How come when Juan Soto is out of the lineup, suddenly we are less productive, or better yet, lose the game? What's happening with the Yankees? Why can't we be as hot as we've been? Maybe... just maybe, we're not that good? Just saying. Bottom line is when Soto is out of the lineup... we're the 2023 Yankees. Just keeping it real.
The Sporting News writes:
"Soto was scratched from the starting lineup Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays due to a hand bruise.
After brutal 9-3 loss on the road, manager Aaron Boone updated the media on the severity of Soto's injury after he had imaging during Saturday's game.
Boone said the X-rays on Soto's hand came back negative and is likely day-to-day."
This Boone moron also said the injury while negative is "concerning." And every media outlet went with that, and Boone's not a doctor. Like, how about we don't quote the guy ever.
The play to get Soto home the other night was brilliantly executed, and again, that's what Soto does to a Yankee lineup, elevates it. But he's not there it's like Judge on an island, and it's definitely a differently played game all together.
Yesterday, Cortes wasn't very good, and our pen got lit up.
And so what happens now? The Yankees will need to try and win without Soto for a couple days. Who knows with we can do that with this 2023 team. We shall see.
Dave LaRoche, a left-handed pitcher, had a solid career in Major League Baseball, playing for several teams over 14 seasons. His journey to the New York Yankees is particularly interesting, marked by his innovative approach to pitching and the creation of one of the most talked-about pitches in baseball history: the "La Lob."
Before joining the Yankees, LaRoche played for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians. He was known for his reliable relief pitching, accumulating a respectable career ERA and tallying up saves along the way.
LaRoche joined the Yankees in 1981, a team already stacked with talent and eager for a pitcher who could bring something unique to their bullpen. During his tenure with the Yankees, LaRoche posted a 3.75 ERA, recording 8 saves and 54 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. His performance was solid, but it was his innovative pitch that truly made waves.
The "La Lob" was LaRoche's secret weapon—a slow, high-arching pitch that baffled batters. This pitch, thrown with a dramatically reduced velocity, floated towards the plate at a speed usually reserved for slow-pitch softball. The ball would ascend high into the air, seemingly defying the conventions of baseball physics before dropping into the strike zone.
The "La Lob" quickly became one of the most talked-about pitches in baseball. Batters were often caught off-guard by its slow approach and high arc. Some would swing so hard and miss that they appeared to be aiming for the moon, the ball looking gigantic as it floated towards them. The contrast to the usual fastballs they faced left them flailing.
"Some hitters look at it and they start laughing, LaRoche said, "But it keeps them off balance. It's not something they see every day, and that's the idea."
However, not every batter was fooled. On occasion, a hitter with perfect timing would connect with the "La Lob," sending the ball soaring out of the park. These moments were rare but memorable, as the juxtaposition of the leisurely pitch and the explosive hit was a spectacle for fans and players alike. LaRoche had mixed success with his lob. Some games saw him retire batter after batter with ease, while others had him watching helplessly as his lob was sent into the stands. Despite its unpredictability, the "La Lob" became a symbol of his ingenuity and willingness to experiment.
Even after his playing days were over, LaRoche's legacy lived on through this unusual pitch. The "La Lob" remains a quirky footnote in baseball history, a testament to a pitcher who dared to be different and brought a touch of the unexpected to America's pastime.
So, I don't want the Yankees to do bad this year... but I do believe that the energy they had since the beginning of the season is just not sustainable. And the past week has showed the world that burn-out exists. I firmly believe that one player, like a Juan Soto, is a terrific edition. But sooner or later the people around that player have to show up too.
Now in fairness, they have all season long, but teams can't win all the games, and these days... you see that. We have leveled out. We are playing now like we're supposed to be playing, not like the beginning of the season. I'm just keeping it real.
The frustration from Marcus Stroman last night is important to the equation. While I am not a Stro guy... I love the passion. SNY reports:
"With the veteran struggling to get through the fifth inning -- having allowed the Blue Jays to load the bases with no outs -- he got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit a groundball to the shortstop that could have been a much-needed double play.
Instead, Guerrero beat out the throw to first by Gleyber Torres. Shortly after the safe call, Stroman was shown on the broadcast yelling into his glove. It looked as if Stroman was upset with Torres being unable to complete the double play.
Stroman would continue to show his frustrations in the dugout after he was pulled from the game.
"This game can definitely have a lot of raw emotion come out," Stroman said after the game. "I’m very passionate. I care about winning for this team and this city. And sometimes my raw emotion comes out. I checked in with everybody I needed to check in with after the game. Like I said, it’s all directed toward winning and being great out there. Sometimes it’s frustrating."
The winning attitude is important, but when you play out of your shoes like this team has, and you start to stumble as this team is doing right now, you DO get frustrated.
But let's be clear; The Yankees have played better than they actually are, and now they are starting to settle in, burn out and reality is setting in. Torres has had an awful time as of late. Rodon is starting to see what pressure is in the Bronx. Soto and Judge can't carry everyone. The Yankees are good, but they're not as great as they've been playing. You wanna know why? Because they didn't do a lot this off season. They added 2 big name outfielders, and they crossed their fingers that Rodon would bounce back.
Think about it. Nothing has really changed except the fact that the Yankee front office was hoping you'd forget because of their great start. But realists like me have not.
Now last night was a breakout game for the Yanks. But let's be honest, it had to be. The Yankees are no longer in first place and need to get back to their winning ways. And let me just say as Yankees fans, who deeply believe in our team.
Can we stop with the fucking stupid Mets fan philosophy of believing in streaks because mascots show up and throw first pitches?
I have been watching pathetic Mets fans since the Yankees got demolished by the Mets. First off, call it what it is.... that series the Yankees played like garbage. But for the love of God, the miserable Mets fans OVERLOOK THEIR OWN TEAM and cling tight to the fact that it was Grimace throwing out the first pitch that started the Mets streak. Joke or no joke, this is why Mets fans will always be miserable. Why? Because they clearly do not believe in their own team if they're believing in made up vibes in the image of a purple fast food restaurant character.
And then, as the Yankees continue their losing streak, it is the Yankee fans that, joke or no joke, think clinging to the same stupid vibes will turn things around. That really ticked me off.
We are the Yankees. We are Yankee fans. We have a storied franchise... we don't need child playthings to hold onto in the hopes to turn shit around. It's dumb.
What we need is a manager that can manage personnel during the rough times and try and right the ship. Teams will slump, but it is the leader of the band that needs to work their hardest to stop the bleeding and that, my friends is Aaron Boone. Under-performing, terrible managing and super ridiculous Aaron Boone. If our manager can't tweak and get this team going through motivation and hard choices to get wins... we will not be in the playoffs and we will not be World Champions.
The infamous bar fight between Billy Martin and Ed Whitson took place on September 22, 1985, at the Cross Keys Inn, a hotel bar in Baltimore, Maryland. The altercation between the New York Yankees' manager and pitcher is one of the most well-known incidents of its kind in baseball history.
The tension between Martin and Whitson had been brewing for some time. Whitson, who had signed a five-year, $4.4 million contract with the Yankees before the 1985 season, struggled to perform under the intense pressure of playing in New York. His performance on the mound was inconsistent, and he often found himself at odds with the fiery Martin.
On the night in question, after a loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees team gathered at the Cross Keys Inn. The exact details of what sparked the fight vary, but it is generally agreed that a verbal exchange between Martin and Whitson escalated quickly. Whitson, who had been drinking, reportedly confronted Martin, leading to a physical altercation. The fight was so intense that it spilled into different areas of the bar, and it took multiple people to separate the two.
The immediate aftermath of the fight saw Whitson with a broken rib and a fractured hand. Billy Martin, known for his combative nature, was also injured but to a lesser extent. The incident did significant damage to Whitson's reputation and his standing with the team.
Following the bar fight, Whitson's already rocky relationship with the Yankees deteriorated further. His performance continued to falter, and he found it increasingly difficult to handle the scrutiny and pressure of the New York media and fans. By the end of the 1986 season, Whitson requested a trade. The Yankees obliged, sending him back to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Tim Stoddard.
In San Diego, Whitson managed to revive his career to some extent, enjoying several productive seasons away from the New York spotlight. However, his time with the Yankees remained a blemish on his career, marked by the infamous bar fight with Billy Martin.
It's no secret, Juan Soto will be the top free agent this winter. Hal Steinbrenner has been hopeful that Soto would sign a midseason extension, but that isn't happening. The baseball world has known it, but now it's come right from Soto's mouth so Hal can get off his delusional train ride.
It's that time of the year. The Subway Series always sparks some sensational Yankees and Mets gossip and John Heyman shared in the New York Post HERE that the Mets could be the Yankees biggest threat to sign Soto this winter. We all know Steve Cohen has a big piggy bank and is more likely to spend more of it than Hal is but Soto replied with "we will see. In the offseason we will figure it out. I'll let [agent Scott Boras] do his thing. We're going to see."
And we are definitely going to see. Soto clearly has a lot of faith in Boras, but does he have too much faith? Serious question. You can say many things about Boras like he is "bad for baseball" for example. He does get a pretty penny for his clients, which causes us to pay more money in the end but historically he's been great at his job. It's all about making his clients the most money, which he has done.....
Except this past winter, he had an epic fall from grace. Take a look at the MLBtraderumors.com projected for five of his clients and compare it to what they signed for:
Cody Bellinger: PROJECTED 12 years, $264 million ACTUAL: 3 years, $80 million Blake Snell: PROJECTED 7 years, $200 million ACTUAL: 2 years, $60 million Jordan Montgomery: PROJECTED 6 years, $150 million ACTUAL: 1 year, $25 million Matt Chapman: PROJECTED 6 years, $150 million ACTUAL: 3 years, $54 million J.D. Martinez: PROJECTED 2 years, $40 million ACTUAL: 1 year, $12 million TOTAL PROJECTED: $804 million ACTUAL: $231 million
All five of these players had impressive 2023 seasons. Bellinger won a Silver Slugger. Snell won his second Cy Young Award. Montgomery got a World Series ring. Chapman won a Gold Glove. Martinez was an All-Star. All of these guys were expecting a bigger pay day. It didn't happen.
The market didn't value these guys the same way Boras did. He tried to sell it in a tough financial market but it didn't happen. Diamond Sports Group filed for bankruptcy, and they provide television broadcasts for almost HALF of all MLB, NBA and NHL games. This left almost HALF of all MLB teams facing uncertainty about any local tv coverage in the future. One of these teams were the Rangers, who wanted but couldn't afford to bring back Montgomery.
So Boras didn't have the healthiest market to sell his clients to. In the end, Montgomery left Boras for new agents so it's not a great look for Boras. Now Soto trusts Boras to "do his thing" and get him the biggest and best deal? That's a scary gamble.
Soto has declined as many as seven contract extensions in the last five years. He believes Boras will bring him his pay day, but is he foolish to do so? Will Boras misread the market again? It could happen.
I dunno Soto, Boras didn't "do his thing" for his clients last year. It might not work out the way you think it will.
There is a certain kind of animosity among interleague rivals in New York City. It feels electric. Is it Grimace? Is is the Mets? Is it the rivalry? Or just a contagious competition among cross city teams? Whatever it is, it feels like war and the battle is just beginning.
It didn't take long for Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to get roughed up by Mets offense. After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Yankees simply could not produce runs while the Mets started clubbing early, taking a 3-0 inning lead on the Yankees in game 1 of the series. This on the heels of a potential trade with Vladimir Guerrero which would give the Yankees some additional offense to outlive teams like the Mets.
"I'm a worker, professional, and I go out on the field and play," Guerrero said. "... Sometimes you say things -- it's not that I am trying to take back what I said about the Yankees, what do I say, I don't hold back what I said about the Yankees -- but this is a business. I sat down and spoke with my dad and my family, and this is a business ... Like I tell you, I'm a player and if a team picks me or if they do something, it's because they need it, obviously, and I'll be happy to help any team. But right now, I'm just focused on helping my team try to get out of this bad streak," reported CBS Sports.
The Yankees have been on a mid-season skid while the Mets are on a mid-season rise. It feels like it is just a temporary situation, but I often wonder if it just comes down to pitching consistency rather than more bats in the lineup.
Source: Forbes
According to Forbes, "In addition to a 4-6 record in their past 10 games, the Yankees have lost three in a row. Compounding the felony, their pitchers have allowed a combined 25 runs in their past two games.Yankees pitchers get plenty of support from Aaron Judge, who leads both leagues in home runs with 27, and newcomer Juan Soto, a one-time batting champion whose left-handed bat seems a perfect match for the short right-field dimensions of Yankee Stadium. But it hasn’t been clear sailing for the pitching staff."
If your ace can't hold down the Mets, and your bats remain quiet, what are you supposed to do? It's war at Citi Field and if the Yankees don't turn this stuff around, I wonder how far they can even go this season. Even with a bat like Guerrero, how far can they go if their pitching staff can't hold down a mediocre team like the Mets fueled by a 1970s fast food restaurant character?
Last night, Yankee fans witnessed a rare and unsettling sight: Gerrit Cole, the ace of the pitching staff and a former Cy Young winner, gave up four home runs to the Mets. While this performance was spread over four innings, it brought back uncomfortable memories of a similarly painful night for the Yankees back on April 22, 2007, when Chase Wright surrendered four consecutive home runs to the Boston Red Sox.
Wright’s feat is etched in the annals of Yankee history as one of the more bizarre and unfortunate pitching performances. Allowing four home runs in a row is a rarity in baseball, a sport that thrives on its unpredictability. Wright was a relatively new pitcher in the major leagues at the time, and that night in Fenway Park remains a stark reminder of how quickly a game can turn.
Cole’s situation, however, is different in several ways. As one of the top pitchers in the game, he has built a career on consistency and dominance. The four home runs he allowed to the Mets are spread out over four innings, rather than consecutive at-bats, which highlights another form of struggle that pitchers can face. What makes this situation particularly noteworthy is that Cole had just returned from a stint on the injured list.
Injuries in baseball are common, and the road to recovery can be fraught with challenges. Even a pitcher of Cole’s caliber needs time to regain his rhythm and full effectiveness. The Yankees and their fans understand this, yet witnessing such a performance from their ace is still disconcerting. It serves as a reminder of the physical and mental hurdles players must overcome when returning from injury.
Baseball is fickle that way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Cy Young winner or a fresh face in the majors—this sport has a way of humbling even the best. One night you’re untouchable, and the next, you’re struggling to keep the ball in the park. This unpredictability is part of what makes baseball the greatest game in the world. Every game is a new story, filled with potential for both triumph and disappointment.
For Gerrit Cole, this game will likely be a blip in an otherwise stellar career. For fans, it’s a reminder of the sport’s inherent unpredictability and the reason why we watch, captivated by the drama that unfolds on the diamond. Whether it’s Chase Wright in 2007 or Gerrit Cole in 2024, these moments of vulnerability make the moments of brilliance all the more meaningful.
The Yanks have been busy all year, with wins and ways to improve. I like it, I like it a lot. It's much better than last season. Too bad Boone's still manager. Anyway... here's some news. The Yankees have acquired JD Davis.
The Sporting News writes:
"The New York Yankees acquired infielder J.D. Davis and cash considerations in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, the team announced Sunday.
In exchange for Davis, the Yankees sent infielder Jordan Groshans, a 24-year-old with a .590 OPS in 50 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels with the Yankees this season...
Davis was designated for assignment by the Athletics on June 17, but the Yankees clearly wanted to make a move to acquire the veteran.
A corner infielder, Davis appeared in 39 games with the Athletics this season. He has a .236 average with four home runs, five RBI, nine walks..."
Now this is hardly a major move, but this will at least provide some stability with the idea of Rizzo out and Ben Rice at first and DJ LeMahieu is hardly lighting it up, Cabrera around when needed and Jon Berti on the 60 day IL. Love the Yankee Depth Chart... it's awesome. So, what expect to see here is hopefully a new team and new energy from Davis and now the Yankees have more options.
Nothing major but could prove to be a nice piece. We shall see.
In the annals of baseball history, certain moments stand out for their sheer improbability, and then there’s the August 2, 1985-debacle involving the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. This incident, which saw Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra both tagged out at home plate by the indomitable Carlton Fisk within seconds of each other, is often hailed (or rather, lamented) as one of the most spectacular running blunders in Yankees history.
It all began with Rickey Henderson at the plate, the Yankees’ formidable speedster. Henderson had already established himself as a prolific leadoff hitter and base-stealing legend. On this particular evening, however, his role in one of the Yankees' most calamitous plays would eclipse his usual on-field heroics. With Meacham on second and Berra on first, Henderson cracked a deep drive to center field. The ball looked poised to cause trouble for the White Sox outfielders and, indeed, it did.
As Henderson’s hit soared, Meacham and Berra took off like they had rockets in their cleats. Third base coach Gene Michael, affectionately known as “Stick” for his lanky build, saw an opportunity to get both runners home. What ensued was nothing short of a circus.
Meacham rounded third with Berra hot on his heels. At that moment, it became clear that the communication between runners and coach had gone disastrously awry. Michael, in a decision that would be questioned for decades to come, waved both runners home. As they neared the plate, Carlton Fisk, the White Sox catcher, stood like a fortress ready to thwart their attempts.
The reactions from the Yankees dugout ranged from stunned silence to exasperated facepalms. "I've never seen anything like it," said Yankees manager Billy Martin, shaking his head. "It was like watching a car crash in slow motion – you know it's going to be bad, but you just can't look away."
Don Mattingly, who had a front-row seat to the chaos, quipped, "I thought I was seeing double. It’s like a bad dream you just can’t wake up from."
This play, despite its comedic appearance, became a somber lesson in the importance of communication and timing in baseball. It also underscored the unpredictable nature of the sport – where even the most seasoned professionals can find themselves part of a moment destined for blooper reels and trivia questions for generations.
For the Yankees, it was a stark reminder that even with talent and speed, the game can humble you in the most unexpected ways. For fans, it remains a legendary tale, retold with equal parts amusement and disbelief.
As we look back, we can laugh, wince, and perhaps learn a little something about the intricacies of baseball – and life. The double-out debacle of August 2, 1985, is a poignant reminder that in the game of baseball, anything is possible, even the patently absurd.
All fans have strong opinions, Yankee fans especially. That is no exception for me. I have some very strong opinions that I make no apologies for. We all disagree about ideas from time to time, but I really disagree with Joel Sherman this week.
In case you missed it, check out his post on the New York Post HERE. His title is fine, but after that he loses me. I think the Yankees and Yankee fans should root for the ASSTROS to keep losing. They are our rivals after all, so yes please keep losing. However, Sherman thinks we should want them to keep losing so the ASSTROS may be forced to become sellers at the deadline.
If they do become sellers, Sherman thinks Ryan Pressly and Alex Bregman would be perfect Yankee additions. I wouldn't mind Pressly in pinstripes, but Bregman is an absolute NO for me. Sherman's take is "Bregman, a terrific defender and low-strikeout hitter, would ideally step in at third for the Yankees with DJ LeMahieu going to second, first or the bench depending on the health and performance of him, Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo." The Yankees could use some infield upgrades, he's not wrong there.... he's just wrong about his choice.
We've had a lot to say about Bregman over the years, especially me. I hate the guy and I don't use that word lightly. He's a cheater and he fit in well with Jim Crane's circus. I value integrity and I live it every day. Bregman has none and he has proven that to the world. He doesn't deserve to be a Yankee or wear the uniform. The Yankees have always had high expectations and Bregman just doesn't meet them.
All teams want the best players possible to help them win, but players who disgrace the game don't fit that category. The Yankees should not be motivated to trade for the guy that cheated and then eliminated them. That's just insanity in my book. Bregman doesn't respect the game, why would he respect the Yankee expectations and traditions? He's just not worthy of the uniform.
I don't even think the ASSTROS will be sellers at this point AND anyone who is interested in Bregman will have a hefty price tag to pay because the ASSTROS will ask for the moon. BUT I will continue to root for the Yankees to win, and hopefully the ASSTROS don't. That won't change. I'm just not going to root for the ASSTROS to continue to lose so I can potentially trade for a low life cheater.
Bregman is bad news, and he doesn't deserve to wear our uniform. He doesn't even deserve to play. Sherman's got some crazy ideas, and he can keep them.
The heated argument between Billy Martin, the manager of the New York Yankees, and Reggie Jackson, the star outfielder, on June 18, 1977, is one of the most infamous incidents in baseball history. This event occurred during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and was broadcasted nationally, making it highly publicized.
During the game, the Yankees were trailing the Red Sox. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jim Rice of the Red Sox hit a ball to right field where Reggie Jackson was playing. Jackson appeared to misjudge the ball and did not hustle after it, leading to a double for Rice. Billy Martin, known for his fiery temperament, was infuriated by what he perceived as a lack of effort and commitment from Jackson.
Martin immediately decided to pull Jackson from the game. The decision to remove a star player, especially someone of Jackson's stature, in the middle of an inning was highly unusual and dramatic. Jackson was replaced by Paul Blair. When Jackson reached the dugout, Martin confronted him. The argument quickly escalated, with Martin shouting at Jackson and Jackson responding angrily. At one point, Martin had to be physically restrained by coaches and teammates to prevent the altercation from turning physical.
Thurman Munson, who was the team captain at the time, did not publicly criticize either Martin or Jackson, but he emphasized the need for the team to stay focused and united in pursuit of their goals. His primary concern was maintaining team cohesion despite internal conflicts.
Graig Nettles was reportedly not surprised by the altercation, given the volatile personalities involved. He understood that both Martin and Jackson had strong egos and that clashes were inevitable. Nettles later commented that the incident was indicative of the high-pressure environment in which the Yankees were operating.
Mickey Rivers had a more lighthearted take on the situation. He acknowledged the intensity of the argument but also noted that such conflicts were part of the game. Rivers believed that the altercation did not fundamentally disrupt the team's dynamics and that the Yankees were capable of overcoming internal disputes.
Lou Piniella, who was close to both Martin and Jackson, provided insight into the personalities involved. He highlighted Martin's fiery demeanor and Jackson's confidence, noting that while the argument was serious, it stemmed from a desire to win and perform at the highest level. Piniella suggested that both individuals ultimately respected each other’s commitment to the team.
Elston Howard, a respected figure on the coaching staff, emphasized the importance of strong leadership in managing such conflicts and maintaining team morale.
George Steinbrenner publicly downplayed the significance of the argument, framing it as a moment of passion and a desire to win. Privately, he took steps to ensure that the team stayed focused and that such incidents did not escalate further.
Despite the public nature of their altercation, Martin and Jackson managed to coexist for the remainder of the season. The Yankees went on to win the World Series in 1977, with Jackson playing a pivotal role, famously hitting three home runs in Game 6.
While the two men had moments of mutual respect, their relationship was never truly harmonious. They had a professional working relationship, but underlying tensions persisted. Martin continued to be tough on Jackson, and Jackson continued to be outspoken about his role and contributions.
The argument was a manifestation of deeper issues between Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson. Their conflicting personalities and the high-pressure environment of the Yankees contributed to their rocky relationship. While they may not have hated each other in the deepest sense, their interactions were marked by frequent clashes and disagreements.
Just a sweet moment and something I didn't want to ignore. Derek Jeter posted some pictures on his social media from his early surprise birthday bash thrown by his wife Hannah. The pictures are adorable, awesome and how do you not love this guy?
Below are a handful of shots that he posted on his Instagram. Pretty awesome.
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