STEINBRENNER TALKS HARD, BUT WILL HE FIX THIS FAILED YANKEES ORGANIZATION THIS WINTER?

Saying he is willing to take a long, hard look on how the Yankees front office works and actually doing it are 2 very different things.  

And so, we will see what Hal Steinbrenner does with this Yankee team in the offseason, but he really has to be a tough guy and go hard on this organization and try to get back to what the fans want most... excellence.  If you don't know what I'm talking about AP reports the following. Steinbrenner spoke out about this disastrous season and what he wants to do:

“We’re going to take a very deep dive into everything we’re doing,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re looking to bring in possibly an outside company to really take a look at the analytics side of what we do. Baseball operations in general. We’re going to have some very frank conversions with each other. This year was obviously unacceptable.”

Now you know me. Part of this offseason has to be firing the manager.  I have said it over and over again and Aaron Boone needs to go.  I'd love Cashman to go too, but I really believe that's not going to happen.  Plus, who's out there that will want this challenge? It's a hard team to fix right now. 

But look, I love that Hal is putting his foot down. I just hope he means it. Yankee fans want action!!!

THE REDS GOT A GOOD ONE!

It's official. Harrison Bader is gone.  Today, the Reds have claimed him off waivers and that's the end of his time in Yankeeland.  But what a run it was.  

The Reds tweeted it out:

Welcome to Cincinnati, Harrison Bader and Hunter Renfroe‼️ pic.twitter.com/l4Enrpe1WO

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 31, 2023

Now look, we all knew it was coming.  I was rooting hard for him while he was still on waivers and playing for the Yanks. I just like the guy a lot and really loved what he did down the stretch for us last season. I was excited to see him do amazing things in the Bronx as well. It's sad.  

I tweeted this out just a bit ago:

Bader is an absolute class act. What a breath of fresh air. I will always root for this dude. No one plays harder and no one has more fun doing it. God Bless my brother. https://t.co/rlzRcNBPSr

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) September 1, 2023

Bader actually spoke to the press when the Reds snagged him.  He appeared sad too.  He appeared to really enjoy his time in pinstripes, and I absolutely love that every time he talks to the press, he hints that he hopes it not over and that he hopes to one day return to the Bronx.  You cannot dismiss that. He's a class act.

HB... the best of luck buddy. No one loved you in pinstripes more than me! Go do great things in Ohio! The time is now!

JOSH DONALDSON JUST FOUND A NEW TEAM

I didn't see this one coming, but then again, why wouldn't a team grab this guy and see what he can do, they're not paying for it! 

It turns out the Milwaukee Brewers are taking a chance on Josh Donaldson and good for them and good for him. MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"Brewers have signed Josh Donaldson to a minor league deal, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The third baseman will report to Triple-A Nashville. By joining the organization prior to September 1, he will be eligible to play for the Brewers in the postseason."

Not a bad move.  Let's see what happens next with this guy!

REJOICE! YANKEE TOP PROSPECTS COMING ON FRIDAY!

FINALLY! I can be excited to watch a Yankee game. I haven't felt excited about watching a game in months. That is about to change, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way.

According to multiple sources, but we'll go with the New York Post HERE Yankee top prospects Austin Wells and Jasson "The Martian" Dominguez are expected to join the Yankees on Friday, when rosters expand and allow teams to carry 28 players. The Yankees could potentially have another spot to play with if Harrison Bader is claimed on waivers, which I think he will be.

Both Wells and Dominguez will have to be added to the 40 man roster, which the Yankees would've had to do anyway in the offseason to protect both players from the Rule 5 draft. It's nice to see some more fresh blood added to this roster of lifeless veterans who have underachieved all season.

Dominguez has only played in 9 games at Triple-A but has 10 RBIs. He got off to a slow start down in Double-A but played well over the last few months to earn the promotion. It's always a good thing to have a switch hitter in the lineup, but he's also athletic, can run and perhaps his best quality so far is how he can control the strike one. The Yankees suck at that, so if he can keep that same discipline at the big-league level that will be a huge benefit for the Yankees. He looked good in spring, it will be nice to see him in action again and look at the progress.

Wells is also an intriguing option. His .254 BA in Triple-A. He has a decent bat and has made some improvements behind the plate this year defensively. He's a good receiver but throwing continues to be his weakness but I think he's teachable. Not for nothing, we watched Gary Sanchez stink it up behind the plate for 7 seasons, so giving young Wells a shot can't be worse.... right? There's potential there.

At this point, the Yankees have nothing to lose. We've watched the established "veterans" fail to hit and score runs and with the Yankees are 10 games back for a Wild Card spot. We all hate losing but the Yankees can still lose but would benefit with a better evaluation of their top prospects as they head into the offseason and see if the kids will fit into the Yankees long term plans. 

I'm ready to see the kids in action, it's been a painful season. If nothing else, Brian Cashman might get more fans in the stadium to see the young players, and this will be his distraction or smoke screen for the terrible team he has assembled. The Yankees need to do something to get some excitement around this dead team....and this is the only way to do it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CASHMAN & THE YANKEES ADD ANOTHER LEMON TO THE CUT LIST

I think the Yankees need to do an internal investigation into what the hell happened when the Yankees acquired Frankie Montas "Pending Physical". Because we all know what happened next.  Montas came to the Yankees and said that he has shoulder discomfort but was trying to work through it and the next thing we know he was shut down, forced to have surgery and the Yankees paid a guy for not being trustworthy and a lemon.  

How does a medical staff miss an injury like this, why can't we fine a guy like Montas for not being truthful and who the hell should get fired for that in the Yankees organization? Serious questions. 

What a waste of time and money.  Once again, another lemon sought out by Brian Cashman. Disgraceful.  It makes sense, right?  This is the direction this season has gone the entire year. Injury, gaslighting, bad managing, horrible offense and terrible acquisitions.  All we need now is for the Yankees to sign Horace Clarke's grandson and we'll be on our way to the bleak years after Mantle's demise once again.  All of it... pathetic.

If you don't understand my unhappiness, just know that Frankie Montas is not going to pitch for the Yankees this year, and will never pitch for him ever again.  

NJ.com writes this on Montas:

"Montas had shoulder surgery in February and won’t pitch this season after the Yankees were hoping for an August return. His short Yankees career is over, too. Following this year’s World Series, the 30-year-old Dominican will be a free agent and there’s no chance the Yankees will want him back at any price.

The Yanks will cut their losses at the four ranked prospects they gave up, plus about $9.175 million in salary. Montas is making $7.5 million this year and the Yankees paid the final $1.67 million of his 2022 salary of $5.025 million."

And so yea, what a waste and who the hell found this guy to be a smart move?  Meanwhile we're throwing Harrison Bader on waivers.  There is no rhyme or reason to any of this. It's like there was a full moon the entire year in the Bronx.

WHY THEO EPSTEIN SHOULD BE THE NEXT YANKEES GM

In Sunday Night Baseball's K-Rod broadcast, Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez interviewed MLB Consultant and former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein in what was a very interesting conversation. As the interview progressed, I couldn't help but say to myself, 'it's like they are interviewing him for his next front office position.' And Epstein certainly did not disappoint. Which aided and abetted the headline of this piece, "Why Theo Epstein should be the next Yankee GM."

"Early in my career, I used to think of players as assets...I used to think of teams as portfolios. The truth...is that a player's character matters. The heartbeat matters. The player's impact on others matters. The tone he sets matters," said Epstein in a commencement speech at Yale University in 2017. These words could not be more true. Epstein complemented these words in Sunday's interview with KRod by sharing his thoughts on baseball analytics. 

Epstein stated and I am paraphrasing that analytics alone will not win ball games. Analytics coupled with innovation and diversity does and the teams that use that formula are winning. Teams like the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodger recognize this and have executed accordingly. The Yankees have handicapped themselves by relying on just numbers and statistics. And in doing so, have pushed themselves down a very deep rabbit hole.

"Even Theo Epstein said that it takes a full 3 years of making changes to the organization and the roster before you have a truly solid foundation on which to build.  With each year, you dig further and deeper down into every area of the franchise," reported Detroit Tigers' blogger Holly Horning. Are the Yankees getting ready to do that? They made some changes, releasing players like Harrison Bader and Josh Donaldson but unless they are going to commit to real change in leadership, nothing will change for the Yankees.

So why not spend the money and the time in recruiting Epstein. He is fairly local now, living in Connecticut and giving up his home in Chicago. And he did what he was asked to do, lead the most drastic rule changes that MLB has ever seen. Why not come and help the most storied team in all of baseball?

"ESPN's David Kaplan reported Tuesday that Epstein is "very happy in his current roles." Epstein serves as a consultant to MLB, having a hand in the league's rule changes i.e. pitch clock, bigger bases, etc. To him, stepping back into a front office could be considered a downgrade. Epstein could have his eyes set on bigger things, such as becoming the league's commissioner. However, Rob Manfred signed a new extension that keeps him in his role through 2029," reported NBC Sports. What if the bigger things were actually waiting for him in the Bronx?

Brian Cashman has overstayed his welcome. The Yankees need change. Epstein exudes change. Everything he touches, he makes a positive impact. Cubs, Red Sox, MLB, and now, the Yankees? Stranger things have happened and if the Yankees want to climb out of their rabbit hole, they need to do something drastic. Epstein could be just the remedy the Yankees need.

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

THE YANKEES JUST MADE A BOLD MOVE WITH HARRISON BADER

I can't believe the Yankees did it, but they did.  The Yankees have just placed Harrison Bader on waivers. This decision comes just as the Yankees released Josh Donaldson.  What the hell is happening right now?

Clutchpoints writes:

"Harrison Bader is among several veterans across MLB who were shockingly placed on waivers Tuesday. The move, which was first reported by Newsday’s Erik Boland...

The move could allow Bader to join a playoff contender. MLB teams will get a chance to claim Bader off waivers before he hits free agency. Bader would have to be claimed by a team before Sept. 1 in order to be eligible to be part of the playoff roster.

Bader’s release certainly reflects poorly on the Yankees’ decision-making regarding the outfielder."

Bader has made it clear that he wanted to remain a Yankee. While that is something that is rarely determined by the player, it does come as kind of a shock to me. Bader was a great defender and a solid hitter with literally just a small recent sample of slumping the past few months. That being said, there are several Yankees that are slumping.  The bottom line though is that Bader is expendable because he's in a contract year. 

Bader will go on to go to a contender and make the playoffs... no doubt and good for him.  For the Yankees? They just keep floundering trying to figure out how to fix this team after a disastrous season.  

O.M.G.

TURNS OUT GIO URSHELA IS NOT JOSH DONALDSON. HE'S BETTER!

In 62 games with the Angels, Gio Urshela is batting .299 with a .703 OPS. Respectable.  Josh Donaldson batted .142 this year and was out a hell of a lot. I always hated getting rid of Gio, but I was hopeful that Josh Donaldson would have a good few seasons with us.  

Defensively I loved Donaldson at third, but I gotta tell ya, defesne was always Gio's strong suit. So, when Josh showed up and literally hit worse than Gio, and still played great defense, I was like "What's the point of this trade?"

Gio shouldn't have been traded away. I remember Brian Cashman's stupid comments about Josh and Gio.

"We appreciate what Gio has done but he's not Josh Donaldson."

Infamous words from the great Brian Cashman pic.twitter.com/NlBq6MRIM2

— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) August 29, 2023

Turns out Josh Donaldson is not Gio Urshela.  This may be the worst trade the Yankees have ever made... right up there with Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps.  Disaster.  

You know what I'd love? If Cashman was a man and just came out and said "You know what? I really blew that trade, I regret it, I'm sorry." I think the fans would respect him more.

Donaldson send a note out after being released today. 

Look, no hard feelings. This guy's a gamer even though he can't play too well anymore. I wish Josh well.

Oh, and by the way, I was accused of being a total asshole earlier when in my post JOSH DONALDSON GONZO! when I said that I loved today after reporting that Josh got released.  I want to explain. I wasn't being heartless; I was merely suggesting that I loved today because I see movement in the Yankees organization to better the team.  This is a good step.  

Anyway, that's that. I can't wait to see what's next. Maybe we can win a few games? How special would that be.

WHEN THE HELL DID WE ALL GET SOFT & FEEL BAD FOR A LOSING MANAGER?

We are in a world where no one can understand disappointment for someone.  We are in a world where no one can admit blame. We are in a world where we feel sorry for people who can't do their job. By the way, when I grew up, managers got fired for not making the playoffs.  These days managers get extensions for being mediocre.  These days, the baseball world feels bad for Aaron Boone, the leader of the team.  "He doesn't swing the bats" and "He's not on the mound". All true statements, but he's also not rallying the troops or instilling a rally cry and setting this team up for success either.  

The latest comments about Aaron Boone come from his brother Bret, because that's not biased or anything, right? The New York Post writes that Bret Boone was on Sports Talk Chicago and said:

“I watch that team on a daily basis, and all due respect to [Anthony] Volpe, I think he’s gonna be a really good player — if he’s hitting fifth for the New York Yankees, you’re in trouble... And I think that’s what Aaron’s got to deal with. And I think Aaron’s done a great job. And I’ll tell you, I have to take my brother hat off sometimes. But you have to be honest. I’m honest with him, too.

“The players love Aaron Boone. He backs them to a fault. He loves his team. He loves his players. He’s one of the most passionate men I’ve ever been around.”

I have heard the players love Aaron Boone so many times now and it's not an argument when it comes to baseball.  Why? I'll tell you.  You can love the guy who's leading you, but if there's no motivation, no true leadership, no push, that gets old quick. Why? BECAUSE COMPETITORS HATE LOSING.  

If we are all ok with friendships and not winning, then the scenario where Aaron Boone stays manager of the New York Yankees works. 

But that is not what the fans are in it for. We are in it for the Yankees being led to championships year after year, and when the team does not win, or even fails to make the playoffs... THAT SEASON IS CONSIDERED A FAILURE.

When the hell did we all get soft and feel bad for the losing manager?  I'm over it.

JOSH DONALDSON GONZO!

 

It about freaking time.  The Yankees have released Josh Donaldson! MLB Trade Rumors has the story:

"The Yankees announced that infielder Josh Donaldson has been released."

And this is Gonzo from the Muppets in his Sunday best.

More to follow! I love today!

THE PUPPET MASTER WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP HIS PUPPET

New reports surface that Brian Cashman wants to keep Aaron Boone for 2024. If this is true than it's a direct contradiction of what Bob Klapisch was able to find out through sources just last week.  Remember last week, we wrote BREAKING REPORT: BIG FIRING COMING IN THE BRONX!

In that report, the following was revealed:

"Well, the latest reveal comes from legend Bob Klapisch with the help of Inside the Pinstripes: Check this out:

Sources within the organization have indicated someone has to be sacrificed for the debacle," wrote Klapisch. "And it won’t be (general manager Brian) Cashman."

If not Cashman, it seems that manager Aaron Boone would be the one to lose his job. Klapisch says this is a possibility, and although Boone has been more at-ease as of late, Klapisch says It's "highly unlikely" that he has been assured of his job next season. There is a chance that he has already been told he won't be back next year."

Now comes word that that may not be the case at all. Elite Sports NY writes:

"Yankees fans who want manager Aaron Boone fired may need to put their trust in owner Hal Steinbrenner. Per SNY’s Andy Martino, general manager Brian Cashman will only fire his manager if his owner orders it.

Martino was quick to note that not once has Steinbrenner been involved in managerial changes. Every staff decision has been left entirely up to Cashman....

Is it a smart move to keep Boone? Probably not. Bless the guy, but he can only spin something out of nothing so many times.

But unfortunately for #YankeesTwitter, it makes sense for Brian Cashman to keep Aaron Boone and not fire him. Boone is 11 wins shy of 500 for his career and would probably already be there if not for the short 2020 season. That looks more like a manager who’s succeeded despite his front office’s mistakes as opposed to magnifying them."

And when it comes to accolades, you know how the Yankees love to market that shit and 500 wins as a manager is significant, but I cannot for the life of me understand why Hal Steinbrenner wouldn't be involved in managerial hirings or firings. That actually makes no sense to me.  

George knew everything going on in the Yankees operation... most owners do and if things don't go well, the owner will step in and fix it.  Sometimes it's moving personnel, sometimes it firings, but it's something.  I find it mindboggling that Hal isn't involved or has "not once" been involved in managerial changes. I actually think Andy Martino is full of it.

That being said, I leave you with this... something else that's interesting in that story:

"DJ LeMahieu cited managing the team as “not an easy job” and that Boone “handles it great” while still having the players’ respect. Isiah Kiner-Falefa went a step farther, lauding Boone for “willing to do anything he can for his players.”

Wow. 

Stay tuned on this one.  It's very interesting. I wonder if Klapsich follows up with his source. I want to know what happens next.

YANKEE FANS VOW TO HIT STEINBRENNER WHERE IT HURTS - IN HIS POCKET!

There's a growing movement on social media, focused around the Yankees, and no one is surprised. Baseball fans everywhere are mad and are talking about sticking it to who it hurts the most, ownership. But will it work?

I no longer live in New York, and there are days I really miss it. I have a lot of friends back home who are season ticket holders and if I go home during baseball season, I try to check out a Yankee game. A friend of mine got their 2024 invoice from the Yankees this week and it was a shocker. I got a text message yesterday that said this: "f--- the Yankees! I'm done being ripped off by going to these games to watch mediocre baseball. I'm not renewing my tickets. Hal can go take a long walk off of a short pier!"

So long story short, if I go home during baseball season next year I won't be sitting in his seats. Someone else will be sitting in the seats he's held since 2013. Shortly after I got his text, I saw THIS story and it just put everything into context. My friend had a 4% increase in their tickets, some fans were given a 10% increase for next season. That is a punch to the gut.

I get it. The Yankees (and every other team for that matter) only care about the revenue. They don't care about the quality of the product and the fan experience. Instead, while Aaron Judge misses two months of the season and Giancarlo Stanton have hot and cold streaks like a rollercoaster, the Yankees just continue to raise prices even though they do not have a winning product. We just get to pay for all of their expensive mistakes by high ticket prices, overpriced food prices, high parking costs and ridiculous streaming costs just to watch our team. We pay for it all.

But now fans (like my friend) want to make sure the Yankees feel it. There's only one way to do that and that is to strip Hal of his revenue. Obviously, that is much easier than it sounds. Reality is, my friend and tens of thousands of other fans need to follow suit. As long as fans are filling Yankee stadium, and subscribing to streaming services Hal Steinbrenner isn't going to get the message and nothing changes.

I'm not happy with this team or the direction it is going in just like countless other fans. I've talked to many other fans who say the only way to make change happen is to boycott everything that makes the Yankees money. We've said it many times, but now does it finally happen? Is this the season that makes fans act and execute the boycott we've all heard about?

Is this just the beginning.... or does this fizzle out? Can't wait to follow this story and see where it goes.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE YANKEES PLAY THE RAZZING GAME & ARE WINNING

I'm not saying the Yankees weren't poking the bear... I'm saying it wasn't as calculated as the Rays thought... but now it's game on.

Everyone who has seen Albert Abreu pitch knows the guy doesn't have great control.  The fact that yesterday's bench clearing brawl all happened because Randy Arozarena thought Abreu did it on purpose is silly.  The truth is the Yankees are fighting for their life, not for first place and when that happens, teams often fall apart. The Yanks are in a spiral, mentally as well as physically. Yesterday's game against the Rays was simply about survival, not winning.  

If you don't know what I'm talking about read this from ESPN:

"Benches and bullpens emptied twice in the eighth inning after one of five hit batters, but no punches were thrown, and the Yankees lost their eighth straight series rubber game....

"I think it was on purpose," Arozarena said through an interpreter. "If you look back at [the] previous series, he's hit me before. I've been hit in previous series before that. They hurt Yandy [Diaz] the other day, they hit [Isaac] Paredes in the head, so I think it probably was an issue for them."

Benches cleared TWICE in the Rays-Yankees game 😳

(via @BallyRays) pic.twitter.com/VRkva1Zj4A

— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) August 27, 2023

But when it comes to Abreu and his control, CBS Sports writes this:

"Abreu is not blessed with good control -- he's walked 13.3% of the batters he's faced this season -- though Sunday was the second time he's hit Arozarena this season, and the third Rays player he's hit this year overall. If you keep plunking players on the same team, that team is not going to be happy. "

Now look, getting hit is part of the game. You're gonna hit a guy in the stomach, the ass, go for it, but the truth is Abreu was just trying to pitch.  Hey, maybe he looked at Arozarena and said, "I hate this prick", but whatever... again for the Yankees it's about survival. They literally can't fight their way out of a paper bag. It's terrible.  To make matters worse... the Rays keep chirping about it.

Brandon Lowe of the Rays was quoted as saying this:

"Looking at it in a different view, it's a last-place team... We don't need to worry about it. We need to focus up on what we need to do down the stretch. If they lose a guy, it's not going to be quite as big of a deal as if we're losing one of our guys. We're focused up on kind of a bigger picture."

But you are worrying about it, Brandon.  Arozarena worried about it and so are you! How about STFU?

Look, the Rays are rarely in a position like this where they can rip on the Yanks. They are rarely in a position where they actually have a shot at winning and I applaud them, but you're worried about Albert Abreu.  Are you kidding?

The best quote came from gamer Ian Hamilton of the Yanks who wants more Rays:

"You understand their anger?" Hamilton said. "I understand it. But at the same time, if they want to come over here, they can come over here, I guess. Wish we had another game against them."

This isn't over folks. We're in their head. And at this point of the season for the Yankees who are playing for nothing... maybe the razzing game is the way to go.

THERE'S A BIG P.R. "FARM PUSH" TO MAKE YOU FORGET HOW BAD THIS YANKEES TEAM IS

Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain!  In fact, don't forget that the Yankee team is literally limping to the finish line of this season... wounded, battered, tired, and mismanaged.  

Look, it doesn't help that the Rays beat the Yankees in this past series.  In fact, it's awful, but we all knew that was gonna happen.  It's just the way this season's going.  I'm mad. I'm annoyed, but I was around when the Yankees sucked in the early 90's and I survived just fine. 

I love the Yankees. I hate mismanagement and that's what we're seeing right now.  And you know what? It happens in cycles... and it's happening again and the only way to fix it honestly is by growing the farm system with a small batch of guys that play well together that can come up, mix in with some veterans, be managed by a true leader and win.  That's how it's done. 

That's how it was done in 1996 and that's how it continued to work. But then... players get old, players retire and if you're not doing your job in the front office... new players are drafted poorly and only a few stand out. But, until you get that core group in the farm system, you really only have a few good players and that sucks. That's what we have on the farm.

But the Yankees have a huge image problem with their pro team and it's been exposed over the last few weeks.  The Yankees P.R. machine thinks you can be fooled.  That's why in recent days you're seeing a whole lot of stories about their farm system just in time for September.  Guys like Jasson Dominguez who is on a tear right now in Scranton.  Guys like Spencer Jones, "The next, lefty Aaron Judge".  I mean, are we kidding here? Am I the only one that sees this as a rouse?  

Look, I celebrate the kids. I know those 2 are great, but why are they suddenly stealing all the headlines just in time for a Yankees collapse?  

You see what I'm saying?  The Yankee kids are going to be great, I'm excited about it, I just hate the gaslighting and redirection.  The Yankees need to address the White Elephant in the room.  That Elephant is big and fat and slow and injured and pissing everybody off!  So I say address it and THEN talk about how these guys are our future... AFTER THE SEASON! Take your lumps! Literally every authority figure in the Yankees front office has blown it, including Cashman, Boone and a handful of players that have forgotten how to work counts and play real baseball. And those coaches? Inexperience killed this Yankees team!

But back to the Yankees P.R. Machine trying to fool everyone.  The Yankees are continually losing right? But check it out, read this from Clutchpoints. The worst part is puppet Aaron Boone who's in on it too:  

"Domingues has gone 11 for 23 with two doubles, a triple, 10 runs batted in and four walks, according to Conor Foley of The Times-Tribune. Yankees manager Aaron Boone raved about Dominguez when asked about him, which fuels speculation about a call up to the big leagues in September.

“I think he’s going to be a really good player,” Aaron Boone said, via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “He’s a really special talent.”

And suddenly Spencer Jones is getting a boatload of press... and good for him.  The New York Post has this:

"Has Aaron Judge’s mere existence led the Yankees to their next Aaron Judge? The Yankees and Spencer Jones likely hope so.

Jones, the 6-foot-6 center fielder who acknowledged he has heard “a lot” of comparisons to the Yankees’ 6-7 superstar, is a rarity as a towering baseball player who spends his time in the outfield and not on the mound."

Look, I cannot wait to see these kids come up, but the timing is ridiculously obvious.  Honestly, I just want this season over. It's sad and tired and we need to regroup, fire a few people and figure out how to restructure this club. And yes, the most important thing in my mind is to figure out how to rebuild our farm system.  We really need new blood, new direction and new energy.

OK, I'm done bitching.  

Go Yanks!

WILL HARRISON BADER BE BACK? NO ONE KNOWS

Harrison Bader has had his moments in pinstripes.  But this season everything is all over the place.  The team is not consistent when it comes to winning and when it comes to greatness, neither are Harrison Bader or the rest of them.  It's been a mess.

Last fall Bader did amazing things for us down the stretch and it was significant. It was what I expected from this guy who is just a gamer.  But injury has plagued this dude and it bothers many of us.  That being said, we need a good, athletic centerfielder and a guy that can rally the troops like Bader can.  

Not sure what happens to Bader's future in the Bronx, but I am still kind of hoping that he sticks around a little bit longer.  The New York Post writes:

"At the end of the day, it is a results-based world and I do realize my offensive numbers are not where they need to be,” Bader said. “But moving forward down the stretch here, I just want to be what I can offensively for this team to put us in position to help win games. That’s really my entire focus.”

If the Yankees decide not to bring Bader back, the free-agent market is not exactly brimming with alternatives."

Bader is a gamer... he grinds, but the Lord is the only one who knows if this guy can light it up down the stretch this year, AND not get hurt.  

And what happens if we don't sign him? Who else is out there? Who else can play center field?

IKF has shown he can play the outfield, but is he the guy?  What about this new kid, Everson Periera? I just don't know if that's the answer.  And of course, everyone loves the idea of Cody Bellinger on the Yankees, but look, how tired are you of paying big money for stars that age dramatically as soon as they put on the pinstripes?  It's a real issue.  Maybe Bader is the only alternative and to be honest, it's not a terrible one.

Time will tell.  But one thing is certain... we as a Yankee team just can't win consistently this year. I'm pulling my hair out.  It's mind boggling. Maybe today.

STANTON'S DONE "UGATZ" THIS SEASON & OWNS IT

Giancarlo Stanton has done nothing good this season. Sure, when he hits a homer, there is nothing more beautiful, but for the most part, with Aaron Judge gone for a majority of the season, Stanton's done ugatz.  

For those non-Italians out there, that word is Italian Slang. "Ugatz" means zero... nothing... dick. Like "he's done nothing, he's done dick." I grew up spelling it "oogatz", but I know that it can be both. Not sure if that's an Italian region thing or if that's something that was made up here in the U.S. when my people came over.  All I know is Stanton has done nothing this season and thankfully he acknowledges it and I appreciate that.   

Dan Martin of the New York Post writes:

"...he has been struggling to escape for much of the season even more difficult to deal with.

“I’m at the point of the year where none of that [stuff] matters,’’ a frustrated Stanton said Saturday before going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 3-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field. “Now, it’s ‘Did you do enough to help win the game? Did I impact the game? Yes or no?’ ”

For an eight-game stretch as the Yankees’ season has slipped away, the answer was clear, as Stanton went through a 1-for-22 slump that included 10 strikeouts.

“I didn’t do my part at an important moment in the season,’’ Stanton said.

...Overall, he’s hitting just .202 with a .723 OPS."

Stanton coming out to the press and getting real with the fans is honestly awesome. I hate being gaslighted like Aaron Boone does to the media.  When a player is struggling, there is nothing worse for fans to hear than that the player is "hitting strikes hard" and "swinging well" and "almost ready to break out." Those are empty words. That's why Aaron Boone sucks.

Saying you suck... saying you are not contributing is probably as good as an apology to the fans and many of us appreciate that more.  

I like Giancarlo Stanton, but he does need to turn it around.  Obviously seeing it now will give all us fans hope... but it's a little late for a Srtanton run, no?  

No playoffs for the Yankees this year... that's for sure.

Cazzo.