THE YANKEES ARE PLAYOFF BOUND, BUT SOTO RUMORS ARE STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT!

Playoff berth? YUP

AL East title? DONE, back where it belongs for the first time since 2012!

Home-field advantage through the Championship series of playoffs? CHECK!

Everything has fallen into place after a disastrous 2023 season, except that's not what I am seeing all over social media.

Is everyone excited about the postseason? You bet, especially after missing out last year. October baseball is coming, but that's not the buzz all over my notifications and social media feeds. Instead, it's all about Juan Soto, which isn't a total shock. He and Aaron Judge are the reason why we are where we are right now. But....there's speculation brewing about next season.

Brendan Kuty of the Athletic detailed HERE how a brief meeting with Hal Steinbrenner and Soto back in Spring Training left a positive impression on him. That alone is nothing to get too excited about but, this encounter was MONTHS ago, and he will have his pick of many interested teams this winter.....but he's still thinking about his brief interaction with Hal. Interesting. In recent history, most news with Hal hasn't been great. This one was positive and left Soto feeling like Hal cared about him and the team. It's just not something we hear a lot about.

Soto has enjoyed his time as a Yankee. He's thrived here in an environment that we've seen chew up and spit out many other ballplayers. He hasn't let the high pressure get to him. He's reminiscing already. "I think anybody would want to be in the history books for the Yankees," Soto said. "I've been trying all year to be part of it — at least even if it's for one year. I'm trying my best to be around those books with the World Series champions. But we'll see. We will see how it's going to be. At the end of the day, you never know if you're going to be there."

He's right, no one knows what the future holds even though SI.com continues to make predictions about what this winter looks like, read more HERE. It's what everyone has been talking about all season....where does Soto go this winter and for how much money? His contract is going to be insane, no doubt and Buster Olney thinks Soto won't be a Yankee, "And I do think in the end, the Yankees are going to be outbid by somebody. I can't see Hal going to nutty numbers and we don't know if (New York Mets owner) Steve Cohen is going to do like he does with some of his art and just blow the competition out of the water."

The Cohen connection is no surprise, we've talked about it for months and we know he wants to make a splash. Any owner right now would be thrilled to have deep enough pockets to snag Soto this winter, but the reality is all owners don't. But let's talk about the ultimate "WHAT IF" here. What if....the Yankees win the World Series this year? Would Hal be more inclined to throw him more money? Buster says Hal won't spend the money, but a championship could change his tune....right?

The Yankees are in the postseason, and that's great. But now, how far do the Yankees go? If they go all the way, Hal has to be willing to spend more for Soto, right? If not, he looks foolish. If Hal doesn't then not only will Cohen be in play, but I could see the Dodgers, or the Phillies make a move. Both are also playoff bound, and both have the appetites to win. Soto is a game changer for any team, especially a contender....it all comes down to which owner is willing to shell out the most cash.

The playoffs will tell us a lot....it's about to get really interesting in the Juan Soto sweepstakes and I hope Buster Olney is wrong.

 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WILL THE YANKEES PLAY 'OCTOBER BASEBALL' LIKE THE BOSS WOULD WANT?

 
Source: Sporting News

I love October Baseball. It is like an extension of summer plus more baseball to love. The Yankees have not been great at October baseball more recently, but I think they have a hankering to change that with additions of Juan Soto, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. and Jasson Dominguez to the lineup. So the question is will the Yankees play October baseball like they were built to and the way the Boss would want?

"Though they fell to the Pirates, 4-2, on Friday night in The Bronx, Jazz Chisholm Jr. announced the team’s lofty expectations once they get to October. “This was their goal all season, to get to the World Series, not just the playoffs,’’ Chisholm said. “This is only one stop and I feel in everybody’s heart in this clubhouse, we don’t think our stop is now. We’re not stopping ’til we get that ring,” reported The New York Post. Boss George Steinbrenner would like that optimism, but what he wouldn't like is the Yankees' inconsistencies over this up and down season. And over the last several years, since probably 2017, the Yankees' October has not added up to anything. But this time, they are the arguably the best team in the AL, so maybe that is enough swag to make the difference?

                                                                         Source: MLB.com

“It’s gonna be really fun to start here in The Bronx,” Carlos Rodon said of the postseason. “It’s gonna be electric. …We’re going to the postseason. That’s way different than last year,” reported The Post. Rodon is having a turnaround season after a lackluster one in 2023 with 16-9 record (tied for 3rd), an ERA of 3.96 (40th) and 195 strikeouts (tied for 13th). Rodon will likely be the second starter in the rotation, which I hope is only a three-man rotation. If I was picking it would be Gerrit Cole, Rodon and Luis Gil and leave it at that. 

Source: Sports Illustrated

Besides the starting pitching rotation, there are the fielding and offensive considerations, with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton all holding hot bats over the 10 or so games. Jasson Dominguez has gotten the start in left field over the last 13 out of 17 games since rejoining the team, and it looks like he will be the early starter with defensive relief from Alex Verdugo in the later innings. 

As The Post hints, "With Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base, Anthony Rizzo at first and Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera ready to come off the bench, it may be tough to find a path onto a postseason roster for DJ LeMahieu. Boone said Berti, who missed much of the season with a calf injury, likely would play Saturday and Sunday as he prepares for a playoff role. If the Yankees go with just three starters in the ALDS, it would open up another spot for a position player." With Rizzo questionable after being hit on the hands and suffering a finger fracture in Saturday's loss to the Pirates, there will likely be a pivot by the team. 

Source: AP

So is all of this enough to ensure that the Yankees are October-ready? It is really in their hands. If it was up to Judge, Chisholm, Jr. and Soto, they are all in. I'd like to be all in too, but it is just too early to tell. As the Yankees head into 162, I have a lot of optimism for what's ahead despite these ridiculous losses to the Pirates at home. And it is these kinds of losses that have hurt the Yankees all season. Let's hope they are just readying themselves or "tuning themselves" as Michael Kay suggested, for what's ahead and not that they are putting the cart before the horse. 

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

THE NEW YORK YANKEES CLINCH!

So, the Yankees have won the division.  Amazing.  

It's been a long road for a team I really like.  But I've been poisoned by this manager that just doesn't deserve to be there.  It's a me thing, not a Yankee team thing.  I sincerely cannot stand Aaron Boone, I feel like he's the dumbest guy in the room and when it comes to character for me, I cannot stand when a team in any profession carries a figurehead and they really didn't lead anything.  And again, that's a me problem. I take that stuff seriously.  Brought up in a hardworking middle-class family it comes down to earning your keep and common sense.  And that guy hasn't done a God damn thing.  And so yea, am I torn? It's one of those things where you want the Yankees to win, but you don't want THAT GUY to.  

That being said, the Yanks are in, they won the division.  And now the real season is about to begin.  They have one more series against the Pirates and then things fall into place.  Last night was a rout against the Orioles.

The New York Post writes:

"The road back to the top of the division took much longer, following last year’s abysmal fourth-place finish that was billed as a “disaster” by Brian Cashman, but the Yankees officially climbed all the way back to the top of the AL East with a 10-1 win over the Orioles on Thursday night in The Bronx."

And Judges quote is priceless: 

"This team was hungry. It goes back to not making the playoffs last year. That was just enough fuel for this team to go out and say hey, we gotta make some changes, we gotta do better.”

This is a true leader, folks. This is a guy that has 58 homers and with his superhuman strength, it is not out of the question that he goes on a rampage potentially tying his homerun record for a single season. It will be hard, but I believe in this guy.  But he's not thinking about that, he's thinking about team first. How do you NOT love this guy.  

ESPN writes:

"Next week, the attention turns to ending the franchise's 15-year championship drought with World Series title No. 28.

"You can't take this for granted at all," Stanton said. "It's expected, for sure, but times like last year, they happen, so you got to appreciate it. We're here now, enjoy it, you never know if you ever get a chance again, so you got to go."

You can't take none of this for granted.  Baseball is hard work in itself, and so when you see players like our Yankees go out there and dominate, you really have to give the credit to them.  It's 162 game season, and they need to be on every game, it's hard.   If you get there, like the Yankees just did with the division, you can NEVER take it for granted.  

I leave you with this, ESPN again:

"Aaron Judge padded the lead in the seventh inning with his 58th home run of the year, a two-run moonshot that carried into the Orioles' bullpen beyond the left-center field wall.

With it, Judge became the fourth player in major league history with at least 58 home runs in a season twice, joining Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa...

"I didn't realize that," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when informed of Judge's streak. "That's the take it for granted part."

And this is why Aaron Boone may be the dumbest guy in the room.  NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. It's a life lesson.  Shows who this guy is.

Go Yanks! You deserve it! Keep climbing, keep fighting and go get 28.

ANOTHER CLUNKER AS THE YANKEES STUMBLE TO THE END!

Well that's a game I think we'd all love to forget. I bet Marcus Stroman does too, but of course Yankee fans don't forget anything. We especially don't forget clunkers like yesterday's game. The Yankees are about to cross the finish line of the regular season, and they don't look like they are ready for postseason domination at all.

There are just so many things not "clicking" right now and Aaron Boone can make all the excuses he wants, but he doesn't get it. I always talk about the importance of repetition and a routine, especially for starters. They need to pitch every five days, and they need a bullpen routine when they aren't starting. Stroman hasn't been a solid starter for us, but when someone is already struggling and then they start a game for the first time in 15 days, it's not a good setup. The Yankees took a big gamble, and only because Nestor Cortes is on the Injured List. The gamble didn't pay off....and no one should be surprised.

When the first six batters get hits off of you, that's a big red flag. It's a miracle the Yankees were able to limit the damage and escape with only three runs in the first inning. The Orioles still took batting practice off Stroman though had 10 hits and six earned runs. He didn't give up any laser beams, but the Orioles still executed with what they do well....they put balls in play and found holes. I wish the Yankees could do that.

There are four games left in the regular season, and things are just not clicking on all cylinders. The Yankees are supposed to be World Series favorites, and at this point they should be a well-oiled machine. When you consider the recent Gleyber Torres fumble and the ball Jasson Dominguez just overran we don't look postseason ready.

The Yankees are limping to the end when they should be sprinting. The Yankees need to win today, they cannot afford a sweep to the Orioles. I am not even talking about it from a division title perspective, but just a team morale standpoint and having momentum heading into the postseason. After today, the Yankees get the Pirates at home and will face Paul Skenes and that will be a tough test to start the last series of the regular season. I hope the Yankees are more prepared for it.

Big picture, does it sting that the Yankees lost the first two games of the series to the Orioles? Yes. Are they in serious danger of not being division champions? Not serious danger, because if the Yankees losing streak continues the Orioles still have to win ALL of their remaining games to win the division. It could be worse.... but it doesn't give me warm and fuzzy feelings.

It's an ugly way to finish. Even uglier when you think about the likelihood that the Yankees will see the Orioles again in the division series. Wake up, Yankees!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

IT WAS A BIG GAME, BUT THE YANKEES LOST

The Yankees should have won last night against the Orioles. The Yankees should have clinched last night as well.  But they didn't.  It's games like this that make me wonder and worry about the playoffs.  It's games like this that shows the holes that the Yankees have.  

Last night Aaron Judge hit his 56th.  While that's a big deal, you know he wanted to clinch too.  But the O's did instead.  MLB.com wrote:

"...it was the O’s who celebrated, spraying bubbly and beer in a plastic-wrapped visitors’ clubhouse to toast their official entry into the postseason. Baltimore’s win, combined with the Twins’ loss to Miami, assures the Orioles of at least an American League Wild Card."

And the reason the Yankees lost was because of a baserunning error.  It's things like that that will chip away at us during the post season... and Aaron Boone will just say we have to just "move on". But it's more than that isn't it? It's holding players accountable.  

Lohud writes:

"...the Orioles still have a fearless factor when it comes to facing the Yankees, and the Yankees still have a way at times of getting in their own way – as they did on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Despite a three-hit night, Gleyber Torres - due to a baserunning gaffe - became the symbol of a 5-3 loss to the Orioles, who clinched a wild card spot and prevented the Yanks from celebrating a division crown."

I'm actually a big fan of Gleyber Torres, but if that happens, you got to sit the guy for a game to reflect.  You gotta show the team that bad play at the major league level and in a situation where we need to get to the World Series is vital for this franchise who hasn't won at that level since 2009.  Boone won't do that. Boone will feel bad for Gleyber and that's no way to run a team when the stakes are this high.

Bottom line? The Yankees got to win. The Yankees got to win the short series against really good teams.  Can we do this this year? I just don't know.

600 WINS DOESN'T MAKE AARON BOONE A GOOD MANAGER

Sometimes you read things that make you laugh hysterically. That's where I am at right now. I'm laughing hysterically, because NJ.com is advocating for Aaron Boone in ways that are just beyond crazy. It's another example of analytics gone wrong.

And we've seen some bad analytics for YEARS now but now we get to digest that Baboonie has 600 wins in "just" 1,025 games. You can read more HERE but, 600 wins does not instantly propel you into the "good manager" club. Sorry, folks. Successfully managing a team to a championship on the other hand, THAT makes a good manager. Joe Torre did it four times, and Joe Girardi did it most recently in 2009. He came close in 2017, and then Hal Steinbrenner fired him because he didn't have the respect of a younger clubhouse. Baboonie has zero championships but.....he's liked by his players.

Whoopdeedoo! Baboonie is liked and he's brought his team into the postseason for six of the last seven seasons with a 14-17 record. That's what some are celebrating these days, but not me. I celebrate the actual championship earned, not getting into the final race which is now 12 out of 30 teams. 

Almost half of MLB makes it to the postseason. That doesn't make you a good team, or a manager of a good team. That just means you weren't at the bottom and aren't golfing at the beginning of October.

That's not the only thing I am laughing at though. The Yankees are on the verge of clinching the AL East and have the best record in baseball. Great, all thanks to Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. But what happens if the Yankees are bounced from the playoffs early? Or, what if they don't make it to the World Series? NJ seems to think Boone's critics (like me) might finally get their way and he may be toast because Baboonie's contract only includes a club option for 2025. That's an interesting take.

As much as I think Baboonie should be dismissed, I don't see it happening. At the end of the day, Baboonie is loved by Brian Cashman and Hal. He is a puppet and will do whatever he is told. Not to mention, Judge is his biggest advocate of all and Hal isn't going to discard how his captain feels. He's loved by all in the organization even if not loved by many fans. He makes players happy. He doesn't make fans happy....and Hal doesn't care about that until it affects his wallet more.

So, congrats on your 600 wins, Baboonie.... take your participation trophy with pride but unless you can produce a World Series championship, your stats mean crap.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKS CAN WIN IT ALL, BUT ONLY IF JUDGE & SOTO ARE ON

There's no question that the Yankees are rolling right now. 4 game lead in the American League east and closing in on winning the division, but I often worry about the short series in the playoffs. So often under Aaron Boone's direction they just pitter out and don't do a thing right.  Boone doesn't lead well under pressure.

My opinion and the opinion of many is that without Judge and Soto at this point, the Yankees cannot win it all. It's sad to think about it this way, but let's be clear, night after night the only reason why the Yanks win is because of some heroic run scoring double from Soto or a dinger from Judge.  We're not hearing about Giancarlo Stanton... Anthony Volpe doesn't know how to hit... you see what I mean?

I believe that the Yankees need to get left field set with Dominguez not Verdugo, I believe that the Yanks have to reinvent how Volpe comes to the plate, and I believe that we can't keep getting automatic outs with Giancarlo Stanton at the plate.  Waiting and wishing is not an approach.

The biggest fix for me however is left field, it's obvious. The ‘Martian’ should be getting the majority of starts, based on his potential alone. Verdugo has missed many opportunities to establish himself as a reliable starter, the case for prioritizing Dominguez becomes even clearer.

In 2024, Verdugo has racked up 542 at-bats and his OPS is .650. That is the worst among MLB regulars for a considerable stretch.

While one would argue that Dominguez "just got here", there's something special about this young man and I would offer him that spot to see him shine.  I believe that those three in the outfield is a much stronger lineup, I really do.

Whatever the case, I do worry that the Yankees can't get through the playoffs with a World Championship.  Statistically they are just bad.  And you know me, I blame Boone for a lot of it. His decisions have been awful for years when it comes to the playoffs.  It just goes to show that he's not a big game manager.  

MISSING MY YANKEES MAGICAL FEELING

We are close to the end of September. This is the time of the year where I get the playoff bug, as I like to call it. I get all excited, and anxious and ready for those magical postseason thrills. The tingles are there and just ready for the magic to happen. Something this year is just different even though we just clinched a playoff spot.

Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't feel the same. This team just doesn't inspire those magical feelings. I desperately want them to, but I don't have that feeling. I have been talking baseball with a bunch of coworkers and friends and they all have those tingles that I desperately want. What's wrong with me?

I get excited watching Aaron Judge. That's no surprise, we know how great he is. I have enjoyed watching his home run chase and I've been thankful he's been healthy (I'm knocking on real wood right now). He's the excitement of the team. He's got the "IT" factor that I wish the rest of this team has.

Then there is Juan Soto. He is the guy that brings us all hope. We see how great he's been especially in Yankee stadium, and here I am wishing on every star that we can re-sign him and that the Yankees won't just balk and walk away. When the crowd is shouting at him and asking him to please stay, it's a big deal. He's been a bigger game changer than I expected. I just hope Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner don't screw it up....but I don't have high expectations.

So that is my excitement. I really appreciate what Austin Wells has brought to the table this season. I can't bear to watch Clay Holmes anymore, I'm over it. I don't think Gerrit Cole is the "ace" we need him to be anymore. This team, doesn't leave me with that fall classic excitement. I really want that feeling....am I alone on an island?

This team just needs a complete makeover with a new manager because Aaron Boone is a moron, a new GM because Cashman is out of touch and 95% of the roster just needs to go. I just don't get that "championship" feeling from this team.....and I want it. I'm sitting here feeling jealous of all of my friends and coworkers who are riding this late regular season high and excited for the playoffs.

Is it too much to ask for? Anyone else out there feel the same? 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

A CHEATER IS A CHEATER AND MLB SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF

 Alex Cora is a piece of garbage. Always has been.  

He's a guy that bought into the notion that he's a great manager and great baseball mind.  Now he might be a good baseball mind in some regards, but when you're cheating your way through life, sooner or later you are banished for bad behavior.  You would have thought that MLB would have banned Alex Cora and AJ Hinch for life after the Astros cheating scandal, but clearly a deal was struck between Jim Crane, the Astros owner and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and for that I will always frown on Manfred.  Integrity didn't matter to him... friendships and back-room deals were more important.

And so, Cora gets to come back after his suspension and tries to redeem himself. And sure, the Red Sox has had some successes, but it's just like any team... if you don't have top talent, your manager isn't going to look good because the team won't win.  It takes a really good manager to understand how to navigate a mediocre team.  And when teams are really good, it's clearly the talent pool and not the manager.  I mean, look at Aaron Boone.  

The games we lose are usually because he made a horrible decision and then tries to gaslight us in the presser after the game.  The games we win are always guys like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto and have NOTHING to do with Boone.  Same thing could apply to Cora.  While he a decent status among peers in the league, is he really that good of a manager? Nah.

Now look; when it comes to hitting players in the batter's box, it's kind of an unspoken thing.  I mean, we have seen head hunting before with the greats of Bob Gibson, or Gus Weyhing, but it was not something you talked about in the dugout. You as a team collectively knew what had to be done and sometimes you did it and sometimes you didn't.  Well, when it's talks about OUT LOUD, that's just being a dick and when Alex Cora does it, that just goes to show the MLB world that he really hasn't learned his lesson when it comes to giving his team an edge.  

He's a cheater and he'll always be someone trying to get away with whatever is unsavory.  In other words, MLB messed this one up.  MLB should look long and hard in this latest situation about Alex Cora publicly stating that he wanted to hit Aaron Judge.

Pinstripes Nation writes:

Alex Cora basically admitted that Brayan Bello tried plunking Aaron Judge on purpose. He was asked if he considered yesterday's IBB/HBP fiasco closed:

"It was closed yesterday around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/x1z4iA0HfF

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 15, 2024

"Major League Baseball is reportedly investigating comments made by Red Sox manager Alex Cora that suggest his team intentionally targeted Aaron Judge with a pitch. As of Monday evening, the league had yet to reach a decision on the matter.

Cora hinted on Sunday that the Red Sox might have retaliated during Saturday’s game after Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hit Rafael Devers with a pitch in the first inning and later intentionally walked him in the fourth. Cora, visibly upset, believed the walk indicated Cole’s earlier hit-by-pitch was no accident and stemmed from a desire to avoid Devers.

When asked about the situation on Sunday, Cora implied the matter was settled during the sixth inning of Saturday’s game, noting they had an opportunity but failed to take advantage of it."

Not ultimately MLB will protect Alex Cora. Crane was so far up Rob Manfred's butt back in the day there will be calls from fake folks saying "Well hitting guys in baseball, Rob.  Alex was doing what any manager would do."  But if Manfred had any balls he would look long and hard into the kind of person Alex Cora is.  He lacks character, professionalism and he's just a dick.  

While I don't think anything will happen to Alex Cora, I am a man of integrity, and I believe in common sense.  Something should be done, even if it's small.  The Red Sox have no shot this year, the Yankees do, and any baseball guy will tell you that if that ball hits Judge on the knee and he's out for the remainder of the season it would be a free for all among fans.  Thank God it didn't... but think about if it did.  My point is there is also an unspoken rule about tipping your imaginary cap to the teams that have had success and not playing dirty.  Alex Cora knows better, but Alex Cora is about himself.

A cheater is always a cheater.  Alex should be ashamed, but MLB should have nipped this in the bud a long time ago and didn't. Shame.

COLE CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE & LEAVES ME WITH DOUBT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Saturday's game. I blinked thousands of times thinking what I saw was an illusion. Gerrit Cole doesn't intentionally walk a guy with one out and nobody on! That doesn't happen.... that's crazy! But it did.

It makes no sense. So WHY did it happen? There have been so many stories posted about this with different viewpoints. No matter what the reasoning is behind it, it just shouldn't have happened. It's just another Aaron Boone screw up. Why that decision in that scenario would even play out is just a huge baseball blunder. Baboonie says he takes the blame for it HERE but that just isn't good enough.

Call it a miscommunication all you want, but that strategy with Matt Blake and Cole in the tunnel was a disaster. Were there no scenarios discussed at all? Baseball is a game of strategy, but it sounds like the strategy was completely omitted. It sounds like it was just a "don't pitch to Rafael Devers" conversation gone wrong. Intentional walks certainly have their place in baseball.... just not there.

So has Gerrit Cole lost his nerve? He's always been a big game pitcher and embraced it.... until Saturday. I've always believed that Cole puts a lot of thought and analysis into his starts. He's calculated against batters, has a plan and knows their strengths and weaknesses. He also knew that Devers had his number, his .333BA and nine home runs painted an ugly picture. Cole knew Devers was going to be a thorn in his side. He needed to calculate accordingly on Saturday, and he failed. Cole said he thought he bought into the plan early on, and then Baboonie said Cole did overthink it.

Cole the big game pitcher wasn't on that mound when Devers came to the plate. He wanted no part of Devers, he was focused on Devers stats against him. The current Cy Young pitcher was missing in action, that's the only explanation I have there. You don't become one by backing down from opponents. You have to show some swagger and guts. That's not what we saw on Saturday, because you don't intentionally walk a guy in the fourth inning with one out and nobody on. That's when you ATTACK the strike zone and go balls to the wall. 

So what has happened to Cole? Is he still an ace? I'm not going to lie.... I see him differently now. He backed down against Devers and the lowly Red Sox. The team on the outside looking in for post season berth. Even if Devers would've homered off him, it would've only been one run instead of seven over two innings of work. He lost it. The question is, did he lose it just once.... or has he lost it for good?

I want to forget Saturday. Maybe not as much as Cole....but that was bad. That wasn't an ace on the mound Saturday. I just hope he comes back because we need him now more than ever.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES LACK OF OFFENSE WILL BE THEIR UNDOING

Source: ESPN

Yes, the Aaron Judge grand slam on Friday night gave me faith but the 7-1 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon erased it. The inability for this 2024 team to string together a series of wins is laughable and deflating at the same time; especially against teams that have no shot of making the post season. When I boil it down it is simply, the Yankees lack of offense will be their undoing.

Saturday's game against the Red Sox was abysmal. "Gerrit Cole allowed a season-high seven earned runs on five hits, three walks, and three hit batsmen. It was a stunningly poor performance for Cole, who is projected as New York’s Game 1 starter in the postseason," wrote the The Athletic. But what is equally concerning is that the Yankees had no answer for the Red Sox's hitting.

Source: The Athletic

"In the fifth inning, Boston continued pouring it on as Cole struggled. In a fitting moment, Rafael Devers faced Cole with the bases loaded. He hit a two-run single, and then two batters later, Yoshida added a two-run single of his own. Cole’s day ended after 4 1/3 innings pitched," reported The Athletic.

But the Yankees' inability to counter the Red Sox is worrisome. Yes, the grand slam was a good answer, an excellent answer to the Yankees 4-0 run deficit on Friday. But how do they let the Red Sox score 7 the next day with no recourse. 

"I think we were paying attention to the standings a couple of weeks ago, and I think that's when we just kept going back and forth, kind of passing the lead," Judge said. "We all talked in this room and said, 'Hey, if we just focus on us and what we got to do, we'll be where we want to be.' So hopefully nobody's looking at the standings. I'm certainly not," reported ESPN. I get that, but you still have to win ball games, particularly these ball games coming down the stretch against teams like the Sox who's season is over mathematically. 

Source: Robert Sabo for the NY Post

It is very simple. Hit. And in particular situationally hit, which is something the Yankees don't do well. They rely on the home run and it is not working. Aaron Judge was shocked to hear that his home run on Friday night was the first in 16 games. "Was it 16 games? I didn't really know that," Judge said. "It's just another day. I really don't focus on hitting homers. I don't focus on any of that. I've got a job to do," reported ESPN. Yes, as we well know, it is the Yankees brass that emphasize the home run. But big blasts can't be the end all be all. There has to be more if the Yankees are going to support days like Friday and Saturday when starting pitching is not going to hold down their opponents. 

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