THE ARRIVAL OF VOLPE & THE PASSING OF THE TORCH

I don't think I slept a WINK last night. The anticipation and excitement of Opening Day has always been a holiday affair for me. Now this year, we have the arrival of Anthony Volpe and I am so excited and I just can't hide it. If you hear someone squealing with excitement somewhere, there is a chance it is me.

We are about to watch a 21-year old kid with only 22 games at the Triple-A level take centerstage in the Bronx. When you think about that, it is bananas! This is very unusual for the Yankees. They like to let their young talent season down in the minors instead of bring them up at a young age with little time down in Triple-A. It just goes to show you how special this kid is to change the way the Yankees operate. This isn't the same organization that brought up a young 21 year old Derek Jeter.

And speaking of the former Captain, he sent a tweet congratulating Volpe in true Derek Jeter fashion.

He's the man that knows best, "there's nothing like playing shortstop for the New York Yankees."
Maybe one day, Volpe will have the same moment for another 21 year old kid. Scouts already say Volpe and Jeter have a lot of similarities, this is just a crazy coincidence. It's the beginning of a new era.

And now that Jeter has passed the torch from the once young shortstop to the next, we also have another passing of the torch. After wearing number 77 all through Sprint Training, Volpe will trade it in for number 11. After a brief disappearance, number 11 will be popular again.

Other than 0 (which will be worn by Domingo German), number 11 is the lowest jersey number that isn't retired and it was last worn by Brett Gardner between 2008-2021. Before making the switch, Volpe called Gardner who gave Volpe his blessing to wear his old number.

Hearing that gives me the chills. I have a different level of excitement going into this season. I can't explain it but I love the Volpe broke the typical Yankee mold and burst his way onto the scene. I love that even though he is so young, he carries himself like a seasoned big leaguer. He has the right attitude and I think he could be what this team has been missing for so long.

This really is the passing of the torch, a new era is here....and hopefully a long overdue championship comes with it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

YANKEES SNAG ANOTHER OUTFIELDER WHILE RELEASING OUTFIELDER ORTEGA

Yup, you read that right.

Quick note. The Yankees have decided to release Rafarl Ortega. MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"Outfielder Rafael Ortega has requested a release from his minor league with the Yankees and that request has been granted, reports MLBTR’s Steve Adams. Ortega had an opt-out in his contract yesterday and has been informed that he won’t make the club’s roster. He is now a free agent.

Photo: Rafael Ortega

The outfielder was competing for a bench job on the roster alongside players like Willie Calhoun and Estevan Florial. Earlier today, Marly Rivera of ESPN reported that Calhoun has been reassigned to minor league camp, while Florial and Ortega were each set to fly to New York as manager Aaron Boone said the final rosters decisions had yet to be made (Twitter links). It now appears that Ortega isn’t going to get a spot and will be free to pursue opportunities with all 30 clubs."

But in the midst of all of this, the Yankees picked up another outfielder.

NJ.com writes:

"The Yankees signed outfielder Franchy Cordero to a major-league contract on Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.

Barring any additional moves in the next 24 hours, Cordero will make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.

Cordero, 28, played 84 games with the Red Sox last season, hitting .219 with eight home runs, 29 RBI, 17 doubles and 36 runs scored. The left-handed hitter was used almost strictly against right-handed pitching in 2022. "

And there you have it, making moves and making moves. GO YANKEES!!!

        THE YANKEES BASEBALL SEASON IS FINALLY HERE! BUY SOME GEAR!

ONE DAY 'TIL OPENING DAY & HERE'S WHY IT WILL BE THE BEST EVER!

Source: Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports, via Reuters

We made it. The last pitch of the Yankees' season is always the saddest day of the year—whether they are winners or losers. For the last 14 years, well they have been losers and that just made the winter even bitter. But this year, it feels different. Aaron Judge is the Captain, a position vacant for nine years. And the kid that grew up rooting for our last captain, yea, well he just made the team. It is one day until Yankee baseball and guess what? I think it is will the best one yet.

Source: Jonathan Dyer/USA Today Sports, via Reuters

"Anthony Volpe was 8 years old on that crisp November afternoon in 2009, just another beaming face at the Yankees’ championship parade, basking in the glory of a World Series title. He could not tell exactly who was gliding by, but to him they were all legends," reported the New York Times who did an expose on the new Yankee talent. Anthony Volpe making the 2023 team is honestly the second best thing to happen to the Yankees in years. The first, clearly Aaron Judge.

Source: Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

As the Times continues, "Volpe will be the youngest member of the Yankees’ opening day lineup since Jeter, also 21, in 1996. That season ended in a championship, the first of five for Jeter. None of his successors have led the Yankees back to the World Series since 2009, and now it is Volpe’s turn to try." It feels like Christmas to me. The Yankees made a bold move; one that they have not been willing to make since the 1990s. And it is just that kind of move that positions them to not only be dominant but edgy.

The challenge will be for the Yankees is can they remain bold even if Volpe doesn't quite have it all together right away. They certainly hung in there with Jeter and Judge respectively and if they want Volpe to be great, they need to give him great mentoring, coaching and time. 

"Judge hit .179 in his first taste of the majors in 2016, striking out in half of his at-bats. Yet he made the opening day lineup the next season, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award and was on his way to becoming the sport’s premier slugger." reported The Times. 

The Yankees have a long season ahead of them and us with them. If you are like me, you are locked in for 162 games and hopefully a long postseason. Plenty of time for the Yankees to gel, develop and create a culture for winning and improvement collectively. Opening Day is the first day for Volpe to make his mark. Will it be his best game? Likely not. But for him, it will be the best day ever. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ENJOYING THE VOLPE "WELCOME TO NEW YORK" VIDEOS

By now we know that Anthony Volpe is the opening day Yankees shortstop and it's like a dream come true for a kid like this. Locally, we all know this guy and have supported him. In the spring, we all rooted hard for this kid and he never let the pressure get the most of him. He just went out and competed and performed like a major leaguer. That's what you want in a player.

For the longest time, the Yankees have been one of those teams that give the fans a glimpse of what the Yankees have on the farm only to let them disappear in the minor leagues just to die. Not with Volpe... he forced their hand. Couple that with a frustrated fan base and I really think it was the perfect storm. The Yankees needed to do it. I can't stop watching all the videos about him being with his family and of course the big video of Aaron Boone Welcoming him to New York.  Here are those videos here in one spot. Enjoy them.

Welcome to New York Anthony Volpe! pic.twitter.com/tTFrjNRX0V

— Barstool New York (@BarstoolNYC) March 26, 2023

Here's the other video that I love. With his family.

Baseball, you've done it again. @Volpe_Anthony 💙 pic.twitter.com/LuN57Ij2vv

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 26, 2023

And if I can say 1 thing to Volpe it's this; stay true to yourself, work hard and never give up. We want you manning short buddy. 

Go get it!

WE GOT AN UPDATE ON CARLOS RODON

We all want Carlos Rodon back and healthy. The best 1-2-3 punch in the American League very simply put is Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes. It is something we desperately needed in the Bronx, and now we have it. Rodon's setback was disappointing, especially when it took place right around the time that Frankie Montas showed up hurt and admitted it.  Total BS... but that's why the injury to Rodon stings.  But now there is an update.

Sports Illustrated writes:

"Rodón worked his second bullpen since being shutdown with a forearm ailment. The left-hander threw 30 pitches, mixing in breaking balls after exclusively using his fastball in his first bullpen session. "

And Bryan Hoch tweets and writes:

Carlos Rodón threw 30 pitches in the bullpen today. Very encouraged by how he feels. He’ll remain behind in Tampa as the team goes north. #Yankees

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 27, 2023

"Rodón said he felt good and was encouraged by the session. Rodón will likely move toward facing live batters soon, before he can begin a proper rehab assignment."

Does it surprise you that Hoch is all over it? Not me. Anyway... good to see Rodon on track! I can't wait until he's back baby!

THE AMERICAN OHTANI

I do not think Shohei Ohtani is the greatest player that ever lived. I believed that Shohei Ohtani was given a very unique opportunity to put him in a postion to be the greatest player that ever lived. Does that make sense? Because it should.  

Here in America, MLB players no longer have that shot to be 2-way guys. Meaning, when they come up through our baseball system, wherever they are, they are eventually made P.O.s (pitchers only) or give up pitching to become position players and hit.  And it's really that simple.  

Ohtani is a Japanese player that is a phenom and when he was able to post and negotiate contracts with Major League Teams, being a two way was part of his chip and he got it, and I'm positive many American ballplayers that were 2 ways up too and even in college were annoyed by the fact that maybe they could do it the same way. But quite simply, they were and are shunned from it, or had one of their strengths stripped of them to help build that college team into the powerhouse that college needed at the time.  And so, my point isn't radical or racist or anything like that. It comes down to common sense. Ohtani had the opportunity to do that. American players do not. 

When Sean Hard was drafted by the New York Yankees a few years ago, I thought "Now there's a kid that can easily do what Ohtani can do." I watched Hard play for years, all the way up through high school. My kid played with him around the same time and they'd cross paths. Every time we saw him, he was on top of his game, on the mound and in the batter's box.

 

He throws hard, dominates. When it comes to hitting, Hard didn't slow down.

But Hard chose college over the Yankees and you got to respect that. Here's the thing however, when he got the Boston College, they appear to have weened him from the batter's box and are keeping him only on the mound. And trust me, BC loves him:

"AS A FRESHMAN (2022) Pitched in 15 games, including nine starts, with a 0-5 record and 11.57 ERA... struck out 43 batters in 32.2 innings pitched... fanned seven in 4.1 innings in his debut at Austin Peay (2/19)... tossed three-scoreless innings with four strikeouts at USC Upstate (2/26)... struck out five in four innings of one-run ball against Louisville (3/26)... pitched three innings with four strikeouts at Notre Dame (5/1)."

No longer are the days of Hard being a 2 way guy and raking. And that's how the American system works. They see a strength and they work with it and to hell with what your talents really are. Now here's the thing, if that's what Hard wants, I support it, but if he doesn't, is that fair? Is it fair to not give him that opportunity... the same opportunity Ohtani had to shine?

Well look, I have news for you.  I got a text from my kid the other day. This is a kid that has his finger on the pulse when it comes to MLB, minor leagues and up and comers in college, being in college himself.  Bottom line, he knows all these guys and told me about a kid that I quote "have to keep my eye on". I said, "Why, what's up?"  He simply responded... "the next Ohtani."

My antenna went up. I actually thought to myself, is this a kid that the American baseball machine is going to give a shot to be a two-way player? Could it be a kid that they will let pitch AND hit?  I am crossing my fingers on this one.

His name is Jac Caglianone. He plays for the Florida Gators... and when you hear the word STUD, and you look around, he's the guy standing there.

Caglianone has already done a lot for Florida. And his highlight list is ridiculous and he's only a sophomore.

His most recent write up comes here from Sullivan Bortner:

"University of Florida first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone has been named the SEC Co-Player of the Week on the heels of a 4-0 week and series sweep at No. 13 Ole Miss, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

This is the second SEC Player of the Week accolade of the season for Caglianone, who picks up honors alongside Vanderbilt's Parker Noland and LSU's Dylan Crews. Caglianone previously hauled in the award on Feb. 27 following Florida's series sweep of Cincinnati....

During Saturday's doubleheader against the Rebels, Caglianone blasted three home runs including one in each game. The two-way standout went deep again in Sunday's finale to finish with at least one home run in all three games of the series.

Caglianone also started on the mound for the Orange & Blue in game three. He did not factor into the decision, tossing 3 2/3 one-hit innings with three strikeouts."

So the question is, will the Gators allow this guy to continue on this amazing path to greatness as a two way. Or will the MLB upon draft day make this guy choose pitching or hitting as to claim "it's for the team's needs" but what they are really saying is "We only want Ohtani to be that player."

Yup, Caglianone is the real deal. Keep an eye on him, and watch what happens. I fear that they'll keep him down as to continue to prop up Ohtani, but they shouldn't... Caglianone is something super special.

WE KNOW WHAT SEVERINO'S NEW ROLE SHOULD BE!

Opening Day is right around the corner, and the Yankees will be missing another pitcher. It's frustrating but honestly, not surprising that Luis Severino will miss some time. 

It's a pattern we are all familiar with. Severino will join Frankie Montas and Carlos Rodon on the Injured list, with his third lat strain of his extensive injury filled career. This is his fifth consecutive season with an injury and since he's no stranger to lat strains I am sure the Yankees have a general idea of how long he will be out, but it is still going to hurt.

We already knew the risk that came with Severino, but Frankie Montas hasn't been a good move for us and the Yankees have been hoping Domingo German would be a staple in the rotation. I've always thought the Yankees rely too much on Severino and German instead of trying to upgrade the rotation. Now I miss Jordan Montgomery more than ever and really wish the Yankees hadn't given  JP Sears, Ken Waldichuk, and Luis Medina to the Oakland A's. Our depth isn 't as deep as I would like it to be.

The Yankees do have some options, but I think Deivi Garcia and Jhony Brito are two candidates that stand out the most to me. Last year, I thought Garcia was in a race against time. He wasn't pitching well and there were several young kids coming up behind him. Now that some of those guys are gone, he has a chance to prove that he has fixed all of his mechanics issues and be a big league pitcher again. I'd like to see Brito pitch more now that Aaron Boone has been singing his praises.

The Yankees have options, thankfully. I think one additional option they need to think about when Severino is finally "healthy" again is moving him out of a starting role and into the bullpen. His mechanics have always been a long term concern, so I think he will be more effective in the bullpen. Call it a hunch but I think he's destined for the bullpen and will be more effective there.

Now if I could just convince the Yankees....because I'm willing to bet I am right.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

WHAT ELSE DOES ANTHONY VOLPE NEED PROVE?

Source: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

You can't browse social media or skim the latest headlines without seeing multiple mentions of Yankee phenom Anthony Volpe. In Saturday's game against the Phillies, Volpe batted leadoff and with four at bats he had three hits and scored three runs. On Friday, the Yankee top prospect also led off in a split squad game against the Twins with Gerrit Cole on the hill. Volpe went 1-4, and crushed his third home run of the spring—a 426-foot blast to the left field fences. At this point, with Opening Day just a mere five days away, my question is very simple—What Else Does Anthony Volpe Need to Prove? 

"If Volpe wins the job out of camp, the addition of a rookie to the Yankees Opening Day roster has significant historical context. Volpe would be the first rookie in the New York starting lineup on Opening Day since Aaron Judge and the fourth Yankee since 1951 to make his major league debut on Opening Day," reported Bryan Hoch via Yahoo Sports. And why the hell not? The Yankees need to be bold if they are going to break their 14 year drought of even making it to the World Series. By the way, that year, 2009, was the same year Brett Gardner made his debut starting on Opening Day. And guess what, my championship gear is ready for a makeover so there's that. 

“I guess [he’s been] everything we kind of expected and hoped for,” Boone said. “He’s looked the part. He’s come in and fit in really well, his work’s been excellent, and he’s gone out and performed. So he’s put himself in the mix, certainly,” reported The New York Post. 

Source: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Volpe has been consistent this spring, hitting .308/.438/.590 in his first 39 at-bats. The Yankees have placed him in the leadoff position recently and he has not failed them. He has speed, he has plate discipline and he is ready to contend from shortstop this season. If not now, then when? 

“There was so much excitement on my end to immerse myself in the clubhouse with the guys,” Volpe said on Friday in an interview with YES Network. “It’s been a big learning experience and going out to play has been a ton of fun, too. Watching guys' routines and seeing how they get ready for a game and the long haul of the season. It’s something I haven’t really been exposed to that much,” reported Yahoo Sports.

If the Yankees want to make a legitimate run for the championship this season then they need to consider that Volpe could be the spark this lineup needs to get there. Having him alongside his peers Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera and the new Yankee Captain Aaron Judge, provides a great opportunity for the second rise of the Yankee Baby Bombers—this time led by a former Baby Bomber. Now wouldn't that be something? What else does Anthony Volpe need to prove? In my mind, absolutely nothing. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

GIO URSHELA HAS DEVELOPED INTO THE REAL DEAL, HERE'S WHY

The Yankees have Josh Donaldson. The Angels have Gio Ursehla. Now we all know it didn't start that way. In the beginning, it was the Yankees with Urshela, and we were bringing the guy into the mix because he dazzled with the glove.  But what happened next was something wonderful. Gio Urshela was also able to hit and proved that to the Yankees while he was in the Bronx.

Next came this ridiculous deal. The Yankees, desperate to send off Gary Sanchez traded him to Minnesota for what really appears now to be a bag of rocks.  Josh Donaldson is about as broken down and inconsistent as we get, IKF just isn't major league caliber when he's on the Yankees level of performance and I honestly don't even think Ben Rortvedt exists. I don't think the guy ever set foot on the field since being in pinstripes. Talk about a no-show job, Tony.

Now... we as Yankee fans are seeing what we don't have. 

Gio Urshela is beloved by the Angels. In fact, when it came to a guy names Andrew Velazquez (remember him?), Gio even took his spot because he is so fabulous in the field.  By the way... to a point where the Angels are thinking about Urshela at shortstop for a few days a week. Can you imagine? I mean we're fumbling over ourselves here in New York wondering if guys like Volpe or Peraza could be the everyday Shortstop, meanwhile Urshela might have been the guy all along. But what do Yankee projectionists really know about our players anyway? Not much clearly.

NJ.com writes:

"That convinced the Angels to bring in... Gio Urshela in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. And that depth eventually sent the switch-hitting Velasquez to the minors on Friday, when the Angels optioned him to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Urshela, 31, sparkled with his glove at third base for the Yankees — and eventually was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with catcher Gary Sanchez. Many Yankees fans, frustrated by the hitting struggles of Josh Donaldson last season, longed to have Urshela back. He will start the season as a utility infielder, but he could bite into Luis Rengifo’s playing time at shortstop if he’s hitting.

Angels manager Phil Nevin — a former Yankees bench coach from 2018-2021 — said Urshela could play shortstop “once or twice a week” during the season, with the possibility of him playing even more if he’s hitting."

Ain't that something.  I don't know if you do it, but I do this for sure. I root for Urshela. I was always a fan of this guy.  He's passionate, a hardnosed ball player, and he's proving it again with the Angels. Damn right.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHERE THEY MIGHT PUT IKF NOW!

We are one week away from Opening Day and the Yankees have no idea where Isiah Kiner-Falefa fits in on this roster. The competition for roster spots is still underway, and so is the Yankees quest to find a purpose for IKF. What a mess.

The shortstop competition has been the center of attention this spring. Both Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza's impressive spring seems to have pushed IKF out of the shortstop position, which is no surprise. The Yankees have also experimented with putting IKF in the outfield, which I just don't see. Now the Yankees have a third potential position for him, which might make more sense. Maybe....

On Wednesday, IKF had catcher's gear on him as he prepared to get some work in behind the plate. It's rare to have a utility player who can catch as needed, but the Yankees could benefit from this idea and it sounds like IKF suggested it. "I think they expected me to bring it up when I did," Kiner-Falefa said of the team’s reaction when he mentioned doing some catching drills. "If I’m gonna do this, I want to be the best utility player I can be. I don’t want to do it halfway." read more HERE. 

I will say this, I do love his attitude with this. "I just want to win. That’s all I’m worried about right now. I am ready for whatever I need to do," he said. At least he is embracing his new role as a utility player. In this case, maybe a multi-purpose super utility player. 

Either way, this could work. It might make more sense than throwing a guy with a below average arm in the outfield where he has less experience. IKF has some experience catching, he last played behind the plate in 2019 with the Rangers and started in 31 games. He's caught 73 games in his MLB career.

The Yankees are lacking some catching depth right now. Jose Trevino is battling a wrist injury and Ben Rortvedt and Austin Wells are both also hurt. That leaves Kyle Higashioka the only healthy catcher so IKF could provide some needed depth there. At least he has some experience.

The Yankees need to find ways for IKF to contribute and IKF wants a chance to contribute and win. This may work. Guess we will have to wait and see how and where he fits into this lineup. What a crazy spring.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj