MICHAEL KAY FINALLY SAID "STUMP MERRILL". WE DID THAT ALREADY

Michael Kay finally did it.

He looked at this Yankees mess and uttered two words that should send chills down the spine of anyone who's lived through the late '80s and early '90s:

Stump Merrill.

Welcome to the conversation. But if you're going to go after this team quoting the "Stump Merrill era" you have to blame Boone for being just as bad as Merrill was, but you won't because you get paid by the Yankees. We here at Bleeding Yankee Blue? We'll say it.

But seriously, the funny part isn't that Kay finally made the comparison. The funny part is that Bleeding Yankee Blue has been connecting those dots for years, long before it became acceptable on the airwaves.

Back in 2021 THE YANKEES ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF POOR LEADERSHIP, we wrote exactly where this train was heading:

"Aaron Boone is the reason this Yankee team is terrible. Leadership is vital in this game and Boone doesn't have it. You know who else didn't have it? Stump Merrill. Dallas Green. Those were dark times as a Yankee fan. We're back to those times."

That wasn't written after one bad week. That wasn't written to grab headlines. That was written because the same problems kept showing up over and over again and it's still happening.

Now here's where Michael Kay—and much of the mainstream Yankees media—stops because he has to. We don't.

Because if you're going to compare this era to the Stump Merrill years, then you have to be honest enough to explain why.

The Stump Merrill Yankees weren't remembered simply because the roster wasn't good. They were remembered because there wasn't leadership. There wasn't accountability. The clubhouse wasn't being driven by a manager capable of getting more from his players. That's why those teams drifted.

That's why those years became synonymous with mediocrity.

And here's the uncomfortable question...

What's different today? Sure, blame the players. Absolutely. They're the ones swinging the bats. They're the ones making the errors. They're the ones failing to deliver in October—or, lately, just failing to deliver. But baseball has always been bigger than the box score.

Leadership matters. Culture matters. Direction matters. A manager isn't there just to hand the baseball to the starting pitcher and fill out a lineup card. He's supposed to set the standard.

When the same mistakes happen every game and every season... When fundamentals disappear every season... When urgency vanishes every season...eventually the conversation has to move beyond the players.

It has to move to the men in charge. Aaron Boone.

Brian Cashman has wrapped Boone in enough bubble wrap to survive a five-story fall.

Every collapse comes with another excuse. Every poor decision is explained away. Every postseason disappointment is followed by another vote of confidence.

The result? No championships. No meaningful progress. The same movie playing on repeat. We've said it before because it's true now as it was then:

Leadership isn't optional. It's everything. That's why Buck Showalter changed the Yankees. That's why Joe Torre changed the Yankees. That's why Joe Girardi squeezed everything he could out of his clubs.

Managers matter. The Yankees themselves proved that for decades. So why are we suddenly pretending they don't? And here's where things get really interesting.

Michael Kay made the comparison. But he stopped short of saying what naturally comes next.

Why? You can decide for yourself, but hey, I'll tell you my thoughts...

Kay works inside the Yankees' orbit. Whether consciously or unconsciously, there are realities that come with that position. He can push the envelope, but only so far. We're not in that position at BYB. We don't answer to Yankee executives. We don't answer to YES Network producers. We answer to our readers.

That freedom matters. It allows us to say the quiet part out loud. If this really is the Stump Merrill era all over again—and we believe it is—then the comparison isn't primarily about the players.

It's about the leadership. It's about the manager. It's about a culture that has grown comfortable with excuses instead of accountability.

Michael Kay deserves credit for finally saying "Stump Merrill." But finishing the thought?

That's a different story. We've been finishing that thought for years. And until someone is willing to admit that leadership is just as broken as the roster, don't expect anything to change. Because championship teams don't just have talent.

They have leaders and right now? They don't have one.  Just ask me... I'll be truthful with you.

WANT MORE ABOUT STUMP MERRILL? READ THIS:

DOMINGUEZ JUST PROVED TO EVERYONE THAT BOONE'S NOT QUALIFIED

A CATCHER IN MIAMI IS STARING THE YANKEES IN THE FACE

For months, the Yankees told us they believed in their catching situation.

They sold fans on Austin Wells. They talked up J.C. Escarra. They praised the organization's depth. Brian Cashman and the front office projected confidence that the position was in good hands.

Reality has exposed that confidence as badly misplaced.

Whether it was overconfidence, poor evaluation, or simply refusing to acknowledge an obvious weakness, the Yankees entered the season with a catching plan that has completely unraveled. And the frustrating part is that many fans saw it coming long before Opening Day.

We here at Bleeding Yankee Blue has been sounding the alarm for months. In THE YANKEES NEED TO FIX THE CATCHER POSITION FAST!, we argued that Wells and Escarra had failed to seize the position and criticized the front office for believing the duo was enough for a championship contender.

Just days later, OUR CATCHING DISASTER ISN'T AN ACCIDENT, IT'S FRONT OFFICE INCOMPETENCE doubled down, arguing this wasn't bad luck—it was the predictable result of years of roster construction built more on internal projections than proven production.

Then came THREE BAD CATCHERS, BUT A BIG YANKEE PROBLEM, placing the responsibility squarely on the front office for entering the season believing a collection of backup-caliber options would somehow develop into a strength.

And BYB wasn't alone.

Other places are out there, The New York Post, NJ Advance Media, reporting that the Yankees received almost no offensive production from the catching position before shuffling J.C. Escarra to Triple-A and calling up Ali Sánchez, while Brian Cashman acknowledged other possibilities, including eventually using Ben Rice behind the plate.

It's a "catching crisis," noting that while Yankees catchers continued to contribute defensively through framing and game-calling, the offensive production had become one of the biggest holes in the lineup.

The point isn't simply that Austin Wells struggled. Prospects miss. Players regress.

The issue is that the Yankees bet an entire position on hope.

Hope that Wells would hit. Hope that Escarra could contribute. Hope that organizational depth would magically appear. Championship organizations don't build rosters on hope. They build them on contingency plans.

The Yankees had none. But there is a solution that many are not talking about. If premium trade targets become too expensive, there's another name the Yankees should have circled immediately:

Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks.

He isn't the flashy headline acquisition. He won't dominate sports-talk radio. But smart baseball operations often win around the margins.

Hicks checks almost every box the Yankees should be prioritizing:

• Excellent bat-to-ball skills and one of the better contact profiles among young catchers.
• Strong strike-zone awareness that consistently produces quality at-bats.
• Defensive versatility, with experience beyond catcher, giving Aaron Boone lineup flexibility.
• Multiple years of club control, making him more than just a rental.
• A player whose acquisition cost would likely be significantly lower than many of the bigger names expected to hit the trade market.

That's exactly the type of move smart front offices make before everyone else catches on.

Instead of paying a premium for the biggest available catcher, the Yankees could solve both their present and future by targeting a player entering his prime with offensive upside and roster flexibility.

The Yankees don't necessarily need a superstar behind the plate.

They need competence. They need consistency. Most importantly, they need a front office willing to admit that the original plan didn't work.

Because pretending the problem never existed is exactly what got them here in the first place.

YANKS WILL IMPLY JUDGE IS TO BLAME IF THEY FALL SHORT THIS SEASON

 I'm writing this for one reason: So it's on the record.

Mark. My. Words.

I've been a Yankees fan for as long as I can remember. Sure, there was that brief detour as a little kid in Kentucky when Pete Rose had me convinced the Reds were the center of the baseball universe. Then my family moved to New Jersey in 1978, I discovered Ron Guidry, and that little phase disappeared faster than a hanging slider.

So let me clear something up, because people seem to struggle with this.

I can love the Yankees while relentlessly criticizing the people running them. Those aren't conflicting ideas. They're roommates.

I love this team. I love the history, the pinstripes, the expectations, and the players who wear them. What I don't love is watching a front office that's become addicted to spreadsheets, a general manager who keeps recycling the same mistakes, and a manager who somehow turns every high-pressure situation into an improv comedy.

That's why what I'm about to say matters.

If the Yankees don't win the World Series in 2026—and right now that feels more likely than not—the organization already has its built-in excuse.

Aaron Judge.

Not Aaron Boone's baffling in-game decisions.

Not Brian Cashman's questionable roster construction.

Not the holes at catcher.

Not the left side of the infield.

Not the inconsistent performances from players who were supposed to take the next step.

Nope. It'll all circle back to, "Well... we didn't have our best player."

And here's the thing: that's not Aaron Judge's fault.

Injuries are part of baseball. They happen. Nobody blames Judge for getting hurt.

Judge was officially transferred to the 60-day Injured List today, and his return doesn't appear to be around the corner. Since he landed on the IL on June 2, the Yankees have gone 18-19, exposing exactly what many of us have been saying for years: this lineup is far too dependent on one human being wearing No. 99.

That's not a Judge problem. That's an organizational problem.

The Yankees still need help behind the plate. They still need answers on the left side of the infield. Now they also need another legitimate middle-of-the-order bat to survive Judge's absence.

This is where a general manager earns his paycheck. This is where a manager proves he can actually manage instead of waiting for his superstar to bail him out.

Will they? History says probably not.

Will they once again fall short? I'd put my money on yes.

Will we all be sitting here in October hearing the same tired explanations while wondering how baseball's biggest brand keeps finding new ways to waste championship-caliber talent?

Unfortunately, that prediction feels like the safest bet of the season.

There, I said it.

AT LEAST GERRIT COLE HAD SOME STONES...

If you want to roast Gerrit Cole for what happened last night, go ahead. I'm not joining the pile-on.

Yes, Cole lost the game. After six dominant, scoreless innings, eight strikeouts, and 90 pitches in just his 10th start back from Tommy John surgery, he issued a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts in the seventh. Aaron Boone made the slow walk to the mound while Brent Headrick got loose in the bullpen. Boone asked his ace if he had one more hitter in him.

Cole didn't hesitate.

Absolutely. Two pitches later, he was ahead 0-2 on Max Muncy. Then came the mistake. A hanging slider. Muncy didn't miss it, launching a two-run homer that turned a 1-0 Yankees lead into a loss.

Afterward, Boone said he probably should have taken the ball from Cole. Maybe he's right.

But here's the thing.

Historically, when Aaron Boone decides it's time to play bullpen chess, it usually ends with Yankee fans wondering why they even bothered watching the game. Managing pitchers has never been Boone's strength. So, while it's easy to second-guess the decision because it backfired, I'm not going to criticize a manager for trusting the one guy on his roster who actually demanded the baseball.

Sometimes, just sometimes, you've got to trust the horse that wants to keep running.

Especially now.

The Yankees are only 2.5 games out of first place, but don't let that fool you. They've been playing mediocre baseball, and the schedule isn't about to get any friendlier. This is the stretch where you need Gerrit Cole taking the ball. If there is one player on this roster, I'm willing to ride or die with, it's the guy who refuses to come out of the game.

Give me that mentality every single time. Truthfully, that's exactly what this team has been missing.

I've said it over and over again: the Yankees don't have enough edge. They don't have enough accountability. They don't have enough players willing to put everything on the line.

David Wells recently said something that should be plastered on the wall inside the clubhouse. If a player isn't performing, send him down. Triple-A. Double-A. Wherever. Let him sit. Let him understand that poor play doesn't automatically earn another week in the lineup.

Imagine that. Competition. Accountability. Consequences.

Instead, the Yankees coddle players. They protect them. They keep handing out opportunities like participation trophies.

I'm not exactly lining up to join the Jomboy fan club. In my opinion, they've become far too comfortable playing nice with the Yankees' machine. But even they pointed out something impossible to ignore: Anthony Volpe has been given one of the longest leashes we've seen from a struggling everyday player in years. The production hasn't justified the patience, yet the opportunities keep coming.  It's actually the best thing they ever put out.

That's on leadership.

And that's where this organization continues to fail.

So, if you want to crush Cole for giving up one bad pitch, that's your choice.

I'd rather focus on the fact that he stood on that mound and wanted the moment. The Yankees need more guys with that kind of backbone, not fewer. I'd rather watch Gerrit Cole bet on himself than watch Boone overmanage another game into oblivion.

Last night wasn't about one hanging slider.

It was about a competitor refusing to back down.

Frankly, this team could use a lot more of that.

Now the Yankees have a chance to bounce back against the Dodgers today. They'd better, because the road ahead isn't getting any easier.

BOONE'S LEGACY IS ONLY ABOUT WINNING REGULAR SEASON GAMES

There was a time when the Yankees measured success with parades. Not playoff appearances. Not Wild Card berths. Not division titles. Championships.

That was the standard George Steinbrenner built. If you didn't win the World Series, you answered for it. There was accountability. There was urgency. There was an understanding that wearing pinstripes came with expectations unlike any other organization in sports.

Fast forward to today, and the standard feels... different. Aaron Boone has been the Yankees' manager since 2018. During that span, the Yankees have won plenty of regular-season games. They've reached the postseason repeatedly. They've had MVP-caliber players, Cy Young-caliber pitchers, and one of the highest payrolls in baseball almost every single season.

And yet... Zero championships. That's not an attack.

That's a fact.

Every October seems to end the same way. The Yankees fall short, the front office talks about what they learned, Boone talks about how close they were, and everyone comes back the following spring saying this year will be different. Eventually, "close" stops meaning anything. Because in New York, banners—not participation trophies—define greatness.

To hear the Yankees' front office tell it, Aaron Boone is exactly the right man for the job. Listen to the organization's messaging, tune into YES broadcasts, scroll through team-controlled social media, and you'll find praise for Boone's calm demeanor, his communication skills, and the culture he has supposedly built.

That's all well and good. But fans see something much simpler. No rings. That's the résumé that matters. Fair or unfair, that's the scoreboard. Now let's talk about accountability.

One of the biggest criticisms Boone has faced over the years isn't simply his bullpen decisions or lineup construction. It's the perception that too many things happen under his watch without meaningful consequences. Take Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz is an electric player. His swagger is part of what makes him special. Baseball needs personalities like his. But when he showed up at the plate with a lollipop in his mouth earlier this season, it became national news. Boone publicly admitted afterward that the stunt "pissed" him off because of the safety concerns. Jazz responded by saying Boone's message was essentially to keep having fun—but to be smarter about it.

That's probably the right response. But it also illustrates the larger conversation surrounding Boone.

Fans don't necessarily question whether Boone likes his players. We really don't care. We question whether he demands enough from them.

There have been too many mental mistakes. Too many sloppy innings. Too many baserunning blunders. Too many games where the Yankees look flat. Is every one of those Boone's fault?

Of course not. But when those issues become recurring themes year after year, eventually the manager has to own part of the culture. Then there's Brian Cashman. Cashman deserves enormous credit for being a part of building championship teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s. No one can erase that.

But it's also fair to ask whether this version of the Yankees has become too comfortable with falling short. The Yankees have invested hundreds of millions of dollars. They've retained stars. They've traded prospects. They've changed coaches. They've adjusted philosophies. Yet the one thing that hasn't changed is the leadership at the very top. At some point, every organization has to ask itself a difficult question:

If the results never change, why should the decision-makers? This isn't about calling Boone a terrible baseball mind. I mean, he pretty much is but this post is about something different. It's about not closing. BOONE CAN'T CLOSE.

Sometimes a clubhouse simply needs a different voice. Sometimes a franchise chasing greatness has to stop accepting "good enough." Because let's be honest.

When fans think about Joe Torre, they think about championships. When they think about Casey Stengel, they think about championships. When they think about Joe Girardi, they think about the 2009 championship

No one is going to think about Aaron Boone being a great manager. No one.  What will they remember?

A lot of regular-season wins.

The dynasty years weren't built because the Yankees were satisfied with being competitive. They were built because ownership demanded excellence and refused to confuse potential with accomplishment.

Can the Yankees get back to that level? Absolutely.

Aaron Judge is still one of the best players on the planet. Ben Rice has emerged as a legitimate star. The core has talent.

But talent alone doesn't build dynasties. Leadership does. Vision does. Accountability does.

So, here's the question every Yankees fan should be asking as another postseason approaches:

If this season ends the same way the others have, and I truly believe it will, is it finally time for Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone to step aside?

Or will the Yankees once again convince themselves that next year will be different? Because eventually, "next year" becomes "another year."

And that's not the Yankee Way.

BRAWLIN IN THE BRONX - WILL THE YANKEES SHOW UP?

I am NOT looking forward to this. The Dodgers are coming into town. That means I am going to hear all of the fake, annoying Dodger fans at work become even more obnoxious. Here come all of the jabs about the next three-peat and dynasty. You won't find a bigger pool of bandwagon Dodger "fans" then where I live. This is their breeding ground.

So here we go. First series back from the All-Star break and it has to be against the damn Dodgers. At least it's on our turf, but then again....it's on OUR turf! I still think about how the Dodgers embarrassed us in the World Series. We have been playing some very uninspiring baseball for too long. This could be a disaster in the making. I hope the time off invigorated the Yankees but this team for years has needed a lot more than time off to help them become real contenders.

At this point, we are at the halfway point. Wildcard standings, division races and trades matter more than ever. October is coming and fast. This series could be a preview of what's to come. Some fans are really serious about it, others aren't and that's a lot of what YES broadcasters discussed HERE. I think if you are the Dodgers this series doesn't matter as much, but the Yankees it matters a lot.

I love Paul O'Neill, he's a legend and I like listening to him call games. I just don't know if I share his same thoughts about this series. "I don't think a weekend series in July tells you how you're gonna play a team in the World Series. Everybody looks at that World Series where the Dodgers on paper look like they beat up the Yankees but the Yankees had a couple of games that they could've coulda won and it could've been a seven-game series. I never feel that the Yankees are truly overmatched by anyone. I would assume that the media will turn it up to be a big, big series, but Aaron Judge is not a part of it, Stanton's not a part of it. Ohtani, who knows? He might not even be a part of it, won't be pitching probably. It's gonna be a different scenario if you meet them again in October."

Coulda, shoulda, woulda won....but didn't. There's too many of these. O'Neill may not feel like the Yankees are truly overmatched by any team but they certainly play like they are sometimes. They lack fundamentals, can't hit the broad side of a barn, have circus ringleader Aaron Boone for a manager and are their own worst enemy. Teams don't fear them whether Judge is playing or not. He's only one guy on the field or in the batting lineup. The rest of the team does not compare and all signs point to Shohei Ohtani playing this weekend just most likely not pitching.

Do I think he's right that it will be a different scenario if we meet again in October? It could be. But first we have to get there and it's hard to have confidence that we will. Both teams slumped heading into the All-Star break, but we slumped a lot longer and harder. The Dodgers kick it up another gear once the postseason hits and we just have a hard time finding one that isn't reverse. 

I hope this weekend goes well for us. Hopefully the Dodgers continue their slump, and we find a spark. I think this series matters. Let's face it they all do but second half of the season against the Dodgers is a real test....and I am not sure that the Yankees are ready.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

RYAN JEFFERS IS THE CATCHER WE NEED

Brian Cashman has reached the point where he can't afford to hope. He has to act. The Yankees have a championship-caliber roster, but one glaring weakness continues to drag down the offense, and it's behind the plate.

Austin Wells.

This isn't about piling on a young player. It's about recognizing reality. Wells was supposed to become the Yankees' catcher of the future. Instead, his bat has disappeared for much of the 2026 season. Through the first half, Wells has struggled to produce consistently, posting one of the weakest offensive lines among everyday catchers, with his batting average hovering in the mid-.100s and an OPS well below league average. FanGraphs has graded his offensive production as among the least productive regular catchers in baseball this season.

Meanwhile, over in Minnesota, Ryan Jeffers continues to do what good catchers are supposed to do.

Hit.

Jeffers has quietly become one of the better offensive catchers in baseball. He gives you power from the right side, drives the baseball with authority, and has consistently produced when healthy. Reports leading into the trade deadline indicate he's once again drawing plenty of interest because of his ability to change an offense immediately.

For a Yankees club that has been searching for production outside of Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, Jeffers feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

Because October isn't about potential. It's about production. And here's where the conversation gets uncomfortable.

The Yankees have spent years telling us about their can't-miss prospects. Anthony Volpe. Austin Wells. Every spring, every prospect ranking, every organizational update, fans were reminded these were cornerstone players who would anchor the next great Yankees team.

Yet here's the funny thing...

Where was all that noise about Ben Rice? Rice wasn't the prospect dominating headlines. He wasn't the player fans were constantly told would become the next star.

Then he got his opportunity and all he's done is become one of the biggest breakout stars in baseball.

He's mashed home runs. He's driven in runs. He's become one of the most dangerous hitters in the Yankees' lineup while showing an advanced approach at the plate that looks years beyond his experience. His breakout has been one of the best stories in baseball this season.

So, here's the question that deserves to be asked. What exactly were Yankees scouts seeing?

They spent years selling everyone on Wells and Volpe. But Ben Rice? He almost felt like an afterthought until he forced everyone to notice. How does that happen?

How do you spend years hyping one group of prospects while another player quietly develops into arguably the best young hitter in your organization? Maybe Rice simply exceeded every projection. Maybe development isn't linear. Or maybe the Yankees' player evaluation process deserves a harder look than it's been getting.

Either way, Rice's emergence raises some legitimate questions.

Back to the catching situation, I'm rambling. Ryan Jeffers isn't a magic fix for every problem the Yankees have.

But he absolutely lengthens the lineup. He gives opposing pitchers another legitimate bat to worry about. He provides more thump. More experience. More consistency.

Most importantly, he allows manager Aaron Boone to stop running an everyday lineup spot that too often has become an offensive black hole. The Yankees don't have time to wait for Austin Wells to figure it out if they're serious about winning a World Series in 2026.

If Wells rebounds, terrific, but he won't. Championship front offices don't make decisions based on "maybe."

They make them based on who gives them the best chance to win today. Right now, that's Ryan Jeffers. Brian Cashman has been aggressive before when he believed a championship was within reach. This is another one of those moments. If the Twins are willing to listen, Cashman needs to pick up the phone.

Because if the Yankees are going to make a deep October run, they can't keep hoping the catcher position magically comes alive. They need to upgrade it. Ryan Jeffers is sitting there.

Now it's up to Cashman to decide whether he's serious about winning another championship—or whether he's willing to let loyalty to an underperforming roster spot stand in the way.

RICE HAS BEEN A REVELATION, BUT COULD THE DERBY COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM?

If there has been one constant bright spot in the Yankees' lineup this season, it's been Ben Rice.

What started as an opportunity has turned into a full-fledged breakout, and Rice has rewarded the Yankees' faith in him every step of the way. He's evolved into one of the most dangerous left-handed hitters in baseball, giving the lineup power, patience, and a mature approach that has made him one of the American League's biggest surprises.

At the All-Star break, Rice had established himself among the league leaders with 29 home runs, nearly 70 RBIs and an OPS hovering around .970, while consistently producing quality at-bats and driving the baseball to all fields. His advanced metrics are just as impressive, with elite exit velocities, hard-hit percentages and barrel rates confirming that this isn't smoke and mirrors—Ben Rice has become one of baseball's legitimate impact hitters.

Perhaps what's been most impressive is how complete his offensive game has become. Rice isn't simply swinging for the fences. He's taking walks, hitting with runners in scoring position, and consistently delivering in big moments. Whether he's launching tape-measure home runs or lining doubles into the gap, he's become the type of hitter opposing pitchers genuinely fear.

He's been everything the Yankees could have hoped for—and then some.

That made Monday night's Home Run Derby such an interesting—and perhaps concerning—storyline.

Rice accepted the invitation to participate, making it a memorable family affair by having his father, Dan, throw batting practice to him. It was one of the more heartwarming moments of All-Star Week and something Rice will undoubtedly treasure forever. Unfortunately, the results on the field weren't nearly as memorable.

Rice managed just seven home runs, the fewest of any participant, and was eliminated in the opening round. Afterward, he admitted he became overly anxious and rushed his swing instead of staying within himself. Even so, he called the experience a success because he was able to share it with his father.

The Derby itself isn't the concern.

What happens after the Derby is.

For decades, baseball has debated the so-called "Home Run Derby Curse." Is it real? Or is it simply coincidence?

There have certainly been players who fueled the legend.

Bobby Abreu put on one of the greatest Derby performances ever in 2005, crushing an astonishing 41 home runs in the opening round. But after the All-Star break, his production dipped noticeably, and many pointed to the Derby as the culprit.

Josh Hamilton's unforgettable 2008 Derby performance remains one of baseball's iconic moments after he blasted 28 first-round home runs. While he remained productive overall, his second-half numbers declined, reigniting debate about whether the Derby had altered his swing or simply worn him down.

Aaron Judge experienced something similar in 2017. After winning the Derby in Miami, his second-half production dipped significantly. Was it because of the Derby? Or because pitchers adjusted to him and the grind of a 162-game season caught up with a rookie? Even Judge himself has never blamed the event, but the discussion has lingered for years.

Of course, there are just as many examples proving the opposite.

Pete Alonso has won multiple Home Run Derbies without seeing his swing disappear afterward. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has participated and continued producing. Juan Soto has remained one of baseball's elite hitters regardless of Derby appearances.

That's what makes this debate so fascinating. Is there truly a curse? Or do fans simply remember the slumps and forget the players who kept right on hitting? Now that question belongs to Ben Rice.

Could one night of trying to launch every baseball into the upper deck throw off the smooth, controlled swing that has made him one of the Yankees' best hitters? Could his timing be affected? Could he begin overswinging in search of home runs?

Or will this simply become a fun memory from an incredible first half before he picks up exactly where he left off?

Personally, there's every reason to believe Rice will be just fine.

Everything we've seen this season suggests he's more than just a slugger. He's a disciplined hitter with an advanced understanding of the strike zone, tremendous bat speed, and a mature offensive approach that doesn't rely solely on brute force. Those qualities generally survive temporary mechanical hiccups.

Still, baseball is a game built on rhythm, timing and routine. Even the smallest change can snowball into something larger. The Yankees don't just need Ben Rice to be good in the second half. They need him to continue being one of the most dangerous hitters in their lineup. If he does, the Yankees' offense remains capable of carrying this club deep into October. If the Derby somehow disrupts that rhythm—even temporarily—it becomes one of the more intriguing storylines to watch over the next several weeks.

Hopefully, years from now, fans will remember Ben Rice's first Home Run Derby not because it started a slump, but because it marked the season he officially announced himself as one of baseball's brightest young stars.

The Yankees—and their fans—are certainly hoping that's exactly how this story ends.

GOOD THINGS COME IN PETTITTE PACKAGES!

Andy Pettitte was made for pinstripes, and now maybe his youngest son, Luke Pettitte is too! It's another one of those "like father, like son" cliche moments....or is it?

We don't need to talk about how great Andy was. We all know. Luke could be a great pitcher too, but there's some differences. Honestly, much needed differences so he's not living in the shadow of his dad. I keep seeing on  X everyone is talking about how Andy was a one of a kind, and we shouldn't compare Luke to him.

And we shouldn't. That I agree. Andy was a left handed battle tested pitcher with a pick off move that was unmatched. Luke is right handed so he might not have the same pick off move but he's still talented. He's a two-way player that organizations drool over now that some guy named Shohei Ohtani came in and changed baseball as we know it.

But the Ohtani comparison stops there. They both are two-way players but that's it. Luke started playing at Dallas Baptist College as a pitcher, but Tommy John surgery forced him to step away from the mound. Instead of treating his time away recovering as a lost year in his journey he turned his attention to hitting in his junior year where he hit .337, with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs in 42 games. That's nothing to sneeze at. Hell, he would be an instant upgrade to the current lineup right now considering some guys are hitting .150 right now (here's looking at you Austin Wells), sometimes the truth hurts.

It will be interesting to see what happens going forward. Does Luke even sign? There's no guarantee that he will. No matter what does happen, he already has some bragging rights compared to his old man. Andy was picked in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft, but Luke was picked in the eighth round of this years draft. No matter what happens, he gets that for bragging rights. Honestly, Tommy John or not, scouts have a lot to say about his good command, so I like the pick.

The Yankees need to learn how to evolve and honestly, in more ways than one. Their "run it back" philosophy and overly analytical decisions have not helped this team win anything. There isn't a ton of risk with this draft pick, even with a recovery from Tommy John. Luke has something unique to add and we certainly need something.

We've been saying we are tired of "more of the same" and this isn't it. It's about time! Welcome to the Yankees, Luke!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE VOLPE SOAP OPERA WILL BLOW UP IN THE YANKEES FACES

Don't forget that Gleyber Torres was not resigned for pretty much refusing to move to third.  More on that in a minute.

Aaron Boone's Anthony Volpe obsession and the fact that the Yankees are all in on a personal relationship with this guy and the team dating back to his high school days has become their biggest problem... and I bet they will regret it.  Why? Cause they're stuck.  

At this point, Aaron Boone doesn't just support Anthony Volpe. He defends him with the kind of unwavering loyalty usually reserved for family members, childhood best friends, or someone holding embarrassing vacation photos. And that's where this story continues.

Because if you took a poll of Yankees fans right now—people who have actually watched every throw into the first-base dugout, every rushed decision, every routine play turned into an adventure—I would bet close to 89% would tell you the same thing:

Anthony Volpe may have been a terrific shortstop in high school. That doesn't automatically make him a Major League shortstop.

Those are two completely different jobs.

Playing shortstop in New York isn't simply about fielding ground balls. It's about handling relentless pressure, surviving daily scrutiny, making split-second decisions under the brightest lights in baseball and proving, every single season, that you belong.

Right now, many fans simply don't believe Volpe does.  but Aaron Boone can't quit Anthony Volpe, and it is my opinion that that is a direct order from our Yankees front office. Boone's a puppet anyway so...

Look, Boone's defense of Volpe has reached a point where it almost feels... personal. Whenever criticism surfaces, Boone appears almost programmed to immediately reassure everyone that Volpe is "really good." No matter what happens on the field. No matter what the numbers say. And that's become part of the frustration.

Because baseball is supposed to be a meritocracy. You earn your job. You keep your job. You lose your job if you suck. That's professional sports. That's life too by the way... that's life if you don't live in a bubble where people and personal relationships are protecting you.

Volpe often feels like the one Yankee playing under an entirely different set of rules.

Jose Caballaro is the better shortstop. We all know this. He's more athletic. He brings more energy. He's quicker. Throws stronger, hits better. Many fans like me believe he simply looks more natural at shortstop. Yet the Yankees continue treating him like he's trapped inside a spreadsheet labeled "UTILITY."

That's the danger of front offices becoming too attached to paperwork. On paper, Caballero is a utility player. On the field, plenty of people believe he's the better defensive shortstop. But organizations can become prisoners of their own evaluations. The Yankees invested years developing Volpe.

They sold him to the fan base. They marketed him. Now admitting someone else might simply be better becomes far more difficult than it should be.

Summer Coaches don't win Major League games. One of the more bizarre developments surrounding Volpe has been the constant reliance on glowing scouting reports from people connected to his youth baseball career. That's wonderful.

It also doesn't matter anymore. This is Major League Baseball and they were wrong. They sold the Yankees front office and us fans a bill of goods. Nobody gets lifetime tenure because they dominated summer tournaments. Every player becomes replaceable the moment they reach the big leagues.

The Yankees don't owe Anthony Volpe a career. Anthony Volpe owes the Yankees production, and he owes us fans an apology for taking the money and not delivering product.

Look, this whole report that Volpe reportedly wasn't interested in moving off shortstop. Whether every detail of that story is accurate almost becomes secondary. Because if a player truly refuses to play another position, professional organizations generally have three choices:

Move him. Bench him. Trade him. OR, in Gleyber Torres's case, don't resign him. 

We all forget that Torres was the coveted one and did actually have solid numbers with the Yankees. But the Yankees asked him to move positions and Torres didn't want to.  And so what happened next?  When his contract was up... they didn't bring him back.  That was a Cashman, Boone decision.  Gleyber Torres had finally found his baseball home at second base after the Yankees' shortstop experiment went sideways. Once he settled in there, he made it pretty clear he wasn't interested in playing musical chairs again. Second was his spot, and as far as he was concerned, that's where he belonged.

The Yankees, meanwhile, kept looking for ways to solve their infield puzzle. As different roster combinations came and went, third base inevitably entered the conversation. There were reports during the 2024 season that the club at least kicked around the idea of sliding Torres across the diamond.

The problem? Torres never seemed to warm to the idea. Learning a new position on the eve of free agency wasn't exactly on his wish list, and he appeared content to plant his flag at second. Whether that ultimately influenced the Yankees' decision is open to debate, but it certainly didn't make fitting the pieces together any easier. Torres is batting .280 with the Tigers this season. Volpe with the Yanks? .240.

But when it comes to Volpe, Boone tried to make it seem like it was a nothing burger, even though we all know it is.  Michael Kay poured gasoline on the story, suggesting Volpe had resisted moving to second.

Fans exploded. Then, almost as quickly, Kay walked much of it back. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe someone reminded Kay that the Yankees also happen to sign his checks. That's my opinion.

But then Aaron Boone tried explaining it. Yup, stupid Boone was left cleaning up the controversy. Except...he really didn't at all. Instead came one of the more impressive word salads you'll hear from a Major League manager:

"He's been our shortstop, and he got hurt and had surgery over the winter. He's coming back, and we really haven't had — until Cabby walked in the door last year — a real competition-based thing there. By the way, he's been a damn good shortstop. I hate to break it to everyone, but that still is real. Has he had his struggles? Sure. But he's also played really well out there in some long stretches defensively."

Translation? Volpe was the shortstop because...Volpe was already the shortstop. Competition? Not really. Boone acknowledged Caballero existed, then immediately circled back to telling everyone Volpe has been "a damn good shortstop", which we all know is a lie.

That's become the organization's default setting. Every criticism. Every mistake. Every rough stretch. Every defensive lapse. The response is always the same. "We still believe."

Fine.

But eventually belief has to intersect with reality. And here it is, AGAIN. The Yankees wanted the next Derek Jeter. The Yankees weren't simply looking for another shortstop. A homegrown kid. A New Jersey native. Clean-cut. Easy to market. Nice face. Future captain, and oh yeah, maybe there's a personal connection to the family which will make it all so much easier.

Anthony Volpe checked every box. In my opinion, the Yankees fell in love with the story before they finished evaluating the player. Once that happens, objectivity becomes incredibly difficult. Weaknesses become "development." Mistakes become "growing pains." Poor stretches become "learning experiences." Everyone else competes. The chosen one develops.

It is the relationship that no one wants to discuss. The uncomfortable conversation almost nobody wants to have.

Volpe's rise through the organization has long been intertwined with relationships involving influential Yankees evaluators who knew him long before he became a professional player. Nobody is accusing anyone of criminal wrongdoing. But personal relationships and emotional investment absolutely have the potential to cloud objective judgment.

That's true in every business. Why would baseball be any different? If Volpe were simply another prospect without those relationships... Would he have been promoted this aggressively? Would his offensive struggles have been tolerated this long? Would every mistake be explained away?

Those are fair questions.

They're also questions very few people have the balls to ask. But here's the bottom line, this Volpe experiment failed and the Yankees have a mess on their hands. They're emotionally invested in proving themselves right instead of honestly evaluating what's in front of them.

That's dangerous. Read  HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT for more.  

Look, organizations that become obsessed with proving past decisions correct often ignore present reality. Many fans now believe that's exactly what's happening. Boone continues defending Volpe. The front office continues defending Volpe. The marketing machine continues defending Volpe.

Meanwhile, fans keep watching the same shitty movie. The bottom line? You need to hold the Yankees accountable. This entire experiment has blown up in the Yankees' faces. Instead of admitting mistakes, they continue protecting the investment. Fans deserve better.

Merit should matter more than narrative. Performance should matter more than friendships. Results should matter more than reputation. In my opinion, Anthony Volpe is not the answer at shortstop for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees desperately wanted the next Derek Jeter. Instead, they've spent years forcing a script that many fans no longer believe. And I truly wonder if the Yankees are regretting every minute of this, because whether you believe it or not, it is a true mess.  The Bronx franchise is crumbling because of a high schooler who infultrated a major league park because mommy and daddy knew the high school summer coach.  It's an absolute travesty and disgusting.  

Mark my words, the Yankees will not win another championship under this front office, GM and manager because they are doing their job wrong.   And until this organization starts rewarding performance over loyalty, the controversy isn't going away.

Neither is the frustration.  

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER ON THE JUDGE INJURY UPDATE

For the better part of a month, Yankees fans have been playing a game nobody signed up for: "Where in the World Is Aaron Judge's Medical Update?"

Every day brought another round of vague manager-speak, carefully worded front-office statements, and enough secrecy to make you think the Yankees were hiding the formula for Coca-Cola instead of discussing a baseball injury.

Meanwhile, the offense has spent that same stretch looking like it misplaced its bats somewhere between the clubhouse and home plate.

Finally, the Yankees have acknowledged that Aaron Judge is expected to undergo fresh imaging during the All-Star break. That's certainly better than silence—but let's not hand out participation trophies. This isn't groundbreaking news. It's the kind of update fans should have been getting all along.

One thing this organization has perfected isn't roster construction or player development—it's turning injury reports into classified documents.

Nobody is asking the Yankees to violate HIPAA or livestream Judge's doctor's appointments. Fans simply want honest communication. Instead, they get generic phrases like "making progress," "continuing baseball activities," or "we'll know more soon." In Yankees language, "soon" apparently means "check back in three weeks."

The reality is simple: Aaron Judge isn't just another All-Star. He's the engine that powers this offense. Remove him from the lineup, and suddenly pitchers stop worrying about mistakes over the middle of the plate. The intimidation disappears. The margin for error shrinks. The lineup becomes a collection of talented players waiting for someone else to deliver the big hit.

And lately, that someone hasn't existed.

Every game without Judge has felt eerily similar. The Yankees strand runners. They strike out in key situations. They score just enough runs to stay interested before reminding everyone why one superstar can change the entire complexion of a franchise.

To the Yankees' credit, they're absolutely right not to rush Judge back. Rib injuries aren't something you gamble with, especially when the player is your captain and the face of the franchise. A setback now could jeopardize not only the rest of this season but years to come.

But caution and communication aren't mutually exclusive. We needed an update.

The upcoming imaging should finally provide a clearer picture of how much healing has taken place. If everything checks out, Judge can begin ramping up baseball activities with an eye toward returning sometime in August. That's encouraging news—but it's still only one step in what has been an agonizingly slow process.

Unfortunately, Judge's absence has also exposed an uncomfortable truth about this roster.

For years, Brian Cashman has preached organizational depth. Yet every season seems to reveal the same flaw: remove Aaron Judge, and the Yankees suddenly resemble a team searching for its identity. Championship-caliber clubs can survive injuries to even their biggest stars. The Yankees haven't just struggled—they've looked completely different.

That's not on Judge.

That's on roster construction, something we have been saying for years over here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

No player, no matter how great, should be solely responsible for making an offense functional. But once again, the Yankees have shown just how dependent they've become on No. 99 carrying the lineup.

The hope is that the new scans bring good news. Baseball is simply better when Aaron Judge is healthy and launching baseballs into orbit.

Until then, Yankees fans will continue refreshing their phones every few hours, waiting for an actual update instead of another carefully polished non-answer. Because while the Yankees have mastered the art of saying very little, one thing has become crystal clear.

This team doesn't just miss Aaron Judge.

It revolves around him... and maybe that's the problem.

STOP ACTING LIKE YOU WON THE PENNANT

Well... look who finally decided to show up.

The Yankees exploded for 12 runs against the Rays today and, for a few hours at least, they looked like the club we've all been waiting to see. The ball was jumping off the bats. Guys were actually driving runners home instead of leaving them stranded. Ben Rice had himself a day, the lineup had life, and the dugout actually looked like it remembered baseball is supposed to be fun.

That's the good news.

Now here's the part nobody inside Yankee Stadium's social media department seems interested in talking about. Enough with the parade.

The Yankees' social media accounts were pumping out celebration after celebration as if they'd just wrapped up the American League East. 

You would've thought they had rattled off twelve straight wins instead of scoring twelve runs in one baseball game. It's embarrassing.

Stop it.

Fans aren't buying that anymore. This fan base has sat through too many ugly losses, too many nights where the offense vanished, too many sloppy games, too many excuses, and way too much underachieving to get fooled by one afternoon when everything clicked.

Want to celebrate? Fine. Then come back tomorrow and do it again. Us fans want to see consistency.

And Aaron Boone?

You know he'll sleep a little easier after this one. You know the pressure eased. The postgame questions suddenly become easier to answer when your club hangs a crooked number on the scoreboard.

But don't confuse relief with redemption. Not around here.

Us at Bleeding Yankee Blue has watched this movie before. One big offensive game followed by three nights of frustration. One convincing win followed by another stretch of inconsistency. We've been told "this is the turning point" enough times to know better.

Boone doesn't get a gold star because his hitters finally did what they're paid millions to do. He still has plenty to answer for. This team still has plenty to prove.

The Yankees are built to score 12 runs. They're built to win series. They're built to win divisions. They're built to win championships. The problem? Their manager can close.

One win against Tampa doesn't erase weeks of baseball that left this fan base shaking its head.

So, enjoy it Yankee fans, I am. Yes, smile about it. Tip your cap to the hitters.

Then flush it. Because tomorrow starts at 0-0.

And trust me... we'll be watching over there at BYB. Closely.

That's what real Yankees fans do.

Consistency in a season wins the day... not a 12-4 win in July.  Give me a break.