Cautiously pessimistic about America’s greatest franchise…

 

Ben Rice and Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)

Can the Yankees win when it matters? T.B.D…

Granted, the 2025 MLB Season has had its fair share of great Yankees moments; it has also been littered by uneven and inconsistent play that has turned wins into losses. The poster children for what ails the Yankees are former closer Devin Williams and fraudulent starting second baseman Anthony Volpe. Put a big shit-eating grin on Aaron Boone behind them, and you have the trifecta for what ails the New York Yankees.  

I wanted Volpe to succeed with the Yankees. Who does not wish for a New Jersey kid to grow up to wear the famed Pinstripes of his favorite childhood team? It makes for an incredible story if the player can walk the walk. Unfortunately, with ample time to decide, the jury has seen enough. The Yankees can do better. They can do better this season by benching or inventing a phantom season-ending injury for Volpe and inserting Jose Caballero as the starting shortstop for the duration of the season. Based on potential, Volpe is the better player, but Caballero is the easy play.

I am grateful the Yankees made the deadline deal to acquire former Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar. Given how many games Devin Williams has cost the Yankees this year, they needed to find a different solution. Williams is a one-season Yankee, and I couldn't care less about him. I hope he finds success elsewhere, so long as it is not in the AL East. Williams’ defining moment in Pinstripes will forever be his role in getting the Yankees to drop their prohibition against beards. Everything he has done on the mound is forgettable.

I wish I felt optimistic about the Yankees in the coming weeks (and months?), but they are a one-and-done playoff participant if they make it. Aaron Boone’s decisions are too much to overcome. I know the decisions belong to the Analytics Department, but Boone is the representative who could say no. The Yankees will make poor decisions that will cost them the potential to advance. That is the status quo for the 2025 Yankees.

I write all this hoping the Yankees can prove me wrong. Please.

This has been a weird season. Everyone knew the Yankees needed a true third baseman at the start of the season, yet the Yankees waited until the trade deadline to pick up a good glove, not a great bat, guy. I am not trying to diss on Ryan McMahon. The Yankees have been better at third since his arrival, and he has had a few clutch hits. But waiting for a half-season to address a significant weakness was a failure on the Yankees’ part. A better focus in the off-season could have landed a better option. Again, not trying to diss on McMahon. I appreciate his presence on the roster. Something is better than nothing.

I never dreamed starting the season that I would love Ben Rice as the Yankees’ starting catcher over Austin Wells, but here we are. Rice has proven his worth with the bat, and you must find a way to keep him in the lineup. I wish Wells had blossomed, and maybe he will. Despite his great career, Paul Goldschmidt is another one-season Yankee. Rice is a potential first baseman for next season unless the Yankees can re-sign Cody Bellinger. I hope and pray the Yankees sign Bellinger, but I am not optimistic. I pray his love for the Yankees will be the difference-maker. We shall see. If Belli returns and takes first base, catcher seems to be the spot for Rice, sacrificing Wells, and his potential—tough decisions ahead for Brian Cashman and his cast of analytic idiots.

I am glad that Max Fried has rebounded from his slump. I like Fried and do not regret the Yankees’ signing him. A front three next season featuring Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Fried, with support from Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler, is damn good. The Will Warren factor leads to off-season speculation that one may be moved.

There have been times I have missed Gleyber Torres, but second baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr. has been a more exciting option. Playing Jazz at third to start the season was foolish, but letting the man perform at his natural position has helped offset the loss of Torres. One of Brian Cashman’s better under-the-radar moves in recent years. I wish all of them could fare as nicely.

If the Yankees exit early this season, they must consider making a managerial move. I know there is more that ails the Yankees than Boone, but we have seen enough of this story. It's time for a new bench cheerleader. Steal Kevin Cash from the Rays. As much as I did not want a ‘been there, done that’ return to Joe Girardi, Binder Joe is a better option than Boone. 

The Yankees have made many good decisions in recent years, but they still let foolish choices prevent them from being the best they can be. At some point, GM Brian Cashman needs to be held accountable. If Hal Steinbrenner is not man enough to axe his long-time executive and his father’s hire, I hope Cashman finally decides that it is time to try something new. Nothing changes with the team until the GM seat is refreshed. 

I want the Yankees to succeed in October and win their first World Series since 2009. I wish I were confident, but I am not. Please, Yankees, prove me wrong. I implore you to dig deep and show the World what you are capable of.

As always, Go Yankees!

Can the Yanks Make the Necessary Halftime Adjustments? ...

  

Max Fried (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/New York Post)

Hanging on to AL East second place by a thread…

When the season started, I was cautiously optimistic. Despite losing their ace, Gerrit Cole, to Tommy John surgery, they had signed Max Fried as a free agent in the offseason. It looked like a great 1-2 punch at the time of the signing. As it turned out, Max would take the throne as the rotation’s ace. I thought Max would be good, but he turned out to be better than expected.

You cannot hold the blister issue in Fried’s last start when he lasted only three innings, giving up six hits, four runs (three earned), and three walks, in the 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Despite the struggles against the Cubs, Fried finishes the first half with an 11-3 record in twenty starts. His WAR is 3.3, and his ERA still sits below 3 at 2.43.  He racked up 113 strikeouts in 122 innings pitched. I cannot imagine where the Yankees would be without Fried. For as much as we have trashed GM Brian Cashman, the decision and the ability to sign Fried was one of the best moves of Cashman’s lengthy career. It helps that Carlos Rodón answered the bell to provide a substantial number two for Fried. Every pitcher occasionally throws a clunker, so I will not hold Rodón’s poorer games against him. Overall, he has been effective and is what the Yankees need.

I digress when the point was early-season optimism, with some caution. The Yankees are 53-43, after their struggles since May have caught up with them. They are two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays after holding down first place for most of the first half until the recent sweep by the Blue Jays. They can make up ground in the second half with the correct deadline moves. The Yankees MUST fix their weaknesses. The failure to address third base in the offseason is a colossal mistake. It has cost them several potential wins converted to losses through errant play or trying to play players out of their normal positions. I have no doubts the Yankees would be ahead of the Blue Jays at the half if Cashman had not stopped short, leaving the gaping hole at third. Jazz Chisholm, Jr. is a talented guy who did not embarrass himself but is a better second baseman. As much as I loved DJ LeMahieu early in his Yankees’ career and as gifted as he was with a glove at second base, it was too obvious he was not the player he once was. His misplays at the position would have been easy outs for Chisholm had he been the team’s second baseman. I am glad the Yankees finally did the right thing by moving Jazz back to second base.

As for LeMahieu, I am saddened his Yankees career ends with a designation for assignment, followed by his release the next day. Saddened, but it was the right move. Watch LeMahieu sign with the Blue Jays or the Los Angeles Dodgers and make a game-winning hit in the World Series for his new team. I enjoyed his time in New York, but all good things must end. I wish LeMahieu the best in the future, but regardless of how he plays for his next team, Cashman made the best move for the 2025 Yankees (as it relates to LeMahieu).

DJ LeMahieu (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

If you had told me the Yankees would be 53-43 at the All-Star Break before the season, I would have welcomed it. After the miserable play of the last month and a half, it does feel like the Yankees were exposed as an early-season fraud.

The past month/month-and-a-half events prove the Yankees do not have the right combination of players on the roster. They need a third baseman (Oswald Peraza is not the answer). I have given up hope for a player like Eugenio Suarez. I do not feel the Arizona Diamondbacks will trade him, and if they do, they are looking for an overpay. Do not give up Spencer Jones or George Lombard, Jr., for a rental player. Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies rates my best-case scenario, although I would gladly take Ke'Bryan Hayes for his glove. I wish Hayes had a better stick, but he can help the Yankees. I have moved from Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals were foolish for not offloading him last offseason. In retrospect, I am glad they did not.

The Yankees need a starter with Clark Schmidt’s Tommy John surgery this past week. Given that they needed one before Schmidt’s injury, they need two unless they believe Cam Schlittler can contribute at the back end of the rotation. No aces or near aces will be available for trade, so solid number three is the best the Yankees can hope for. A strong third would help enhance chances to reach October and provide a solid third for the duo of Fried and Rodón. The tricky part is how much prospect capital will cost to secure a strong starter. It is a double-edged sword. You must believe that you have a chance to reach the Fall Classic to let go of elite talent. If there is doubt, tough decisions must be made, which may not bode well for the immediate future.

Again, I keep digressing. To get back on course, I feel the Yankees have had a successful first half of the season, albeit tinged with disappointment. They are within striking distance, which is all you can ask. The Boston Red Sox are doing well, winning ten consecutive games, and they sit just one game behind the Yankees. The Yankees are the better team, but this reinforces why they need to address their weaknesses now.

I appreciate the job that JC Escarra has done for the Yankees as a backup catcher, but trading him makes sense given Ben Rice’s ability to catch. Roster Construction is the key. Opening Escarra’s roster spot allows the Yankees to strengthen the bench in other areas. Escarra is also a late bloomer and does not represent the future. The Yankees have strong young catchers coming up in the farm system. They are better with Austin Wells and Rice as the catching tandem because they can build a stronger bench.

I am glad that Cody Bellinger has proven to be a reliable Yankee. I never lost patience with him in April when he got off to a slow start. He is not Juan Soto, but he fits the Yankees' roster. I hope the Yankees see his long-term worth and work to secure him for a longer tenure. He wants to be a Yankee and has performed at the level necessary to ensure his fan support. Hopefully, Cashman and his cast of nerds are watching.

Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)

We have established that the Yankees need a third baseman and a starter. Lastly, they need bullpen help. A managerial change is a need, but regardless of how we feel, Aaron Boone will be the Yankees' manager throughout the 2025 season and most likely longer. I had hoped that a seasoned manager as a bench coach would help Boone, but while Brad Ausmus may be good at what he does, Boone has not noticeably improved. Yet, the calls to fire Boone, even though he is not my favorite, lead to the question of who is available and who is better? The options are limited. This season is Aaron Boone, whether we like it or not.

As for the bullpen, the Yankees have proven to be bullpen wizards in recent years, but they have had their challenges this season. Devin Williams got off to a horrific start as the Yankees' closer and lost his job until a Luke Weaver injury put him back at the end of games. He has performed better and is starting to play like a guy the Yankees should consider re-signing at the end of the season.

I do not know what to think about Jonathan Loaisiga. He was always at risk of injury, but has been awful this year. He has become a guy, and I cringe when he enters games. I am not sure the Yankees can turn him around. Given his injury history, is he worth holding onto to find out? I am starting to lean to the side of letting him go.

The Yankees should have made a small deal by now as a prelude to the coming days leading up to the deadline. So far, nothing but crickets. Is this the year the Yankees shock us with their moves, or will it be another deadline that passes with an underwhelming feeling?

If the Yankees do nothing, fail to make the playoffs, or get bounced in the early rounds, if they do, Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner must finally stand up and make a change in the general manager and manager seats. He has the money; he needs to bring the brightest and the best to the team’s most sacred managerial roles (the general manager and the field general).

I am not sure what to think about the second half. There will be more disappointing games if we stay with the status quo. Making a return trip to the World Series seems like a long shot without shoring up the team’s weaknesses.

I am grateful Aaron Judge is a New York Yankee. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh is having an incredible (and historic) season, but Judge remains a step ahead.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Sunday’s only run was on a Giancarlo Stanton home run. It would be nice if he found his groove for the second half. The Yankees need him.

Like the first half, I go into the second half cautiously, emphasizing what the Yankees do at the trade deadline to determine whether optimism becomes pessimism. If the Yankees can add a strong starter, a reliable bullpen weapon ( a Circle of Trust kind of guy), and an elite defensive third baseman, the AL East can be the Yankees if they choose to take it.

No pressure, Brian Cashman. You, sir, are on the clock.

The MLB Draft has finally arrived. Congratulations to Eli Willits, the Washington Nationals' first selection of the 2025 MLB Draft. Willits, 17, a shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK) High School, is the son of the former Yankees first base coach Reggie Willits. I did not like watching the pitcher with the highest upside fall to the Boston Red Sox for the fifteenth selection when they chose Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma.

The Yankees did not have a first-round selection. With the thirty-ninth (compensatory) pick, the Yankees have chosen shortstop Dax Kilby, Newnan High School (GA). A polished bat, according to the guys on MLB Network. They also said Dax was Buck Showalter’s favorite during the MLB Combine. After all the shortstops taken in recent years, I would have gone in a different direction. The Los Angeles Dodgers got an intriguing prospect in LHP Zach Root, Arkansas, immediately after the Yankees’ pick. I would have chosen Root over Kilby because you can never have too much good pitching. Nevertheless, welcome to the Yankees family, Dax!

Dax Kilby

Back to the Yankees: Brian Cashman is the key to the second half. Can he fix the roster and give the Yankees their best chance of success in the October race? I wish I had better confidence that it would happen. Color me a skeptic. I want the Yankees to win, and I hope they win. The current roster says otherwise, so make the moves. Ensure the lights of Yankee Stadium shine brightly deep into October.

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!

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!

Gleyber Moves On...

  

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: AP)

Torres, once a prized Baby Bomber, departs via free agency…

 I suppose it was inevitable.

Gleyber Torres, the prize of the 2016 trade that sent Closer Aroldis Chapman to the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs, is a Yankee no more. Only yesterday people were continually asking if he was only twenty-one. Now twenty-eight, he seems like a shell of the player we once thought he would be, but admittedly, I was saddened to hear Saturday’s news that Gleyber had signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers 2B

Given the Yankees have not done anything to address third base or provide the final and much-needed bat to the lineup, the best-case scenario would be to re-sign Gleyber if the plan is to keep Jazz Chisholm, Jr at third base. I know, the poor . He had 709 OPS produced last season and had an atrocious defense at times, but I have always felt he was capable of more (better). Sometimes, it is best to just cut bait rather than delay the inevitable. I was grateful last season when Gleyber improved his performance in the second half, and he did an admirable job batting lead-off. Alas, it was not enough to convince the Yankees he was worth bringing back.

Ironically, Gleyber will now play for the manager who led the Trash Can Astros and their cheating ways. Oh well, I hope Gleyber does well enough on his one-year deal to justify a more lucrative contract next offseason. I will always be disappointed it did not work out and wish there had been a different outcome. However, a change of scenery for both sides was needed. As such, it was the only viable outcome.

Gleyber finishes his seven-year Yankees career with 888 games played. In 3,673 plate appearances, he hit 138 home runs and drove in 441 runs. His batting line was .265/.334/.441 with .774 OPS. Unfortunately, he also accumulated 106 errors, including eighteen this past season. He had a career .967 fielding percentage with the Yankees. He is what he is. He can help you with his bat, but he will give a few runs away with his glove.

We move on.

Jazz Chisholm, Jr is a talented guy. With Gleyber removed as a second base option, Jazz becomes my favorite for the position opening third base. While Jazz did a decent job at third base, I want a tried-and-true third baseman who can effectively field and hit. Is that too much to ask? I have concerns that the Miami Marlins thought so well of Jazz’s abilities at second base that they moved him to the outfield. I am sure there were other factors at play. I do not doubt Jazz’s talent. Hopefully, the Marlins were just being the Marlins, the joke of a franchise that caused Derek Jeter to wash his hands of them.

Jazz Chisholm Jr and Aaron Judge

There was a time when I wanted DJ LeMahieu as the starting second baseman. Those days have passed. DJ has not been a reliable part of the lineup for several years. At his age, things will not miraculously get better. He has become a player that is best used sparingly, making him a prime candidate for the bench. I have seen people pencil in Oswaldo Cabrera, but he is not a championship-caliber everyday player. He is a talented, diverse player but a bench option. How the Yankees managed Oswald Peraza in 2024 told me enough about what they think about his future. He is not an option.

The Yankees should spend the money and sign free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. I think Bregman would be a strong player for the Yankees, but I do not feel his contract fits in the grand scheme. It is not my money; the Yankees have the money, but it is their decision. I like Nolan Arenado, even if most of the Yankees fan base does not. However, like Bregman, cash is prohibitive. I doubt the Cardinals will pay much of the freight, and the Yankees would need to part with quality prospects to make a deal happen. It seems like the obstacles are too significant. I have seen people throw out Alex Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies as an option. I know less about Bohm than Bregman or Arenado, but I favor any player who can hold third base at a level better than the league average.

I am not sure what the Yankees will do, but they need to do something. Going into training camp as the roster stands today is a mistake. It would just be another offseason in which the Yankees did not do enough to bridge the gap to a championship.

Waiting for the offseason plan to unfold sucks. Hopefully, there will be better days between now and the opening of the training camp in February.

In other moves, the Yankees need to finish their bullpen work. Bring back Tommy Kahnle, and sign either Tim Hill or Andrew Chafin. I am partial to Hill since he has shown he can help the Yankees, but I would not be disappointed with Chafin even if he lost his menacing beard. I would love to see the Yankees sign Jack Flaherty, but that seems like a pipe dream. Shipping out Marcus Stroman's contract is necessary for any significant moves. I wish Stroman could have proven himself to be upper-rotation material for the Yankees, but regardless, he can help…somebody.

I am pleased with the offseason additions of Max Fried and Cody Bellinger, even if the return of Juan Soto would have been more impactful. I am…optimistic…that the Bronx will reenergize Paul Goldschmidt. At worst, he will be an improvement over Anthony Rizzo (which is painful to say, given how much I loved having Rizzo as the team’s first baseman). Devin Williams, supported by Luke Weaver, will be a beast at the end of the games. Nice to have one of the game’s better closers again (which is not a knock against Weaver, who I thought was terrific in the role).

I am interested to see who the Yankees hire as Matt Blake's assistant pitching coach. The Yankees’ website still shows Desi Druschel, who departed earlier this offseason for the crosstown Mets.

Lots of work to do for Team Cashman. The only question is whether they will do it.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Waiting Game...

Aaron Judge & Juan Soto (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees make their initial offers for the most coveted free agent…

I wish I knew how these Juan Soto negotiations would turn out. I would like to say that my gut feeling is that he will be a Yankee for the duration of his career, but unfortunately, I do not have that sense. It has not felt to me that he will be a lifetime Yank. This is clearly one of those times where I hope, I pray that I am wrong. Like everyone else, I want the Yankees to sign Soto to a long-term deal. I do not care if he will make more money than the team’s Captain. I honestly do not believe the Captain cares either so long as Soto’s Yankees career continues. Judge wants to win, and he needs players like Soto to do it.

As much as I like Juan Soto, I could never truly embrace him this season despite his heroics and knowing he shared responsibility for Aaron Judge’s MVP season. The sole reason for the restraint was the potential for a one-and-done season with Soto. It was my self-protection against seeing Soto wearing Mets gear next season or some other team’s marginal fabric.

If Soto returns, I will embrace him as part of the team’s latest and most fantastic core. Aaron Judge is a better player with Juan Soto on the team, and Soto makes others perform to higher standards. I do not care if the Yankees must pay $700 million to sign Soto. It is not my money nor our job to protect Hal Steinbrenner’s pocketbook. The Yankees routinely drive the game’s most significant profits, and it is incredible to think how much they have made for other teams. Whatever it costs to keep Soto, it is worth it. He is a young, fantastic, generational player, and the Yankees can never draft these kinds of players because they keep winning too consistently (such a horrific problem!). Soto proved in his one season how much he means to Aaron Judge and the Yankees lineup. There is no Plan B. No combination of Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, Nolan Arenado, Willy Adames, or Ha-Seong Kim equals Soto.

I was surprised at how quickly Blake Snell came off the board when it was announced on Tuesday night that he had signed a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Especially since the Yankees had been mentioned among his suitors earlier in the day. Snell would have been nice, but I am not losing any sleep about his decision to take the Dodgers’ money and run. I like the early movement in the free agent market, which hopefully jumpstarts activity this offseason. Free agency has become such a slog through long and protracted negotiations, and waiting until February to see where the dust has settled has not been fun. Good or bad, it would be nice to see the acceleration of the Soto negotiations to bring resolution no later than the upcoming Winter Meetings. Even if Plan B does not equal Plan A (signing Soto), the Yankees need the time and the available talent to effect a quality backup plan. Not too many options left if Soto waits until January to sign.

As for Plan B, there are certain positions the Yankees need to restock regardless of whether Soto returns. The team needs a new first baseman. If you believe it can be Ben Rice, good for you. I do not feel the same. I want a more specific, proven commodity for the position. The Yankees need a new second baseman with the likely departure of Gleyber Torres through free agency. If Caleb Durbin wins the second base job, having both Durbin and Rice in the infield is too much youth (if there is such a thing). I would rather see one position learning to play the game at its highest level, not multiple positions. Anthony Volpe has proven you do not just turn on the light switch. It takes time. I have liked Cody Bellinger for the last few years, so I am certainly not opposed to his acquisition if it happens.

Conversely, I have long admired Nolan Arenado, but it does not mean I want to see Nolan as the team’s new starting first baseman. Arenado was a great third baseman, but he has reached the stage of his career where his best days are behind him. Bellinger provides insurance in center field and his proven ability to play first base. He is younger than Arenado, and it simply makes more sense. Arizona’s free agent first baseman Christian Walker represents the best option. I wish we could have gotten Anthony Rizzo earlier in his career. It is the best I have felt about first base in years. But, as Brett Gardner proved, age happens to everybody, and it has crept up on Rizzo. We need better, which can be provided by Walker or Bellinger.

Cody Bellinger

Christian Walker

As for second base, I would prefer Gleyber’s return. I know much of the fanbase would like to see him walk, but I like his job after he was moved to the top of the batting order. Realistically, however, I do not expect him back. If Caleb Durbin gets the job, I hope he proves the front office right. The other option is to move Jazz Chisholm, Jr. to second base (his natural position until the Miami Marlins thought otherwise). Moving Jazz just relocates the gaping hole from second base to third base. Given his recent injury history combined with his age, I have no confidence in DJ LeMahieu’s ability to contribute consistently and regularly. I think he is past his expiration date, at least in terms of wearing the Yankee pinstripes.

Corbin Burnes would be an excellent addition to play second fiddle for Gerrit Cole, but I do not believe the Yankees will pay top dollars for a starting pitcher. If anything, they will go after a young pitcher with potential. Not sure it is the best move, but the Yankees need more out of the other starting pitchers not named Cole. I wish I had faith in the farm system providing the next great arm, but this season did not give me confidence that one of the youngsters is ready to impress on the game’s biggest stage. The Yankees have proven to be very astute about building quality bullpens. It is time to show that level of expertise with the starting rotation.

Speaking of pitching, I was surprised to see assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel run across town to the Mets. There must be more to the story. If the Yankees had wanted to retain him, they would have. Maybe he became drinking buddies with Carlos Mendoza when they coached with the Yankees. Who knows? Matt Blake should bring in a replacement that will complement his daily work. Druschel is replaceable, so his departure is acceptable. If we have Blake, I feel better about pitching.

For as much good as Jose Trevino has brought to the Yankees, I was surprised the team did not non-tender him. It seems like the time for a changing of the guard is upon us, so I thought Trevino’s time was nearing an end. Perhaps it still is. I would be surprised if Carlos Narvaez were not the designated backup for Austin Wells when Opening Day arrives. Given how many catchers the Yankees have protected on the 40-man roster, it is an area of interest. Nothing against Trevino. I appreciate his work with the team; he has been a great Yankee, but time moves on, and it creates opportunities for better, younger players.

I want to avoid seeing the return of Alex Verdugo. I appreciate his ability to make me accept him as a Yankee this season after how much I despised him in a Red Sox uniform, but that aside, I am fine with one and done. He did not perform to the level that screams he needs to be a long-term Yankee. He was better than the circus of clowns the previous year, but the Yankees can improve. The improvement may be Jasson Dominguez. Maybe it is not. Dominguez deserves the opportunity to prove he can be the left-field answer. I'm not crazy about trying to develop a Major League second baseman while doing the same in the outfield, but Dominguez deserves the chance. Let the kid play.

Despite my frustrations during his time as a closer, I am saddened that Clay Holmes will depart. Good Holmes was great. Bad Holmes was awful. He did better when the closer role was lifted from him. If it were up to me, I would probably bring him back, but I think the Yankees will move on. Maybe they will surprise us. We shall see. As stated earlier, the Yankees are good at building bullpens, and I fully expect more of the same with or without Holmes.

I always look forward to the end of Thanksgiving weekend so that the actual Major League Baseball offseason can begin. I love the Winter Meetings even if I am disappointed more years than not. It is the highlight of the offseason. Then, we will wait for the gates to open in Tampa. Of course, this year, the Yankees will be holding Spring Training in the regular season home of the Tampa Bay Rays, the new…albeit temporary…tenant of Steinbrenner Field. It will be weird next season to see the Yankees play a “road game” at Steinbrenner Field and be forced to relinquish the home team’s digs to the Rays.

Oh well, it's time to sit and wait. I want to see the banner headline on MLB Trade Rumors read: Yankees To Sign Soto. C’mon, Hal, please make it happen.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: @juansoto_25 via Instagram)

Daniel Jones finds a new home…

Many Yankee fans are Giants fans, so I routinely see the posts about the Giants on my X feed. I routinely saw negative posts about Jones while he was still with the Giants. After his release, my Minnesota Vikings surfaced as a potential landing spot, and I don't know how I felt about it. Sam Darnold has done okay as the Vikings’ starting QB after the free-agent departure of Kirk Cousins. How can you fault a man who has led his team to a 9-2 record? But Darnold is a one-and-done player (which seems to be a common theme in this post). He is on a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, and he has increased his worth with his play this season. I do not expect him to return to the Vikings next season, not with young JJ McCarthy ready to hit the field again next year after he recovers from his season-ending injury this season. Nick Mullens is an excellent backup QB, but he is not someone I want to see starting consistently if the starter goes down. Brett Rypien is not his uncle, and despite how much he may know about football, he is replaceable. So, I am willing to take a shot with Daniel Jones.

Daniel Jones (Photo Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images/Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

Jones will join the Vikings on Friday after it was announced today that he was joining their practice squad. I see the practice squad as a temporary measure, and Jones will be part of the active roster sooner than later. It is an excellent opportunity for Jones to prove he represents good insurance for McCarthy going forward. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, a former quarterback, has proven to be a QB-friendly coach, and if he can coax better performance out of Darnold, he can do the same for Jones. Maybe Jones has limitations that can never be fixed, but he is an NFL quarterback and has value, at least as a backup QB for a young, promising player. Players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson can make any QB look better.

I am willing to give Jones a chance. Everybody deserves a chance for redemption. It did not work out for Jones in New York, but it does not mean he is forever a failure. A different system. Different players. Different coaches, different schemes. Give it a chance. He will either succeed or fail. The upside is worth it. If it does not work out, move on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. At this point, his Giants career is in the rearview mirror. Jones has the chance to rewrite the script. Let him.

Lastly…

I want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for the Yankees and Yankee fans everywhere. The Yankees Universe reigns supreme even if the trophy sits in Chavez Ravine.

As always, Go Yankees!

Sadly, the Season Ends or is it the Season Ends Sadly...

 

Carlos Rodon, Giancarlo Stanton, & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/NY Post)

The Yankees botch their way out of championship dreams…

The World Series did not begin or finish as we would have liked, but I appreciate the 2024 New York Yankees making it to MLB’s Championship Series. Undoubtedly, much second-guessing and finger-pointing can be done, but it serves no purpose. The Yankees were beaten by the better team. A more deserving team? Maybe not, but ‘what will be, will be’. I congratulate the Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise that has historically played second fiddle to the great Yankees teams over the last century.

The World Series loss does not need to define the current group of Yankees. We do not know who will take the field in 2025 outside of a select few, but I remember feeling as low as I have ever felt as a Yankees fan after the 1995 playoff loss to the Seattle Mariners in Don Mattingly’s final voyage wearing the famed Pinstripes. I think the next few years after that horrific loss ended well if memory serves correctly. The Yankees have much to do this off-season, but how they rebound will determine how history views them. There is time for Aaron Judge to prove that he can be a money player when the chips are on the line. I know his 2024 post-season was forgettable, and I have seen those who say it will define how they perceive him going forward, but why? I am more interested in watching Judge re-write his story next season.

There is no question the Yankees need Juan Soto. I am concerned. While I would like to think the Yankees made a strong, positive impression on the young slugger, I am sure he enjoyed the rock star reception he received at home and on the road as part of baseball’s most storied franchise. However, his agent is Scott Boras, and millions of dollars will be a more significant determinant of his next team than millions of Yankees fans.  Watching Soto go across town for the Mets or join the current World Series Champions will be tough. However, Soto’s final decision does not alter the fact that I love the New York Yankees.  I hope Hal Steinbrenner is actively involved in the negotiations and does everything he needs to ensure that Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are the keystone tandem for the immediate future. Soto’s presence helps Judge, and it helps everybody else in the lineup.  Soto’s return will help ensure the Yankees can return to the World Series with the right offseason moves. While I do not feel that Aaron Judge in center field and Juan Soto in right are the best alignments, the Yankees have an offseason to figure out the correct usage of the players if Soto returns. The Yankees are better with Judge in the right field, but Judge and Soto are more powerful together in the same lineup.

Juan Soto & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

As much as I loved Soto this season, it was hard to fully embrace him, knowing he was possibly a one-year rental. I so hope that does not prove to be factual. I will fully embrace Soto next season if he returns to the Bronx on a long-term deal.  I wanted the Yankees to sign Gerrit Cole. They did. I wanted the Yankees to sign Aaron Judge. They did. I want the Yankees to sign Juan Soto. They…to be determined.

I was sad to see the Yankees decline the mutual option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, but I hardly fault the club's decision. I wish we had experienced a young Rizzo, and I am grateful that we experienced the time we did, but the Yankees can do better at first base. I cannot say that I would be enthused about signing Mets free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, but he would be an upgrade. Even if I like Rizzo better than Alonso, Alonso is clearly the better player at this point in their respective careers. Although the Yankees should (and most likely will) move on from outfielder Alex Verdugo, Verdugo proved I could get behind a player I formerly despised. Marcus Stroman is in that category, too. Stroman’s finish to the season was not good, but I thought he did well enough as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. If you placed higher expectations, of course, you would be disappointed. However, I genuinely believe that both Verdugo and Stroman valued wearing Pinstripes, and regardless of what their respective futures hold, I wish them the best as they move forward. I think the Yankees will move on from both players. Yet, if they return, I will support either one, or I hope they can make the adjustments to make 2025 better than 2024.

The Yankees’ decision to pick up the club option on reliever Luke Weaver might be the easiest decision the Cashman Administration has ever made.  Weaver proved that he could carry the closing torch in 2025 and that it was worth more than the Yankees were paying him. I hope they take care of him and reward him for excelling in the bullpen when his pay was structured for a starter.  As much as I wanted the Yankees to replace Clay Holmes as closer, I appreciate Holmes was better in a setup role. It was probably not enough to convince the Yankees to bring him back, but he is another player who is most likely out the door through free agency, yet I would support his return.  The Yankees need to improve their bullpen in the offseason, and there is comfort in knowing that Weaver has the back door covered. He will need guys who can bridge the gap from the starters to keep games in position to win in the final inning (or two). If not, I hope the Yankees can find someone who can consistently be the “good” Holmes before Weaver takes the mound. 

Anthony Volpe must go on a soul-searching expedition this offseason to find his better self and discover what it takes to elevate his game to the next level. Go spend a few weeks in Florida with Derek Jeter. Fortunately, youth and talent are on his side, so I am cautiously optimistic he will arrive in Tampa next Spring as a man on a mission. I am not ready to say the Yankees need to find a new shortstop, but next season will be our final answer. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Vincent Marchietta/Imagn Images)

The season is over, and I want Gleyber Torres back. I know he was frustrating for the average Yankees fan to watch this season, particularly the first half. Yet, he showed enough later in the year that it is not time to part ways.  He excelled in the problematic leadoff position and would be hard to replace. I would be sad to see Gleyber playing for a division rival or the Kansas City Royals next year. Maybe Caleb Durbin is destined to be an All-Star second baseman. Volpe proved that it generally takes time with any young, talented player. I would rather go with the certainty Gleyber brings in 2025 than handing Durbin his training wheels. Some will be happy to see Gleyber leave but do not count me among that group.  The Yankees need Gleyber to reclaim the AL Championship in 2025. They can make the World Series without him, yes, but the path is more accessible with him.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)

I have long respected DJ LeMahieu. For the years I lived in Denver, he might have been my favorite Rockie on the local team. Despite the injuries, I have appreciated his time as a Yankee, but it is time to move on because of the injuries and his age. I am tired of the Yankees playing players out of position. LeMahieu is a second baseman who can play third or first. It does not mean I want him as the team’s starting third or first baseman.  Maybe the Yankees will move out of position third baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr to second base, his natural position if Gleyber leaves, but in his case, there is a reason the Miami Marlins decided to move him to the outfield.  Hard to explain or understand any decision by the Marlins, but as the saying goes, where there is smoke, there is fire. For LeMahieu, it is time to bite the bullet and eat his contract ala Josh Donaldson and Jacoby Ellsbury.  I am not interested in seeing if he can stay healthy next season, as he will be a year older and on the fast track in the age regression lane.  Bring me legitimate third and first basemen!

The Yankees must either commit to helping Jasson Dominguez become a valued left fielder for the team or move on. Dominguez did not show enough to prove he is a 2025 answer, but I will support the Yankees if they believe he will. If they believe he cannot overcome his flaws, move on and find a left fielder who gives us the confidence of Brett Gardner in the role. I am tired of the continued black hole in the position since Gardy left.

As for the coaching staff, Aaron Boone solidified his return with the World Series appearance, and Brad Ausmus was an effective bench coach. I like Luis Rojas, and I thought he was an improvement over Phil Nevin, but it is time for a new third-base coach. Did James Rowson excel as the team’s hitting coach? I am not so sure. I could go either way on his return. Matt Blake will be back, as he should, but there is work to be done with the starting rotation and bullpen.  Travis Chapman remains the coach I know nothing about.

Gerrit Cole exercised the opt-out in his contract today, but I would be shocked if the Yankees let him go. He is the team’s ace, and nothing is comparable on the free-agent market (despite Blake Snell’s opt-out in San Francisco). Gerrit Cole is a Yankee and will be one when April rolls around. I fully expect the Yankees to add the one year at $36 million to his contract that will void the opt-out.  If Weaver was an easy decision, this is the second easiest. Or maybe the easiest when you consider what Cole brings to the rotation. If Hal lets Cole leave over $36 million, the team is not serious about contending next season. 

It is hard to think about any moves while Juan Soto is free. I want a quick resolution, but I know this will be long and drawn out. I hope it does not prevent the Yankees from making the other necessary moves to eliminate the 2024 flaws that prevented them from enjoying champagne at the season’s end. 

The Yankees generally disappoint us every offseason, and I expect this year to be no different. They always do a little but need more. Cashman, please prove me wrong. You, sir, are on the clock…

As always, Go Yankees!

Old Friends Reunited: The Yankees & the ALCS…

 

The Yankees celebrating ALDS Success (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees Advance to Next Round by Royally Winning…

The Yankees are back where they belong…the American League Championship Series. The Yankees have made more ALCS appearances than any other American League club. Their total of nineteen appearances leads the Boston Red Sox, the team with the second most, by seven. The team is 11-7 in the eighteen completed championship series. They have won fifty total ALCS games, leading Boston by eighteen wins. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not won the ALCS since 2009 despite appearances in 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The sixth time is a charm!

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, & Jazz Chisholm, Jr (Photo Credit: NY Post/Charles Wenzelberg)

The Yankees now await the winner of the deadlocked ALDS battle between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday, they will play their winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 finale in Cleveland, Ohio. If the Tigers advance (likely…considering Tarik Skubal will be on the mound), the Yankees will get a chance to avenge the ALCS sweep by the Tigers in 2012. Cleveland last advanced to the World Series in 2016 before they made Anthony Rizzo and his then-Cubs teammates immortal in Chicago for the rest of their lives.

I do not care who the Yankees face. To be the best, you beat the best, so let the best team emerge from the final ALDS, whichever team that may be. Not that facing an awakening Jose Ramirez would be fun, but trust the men in Pinstripes. If the Yankees are the best team, they will beat whoever shows up for Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx.

With no disrespect to Captain Aaron Judge, the Yankees are in the ALCS, thanks primarily to Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Gleyber Torres, Luke Weaver, and Jon Berti. Berti’s name looks like an outcast in this group, but he stepped in and did an admirable job at first base for a non-first baseman. He could have quickly (and excusably, without experience) butchered the position. Clay Holmes was dominant in his new bullpen role. I am happy that he has rediscovered magic, but it does not mean that I would want him to reclaim his old job as the closer. I am 100% behind Luke Weaver and his quirky personality, zany sense of humor, and electric arm as the team’s designated closer. I was a little surprised in the offseason when the Yankees re-signed Weaver. I had no complaints about his work last year, but I thought the pitcher and the team would part ways in the offseason. There was nothing special about his 2023 performance, at least not what stood out to make him a “must sign” player. Yet, he stepped up to fill a tremendous void in the bullpen, first through setup and, lastly, through the back end of games. People say the Yankees should sign Kenley Jansen this winter through free agency. I like Kenley, even if he has many miles on his arm, but Weaver should be the man until he proves he cannot sustain the position. In other words, I would rather have Weaver over Jansen or virtually any other potential replacement. If the Yankees had a chance for an elite closer, Weaver should not stand in their way, but I do not believe the current Yankees regime will pay top dollar for the bullpen like they once did. So, the combination of the team’s current fiscal conservatism in the bullpen and Weaver’s emergence led me to believe Weaver was the right man at the right time.

Oswaldo Cabrera & Luke Weaver (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

It is too early to talk about next season, but I hope the Yankees can find it in their budget to sign Gleyber Torres to a new contract. He took so much heat early in the season, and a poll of Yankees fans would have favored letting him go in free agency. But his placement atop the batting order later in the regular season coincided with a resurgence that has made him a vital player for October. He will always botch a routine play now and again, but even the great and legendary Derek Jeter was not immune from making those. The hustle concerns are correctable, and he has shown improvement. Players like Aaron Judge help to elevate Gleyber’s play and performance. The body of work, at least what Gleyber showed over the second half of the season, warrants his return.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Caleb Durbin may be an All-Star second baseman one day. Good for him. He has yet to prove it at the Major League level. Gleyber is playing like he wants to be the team’s starting second baseman today, tomorrow, and next year. Let him. If he suddenly becomes Daniel Jones after he gets the big money, that is the risk you face with anybody. If it happens, the team will have to deal with it at that time, but it should not stop the team from bringing him back based on what he currently means to the organization and the players he has gone to war with. Juan Soto will be a Yankee next season if the team pays him the most money in free agency, yet I think how they treat other players, like Gleyber, in the offseason will draw Soto’s attention. If Gleyber is treated poorly, it could be a deciding factor if, for example, the Yankees and Mets offered the same amount of money, causing Soto to jump to Queens. That might be an unlikely scenario, but Soto cares about his friends.

There were times this season when Gerrit Cole disappointed me. His late start out of the gate for health reasons (not his fault) was the primary cause. He certainly was not the ace he was in 2023 when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but he showed up for the series clincher against the Kansas City Royals. That is why he is paid big bucks. I always fear a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde performance by any pitcher, ala Carlos Rodón, but Cole brought his “A” game (despite tiring late) when it mattered most. I am sure I will have anxiety in his upcoming starts, but he did what he needed to do against the Royals. I hope it continues when he faces either the Guardians or the Tigers.

I hope we get the best of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for the ALCS. I am happy when the team wins, regardless of who makes the necessary hits, plays, and pitches, but the world is a better place when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the Kings of the World. For Judge’s Yankees legacy, I want to see him come up huge in the postseason. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera will forever be remembered for what they did in October. Judge will never match their number of rings, although I certainly would not complain if he did, but he can make a name for himself in the franchise’s long history of postseason success.  He is in a position that the great Don Mattingly could never reach. I loved Mattingly as a Yankee and feel the same about Judge. I do not want to see Judge come up short and never experience the feeling of being a World Champion in Pinstripes.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Is this the year we can quit talking about 2009? I hope so. Keep it going, guys. Eight more wins to your destiny.

As always, Go Yankees!