The Magnified Lows of a Long MLB Season...

 

Oswald Peraza, Luis Rengifo, and Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After sweeping the Royals, the Yanks have lost six straight…

Just when you thought the Yankees were getting a good mix of pitching, hitting, and defense, they forgot how. The team's hitting slump has been a primary culprit, but Friday night’s error by Anthony Volpe in the eighth inning that botched a potential inning-ending double play, allowing the winning run to score for the Los Angeles Angels, was the poster child of what ails this team. It is blowing the key moments of games. It seems like baseball always comes down to a few key plays and how you perform during the game’s most intense moments.

Anthony Volpe is what he is. He is a decent player on a team with championship aspirations. He is not a superstar and will never be. Being a good player on a great team is not a terrible thing. Great teams need good complementary players to support the elite guys on the roster. My only request is for Volpe, or anyone on the team, to make the routine plays.

Losing six straight games is certainly not solely Volpe’s fault. This has been a team effort, or lack thereof.

Every season has its highs and lows, and this losing streak will end. Will the Yankees be in first place in the AL East when they start winning again? Maybe, maybe not, but there are still more than three months left in the season. In other words, there is time to turn the ship around and point it in the right direction despite the recent lackluster play.

The sting of the losing streak is playing so pathetically against the team’s most hated rival, especially since the Boston Red Sox had been playing so poorly until they ran into the Yankees (or rather, ran over the Yankees). Then, an inferior baseball organization like the Angels has taken advantage of every mistake, every gift handed to them by the Yankees. These are two teams the Yankees should easily beat, and they would have earlier in the season. When the season ends, the Yankees will have a better record than either the Red Sox or the Angels. It is time for the team to wake up and start playing baseball to the best of their abilities. Hopefully, it starts today.

My biggest frustration with the Yankees in recent years is how they always leave a hole or two in the roster construction. For the longest time, it was left field after Brett Gardner’s career had ended. This past offseason, third base was such a glaring and obvious hole to even the most novice fans, yet the Yankees did nothing but try to patch it with converted in-house second basemen. There was a time that I loved DJ LeMahieu, but he is not helping this roster, and while Jazz Chisholm may have the heart to play third base, his highest and best use is his work at second base. Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez is the current name most often mentioned for the Yankees. The Diamondbacks are currently 36-37, nine games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, and three games out of the Wild Card chase. It is the distance to the Wild Card that will determine if the D-Backs are buyers or sellers at the deadline, and whether Suarez will be available. I do not care if the Yankees acquire Suarez or another experienced third baseman; I just want a good third baseman to manage the position. Getting an elite player is unlikely, but the Yankees would be improved by putting people at their best positions…not asking them to play out of position.

If the Yankees were contemplating designating LeMahieu for assignment last year, it is something they need to consider in the coming weeks, especially if they can get Chisholm back to his natural second base. Oswald Peraza is another guy who needs to go. His spot on the roster can be upgraded. The former top prospect, who turned twenty-five last week, is not going to be a star, and the Yankees would be better served by getting a better infielder who can provide stronger support for Volpe at shortstop. No doubt if the Yankees dropped Peraza, he would get picked up by Boston and become a star. That is how it works these days as the Red Sox continue their rebuilding through the effective play of multiple former Yankees. Oh well, I have seen enough of Peraza, and I am ready for other options.

I am always amazed at how Boston can get itself out from under heavy contracts, and the Yankees never can. Boston stunned the baseball world following their recent sweep of the Yankees when they sent their best hitter, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants in a surprising trade. When I first saw the trade reports, I thought it was just another one of those hypothetical trades with a clickbait title. The Red Sox had strained their relationship with Devers, and regardless of whether it was Devers’ fault or the team’s fault, it was starting to look like an irreparable situation. The Red Sox made their bed when they signed former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, pushing Devers off third base. The breakdown was how poorly the situation was handled. Better communication with Devers would have helped ease the transition, but there was probably much behind the scenes that we may never know. Still, shipping Devers away when the Red Sox had just started to build some momentum after a slow start does not seem like the best move for October aspirations. I would not say the Red Sox only got a bag of balls for Devers. There is talent in the young players they acquired. One (James Tibbs III) was a first-round pick in last year’s draft. The worst aspect of it is the talent acquired is not ready for the Major Leagues, outside of Jordan Hicks. Boston may get some value this year, but more than likely, the incoming players (most notably Tibbs and Kyle Harrison) will help in future years, not this year unless the Red Sox can reignite the hard-throwing Hicks to the potential he once held. Boston seems to get more out of their young players than the Yankees, and I expect the Red Sox will do more with their recent acquisitions in time. However, in any way you slice it, losing Devers from their lineup hurts this year.

Rafael Devers (Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

It is funny that Boston will immediately find out what life is like watching Devers from the opposing dugout when they travel to San Francisco this weekend. I hope Devers gives Boston the taste of some of those clutch late-inning home runs. Let them feel the pain and aggravation that we have suffered over the years. Devers was the biggest Red Sox thorn on the Yankees’ side since David Ortiz. I am glad the Yankees will rarely see him now that he resides in the Bay Area. He is the Dodgers’ problem now.

My biggest fear with Boston’s salary relief is that they will become a major player for Kyle Tucker when he hits free agency after the season. I know Tucker would be great in Yankee Stadium, but my preference is for him to wear the famed Pinstripes, not the Boston Road Gray uniform. It is hard to get excited about a potential superstar free agent signing, considering the Yankees have rarely been the winning bidder for the game’s best players in recent years. Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge, plus the brilliant signing of Max Fried, are the notable exceptions, but the Yankees have generally lost out on the game’s best talent. I assumed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tucker’s current team, the Chicago Cubs, would be major bidders for his services later this year, but we can now add the Red Sox to the list of teams with stupid money to burn. Well, the Dodgers might be out with the news that their owner is purchasing a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for ten billion dollars. Well, not out, but enough to give some pause about adding another high-dollar contract.

For all the negative comments on social media about Yankees manager Aaron Boone, I thought it was a class move on his part to add Joe Torre as an honorary coach for the American League squad during next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta. 

Joe Torre (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/New York Post)

Torre, as a former Braves player and manager, will be well received by local fans, and his presence next to Boone brings back so many warm feelings about those great Yankees teams under Torre.  Boone also added Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to his All-Star coaching staff.

The trade deadline is a little more than a month away. It is time for Brian Cashman and company to start cooking. Fix what ails the team. I am not overly optimistic they will, but we can always hope. Go ahead, Brian, make our day.

Today is a good day for the start of a winning streak.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Just When It Was Safe To Feel Good Again...

 

Will Warren and Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

Yankees make the best of a bad weekend…

A series loss is a series loss; any way you slice it. I am trying to find the positives in the weekend thrashing by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took two of three games from their World Series rival and our beloved men in Pinstripes. Winning the getaway game on Sunday at least gave the team some sliver of hope after Saturday’s massacre and Friday’s loss despite an ace on the mound. It is not enough to make up for losing two of three games, but it is something. The downside is the injury news related to Luke Weaver and his hamstring, which could potentially land him on the Injured List, and the contusion on the left thumb of Jasson Dominguez.

The Yankees cannot afford to lose Luke Weaver for an extended period. The severity of the injury will obviously dictate the length of his absence so we can only hope and pray for the best. His absence would put Devin Williams back in line for his original Closing role. Williams has much to prove to give us any optimism that he can be the great Airbender he was in Milwaukee. I would like to see him succeed, but I am not confident he can. Some guys are not made for New York, and so far, Williams seems to be one of those guys who shy away from the brightest lights. I would like to be wrong, and maybe his Pinstriped start was just a product of learning life on America’s greatest stage. I want him to succeed, but it seems to me that he will exit the stage for a new and smaller city as soon as his contract expires this Fall, and free agency opens. Nevertheless, he gets another opportunity to prove he can finish what he starts.

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: SI.com)

I am concerned about losing Dominquez, but not as much as Weaver. To back up Dominguez, the Yankees could call up Everson Pereira, who certainly deserves another opportunity. Now twenty-four, Pereira is batting .275/.355/.504 with .859 OPS. He has nine home runs and twenty-three RBIs. He has swiped five bags while getting caught stealing only once. If Dominguez misses any time, I will have no qualms about bringing up Pereira to replace him. Pereira is one of those guys. He has nothing left to prove in the minors.

I was feeling good about the Yankees until the Dodgers series. Losing two games in early June is not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but after all the trash-talking the Dodgers did about the Yankees after the World Series, I did want a better outcome. At least the Yankees took the last game to prevent a sweep. I like challenges such as that series because it helps the Front Office identify clear and present needs (as if they do not already know). It shakes the belief to just stand pat with the present hand. The Yankees do need reinforcements and effective ones at that. Too often, GM Brian Cashman’s deadline acquisitions underwhelm. They proved they were not worth the cost. Every now and then, he hits a winner, but he errs more than he succeeds.

I know the Yankees will soon see the return of Giancarlo Stanton. It will be good to have him back, but it is hard not to wonder how the roster will be constructed when they must make room for him on the active roster. I am worried that the loser will be Ben Rice, who has proven he is a Major League baseball player. Long term, I would rather have Rice over Stanton,  so I do not want to see Rice suffer because of Stanton’s return. We are within the last few years of Stanton’s Yankees career. He is getting older…it happens…and he is not suddenly going to become an injury-free player. Stanton will get hurt and he will miss time (lots of it). I love the guy’s home runs, but with all sincerity, I would rather have a younger player (Rice) who has played consistently since the start of the season.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: Newsbreak.com)

When the Yankees signed Ryan Yarbrough in the offseason, I thought it was just another scrap heap move. Of course, I thought the same when the Yankees signed Luke Weaver, but it is nice when Cashman and his cast of cronies catch lightning in a bottle with one of their low-risk signings. I hated it when Yarbrough pitched against the Yankees. I did not look back at the stats, but it seemed like he was always keeping the Yankees away from reaching home plate with his soft pitches. The guy who looks like he should be hittable but is not. There is no scenario I had pictured Yarbrough in the starting rotation, and yet, I do not want him to lose his current spot. He cannot sustain his effectiveness, but I am not sure the Yankees can do better at the deadline. It is not like frontline aces will be available for hire. Credit to Max Fried and Carlos Rodon for easing early concerns about the starting rotation. Fried, despite his disappointing start against the Dodgers a few days ago, has been a Godsend. Gerrit Cole is irreplaceable, yet Fried has held the door. Fried is, by far, my favorite free agent signing of the past few years, and the most unexpected.

I like Yankees manager Aaron Boone despite frustrations with him at times. I continue to see posts on social media that say the Yankees cannot win with Boone as the manager. I am not sure that I agree. I think, surrounded by the right players, Boone can lead the Yankees to the promised land. When people bash him, I always think, who is out there who could do better? I am sure Buck Showalter would get a few votes, but if he were so good, why is he not currently managing? Same with Joe Girardi. I like Joe, but I do not feel he is better than Boone. Rob Thomson has proven to be a better manager than Girardi in Philadelphia. If anything, the Yankees should have given Thomson a stronger chance for the Yankees' post before he left after Boone was hired.

Ironically, I feel better about the coaching staff on my favorite NFL team, a team that has NEVER won a championship, the Minnesota Vikings, than the Yankees. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is an offensive genius, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores is an elite defensive mind. I wish I had that confidence with the Yankees coaching staff. Outside of pitching coach Matt Blake, there is not really anyone who stands out. I temper it with who is out there (available) that can do better? I cannot find the answer to the question.

DJ LeMahieu had a nice game on Sunday. Thank you. But I am not buying into the belief that he will be a difference-maker. His age and his recent challenge with injuries place him in a high-risk category, and I do not want to pin any hopes on his health and ability to succeed. It sucks because I really liked LeMahieu when he was younger, but sadly, age happens. It does not help when a recent history of injuries accompanies it. It only gets worse from here. The talk is that Jazz Chisholm will be the third baseman upon his return, which would keep LeMahieu at second base. I do think second base is the best place to maximize LeMahieu’s talents, but for no other reason than age, I would prefer Jorbit Vivas. If the market dictates the availability of a better second baseman than third baseman who can help at the trade deadline, I think the Yankees should move on from David John LeMahieu. Heck, even if they did land a third baseman who can be a difference-maker, pushing Jazz to second, I would move on from DJ.

Why do people still talk about Juan Soto? He is a Met and will be for an exceedingly long time. I have moved on from him, and I do not care what he does (or does not do) with the Mets. Soto is not a Yankee, and he does not deserve any discussion in the Yankees Universe. That ship has sailed. It was Soto’s decision to leave. I have read people saying Hal Steinbrenner failed to keep him. Hal made an incredibly competitive offer, and Soto would have been a very wealthy man by staying with the Yankees and putting his name among the game’s all-time greats. It was his choice to leave. C’est La Vie.

I am a little annoyed that the Yankees keep giving the Boston Red Sox valuable pieces for their roster. Catcher Carlos Narvaez is obviously the latest example. I like JC Escarra, but I would have stayed with Narvaez as the backup for Austin Wells. I am old enough to remember when the Yankees would send talented catchers to the Pittsburgh Pirates. I wish they had done that with Narvaez (or just kept him). The Red Sox have benefited more from Yankees-developed talent than the Yankees have from Red Sox natives.

Hopefully, the Yankees can shake off their Dodgers series and return to their winning ways. The last thing the Yankees should do is let the Red Sox reignite hope in their lost season. Hopefully, every Yankee can bring their A game this weekend when the Yanks face their dreaded rival.

As always, Go Yankees!

May the Yankees Find Their Way...

   

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

Making the moves to retain control of the AL East...

I should go on record for saying that I like Giancarlo Stanton, but with the passage of time, I prefer younger players. I would hate to see Ben Rice lose his place when/if Stanton returns. For the benefit of the player and the team, it would be best for the Yankees to find a new home for Stanton when he is ready to play. I would have liked to have seen Stanton put a Yankees World Series Championship ring on his finger, and I appreciate the time he gave us. He was never really the World Crusher that he was in Miami during his MVP year, but he earned his pinstripes. It is a shame that so much time has been spent on the injured list during his time in New York. Moving Stanton would help the Yankees improve in other areas, like third base. 

As far as the AL East goes, I love the Yankees in first place, but I am amazed at the collapse of the Baltimore Orioles. The team has a pipeline of talent ready to be infused at the game’s highest level, but the front office’s decision to stay clear of premium pitching talent has thrown a monkey wrench into the machine. I thought the new Orioles ownership would be effective, but it has not. At the end of the day, the best AL East rivalry is the Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox. I may be a bit biased, but those tend to be the best games in the division.

Max Fried is a god. When Gerrit Cole went down for the season, losing the team’s ace seemed devastating. Yet, Fried promptly stepped into the top role and has delivered. Fried represents one of the greatest Yankees free agent signings of all time. It also rates highly as one I did not see coming. I am grateful for Max Fried and glad he is a Yankee.

Jonathan Loaisiga is back in the Bronx. I love Johnny Lasagna, but the injuries are inevitable. I am glad he is back, but it is hard not to wonder when the next trip to the IL awaits. I wish him good health, and I know the Yankees need him in the pen. I would love it if we could put the injuries in the rear-view mirror. I am glad he re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason, but staying healthy is on him. I wish him the best for good health as we move forward. I feel bad for Tyler Matzek, who was designated for assignment. But I would rather have a healthy Loaisiga on the roster than Matzek. I wish him the best for the future, whether he is selected by another team on waivers or if he is outrighted to Triple-A.

Luke Weaver, Closer. In retrospect, the Yankees should have stood pat with Weaver as their closer in the offseason. Devin Williams has been a disappointment, and so far, he has shown that he is not cut out for the Bronx. The fact that Nestor Cortes Jr has underwhelmed Milwaukee is of little comfort. I hope Williams can shake the Carl Pavano jitters and become a solid force in Pinstripes. If not, I would prefer the Yankees ship him elsewhere by the Trade Deadline. Send him to the Cubs to spice up the Cubs-Brewers rivalry as if it needs more spicing. I am disappointed Williams has become the latest Ed Whitson/Carl Pavano, but he has time to right the ship. I am hopeful the Airbender becomes a thing in the Bronx rather than just another failed acquisition shipped elsewhere. Meanwhile, I have no qualms about Weaver as the backend guy. 

Juan Soto, Luke Weaver, and Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

I was shocked to hear that Pete Rose and other deceased players like Shoeless Joe Jackson were freed from their lifetime suspensions. I saw Rose play, and there is no doubt he was an All-Star talent on the field. Yet, Rose, the man, was a sorry excuse for a human being. I wish he had admitted his guilt for betting on baseball games while he played. I had always said that it was okay for Rose to make the Hall of Fame after he died, and I continue to hold the opinion. Pete Rose, the player, is a Hall of Famer. Pete Rose, the guy? I could not care less. I do not find fault with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to free the deceased. Ultimately, they should be judged for their performance on a baseball field, not what they represented in everyday life. But if Rose does make the Hall of Fame, I think Barry Bonds, while living, should be there too. The cases are not related, but they both crossed ethical lines. Not saying that everybody who crossed an ethical line should be admitted, but I feel Bonds, without steroids, would have been a Hall of Famer. He was a talented baseball player with tremendous hand/eye coordination. The steroids may have boosted the bulk and the power, but not the ability to hit a baseball. You can get into more reasons why Bonds’ crimes are less severe than Rose’s indiscretions, but suffice it to say, I think Bonds should be in the HOF before Rose.

Barry Bonds

This post is not long, but I have experienced “life happens.” I moved from sunny Southern California, which I loved, to New Mexico. No doubt New Mexico would have never been at the top of my list of places to move to (if not for family), but I love my new home in Albuquerque. This past Wednesday, I became a grandfather for the first time, and the opportunity to live ten miles from him is exciting. The little guy is beautiful. I have found most babies to be ugly, but my grandson avoided that tag. Love the little man. He is quiet, except when he is hungry (hey, he took after me!), and my son is beyond proud of his son. It is great to see the continuation of the family lineage.

Sadly, there are no Major League sports in Albuquerque. The best sporting events are the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, the top farm club of the Colorado Rockies. I wish the Dodgers and their former farm club, the Albuquerque Dukes, were still here, but they are not. The second sports venue is the University of New Mexico basketball team. Go Lobos. I intend to check out some of the games. My daughter-in-law, the mother of my grandson, is a Lobo. My children are Arizona Sun Devils, but I will try to embrace the local Lobos.

Albuquerque will get a hockey team in 2026 when the ECHL expands. It is not the NHL, but it is the next level. I will certainly be supportive of the local hockey team.

Yesterday, I saw the Yankees traded minor league pitcher Rob Zastryzny back to his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for cash considerations. I have not been following him, and I know he is in the later stages of his career, but I am sorry it did not work out for him with the Yankees. Hopefully, he finds late career success in the Beer Capital. The Yankees also took a minor league flyer on former Giants/Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. I am not expecting much from the acquisition. The veteran right-hander is now thirty-five, and he last pitched in the Majors in 2023 for San Francisco.

I look forward to making some meaningful trades to help the team in the weeks and months before the trade deadline.

Unfortunately, the Yankees have lost Oswaldo Cabrera for an extended period due to his broken ankle and subsequent surgery. I wish him the best with his recovery and triumphant return to the Majors when he is ready. Even if he had not been injured, the Yankees would need an upgrade at third base. DJ LeMahieu is not the answer, and I always prefer to keep Cabrera in his utility role to play multiple positions. 

Oswaldo Cabrera (Photo Credit: AP)

I hope to write more in the coming months, but the move has occupied my time. This has been one of my most complicated moves despite moving from multiple cities over the past decade. I look forward to a prolonged stay in the Land of Enchantment with my young grandson. I plan to take him to a few baseball games and introduce him to America’s greatest sport.

As always, Go Yankees!

The New Season is Upon Us...

 

Aaron Judge

Life is good when there is Yankees Baseball every night…

I am happy the 2025 season is firmly underway. Unfortunately, it coincides with a move from California to New Mexico, so I will take a sabbatical for most of this month as I wrap things up in sunny Southern California and move to the Land of Enchantment. On the downside, there is no Major League Baseball in Albuquerque. Baseball is represented by the top farm club for the Colorado Rockies, the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. I have never been to Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, but that will change this summer.

Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have always enjoyed Minor League Baseball. Fewer crowds create a more intimate setting for the games and the chance to see great young talent as they journey to the Major Leagues. Years ago, I was fortunate to see Cal Ripken, Jr. as a Double-A player. I have never forgotten that game. You knew he was going to be a star. It was just a matter of time. He was just one example. Seeing young guys play before they achieve Major League stardom is exciting. 

Phoenix will probably be the easiest city to catch Major League games, but I have no desire to see the Arizona Diamondbacks. A little further, but not much, is Denver, Colorado. As a former Denver resident, I will travel north to Coors Field. For the record, I am a former Phoenix resident, too, but I have never forgiven the obnoxious D-Backs fans for their behavior outside of the ballpark in Phoenix during the 2001 World Series. I have a better feeling about the Rockies and their fans. Plus, after the Isotopes play, seeing the guys who graduate to the Major Leagues at Coors Field will be nice.

My hope is that Albuquerque will be the final stop for me. I have lived across the country, and New Mexico will be the eleventh state I have called home. I have no interest in chasing all fifty states or even twelve. I do not need a dirty dozen to make this complete. In recognition of Brett Gardner and the horrific tragedy that he and his family suffered recently, eleven sounds like a good stopping point. To step aside, I am so sorry for Brett’s loss. I cannot imagine how horrific it would be to lose a son on the cusp of the start of a tremendous and impactful life. There are no words, actions, or anything we can do to ease the pain for Brett and his family. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

Weirdly, some of the latest celebrities have involved New Mexico residents. Gene Hackman and Val Kilmer. I did not know that either man lived in New Mexico until they had passed. New Mexico is not necessarily a state I chose by preference unless you are discussing family. My son and his wife live in Albuquerque, and being at his home within minutes sounds nice. Well, better than that, it was an overriding factor in where I wanted to be. My son is a good man, and I am proud of him. There is literally nothing better than to hear my son call to ask if I want to go grab a beer. I am looking forward to spending more time with him and his family. 

But enough about me and my move.

I am excited about the New York Yankees' 2025 season. Sure, it would have been nice if Juan Soto had decided to take a few million dollars and some extra benefits to stay in Pinstripes, but it is what it is. He chose the money, and it was his right to do so. I have moved on. I wish him luck with the Mets, but at this point, he is just another Met—guys I do not think much about.

Back problems aside, I am glad to have Cody Bellinger on the Yankees. He is not Juan Soto, but he does not need to be. The Yankees could improve in other areas with the money they would have used to re-sign Soto. I like Cody’s swing, and it will be fun to see him develop a close and intimate relationship with Yankee Stadium. He seems like a good dude, and I am glad he is there for the other guys.

Max Fried will be good. I know things have not been perfect initially, but I am not concerned. The way he embraced being a Yankee bodes well for his future. He has talent, and he will persevere. As the elevated ace of the staff, I have no qualms about Fried being the guy until Cole returns next year. I am glad he is a Yankee.

Max Fried (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Last year, we always thought Trent Grisham was worth more time in the field, time he never got. He has taken advantage this year, much to our benefit. Grisham will never be an elite player but does not need to be. Play his role, which is the ask. So far, so good. Three home runs and seven ribbies after seventeen at-bats are not bad. Suitable for 0.5 WAR. OBP is .571, and SLG is 1.059…not sustainable, but Grisham shows he can help.

It is funny how the Torpedo Bat got so much attention when the Yankees came out slugging to start the season. It made it seem like the Yankees were the only team playing with the Torpedo Bats. If the bat is legal, let the boys play. Yankees Hate is a powerful thing.

I do not understand the Yankees and reliever Adam Ottavino. No disrespect to the childhood Yankees fan and respected Major League reliever (hard to believe that he will be forty years old after the season ends). When the Yankees signed him to replace Devin Williams, temporarily placed on the paternity list, another reliever might go when Williams returned. There was a financial commitment to Ottavino, so they were unlikely to cut him loose when Williams returned, but that is precisely what they did. When Williams was activated, Ottavino was designated for assignment. It seemed odd since the Yankees could have called up a minor leaguer to cover for a few days while Williams was out without spending much money.

A bigger surprise was tonight. First, it was reported that Ottavino had rejected a minor league assignment and was once again a free agent. Fine. Such is life. I never really expected him to accept a trip to Eastern Pennsylvania. Then came the word the Yankees had re-signed Ottavino, and he will rejoin the team in Detroit this week. Reliever Brent Headrick was optioned to Triple-A after Sunday’s game, so Ottavino presumably will take Headrick’s place. A weird sequence of events, but I wish Ottavino the best, and I hope he makes us proud. It is too bad that Marcus Stroman grabbed 0 when he joined the Yankees. It kind of seems like it should be Ottavino’s number. 58 seems like an odd choice. Oh well, Ottavino can make the new number his own.

I like Ottavino, but having him back is weird after he played for the two worst possible teams for Yankees fans: the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets. I know he is a New York guy, and playing in the Northeast is preferential. If he wears the Pinstripes, I want him to succeed. Welcome back, again.

With no disrespect for Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza, I still want a better third baseman.

I apologize for the short post, but as they say, life happens. This is not a paying gig, and my focus is my move to New Mexico. I hope the Yankees are in first place when I get to or close to the other side of the move. Wish me luck in my new environment.

As always, Go Yankees!

Is the Season Beginning or is it Ending? ...

 

Aaron Boone and Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)

Starting Rotation gives up significant hit…

Unfortunately, the hit absorbed by the starting rotation was not a meaningless single to left, it is the likely loss of the Ace of the Staff, Gerrit Cole. Fans are jumping off the ledge while the Yankees Universe awaits the MRI results on Gerrit Cole’s right elbow. It is not so much the MRI results, but the subsequent medical opinions based on the results that we await. The concerns expressed by both Cole and Yankees GM Brian Cashman raise the red flags that Cole will miss time. How much time is TBD? We could look at months for the best-case scenario and a year and a half for the worst-case scenario if Tommy John surgery is required. It is safe to assume that this will not be a Cy Young year for Cole.

In the words of former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, it’s not what you want. But there is always a chance a pitcher will go down. You hope for good health and immense success, but injuries do not seek out the less talented players. They do not discriminate. Good or bad at playing baseball, the risk of injury is consistently present.

I am not ready to admit defeat for the season because Gerrit Alan Cole cannot play. I am grateful the Yankees signed former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried in the off-season, but Fried and injuries are well known to each other. The keys to the starting rotation will be Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt. Their performances will go a long way toward determining which direction this year’s club takes.

I had hoped the club would trade Marcus Stroman to free up some cash to seek an upgrade for third base, but Stroman will be part of the 2025 rotation whether we like it or not. I hope for better results in Year 2. I like what we have seen from Will Warren this Spring, and I am optimistic he can keep it up when the real games begin, and he is fed a conveyor belt of major league hitters. When the Yankees gave Carlos Carrasco a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, I assumed it would be one of those opt-out situations if Carrasco could show other teams that he was capable. Instead, he will likely be asked to join the Yankees rotation to begin the year. I would have been excited to have him in the rotation a few years ago. But with the passing of time and the inevitable aging that happens to all of us, reliance on Carrasco is not where I wanted to be this year.

Once Upon a Time in Cleveland: Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco

There will be no opportunity to land a frontline starter in March. A strong middle-of-the-rotation arm is a tough ask. It would take going after a pitcher like Jordan Montgomery, who has something to prove with a contract that his present club finds a bit uncomfortable.

In other words, there are not too many options.

I wish there were greater readiness in the farm system. Other teams might perk up if the Yankees offered George Lombard, Jr, in a trade, but that should be off the table regardless of the state of the Starting Rotation. I am not trying to prospect-hold, but if there is one prospect in the Yankees system I want to keep, it is Lombard, Jr, who looks to be a future superstar. I thought some of the other prospects would be future superstars but ‘over-hyped’ tends to be the more common theme. I would like to think Lombard, Jr, can be the exception to the rule.

Oswaldo Cabrera has emerged as the frontrunner for third base. I am disappointed because I see Cabrera’s best asset as his diversity in playing multiple positions. I am not convinced he can provide the production needed from one of the corner infield positions. Maybe he proves me wrong. I am okay with that. But realistically, I would go into the season more confidently in the position. I get there will be no last-minute trade for Nolan Arenado before the season begins. Luis Rengifo is off the table too since he will not be ready for Opening Day. Maybe a Luis Arraez trade, including Dylan Cease, would be the perfect trade this time of year.

If Cabrera is named the Opening Day starter at third base, what does it mean for Oswald Peraza? Out of options, his only chance with the Yankees is to make the big-league club. If it does not happen, he will find himself designated for assignment, with enough talent another club would take a bite unless the Yankees can offload him in a trade. If you do not believe Peraza can be a starter, I would like to know whether you should stand behind him as a role player. My preferred path would be Peraza as the starter, with Cabrera maintaining his super-utility role, but the Yankees know better than I.

When Spring Training opened, I had no idea who would back up Austin Wells at catcher. I assumed it was Alex Jackson, the veteran catcher, who was netted in the trade of Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds last December. It's not that I thought Jackson was a potential talent, but it's more of a ‘who is left’ situation after the Yankees traded Carlos Narvaez to the Boston Red Sox. I like the JC Escarra story, the Uber driver who made good on a dream. He has displayed the talent to succeed in a backup role at the Major League level. It is not like we need a platoon partner for Wells. For all the catchers the Yankees have drafted in recent years, it seems weird that the best candidate is a minor league free agent that started in the Baltimore Orioles organization. I like Escarra and I hope he can succeed on the big-league roster. If Ben Rice makes the roster as a bench player, he will provide depth in catching and first base. I use the word ‘if’ but I think Rice has made the roster for his bat if nothing else.

Ben Rice

The Yankees could always swing a last-minute trade for a backup catcher before the team heads north. Many clubs face problematic decisions. Keep the phone lines open.

Regardless of whether the Yankees will miss Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Gil, and Juan Soto, I refuse to give up on the season. There is talent on the roster. It needs to be subsidized but that is Brian Cashman’s job. He needs to figure it out. Last time I looked at the Yankees' record for the 2025 season, it was 0-0, which is matched by all other clubs. The missing guys were not the sole keys to winning. They certainly contributed to it, but other guys need to step up. No one will step up to Juan Soto’s level, but there are pathways to the club’s 28^th World Championship if Cashman can find the right ingredients.

Although the Yankees' transactions have been quiet for the past few weeks, things should start to heat up (a little) as we get closer to Opening Day. I fully expect a Yankees move or two that will change who makes the Opening Day roster. Whether we are surprised and excited remains to be seen, but there will be moves.

If there is a takeaway from this post, please do not give up on the 2025 New York Yankees. Please feel free to exit if the team is twenty games out in July and in a downward spiral. But until then, the team needs our support. I will not bail on the Yankees because they have lost key players. I look forward to the guys who can be effective while they are out.

As always, Go Yankees!

Marching to a New Season...

 

Aaron "MVP" Judge

Don’t Look Now, the Regular Season is just a few weeks away…

Even though Spring Training only opened a couple of weeks ago, I am ready for it to end. Bring on Opening Day. With the calendar page turning from February to March, we have entered the month of the season opener at Yankee Stadium on March 27 against Nestor Cortes, Jr. and the Milwaukee Brewers. It is so close yet so far away.

After saying “toss the razors,” the Yankees made another momentous change when they announced Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” would no longer be played at Yankee Stadium after losses. I think it is the right move. In my opinion, it never seemed like the right song to play after losses. I am old enough to remember the days of going to the stadium hoping for a win to hear the song. Other Sinatra songs are acceptable for the losses, I am glad “Theme from New York, New York” will be saved for the victories. Start spreading the news…

As for the team itself, injuries and absences are the name of the game. Giancarlo Stanton left the team a week ago. When he first left, I thought it was related to the tennis elbow in both arms, but it was subsequently reported that he was away for personal reasons. There is no timetable for his return. I have no idea what to expect from Stanton this season. If his departure is long-term, the Yankees should consider a free agent signing of a proven veteran like JD Martinez to occupy the designated hitter slot for the team. But if Stanton is only out a few weeks, it makes more sense to rotate players through DH. Martinez can still be an effective bat, but it would have to be a one-year deal for limited cash to make it worthwhile.

I don't know what to think about Stanton. Given how secretive the Yankees have been about him, I am pessimistic about his projected contributions for the 2025 season. Hopefully, it is nothing, and Stanton can contribute for most of the season (and October, assuming the team qualifies), with JD Martinez finding employment elsewhere. The Yankees have already announced that Stanton will begin the season on the Injured List, so plans should be made without him. My preference would be to plan for the worst-case scenario.

Scott Effross, snake-bit as a Yankee…at least when it comes to injuries, is on the shelf again after suffering a hamstring injury during his first Spring game last week. The injury was diagnosed as a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, eliminating the reliever’s readiness for Opening Day. Hopefully, he takes the proper recovery measures and rest to ensure that he does not reaggravate the injury, setting him further behind. Since his acquisition from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline in 2022, Effross has spent more time on the Injured List than the active roster. Obviously, the need for Tommy John surgery, and the subsequent recovery and rehab is the primary culprit. Still, Effross has dealt with other issues, giving the Yankees only glimpses of his appearance on a playing field. Scotty, we hardly know ye.

Here is hoping he recovers quickly and efficiently from the hamstring injury and gives the Yankees a reliable reliever upon his return to active status later this season. But if his absence opens the door for a potential wild card like Eric Reyzelman, I like it.

The starting rotation was dealt a blow when it was announced that Luis Gil needs an MRI. Gil experienced tightness near his right shoulder during a bullpen session on Friday. Whether it is serious or not, Gil will likely miss considerable time. Hopefully, the MRI will yield better than expected news and not lead to a “he needs Tommy John surgery” situation. The “winner” of the Gil news is Marcus Stroman, who can slide into the rotation’s fifth spot. Stroman has gone from the player most likely to be traded to a needed part of the rotation, unless the Yankees decide to go with Will Warren based on his productive Spring or acquire a veteran arm through the trade market. I would still prefer to see the Yankees move Stroman and his contract if the money is why the Yankees have not aggressively pursued better options for third base. Stroman’s potential production can be replaced with cheaper options without sacrificing quality.

Hopefully, rest is the prescription for Gil, and he can take the mound in the coming weeks to build himself back up again for the rigors of a regular season. The last thing the Yankees need is for Gil to be shelved for the next 12 to 18 months.

In unsurprising news, DJ LeMahieu tweaked his calf during his Spring debut on Saturday. At this point, the only surprising news would be good health. I was a huge fan of LeMahieu during his days with the Colorado Rockies, and the start of his Yankees career was impressive. Sadly, Father Time caught up with LeMahieu, and the best is not yet to come. The best of DJ LeMahieu is in the rearview mirror; in his case, objects are not closer than they appear.

Suppose the rumors were true that the Yankees were ready to designate LeMahieu for assignment last Fall. In that case, they are clearly looking at insurance as a subsidy to pay LeMahieu as a reason they have kept him around. LeMahieu has reached the end of his useful Yankees life. Let him go finish his remaining years on another roster. Sorry, but that is the hard, harsh reality of Major League Baseball. The 26-man roster should be the best twenty-six men you can access. No loyalty is owed to players who no longer can play to the back of their baseball card.

With LeMahieu out of the picture, at least temporarily, the third base battle surfaces as Oswaldo Cabrera versus Oswald Peraza. Undoubtedly, I want Peraza to win the job between the two players. I believe Cabrera is best served by backing multiple positions and not being the everyday guy at a certain position. Peraza has potential. Whether he can reach it remains to be seen, but Peraza is a better fit to accomplish team goals. I am still hoping to acquire a gold glove, veteran bat (whomever that may be), but with each passing day, nothing but crickets on the Yankees transaction wire other than minor league moves.

I get why many do not want Nolan Arenado and I am certainly not going to say they are wrong, but I think Nolan can help if the Yankees can get him at Brian Cashman’s price. It may never happen, and the St Louis Cardinals might feel it is better to hold Nolan until the trade deadline. If Nolan gets off to a hot start in 2025, it will certainly improve his stock for the Cardinals’ benefit.

There are other strong third base options Brian Cashman could acquire so until the Opening Day Roster is announced, I hold out hope Cashman will seek outside assistance for third base and bypass the internal options. This action would spell the end of Peraza’s Yankees career since he is out of options. Cabrera certainly has a role on the bench. The Yankees lost the 2024 World Series. They need to figure out a way to be champions. Rolling the dice with players who have not proven themselves is a risky proposition. As a championship-ready club, the Yankees need a strong third baseman to instill confidence among the team with his bat, glove, and leadership ability. I think Arenado has these qualities, even in his age 34 season. Okay, it is not happening (Arenado’s acquisition). I will let it go. I just hated to see the Boston Red Sox add an accomplished third baseman even though they already have one, and the player has elevated the team's chances to succeed in the AL East. I want a counter that can be as effective for the Yankees.

I am glad to see the Boston Red Sox will be playing competitive baseball again. The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is the best in the AL East. I respect the young hitters on the Baltimore Orioles, but the Yankees-Orioles rivalry has never been that thrilling. The O’s management team does not seem all that committed to success given their reluctance to pursue top pitching through free agency and trades. The Blue Jays and Rays are just annoying. Yankees-Red Sox is the best rivalry in MLB, and it is best when both teams are at the top of their game.

I have not enjoyed watching the early struggles in left field by Jasson Dominguez, but after just two weeks of training camp, I refuse to condemn him. I already see numerous calls among the fan base to re-sign last year’s left fielder Alex Verdugo, who remains on the open market. The fact that Verdugo is a free agent in March should tell you something. He is not the answer. I feel Dominguez deserves more time. He is a young kid and has mastered the challenges he faced before. I have no reason to believe he cannot learn the nuances of playing a corner outfield position or the vast left field in Yankee Stadium. Like anything, he needs time. Players should not be crucified for Spring performances. They are trying things they would not try in a regular season game. As a result, the success rate will be far less than you would normally expect. Some fans say the Yankees should bring Brett Gardner in as a left field consultant. I am not sure Gardy wants to get back in the game, but if the Yankees could figure out a way to bring him back in, I would be all for it. He would certainly have valuable input on how to play Yankee Stadium’s left field.

I do not buy into the argument that the solution is moving Dominguez back to center, moving Cody Bellinger to left field. Belli will greatly influence the team’s chances and success in 2025. He is made for Yankee Stadium and its short right porch. He is an excellent centerfielder and first baseman. I want Belli to be in the best position to succeed. I do not want to see Belli trying to learn a position in his first year as a Yankee. He has too much to offer in the things he does best. Leave him alone.

Cody Bellinger, a born-to-be Yankee

I have no problem with Aaron Boone’s three-year extension that will pay him $15 million. It is essentially a two-year extension through the 2027 season, but Boone gets a pay hike to $4.5 million for the upcoming season. He will make $5 million next season, and $5.5 million in the 2027 season. If I saw available managers who could do a significantly better job than Boone, I would be furious about the extension. Still, at the end of the day, Boone’s good qualities are valuable and nobody would be a difference-maker. Perhaps there is untapped managerial potential with certain guys rising through the coaching profession (I am sure there are), but the Yankees need a ‘been there, done that’ guy at the top of the club’s food chain. Granted, Boone had no experience when he was hired, but it is safe to say that he is now an experienced manager, for better or worse. The Tampa Bay Rays did a wonderful job replacing Joe Maddon with the then-unproven Kevin Cash, but the Yankees are not in the rebuilding cycle that they can afford to take a chance on a guy like that.

The best thing a team can do for a manager is put the best coaches around him and the best players on the field. Do not leave holes at certain positions, like third base, relying on a wing and a prayer. Ultimately, this falls back on GM Brian Cashman as the man who must be held accountable.

Lastly, I am not sure what I think about President Trump’s mention of a possible pardon for the late Pete Rose. Look, I watched Pete play and saw him perform in person, but he crossed an ethical line and never showed remorse. I have difficulty granting him clemency even if he is six feet below. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is looking into possible reinstatement. I think what Trump wants, he will get so it is likely Rose will be granted a reprieve that will lead to his entry to the Hall of Fame. I do believe he was a Hall of Fame player, even if he was a disgusting man.

My posts have been less frequent than usual. I am attempting to make another move. I lived in Colorado for four years and have completed nearly five years in Southern California. While the weather is great, I am on the move again. Next up is the non-Major League Baseball state of New Mexico. Family reasons make the call, but I am looking forward to the new adventure. I am not a fan of the Colorado Rockies, but I have already purchased my first Albuquerque Isotopes baseball cap. The Isotopes are the Rockies’ Triple A affiliate. I plan to make regular appearances at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, affectionately called “The Lab.”  My home will be outside of Albuquerque, but close enough to commute.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

I look forward to the new memories, and beautiful sunsets. I will try not to go “Walter White, a/k/a Heisenberg” on the community.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Hairy Long Overdue Policy Change...

 

Thurman Munson (Photo Credit: New York Post)

Hal Steinbrenner shocks the baseball world w/hairy announcement…

I have been saying that neatly groomed beards and goatees on Yankee players would be fine for years. I never fully understood the traditionalists who felt the facial hair restrictions should remain to support team professionalism, tradition, and integrity. No sooner than Hal Steinbrenner had made the announcement on Friday morning about the relaxed policy, fans on social media were screaming that there would quickly be names on the back of jerseys and Yankee Stadium would be renamed after a commercial entity. Those comments are absurd (and unrelated to a facial hair policy).

Here is Hal’s announcement:

Some guys just do not look right with clean-shaven faces. I had felt closer Devin Williams looked more intimidating with a beard than his reluctantly shaved face. Carlos Rodón is another player who looks more menacing with a beard. Gleyber Torres has completely changed his appearance with his beard at the Detroit Tigers spring training facility. You can go down the list with the names of players who will benefit from the allowance for facial hair. For those who remain clean-shaven, fine. The new policy is not a mandate that one must trash his razor.

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

The only weird thing about the policy change is its timing. All beards had to be removed before players reported to camp. If the topic was under consideration for change, the Yankees should have told the players that there was a temporary stay to allow neatly groomed beards until a final decision had been made. It would have allowed Williams to retain a beard he had groomed for six years. I am sure it will be back in game-ready shape by Opening Day.

With the policy change, Hal Steinbrenner successfully distracts the fan base from its discontent about the current state of third base. At this point, the Yankees may see if Oswald Peraza can take the position. I have no hope DJ LeMahieu can stay healthy enough to hold down the position throughout a long season. Oswaldo Cabrera is a better super-sub than a regular player. That leaves Peraza as the last hope until the Yankees go outside the organization to find help. Unlike LeMahieu, Peraza at least has some pop in his bat. If the rumors are true that LeMahieu was under DFA consideration last year, the Yankees probably feel the same way about him that we do. The only difference is they are contractually liable for him and cannot publicly state true feelings if they run counter to the player. Well, they could, but the damage would be hard to unwind, and it would devalue the player in the trade market (as if LeMahieu has not done a good enough job devaluing himself). So, I am on Team Peraza until further notice.

Oswald Peraza

Given how much team hacks like Jack Curry have indicated the Yankees have no interest in St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, there is still a small part of me that hopes the Cards decide to peddle him by paying down his contract to entice the Yankees. I get that he is on the decline, but he can still be a productive player for a few more seasons. Nolan will only be 34 in April. Give him a couple of years, and groom his replacement (someone like George Lombard, Jr, who will have to move off shortstop if Anthony Volpe stays there). I like Nolan, and his defense would be tremendous for the infield and pitching staff. He is still capable of productive at-bats. I know he makes too much money, but ultimately, we, the fanbase, are not paying salaries unless you count ticket sales and chicken buckets.

Nevertheless, there are no indications the Yankees are waiting on Nolan, so I will let it go. Hopefully, Oswald Peraza can take the position, run (and hit…and catch…and throw).

I am always disappointed when the Yankees make good moves in the off-season, only to fall short of doing a complete job. They always seem to leave a gaping hole somewhere in the roster. I get that you need young, cost-controlled players to step up, but tough decisions must be made to put the best product on the field when that talent potential is not readily apparent. You hear the position will be re-evaluated at the trade deadline, but July continues without action. I'm not trying to diss guys like Anthony Rizzo, but for the most part, the moves are Joey Gallo-like. Acquire the player…watch the player crash and burn. New York is not an easy place to play. I think guys who have the benefit of Spring Training have the edge of putting on pinstripes over guys trying to pull them on during the dog days of the summer when teams are jockeying for position.

I am glad Hal Steinbrenner was willing to revisit his father’s facial hair policy. I thought it would take an ownership change to make it happen. Times change, and I believe George Steinbrenner’s views may have changed. George wanted to win more than anything else, and attitudes and philosophies about facial hair have changed since 1976. Hal needs to continue making decisions that are in the best interest of the New York Yankees and not based on what he feels his father would have wanted. This is Hal’s team. George left us nearly fifteen years ago.

On another note, I have no problem with the Yankees’ decision to extend Manager Aaron Boone. It is only a two-year extension, so no long-term commitment is required. I value Boone’s ability to connect with his players. We may get frustrated with some of his in-game decisions, but the talent pool of available managers who are better than Boone is limited. I do not want to see Brad Ausmus elevated to manager or as much as I hate to say it, Don Mattingly, an all-time favorite of mine, did not prove anything in Los Angeles or Miami to indicate that he could do a better job than Boone. Would I love to see Mattingly as manager? Sure. But realistically, he does not offer more than Boone besides his name value in the organization. I like Buck Showalter, but he never won a World Series last time I checked. Joe Girardi? I think he is doing a superb job in the TV booth.

It may be time to make a change in two years. So be it. I will not complain about Boone in the interim, even if there is frustration. I might say ‘fire him,’ but realistically, I do not feel that “better” is out there. There are better Major League managers, but they are employed. A good manager has good coaches and players around him. The Yankees need to make sure they give Boone the best possible hand.

I would rather see Boone go to war armed with financial security than sit as a lame-duck manager. Is he going to bring us a World Series championship? Time will tell, as it often does. Ultimately, this lands on the Yankees’ Front Office and Ownership. “Do Better.”

Lastly, congratulations on the Yankees for making the long-overdue decision to move prospect Clayton Beeter to the bullpen. I know, calling a 26-year-old pitcher a “prospect” is a bit of a stretch, but it has long been cited that Beeter would need to move to the pen for his most significant effectiveness. I want to see him succeed, and I hope the new role will fast-track his path to the Major Leagues after spending years in the minors.

Clayton Beeter (Photo Credit: AP)

I am glad baseball is back. Today’s Spring Opener, a 4-0 victory over the soon-to-be Steinbrenner Field home participants, the Tampa Bay Rays, was an encouraging, albeit meaningless, start. Prop up Marcus Stroman’s trade value. I think that was the primary objective of today’s game. Mission successful. Now, we await the trade. Okay, it might not be that easy, but one can hope.

As always, Go Yankees!

A New Season, Are We Ready? ...

  

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post)

The Yankees regroup for another run at the Dodgers…

Given the circumstances, this was one of the shortest off-seasons of recent memory. Of course, it would have been better to enter the shortened off-season with victorious feelings, but it was short, nonetheless. As a side note, f**k the Dodgers.

I am disappointed the Yankees were unable to sign Juan Soto, but conversely, I do not want players on the Yankees who do not want to be Yankees. Soto worshipped the almighty dollar, and it is his right. He wanted a team that he could be THE guy, and with no disrespect for the great (and future Hall of Famer) Francisco Lindor, he has it with the Mets.

I was pleased when the Yankees moved quickly to sign the former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried (totally unexpected) and acquired a long-time favorite target, Cody Bellinger. Yeah, I kind of like the Clay to Cody connection with the Yankees, but the younger Bellinger earned his right to wear pinstripes. Unlike his father, Cody will be asked to play a significant role with the Yankees. His home run bat flips will soon become legendary in Yankee Stadium. I always go back to Darryl Strawberry in players that I loved to watch hit home runs, and I think Cody can elevate himself to Straw’s level, at least to my perspective. As much as I wanted Soto back, I am glad that Aaron Judge can return to right field, and I am equally stoked that Bellinger, rather than Jasson Dominguez, will roam the hallowed center field at Yankee Stadium. With no disrespect to young Dominguez, I think Belli in center is the highest and best use of his skills, with the occasional detour to first base.

Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post)

I am glad that Dominguez is finally primed for his Major League opportunity. Last year seems like a lost year for him, and I hope he can give us that ‘worth waiting for’ effect. I feel a little bad for Alex Verdugo, who was not asked back. I know he underwhelmed us, but I give him credit for changing my perception of him. I did not like him as a Red Sock, but he changed that image, and he embraced the pinstripes during his time in the Bronx. Of course, he will say and do things to make him a hated villain at his next stop, but for a year, he was ‘all-in’ as a Yankee, and I appreciate his effort. Dominguez deserves next so I have no problem with the change in left field. My only surprise was that the Dominguez chose #24 over the recently vacated #25. As a namesake of former Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi, I was certain he would take Giambi’s number if given the opportunity. Instead, he goes down the path of the legendary Tino Martinez.

Having one of baseball’s best closers, Devin Williams, at the back end of games is huge, but I am a little saddened because I think Luke Weaver was fantastic in his brief tenure as the team’s closer. The guy remains one of the key bullpen weapons and I am hopeful that his resurgence continues in 2025. Luke Weaver has an amazing personality to go with his talented arm, and I am glad he is a part of the pen, regardless of the role. I like the way Andrew Miller was utilized a few years ago as the best arm at the right time, regardless of the inning. Weaver can be that guy.

I am a little disappointed that Tommy Kahnle is now a Detroit Tiger, joining persona non grata Gleyber Torres. But I am cautiously optimistic that Fernando Cruz can be that key strikeout artist when it is needed the most. The Yankees know how to build effective bullpens, even if they like to punt other positions. I think Aaron Boone will be armed with multiple late inning options, and I think Devin Williams will have his greatest, if not most visible season, ever. Too bad the beard was not able to make the trip to the Bronx. One of these days, a player will stand up to the Yankees’ archaic facial hair policy. I was hoping…a little…that Williams would be that guy. At some point, Hal Steinbrenner needs to make his own decisions and forget about what Daddy wanted. I know the facial hair policy gives the Yankees an air of professionalism that other teams do not have, but I think they can keep rules in place to enforce neatly groomed facial hair, avoiding the Johnny Damon ‘Caveman’ look in Boston, or Justin Turner’s mass of redness flow when he was a Dodger. 

Third base. The source of my greatest disappointment this off-season. Look, I loved DJ LeMahieu earlier in his career. But even then, he was a second baseman with elite defense and limited power. An aged version that spends time on the Injury List that would rival Aaron Hicks does not excite me about the future of third base. You want power from your corner infielders, and you want elite defense. Maybe LeMahieu can provide the latter when/if he is on the field, but he has no power, and his best seasons are behind him. I see many fans who think Oswaldo Cabrera can be the breakout star. I am not convinced. I think he is a great super-sub at best. As for Oswald Peraza, I assume there is a reason the organization has not been high on him in recent seasons. I would love him to grab the position and never look back, but that is not a bet I care to make. I remain hopeful the Yankees will do better and make an acquisition before the end of Spring Training. I do not like the ‘let us re-evaluate the position at the trade deadline’ position. Too often, the trade deadline leaves us underwhelmed. For as many cons as there are against St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, I would gladly accept him over the internal options. Nolan is a first-class guy with elite defense. The bat is not what it once was, but I think the pinstripes would reinvigorate him and he could give us a performance that helps position the team for October. I am not on a Nolan-only train. I will accept other alternatives so long as they are better than LeMahieu-Cabrera-Peraza.

So, the Yankees are discussing an extension with Aaron Boone. For as frustrated as I have been at times with Boone, the Yankees could do worse. I cannot think of anyone that is immediately available that would be substantially better. I was always hopeful that Don Mattingly would return to the Yankees as manager, but I am not convinced he would be far above Boone. Although I would support a managerial change, I will not be disappointed if the Yankees choose to add additional years for Boone. At the end of the day, it is the quality of the players on the field and the coaches around the manager that matter more. If Boone can foster an environment that helps the players find comfort in challenging situations, which of course he can do, he should stay.

I am anxious and ready for the season to start. The Dodgers have seemingly made the moves to ensure that they will be repeat champions in the Fall, but as they say, the games must be played on the field. There is no guarantee that the Dodgers, with their loaded roster of elite players and deferred contracts, will be victorious at season’s end.

I am getting ready to move to a non-Major League city. It sucks to have no immediate access to Major League Baseball, but I will have Triple-A at my disposal. I guess it means that ticket prices and concessions will be more affordable so that is a plus. I have always enjoyed watching minor league games involving future Major Leaguers. I remember once watching Cal Ripkin, Jr in Double-A (not trying to date myself but it is what it is) and it is a memory I have never forgotten.

Hopefully, I can get the YES Network in my new city. DirecTV should be an option since my new home has access to the southern skies. I will not miss California gas prices, or the overwhelming glut of people on the LA freeways. But sadly, I will miss the weather. I think California would be more enjoyable if I had Shohei Ohtani’s paycheck, okay with the deferrals that may be a bad example, so let’s go with Mookie Betts. For my new location, I will go with the quote ‘Tread Lightly.’  Time for new experiences, and most importantly of all, a home that will be seven miles from my first grandson, who joins this party in May.

As always, Go Yankees!