HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LOSING IKF?

Source: NJ.com

The Yankee super utility guy is off to Toronto. Honestly, that one stung a little. Isiah Kiner-Falefa reinvented himself more times than he likely would have wanted. But he always seemed to land on his feet. And the Yankees needed him to play just about every position- even backup catcher if the team asked him to put on the mask. Now in 2024, he will be playing against the Yankees in the battle for the AL East. So I ask you this question, "How do you feel about losing IKF?"

Source: NY Daily News

"In an otherwise dreary Yankees season, Kiner-Falefa hit more than most and made himself appealing to plenty of teams that could use defensive flexibility," reported The New York Post following the Blue Jays acquisition of the golden utility player.

Surely, IKF was no Didi Gregorius nor could he hit like Derek Jeter as a middle infielder, but what he did do is bunt, hustle, hit with runners in scoring position and play all the outfield and infield positions except first base and catcher (although he could have). He is a gem in the clubhouse, never with a sour face only smiling and encouraging others to play their best.

Source: X.com

Now the 28-year-old infielder/outfielder will earn his salary up north, signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. IKF likely will hurt the Yankees as a scrappy addition to the already pesty Jays. But with the Yankees retooling, they plan to come out swinging, with Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo taking over key corner outfield positions. 

The Yankees are not done yet as many are expecting Brian Cashman to add a pitcher to the roster and perhaps even another bat to the bench. The competition is fierce in the AL East as well as across the league with the Dodgers expected to dominate early and likely be a force in the postseason. 

But for now, I say thank you to IKF for all he did to keep us in the game, despite the injuries and in spite of moving around the field to contribute. Good luck in Toronto but don't hurt the Bombers too much. 

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

THIRSTY YANKEES TIED TO NEW PITCHING TARGET

Other teams know there's blood in the water now. Hell, beat writers and other baseball writers know there is blood in the water, too. Losing on Yoshinobu Yamamoto stings, and now everyone watches for what the Yankees do next.

I really think that is what is happening, because I am seeing a lot of chatter on the internet, and some of it is pretty silly. The Yankees are going to make some moves because they have to. Brian Cashman is in the hot seat, and he needs to do everything he can to get people to stop pointing and laughing at him because he sucks at his job.

Since Cashman is a laughing stock, people are hoping he is going to make another drastic move. I still think the Yankees overpaid for one year of Juan Soto and now there's speculation the Yankees could (or should) do it again for pitching. Check out what SI.com wrote HERE. The Milwaukee Brewers may be eager to trade away some of their talent they know they can't keep long term. Many teams would want Corbin Burnes, including the Yankees.

Burnes has some good experience. He was a Cy Young winner in 2021 and is an All-Star, he could be a big help to a contending team but he's also a rental. He will be a free agent after the 2024 season and has already said he is highly unlikely to sign an extension. Patrick Mcavoy seems to think the Yankees should also overpay for him, like they did for Soto because they did it already so "what's one more?" Someone get Mcavoy on the phone and tell him Soto and Burnes aren't quite on the same level. Burnes is very talented, but he's pitched over 200 innings once in his career and Soto is one of, if not the best left handed hitter in the game today. The Yankees downfall last year was not their pitching, ultimately it was their lack of production.

There's one other piece to this puzzle. The Yankees have lost some pitching depth this winter. They traded four pitchers to get Soto and three to get Alex Verdugo from the Red Sox so the Yankees want to hold on to their remaining prospects and deal in free agency instead. Prospects are just what their name suggests.... prospects. However, they still need to hold on to some of them. This leads me to believe that the Yankees are more likely to pivot and try to reunite with Jordan Montgomery or Frankie Montas and hope that Carlos Rodon rebounds as scary as that sounds.

I guess this is an "A" for effort on Mcavoy but a giant "F" for execution and general business smarts. I guess that's what happens though when people smell desperation. The Yankees will pivot, now we just wait and see HOW exactly.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

GETTING SOTO IS HUGE! BUT WE NEED MORE!

I love that the Yankees got Juan Soto this off-season. It was a big step forward in what was a gross 2023 season.  We just couldn't get our team going in 2023.  

I'm worried as a fan.  We got Juan Soto and we have a few other parts that are important to this team, but we need more. Yoshinobu Yamamoto would have been amazing, but the Yankees were right to not go too high for him. Let the Dodgers do that, it's fine with me.  But seriously, what happens next with the Yankees? What big name either free agency or trade are we going after?  Like I said on Twitter just a short time ago, "don't look now, but the Yankees have only made 1 legit move this off season, hardly a fix for what was a terrible 2023 season."

This take of course is not popular to some. In fact, if you're not a Yankee fan from the 70's and just became a Yankee fan in the late 1990's, you really don't have a gauge for what the Yankees are all about.  The Yankees are a storied franchise, but that franchise had a lot of great times and bad times way before 1996.  Old guys like us understand the ups and downs and I have news for you, we can get pretty annoyed by it.  But newbies don't get that.  They just think I'm the old guy yelling at a cloud. 

Whatever.  Live a little, that's all I'm gonna say. Crack open an encyclopedia. Read history. Understand the Yankee ownership, the former managers before Joe Torre... the Bronx when things were bad, when guys like Mantle roamed the outfield. When players like Ron Guidry dominated.  For many of you it's all folklore... but trust me, it was all real and the Yankees were very, very good.  And why? Well, because we had decent ownership with a solid front office and for a while there was a guy named George Steinbrenner who wanted perfection out of his players and managers. And while perfection and baseball aren't really a thing, it was nice to know that George held his players and managers at a high standard.  The point was, "at least try to attain it."  

And so, these days, do I like the state of the Yankees? Not really. Have we improved? I love Juan Soto, but I wonder what happens after this season.  Can we keep the guy?  And much like it was last off season when the Yankees got Carlos Rodon and we were still "not done", we were actually done and Rodon gave us nothing in 2023 but heartburn.

And so, if you are curious as to why I'm so annoyed? It's because the standards have changed when it comes to the Yankees.  We're not a superpower anymore. The Yankees are just like the other teams.  We're not strong, we're OK.  So pardon me for being cranky and wanting to get the pieces we need to win.  

Look, Bleeding Yankee Blue was started in 2010 because I was angry at the Yankees and how they mismanaged their team and I hated to watch us lose year after year.  And since 2010, they have not won a championship.  It's 2023, about to be 2024.  That's terrible. We are better than that, or so I thought.  

And so, you ask me why I'm cranky... why I "post controversial stuff".  

Controversial?  Huh?  How about frustration? That's the word! Using the word Controversial is a word the new soft generation uses.  

Next thing you know people on Twitter are "triggered" because I said the word "shit" or something.  

How about as Yankee fans we can all agree on this; The Yankees were not good in 2023... and we need get better in 2024.  Signing only Juan Soto and a few spare parts is NOT the answer.  That's an opinion and in my mind, a fact.  

We need to improve.  That's the bottom line.

ESTEVAN FLORIAL GONZO

Just a quick note as things are floating around out there right between the Christmas and New Years holidays and it's important to talk about.  When it comes to Estevan Florial... it looks like this guy is a goner when it comes to his time with the Yankees. I feel bad for this dude. He was hanging on, dedicated and doing what he needed to do to stay with the club, but it's my opinion that the Yankees front office just didn't like the guy.  It wasn't that Florial couldn't hang, it's just that Florial was never considered part of the Yankee outfield and so, it was time to trade him and they did.

Fansided writes:

"...the Yankees shipped Florial to Cleveland in exchange for starter/reliever Cody Morris. "

And so Florial will find new life in Cleveland and I wish this guy well.   As for Cody Morris, this is what we can say about him, brought to us by big dog Pete Caldera:

"In Morris, 27, the Yankees receive a former seventh-round draft pick (2018) who has compiled a 3.41 ERA over 13 MLB appearances (five starts) with 32 strikeouts, 18 walks and six homers allowed in 31.2 innings.

Last season, Morris made six relief appearances for Cleveland, yielding six runs in eight innings.

Morris made one appearance against the Yankees during the 2022 AL Division Series, tossing two scoreless innings in Game 4 at Cleveland."

And just like that the Yankees will try and stockpile arms and try and make us all forget that we didn't score Yamamoto.  But of course... we won't.

I wish Florial the best. I say welcome to Cody Morris.

TIMELINE FOR JASSON DOMINGUEZ REVEALED

With all the moves this winter for the new Yankees outfield, there is much speculation about what will happen to Jasson Dominguez.  I mean when this guy came up, he immediately impressed the Yankee fan base as well as Yankee management.  He just appeared to be a natural.  But now the outfield is crowded, and so what happens to Dominguez? Well, NJ.com knows...

"The expectation when Domínguez underwent elbow surgery was that the 20-year-old would be available to return from the 60-day injured list over the summer in 2024, probably around the All-Star break. At that point, he’d be able to build on the historic numbers he produced during his first taste of big-league action: four home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored over his first 33 plate appearances.

There was always a chance, however, that Domínguez could breeze through his rehab and be ready earlier than that, perhaps at some point during the first half of the year."

Whatever happens, I look forward to seeing this young man back on the team real soon.  This is very good news!

BLABBERMOUTH PAPELBON IS IRRELEVANT & CORA SHOULD BE BANNED ANYWAY

Alex Cora should have been banned from baseball with AJ Hinch for the 2017 Asstros sign stealing scandal. That is something that these coaches should never be able to get away from.  And Jonathan Papelbon is long retired... so why is he running his stupid mouth?

If you don't know what's going on, it all stems back to new Yankee Alex Verdugo, who, unless he knocks it out of the park every single time he's in pinstripes, I was never jazzed about AV, and I'm still not.  First of all, he's doing this thing where he's kissing the ass of Aaron Boone, the most unqualified manager in baseball... but he's also sparking a lot of unneeded drama.  The other day he was asked about coming over to the Yankees from the "rival" Red Sox and said this:

“I’m very, very excited to work with Aaron, I’ve seen the way he has his players’ backs... That’s something I want to see out of my head coach. I want to see some fire, some fight for the guys, and I think just instead of airing people out, have their backs.”

Alex Verdugo loved Aaron Boone's unforgettable "Savages" rant in 2019 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fKXtUJXL57

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 21, 2023

It was clearly taking a shot at Alex Cora, and I back that just because I think Cora is a total piece of shit anyway.  

But saying this kind of garbage just brings the Sox zombies out of the woodwork.  Jonathan Papelbon might be the biggest irrelevant player out there right now.  And of course with Verdugo's comments, Jonnie woke up. He wrote this on social media:

everyone point and laugh at Jonathan Papelbon pic.twitter.com/Sd4Z86qMBV

— ZT (@NY_EvilEmpire) December 22, 2023

"Verdugo I mean Vertigo is a B----... Cora has his players and teammates backs more than anyone in the game. You aired yourself out by being late, lazy and unproductive. If I played for Cora I’m drilling this b----, just saying.”

For the record, Papelbon never played for Alex Cora.  What the hell does he know?  Also, why do we care about any of this?  Clearly Verdugo has an opinion on a manager that benched him once and that's beef between he and Cora.  Why is Papelbon around? And furthermore, why is this idiot Carrabis commenting on social media? He longs to be important, but he should just go continue peddling Draft Kings and shut up.  

Red Sox Nation has always been annoying to me. Everyone's tough up there.  Now let me be clear, I absolutely love the Sox fans. 

The Red Sox fans are the most passionate and even as a Yankee fan, they were nothing but nice to me when I go to Fenway.  But these moron players need to just go away.  And that starts with a guy like Verdugo who looks at Boone on his surface as someone that has his player's backs.  Maybe I'm in the minority here, but every time Boone fights with an umpire, I don't see it as having the players backs at all. I perceive it as a manager fighting for his job. A manager that is desperate because he sucks. 

Sorry.... that's just me.

DODGERS SIGN YAMAMOTO ALL WHILE JACK CURRY WAS "SMILING"

Jack Curry is by far the best when it comes to getting us Yankee fans information.  He doesn't overstep. He's cautious and smart in his delivery. It's what makes him one of the greatest assets when it comes to us Yankee fans trying to get information.  When it comes to inside information, he's not about to fumble all over other insiders, he keeps it real and thorough and reports the information as it happens. I applaud that... we all should.  It's journalistic integrity at it's best. It's why I started to read him all those years ago with the Times.

Last night was a weird night as a Yankee fan.  I think most of us thought that Yoshinobu Yamamoto was about to be a New York Yankee.  Jack Curry did nothing wrong but offer us information that he was getting real time.  And he did it as a true professional.

Jack Curry confirms that the Yankees have made a substantial offer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and adds that he's inching closer to a decision

"Stay tuned to this show because you don't know what's gonna happen across the next 60 minutes." pic.twitter.com/wNpvmebe24

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) December 22, 2023

But for some reason the Yankee Twitter Universe made it appear that he was withholding information like the Yankees were seconds away from signing Yamamoto, or already did and was waiting for his 'OK' to give the announcement. Many Yankee fans made it feel like he was a kid in a candy store who just stole the coveted lollipop but was waiting to leave the shop to show all of us he nabbed it.  

I think what Yankee fans did was speculate way too much last night... so much so that Jack Curry was trending on Twitter for a bit. That's not fair to Jack.  Here's the good thing though, when the time was right it was Jack that got it right and us Yankee fans made sure everyone knew that Jack's our guy... the smart one... the thorough one... the one that never gives up on the story because he knows we are all depending on him.    

Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers... and sadly the false narrative Yankee fans pushed about Jack "knowing something" about perhaps Yamamoto going to the Yankees was exposed.  In the end, Jack was always Jack, professional in delivery and doing it with a smile and that's all he was doing.  Yankee Twitter just got ahead of themselves and made that "smile" a thing I guess.  

The New York Post writes:

"The Yankees and Mets went all-in on Yoshinobu Yamamoto — and struck out.

Instead of becoming the next Japanese star in The Bronx or Queens, Yamamoto will join Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed. The signing was first reported by the YES Network.

The winning bid for the 25-year-old right-hander was for 12 years and $325 million..."

And you gotta love this. Alot of folks went after Heyman, protecting Jack once it broke, because after all it was Jack that broke it first.  In fairness, Heyman in his article did give YES credit, but should have been specific to Jack.

I chalk the Jack smile up to confidence. He was on a tight rope last night and the Yankee universe was watching and following his every word and he was extraordinary.   This is the stuff that I applaud so much in this world of baseball insiders and baseball commentators. Getting the story right.  Too often many of these guys get sloppy.  Last night I wanted to hear the Yamamoto news just as bad as you.  But I was marveling at how Jack was delivering. He's good... he'd damn good and I tip my cap.

So what happens now? Yankee fans will be mad at Cashman, but why?  Look, I have my own issues with Brian Cashman, but in the end there's gotta be a limit.  Think about this, the Dodgers just paid this guy $325 million for 12 years and he's never thrown a pitching in the Major Leagues.  I'm not saying he can't be successful in the states. What I'm saying is it feels like a $325 million deal to have two Japanese teammates reunite.  

It's weird to me.  The bottom line is the Yankees had a limit, and that limit was reached.  You can get mad at Cashman all you want, but I call it smart.

And what happens next? We wait and see if this guy can deliver and right now we enjoy the holiday and then hopefully the Yankees can pick up another pitcher or 2 to bolster our rotation.  It's really what we need right now.

In the end, it was a crazy night.  I salute Jack for some great work and of course Bob Lorenz. I tip my cap to the Yankee fans that stayed in on it, and I chuckle at the ones that speculated their pants off last night.  It's speculation that's ruined a lot of great journalism over the past few years. Bad guesses ruin careers and credibility. But Jack never reported wrong.  Sure, this is a Yamamoto post, but it's also a post about good commentary and reporting.

Nice work Jack Curry! You never disappoint.

NEW COMPETITION FOR YAMAMOTO AS CHRISTMAS LOOMS

I still really want Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a Christmas present. So do other teams and millions of other fans. I am losing more sanity every day that passes and Yamamoto hasn't made his decision. It's coming soon.....right?

Right. I am staying optimistic because the Yankees are a favorite, we have heard this every day. We've also heard the Mets are ready to throw crazy cash at Yamamoto read YAMAMOTO WATCH IS ON! WILL THE YANKEES OUTBID THE METS? I think the Mets are real contenders because Steve Cohen has a money burning in his pocket and money talks....but would it seal the deal?

Maybe not, because the San Francisco Giants are getting a bigger part of the social media chatter lately. 

I have seen that tweet retweeted on my X feed 9 times now. I don't sleep on the Giants because they are more motivated than ever to pick up major talent after they couldn't lure Aaron Judge away from the Yankees. The Giants have money to spend, they are a big market team and they have west coast appeal which is always a plus for Japanese stars, not a requirement. 

If Morosi's tweet is true what bigger stage is there than Yankee stadium? I don't hate on Citi Field, Dodger stadium or Oracle Park but there is nothing like the mystique of the house that Derek Jeter built across the street from the house that Babe Ruth built. Nothing compares to it.

If Yamamoto's final four are these teams, then we can see he has no bias of which coast he wants to play for. There's always the chance of a sleeper team emerging in the process. A big market team is going to get Yamamoto, I just hope it's us. 

I'm ready for Yamamoto to commit. Choose a team, PLEASE! By choose a team I mean choose the Yankees of course. I hope it is a Christmas present Santa leaves for us, but if it is a New Years gift I'd still be happy because we would start 2024 off with good vibes. We need those.

Yamamoto watch is still on....and so is a hopeful Santa special delivery. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

LOOK WHO'S COMING TO YES IN 2024!

Source: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

I love listening to former baseball players banter in the booth, providing the on the field perspective that is much needed today. I especially like the old school mentality in this new, modern day of baseball. And this year, if all goes well, we will get the chance to hear another veteran ball player give his color commentary on the game.

“Bern, baby, Bern!” on Yankees telecasts?" According to the New York Post, "YES and Yankees legend Bernie Williams have had talks about Williams joining Yankees broadcasts this coming season, according to sources." That means the talented, musical former center fielder and multi-year World Series Champion will bring a little more life into Yankee broadcasts this year.

"Williams could be a candidate to join lead pre- and postgame host Bob Lorenz and top studio analyst Jack Curry on some nights. If Williams were to come aboard, YES would likely first try him in studio before deciding to increase his workload," reported The Post. 

Source: Wall Street Journal

As the Yankees build up their roster in 2024, it will be good to have some fresh blood in the booth. Admittedly, there were some failed experiments including Carlos Beltran and Cameron Maybin, who only lasted a season. But something tells me Bernie will be different. He could offer that Todd Frazier appeal and with his creative side, offering something new to the reports. 

Excitement is coming to Yankee Stadium this fall both on the field and in the reports. I hope Bernie makes the cut and we get to hear him and see him come this spring. 

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

DILLON LAWSON JUST GOT A NEW "HITTING" GIG

Dillon Lawson must have a great personality or something, because lord knows he had no major league experience before coming to the New York Yankees and I was thrilled when the Yankees fired him.  But now, according to reports, Lawson has a new gig and it's as a hitting coordinator (whatever that is) and it's with the Boston Red Sox...

Sportskeeda writes:

" Lawson, the former big-league hitting coach for the New York Yankees, has found a new home with the Boston Red Sox as their hitting coordinator. Lawson, who was released by the Yankees midseason due to major offensive struggles, expressed his excitement about joining the Red Sox, emphasizing the team's positive direction.... Lawson's primary focus in his new role will be working with the upper-level minor leaguers within the Red Sox organization....Lawson expressed respect for the Red Sox's director of hitting development, Jason Ochart, and major league hitting coach Peter Fatse. He also highlighted his familiarity with the assistant hitting coaches, having worked with Ben Rosenthal in the Houston Astros organization and attempting to recruit Luis Ortiz during his time with the New York Yankees."

To be honest, it sounds like a paid internship to me. Whatever the case, it doesn't change the fact that Lawson is literally the worst major league coach out there, and that will never change for me.  

Good luck in Boston trying to tell those fans that the Sox are "hitting strikes hard".  Those fans are so incredibly passionate they will do much worse to you than Yankee fans!

YAMAMOTO WATCH IS ON! WILL THE YANKEES OUTBID THE METS?

The anticipation is killing all baseball fans. The Yoshinobu Yamamoto watch party has kicked into extra innings now that the Mets and Yankees have taken follow up meetings. It's round two of interviews, and on paper, the Yankees have more to offer Yamamoto than the Mets do. So how close is this race?

I am not blinded by the fact that my New York allegiance is with the Yankees instead of the Mets. I know on paper; the Yankees look more attractive and should be the more attractive offer. No disrespect to the Mets but, they are not built to win right now. They went all in last winter with big splashes but didn't perform and had a fire sale by the trade deadline. The Yankees didn't end any better, but our roster is stronger.

The Yankees are closer to contending than the Mets are, but Steve Cohen will hand out high dollar contracts like they are Tootsie Rolls. He likes to spend his money, and he isn't shy about it. So, do I think the Mets would spend more if if meant luring Yamamoto from the Yankees to the Mets? 100% without doubt, yes.

I saw all kinds of rumors on X this weekend. Saturday, I saw the Red Sox made an offer for $300+ million with incentives and opt out to the Mets offering 10 years and $390 million. I wouldn't be shocked to see Cohen make a crazy offer, so that leads me to question.... how much would be "too much" to offer Yamamoto?

I'll be honest, I really want Yamamoto, but I also don't want to pay him more than we are giving Gerrit Cole. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of going $325 million plus to a man who has never pitched in MLB. It's not a question on if I think he is talented enough, because I know he is, but Cole is a proven MLB ace. Yamamoto has won three consecutive Sawamura awards (Japanese equivalent to a Cy Young) but he hasn't earned that contract yet here. So, I have a limit and I think the Yankees should too.

Everything has a limit, even if you are a Yankee. I know that's not Cohen's way to operate, but he also isn't built for right now. If Yamamoto wants a chance to win while still earning a high dollar contract, the Mets aren't the way to go.

I guess we will see what Yamamoto values more. Thankfully, we won't have to wait too long. I just hope we get Yamamoto under our Yankee Christmas tree. Fingers crossed.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj