WE NEED TO END THIS VOLPE FEVER DREAM OF HELL

George Lombard Jr. might not just be the Yankees' shortstop of the future — he might be the Yankees' escape plan from the Anthony Volpe problem very soon.

And let's be honest: a lot of fans believe that time can't come soon enough.

For years, every slump, every cold streak, and every offensive disappearance came with an excuse attached to it. Most recently, the conversation centered around Volpe's shoulder. But as some of us have been saying all along, this was never about a shoulder. It was about evaluation. The Yankees believed they had a franchise cornerstone. Read: HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT. Instead, they're watching a player hit .194 and somehow finding new ways to make the Mendoza Line look like an ambitious goal.

When Volpe comes to the plate these days, the energy leaves the stadium faster than Yankees fans fleeing a rain delay. That's why the George Lombard Jr. discussion refuses to go away.

Remember spring training? Lombard was making highlight-reel plays, flashing range all over the field, and looking like he belonged. For a few weeks, it felt like Yankees fans had discovered the next great Bronx shortstop. Sure, he cooled off later and was eventually sent down, but the excitement never completely disappeared.

And scouts aren't exactly subtle about the comparison. Most evaluators view Lombard as the better defender right now, with superior range and a stronger arm. That's not exactly the kind of report card Volpe supporters want to read.

The good news for the Yankees is they don't have to rush anything.

Lombard can continue developing in the minors, pile up experience, and potentially make his way to the Bronx later this season. In the meantime, the Yankees have Jose Caballero, who has quickly become the latest player fans are demanding receive a real opportunity.

Even former Yankee Todd Frazier has joined the movement.

"I think you give Caballero the shot and you see what he can do," Frazier said. "He's earned it. He deserves it."

Hard to argue with that logic.

At some point, results have to matter. Boone, stop gaslighting! 

Right now, Volpe simply isn't producing enough to justify an unlimited leash. The Yankees can keep waiting for a breakout season, but eventually hope becomes a strategy — and strategy becomes denial. The bigger problem? If the Yankees ultimately decide they've seen enough, there may not be an easy solution.

As Yanks Go Yard recently pointed out:

"What to do with Volpe when the time comes? We have no idea. There will be no interested trade suitors, and parking his $4 million salary in the minor leagues isn't exactly a good look. But something needs to be done if the former first-round pick can't meaningfully contribute to this team after countless opportunities."

And that's where things get uncomfortable.

Because if Lombard develops into what many believe he can become, the Yankees may soon be forced to answer a question they never expected to ask:

What happens when your shortstop of the future becomes your shortstop of the past? You know... Volpe?