YANKEES WIN BIG—BUT JUDGE’S INJURY CHANGES EVERYTHING

Give the Yankees credit. They are finding ways to win, and Friday night’s 9-2 beatdown of the Diamondbacks was another impressive example.

New York buried Arizona with five runs in the first inning and never looked back. Ben Rice launched his 39th home run and added a triple. George Lombard Jr. drove in three runs, including two on his own homer. Gerrit Cole finally looked like Gerrit Cole again, allowing two runs over six innings while becoming the winningest No. 1 overall draft pick in baseball history.

That is the formula the Yankees need: hit early, pitch well and stop making every game feel like open-heart surgery.

But let’s not dance around the real problem. Aaron Judge is hurt again, this time with a calf strain, and he is headed to the injured list. The Yankees can survive a few regular-season games without Judge. Winning four postseason series without him—or with a compromised version of him—is another story.

I don’t believe this team can win it all without a healthy Judge. Rice, Lombard and the rest can contribute, but Judge is the force that changes an opponent’s entire game plan.

Then there is Aaron Boone. Once October arrives and every pitching change, lineup decision and defensive substitution matters, we already know what happens. Boone overthinks, waits too long or finds some new way to blow it under pressure.

So yes, applaud the Yankees. They are winning, showing depth and refusing to fold. But if Judge isn’t right—and Boone is still Boone—the ending may be painfully familiar.

CABRERA NEVER STOOD A CHANCE

Oswaldo Cabrera didn’t make the cut with the Yankees—not because he failed, but because he wasn’t one of their chosen ones. That's the truth and that’s the ugly part.

Cabrera did everything the organization asked. He played all over the field, accepted every role, worked his way back from a devastating injury and hit .288 at Triple-A. He was a terrific teammate and exactly the kind of versatile bench player a contending team should value.

But none of it mattered. Cabrera didn’t receive the organizational protection afforded to Anthony Volpe.

The Yankees have bent over backward to defend Volpe, excuse his failures and manufacture opportunities for him. Cabrera received no such patience. When a roster spot was needed, he was the expendable one.

Then Aaron Boone foolishly hoped Cabrera might clear waivers.

Why would he?

Other organizations aren’t obligated to participate in the Yankees’ favoritism. Cincinnati saw a capable, versatile player with a minor-league option remaining and immediately claimed him. The Reds recognized Cabrera’s value while the Yankees were too busy protecting their preferred players. Boone's a fool.

Bottom line, the wrong infielder went to Cincinnati.

Anthony Volpe should be playing second base for the Reds right now. Instead, Cincinnati landed Cabrera—a player who earned his opportunities but never received the same endless chances.

Cabrera didn’t lose a fair competition. He lost a rigged numbers game.

He simply wasn’t a Yankees favorite—and with this organization, that matters more than performance.

I mean Christ, do the Yankees realize many fans just don't like these Yankee players? It's ridiculous already.

THE YANKEES FAILED OSWALDO CABRERA

There are Yankee moves that make you scratch your head. Then there are Yankee moves that make you wonder if anybody in that front office actually remembers what building a baseball team is supposed to look like.

Designating Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment falls into the second category.

The Yankees DFA’d Cabrera Wednesday to clear a 40-man roster spot for Clarke Schmidt. Technically, that’s the transaction.

But this is bigger than a roster spot.

This is about how the Yankees continue to treat certain players like disposable parts while seemingly giving others every opportunity imaginable to prove they belong.

And Cabrera deserved better.

This is a guy who did whatever the Yankees asked him to do.

Third base? Sure. Second? No problem. Shortstop? He’d do it. Outfield? Give him a glove. Sit on the bench for a week and then suddenly get thrown into the lineup somewhere he hadn’t played in a month?

Oswaldo Cabrera would smile and say, “Let’s go.” Was he a superstar? Of course not. That’s not the point.

Cabrera was exactly the kind of player championship teams need — a versatile, energetic utility player who understood his role, never complained and was willing to do just about anything to help the New York Yankees win.

And after battling back from that horrific ankle injury, Cabrera went to Triple-A and hit .288 with a .790 OPS this season.

His reward? DFA. Beautiful.

Meanwhile, we continue to hear about Anthony Volpe. 

CC Sabathia recently talked about Volpe’s “perseverance and determination,” and look, I understand CC’s point. Volpe didn't quit when the Yankees finally sent him to Triple-A. He worked. He made adjustments. He learned second base even though he didn't want to. He hit the baseball down there.

Good for him. Seriously. But perseverance cannot become another excuse for pretending the previous four years didn't happen. Volpe entered this latest opportunity with an 85 wRC+ across parts of four major-league seasons. This year, before his demotion, he was hitting .240/.325/.322 with one home run in 56 games.

At some point, Major League Baseball has to be about major-league production. And let's also stop rewriting the reason Volpe came back.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hurt his thumb and went on the injured list. The Yankees suddenly needed another second baseman. José Caballero had already stepped in at second, but Caballero's value to this roster is his ability to move around the diamond.

So Volpe got the call. That's roster necessity. That's different from the Yankees suddenly deciding Anthony Volpe had conquered Triple-A and earned his triumphant return to the Bronx.

Maybe Volpe has figured something out. Who knows. I really don't care anymore.

The Yankees' fascination with making Anthony Volpe happen has gone on long enough that fans have every right to question why the standards appear different depending on whose name is on the back of the uniform.

Because that's what bothers me about Cabrera. Oswaldo Cabrera earned the right to be useful to this team. He accepted every role. He played everywhere. He came back from a devastating injury. He produced in Scranton. And the Yankees still decided he was expendable.

The Yankees decided preserving their pitching depth and keeping their other roster possibilities open was more important than keeping Cabrera on the 40-man roster.

That's their right. But fans have the right to call it what it looks like, too. Another good Yankee gets squeezed while the organization continues bending over backward to find roles and opportunities for players it has decided are part of the plan.

That's the problem. It's not that Anthony Volpe shouldn't have been recalled when Jazz went down. The roster situation made the move understandable.

It's that Oswaldo Cabrera seemingly never received the same runway.

One player gets patience. Another gets DFA'd. One gets talked about in terms of determination and development. The other does everything asked of him, fights his way back from a gruesome injury, hits .288 in Triple-A and gets shown the door.

Oswaldo Cabrera wasn't Aaron Judge. Nobody ever claimed he was. He was something every good baseball team needs. A good Yankee. A useful Yankee. A selfless Yankee.

And once again, the Yankees somehow found a way to make that guy the expendable one. Maybe another organization claims Cabrera and actually appreciates what he brings to a roster.

I hope they do. Because Oswaldo Cabrera earned his opportunity. The Yankees just decided someone else deserved it more. And we've seen that movie before.

YANKEES FIRE FIVE SCOUTS; HYDE & HENDRY SURVIVE

The Yankees are not waiting for the offseason to begin cleaning house.

According to industry sources, the organization has dismissed five members of its international scouting department as part of a planned overhaul. Gone are José Sabino; Arturo Peña Jr., the club’s Cibao-area scout in the Dominican Republic; Santo Domingo-area scout Moises Brito; video assistant Miguel Mojica; and Venezuela supervisor José Gavidia.

Those dismissals came just days after the Yankees separated from longtime international scout Victor Mata, who spent more than 30 years with the organization. Mata reportedly played a role in evaluating and signing Robinson Canó, Alfonso Soriano and Gary Sánchez.

That is a significant shakeup—and the timing is impossible to ignore. The regular season is not even over, the Yankees are headed toward October and the organization has offered no public explanation for the sudden changes.

Clearly, somebody inside the Yankee hierarchy believes the scouting operation needs fixing.

Us here at Bleeding Yankee Blue has questioned Yankee scouts and their evaluation process for years. Most recently, we examined the unusual favoritism surrounding Anthony Volpe and questioned how he became the Yankees’ starting shortstop after being rushed through Triple-A.

That brings me to Matt Hyde and Jim Hendry.

Both men remain employed by the Yankees.

Our investigation in, HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT detailed Hyde’s longstanding relationship with Volpe and his relentless internal campaign to promote him. Hendry, meanwhile, developed a close relationship with the Volpe family before the draft and was reportedly present years later when Volpe learned he had made the Major League roster.

Maybe the Yankees see nothing wrong with any of that. I do.

If the organization is willing to overhaul its international scouting department and dismiss longtime employees, it is fair to ask why Hyde and Hendry have escaped scrutiny after becoming so personally invested in a player whose performance has never matched the enormous organizational hype.

Perhaps they are simply praying that Volpe eventually becomes the star they promised everyone he would be. If that happens, they can declare victory and skate.

Until then, the question remains:

Why were five scouts fired while Hyde and Hendry are still collecting Yankee paychecks? My opinion? I find it weird.

Stay tuned.

VOLPE HAD HIS MOMENT & THE YANKEES STILL LOST

Maybe I’m getting old. Maybe I’ve watched too many Yankees teams that actually finished the job.

But can we please stop celebrating every little moment like we just won Game 7 of the World Series?

The Yankees lost to the Twins Wednesday, 5-4, in 13 innings. They had chances. Lots of them. Anthony Volpe delivered a two-out, two-run double to tie the game. The Yankees took leads in both the 10th and 11th. Then they loaded the bases with nobody out in the 12th and somehow scored nobody. Minnesota eventually walked it off in the 13th.

Yet watching Yankees social media after Volpe tied the game, you would have thought the Canyon of Heroes parade route was being mapped out. And yes, I’m picking on Volpe because everybody knows I’m not exactly president of his fan club. But this really isn't about him.

It's about the constant need to manufacture stars and manufacture moments.

A big hit happens? Clip it. Slow motion. Dramatic celebration. Everybody loses their minds.

Wonderful.

They lost the game. That’s the part that actually matters.

It reminds me of how we still see Aaron Boone’s home run off Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Was it incredible? Absolutely. I remember exactly how that felt.

But here's another thing I remember:

The Yankees didn't win the World Series.

Florida did.

Volpe is Boone. I think that's why Boone glazes him so much.  He sees so much in him. My opinion of course.

And maybe that makes me different from today's marketing department, but I don't want moments. I want championships. I want moments when championships and wins happen, not when they lose. When they lose, I don't care.

Meanwhile, the biggest story Wednesday wasn't Volpe's double anyway.

It was Aaron Judge leaving the game.

Judge was removed in the sixth inning because of tightness in his lower right leg. He said he first felt it while playing the field in the first inning and tried to continue before deciding it wasn't worth risking something worse. This was only his seventh game back after missing more than three months with a stress fracture in his right rib. Judge indicated afterward that he probably wouldn't need imaging, but we'll see.

That's the story I'm worried about.

Because we've already watched this Yankee season without Judge for far too long. The last thing this team needs, with October approaching, is another Judge injury.

So spare me the premature celebrations.

I'm a Yankee fan. I want this team to win. I desperately want to get excited about them. But give me something worth celebrating. Win the games.

Win in October. Win the World Series.

Then post every damn video you've got.

Until then, they're just moments.

And Wednesday's big "moment" ended exactly where too many of these Yankee moments eventually end:

With somebody else celebrating.

CC SABATHIA COMMENDS VOLPE'S PERSEVERANCE WHILE FANS CONDEMN HIM!

We don't need a reminder about how brutally honest the New York Yankee fan base is, and neither does CC Sabathia. Fans didn't hold back when he was playing, and they still don't. The only difference now might be that there may be more CC's out there to support those underperforming players.

That's what he is doing now, he's supporting Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar and last but not least Anthony Volpe, read more HERE. These guys were given "labels" from the fan base, which happens a lot when you don't meet expectations underneath New York's bright lights. For years we have been writing about how the Yankees coddle their players and but now CC wants the Yankees to also help them adapt to this demanding environment.

I agree with that to a point. New York is a tough place to play for established veterans, let alone when you are a young kid like Volpe was making it onto the big stage as an everyday player. There should be some mental preparation there for players, but it should also be prepared with the confidence of pairing that with good fundamentals to help you perform at a high level under those bright lights. If you have that track record of faltering (like Volpe has) that's when the Yankees need to be more hands on. It's exactly what the Yankees haven't done well.

Everyone in life needs feedback. It's what helps us improve and hone in on our craft. The Yankees do need to look for new ways to help guys deal with the pressures in the bright lights but maybe that doesn't look like what CC is suggesting. Maybe it's a more real-world scenario that the rest of us deal with since we don't make the big bucks playing a kid's game for a living.

The Yankees coddle; I call it the Aaron Boone approach. He's warm and fuzzy. The Bronx, however, is not a warm and fuzzy place. It's as real as it gets. Why aren't we giving that fair, but realistic approach to these guys? This isn't a sunshine and rainbows environment. This isn't a "safe space." This is a 'pull your big boy pants up and be tough' environment and get the job done. Figure it out and use your resources. The Yankees have lots of resources and patience. The fans don't have the patience, and we shouldn't be expected to have patience.

You can still give honest feedback that is firm but fair. It builds character. Hugs are not included on the side here. That's what Boone and the Yankees do. They give hugs, but they don't give reality. Give these guys a real environment to adapt in and help them through the bumps and they will perform better, period. If they don't, then they get sent down to the minors like Volpe did or traded. 

Only the strong survive here, and the Yankees need to figure that out. The coddling isn't working. Not everyone is cut out to play here so it's time to be honest about that. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKS KEEP TEARING IT UP

The Yankees are rolling. There, I said it. And now I’m immediately nervous.

New York beat up the Twins again Tuesday night, 8-1, winning their third straight and seventh in their last eight games. Suddenly this team looks dangerous at exactly the right time.

Max Fried was outstanding. Seven innings, one run, six strikeouts and no walks. That’s the Fried the Yankees need in October.

Cody Bellinger stayed hot, going 3-for-4 and launching a two-run homer in the first inning. Then Spencer Jones delivered the knockout punch — a massive 423-foot, three-run bomb in the sixth that blew the game open.

And don’t overlook George Lombard Jr. The kid had two more hits and drove in a run. Heliot Ramos had two hits as well, and the Yankees piled up 14 hits even with Aaron Judge getting the night off.

This is what we’ve been waiting for. Pitching. Power. Young guys contributing. Different guys stepping up every night.

The Yankees are 88-63, they’ve already punched their ticket to October, and right now they’re playing some of their best baseball of the season.

I want to get excited. I really do.

But I’ve watched this team too long to get my hopes up just yet.

Keep rolling. Keep winning. And maybe — just maybe — they’ll make believers out of us.

YANKS OCTOBER BOUND—BUT IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THE CHAMPAGNE

The Yankees are officially headed back to October, and yes, I’m happy about it.

They clinched a playoff spot beating the Twins, turning a late 2-1 deficit into another one of those nights when the lineup suddenly wakes up and remembers it’s allowed to score runs.

José Caballero got the Yankees started with a solo homer in the third and later tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth. Ben Rice followed with a two-run single, and then Aaron Judge finally delivered the swing everyone had been waiting for.

Judge launched a three-run homer to finish off a six-run eighth inning. It was his first home run since returning from the injured list—and hopefully the first sign that the big man is finding his timing exactly when the Yankees need him most.

Austin Wells added another homer in the ninth, while Will Warren gave the Yankees 5⅔ strong innings and allowed two unearned runs. It was a good win, a big comeback and a well-earned postseason berth. By the way, Wells? Batting .180... hardly a threat.

Also, I have one question: Should we really be pouring champagne?

I mean, come on, gang. Be happy. Shake hands. Play some music. Maybe crack open a cold one. But goggles, plastic-covered lockers and a full champagne celebration because you secured a playoff spot?

What are we doing here—handing out participation trophies?

These are the New York Yankees. Reaching the postseason is supposed to be the expectation, not the final accomplishment. They’re still chasing Tampa Bay in the American League East, and that should be the focus.

Win the division. Avoid the Wild Card round. Put yourself in the strongest possible position to make a real October run.

Then you can pop the cork.

For now, congratulations. The Yankees are in.

Now go win something. That's what the fans want.

GERRIT COLE-APSE: IS HE STILL AN ACE?

There's two weeks left in the regular season and Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make two more starts in that stretch. If that doesn't make you nervous.....it should. He's set to pitch against the Diamondbacks and the Rays. The last thing I am comfortable with right now is Cole pitching against the Rays in a game that could mean the difference in winning the division or just being a Wild Card.

What the hell is going on with Cole? The guy that was once our ace looks like a shell of himself. It's hard not to ask some tough questions after watching him give up four home runs against the Padres and then three this past weekend against the Mets. This is definitely a problem that Matt Blake and the Yankees need to fix NOW.

The good news is, Cole knows he needs to make those adjustments, read more HERE. The bad news though? We are out of time to tinker with mechanics. Granted, Cole has historically been a quick study and has made adjustments quickly throughout his career but the Rays are around the corner. The Yankees are four games behind them and this four game series against them will be the difference between being a division winner or just securing an invitation to the postseason as a Wild Card. Everything is on the line.

So a short time line and a stumbling ace are not working in our favor. Ordinarily, we might be able to ride something out and exercise some patience but we don't have that luxury. Cole is faltering at the wrong time. Right now, the Yankees best starters are Carlos Rodon, Max Fried and Cam Schlittler and the guy that is supposed to be the ace looks like he is a fourth or fifth starter.

Meanwhile, Schlittler is a favorite for Cy Young (as he should be) and is pulling the weight that a Ace should. It's hard to watch the guy that has been the anchor of your rotation falter. It's a reminder that at some point injuries or just age catch up to you and at a newly 36 years old, could we be seeing the start of his regression?

I hope now is not the time for the regression that comes for every great baseball player. But I have to ask at this point....is Cole still our ace? Is he still the guy that we can count on or is there a new Ace on this team?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCHLITTLER OWNS NEW YORK

The Yankees didn’t need much offense today. When Cam Schlittler pitches like this, apparently two runs will do.

The Yankees beat the Mets 2-0 in the rubber game of the Subway Series, and once again Schlittler looked less like a young pitcher figuring things out and more like the guy everybody else is trying to figure out.

Six innings. One hit. No runs. Eight strikeouts. His ERA dropped to a ridiculous 1.95, best in the majors.

Ben Rice got things started immediately, launching his 38th homer of the season in the first inning. Austin Wells — yes, Austin Wells — finally escaped an ugly 0-for-20 skid by going deep in the third. Those two swings were enough.  Don't worry, this dude's still only batting .179.  Like how embarrassing.

And that’s really the story.

Schlittler shut them down. Rice keeps raking. Wells finally woke up. The bullpen finished the job.

Yankees win the series and improve to 86-63.

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay keeps winning too, so the Yankees remain four games behind the Rays in the AL East.

There’s not much season left.

Keep winning.

Keep pushing.

And maybe — just maybe — make Tampa Bay sweat a little.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF YESTERDAY? MEETING BALD VINNY IN THE FLESH

I hadn't been to a Yankee game in two years. And quite frankly, the only reason I went Saturday was because I was invited. I'm certainly not paying for a ticket while Aaron Boone is still at the helm.

Turns out, I didn't miss much.

The Yankees were absolutely awful in a 12-2 embarrassment against the Mets. Gerrit Cole set the tone immediately, surrendering three home runs and five runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings. That's now seven homers allowed in his last two starts. This is supposed to be the ace we're counting on when October arrives? Figure it out, Gerrit. Quickly.

The offense wasn't much better. Cody Bellinger at least showed up, driving in both Yankee runs, including a homer. Aaron Judge went hitless, and Anthony Volpe appears to be settling nicely back into his normal JV ways, killing one of the Yankees' few opportunities by grounding into an inning-ending double play in the seventh. Welcome back.

Meanwhile, the Mets hit six home runs and basically used Yankee Stadium for batting practice. Francisco Lindor started the game with a homer and later added a grand slam just to make sure the humiliation was complete.

The highlight of my day? It had absolutely nothing to do with the game.

I finally got to meet Bald Vinny in person outside Billy's. That was worth the trip. Total businessman, solid hustler, got to appreciate this dude. Last time I met him was 2013. It's been years.

But baseball? Not so much.

Twelve runs allowed. Seven lousy hits. Two runs scored. An ace getting knocked around and an offense that looked lifeless.

Two years away from Yankee Stadium, and this is what I came back to?

Maybe I'll wait another two.

RODÓN SETS THE TONE IN SUBWAY SERIES OPENER

The Yankees took care of business Friday night, beating the Mets 6-4 in the Subway Series opener at Yankee Stadium and extending their winning streak to four.

Cody Bellinger delivered the big blow, crushing a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Yankees a lead they never surrendered. Ben Rice added a solo shot and finished with three hits, while Spencer Jones got the scoring started with an RBI single.

Carlos Rodón gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, going 6⅓ innings with eight strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. The bullpen made things a little too interesting late, but David Bednar came in with the bases loaded in the eighth and finished off a five-out save.

The Yankees are now 85-62, winners of four straight and still three games behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East.

Bottom line: Bellinger brought the thunder, Rodón brought the pitching, and the Yankees kept moving forward. With 15 games left, winning the division is still the mission.