Living the HZS Years in the Yankees Universe...

  

The Yankees are the image of their Managing General Partner…

When I was a kid, the CBS Years of Yankees Ownership were viewed as the worst in the history of the New York Yankees. The “CBS Years” ran from 1964 to 1973. George Steinbrenner, with an initial investment of $168,000, assembled a 12-member ownership group that acquired the Yankees from CBS for $10 million on January 3, 1973. George brought mediocrity in Pinstripes to an end and reinvigorated the organization's fire and desire. Sadly, George’s death in 2010 has brought us the HZS Years. Life under Managing General Partner Harold “Hal” Zieg Steinbrenner.

Hal Steinbrenner

The 2009 World Series Championship was under Hal’s watch after he had acquired day-to-day control of the Yankees from his father, a move approved by the MLB Owners in November 2008. The 2009 World Series Championship was a tremendous one, but in retrospect, it was an outlier in the HZS Regime. Hal, the Accountant, is pleased with the status quo. Win enough to be profitable, but never quite go ‘all in’ for a championship run. Every year, the team leaves something open and exposed as a potential fatal flaw. This off-season, the inactivity has been startling and alarming. Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the Qualifying Offer in November set the stage for the offseason. The Yankees were prepared to let Grisham walk, and his acceptance of the QO caught them off guard and left them without a plan. Well, unless the plan was to do nothing while waiting for Cody Bellinger decide where he plans to go for Spring Training.

Cody Bellinger

To the Yankees’ credit, they did make a trade for a talented young left-handed pitcher, Ryan Weathers, for four young, albeit not “top” prospects. It is not the big pitching move we had hoped for, but Weathers, son of former Yankees reliever David Weathers, should flourish under Pitching Coach Matt Blake’s tutelage. His acquisition also does not preclude the Yankees from making a move for a higher-level starter to slot in behind Max Fried to open 2026. The Yankees continue to remain connected with Freddy Peralta, which would be a huge acquisition, but Peralta’s name is attractive to other teams as well. The Dodgers could easily outperform a Yankees offer for Peralta, adding another star player to their vast collection of superstars. The Dodgers have the money, the farm system, and the burning desire to dominate Major League Baseball. They are what the Yankees used to be. They are what I thought the New York Mets would become under Uncle Stevie and his billions, but I forgot one aspect…they are still the Mets, an organization not known for making the wisest decisions.

Time is running out on the off-season, but the Yankees could make several rapid-fire moves to place their team among the AL’s best, heading into the new season. Working out a compromise with Scott Boras to ensure the return of Cody Bellinger would be a start, but if coupled with the acquisition of a strong young starter like Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, or another promising starter with high-end potential would ace the off-season for the Yanks despite the drought of activity for months. They still need another bullpen arm, but there are still guys available. With Closer David Bednar in place for the season (bringing stability to the position), the Yankees can work on the supplemental pieces. Last year’s bullpen was off recent standards, but the Yankees have fared well with their bullpen mix in recent years. The bullpen is the least of my concerns. It will work itself out.

Now that Kyle Tucker is off the board, Scott Boras has the Yankees where he wants them. The Yankees say they are not budging from their latest offer, which has been reported as five years and more than $30 million annually, with several opt-outs. Telling the public that they are not budging seems like a way to motivate another team, like the Toronto Blue Jays, to step in and overpay. Or at least that is what Boras wants. I have no idea how this will turn out. I want Bellinger to return, but it seems too easy for another team to jump to the head of the line, and Scott Boras would like nothing better than to stick it to the Yankees. So, my heart hopes Bellinger returns while my head says he goes elsewhere. The Yankees have no pivot, so we will find out whether Jasson Domínguez is ready for the Show on a consistent basis and can capitalize on glimpses of elite performance. Maybe he is never elite, but he needs to be a solid, consistent player with a dependable bat. Spencer Jones does not appear to be ready, but Bellinger’s departure could hasten his advancement, ready or not. Signing free agent outfielder Austin Hays for a platoon role seems like Plan B, but GM Brian Cashman is good about pulling out surprising names, so we shall see.

I do not expect Trent Grisham to be as good as he was in 2025. He had his Brady Anderson year. Hopefully, he will be a strong player for the Yankees in 2026, but there is a risk of regression.

I wish Hal Steinbrenner had a better understanding of how to excite the fan base. It is late January, and I am not looking forward to Spring Training with the usual exuberance. The Yankees will be a different team when all the guys are healthy, and Gerrit Cole climbs back atop the starting rotation. The question is how much ground will they lose between now and then? You can have great pitching, but you still need to put runs on the board. Aaron Judge cannot do this by himself. Ben Rice’s bat will be important to the team, but he is being asked to be the team’s full-time first baseman. His focus will be on the continued nuances of playing first base and playing it better than league average. I wonder how an offseason of trade rumors will impact Jazz Chisholm, Jr. I expect him to be among the team’s best players, but does the relationship between the Yankees and Chisholm start to sour due to the rumors?

2026 must be a full breakout year for Austin Wells. We need more from him. I am cautiously optimistic that third baseman Ryan McMahon will hit better this season after spending more time with the Yankees coaching staff.

So many questions, so few answers. It does not seem like a great starting point if you want to topple a two-time World Championship team that has only gotten better since last season’s final out. I am holding out hope GM Brian Cashman has some last-minute surprises for us, but I am prepared to be disappointed.

The Yankees and their dumpster-diving ways continue. After previously signing former St Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong to a minor-league deal, they have inked former A’s OF/1B Seth Brown to a similar minor league deal with a training camp invite. A few years ago, Brown would have been an exciting addition. In 2026, if he is playing, things went horrifically wrong.

I look forward to finding out who this year’s Cam Schlittler will be. The Yankees' focus on minor league pitching over the past few years has yielded many trade prospects, but it is nice to see some breakthrough with the Yankees, like Cam. 6’7” RHP Carlos Lagrange, 22, seems like the next to step up unless another young, talented arm jumps in front of him. I am really hoping that the MLB Rule 5 Draft selection, RHP Cade Winquest, pitches well enough to stay on the roster for the duration of the season to keep him in Pinstripes and places him in Boone’s circle of trust.

Cade Winquest

George Lombard, Jr. continues to be the team’s best prospect (SS/2B), but young Dax Kilby, SS, is on the fast track to the top of prospect rankings. Kilby seems like the future Yankees shortstop, but he is only nineteen, a year younger than Lombard, Jr., and is still a few years away. Lombard, Jr. will put himself in position for 2027 with a strong 2026 and may even suit up with the big-league club before the season is over. I would like both guys to succeed as Yankees, but it seems inevitable that one will be traded. Not that the Yankees want to move one, but rather one will be the cost of a trade the Yankees desire, and they will have to make a hard choice. In the end, with a championship club, prospect-hugging is not the formula for success. The offseason has shown us a team that will be looking for upgrades in July if they are within striking distance. Decisions are being made harder than they need to be.

Will this trend of playoff failures continue if the HZS Years continue? Most likely. I do not see any immediate World Series Championships on the horizon, and we will have legitimately wasted the best years of Aaron Judge. I continue to hope for the best. A World Series Championship for Judge and Gerrit Cole would be one for the ages. I hope it happens. Yankees, your move.

As always, Go Yankees! 

The Offseason of Uncertainty...

 

Will the Yankees make the moves that make the difference in 2026?...

This is a weird offseason. I legitimately do not know if the New York Yankees will move to fill holes without completing the puzzle to ensure more regular season success and a roll of the dice for the October Crapshoot, or if the Yankees recognize the ownership groups in Los Angeles (Chavez Ravine, not Anaheim) and Queens have set a new World Order, forcing the team to go “all in”. Granted, the Mets flunked the season, but it will not stop Uncle Steve from throwing more of his money into the problem. Sunday’s trade of outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien puts them in the outfield arena for guys like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. 

The Yankees do not seem to be on the same playing field with the game’s best, even if they historically have been Major League Baseball’s most fantastic franchise. You have owners who play to win, and you have owners who play to profit. While you could argue that a World Series Championship pays the most significant dividends, it involves too much gambling, particularly for a conservative, professionally trained bean counter like Hal Steinbrenner.

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

I blame George Steinbrenner for not training a son to hold his same passion. That was what he was trying to do with a former son-in-law, although divorce tanked the plan. Hank Steinbrenner’s son, George IV, holds the magic name. I have no idea whether he keeps his grandfather’s (or his father’s) passion. Yet, I am ready for the next generation of Steinbrenners to ascend to the throne. Hal was not interested in the Yankees when he was young, and I pray he is working on an escape plan. I am surprised that selling the team does not appeal to Hal. I know, he holds his father’s legacy in his hands, but a sale would bring multi-generational money to the Steinbrenner family. Every year, I hope Hal decides to go “all in” like he did in 2009. Maybe this is the year, maybe not. Realistically, the latter seems like the most probable outcome…and I come away from the offseasons with a sense of disappointment.

Sadly, we move forward with Hal’s leadership, for better or for worse. A transition to a younger owner is years away. So, we are married to him and can only hope that the Steinbrenner blood works into some future decisions. 

As for the team, the offseason is well underway. A few moves have already been made. Trent Grisham, surprisingly, accepted the Yankees’ qualifying offer. He must have felt the compensation that interested teams would pay to sign him as a potential market suppressor. If he can replicate his productive 2025 in 2026, he will enter the free agency period next offseason with no strings attached. Not sure if this is one of those ‘bet on yourself’ moments, or if Grisham was not ready to end his Yankees tenure. I suspect it is the former regardless of how Grisham feels about the Yankees.

I have mixed feelings about Grisham. If he can replicate his performance next season, a one-year deal is not a terrible thing. The money that goes to Grisham could have been used to attract an elite free agent like Kyle Tucker. The Yankees can afford both, but recent history says the team will choose a cheaper route. I would love to have Cody Bellinger back in Pinstripes, but Tucker is better. I would hate to see the Yankees try to chase Tucker, fail, and lose Bellinger while they were grasping for Tucker. Admittedly, I would go with the surer thing and try to bring back Bellinger. I have seen many fans say the contract will age poorly, but at this point, I am concerned about 2026. We are not making moves for 2027 or 2028.

Somehow, Boston always seems to get out from under bad contracts, but the Yankees bite the bullet and eat the money.

Grisham’s return spells the end for Jasson Dominguez unless the Yankees pass on both Tucker and Dominguez and need a left fielder (again). A trade of either Dominguez or Spencer Jones this offseason seems likely. I would hate to see Jones leave. I remember when people were complaining about a young Aaron Judge striking out too much. He has had a nice Major League career, one that has guaranteed a trip to Cooperstown, New York, someday.

The Yankees also re-signed Clarke Schmidt to a $4.5 million deal for the 2026 season. Schmidt had Tommy John surgery in July, and I feared a potential non-tender, like how they have moved on from other Tommy John rehabilitators like Nathan Eovaldi. I can hear GM Brian Cashman now, “He’s like a trade deadline acquisition” when Schmidt returns mid-season. I am glad to see Schmidt returning, and I am sure his return will coincide with a rotation need.

Oswaldo Cabrera, who missed most of last season, also re-signed for $1.2 million. While I like Cabrera, his role could be upgraded. The Yankees need a shortstop to start the year, and if they acquire a legitimate frontline shortstop, keeping Jose Caballero in reserve, it would be hard to find a place for Cabrera on the Major League roster. Shortstop is a sore subject. I know the Yankees love Anthony Volpe, but the team can do better.

The Yankees re-signed LHP Ryan Yarbrough, a dude who knows his role and does it well. With the starting pitchers who will be late arrivals in the 2026 season, it's all-hands-on-deck for the Yankees' rotation. Yarbrough is not the answer, but he helps. 

There were a few surprises with the non-tenders. I got the decision to cut bait with Michael Arias, Scott Effross, and Ian Hamilton. The two that surprised me were Mark Leiter, Jr., even if he did fade in the second half, and Jake Cousins. Cousins underwent Tommy John surgery in June, so like Clarke Schmidt, he is out until the second half of 2026. Holding two positions for guys who cannot help when the season begins must have been too much for Brian Cashman and his cast of nerds. I wish it worked out for Leiter, Jr., or Cousins, but I know protecting roster spots over the Winter is challenging when other moves are anticipated. Bullpen will undoubtedly be an area of focus this offseason as the Yankees try to build a strong pen after last season’s struggles.

The Yankees tendered contracts to eight arbitration-eligible players. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr., closer David Bednar, set up reliever Camilo Doval, shortstop Anthony Volpe, utility infielder Jose Caballero, starter Luis Gil, setup reliever Fernando Cruz, and deadline-disappointment right-hander Jake Bird.

The Yankees also selected the contracts of outfielder Spencer Jones and pitchers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodriguez in advance of next month’s Rule 5 Draft.  After watching catcher Carlos Narvaez thrive with the Boston Red Sox this season, there is consolation in the fact that the Red Sox gave us a pitcher who can ascend to the top of the pitching prospects in the organization. Rodriguez is currently the third-ranked prospect in the Yankees organization behind Jones and RHP Carlos Lagrange, according to MLB.com. I thought they would protect a couple of other prospects, but I trust they had their reasons.  I hope none of the non-selected players come back to haunt the Yankees. They are RHP relievers Harrison Cohen and Eric Reyzelman; LHP Henry Lalane (once highly regarded), LHP Brock Selvidge, and LHP Allen Facundo (not on MLB.com’s prospect list, but a talent that has drawn strong reviews); first baseman T.J. Rumfield; outfielder Jace Avina; and catcher Manuel Palencia. It seems like a few of these guys will be poached in the Rule 5 Draft. Whether they stick with their new teams remains to be seen, but they will be playing for an opportunity that the Yankees either could not or did not afford.  No doubt the Boston Red Sox will be rummaging through the Yankees’ trash looking for another ex-Yankee difference maker.

Tough decisions. I recognize that we cannot judge today’s decisions until we see the moves the team makes between now and Opening Day. The chances for success in 2026 hinge on the collective improvements made to the roster, not a few surprising individual moves in November.

Congratulations to Aaron Judge for winning the 2025 American League Most Valuable Player Award. My fear was that the voters would be unduly influenced by the historic season of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. He certainly went where no catcher has ever gone before, but Aaron Judge was the better overall hitter and deserved the award. The only thing that Raleigh did better than Judge, aside from the homers, was taking his team to the American League Championship. I still laugh when I remember people saying that Aaron Judge will never be Mike Trout. In retrospect, I am glad he is not Mike Trout, an injury-riddled 30-something former elite player. In Trout’s defense, I would love to see him rebound with one of his best seasons next year (so long as it is not at the Yankees’ expense). I have no idea what it must be like for him to watch his friend Shohei Ohtani win a World Series Championship every year since his departure from the Los Angeles Angels of "an hour away" Anaheim. I genuinely wish Trout could have been given better opportunities to win during his career.

As for moves to be made this offseason, I would love splashy moves, but those days are over. I quietly hope for Kyle Tucker, but I hope for at least the return of Cody Bellinger. I would like to see the Yankees bring in another Japanese player to re-establish the intense connection they once had with Japan. The Yankees have not had a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka departed (Kenta Maeda’s brief stint in the minors last season does not count). I would like to see the Yankees sign Tatsuya Imai. I recognize the 27-year-old righthander is not elite, but I want to think he can be as valuable as Hiroki Kuroda once was. I have cooled on Munetaka Murakami, a first baseman who can also play third base, so that I would take Imai as the preferred Japanese player over Murakami. Murakami was recently photographed having dinner with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, leading to speculation the Dodgers will continue to add to their elite Japanese connection. This is the magic the Yankees once held when Hideki Matsui was on the roster. The Yankees need to re-engage the Japanese community and make New York as attractive as the West Coast.

Tatsuya Imai (Photo Credit: Sports Nippon/Getty Images)

Usually, I am anxious and excited for the Baseball Winter Meetings. It has always been my favorite time of year. This year is different. I am unsure what to expect from Yankees leadership. Will they try to run it back with the majority of the 2025 roster, or will they legitimately make the moves to close the gap with the game’s elite teams? I have no idea or trust in the Yankees’ leadership to do what it takes.

Hopefully, a month from now, we will have a better idea of the team’s direction and plans to compete in 2026. If late December is just as foggy, it sadly does not bode well for 2026. So, either MUCH happens between now and then, or there are crickets with the Yankees hierarchy. Hal, please make us believe in the Yankees again. This is your birthright.

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!

The Yankees Are on The Clock...

 

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: New York Post)

Hal Steinbrenner’s Moment to Shine…

At least your team made the playoffs.

I have heard countless Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers fans complaining about the extended days off for MLB teams with the best records (from the end of the regular season to the start of the AL/NL Division Series), delays that the fans feel contributed to their teams’ lackluster play. Considering Major League Baseball, for the most part, has been over since the first of October for Yankees fans, there is no sympathy or pity for their ousters. The cries of the Braves and Dodgers fans are simply an attempt to find excuses. At least their teams made the playoffs. How they performed…poorly… is on the teams, but not by how much rest they were able to get between games. 

I legitimately thought the Braves, armed with this year’s NL MVP (to be), would steamroll the NL contenders and the AL champion en route to a well-earned and deserved World Series championship. It felt like 2023 was their year. Alas, the Philadelphia Phillies thought otherwise and brought their A-game to October. It helps to have one of the best players in the game, Bryce Harper, but the Phillies showed they wanted to win more than the Braves did. Not sure if the Braves fell into the trap of thinking they just had to show up to win, I know it is more complicated than that, however, they go down as just another great team with an early exit. A team that history will soon forget. 

Credit the Los Angeles Dodgers for contending every year, but their lack of October success (setting aside the COVID-shortened year of 2020) is startling. The Dodgers have a strong farm system, but letting quality players walk like Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Turner was eventually going to catch up with them. I get the need to plug in younger, cheaper talent, but as Bryce Harper showed this week, some guys know how to win. Corey Seager has it and so does Trea Turner.  You need a strong mix of veterans and youth. The Dodgers' problem was pitching so maybe letting hitters leave in their primes (well, Justin Turner might be outside of that range) was not the cause for their demise. For all his flaws, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski showed he knows how to build a team for October. Meanwhile, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman showed that while he is better at analytics than the Yankees, his efforts prove futile when the calendar turns to October.  Old School Baseball 1, Analytics 0. I know that is not an accurate statement, but it is a general perception of Dombrowski versus Friedman. 

For all the changes fans want the Yankees to make, they will have hard competition from other teams trying to figure out how to do better. 

As for the Yankees making changes, I will have to see it to believe it. I am not convinced they will make a concerted effort to build a team capable of challenging the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. Everyone likes to say just make it in the playoffs, and worry about the rest later, but the Yankees, at least over the past decade have not shown an ability to create October excitement outside of Joe Girardi’s final ride in 2017 that shortened by banging trash cans. I always want to win the division first and foremost. A Wild Card spot is a nice consolation prize if Plan A does not work out, but I will never look at a Wild Card as a goal.

There has been much talk about firing General Manager Brian Cashman or canning Manager Aaron Boone, but the man on the spot is Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner.

Mike Axisa included this paragraph in his RAB Thoughts post today on Patreon:

“Hal’s priority is keeping his investors happy and his loyalty is to his 29 business partners. As long as the Yankees are making money and reasonably competitive, he’s happy. Winning a World Series would be icing on the cake, but clearly, it’s not the No. 1 priority. It hasn’t been in some time. I think Cashman has lost his fastball, but I also think he’s gone along with Hal because hey, if the boss wants to lower expectations and make my life easier, who am I to argue?”

Note: If you do not subscribe to RAB Thoughts (for only $3 per month), you are missing out. Mike Axisa is absolutely one of the best. His work is consistently elite. 

RAB Thoughts | IndependentYankees analysis (formerly: riveraveblues.com) | Patreon

Getting back to Hal Steinbrenner, I have always questioned Hal’s commitment to the Yankees. It was so obvious when he was younger, that he was not interested in the Yankees (at least from an outside observation from afar). Hearing people complain today about George Steinbrenner’s grandchildren getting into the family business, most notably, Steve Swindal, Jr., I am excited the younger Steinbrenner relatives have interests in the team. They are the organization's future assuming the Steinbrenner Family never sells the team. I do not see Hal Steinbrenner wanting to deal with the Yankees when he is in his 60s or 70s. He will be ready to turn the team over to more interested, younger hands at some point. I want the younger Steinbrenner’s to get as much experience as they can, and if they can bring along their grandfather’s competitive spirit, all the better. 

Axisa’s comment about Hal’s desire to keep his business partners happy rings so true. Profitability is the goal, not the World Series championships. Championships are a nice byproduct, and one would think championships would create greater profitability, but in Hal’s view, you start with the money first.  Controlled results. Hal has shown a willingness to spend (see Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge) but conversely, he has allowed poor contracts that prevent the team from making better moves. The most recent example was Brian Cashman’s acquisition of the downward-trending Josh Donaldson and his excessive contract under the belief there was something still in the tank.  I would be upset if I paid California gas prices only to find the tank empty. Hal’s strength is his loyalty to his workers. His weakness is his loyalty to his workers. Both can be true. He needs to find the right balance and make hard decisions when appropriate. The Yankees Front Office must be held accountable. Why is it that every Cashman move lately seems like they backfire? He has had his successes, but the failures clearly outweigh them. Something is broken in the Yankees organization, and Hal Steinbrenner needs to fix it. It goes back to General George S Patton's quote: “Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way.”

There have been calls for Manager Aaron Boone to get tougher. That’s wrong. Hal Steinbrenner needs to get tougher. It starts at the top, and the effective changes must originate from Hal’s office. Grabbing a free-agent Japanese pitcher or a free-agent outfielder who spent a year in Chicago is not the effective change the team needs. Those players can be part of the plan, but the Yankees need to change how they view players and how those players collectively fit into the larger puzzle. The 2023 Phillies, much like the 2017 Yankees, show a team camaraderie that was made possible by bringing in the right mix of personalities and talent. Donaldson evidenced the Yankees have not valued character as part of their decision-making process. 

So, this winter is about more than acquiring a few players that you think can push the Yankees to a few more wins. There needs to be a philosophical change in the organization and how they determine a player’s worth.  Fire Brian Cashman…do not fire Brian Cashman. That is not really the point. I am not happy with Cashman, but the Yankees’ problems go deeper than Cashman. Fix the root causes of what led to the downward spiral.

Realistically, the Yankees should be as successful in the regular season as the Dodgers. They have the resources. I get that you do not need a $300 million payroll to win a World Series, but why is it so wrong for fans to question the dollars spent? The Yankees have made bad financial decisions. They need to own those decisions and ensure they do not happen again. If Hal is unable to control his business partners, he will never win. So, his first step would be to unite the ownership group to move the franchise forward. Identify the flaws in the organization and create a master plan for success. Hal should evaluate everyone, including himself. Who is part of the future and who is holding it back?

I am not convinced the Yankees will contend in 2024 but I want Hal Steinbrenner to make me, to make us, believe in the Yankees again. On its current path, the team will be an AL East bottom feeder for the foreseeable future. Nothing like wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. I want to be excited about the Yankees again. Hal, your move.

As always, Go Yankees!

P.S. Please be sure to check out Bryan Van Dusen's 2024 Offseason Plan!

Yankees: Losing Optimism...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Jessie Alcheh/AP)

Failure is the common theme of the 2023 New York Yankees…

I will say that I went into the MLB Trade Deadline thinking the Yankees would do nothing, so I guess from that standpoint, they met my expectations. Sure, they picked up a couple of relievers, but the bullpen was a minor need compared to the bigger problems with the current roster construction.   

I must admit that it would have been more appealing if the Yankees had sent a certain general manager to Texas instead of the green stuff for this trade:

Texas Rangers traded RHP Spencer Howard to New York Yankees for Cash

Meanwhile, the AL East Rivals, all of them, improved in the days leading up to the deadline and are better teams than they were last week.  The notable trades were:

Baltimore Orioles acquired veteran right-hander Jack Flaherty from the St Louis Cardinals; the Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-hander Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians; the Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-handed flamethrowing reliever Jordan Hicks and shortstop Paul DeJong from the St Louis Cardinals in separate deals; and the Boston Red Sox acquired third baseman Luis Urias from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Meanwhile, the big acquisitions for the Yankees were relievers Keynan Middleton from the Chicago White Sox and Spencer Howard from the Texas Rangers. To get Middleton, the Yankees gave up High-A reliever Juan Carela.  I so wish the cost of Spencer Howard was Brian “Cash” Cashman. 

Middleton is the only one of the two newcomers who provide immediate help for the bullpen. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round of the 2013 Draft, Middleton has pitched in the Majors for the Angels, Seattle Mariners, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He signed with the White Sox as a free agent in January 2023. This season, the 29-year-old Middleton has appeared in 39 games for the White Sox. He is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA, 47 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings, and two saves. He has given up seven home runs and has walked sixteen batters.  He represents a better option than the recently demoted Ron Marinaccio, but I cannot really find any reason to believe the Yankees are better today than they were yesterday.

Keynan Middleton (Photo Credit: Eileen T Meslar/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Spencer Howard is a project. He was originally drafted in the 2^nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27-year-old righty has only appeared in three Major League games for the Rangers this season. He is 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA (four runs allowed in 3 1/3 innings). The Rangers had acquired Howard, along with two other minor leaguers, in a 2021 trade deadline deal with the Phillies that most notably sent starting pitcher Kyle Gibson to the City of Brotherly Love. Maybe the Yankees think they can unlock the promise that Howard once held. 

Spencer Howard (Photo Credit: Elias Valverde II/Staff Photographer, Dallas Morning News)

So, Middleton is essentially the only acquisition obtained to help the Yankees achieve the last Wild Card slot despite the shortcomings in left field, the loss of a true third baseman, and horrific starting pitching by Luis Severino and Domingo German (excluding his nine innings of perfection). 

To be real, it feels like the Yankees have punted the season. If the goal was to toss in the white towel, the Yankees should have been more aggressive in trading the players on the roster with expiring contracts. The corporate-speak is the expectation the current players can and will perform better, but they have proven throughout most of the season that the Yankees are what they are…the last-place club in the AL East. 

I am disappointed in the Yankees. The front office is not transparent and to an outside observer, there does not appear to be a clear and distinct plan for future success. As they say, you cannot keep doing the same things expecting different results. At this point, I am ready for the kids. Time to bring up RHP Randy Vásquez, infielder Oswald Peraza, utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, and outfielder Everson Pereira. Heck, may as well promote catcher Austin Wells, now 24, despite his limited Triple-A experience. If the Yankees are going to lose, they need to at least make it exciting for us. 2017 was a fun season despite the season-ending playoff loss to the Cheaters. I think I miss the fun of the 2017 season more today than ever before. I am not pining for the return of Manager Joe Girardi despite the dissatisfaction with current Manager Aaron Boone. It is more about the fun the players had on the field.  We felt it as fans. 

2017 Yankees

I do not know the future of the organization. The Baltimore Orioles will likely win the American League East and have the talented youth infusion to keep the team among the league’s best for the next five years. The Rays are the Rays and will continue to maximize the performance of their players through superior use of analytics (a much better understanding of how to equate the statistics into on-the-field performance), and the Blue Jays will eventually figure it out. The Blue Jays have the money to explode if everything comes together for them. Boston is Boston. They find a way to win every few years. The Yankees appear to be a dysfunctional organization. Why? They have the financial strength to hire baseball’s brightest minds, yet Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner rewards the guys he likes.  There is no accountability for performance. The only way for the organization to change is for Hal Steinbrenner to change. He is 53, makes a good living courtesy of the Yankees, and is not motivated to win championships.  That may be unfair. I am sure he wants to win championships because it brings more money into the organization, but he lacks the passion and the zeal for success like his father did. His father was certainly not perfect (I doubt the 1990s Dynasty Years would have occurred if George Steinbrenner had not been suspended earlier in the decade to allow Gene “Stick” Michael to build the championship teams), but Hal has been a reluctant Yankee all his life. As a young man, he was seemingly uninterested in an active role with the Yankees. George was attempting to build his succession plan through his sons-in-law, first Joe Molloy and then Steve Swindal, until divorces thwarted those plans. Hank seemed more interested in the family’s horses. After Hank’s failure as the face of the franchise forced Hal to take the more active lead role, I felt the strong-willed Hank remained a good counterbalance to Hal’s conservative nature. As co-Managing General Partners, Hank was the only one who could potentially overrule Hal with the support of his sisters. Hank’s untimely death removed a strong voice in the owner’s room.  I am sure the two Steinbrenner sisters, Jennifer, and Jessica, have voiced their opinions in closed-door meetings, but they have never publicly shown the strength of those opinions and I am not sure how much they challenge their younger brother.   

The Steinbrenner Family: Jennifer, Jessica, George's wife Joan (deceased), Hal, and Hank (deceased)

I am not sure what the future holds for Hal Steinbrenner’s Yankees. Eventually, he will turn over the team to younger family members unless the Steinbrenner Family makes the unlikely decision to sell the team.  The potential future Steinbrenner owners include Stephen Swindal, Jr, Robert Molloy, Hank’s two children, George Michael Steinbrenner IV and Julia Steinbrenner, and Hal’s daughter, Katherine Steinbrenner. I would be lying if I said I was not partial to George M. Steinbrenner IV for name value alone.  With his interest in Indy Car Racing, I am sure the Boss’s namesake shares his grandfather’s passion for competitiveness. 

George Michael Steinbrenner IV

Until the younger Steinbrenner children are ready to ascend to the throne, Hal needs to figure this out. He must find a plan to rebuild the team and restore the faith and confidence in the fanbase. Brian Cashman may be a nice guy, a smart man, but it is time for a change. Hiring the brightest minds in the industry should start with the general manager’s chair. The only disadvantage with Cashman joining another organization is that he knows how to play Hal Steinbrenner.  Otherwise, I do not think any fan would really care where Cashman draws his next paycheck.  If Cashman goes, the coaching staff and the analytics department need to follow.  Find the best people, the smartest and most innovative minds, for the jobs to lead the most storied franchise in baseball history.  The time for change is upon us.  Try something new, get different, i.e., better, results.

Hal, give us a reason to cheer again.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Embrace the Current Yankees Boss...

  

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/Getty Images)

Hal, not George, runs the New York Yankees…

George Steinbrenner died July 13, 2010...

As someone who lived during the George Steinbrenner era, you will never find me wishing the Boss was still alive. I miss his passion and love for the Yankees, sure, but I remember the faults. As a kid, it seemed like there was a new manager every year and of course there was the unhealthy love/hate relationship the Boss had with Billy Martin. I loved every hiring and was deeply saddened by every firing. It was impossible to keep up with the pitching coaches. Those guys churned more than the revolving managerial door. 

Gabe Paul, Billy Martin & George Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Marty Lederhandler/AP)

I remember going to my first game at the old Yankee Stadium in 1987 and the anti-Boss yells were noticeable. There was no love for George Steinbrenner during those days. Many of us were frustrated last March when the Yankees acquired the aging Josh Donaldson and his fat contract. Those type of acquisitions were frequent under the Boss. Overpaying veterans who were “past their prime” was commonplace.

I truly believe the 1990s dynasty would not have happened if not for the Boss’s time away. Dave Winfield signed a 10-year contract with the Yankees after the 1980 season (for a now laughable $23 million given where salaries are for elite players today). Winfield never brought a championship to New York, and of course, he earned the nickname “Mr. May” from Steinbrenner for his poor October performances. The contract did not age well, for Steinbrenner, and he suspended annual payments to Winfield’s foundation in the latter years of the contract, payments required under the terms and conditions of Winfield’s agreement with the team, with the belief the funds were mismanaged. This led to lawsuits between Winfield and the Boss. Steinbrenner, to prove Winfield’s mismanagement of the foundation payments, paid a gambler named Howard Spira $40,000. Spira had been a foundation volunteer and was willing to confirm Steinbrenner’s suspicions…for a price.

When Steinbrenner’s actions came to light, it led then MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent to bar Steinbrenner for life. Although the Boss was not required to sell his interest in the Yankees, he was barred from day-to-day management of the team. Steinbrenner had requested the lifetime ban over a two-year suspension because he feared a suspension would jeopardize his place as Vice President of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Limited Partner Robert Nederlander took over as the Managing General Partner for two years, and subsequently replaced by Joe Molloy, Steinbrenner’s former son-in-law. Under Nederlander and Molloy, Yankees executive Gene Michael was able to build the framework for the late 1990s championship run. The trade which brought Paul O’Neill to New York happened while the Boss was “away” and of course the Core Four, plus Bernie Williams, rose to prominence because they were given the time to blossom. 

After requesting reinstatement, the lifetime ban was lifted, and the Boss returned to his role as the Managing General Partner in 1993. He largely allowed Michael to continue building the eventual championship teams. The notable exception was following the 1995 season, after the stunning playoff loss to the Seattle Mariners, when Buck Showalter turned down a two-year contract extension because it included a provision to fire then-hitting coach Rick Down. Steinbrenner took this as a “resignation” which created a managerial vacancy.

Although Michael lost a manager he would have retained, he rebounded by naming Joe Torre as Yankees manager and of course the rest is history. If pre-lifetime ban Steinbrenner had been present, the new Yankees manager most likely would have been Davey Johnson or Tony LaRussa. Fortunately, the post-lifetime ban Boss supported Michael’s decision, and the championships soon followed. 

The point is the championship run was probably only possible because of Steinbrenner’s time away. It allowed Gene Michael to make the right moves. Credit to both Nederlander and Molloy for their roles in providing the necessary support for Michael.

Gene "Stick" Michael (Photo Credit: AP)

I do not dislike current Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. I may harbor frustration that he does not outwardly show his passion and love for the Yankees like his father did. Hal is a businessman, a bean counter by education. For all intents and purposes, he is a good man. Hal took over the Yankees after the 2007 season following the decision not to bring back Joe Torre and the subsequent retirement of his father, who had suffered through strokes and dementia in his final years. The Yankees have never had a losing record under Hal’s watch. In fact, the Yankees have not had a losing season since 1992.  Granted, there were only 84 wins in the 2014 and 2016 seasons, but they were “winning” seasons. Amazing to think that any Yankee fan in their 20s have never experienced a losing season. 

We may be frustrated with the moves Hal Steinbrenner makes or does not make, but to say he has been bad for the Yankees is wrong.  I do not pine for George Steinbrenner; I want Hal Steinbrenner to step up in a way that would make his father proud. Hal is his own man, and I do respect the trust he places in Yankees Management. The stability and continuity have been invaluable in helping the Yankees to become one of the best run teams in Major League Baseball. I did not enjoy the Bronx Zoo days.  Loved some of the characters, of course, but not the entire chaotic mess.

The singular point is ‘do better’. No more stop gaps. No more bloated contracts that hold the team back (saying this while hopeful the Yankees re-sign Aaron Judge to an excessively fat contract, in a sense of hypocrisy). I am probably referring more to guys like Josh Donaldson who seemed like a mistake from the moment the Gary Sanchez trade was announced last Spring.  Or “knee jerk” signings like Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yankees have a winning team, but they have proven they are not a championship team. Running it back with the same guys, hoping for better results is a flawed strategy.

I am hopeful the Yankees recognize they were not as good as their first half run last season. Bringing back Aaron Judge is a must, but the off-season improvements cannot stop there. I keep seeing fans who want Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Anthony Volpe in next season’s Opening Day lineup. Not me. I do not want to roll out three rookies in attempt to de-throne the Houston Astros. I believe Peraza should be the team’s starting shortstop (based on the current roster), but there is no question I would sign Trea Turner or Carlos Correa if I could. Oswaldo Cabrera is next season’s Marwin Gonzalez, only younger and better. Volpe will be great, but let him season a little more in Triple A. The end result will be worth it. 

Assuming Judge returns (I am a little more optimistic after hearing Jeff Passan on The Michael Kay Show last week, “All signs point to Aaron Judge remaining with the Yankees”), how the Yankees address the starting rotation (need better options than Clarke Schmidt or Domingo German to replace Jameson Taillon), the bullpen, and left field will go a long way toward building a team ready for the October hurdles.  Turner or Correa would be insurance it happens. 

Time for Hal Steinbrenner to win a World Series championship without his father’s watchful eye.

Thanksgiving Weekend…

I hope everyone had a joyous and memorable Thanksgiving Day yesterday. 

I know I was thankful to see my Minnesota Vikings finally defeat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The Vikings had not beaten the Pats since 2000. It is always beautiful anytime a Boston team loses. Sorry to my fellow Yankee fans who bleed Blue for the Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the New York Giants. Sadly, I think the Giants are like the Vikings…not as good as their respective records. But as the saying goes, “On any given Sunday…”.   

The Boston Red Sox have a Yankees fetish. With a few former Yankees on their roster (James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, and Rob Refsnyder) and one player named after a Yankees legend (Jeter Downs), the Red Sox added two more former Yankees last week. They acquired infielder Hoy Park, who had been designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Park went to Pittsburgh as part of the trade that brought Clay Holmes to New York. The Red Sox also signed free agent reliever Joely Rodriguez who spent last season as a Met after being traded for reliever Miguel Castro. 

As soon as I saw that the Pirates had DFA’d Park, my first thought was ‘future Red Sock’. Sure enough, it happened like clockwork.

Wondering when the Yankees will announce new contracts for general manager Brian Cashman and pitching coach Matt Blake. It seems odd while chasing free agent Aaron Judge and potential pitching options, the Yankees have not locked up two key members of the organization. I do not take this to mean they may not return, I think both will be back but the sooner their returns are announced, the better. 

Matt Blake (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo)

It will be interesting to see if the Yankees replace assistant hitting coach Hensley Meulens who left to become the hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees could just stand pat with only one assistant hitting coach (Desi Druschel) for hitting coach Dillon Lawson, but I feel there is value in an old school hitter to pair with analytics-driven coaches. I would love to see Brett Gardner rejoin the Yankees in this role.  As a former team leader, he has the command and respect of the clubhouse.

I thought it was funny the Los Angeles Angels acquired Mike Trout-lookalike Hunter Renfroe.

Hunter Renfroe

Mike Trout

Former Yankee prospect Janson Junk went to Milwaukee as part of the deal to bring Renfroe to Orange County, California. The Angels had previously acquired third baseman Gio Urshela from the Minnesota Twins, and signed former Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, a free agent, so they are clearly trying to do something before Shohei Ohtani leaves. The Angels see Urshela as an option at third base and first base, and occasionally at short, second base or the outfield.  Anthony Rendon has struggled to stay healthy since he signed with the Angels so no doubt Gio will be manning third base more than the Angels currently expect. Good for him. 

I am always glad to get the Thanksgiving holiday behind us for no other reason than we are closer to the annual Baseball Winter Meetings. It is always my favorite week of the MLB offseason, and it was missed immensely last season after cancellation due to the lockout. The bittersweet part of the week is the Rule 5 Draft when multiple Yankee prospects are chosen annually. At least with the MLB portion of the draft, the Yankees can get the prospects back if they fail to stick on the Major League rosters for their new teams. The only time I am openly rooting for Yankee prospects to fail. 

As a baseball fan, I am sorry to hear that Bryce Harper needed Tommy John surgery. I wish him a speedy and full recovery and look forward to his return to MLB sometime next season for the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball is better when Bryce is playing.

Happy Birthday to the YES Network’s Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES on Twitter)! Jack is 58 years old today. Looking forward to his breaking news that Aaron Judge has re-signed with the Yankees (I hope). I hope it is a wonderful birthday, Jack, and we look forward to your work in the coming year. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Pessimism is the New Optimism...

  

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Progress yet to be seen…

Despite hope for elevation in talks between the MLB Owners and MLB Players Association, the brief one-hour meeting on Saturday was just another sign the owners have no intent to compromise with the players. Those supporting the owners may say the players are unreasonable, however, in my humble opinion, the opposite is true. Eventually, the MLB Lockout will end. Eventually. For now, the certainty is the delay of Spring Training and possibly Opening Day if talks cannot escalate to meaningful and productive discussions with greater frequency.

It seems to me that the owners want the players to feel the pain of losing money so that they cave into the owners’ demands. Greed is alive and well in 2022.

Despite the 130-page offer presented to the Players Association, union lawyers were underwhelmed by the latest proposals. Although the lawyers will discuss the offer to the MBLPA’s executive board, there is not much optimism that the latest proposals will kickstart and accelerate negotiations.

Saturday was only the fifth time the two sides have met since the Lockout began on December 2^nd. There appears no chance the pitchers and catchers will report next week, nor will the Spring Training games begin on February 26^th as originally scheduled.

Highlights of the latest offer by the MLB Owners included:

• Elimination of the penalty (third-round amateur draft pick) for exceeding the luxury tax threshold.
• Increase the luxury tax threshold: 2022 & 2023: $214 million; 2024: $216 million; 2025: $218,000 million; and 2026: $222 million.
• Raise the minimum salary from $570,500 to $630,000; or an alternative tier of $615,000 for initial major league players, $650,000 for players with one-year of service, and $725,000 for players with two years of service.
• Increase the pre-arbitration bonus pool from $10 million to $15 million.
• Limit of five optional assignments of a player to the minor leagues each season.

The current annual inflation rate for the 12 months ending in January 2022 was 7.48%. The proposed levels for the luxury tax threshold fail to keep pace with current inflation. Based on the current luxury tax threshold of $210 million, the minimum ceiling should be no less than $225 million. With the players seeking approximately $245-$260 million, the owners and players have a long way to go to find a mutually acceptable threshold.

The pre-arbitration bonus pool proposal remains $85 million below the union’s most recent request.

I have not given much thought to optional assignments, but I was surprised to hear that Yankees reliever Albert Abreu was optioned to Triple A something like fourteen times last season. That is crazy. I know teams have gotten better at roster manipulation through players with options (particularly when trying to keep relievers fresh), and agree there should be a cap. The owners’ proposal for a maximum of five optional assignments makes sense to me and seems fair, but it is hardly an issue that moves the needle toward full agreement on all core economic issues.

Like many of you, I am disappointed. Baseball is my favorite spectator sport. I like football but not nearly as much as baseball. I have probably paid more attention to football this year for no other reason than the absence of baseball. I have interest in basketball and hockey but certainly not to the same degree as baseball or football. Baseball historically is such a release from the grinds of daily life. We ride the ebbs and flows of every season with our favorite team. We legitimately care about the players for our team, those fortunate enough to wear the famed Pinstripes (well, apparently, for everybody except Gary Sanchez¹, that is…). The MLB Owners are depriving us of a great sport because they are unwilling to compromise and unable to act with any urgency.

George Steinbrenner / Photo Credit: Getty Images

I remain hopeful for a 162-game season, but time is running out. I will never forgive the MLB Owners if the season is lost. Regardless of what the future holds, I am done with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. #FireManfred

Clown Rob Manfred

As always, Go Yankees! We miss you…

¹Editor’s Note: For the record, I do care about Gary Sanchez.