YANKEE BRASS CAN'T LEARN FROM REPEATED MISTAKES

I'm thinking ahead, because I think we have to. What's to feel good about in 2023 besides Gerrit Cole right now? He's the highlight surrounded by low lights.....especially the so-called leaders and higher ups in this profitable yet complacent franchise.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results and that's what this franchise is, insanity. We've written about this many times and called it insanity. The Yankees stick to the same binder every year and it doesn't work. I used to make fun of Joe Girardi managing through his binder, but the Yankees have a much longer history of doing this.

What do we see EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR? We've seen Hal Steinbrenner trust Brian Cashman to take the same approach for 25 years and fail miserably a lot. Sure, 2009 was nice but that feels like another lifetime ago. Every year Cashman goes shopping for right-handed batters to take advantage of the friendly right field porch and builds an unbalanced lineup. Every season those right-handed batters are also power hitters who swing for the fences and are predictably challenged in the playoffs when they face right-handed pitchers that throw high heat with movement. These batters either strike out or fly out an occasionally hit that solo home run. Cashman fails to go get the athletic guys that can run and steal OR the guy that can just put the ball in play and move runners. Contact hitters are important too. The bloop single can be just as effective getting the guy across home plate, not that Cashman would know that because he let's them sign elsewhere. 

I will say Cashman has found some decent arms over the years for the bullpen but what good is a deep bullpen if you don't have the lead? AND what good is a deep bullpen when the starters cant pitch deep into games and the relievers are overworked? It certainly doesn't function as designed.

So until the Yankees can stop riding the insanity train every year the odds will continue to be stacked against the Yankees. They will continue to work harder not smarter, and they won't beat teams that are built better than them and play fundamental baseball. Until this changes, it will always be the attitude of "there's always next year."

And I am done with the "there's always next year" attitude. The only way to change this is to change the organization itself from within. Spending tons of money every year doesn't guarantee championships, just ask the Dodgers, Mets and Padres. Look at how the Mets and Padres have underperformed just like the Yankees have.

What worked in years past, doesn't work now. Analytics isn't everything. The Astros, Rays, Braves and even the Athletics have some of the best scouts, talent evaluators and player development teams in MLB. Their GMs can do everything Cashman can't with much less money to spend. If Hal were serious and wanted to get back on top he would fire Cashman and everyone around him and start rebuilding with some of the bright minds among baseball that can steer the Yankees away from what hasn't been working. They are out there and can be recruited from other teams, if needed.

Rebuild Hal....but don't do it with the same "leaders" you have now. They have misled you and steered you wrong. It's time to get off of the insanity train and get on the accountability train. Now is the perfect time to start.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj