WHY MY FEELINGS TOWARD BELLINGER COMPARED TO VOLPE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT

Let’s take a moment to tip our caps to the Yankees’ front office for a move that might just end up being one of their sneakiest wins in my opinion: bringing in Cody Bellinger to replace Juan Soto. Yep, you heard me. I know Yankee Twitter is in mourning over Soto’s absence (this is sarcasm), but with Bellinger heating up and Trent Grisham suddenly channeling his inner Bernie Williams, I’m not exactly clutching my pearls over Juan’s departure. Grisham has been so surprisingly solid that I almost forgot Soto ever existed — almost.

Now, about Bellinger — sure, he had a bumpy rollout. He came in swinging and, well, missing a bit. Through 21 games, he's batting .173 with two homers and 12 RBIs. Not exactly murderers' row stuff. And yeah, Aaron Boone called his early results “disjointed,” which sounds more like a jazz album than a baseball critique. But it's crazy, I agree with Boone. Bellinger had a rough first road trip — his back flared up, and then food poisoning kicked him while he was down. The guy was basically cursed by the baseball gods and his lunch.

But here’s the thing: I can’t even get mad at him. And no, I’m not playing favorites. I just know what we signed up for — a streaky, electric bat with MVP potential. Bellinger isn’t pretending to be the next great Yankee legend; he’s just here to hit bombs, play stellar defense, and occasionally get food poisoning.

Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe… Look, I want the kid to succeed — I do. But let’s not rewrite reality. The Yankees and their PR machine hyped this kid like he was Derek Jeter 2.0, and I’m sorry, but the pinstripes don’t magically turn everyone into a Hall of Famer. Volpe was rushed. He was marketed. He was not ready. And it shows — not just in the numbers, but in the way he plays. There have been flashes, but flashes aren't leadership. They aren’t consistency. They aren’t Jeter.

That’s why I go easy on Bellinger and not on Volpe. It’s not personal — it’s about expectations. Bellinger, we knew, was a wild card who could get white-hot. And wouldn’t you know it, the fire might just be starting. In Tuesday’s 15-3 annihilation of the Orioles, Belli went 2-for-4 with a walk-off bat flip of a night: a solo homer in the first inning and a two-run double later that brought Judge and Rice home. Over his last six games? He’s 7-for-22 with six walks, four runs, a homer, and four RBIs. That’s a guy trending in the right direction.

Look, I want them both to succeed — the Yankees need all the help they can get if we’re serious about No. 28. But let’s be brutally honest here: we're not hoisting a trophy with Aaron Boone drawing up the lineup with crayons, so the offense better do all the heavy lifting.

So if you're wondering why I’m in Bellinger’s corner and not buying more Volpe stock — it’s not bias. It’s common sense. 

One came with realistic expectations and upside. The other came with billboards and a crown he hadn’t earned yet. And the sad thing is, a lot of fans see it. I'm just one of the few with the guts to say it out loud.

I just had to get this off my chest, cause some of you are giving me shit, but there it is, I spelled it out.

FORMER TEAMMATE OF DEVIN WILLIAMS COMES TO HIS DEFENSE

Look, I’ve been giving Devin Williams the business lately—and with good reason. My beef started the moment he told Yankees fans he “didn’t feel like himself” early on... and then made good on it by single-handedly draining the life out of this team. It became painfully obvious that this guy wasn’t closing games—he was closing doors on wins.

Meanwhile, Luke Weaver was the one who had the guts, the grit, and, dare I say, the actual results. I said it after the World Series, I’m saying it again now: Weaver was the guy. The Yankees pulling Williams from the closer role felt less like a baseball move and more like a wellness check. “Is Devin sad? Quick, somebody get him a stress ball and a long reliever.”

Then Matt Blake waddled out of the dugout and gave us the ol' “stop being mean” routine—telling fans it “doesn’t help” to criticize a guy who's actively lighting games on fire. Listen, Matt: fans can boo, cheer, yell, groan, or throw a shoe at the wall. That’s the gig. You don’t get to play guidance counselor for the Bronx. We’re fans, not therapists. Zip it.

Now we’ve got Christian Yelich chiming in with the “everything’s fine” speech. According to Yelich, Devin’s one of the best closers in the game, and we’re all overreacting to a “small sample size.” Oh, good. That classic closer stat: Vibes per inning.

Let me ask you this: if it’s Game 7 of the World Series and Williams decides he’s “not feeling like himself,” and blows the series. Are we still calling it a small sample size? Are we still lighting scented candles and whispering affirmations? No. We’re throwing chairs. And probably beer.

The reality is simple: Williams was brought in to do a job—get outs, close games, lock it down. Instead, he melted down. And when that happens in New York, fans let you know. That’s not cruelty; that’s currency in this city. You want to wear the pinstripes? Earn them.

I respect Yelich defending his guy—really, I do. But here in the Bronx, respect is earned every time you toe that rubber. I’m not rooting against Williams, but right now, I’m out on him. If he turns it around, I’ll be the first one clapping. But until then? I’m just calling it how I see it.

That’s the take.

MATT BLAKE DOESN'T GET TO TELL US HOW TO FEEL AS FANS

Devin Williams can't handle the pressure of pitching in the Bronx. That's not a slight, that's not being nasty, that's a fact.  

What I don't get is how and why it was important to get this guy while we still had a guy like Luke Weaver waiting in the wings after he proved himself as the Yankees closer last season.  And so, with the news of Devin Williams moving out of the closer role, I was thrilled and also, by the way, it was the most obvious move to the casual observer. But sometimes the Yankees front office falls all over themselves to try and fit square pegs in round holes.  Whatever, the experiment with Williams didn't work, clearly. 

Now we have the Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake doing that tired move that Boone does, defends his guys like he's breaking up a fight on the kindergarten carpet during quiet time. What this guy forgets is we pay this guy's salary. We pay all their salaries, and so pardon us for being hard on a professional baseball player, playing a kid's game and not being very good at it. 

Fans get mad and fans should get mad. That's what being a fan is. Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about? Listen to this garbage, from the beginning...

Friday night the Bronx faithful did what we do best: voice our opinions. Loudly. Passionately. And yes, sometimes ruthlessly. Devin Williams took the mound and immediately gave off the vibe of a guy who’d rather be anywhere else—like, say, back in Milwaukee where high-pressure situations consist of choosing between cheese curds or bratwurst.

The crowd let him have it. Boos. Chants of “We want Weaver!” It was glorious. Cathartic. New York in its purest form. And then Matt Blake—Matt freakin’ Blake—decided to step in and scold us like a substitute teacher trying to tame a senior prank day. 

“It definitely doesn’t help,” he whined. “Negativity doesn’t make the situation better.” Relax Matt Blake, you never even played pro ball.

Excuse us, Coach Whisper. Since when did the pitching coach get promoted to the role of Public Morale Officer? Look, Matt, we didn’t sign up for your TED Talk on emotional resilience—we signed up to see games won. If a guy is blowing leads and melting down like a microwaved Mounds bar, yeah, he’s going to hear it. Welcome to the Bronx.

Blake went on to say, “The earlier we can nip that in the bud and stabilize things, the better.” No, no. The better thing would’ve been to realize Devin Williams isn’t cut out for the ninth inning in New York. That’s not bullying, that's cold, hard baseball reality. This isn't Milwaukee, Matt. You said it yourself: "There's more noise, more pressure." Exactly. And if your guy can't handle the heat, we will remind him.

Let’s not forget Clay Holmes. I liked Clay. Though he got dogpiled on too much. Maybe it was his face—people just didn’t trust it. Still, when Holmes couldn’t get the job done, guess what happened? He got demoted. Because that’s how grown-up teams with championship aspirations operate. They adjust. They act. They don’t hold pity parades for closers getting rattled by boos. Blake's ridiculous.

So, Devin Williams is out, and Luke Weaver is in. And you know what? It’s about time. Weaver has the guts, the grit, and the Bronx-approved demeanor to handle the closer role. That should’ve been obvious weeks ago. Instead, we had to watch Williams unravel while Matt Blake stood on the mound playing armchair psychologist.

And now, we Yankee fans are apparently the bad guys for booing? Please. We’re the ones paying to sit through bullpen implosions. We’re the ones emotionally investing night after night. We don’t “abuse” players—we react to performance. That’s the deal in New York. Don’t like it? Get on the first flight to Anywhere-Else-ville.

So, here’s a tip, Blake: Shut your pie hole and let fans be fans. We chirp. We groan. We boo and yes, sometimes we cheer. It’s part of the game, and if Williams can’t take it, then maybe this just isn’t the town for him.

We already knew Williams was soft. Now it looks like his pitching coach is too.

WE COULD USE A DJ LEMAHIEU UPDATE RIGHT ABOUT NOW

DJ LeMahieu. Love the guy. Truly. If there were a Hall of Fame for quiet consistency and machine-like contact hitting, he’d be a first-ballot inductee—and I’d be the one carving the plaque. But here’s the honest truth: with the Yankees offense actually holding its own for once, do we really need DJ? Better yes, will we get him back at 100%? 

That being said... have you noticed the Yankees aren’t exactly blowing the doors off the league like they were earlier this season? I’ve said it before—pitching wins ballgames. But unless Max Fried is planning on cloning himself and moonlighting as the entire rotation, we’re going to need the rest of the rotation to click. So maybe we will need DJ after all. This could go either way. Tune in next week for another episode of “As the Lineup Turns.”

Anyway, DJ completed his fourth minor league rehab game on Sunday and looked like, well, DJ. He went 6-for-10 on the week. He also played solid defense—calf cooperating and all—which is good news since third base is still more of a question mark than a Jeopardy board.

He’s expected to start taking reps at third again this coming week, which signals the Yankees are ready to put him back in the infield blender. You’ll recall he signed a six-year, $90 million deal back in 2021—a move that made sense then and still kind of does if the guy can stay on the field.

DJ's had some rough luck lately, no doubt. He’s still one of my favorites—cool, calm, quietly clutch. I really do hope he finds his old form. But I’ll be honest: it feels like a lot of time has passed. Father Time doesn’t take rehab days.

We’ll see. Either he comes back and gives this team the steady bat and glove they’ve been missing… or we realize the offense was humming just fine without him and pitching was always the real issue. Either way, here's hoping DJ finds his groove—because when he's right, the Yankees feel a lot more right too.

ANTHONY VOLPE'S BATTING .228, GUYS

He's hardly Tony Gwynn, but he's trying.

Anthony Volpe gave Yankees fans a little something to smile about Sunday — even if he's still got a mountain to climb. The struggling shortstop showed a pulse during the doubleheader against the Blue Jays, collecting two hits in each game. Sure, most of the real fireworks came in Game 1 — a homer (his fifth of the year), a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk — but hey, when you're batting .228, you'll take anything that doesn't involve a weak grounder to second.

Credit where it's due: Volpe stepped up when the Yankees needed him. He didn’t exactly turn into Derek Jeter overnight, but a good day at the plate is a good day at the plate. Even with the hits, though, it's clear there's still a big hole to dig out of. His overall numbers remain underwhelming, and it's hard to see him right now as the franchise shortstop the Yankees dream of having.

To be fair, there are some encouraging signs buried underneath the mediocrity. Rotoballer says his average exit velocity has crept up, he notched the hardest-hit ball of his young career at 110.5 MPH, which, I'm going to be honest, as an old-time baseball guy, I don't see why this is important.  But also, when it comes to walks, he's been walking more (11.1% walk rate). But the problems are still there — chasing high fastballs, inconsistency, and a softer contact profile that makes you wonder if pitchers are still pretty comfortable facing him.

In short: Sunday was a much-needed step forward for Volpe. But if the Yankees are serious about winning, he’s going to need a lot more days like it — and a lot fewer empty at-bats — before anyone hands him the keys to the infield for good.

HATE TO TELL YOU WE TOLD YOU SO, BUT WILLIAMS IS GONZO

It was obvious. It was painfully obvious. Luke Weaver was always the Yankees' closer — everyone saw it. Everyone except Brian Cashman, apparently, who decided to pull off one of the dumbest moves of the season by trading for Devin Williams.

Fast forward to now: after an ugly 11.25 ERA, a brutal 2.375 WHIP, and seven walks in just eight innings, the Yankees have finally yanked Williams from the closer role. Aaron Boone confirmed on Sunday what every Yankee fan with a pulse already knew — Luke Weaver is officially the closer.

Weaver, a former starter who the Yankees wisely transitioned to full-time bullpen duty in 2024, posted a 2.89 ERA during the season and absolutely shined under October pressure. Yet somehow, the Yankees thought it was a good idea to bring in Williams — who looked like a shell of himself from the jump — and hand him the ninth inning.

And if that wasn’t enough, Williams is also the guy who basically forced the Yankees to bend the beard policy. Great. We let him grow a beard and hand him the closer’s job... and he rewards us with batting practice numbers. Brilliant.

Now, Williams is being demoted to low-leverage mop-up duty in hopes he can rebuild his shattered confidence. News flash: we knew he wasn’t the guy the second we saw him stumble out of the gate. This wasn’t rocket science. It’s just another chapter in the long, tired saga of Cashman overthinking the obvious.

Luke Weaver was right there the whole time. Right in front of us. Right in front of them. And now, after wasting valuable games, shaking up the bullpen, and bending team culture for a guy who didn’t deserve it, the Yankees are back to where they should’ve been in the first place.

Congratulations, Cash. You blew it. Plain and simple.

BIG DOUBLE HEADER WIN & MORE BRENDAN DONOVAN CHATTER

Fresh off a doubleheader sweep and a monster day for the Yankees on Sunday, why are we even stressing about finding a new third baseman? The offense finally looks like it remembered what bats are for. If anything, maybe we should be shopping for some arms, not gloves. But hey, duty calls — and I can’t ignore this Brendan Donovan chatter that's bubbling up again.

We’ve kicked this around before here at BYB, but now Dylan Sanders over at Yankees on SI is stirring the pot again. He’s pitching Cardinals Swiss Army knife Brendan Donovan — team-controlled through 2027 — as the guy to patch up the Yankees’ infield woes.

Sanders writes: “The Cardinals are knee-deep in a rebuild and this could be their golden ticket to move Donovan. He’s been outstanding this season and his trade value is through the roof.” Hard to argue: Donovan's hitting a sizzling .367 with three homers and 15 RBI, leading the entire National League in batting average. Not bad for a guy who brings a Gold Glove and a do-it-all résumé to the table.

Of course, Donovan’s been a white whale for the Yankees the last couple of off seasons now, with St. Louis clutching him tighter than a toddler with a teddy bear. So, what we’ve got here is a classic game of "hurry up and wait" — lots of buzz, little movement.

In the meantime, can we take a second to appreciate that Oswaldo Cabrera is holding his own just fine? Third base drama will always be a Yankee tradition, but for now, let’s enjoy the wins — and maybe, just maybe, save the trade talk for when the bats cool off.

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SOLID INFIELD CHOICE MAY BECOME AVAILABLE SOON!

YOENDRYS GOMEZ CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS

The Yankees DFA'd Yoendrys Gomez, and now he's gone... off to LA.

The Los Angeles Dodgers went shopping in the Yankees’ clearance aisle and came away with right-hander Yoendrys Gómez, claiming him off waivers. The Dodgers conveniently had an open roster spot after giving Eddie Rosario the boot last week when Shohei Ohtani returned from paternity leave (presumably well-rested and more dangerous than ever).

Gómez, who first joined the Yankees as a fresh-faced teenager out of Venezuela back in 2016, climbed his way into their top-30 prospect rankings and earned a spot on the 40-man roster in 2020 — a move to shield him from getting swiped in the Rule 5 Draft. He finally made his big-league debut in 2023 and spent last season bouncing between the Bronx and the bullpen like a well-worn subway card.

In bits and pieces over three years with New York, Gómez posted a 1-1 record and a 3.09 ERA across 12 games — not bad for a guy who never quite got to unpack his bags.

WILLIAMS PROBABLY WISHES HE WENT TO THE DODGERS...

Yankee fans can be tough. We expect perfection and Williams is hardly close to that.

But honestly, you almost can't even blame Devin Williams for sucking the air out of this Yankees team. The truth is, he was a solid closer in Milwaukee, but something changes when you put on the pinstripes. It’s about whether you have the guts to survive the intense pressure that comes with being a New York Yankee — and it’s obvious Williams doesn’t. From the start, it was clear Luke Weaver should have been the closer. We've been pounding that drum since the end of the World Series here at BYB. But once again, the Yankees’ front office couldn't see what was right in front of them.

The Yankees DID NOT NEED Devin Williams this offseason. They just chased the shiny object because Soto had just left (which, honestly, is a blessing in disguise). Meanwhile, Weaver was right there, ready and deserving. Instead, Brian Cashman spent big and wasted both money and games by handing the job to Williams. Boone’s no better — still rolling Williams out there as he blows lead after lead. Anyone watching can see he's not the answer, but Boone, running the team like some mindless robot, keeps trusting him. It’s pathetic. What a puppet.

The blame lies squarely on the leadership: the front office, the manager, all of them. Yankee fans aren’t stupid — we see what's happening. We know Williams can’t close games here, and we know Anthony Volpe isn’t cutting it as a hitter either. So, message to the Steinbrenner crew; Stop playing favorites because of contracts. Start doing what’s best for the team.

Williams’ debut month in New York has been nothing short of a disaster. His latest meltdown — giving up a single, a hit-by-pitch with two strikes, and a two-run double — cost the Yankees a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays, all while boos poured down from the stands. Carlos Carrasco gave them a strong start — all Williams had to do was lock it down. That’s literally his only job.

Despite BYB and fans screaming for Weaver, the Yankees only pulled Williams on Friday to give the ball to Mark Leiter Jr. And what did Leiter do? Exactly what he was supposed to — one hit, no runs, 11 pitches to close it out. No drama.

Weaver, meanwhile, has become a fan favorite for good reason. He started the season with 13 straight scoreless innings, has given up just three hits, posted a 0.62 WHIP, struck out 13, and walked just five. He’s even locked down two saves already.

After the loss last night, Boone was asked about Williams' role moving forward. True to form, he gave one of his classic non-answers: “We’ll see.” Honestly, if you’re a reporter, why even bother asking Boone anything? He never says anything real. Dig a little, create some drama, ignore that fool.

At the end of the day, the Yankees needed that win — badly. The Blue Jays are climbing in the division, and the Yankees? They can't keep any momentum as predicted. The offense is solid but cannot sustain it if the pitching staff is exhausted, and the whole thing is collapsing under the weight of poor leadership.

The Yankees spent big on the wrong players. They gave a contract extension to a manager who clearly doesn't know how to manage his guys. And now we’re stuck watching a team that's almost painful to root for.

It’s infuriating. It’s sad. And honestly, it’s getting harder and harder to watch.

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WAIT, SO NOW LUKE WEAVER ISN'T THE YANKEE CLOSER?

WHY LUKE WEAVER IS THE ULTIMATE CLOSER!

MAYBE DEVIN WILLIAMS DOESN'T HAVE THE STONES FOR THE BRONX

ARE PITCHING REINFORCEMENTS COMING FOR THE YANKEES?

The Yankees need pitching help like Aaron Boone needs a new excuse for getting tossed. And maybe, just maybe, the cavalry isn’t coming from a blockbuster trade—but from a bus ride up from Somerset. I love this, guys.

Let’s be honest: trusting the current Yankees rotation in a seven-game playoff series feels like trusting your umbrella in a hurricane. Sure, Carlos Rodón has a 3.50 ERA, but he’s also issued a league-leading 18 walks in just 36 innings—he’s basically handing out base runners like it’s a clearance sale.

Last October was a hard lesson in reality. The Yankees flopped in the postseason like a Broadway understudy with stage fright, and if they don’t want a repeat performance, they better start auditioning some new arms.

Enter Cam Schlittler—yes, that’s a real name, and yes, he’s very much real-deal potential. The 24-year-old righty, drafted in the seventh-round back in 2022, is quietly mowing down hitters at Double-A Somerset like he’s speedrunning a video game. On Thursday, he threw seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts against the Hartford Yard Goats (a real team, not a rock band), and suddenly, he’s looking less like a long-term project and more like a Fourth of July call-up.

So far this season, Schlittler’s sitting on a tidy 1.23 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just five walks over 22 innings. Even Athlon Sports gave him some love, saying, “Schlittler would immediately dominate hitters the way Paul Skenes did last summer.” Okay, okay—deep breath.

Will Schlittler be the answer? Who knows. But if the Yankees are serious about October and tired of their rotation turning into pumpkin spice mush by Game 2, they might want to start looking south… to Somerset, not the waiver wire.

CALLS FOR VOLPE TO BE SHIPPED TO SCRANTON

Anthony Volpe used to be able to hit the fastball, but even that has become an issue.  And pitchers are now figuring Volpe out and are changing up selection and if that happens, it's curtains for this young kid.  Reminds me strangely of Kevin Maas.  He lasted 5 seasons in the majors. This is Volpe's third year. So... 2 more to go, I guess? This guy's horrible. Off balance, not prepared, not seeing the baseball.  It's kind of sad.

And so, I have an important question. At what point does “potential” expire?

For the Yankees, apparently never — especially if you're Anthony Volpe, the golden boy they told us was the future of the shortstop position. A third-year pro hitting below the Mendoza line is still being sold to the fanbase like he’s the next Derek Jeter. But let’s be real: if this is the future, can we go back?

Let’s not mince words here — Anthony Volpe is hitting .198. And no, that’s not a typo. That’s the actual number. This is year three. The training wheels are off. The excuses have expired. And yet, the Yankees front office and manager Aaron Boone continue to gaslight the fanbase into believing that everything is fine because… he works hard?

That’s rich. You know who else works hard? The guy who delivers my Amazon packages in 98-degree heat. Doesn’t mean I want him playing shortstop in the Bronx.

Fans are fed up with this team.  I was talking to the guy I get coffee from in the city. Huge Yankee fan, he sees me this morning and goes, "They gotta ship Volpe to the minors.  He doesn't know how to hit!" This is a passionate fan who uses the eye test to determine life... and he's not wrong.  

Plenty of people are shouting about how the Yankee fans were sold a bill of goods. Volpe ain't Jeter, hell, he ain't Andy Stankiewicz either.  Hell, even Rafael Santana was a better player than this kid.

Volpe is batting .300 against fastballs this season — or so the numbers claim — but let your eyes do the scouting. How many times do we need to watch him swing through a high heater like it just evaporated mid-air? Pitchers have figured it out. He can’t hit anything that bends, breaks, or even flutters. He's hitting .130 against breaking balls, and he hasn't notched a single hit against off-speed pitches. None. Zero. Nada.

That’s not a slump. That’s a systemic issue. That’s a scouting failure. That’s a front office living in delusion.

So where is the accountability? Boone, in his usual "aw shucks" postgame monotone, keeps praising Volpe’s “work ethic.” Great. But Major League Baseball isn’t a summer camp talent show — it’s about results. You can work as hard as you want off the field, but if you’re striking out nearly 30% of the time on the field, something’s broken.

His 27.1% strikeout rate this season — paired with a career-high 28.3% overall — paints a picture of a hitter who’s either guessing wrong or just flat-out can’t make contact. And yet the Yankees, in all their infinite wisdom, have decided that this is the guy we should be building around.

And what about defense? Yes, Volpe has been steady with the glove. Credit where it’s due. His 6.7 bWAR over two seasons is respectable. But we’re talking about the Yankees. This isn’t Kansas City. You don’t get to start in the Bronx just because you can flash some leather. This is supposed to be the most demanding stage in baseball — and instead, we’re treating the shortstop position like it’s a developmental league for prospects who “might” figure it out.

Meanwhile, Oswald Peraza — the forgotten man — is over there wondering what he did to get ghosted. The kid can rake, plays a better defensive shortstop, and actually looks like he belongs. Give him a real shot and he’ll give you .260 with some pop and a cannon arm. Volpe can't even hit .200.

We get this Volpe soap opera every night — the “he’ll get hot soon” narrative that’s been stuck on a loop since 2023. This isn’t just about Volpe anymore — it’s about a front office that’s completely out of touch with reality.

And maybe the most insulting part? They think we don’t see it. That we’re just going to sit here, chant his name, and pretend everything’s fine while he flails through another 0-for-4 night.

It’s not fine. It’s not close to fine. And no amount of Boone babbling about work ethic is going to change that.

Volpe’s time is up. Ship him out. He may still have a future — maybe a utility infielder somewhere, maybe even a late bloomer in a smaller market. But the Yankees don’t have the luxury of patience when it comes to the most important position on the diamond.

Oswald Peraza is waiting.

Maybe it’s time the Yankees stop playing favorites and start playing to win.

SHOULD THE YANKEES PURSUE TRISTON MCKENZIE?

Look, I've said it at least 30 times in 3 weeks, the Yankees need pitching help. The offense has been great, but we cannot sustain this. It's pretty simple.  Now comes a suggestion for pitching help and it's interesting.

They’ve lost Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Marcus Stroman to injuries. That’s not a crack in the rotation; that’s a full-on pitching apocalypse. So, what now? 

Once upon a time, Triston McKenzie was the next big thing. A first-round pick in 2015, he was billed as the future ace in Cleveland’s lineage of Cy Young hurlers—think CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee. Instead, he’s now the guy looking for a second (or third?) chance. As Indians skipper Stephen Vogt put it, “It was a difficult decision. It wasn't easy.” They DFA'd him. Translation: we really hoped this would work, but… yikes.

Enter MLB analyst Andrew Wright of Newsweek, who floated an intriguing idea: go get Triston McKenzie.

"McKenzie can be traded or placed on outright waivers any time prior to Friday,” Wright wrote, “and if he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team. A landing spot for the young right-hander? The New York Yankees."

And honestly, why not?

McKenzie, 27, isn’t exactly riding a heater—unless you count the seven runs, seven hits, and seven walks he gave up in just 5 2/3 innings this year as a hot mess. That ballooned his ERA to a bumpy 11.12. No, that’s not a typo. It's just ugly.

Still, maybe all he needs is a change of scenery. Maybe Matt Blake—the Yankees’ pitching whisperer—can unlock something the Indians couldn’t. And look, the Yankees aren’t exactly in a position to turn their noses up at anyone who can throw a baseball without spontaneously combusting.

This isn’t about McKenzie being perfect—it’s about the Yankees being desperate. They need arms. They need depth. They need something, anything, before Aaron Boone starts pulling fans out of Section 205 to pitch the seventh.

Andrew Wright may be onto something. Or maybe he’s just the only one saying what nobody in the Yankees front office wants to admit out loud: this rotation needs help. Whether you want to believe it or not.

So, Triston McKenzie? Sure. Why not? 

OUR MANAGER HAS THE VERBAL FINESSE OF A 6-YEAR-OLD

Boone gives us quotes like he's talking to his friends on the playground.

Anyway, remember back in the offseason, when it felt like a Marcus Stroman trade was just one Aaron Boone shrug away from happening? Yeah, simpler times. Now, instead of asking where he’s going, we’re all just asking when he’s coming back—preferably upright and with functioning knees.

Well, guess what? We have an update from everyone's favorite quote machine and strategic savant, Aaron “No Championships” Boone. The same guy who handles press conferences with the verbal finesse of a preschool show-and-tell. 

According to Greg Joyce (God bless him for doing the Lord’s work), Boone says Stroman is still “feeling some things” in his knee. That’s the official medical update. “Feeling some things.” Inspiring stuff.

Translation: Stroman is nowhere close to pitching again.

The Yankees, in a shocking display of common sense, aren’t about to rush him back unless he’s completely pain-free. Because, you know, trying to pitch on one leg doesn’t usually lead to Cy Young hardware—or even a respectable ERA. So yeah, we wait. It’s been a weird, frustrating ride for Stroman this year. He rolled into spring training without a guaranteed spot in the rotation, which was awkward enough. Then came the “Nah, I’m not doing the bullpen” standoff. Charming.

But baseball being baseball, everyone else’s limbs started falling off, so Stroman got the call. And boy, did he answer—with an 11.57 ERA over his first three starts. We’d make a joke, but that number kind of speaks for itself.

Now his knee is acting up, his contract is in limbo, and here's the kicker: if Stroman somehow manages to log 140 innings this season (we’ll give you a moment to stop laughing), he locks in a cool $18 million for 2026. That’s right—$18 million for a guy currently “feeling things.”

In summary: no trade, no bullpen, no innings, no timetable, and no end to the saga in sight. Stay tuned for more updates from Dr. Boone and his Schoolhouse Rock of Press Conferences.

THE YANKEES ARE PLAYING THE WRONG SHORTSTOP!

Saying a player is hitting balls hard is a cop out for the player. There, I said it.  

You don't build an average; you don't help your team if you are hitting balls hard and getting out.  Can we just stop the nonsense? Anthony Volpe is Mario Mendoza plain and simple. He's got a marketable face, but that's about it.  My #11 Jersey is a Brett Gardner jersey, plain and simple.

Another chapter in the tragic comedy that is Anthony Volpe: Shortstop of the Future. Except now it's 2025, and the future has arrived... and it's batting .198.

Let’s rewind to Tuesday night in Cleveland. Top of the eighth. Yankees down a run. Two outs. Runners on first and second. Prime time for a clutch hit. Instead, Anthony Volpe steps in and does what Anthony Volpe does best these days — works the count to 2-2 and then flails helplessly at a slider from Evan Gaddis. Strike three. For those keeping score at home, that was his third consecutive swing-and-miss in the at-bat, following two high fastballs that looked like they were in a different zip code.

Volpe’s final line? A mighty 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Through April 23, at that point he was limping along with a .209 batting average and a career-worst 27.1% strikeout rate, according to FanGraphs. The guy’s missing hittable pitches in the strike zone like he's being paid to sabotage rallies.

Kristie Ackert of Athlon Sports tried to spin the numbers into something hopeful, writing:

“He is hitting the ball harder. His average exit velocity has jumped to 90.3 mph (up from 87.7 last year), and he’s already posted a 13.8% barrel rate, higher than both his 2023 and 2024 marks combined. The Yankees even gave him the controversial ‘torpedo bat’ to lean into that power. But his line drive rate is down to 15.5%, and his fly ball rate is up to 31.0%, with many of those poorly struck.”

Translation: He’s swinging harder... but he’s still not hitting anything.

Pitchers? They’ve adjusted. 

Volpe’s whiff rate on fastballs is now creeping toward 30%, and breaking stuff has turned him into a human windmill. He’s 0-for-13 this season combined against sliders, curveballs, and changeups — with a jaw-dropping whiff rate of over 45%. Tuesday night’s strikeout wasn’t just a bad at-bat; it was a flashing neon sign of a much deeper problem. He’s swinging smarter, maybe. But swinging smarter doesn’t mean much when you still miss nearly half the time. Pitchers adjusted to Kevin Maas too and he eventually faded away.

And while the Yankees keep doubling down on Volpe like a gambler chasing bad bets, Oswald Peraza remains the obvious better option — and somehow, still the overlooked one.

Let’s talk about Peraza. Better defender? Absolutely. Smoother glove, quicker hands, and doesn’t boot the routine plays that Volpe turns into heart attacks. Offensively? He’s not a .209 hitter. He never has been. Peraza can hit for average, doesn’t strike out in bunches, and brings real poise to the plate. No gimmicky “torpedo bat” required — just good old-fashioned ability.

And yet, the Yankees hitched their wagon to Volpe like he was the next Jeter — but he’s playing more like the second coming of Eduardo Núñez without the fun speed. The organization made their pick, and it’s painfully clear they backed the wrong horse, again.

Volpe’s been given every opportunity, every headline, every ounce of patience. And yet, here we are: still watching him chase sliders and pop up to second like clockwork.

Meanwhile, Oswald Peraza — the better fielder, the better contact hitter, the guy who doesn’t look like a deer in the headlights with runners on — waits in the wings. Or worse, rides a bus to Scranton. The Yankees need to face reality: they chose the wrong shortstop.

It’s not too late to fix it. But if they keep pretending Volpe is the answer, they’re going to keep getting the same result — weak contact, high whiffs, and another season of wasted potential. Let Peraza play. He’s earned it. And frankly, he deserves better than watching this mess from the bench.

Finally, I just want to say this; I'm not ripping on Kristie Ackert at all. She is admired and respected. What I am ripping on is this new world of "hitting balls hard" and nothing to show for it.  When I grew up you looked at a dude's average, dingers and RBIs.  If he didn't strike out that was a plus and if he could swipe a few bags, that was great too. But that's all you needed to know when a player was solid or not.  This world of "hitting balls hard" and batting .191 is the dumbest form of baseball I've ever seen. There is no progress for that player, in fact, they should probably just give it up.  And so there, I had to say that.  Hey Kristie, respect!

I NEED MY GIANCARLO STANTON FIX, HOW ABOUT YOU?

Craving a Giancarlo Stanton update? Well, buckle up, because the latest scoop comes straight out of Cleveland, where Stanton made a surprise cameo at batting practice—and no, it wasn’t just to stretch his legs or admire Lake Erie.

The slugger, who's been navigating the scenic and frustrating route back from elbow epicondylitis—in both arms, because of course—finally took some swings on Tuesday. Yankees fans, starved for dingers and drama, were served at least one course of optimism. “I felt good,” Stanton said, strolling off the field like a man who just remembered how fun baseball can be. “The elbows are getting better.”

Progress? Yes. A return date? Not so much. While Giancarlo is inching his way toward the Bronx, there’s no calendar circle just yet. So don’t go pre-ordering your postseason Stanton jerseys—unless you like the suspense.

He still doesn't know when his rehab assignment will start. And given that he ghosted the entire preseason, he’ll need more than a couple at-bats to knock off the rust and find his swing (preferably the one that sends balls into orbit).

Look, the Yankees offense is fine, in that "we’re surviving but not thriving" kind of way. But when guys like Anthony "Mendoza" Volpe are swinging like they're auditioning for a role in a slapstick comedy, the lineup starts to look a little... patchy. Enter Stanton—the man, the myth, the muscle.

If we’re lucky, maybe we get a version of the guy who tore through the 2024 postseason with a .273 average, 7 bombs, 16 RBIs, and the kind of swagger that wins you an LCS MVP trophy. Or maybe we get a slightly less heroic Stanton who still smacks dingers and, fingers crossed, doesn’t mention his elbows every other inning.

Either way, stay tuned. Stanton’s coming—eventually. Probably. Hopefully. And when he does, let’s just pray the only thing he’s icing is the champagne.

BOONE NEEDS TO STOP CRYING

Hey Aaron "No Championships" Boone? How about worry about winning, not about a home run that was ruled a foul ball almost a week ago. Pathetic.

Poor manager, terrible leader and messed up priorities. That's what we have with Aaron Boone folks.

Aaron Boone is out here acting like a home run therapist instead of the actual manager of the New York Yankees. Days after Aaron Judge had a dinger called foul (that clearly wasn’t), Boone is still on his “it should’ve counted” world tour — like MLB’s gonna hand him a retroactive win and a cookie.

Apparently, Boone thinks the home plate umpire should’ve made the call instead of the third-base umpire. Why? Because Boone’s deep into the “vibes over vision” strategy of game management now. “I think it might be an easier call,” he said, pretending this is the real issue facing his team and not, say, the fact that half the pitching staff looks like they’re throwing with their non-dominant hand.

But wait, it gets better. Boone blames the whole fiasco on the stadium — Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training home — as if the foul pole personally conspired against Judge. “Not being in a major league park, with the third deck, complicates it,” he whined, suddenly auditioning for a role as MLB’s lead architect.

Here’s the thing, Boone: you're not an engineer, you're not Bob the Builder, and you’re definitely not fooling anyone. You're the manager of the New York Yankees. Maybe spend a little more time fixing your bullpen than phoning MLB to complain about phantom homers.

Boone even called MLB's senior VP of baseball ops, Michael Hill, to voice his frustration. Hill gave him the equivalent of a customer service “we understand your concern” and hung up. There’s no rule that allows Judge’s home run to be reinstated, no matter how many trees it landed in or how emotional Boone gets on the phone.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have actual problems. The pitching’s melting down, Volpe’s not delivering, and their closer is apparently going through an existential crisis. But sure, let’s focus on that one blown call a week ago. That’ll fix everything.

Boone is giving serious “guy who forgot his fantasy football login” energy — distracted, emotional, and clearly not locked in. The Yankees have a winning record for now, but with Boone managing like he’s running a Yelp review page for umpires, don’t count on that lasting.

So Boone, maybe stop blaming foul poles, third-base umps, and minor league sightlines, and try managing your team like the season actually matters. Or at least, fake it better.

A DEVIN WILLIAMS REPLACEMENT COULD BE HAPPENING

So… is it safe to say the Devin Williams experiment is starting to feel more like a failed science fair project? You know, the kind where the volcano doesn’t erupt, the judges smile politely, and your mom says “you tried your best” on the drive home. I mean seriously, we should’ve known something was off when the man put more fight into saving his beard than saving games. Priorities, Devin!

Look, I’m not here to coddle feelings—this is Bleeding Yankee Blue, not a group therapy session. And I’m just being honest when I say Williams is giving off big “not built for the Bronx” energy. Maybe it’s the soft vibes, maybe it’s the 9.00 ERA in eight games, or maybe it’s that ninth-inning implosion against Tampa where he coughed up a four-run lead like it was a hairball. Whatever it is, it ain’t inspiring confidence.

Now, the Yankees are still doing the whole “let’s be patient” routine. Sure, let’s all hold hands and wait while Williams rediscovers his “airbender” pitch—currently missing more action than a Mets playoff appearance. But here’s the thing: the Bronx isn’t exactly the most forgiving place to “figure it out.”

Meanwhile, Fernando Cruz is over here making hitters look foolish with his elite splitter. The guy’s struck out 19 in just 12 innings, and he doesn’t even have to bring drama with it. No beard debates, no excuses, just straight filth. Yeah, he can’t go multiple innings, but neither can Williams—at least not without heart palpitations from the fanbase.

Oh, and let’s not forget Jonathan Loáisiga, who’s lurking in the shadows like Batman. He’s throwing live BP down in Tampa and creeping toward a return. If he gets healthy, suddenly Williams isn’t just looking over his shoulder—he’s looking at the bullpen door closing behind him.

Still, if we’re talking about the next closer in line, I’ve got two words for you: Luke. Weaver. I’ve been pounding this drum louder than John Sterling on a home run call. The guy shows up, shuts up, works hard, and owns his outings like a grown-up. Even when his velocity dipped, he kept dealing. That’s what a Yankee closer should be—not someone who needs a pep talk and a beard stylist after every outing.

Don’t get me wrong, Cruz in the ninth would be wild and probably a little fun. But to me, the pecking order is clear: Weaver closes, Cruz sets up, and Devin either figures it out fast or waits in the car.  

At the end of the day, this isn’t personal. It’s just baseball in New York. You either handle the heat or you’re off the stove. And right now, Williams is looking like lukewarm leftovers.

THAT CARLOS CORREA RUMOR IS HOT & HEAVY AGAIN

Well,well, well… Newsweek is stirring the pot again, and this time it smells like Carlos Correa sautéed in pinstripes.

According to Zach Pressnell of Newsweek, the Yankees might want to go shopping in Minnesota’s discount aisle and grab Carlos Correa to play third base. You know, because clearly what the Yankees need right now is another shortstop to not play shortstop. Pressnell says, “Correa would slot in at third base for New York, but he has the flexibility to move all around the infield…” which sounds suspiciously like code for: “Hey, if Volpe continues hitting like a pitcher, we might have to move Correa back to short.” That's what I hope at least.

Because let’s be honest—Anthony Volpe’s batting average is slowly morphing into a really bad SAT score. At this point, he’s flirting so hard with the Mendoza Line, Mario Mendoza himself might be texting, “Bro, give me some space.”

Look, Correa has a hefty contract, and yes, the Yankees might ask the Twins to eat some of it—which is fitting, because the Twins might want to eat glass rather than keep paying Correa while he figures out how to hit again. But still, if the Twins are open to subsidizing a good chunk of that monster deal, and Brian Cashman can pay in expired prospects and used chewing gum, this rumor could have legs.

Of course, third base has been the Yankees’ version of musical chairs—except the music stopped last July, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. just sat down and stayed. Now that Jazz is back at second, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza have been doing their best impression of a third base platoon… and by “best impression,” I mean they’ve been holding the position hostage without making much noise with the bat.

To be fair, they’re trying their best. But trying doesn’t always hit baseballs, just ask Volpe. So naturally, when you hear Correa’s name again, the imagination runs wild—like a little league team after free donuts. Remember when Pete Caldera dropped that juicy little nugget in NorthJersey.com a while back? He reported that the Yankees were willing to ship off three of their top six prospects—George Lombard Jr., Chase Hampton, and Will Warren—for Correa. Back then it sounded like pure fantasy, but Caldera doesn’t throw smoke. If he’s hearing it, there’s fire—at least the rumor kind.

We even wrote about it back then: A BIG CARLOS CORREA NUGGET JUST DROPPED IN MY LAP—and yes, we’re still proud of that title. It felt real then. Then it didn’t. Now it does again. Such is the life of a Yankees rumor—rising from the ashes like a Bronx phoenix in cleats.

So, is Correa coming to the Yankees? Who knows. Is he playing third? Maybe. Should he play short instead? Possibly—especially if Volpe keeps trying to reinvent the art of the non-hit. 

What we do know is that this isn’t a trade rumor to ignore. It has names. It has legs. It has Caldera and now Newsweek. Stay tuned. Hold your hats. And maybe start watching Twins games… just in case.

YANKEES ARE MAKING BULLPEN ADJUSTMENTS

A little news for you all and it has to do with the Yankees bullpen. The Yankees have added some left-handed firepower to their bullpen, selecting Tyler Matzek to the roster and designating right-hander Yoendrys Gómez for assignment to clear space on both the active and 40-man rosters.

Matzek isn't just any bullpen arm—they're banking on a guy with postseason pedigree and a fastball that can still bring some heat. The move immediately upgrades a Yankees bullpen that, frankly, has been throwing glorified changeups—nobody currently averages over 94 MPH on their fastballs. Enter Matzek, whose four-seamer is sitting at a promising 94.6 MPH.

As Empire Sports Media noted: “The left-hander excelled in a bullpen role with the Atlanta Braves from 2020–2024, but injuries in the last few seasons have resulted in a decrease in fastball velocity and performance on the mound. Matzek, who was rehabbing from an injury in the Minor Leagues, had a 3.18 ERA and 28% K% through his five rehab outings.”

If the Yankees get the Matzek of old—or even a healthy remix—they might’ve just pulled off a sneaky midseason upgrade.