This is going to sound like a hate post. It is not. I am just a very honest person and that's how Bleeding Yankee Blue was started. Me being honest about my team!
Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t dislike Anthony Volpe. He’s a nice player — decent enough at short, occasionally clutch at the plate, and by all accounts, a good kid. But if he wants to fill the enormous shoes left behind by Derek Jeter — or even the slightly smaller, more stylish shoes of Didi Gregorius — he needs to do more in my opinion. That .657 OPS in 2024? I don't love it. The Yankees can’t rely on 15-game bursts of brilliance followed by months of mediocrity. Volpe needs to be less streaky, more consistent, and above all, better. It’s that simple. Again, don't hate me, it's just how I feel.
Look, those first 15 games of 2024 were magical. He hit .382, sprayed extra-base hits all over the field, and looked like the dynamic star we’d been promised. But that shine wore off faster than a Times Square souvenir. Pitchers figured him out, and Volpe never really adjusted. Sure, he had a moment or two in the postseason — that grand slam in the World Series was electric — but flashes don’t make a superstar. If Volpe wants to be "the guy," he needs to make pitchers uncomfortable again and learn to sustain success over an entire season.
Defensively, Volpe is… fine. Not great, not bad, just fine. He’s a little better than average with his glove and his arm strength has improved enough to keep people from cringing. He's had some big moments, but for some reason I remember the errors. The bottom line is if "shortstop" is supposed to be his bread and butter, maybe it’s time he doubles down. More grounders, more reps, more focus on becoming truly elite. Being "good enough" isn’t going to cut it in the Bronx, especially not when you’re supposed to be the Yankees' next great homegrown shortstop. I mean, that's what they promoted him as.
And then there’s his presence off the field, which, let’s be honest, could use some work. Volpe talks to the media like a shy middle-schooler giving a speech he wrote on the bus that morning. It’s awkward, it’s strange, and it doesn’t inspire confidence. If he wants to be the face of the Yankees, he needs to step up in every facet, including the clubhouse and with reporters. This is New York — the spotlight is bright, and you’ve got to own it.
I know some of these opinions won’t be popular, and that’s fine. They’re mine. But moving forward, the Yankees need more from Anthony Volpe. The Bronx demands excellence, not glimpses of potential. If he wants to live up to the expectations that come with being the Yankees’ shortstop — and truly honor the legacy of Jeter and even Gregorius — he needs to hit better, field better, and work harder. Because right now, nice isn’t enough.
Look, those first 15 games of 2024 were magical. He hit .382, sprayed extra-base hits all over the field, and looked like the dynamic star we’d been promised. But that shine wore off faster than a Times Square souvenir. Pitchers figured him out, and Volpe never really adjusted. Sure, he had a moment or two in the postseason — that grand slam in the World Series was electric — but flashes don’t make a superstar. If Volpe wants to be "the guy," he needs to make pitchers uncomfortable again and learn to sustain success over an entire season.
Defensively, Volpe is… fine. Not great, not bad, just fine. He’s a little better than average with his glove and his arm strength has improved enough to keep people from cringing. He's had some big moments, but for some reason I remember the errors. The bottom line is if "shortstop" is supposed to be his bread and butter, maybe it’s time he doubles down. More grounders, more reps, more focus on becoming truly elite. Being "good enough" isn’t going to cut it in the Bronx, especially not when you’re supposed to be the Yankees' next great homegrown shortstop. I mean, that's what they promoted him as.
And then there’s his presence off the field, which, let’s be honest, could use some work. Volpe talks to the media like a shy middle-schooler giving a speech he wrote on the bus that morning. It’s awkward, it’s strange, and it doesn’t inspire confidence. If he wants to be the face of the Yankees, he needs to step up in every facet, including the clubhouse and with reporters. This is New York — the spotlight is bright, and you’ve got to own it.
I know some of these opinions won’t be popular, and that’s fine. They’re mine. But moving forward, the Yankees need more from Anthony Volpe. The Bronx demands excellence, not glimpses of potential. If he wants to live up to the expectations that come with being the Yankees’ shortstop — and truly honor the legacy of Jeter and even Gregorius — he needs to hit better, field better, and work harder. Because right now, nice isn’t enough.
Hate me if you want. You may not like what I'm saying, but I don't have to agree with you... that's what being a fan is.
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