Around the Empire: Yankees news - 9/16/15

Wall Street Journal | Daniel Barbarisi: Alex Rodriguez and Brett Gardner called Slade Heathcott 's three-run homer on Monday the Yankees' biggest win of the season, but what does the Win Probability Added stat say?

Deadspin | Barry Petchesky: Heathcott was about as unlikely a hero as they come, given his tumultuous backstory.

Sporting News | Jesse Spector: Does the excitement of the Rangers/Astros AL West race suggest that MLB should do a massive realignment to put geographically close teams like the Yankees & Mets and Royals & Cardinals in the same divisions? It could make for even more intense rivalries.

Hardball Talk | Craig Calcaterra: Speaking of which, the "New York is becoming a Mets town" trope is one that needs to die. It gets brought up every single time the Mets happen to be playing a little bit better than the Yankees, but that doesn't suddenly change everything, and the neutral Calcaterra squashes this myth.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Adam Warren seems to be making the case to be the modern version of Ramiro Mendoza, given his versatility in short relief, long relief, and starting roles.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Jacoby Ellsbury has had a rough go of it lately, but Joe Girardi said that he will remain in the leadoff spot.

ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews: A-Rod suffered a bone bruise in his knee on Sunday during his slide home on the sacrifice fly. Thankfully, the injury isn't too serious and he has been able to play through it the past couple days, and if his monster homer on Tuesday is any suggestion, it doesn't seem to affect him too much.