathan Loaisiga, Lou Trivino, Scott Effross, Ron Marinaccio, and others for significant periods of time.

“The Yankees 3.34 reliever ERA was the best in MLB this season,” Talkin’ Yanks tweeted.

The Yankees 3.34 reliever ERA was the best in MLB this season pic.twitter.com/MIaUdQP9oh

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 3, 2023

Thanks to pitching masterminds Matt Blake and Sam Briend, the Yankees have been able to salvage the careers of countless relievers and get the best out of pitchers as a whole in the organization.

Their success stories include Marinaccio, Clay Holmes, Wandy Peralta, and most recently Ian Hamilton, who had a brilliant 2.64 ERA in 58 innings this year.

Keynan Middleton, for example, had a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 frames after coming over at the deadline this year.

Tommy Kahnle finished with a 2.66 ERA in 40.2 frames, the same numbers as Nick Ramirez.

Jhony Brito went from being a lousy starter to an excellent reliever, too.

What the organization lacks in offensive production, it makes up for it in pitching excellence, particularly from its relievers.

If the Yankees ever assemble a respectable offense, they will almost certainly return to the playoffs in 2024.

The post The Yankees Own A Surprising Mark For The 2023 Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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Damian Lillard has officially said goodbye to the Portland Trail Blazers.

After years of questions, speculation, and rumors, Lillard has moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks.

His departure from the Blazers wasn’t without its drama and upset feelings but Lillard still holds the team and city close to his heart.

Speaking with Chris Haynes on NBA TV, Lillard revealed that his affinity for Portland remains.

“Even today, I love Portland, I love the Trail Blazers organization. I don’t regret any of my time in the past couple of years. I loved going to work every day,” Lillard said.

My @NBATV sitdown with Milwaukee Bucks new star guard @Dame_Lillard: “I’m supposed to be here and I’m excited for what’s to come.” pic.twitter.com/AsMzbZ8UDe

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 2, 2023

This is the sort of response that people expected from Lillard.

Throughout the entirety of his career, his love of Portland could never be questioned.

Through thick and thin, he remained loyal to the team and consistently said he believed in them.

There just came a point when his desire to win a championship became bigger than his desire to stay in Portland.

In terms of NBA trades, his move from the Blazers went about as well as it could go.

Lillard didn’t end up with the Miami Heat like he wanted but all sides of the trade seemingly walked away happy and Lillard re-committed his love for the city and the organization.

Even though Portland fans are very hurt to see him go, it sounds like they are going to still wish him the best in the years ahead.

There have been much messier breakups throughout NBA history.

The current drama between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers is a prime example of that.

Lillard is ready for the next chapter of his NBA career but he is still very fond of the place where it all started.

The post Damian Lillard Discusses Where He Stands With The Trail Blazers appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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As the MLB community is well-aware, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first Black player in MLB in 1947.

As important for the game as that moment was, Robinson wasn’t the only one breaking barriers.

Frank Robinson did it, 49 years ago, by becoming the first Black manager in MLB history.

The Cleveland Guardians, then Indians, gave him the job.

“49 years ago today, Frank Robinson broke racial barriers by becoming MLB’s first Black manager with the Cleveland Indians,” Bally Sports Cleveland wrote via Twitter.

49 years ago today, Frank Robinson broke racial barriers by becoming MLB’s first Black manager with the Cleveland Indians. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/slNAhOn4gV

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) October 3, 2023

It happened on this day, but in 1974.

It’s mind-blowing that it took so long for the league to finally realize that a Black manager should receive the same opportunities as a White one and that their ability to lead an MLB team should be the one being evaluated.

Robinson was probably the right person for the job and for the specific context that came with it: he was a man of a fiery personality that wasn’t going to let the circumstances affect him.

In the end, his career as a manager wasn’t better than what he did as a player, but that doesn’t mean it was bad.

He did win more than 1,000 games as a skipper, retiring with a 1,065-1,176 record and a .475 winning percentage.

He was the American League Manager of the Year in 1989 with the Baltimore Orioles.

With Cleveland, he managed for three seasons, from 1975 to 1977, losing his job after just 57 games that year.

Still, it was a huge step in the history of the game and for Black people in baseball looking for opportunities.

The post Guardians Recall Important MLB History On This Day appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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