YANKEE BRASS NEEDS TO JUST ADMIT THAT CABALLERO IS A BETTER SHORTSTOP

Anthony Volpe is, sooner or later, strolling right back into the New York Yankees starting lineup—and if recent memory serves, the offense might quietly brace for impact. Manager Aaron Boone has stuck by him with the kind of loyalty usually reserved for franchise legends… not guys with a glove that flirted with 19 errors and a bat that rarely made noise.

Boone’s stance hasn’t exactly wavered. Struggles, miscues, cold streaks—you name it, Volpe’s gotten the benefit of the doubt. At this point, it’s less “prove you belong” and more “take your time, we insist.”

That said, José Caballero doesn’t need to roll out a red carpet for him. No, he hasn’t flashed a 20+ homer season like Volpe did as a rookie—but that’s not really the assignment. Caballero’s path is simpler: hit around .230 or more, which he will, swipe bags, play clean, confident defense. Do that, and he’s already checking more boxes.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: power numbers aside, Caballero’s brand of baseball—getting on base, making things happen, not hurting you in the field—arguably brings more value right now. The Yankees don’t need flash; they need function. And Caballero fits that bill a lot more neatly.

If he keeps producing, the front office might have to ask a question they’ve been dodging: is Volpe still “developing,” or is this just who he is? Sure, the organization may lean on the injury excuse and give him another runway. But if he comes back and looks the same, patience might finally run out.

And if it does? Don’t be shocked if his name starts popping up in trade talks—maybe even something bold involving the Miami Marlins and Sandy Alcántara. At some point, upside stops being a promise and starts being a question.

BOONE CLAIMS HE MAKES THE LINEUP & JUST MADE THINGS WORSE

There’s something about this whole “who makes the lineup” debate that just doesn’t pass the smell test. According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Aaron Boone wants everyone to believe—again—that the lineup card is his and his alone. No front office meddling. No analytics department whispering in his ear. Just Boone, a pen, and conviction.

Okay. Sure.

Because if Boone truly operates on an island, then we’ve got a bigger issue than anyone wants to admit, and that my friends is the truth.

Because listen; if he’s not looping in Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ analytics crew—yeah, the same group people love to call a bunch of spreadsheet warriors led by Michael Fishman—then what the hell is the point of having a front office?

Kirschner lays it out, and this part needs to be seen exactly as written:

"Aaron Boone insists that the most persistent myth about the New York Yankees is completely false.

He — not his bosses, nor their computer programs — has full control over setting the team’s lineup for every game.

Boone can’t count how many times he has said this over the years, but few seem to believe or remember his words. As he left the manager’s office at George M. Steinbrenner Field earlier this spring, he was told that perhaps his insight would put an end to the story once and for all.

“It probably won’t,” Boone said with a resigned shrug.

It’s a narrative that has taken hold in the fan base, and even former players such as Derek Jeter have implied the Yankees’ front office — not the manager — is calling the shots on key in-game decisions. But any suggestion that the front office hands Boone the lineup each day and he simply tapes it to the dugout wall is false.

“It irritates the f— out of me,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, “because it’s so stupid, it’s so false, but yet people just throw it out willy-nilly. You can’t get the prior two managers or the current manager to testify under oath that they’ve ever been dictated the lineup once in (my tenure).”

“I find it laughable,” Boone said.

“I will unequivocally say that Aaron Boone makes the lineup,” bench coach Brad Ausmus said."

And here’s the problem: if all of that is true… it might actually be worse. Because if Boone really is the lone guy with Ausmus making these calls—if it’s his lineup, his decisions, his fingerprints all over it—then what exactly are we defending?

So, when the Yankees go quiet in big moments… when the same underperforming hitters keep getting run out there like Volpe and Wells… when the lineup feels like it was copied and pasted from the night before… when a pitcher clearly doesn’t have it and still gets one batter too many—that’s not “organizational philosophy?” That’s Boone? OK fine, then hey Boone, you don’t get to pound your chest about control and then play hot potato with the blame when things go sideways. That’s bullshit.

Kirschner even adds this:

"That is the only time, the manager said, when he consults the front office on the lineup: When he seeks out an opinion."

So, Boone can ask for input… he just doesn’t unless he feels like it? That’s not exactly screaming “cutting-edge operation.” That’s more like “I’ll wing it unless I get nervous.”

And then this gem:

"Cashman said that nearly every game, he sees the lineup for the first time when it is posted publicly. It does not get cross-checked by the front office. The only time Cashman — or in some cases, owner Hal Steinbrenner — gets a heads-up about a lineup is when a major decision has been made."

I mean… what?

So, the general manager of the New York Yankees just checks Twitter with the rest of us to see who’s batting fifth? That’s the process? That’s the master plan? Honestly, if that’s true, that might be the biggest red flag in this entire organization. But really, why are the Yankees trying so damn hard to defend this? Why is there this full-court press to convince fans that Boone is the guy, the decision-maker, the captain of the ship?

Because if he is, then the results fall squarely on him—and those results, when it matters most, haven’t been good enough. So fire the dude! Winning the division is nice. It’s not the goal. The goal is a championship, and right now that feels like a different zip code.

This whole cycle—front office backs Boone, Boone gets defensive, players take the heat, rinse, repeat—it’s exhausting. Fans aren’t stupid. They’re watching the same games.

If Boone wants to own the lineup, fine. Own the damn thing. But that also means owning the failures. The cold bats. The questionable decisions. The losses to teams they should absolutely beat in September. Hey Boone, when you lose, SAY YOU LOST THE GAME, DON'T BLAME THE PLAYERS!  Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who’s filling out the lineup card—Boone, Cashman, an algorithm, or some guy with a laptop and a latte.

The standard is simple: be a legitimate contender and win it all.

And until that happens, fans aren’t going to buy the quotes, the explanations, or the “trust the process” routine.

They’re just not.

YANKS GET CREATIVE WITH LUIS GIL

I feel like this shouldn't be shocking news....but apparently it is for some. The Yankees are moving Luis Gil to Triple-A to start the season. Some fans on social media are shocked. Or maybe that isn't the correct word to use here. Either way, the Yankees are getting crafty.

The Yankees are in Phoenix today preparing for an exhibition against the Cubs tomorrow. When the Yankees left Tampa yesterday, Ryan Weathers was on the plane for Phoenix and Gil was left behind, read more HERE. There is an interesting strategy to this.

In the first two weeks of the season, the Yankees will have FOUR days off. Yup, you read that correctly. The Yankees do not need a fifth starter until the second week in April. In theory, this could very easily be the Yankees starting rotation during this timeframe:

3/25: Max Fried
3/26: OFF DAY
3/27: Cam Schlittler
3/28: Will Warren
3/29: OFF DAY
3/30: Ryan Weathers
3/31: Fried
4/1: Schlittler
4/2: OFF DAY
4/3: Warren
4/4: Weathers
4/5: Fried
4/6: OFF DAY
4/7: Schlittler
4/8: Warren
4/9: Weathers
4/10: Fried
4/11: Luis Gil?

So the Yankees do not need to carry a fifth starter until the 11th. No one will need to pitch on short rest, this gives Gil the ability to go down and pitch regularly and continue to work on his mechanics. He's made some recent adjustments that look like they are starting to pay off but, that has been his weakness all spring and the Yankees want to see more improvement so they feel comfortable his 6.28 ERA in four spring starts will not follow into the regular season. He has minor league options - the Yankees are simply giving him more time to get consistent before pitching in meaningful games.

I don't hate it. I guess you could make the same case that Ryan Weathers would also benefit from the same option. So why not send Weathers down? He has an 11.68 ERA, so almost twice as bad as Gil. He hasn't exactly earned a starting spot but the Yankees feel like Weathers has just had some "bad luck" in his starts whereas Gil's ill fortune was due to poor mechanics. It's an interesting argument, no matter how you look at it.

So even though Weathers has had some ugly results, the Yankees are going to stick with their gut and their "bad luck" excuses we have heard in the past. This is all just a strategy. Now we just have to wait and see if it works out. 

Gil will be back, the Yankees have enough arms and days off to get them through the first two weeks easily and it is going to work because Weathers and his bad luck won't appear when the season starts. That's what I am going with. I'm putting that into the universe to come true.

Get to work, Gil and work out the kinks!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

 

YANKEES LAND A PITCHER FOR JORBIT VIVAS

Well, the New York Yankees and their timeless tradition: flipping position players for pitching like it’s a going-out-of-business sale on infielders. Truly, who could have predicted this plot twist?

This latest move sends Jorbit Vivas to the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-hander Sean Paul Liñan. Vivas, originally picked up from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, was supposed to bolster infield depth—but instead mostly just… existed on the roster.

His Yankees résumé? A brief 29-game cameo featuring a .161 average, one home run, and five RBIs. Not exactly Cooperstown material. With Washington, though, he might settle into that classic utility role—part second baseman, part third baseman, part “hey, can you grab a glove real quick?”

On the flip side, the Yankees get Liñan, ranked 27th in the Nationals’ system. Not a headline-grabber, but the kid can pitch a bit. The 21-year-old posted a 3.03 ERA with 106 strikeouts over 77.1 innings in 2025, bouncing around multiple levels. His changeup is the calling card, which in Yankees terms probably translates to “we’re intrigued.”

So once again, the Yankees ship out a young bat and bring in an arm, staying firmly committed to their organizational motto: we don't have enough pitching! You know, something I've been screaming about for about 2 years now on BYB.

Stay tuned.

STUBBORN YANKEE FRONT OFFICE REFUSING TO BE COMPETITIVE

The Yankees front office isn’t just misfiring—they’ve turned dysfunction into a long-term investment strategy. And if you’re a fan, you’ve seen this exact production on repeat for over a decade. Same rigid thinking, same recycled excuses, same hollow October ambitions. Since 2009, the only thing that’s evolved is the price of the tickets and time wasted.

Let’s start at the top, because that’s where the rot lives.

Brian Cashman has somehow mastered the art of doing nothing while calling it stability. In most industries, 15+ years of the same underwhelming results would get you a polite escort to the exit. Here? It gets you a lifetime appointment. Cashman operates like a man who solved baseball in 2009 and has refused to update the software since. Every bad contract, every blocked prospect, every “trust the process” and "mission accomplished" press conference—it all traces back to a front office that confuses stubbornness with intelligence.

And then there’s Aaron Boone—a manager in the same way a GPS is helpful when it refuses to reroute. Boone doesn’t manage games; he narrates them after they happen. Lineups feel like they’re printed in permanent marker, bullpen decisions come straight out of a hat, and accountability is treated like an optional feature. Watching him manage is like watching someone try to microwave a steak—technically it’s being done, but nobody feels good about it.

And the front office as a whole? They don’t understand how to run a baseball team in 2026. They run it like a spreadsheet with emotional attachment issues. Performance is secondary. Contracts are sacred. Prospects are decorations until they become inconvenient.

This Spring training is the perfect example of their backwards logic. You can dominate—hit .500, crush 10 home runs, outplay everyone on the field—and it means absolutely nothing if you’re not already part of their pre-approved script. It’s not a competition; it’s a formality. The roster isn’t earned—it’s pre-written.

So, when a talent like Jasson Domínguez gets sent down, it’s not shocking—it’s predictable. Because this organization doesn’t reward production, it rewards payroll. A guy like Trent Grisham gets priority not because he’s better, but because he’s expensive. That’s not roster construction—that’s financial obligation disguised as strategy.

And don’t even get started on the pitching decisions. Watching Carlos Lagrange outperform guys like Ryan Weathers and still get buried is the kind of logic that would get you laughed out of a fantasy league. Fewer hits, fewer runs, better overall performance—but hey, Weathers cost prospects in that trade, remember? So now we’re emotionally invested. The Yankees don’t cut losses; they double down on them.

That’s the philosophy: once they make a mistake, they commit to it harder.

This isn’t a championship-caliber operation—it’s a bureaucratic maze. Decisions aren’t made based on winning; they’re made based on protecting previous decisions. It’s baseball run by ego, not evidence.

And the biggest casualty of all this? Aaron Judge.

Judge should be the face of a dynasty. Instead, he’s the centerpiece of a cautionary tale. When he spoke out about his frustrations in which the Yankees didn't upgrade on top free agents this off season, it wasn't a misspeak, it was a cry for help.  We’re watching a generational talent get boxed into a system that refuses to maximize him. He’ll hit historic numbers, collect personal awards, and carry the team on his back—only to fall short because the people building around him are stuck ten years in the past.

He deserves rings. Instead, he’s getting press conferences about “staying the course.”

At some point, fans have to stop pretending this is acceptable. This isn’t bad luck—it’s bad leadership. It’s complacency at the highest level. It’s an organization more concerned with being right than being successful. Boycott, boycott, boycott.

If this were any other franchise, changes would’ve been made years ago. But this is the Yankees—where tradition apparently includes refusing to admit you’re wrong.

Until Brian Cashman is gone, until Aaron Boone is replaced by someone who actually manages, and until the front office learns that winning matters more than saving face, nothing changes.

And that’s the real tragedy—not that the Yankees aren’t winning, but that they don’t even seem to understand why they aren’t.

LIKE THIS? READ THESE:

ENOUGH! LET'S BOYCOTT THE YANKEES TO CHANGE THIS TEAM'S FUTURE

YANKS NEED TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH, BUT WE'RE NOT AS PRESTIGIOUS AS WE USED TO BE

KEEP DIM BULB VOLPE AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE

Anthony Volpe still feels like that kid in class who forgot his homework and is banking on confusion as a strategy. You ask him a direct question—simple, clear, impossible to misinterpret—and what you get back is a cloud of words that somehow manages to avoid the answer entirely. It’s not just dodging the question, it’s performing evasiveness like it’s part of the job description. He must have learned from Boone.

And that’s the problem: this isn’t a one-off thing. This is the routine. Every interview with this child turns into the same exercise—restate the question, sprinkle in some vague optimism, and land nowhere. It’s like watching someone try to filibuster their way through accountability. By the end of it, you’re not informed, you’re just… exhausted.

"I've never been hurt in my life. To go from rock bottom and build it all the way back up, you learn so much about yourself."

Anthony Volpe could begin taking live at-bats in April. He details his progression with @M_Marakovits pic.twitter.com/DRO9W2ItYY

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 15, 2026

Read that description. "He details his progression". Who wrote that for YES, a 5-year-old? Did they actually watch that garbage? No information. By the way, the YES Network did this guy a disservice putting this interview out there.  He comes off as a total dummy.  

Now look, not every player needs to be a media savant. Nobody’s asking for stand-up comedy. But when you’re the shortstop for the New York Yankees, there’s a baseline expectation: awareness, clarity, some indication that you understand what’s happening around you. Right now, Volpe sounds like a guy narrating his own uncertainty in real time.

Take that rehab quote. It’s not just bad—it’s almost impressively empty:

“Yeah, I mean, I guess it’s kind of a process… progressing, I think… I don’t know zero to 100 where that really is…”

That’s not insight. That’s someone saying words until the microphone goes away. You could swap in any situation—injury, slump, day off—and the answer would still “work,” which is exactly why it doesn’t.

And here’s where it gets worse: this isn’t happening in a vacuum. This is a player the organization has doubled down on. The same New York Yankees front office that used to pride itself on ruthlessness and standards now looks like it’s bending over backwards to justify a decision that just isn’t paying off.

Because let’s be honest—what exactly was the evaluation here? Which scout watched this and said, “Yes, that’s the guy. Build around him.” What did they see that nobody else is seeing now? The bat hasn’t exactly forced the issue. The presence isn’t there. The communication isn’t there. The impact? Also questionable.

At some point, this stops being about patience and starts being about stubbornness.

And the injury situation only adds to the skepticism. Fans aren’t stupid—they can sense when something feels… managed. When a player disappears for a stretch and suddenly there’s a narrative that conveniently cools off criticism, people are going to connect dots, fair or not. And if the goal was to hit pause on the frustration, it didn’t work. If anything, it just gave people more time to stew on it.

Now the front office is in a corner. If they stick with him, it looks like they’re ignoring reality. If they pivot—send him down, reduce his role—it’s an admission that they got it wrong. And this regime does not like admitting it got anything wrong.

So instead, we’re stuck in this weird limbo where Volpe continues to get run out there, continues to say a whole lot of nothing, and fans are expected to just… believe. Believe in the upside, believe in the plan, believe that eventually something will click. It's bullshit.

But belief isn’t built on vague answers and underwhelming results. It’s built on flashes—something tangible. Right now, there’s just not enough there.

And that’s the most frustrating part. It’s not even anger anymore—it’s confusion. Confusion about why he’s this entrenched. Confusion about what the long-term vision is. Confusion about how a franchise that once demanded excellence is now asking its fans to settle for ambiguity.

Because at the end of the day, fans don’t need perfection. They just need something real to hold onto.

Right now? They’re getting nothing but air.  Sack this kid, it's over.

GRICHUK IN. OSWALDO OUT.

 Grichuk’s in. Cabrera’s out. And yeah… it stings.

You can’t help but get a little déjà vu here—Oswaldo Cabrera starting to feel like Oswald Peraza 2.0: talented, versatile, and somehow always on the outside looking in whenever the Yankees start playing roster Tetris. At some point you wonder if it’s about performance… or just preference.

Anyway, the Yankees are busy putting the final touches on their Opening Day roster, and according to the New York Post, Randal Grichuk has punched his ticket. The numbers this spring? Let’s just say they won’t be framed and hung in Cooperstown—two hits in 16 at-bats isn’t exactly screaming “must-have.” But that’s not really why he’s here. Grichuk is the classic depth piece: a veteran bat, right-handed, with a reputation for punishing lefties and holding down a corner outfield spot without turning it into a circus.

Still, the ripple effects are hard to ignore.

Jasson Domínguez, who lit up spring like it owed him money, gets shipped to Triple-A. And now Cabrera joins him.

That’s the part that really hurts.

Because Cabrera didn’t just have a quiet spring—he had a brutal road to even get to spring. After that ugly injury in May 2025, he spent months stuck in a boot, rolling around on a scooter, watching his teammates from the sidelines and probably grinding his teeth down to dust. By the time 2026 camp rolled around, he was finally cleared, slowly working his way back, trying to rediscover timing that had been on pause for nearly a year.

And just when it looked like he was ready to re-enter the picture—boom. Ticket to Scranton.

Officially, it’s about getting him more at-bats. Unofficially? We’ve heard that one before.

So now Cabrera heads to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, tasked with proving—again—that he belongs. Maybe he forces their hand. Maybe he gets the call when the inevitable injury bug hits. Or maybe he becomes the latest name on the “what could’ve been” list.

Meanwhile, Grichuk settles into his role: veteran insurance policy, lefty-masher, bench piece with occasional pop. There’s value there, no doubt. The Yankees clearly see it.

But whether this move pays off—or just becomes another head-scratcher in a long line of Bronx decisions—is something we’re all about to find out.

ARE WE WATCHING DEVELOPMENT OR DENIAL WHEN IT COMES TO VOLPE?

So, the New York Yankees are supposed to roll out the red carpet for Anthony Volpe when he comes back? Not so fast.

If anything, he should be walking back into a job interview—not a coronation.

Why? Because the Yankees suddenly have options… and not the “break glass in case of emergency” kind. Real ones. José Caballero is ready to open the season at shortstop and, frankly, looks like the steadier hand right now. Ryan McMahon has even drawn internal confidence to slide over there if needed. And lurking in the pipeline? George Lombard Jr.—a name that’s starting to sound less like “future” and more like “sooner than you think.”

Meanwhile, Volpe is rehabbing from labrum surgery with no clear timetable, coming off a season where the glove wobbled (19 errors) and the bat whispered (.212 average). That’s not “hold my spot,” that’s “hope there’s a spot.”

And here’s the uncomfortable part: the competition isn’t just depth—it’s arguably better.

Caballero brings cleaner defense, smarter baserunning, and more reliable production right now. Lombard Jr. is flashing the kind of range, arm strength, and defensive instincts that scouts drool over—plus a little more pop in the bat. Even McMahon, in a pinch, might give you fewer headaches.

So, when Volpe returns, the leash shouldn’t be short—it should be Velcro.

Because this isn’t about potential anymore. It’s about performance.

Yet if you know the Yankees, you know the script: double down, smile confidently, and hope nobody notices the original bet might’ve been off. Admitting a miss on a high-profile draft pick? Not exactly their brand.

So, they’ll try to force it. Give him the runway. Sell the upside. But the rest of the roster—and anyone watching closely—will be asking a much simpler question:

Are we watching development… or denial?

Stay tuned.

BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE MERCH ON DASHERY!

Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: Bleeding Yankee Blue didn’t climb out of the crowded Yankee blog jungle by playing nice, staying quiet, or asking permission.

We grew because we don’t. 16 years we are still here, despite the haters telling us one year would be it.

Look, we stayed true to ourselves. We’re not here to cozy up to the organization. We’re not here to nod along like dashboard bobbleheads and Jomboy every time the front office spins another “trust the process” speech. We’re here because we’re fans—the kind that actually watch the games, feel the losses, and don’t need a media guide to tell us what our eyes already know.

If the Yankees are dealing? We’ll scream it from the rooftops like it’s October in the Bronx.

If they’re flat, sloppy, uninspired, or just plain bad? We’ll call it out with receipts. No filter. No fear. No favors. And that’s exactly why people keep showing up.

Because in a world full of “access journalism” and soft takes designed not to ruffle feathers, BYB has become one of the fastest-growing grassroots Yankee voices by doing something radical—telling the truth. Not the curated truth. Not the “maybe if we say it gently, they’ll invite us back” version.

The real truth. We're not here to make friends. We're here because we believe in honest journalism and hard takes.

And here’s the kicker: that attitude isn’t just living on the page anymore—it’s walking around in the wild.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue merchandise Dashery has taken on a life of its own. What started as a fun extension of the brand has turned into something way bigger. The gear is everywhere—New York streets, stadium seats, random corners of the country—and fans are proudly sending in photos like they’ve joined a not-so-secret society of fed-up, die-hard Yankee loyalists.

This isn’t just merch.

It’s a statement.

It says: “I love this team… but I’m not blind.”

And that’s the balance BYB has always stood for. Because let’s be crystal clear—we love the players. The grind, the hustle, the moments that remind you why you fell in love with baseball in the first place? That still matters.

But the front office?

That’s where the patience runs out.

There’s a disconnect right now, and pretending otherwise is just insulting to the fans who invest their time, money, and sanity into this team. The decisions, the direction, the stubborn refusal to adjust—it’s not working. And deep down, everyone knows it.

So yeah, we’re saying it: this organization needs a new voice at the top. A new approach. A front office that actually matches the urgency of the fanbase. Because until that happens, all the talent in the world isn’t fixing what’s fundamentally broken.

That’s not being dramatic—that’s being honest.

And honesty is kind of our thing.

So, while the suits upstairs keep doing whatever it is they think they’re doing, we’ll be right here—writing, reacting, celebrating, venting… and building something real with fans who get it.

And if you’re one of those fans? Show it.

Hit the Dashery. Grab the gear. Wear it like armor. Send us your photos from wherever you are—Bronx, Brooklyn, Jersey, or halfway across the world. Because this thing we’ve built? It’s not just growing…

It’s spreading. Support the players. Love the game. Stay loud.

And as for the front office?

Yeah… we’ll keep the heat on.

"EARNING A SPOT" DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING FAVORITES

What message are the Yankees sending to their kids grinding through spring training, chasing that call-up dream?

“Be electric… and we’ll book you a one-way trip to Triple-A.”

To be fair, that’s not always the rule. It just feels like the rule—until it isn’t. Consistency? Optional. Meritocracy? Situational. Favorites? Oh, they travel first class.

Just ask Jasson Domínguez.

Domínguez lit up Spring Training 2026—hitting over .325, rocking a .978 OPS, popping three homers, swiping three bags in just 13 games. In other words: he did exactly what you’re supposed to do when you’re knocking on the big-league door.

The Yankees’ response? “Great work, kid. Scranton’s lovely this time of year.”

Sure, the roster’s crowded. Fine. But you’re telling me there’s no room to rotate him in? No DH platoon, no left field reps, no real-time learning at the highest level like they do for the Volpes and the Wells of the world? Apparently not. Apparently he “needs more time.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Weathers strolls into a rotation spot with an 11.68 ERA, a 2.11 WHIP, and a souvenir shop’s worth of home runs allowed. But hey—welcome aboard, Ryan! Nice to meet you. Loved your dad, David Weathers.

And then there’s Anthony Volpe—the gold standard of “earning it.” Back in 2023, he tore up spring, hit over .300, flashed power, speed, swagger—the whole package. The word was earned. MLB.com wrote:

"Anthony Volpe earned his spot as the Yankees' Opening Day shortstop in 2023 with an elite spring training, batting over .300 with immense power and speed. He hit 3 home runs, stole 5 bases, and posted a 1.064 OPS in 19 games." He got the job.

And then… his actual career happened. At some point, “earned” stopped meaning “sustained,” and development took a backseat to stubbornness.

So yeah—in my book, Domínguez earned it. Twice over. The numbers say it. The effort screams it. The moment begged for it.

Instead, he did everything right and still got shown the door. But don’t worry—apparently, the bar isn’t performance. It’s… vibes? Timing? Lineage? Marketing? Spin the wheel.

Because if Spring Training is supposed to mean something, the Yankees forgot to tell their own players what that something is.

And that’s the real problem.

Not just the decisions—the double standards.

Not just the roster—the message.

Because right now, it sounds a lot like: “Earn it… unless we’ve already decided you didn’t.”

I hate the way this team is run.

YANKEES GO LIVE SEASON "DEVELOPMENT" AGAIN

Why exactly is Ryan Weathers locking down a spot in the New York Yankees rotation after a spring that looked more like a batting practice showcase—for the other team?

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the numbers were rough. An 11.68 ERA across four starts. Fifteen hits, ten runs (nine earned) in just over nine innings. Yes, there were 12 strikeouts, but that’s like complimenting the garnish on a dish that’s already on fire. The results weren’t just underwhelming—they were loud.

And yet, here we are.

Aaron Boone waved it off with the classic spring training disclaimer: health looks good, the “stuff” is there, and the stats don’t matter. Which, sure, is a nice sentiment—if you’re talking about one shaky outing. But at some point, “don’t look at the numbers” starts to feel less like wisdom and more like willful blindness.

This feels less like a vote of confidence and more like a lack of alternatives dressed up as optimism. Instead of saying, “We don’t have better options,” which is what it really is, the organization is spinning it into “everything’s fine.” But Yankee fans aren’t blind—they can read a box score just as well as anyone in the front office.

And that’s really the frustrating part: the disconnect. The reliance on projection over production. The insistence that what could be matters more than what is. There’s only so long you can sell potential before people start asking for results.

To be clear, this isn’t even really about Weathers. He might turn into a perfectly serviceable pitcher. “Perfectly fine” has value in baseball. But pretending he’s something more—some hidden ace waiting to emerge—feels like a stretch that even Yankee Stadium’s short porch can’t accommodate.

At a certain point, fans just want honesty. Not spin. Not hopeful guesses. Just reality.

JUDGE & JETER ARE MORE DIFFERENT THAN YOU THOUGHT!

I know a lot of us are focused on the end of spring training. I am too, but I am also still thinking about the World Baseball Classic. I'm not even stewing over the fact that we lost. I am thinking about what Aaron Judge said after USA beat the Dominican Republic.

You probably know what I am talking about, but if you don't Judge made some interesting comments comparing the World Series with the World Baseball Classic, you can read about it HERE.
"I'll say, it's been bigger," Judge told reporters. "The World Series I was in versus the crowd here and the one we had against Mexico, it's bigger and better than the World Series. The passion that these fans have representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there's nothing like it."

There's no doubt in my mind that putting on a jersey with your country's name on it is something that cannot be described, and could be one of those once in a lifetime moments. There's a lot of pride, and a feeling of being part of something bigger than just yourself and the MLB team you play for. I just don't know that I would say the crowds are "bigger and better" than the World Series. That's like comparing a New York pizza to Paella!

I guess that means I thinking more like Derek Jeter who did say "I think people are always trying to compare what's bigger. It's completely different. When you retire, they ask, ‘How many championships did you win?’ for a reason. Playing in a World Series, going through a 162-game schedule plus the postseason, is difficult to do." It is hard to compare a tournament played for a couple of weeks with some players not even on a MLB team to a 162-game season. I think Jeter is right. They are completely different. Playing on a MLB team AND the World Baseball Classic are both huge accomplishments, and great moments in a player's career....but they are not one in the same.

The World Baseball Classic elimination round is a one game lose and your done scenario. The best team doesn't always win, sometimes it is the team that gets great pitching and a few timely hits in that game. We saw that in this tournament. I will not downplay the talent and significance of the tournament but the World Series is still the ultimate title in this sport and you have to accomplish infinitely more to get that ring and call yourself a champion.

I'd be interested to hear what Judge says later IF he ever wins a Word Series. Jeter has FIVE World Series championships and competed in two World Baseball Classics so there's no one more qualified to speak on the subject than he is. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj