KEITH MCPHERSON SHOULD SHUT HIS PIE HOLE ABOUT CARLOS RODON

Athletes are finely tuned machines. We're talking about high-performance Ferraris, not beat-up go-karts with duct-taped bumpers. Their bodies are built, tested, and pushed to the limit, and to perform at the elite level, they have to be on—mentally, physically, emotionally—every damn day. So when a guy like Carlos Rodón, who is built like a bull and pitches like a warrior, says the 100-degree heat cooked him in Cincinnati last week, I believe him.

Let’s start here: Carlos Rodón has been an absolute stud lately. Is he perfect? No. But he’s trending in the right direction. It took a minute, sure—putting on the Yankee pinstripes comes with a different kind of pressure, and some guys need time to settle in. Rodón clearly has. And honestly? I’ve been rooting for him since the moment he stepped into the Bronx. That kind of work ethic, that kind of grit? Respect.

Last week he just spun six scoreless innings against the Reds, for crying out loud. The guy was dealing. But it was overwhelmingly humid-hot. A smoldering 100 degrees in Great American Ball Park, and Rodón had reached his boiling point after 88 pitches. He admitted it: “I was huffing and puffing a little bit... I could tell I was gassed.”   It reminds me of the line from Dude, Where's my Car?... "I know my body, dude."

Fair enough, right? WRONG—if you’re Keith McPherson.

This clown hopped on the airwaves and unloaded the most idiotic take of the week: “You need to be in better shape, buddy. You need to be better conditioned. You make $27 million to be a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.”

Oh really, Keith? That’s your expert analysis? That’s your high-powered radio insight? What a load of garbage. I get the whole "provocative hot take" schtick. But this wasn’t bold, or honest, or even remotely fair. It was just… fucking stupid.

Here’s what Keith doesn’t get—and probably never will: athletes aren’t superheroes. 

They're not bulletproof. And they sure as hell aren’t robots with rechargeable batteries and A/C units in their backs. Sometimes it's 100 degrees. Sometimes you’re not 100%. Sometimes your body says nope even when your brain is screaming let’s go. That’s just part of the gig.

You don’t know what you’re getting from any pitcher on any given night. Some days it’s dominance. Other days it’s a grind. You think an MLB contract makes you immune to exhaustion or dehydration? Come on. Baseball is chaos in cleats, and if you're gonna run your mouth behind a mic, at least try not to sound like a clueless troll.

I’ve never been a fan of Keith McPherson—he’s an echo chamber of nonsense, constantly talking but rarely saying anything. Rodón, meanwhile, has proven he belongs. He’s one of the best arms in the Yankees' rotation, and he’s earned every bit of the credit he’s getting right now.

So Keith? Sit down. Shut up. And leave the analysis to people who know what the hell they’re talking about.

REAL TALK OF A DEFENSIVE UPGRADE AT THIRD FOR THE YANKEES

Can someone check the calendar? Because it’s July, and somehow we’re still having the same “Yankees need to upgrade the infield” conversation we had back in March. At this point, it’s not just a roster flaw—it’s a running gag. The front office knows it. The fans know it. Your grandma probably knows it. But instead of fixing it, the Yankees are stuck in this weird holding pattern, trying to squeeze the last few drops of usefulness out of DJ LeMahieu and giving Oswald Peraza just enough playing time to keep his baseball instincts from evaporating.

It’s a sad state of affairs when the media is doing a better job identifying this team’s needs than the decision-makers in the Bronx. Honestly, just let Peraza play consistently already. Yeah, his bat hasn’t exploded yet, but that comes with reps. Give him a real shot—sink or swim. Worst case? He hits like Austin Wells, who somehow still punches in every day despite an OPS that screams “bench me.” I swear, if I have to watch Wells flail through one more lifeless at-bat, I’m filing a formal complaint. .217 and counting. It’s pathetic.

Now the rumor mill is cranking again, and here comes a familiar name: Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Pirates third baseman is back on the Yankees' radar, and I’ll admit—it’s intriguing. Defensively, he’s a freak. Human vacuum cleaner at third. Gold Glover.

 

Leads all third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved. If defense wins championships, this dude’s a cornerstone.

But then you look at his bat... yikes. His OPS is hanging out in the basement with Austin Wells’ batting average. You can't ignore that. The Yankees already have enough offensive black holes—do they really need another?

Still, you can’t deny Hayes fits a real need. He’d shore up the left side of the infield like concrete, and there’s a sweet sentimental angle too—his dad is Charlie Hayes, the same Charlie who caught the final out of the ’96 World Series. That’s baseball poetry. Between Ke’Bryan and Cody Bellinger, this could be a “sons of Yankees legends” summer revival tour.

The Pirates might bite if the Yankees dangle enough juicy prospects. The question is—does Cashman have the stones to make a real move? Or are we just going to keep patching holes and praying for miracles? Or do we just stay?

Yankees fans are out here watching the same broken record spin on repeat. It’s time for action. Time to stop pretending the infield is “fine.” It’s not. Make the trade. Shake things up. And for the love of Mo, stop playing Austin Wells. 

SEVERINO & THE A'S ARE ON THE OUTS - COULD HE BE ON THE MOVE?

We just saw Luis Severino pitch in the Bronx for the first time since he left after the 2023 season. It must be weird pitching in Yankee stadium again after he bragged about how much easier it was to pitch in Queens then in the Bronx. Orange and Blue agreed with him, enough to establish himself as a viable starter again and cash in with the A's.

It's not such a happy homecoming for Sevy though. He followed the money and cashed in on a three-year, $67 million contract with the A's. It was a splash the A's have never made before....and one they felt they needed to make. It's hard to attract talent when you are the A's and average more than 100 losses in your last three seasons. Now add that the A's don't have a major league stadium to play in right now and that just went from really hard to nearly impossible to attract players. Sevy took the bait, he took the money the A's were offering because no one else was.

And now he is unhappy, read more HERE. Sevy wants a REAL stadium to pitch in.
"We don't have that at home right now. It's not the same. It's not the same atmosphere. We don't have a lot of fans. Our clubhouse is in left field. So, when we play day games, we have to just be in the sun. There's no air conditioning there, too. It's really tough."

Welcome to playing in Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Sevy. Aside from the fact that there are no MLB caliber amenities to offer, even when the A's played in the Coliseum, they didn't have a lot of fans, either. It's not like people were showing up in droves to see the A's play even bigger name teams. You get paid big money to play in a minor league park. You ignored the situation at hand for the money. 

So now the A's front office is unhappy that Sevy is talking about how unhappy he is. They are ready to trade him, but that won't be easy. Sevy could be one of the most attractive starters available, so while that should work in his favor it might not be that easy.

This trade deadline could look a lot different. With an expanded playoff format there are many teams that are not buried in the standings and can still fight their way into possible playoff berth. This means a lack of teams in "sell off" mode. Not good if you are looking to buy, but this could be a great reason for the A's to try and cash in and sell.

There's just one problem. Sevy's road and home splits are night and day. He flourishes on the road, before Sunday's game he had a 2.27 ERA, but a 6.79 ERA at home....and no wins. Very different story. Would a team take Sevy in hopes to help his splits better and make a run into the postseason? Maybe, but paying him upwards of $57 million left on his deal is another story. And to make it more interesting, as much as the A's front office wants to trade him, it might cause more problems than solve. Shedding Sevy's contract would risk potential grievances from MLB Players Association, read more HERE. It is estimated "The A's could receive $70MM or more in revenue sharing after drawing the worst attendance figures in baseball last year, which would mean the club needs to reach a player payroll of $105MM or more for luxury tax purposes in 2025 in order to avoid risking a grievance." The A's need to add payroll to avoid grievances, not reduce. 

So if this grievance wasn't a real possibility, Sevy might be on the move. But it's more likely that Sevy and the A's are stuck with each other....so they better make the best of it. Severino has not held back, everyone knows he is unhappy about pitching at a minor league stadium. Unfortunately, that was an issue he was well aware of when he agreed to terms with the A's who won't have a major league stadium for a couple more years. He chose the money. Now he's gotta deal with it. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WE'RE HEARING A RONALD ACUNA JR. WHISPER

Every damn day I’m on the hunt—scouring the internet like a lunatic, clicking links I probably shouldn’t, dodging hot takes that should be illegal—just to bring YOU the good stuff. The real stuff. The stuff Yankee fans crave. While Bleeding Yankee Blue might not have its name etched in gold atop the baseball media mountain, let’s be honest: we’re unique, smart, sarcastic, and absolutely required reading for the pinstripe-obsessed.

And today? Oh baby, I found a nugget so juicy, it might just shake the Bronx.

Ronald Acuña Jr. to the Yankees? Interesting. With the sting of missing a World Series in 2024 still fresh, and Juan Soto ghosting the Bronx for some weird blue-and-orange alternate reality, the Yankees are trying to keep the engine running. They're sitting decent right now—47-35—and the bats look like they need caffeine and a stern talking-to.

So, what do you do when Judge is carrying the entire team on his back like a human freight train and Giancarlo Stanton has only played eight damn games? You call Atlanta, and you ask about their MVP.

The outfield right now—Judge, Bellinger, Grisham—is doing fine. But "fine" doesn’t win championships. Fans know that, why doesn't Aaron Boone? We want firepower. We want fear. We want pitchers across the league peeing their pants when they see your lineup card. Acuña Jr. is that guy.

Sure, he's missed a ton of time—just 49 games in 2024 and barely 30 so far in 2025—but when he does play? He's still electric. MVP-level explosive. And here's where it gets interesting: that injury history might finally make him... available.

And that’s where the Yankees should strike. Think about it—Acuña has only played more than 119 games twice in eight years. That’s a red flag for some GMs. But for Brian Cashman? That’s a green light bargain. The Braves, by the way, somehow managed an 89-73 season in 2024 with Acuña basically a spectator. They're deep. They're flexible. They can afford to listen.

If the Yanks can package some combo of competent vets and a solid prospect or two, this could be real. Like, actually real. This is the moment. Don’t wait. Don’t overthink.  We’re trying to win a damn ring while Aaron Judge is in his absolute peak—and adding Acuña would be flipping the script in a way that screams, “We’re going for it. Right now.”

Imagine Acuña Jr. in that short porch? Imagine him and Judge back-to-back? That’s not a lineup—it’s a crime scene.

So yeah, Bleeding Yankee Blue might not be your traditional news source, but we’re finding nuggets. We find these stories. We talk straight. We don’t sugarcoat. We don’t play nice. And when something seismic is brewing—we bring it right to your screen with a smirk and a swagger.

Bookmark us. Check in daily. You’ll be smarter for it.

THE COBRA IS DEAD

Dave Parker—“The Cobra”—wasn’t just a baseball player. He was a movement in motion. One of the most electrifying and intimidating outfielders the game has ever seen, Parker passed away Saturday at the age of 74, following a long, brave fight with Parkinson’s disease.

And while his death is deeply sad, there’s no ignoring the sheer impact he left behind.

Let’s talk greatness. The man was the 1978 National League MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a two-time World Series champion—first with the Pirates in 1979 and then with the A’s a decade later in 1989. He won back-to-back NL batting titles, had three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and was the MVP of the ’79 All-Star Game. Oh, and he also won the very first MLB Home Run Derby in 1985. Just for fun.

He finished his career with 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, and 1,493 RBIs. He batted .290 over 19 seasons, from 1973 to 1991. Those aren’t just Hall of Fame numbers—those are the stats of a cornerstone. A franchise player. A guy pitchers feared and teammates admired.

And yet, Dave Parker’s legacy isn’t just about numbers. It’s about presence. Parker was cool. Parker was powerful. Parker was the kind of player who looked like he could bench press the dugout and still outrun your center fielder. He had a cannon for an arm, a swing that cracked like thunder, and a confidence that didn’t ask for your permission.

He was the heart and soul of the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates. And in Oakland, he became a mentor to young sluggers like Mark McGwire and José Canseco. His influence went beyond what showed up in the box score.

But we can’t talk about Parker without acknowledging the darker chapters. In 1985, he was named in the Pittsburgh drug trials—a sweeping scandal that pulled back the curtain on widespread cocaine use in Major League Baseball. Parker, along with several other players, admitted to drug use and was among those initially suspended. The suspensions were ultimately lifted in exchange for community service, drug testing, and fines. It was a black mark—but one that speaks to a larger moment in baseball’s history, not just an individual failing.

And here's the thing: people make mistakes. Athletes are human. Parker owned his missteps and kept moving forward. That, too, is part of the story. Like Pete Rose, Parker showed us that greatness can be complicated—and that flawed doesn’t mean forgotten.

Personally, I’ll always remember Dave Parker as a Pirate, because that’s where he roared the loudest. But he meant something everywhere he went. He played with passion. He played with fire. And when he was at his best, no one—and I mean no one—played the game harder.

Rest in peace, Cobra. The game was better because you played it.

I'M HERE FOR DEVIN WILLIAMS & HIS RESILIENCE

Let me start with a confession: I love Luke Weaver. Love him. I want him riding in on a white horse in the ninth, mowing down hitters like it’s his divine mission. I want him as the closer, and I won’t apologize for it.

That said… I'm not blind. Devin Williams — yes, that Devin Williams, the one who was serving up ninth-inning heartburn earlier this season — might actually be figuring it out.

After a rough patch that saw him lose the closer gig and, frankly, a good chunk of our collective patience, Williams is clawing his way back into relevance. He’s rocking a 4.75 ERA with 11 saves, and while that stat line might not scream “dominance,” the trend is headed in the right direction. June’s been kind. He’s slowly lowering that ERA and, more importantly, he’s stopped talking about his beard like it’s Samson’s hair.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The man has started calling his own pitches using PitchCom — a bold move that screams “let me cook.”

“I wasn’t comfortable with the way the game was being called,” Williams told the New York Daily News. “So instead of, I don’t know, trying to make other people see what I’m seeing, I took it into my own hands, and it’s been good since.”

I respect that. No more passive-aggressive vibes about catchers or coaches. Just, “Give me the controls, I’ll fly the plane.” That’s the kind of energy I can get behind — provided he doesn’t nosedive into another blown save.

And it looks like he's embracing the modern bullpen philosophy too:

“I feel like the bullpen works better when guys are going one inning,” he said via MLB.com.

Look, we’re not in the Goose Gossage three-inning save era anymore. We’re in the land of matchups, metrics, and max-effort bullets for one frame. If Williams can give us one clean inning — just one — that’s enough. And if he and Weaver can morph into some twisted reincarnation of Wetteland and Rivera? That’s the dream.

So, while I still want Luke Weaver slamming the door more often than not, I’m absolutely rooting for Devin Williams to rise to the occasion. Because if you can survive New York’s back pages, PitchCom drama, and a full-blown crisis of confidence — and still come out chucking gas — you’ve earned a shot.

Let’s get fierce. Let’s get filthy. And let’s hope one of these guys — or both — becomes a lockdown legend. Let’s go Yankees!

SPENCER JONES IS COMING, GUYS

Sound the alarms. Spencer Jones, the Yankees' 6’6” left-handed power tower, just punched his ticket from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. And yes, it’s exciting enough to temporarily forget how much the big-league club struggles to hit with runners in scoring position.

Jones, often billed as “Aaron Judge Lite” (or Judge’s mirror-image lefty cousin), is the Yankees’ No. 2 overall prospect, trailing only George Lombard Jr., a shortstop/second baseman hybrid who’s currently lurking just ahead of him on the organizational depth chart. 

Drafted 25th overall in 2022, Jones was originally a two-way unicorn until Tommy John surgery in 2020 made him ditch the mound and fully embrace the art of mashing baseballs instead.

And mash he has.

In 49 games with Somerset this season, Jones was basically living in the box score. He posted a .274 batting average and a .594 slugging percentage. Sprinkle in 16 home runs, 42 runs scored, and an overall offensive profile trending in the right direction, and you’ve got a guy doing everything short of sending smoke signals to the Yankees’ front office that he’s ready for more.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and dingers. His strikeout rate sits at a frightening 33.7%, and in 2024 alone, he whiffed on a staggering 40% of swings—including an unsettling tendency to swing through fastballs right down Broadway. Basically, if the pitch comes in with heat, Jones sometimes looks like he’s swinging at ghosts. But when he does connect? Let’s just say Statcast usually needs a breather.

The Yankees are reportedly working to keep his bat on a flatter path and in the zone longer, but his raw tools are undeniable—elite bat speed, freakish leverage, and exit velocities that make pitchers question their life choices. But the finesse? Still under construction.

Now, enter the speculation: Could Jones leapfrog his way to the majors later this year, possibly in a September call-up? The name Jasson Domínguez inevitably comes up in that convo. Domínguez, once the golden child of the farm system, has been solid if unspectacular since returning from injury. He’s batting .253—respectable, especially compared to Austin Wells’ subaquatic .217—and showing signs of life, even if his defense has been spotty. So would the Yankees really bump “The Martian” for the new skyscraper in town?

Maybe. Maybe not.

It’s not clear when Jones will make his major-league debut—but it’s looking more like when, not if. For now, Scranton becomes the lab for the Yankees' newest science experiment. If the contact issues stabilize, don’t be shocked if Jones brings that towering frame and game-changing pop to Yankee Stadium sooner rather than later.

And if nothing else, Triple-A pitchers are about to get a crash course in what it feels like to give up 450-foot regrets.

DO THE YANKEES HAVE AN EXTRA INNINGS PROBLEM OR A BAD BULLPEN MANAGEMENT PROBLEM?

Great and talented hitting can help win ballgames, but managers can also lose games for teams, and let's not forget that.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Yankees go to extra innings... and then fall flat on their pinstriped faces. At this point, “free baseball” just means free heartbreak. And while some fans will point fingers at the players, the real problem is sitting in the dugout, flipping through his bullpen chart like it’s a Cheesecake Factory menu — yes, we’re talking about Aaron Boone.

Let’s get to the meat of it: the Yankees are 1-6 in extra-inning games this season. One and six. That’s not a slump — that’s a full-on meltdown with a side of mismanagement. And while the offense has generally been strong this year, they completely vanish when the clock strikes inning ten. But the real culprit isn’t just the cold bats — it’s Boone's baffling bullpen decisions that keep sinking the ship.

Case in point: the recent loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The Yankees got three solid, scoreless innings from Weaver, Williams, and Leiter Jr. — and then, predictably, disaster struck. Boone left Leiter in for a second inning of work in the 11th, where he promptly served up three hits and two runs, handing Cincinnati the win like a door prize. Yankees lose. Again. Shocker.

And remember that lovely little memory from the 2024 World Series? Yankees clinging to life, Freddie Freeman up in a high-leverage situation, and instead of going to Tim Hill — a lefty built for that moment — Boone decides to toss Nestor Cortes into the fire. It was a choice. Not a good one, but a choice nonetheless. This is one of my favorite podcasts and I watched it after that Cortes game.

Boone’s bullpen management isn’t just questionable — it’s practically a case study in how not to handle pressure. He doesn’t trust his best arms in the biggest spots, and he rides guys too long like he’s playing MLB The Show on rookie mode. It’s maddening. If there’s a blueprint for how to lose winnable games, Aaron Boone laminated it.

Let’s not sugarcoat this anymore: Boone is not a good in-game manager. He may have the clubhouse vibes of a chill middle school gym teacher, but that doesn’t cut it in October — or June, apparently. And while the Yankees are still stacked with talent, it won’t matter if the man steering the ship can’t tell port from starboard.

Here’s the hard truth: the Yankees aren’t winning a World Series with Boone calling the shots. Not this year. Not next year. Not ever. Leadership matters, especially when the game gets tight, the innings get long, and the margin for error shrinks to nothing. Boone folds like a beach chair every time.

So yes, the Yankees have an extra-inning problem — but that’s just a symptom. The disease? Boone’s decision-making. If the front office is serious about championships, they need to stop pretending this guy is the answer. Because right now, he’s the reason we keep getting the wrong result.

Fire Boone. Free the bullpen. Fix the Yankees.

DJ LEMAHIEU TO THE BRAVES...

 This scenario is interesting to say the least.

Look, it's my opinion that DJ LeMahieu has been good since coming back. Not vintage DJ—you know, the hit machine who made pitchers question their life choices—but definitely serviceable, even sneakily solid. He’s holding down second base with the grace of a guy who’s done it before (because, well, he has). And honestly, I’m good with that.

While a chunk of Yankee fans have already emotionally moved on from DJ like he’s an ex they pretend not to miss, I’m still riding with him. Could he be better? Sure. But considering he’s coming back from injury, he’s actually giving us a lot to work with. The glove still works, the bat’s waking up, and he’s not hurting the team. That's a win in my book.

Now, just when things start to stabilize, here comes ClutchPoints with a juicy little trade pitch from Zachary Howell that made me do a double take:

Yankees get: Ozzie Albies
Braves get: DJ LeMahieu + the Yankees #5 prospect, Roderick Arias

At first glance? Sounds spicy. Albies is a three-time All-Star, after all. But let’s slow our roll.

The Braves aren’t trading Albies unless the wheels absolutely fly off in Atlanta and they find themselves buried in the NL East. Even then, it’s a stretch. They’re not in the business of handing out discounts on star players just because you included a top-5 prospect and offered DJ like a coupon.

Now, Albies hasn’t been his usual self this season—he’s batting .224/ with just six dingers. Not ideal. But he’s started to show signs of life since being moved lower in the order. And let’s be honest, the short porch at Yankee Stadium could do wonders for his swing. Many believe so. It's the kind of scenery change that might actually work.

But Newsweek chimed in with this line to try and build an argument for moving DJ, “The New York Yankees have a need in their infield, specifically at second base.” Respectfully? That’s nonsense. 

Second base is not the issue right now. LeMahieu’s been just fine there. The Yankees have actual holes to plug—second base isn’t on that list in my opinion.

Look, this trade could happen in some wild alternate universe where the Braves rebuild and the Yankees suddenly get aggressive. But let’s not push DJ out the door just because someone got creative with the trade machine.

For now? I’m cool with DJ. He’s steady. He’s a pro. He’s doing his job. And in this Yankees lineup, that’s saying something.

LEADERSHIP IS LOST BUT EJECTIONS ARE PLENTIFUL!

 

"I don't want him getting tossed there. I want me to get tossed there in those situations." 

- Aaron Boone

We all know that Aaron Boone is a pro at getting tossed out of a game. He's much better at causing the right kind of shenanigans to get tossed than he is managing a baseball team. It's what Boone is best at! Bless his little heart.... too bad he just doesn't have it in him to be a good leader. I wish he was half as good at being a good leader as he is at getting thrown out of a game.

The worst part is, that just spreads. It spreads even faster amongst a team that is in a massive skid that can't win games. Boone's talents for getting ejected have spread to his players. It's no secret that Jazz Chisholm was screwed in Tuesday's game. Umpire Mark Wegner made a bad call. It's not surprising anymore, since that is "the norm" in today's game, but what is surprising is how much rope Wegner gave Chisholm to let him get it out of his system before he was tossed. 

That was ejection number two for Chisholm this season. I get it. And for the record, I don't disagree I'd rather have Boone get tossed there. But in that scenario, a player can strategically say their peace while at the plate and then maybe have a Paul O'Neill moment in the dugout but then when it's time to go out to the field you reset and get your head in the game. Even Aaron Judge was trying to calm him down between innings. Instead, Chisholm kept carrying on in the field and then had to mouth off to Wegner and earn his ejection. 

Bad calls are a part of this game (especially in recent years). Expressing frustration in the moment is understandable, but Chisholm let it consume him long after. I'll even say that Wegner might have fanned the flames by staring at him in the field and causing Chisholm to bark at him. Hell, you can even say Jose Trevino helped spark that tantrum. This is just another example of a lack of fundamentals and leadership. This team is flawed on so many levels and now we see it highlighted when the ball isn't even in play. What Chisholm did only hurt the team when we are already in a bad slump.

"Everybody knows how I am: If I'm going to go at an umpire, I'm going to go at an umpire," Chisholm said HERE. "I'm not going to hide it, none of that. If I wanted to say something to him, I would have said it. Nobody's going to stop me from saying something to an umpire if I want to. I'm a grown man. So for me not even to say nothing to you, and me to ask you why you're looking at me and you toss me, I feel like there's a problem."

He's a grown man alright, he's just not acting like it and it's causing his team (that is already struggling) to suffer the consequences. There is a problem....in this scenario it's his reaction to a known problem called bad umpiring. That doesn't mean it's time to make it worse!

Sorry Jazz, I like you.... but the problem was you. It's time to pull your head out of your arse and rise above. We need to get back to winning series, and this doesn't help.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

I'D LOVE IKF BACK! BUT WOULD HE WANT TO COME BACK?

My guy Isiah Kiner-Falefa — the ultimate utility player. The duct tape of a baseball roster. Currently manning shortstop duties for the Pirates, IKF is once again floating into the trade rumor mill, and wouldn’t you know it? The Yankees are lurking like an old flame scrolling through your Instagram stories. I kid, I kid... you don't have an ex-girlfriend.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, both the Giants and the Yankees are “keeping a close eye” on the 30-year-old infielder as we approach the MLB trade deadline. Why? Well, his contract is expiring, he’s affordable, and frankly, he’s exactly the kind of guy a team wants on its roster — versatile, low-maintenance, and not allergic to hard work.

Now, look. I’ll admit something here that I know not every Yankee fan will agree with: I liked IKF. There, I said it. When he was with the Yankees, he was a gamer. Played wherever they told him, kept his mouth shut, hustled his tail off, and smiled through what amounted to a thankless role. You needed a shortstop? IKF. Someone to fill in at third? IKF. A little outfield sprinkle? Yep, IKF. You needed someone to sit quietly while the organization drooled over Anthony Volpe like he was Jeter 2.0? IKF did that too.

But here’s the real kicker — he was set up to fail at shortstop. The Yankees sold us this dream that he’d lock it down like a young Andrelton Simmons. Instead, when mistakes happened (as they tend to in baseball), he became the scapegoat. It was Gleyber Torres 2.0: yank a guy out of his natural position, watch the errors pile up, then blame him for being human. Meanwhile, Volpe and Wells? Teflon. Mistake? “He’s learning.” Slump? “He’s maturing.” Strikeout with the bases loaded? “The analytics like his swing path.”

IKF didn’t get that kind of grace. He got the cold shoulder, the hot seat, and eventually, the exit.

And now the Yankees might want him back? I don’t know, man. If I’m IKF, I might just tell them to go kick rocks. Or better yet — send them a nice thank-you card with no return address.

Still, the rumors are swirling, and IKF could plug several holes for the Bombers. He’s hitting a not-so-sexy .216  and he’s proven he can handle pretty much any position not called “pitcher.”

The Yankees are doing a lot of things right this year. They’re winning games, their rotation’s been surprisingly durable, and Aaron Judge is once again reminding everyone he is, in fact, a baseball god. But they could use a guy like IKF — someone who can cover a lot of ground and doesn’t need a five-game hitting streak to keep his name on the lineup card.

So here we are. Could a reunion happen? Sure. Should it? Maybe. But if it does, let’s just hope this time around the Yankees give him the respect he deserves — and maybe don’t throw him to the wolves just because the golden boy is “still developing.”

IKF doesn’t need the Yankees. But the Yankees might just need him. Stay tuned.

COULD SANDY ALCANTARA TO THE BRONX BE A REALITY?

Look, credit where credit's due—the Yankees have been making some solid moves lately. They’re not a total mess. The vibes are trending in the right direction, and when you’ve got someone like Max Fried leading your rotation, life gets a whole lot easier. Fried takes the mound and, more often than not, the Yankees walk away with a W. That’s what an ace does—he gives you a real shot every five days. But hey, you know what would make things even better?

More pitching.

Yep, I said it. Starting pitching is baseball’s version of real estate: location, location, location… and a little depth wouldn't hurt either. Which is why the latest buzz around Sandy Alcántara is worth turning up the volume on.

FanSided’s Zach Pressnell tossed out the idea this week that the Yankees should make a serious run at Alcántara before the trade deadline. And frankly? He might be on to something.

“New York needs to go out and get a starter before the trade deadline and it seems like it's only a matter of time before the front office gains a sense of urgency and pulls off a deal," wrote Pressnell. “The first name at the top of their wish list should be the aforementioned Alcántara.”

He’s not wrong. Alcántara may not be a sure thing right now, but his ceiling is skyscraper-high. Remember, he inked a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022 and immediately turned around and won the NL Cy Young that same year. The man was untouchable.

Now yes, 2023 was a disaster for him. Tommy John wiped out his season, and 2024 didn’t exactly start off hot either. He’s currently sporting a rough 6.69 ERA—but let’s pump the brakes before we panic. Since June started? He’s rocking a 2.74 ERA. He’s stopped giving up crooked numbers, consistently getting into the sixth, and slowly looking like the Sandy we remember.

So, let’s dream for a second. Picture this rotation in September: Max Fried, Luis Gil, Sandy Alcántara, Ryan Yarbrough, Clarke Schmidt.

That’s not just depth—that’s October fuel.

And let’s not forget, we at Bleeding Yankee Blue were already on the Alcántara train. Back on March 7, we wrote about the bold call:

“If the Yankees are serious about making a deep October run, they need someone who can dominate in the playoffs and take the pressure off Cole.”

It was ESPN’s Eric Karabell that predicted this conversation here—Sandy pitching a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game and then slipping into pinstripes 10 days later. Far-fetched? Maybe. But we’ve seen stranger things. Remember David Cone’s arrival? 

Bottom line: the Yankees are trending up, but if they really want to go from good to great, the next move is obvious. Go get Sandy. Add one more horse to the stable, and this October might look a whole lot more promising.

Stay tuned—Brian Cashman’s phone better be fully charged.

YANKEES CALL UP A TRIPLE-A SURPRISE TO START TODAY!

Fingers crossed, Ryan Yarbrough's right oblique strain is as mild as the Yankees say it is, and hopefully he doesn't miss a lot of time. In the meantime, the Yankees need (another) quick fix to a rotation that has been reeling from hits all season. The Yankees have made a move....

Someone else has to fill a spot in the rotation, and it's going to be Allan Winans today taking on the Reds. The Yankees claimed him from the Braves back in January and has a 7.20 ERA in eight career starts at the big league level. That part sounds scary, but since the Yankees snagged him he has quietly been dominating down in Triple-A with a 0.90 ERA over 50 innings. A 0.90 ERA this late in June is nothing to turn your nose up at. That's pretty impressive, not gonna lie. So, that earns Winans a big league call-up. If he performs well, it's reasonable to see the Yankees giving him a few turns int he rotation until Yarbrough or possibly Marcus Stroman are ready to see game action.

This will be Winan's first opportunity to start. He was called up in April when Stroman was put on the Injured List, but he didn't see any game action. Aaron Boone of course, is salivating over Winan's success down in Triple-A since then, "to be this deep in the season as a starting pitcher and have a sub-1.00 ERA, it's been really, really excellent," Boone said. "Hopefully he brings some of that up here with us (Monday)," read more HERE.

I hope that success translates up in the majors, we need all the help we can get right now. I will say, it is encouraging to hear he's struck out a career-best 10.6 batters per nine innings while limiting walks at 2.3 walks per nine innings and home runs at less than one per nine innings. He's been hot down in the minors, and I just hope he can keep it going against the Reds. At least he's pitching against the Reds and not the Red Sox or Angels right now. Timing is everything.

The Yankees have bandaged a pitching staff all season. It's definitely NOT the way to go, but we've managed so far. Let's just hope the streak stays alive.....and hope Yarbrough comes back sooner rather than later. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YARBROUGH IS HURT, GUYS

In a fresh round of roster roulette, the Yankees have summoned left-hander Jayvien Sandridge from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After bouncing around the farm system like a guy trying to find a seat at a sold-out concert—Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A—Sandridge finally gets the call to the big stage at age 26.

In the minors this season, Sandridge has been steady: a 1-1 record, a 3.00 ERA, and a couple of saves over 10 outings. Now, he joins a Yankees bullpen that’s less “relief squad” and more “walking wounded.”

With Ryan Yarbrough hitting the 15-day IL thanks to an oblique strain, Sandridge slides in to fill the lefty void. The timing? Well, the Yankees are desperately trying to crawl back into the win column after a faceplant of a losing streak, so reinforcements are very welcome.

Injuries continue to tear through the bullpen like a bad Yelp review, and with the All-Star break looming, the hope is simple: that Yarbrough returns in one piece and this patchwork relief crew can hold things together long enough to matter in October.

MICHAEL KAY DOESN'T GET TO TELL US HOW TO FEEL AS YANKEE FANS

I don't need to be reprimanded by Michael Kay about how us fans should feel about how good Anthony Volpe should be.  He is so short sided in this clip and he clearly misremembers the hype surrounding Volpe. And for him to sit there and suggest that the shortstop doesn't have to be the best player and compare Anthony Volpe to Bucky Dent "doesn't mean anything to me.  For one, it starts with the manager and at the time it was Billy Martin.  You can't try to even compare Boone to Martin because you'd be wrong. Two... Volpe isn't a good player. Simply use the eye test... he isn't a great player under pressure and he sure as hell won't be a franchise favorite for the New York Yankees as we move forward in our fandom.

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The best part? We're fans. We can feel however the hell we want.  Michael Kay doesn't get to tell us we're wrong, in fact his grandfather motivation mentality might be the most tired exercise on the internet right now.  

Kay says "You're saying he should be Derek Jeter."  No, we didn't say that... the media planted it, and don't get me wrong, the Yankees loved it... especially when things are going good.  Here are some of the headlines and the quotes:

NJ.com (Feb. 08, 2022) 

Is Anthony Volpe the next Derek Jeter? Fellow Yankees prospect says hype is legit

“Yeah, I can definitely see he’s being compared to Jeter now", said Yankees pitching prospect Ken Waldichuk told NJ Advance Media in a recent interview.

NJ.com (January 26. 2024) 

Yankees greats make bold Anthony Volpe prediction

"As a matter of fact, I think Anthony is more polished than Jeter was at the same time." -- Willie Randolph

Essentially Sports (May 26, 2024)

The Next Derek Jeter? Anthony Volpe Nears Legendary New York Yankees Captain’s Hitting Record

"... there have been comparisons with Derek Jeter." --Sanskar Dubey, writer

And what I don't get about Michael Kay is the fact that his own peers started this comparison and yet Michael Kay has the balls to come after the casual or diehard fan and try and blame us? 

Here's my thoughts on this dude, plain and simple; Kay works for YES, which means he doesn’t just cover the Yankees — he works for them. So naturally, he can’t go scorched earth on Anthony Volpe, no matter how lackluster the kid’s been. He’s paid to keep the Yankee narrative clean, shiny, and uncontroversial. And this latest outburst? Peak corporate shill.

Kay went off on Instagram, throwing a tantrum defending Volpe like he’s Derek Jeter reincarnated, telling fans to “get ahold of yourselves” and practically calling Volpe a lock for 20 homers and 90 RBIs. First of all, those projections feel more like fan fiction than forecasting. But even if they were real — nobody's screaming about personal stats, Michael. We’re screaming because Volpe vanishes in key moments and plays like a ghost when games actually matter.

Kay’s next pearl of wisdom? “Do you not remember that he was the shortstop on the Yankees team that went to the World Series last year?” Yes, we remember — because we LOST. Since when is showing up and failing now a badge of honor? Did we lower the bar that much?

And don’t even get us started on the "hitting .250 is good enough" nonsense. First off, he's not batting .250. What crack is that take laced with? .250 used to get you benched in the Bronx. Now, thanks to Kay’s new analytics-lite, it gets you a gold star and a bouquet of excuses.

Then Kay — self-appointed moral authority of Yankees fandom — tells us to stop screaming that Volpe has to go. Um, excuse us? We pay to watch this team. We pay for seats, parking, hot dogs, overpriced beer — and the right to be frustrated when the shortstop of the future looks more like the shortstop of Trenton.

The truth is, Volpe's not it. Maybe he will be one day. But right now? There are better athletes sitting on the bench while we get nightly "just good enough" mediocrity. And Kay’s desperate spin-doctoring isn’t helping — it’s insulting.

Let’s call this what it is: Kay, doing his duty as the Yankees’ corporate hype man. His job isn’t to tell the truth. It’s to manage the fan temperature and protect the brand.  That ESPN New York post is masked as commentary, but it's really there to attempt to calm the waters and who better than Kay, the guy with a direct deposit from Steinbrenner HQ?

But here’s the rub, Michael: you don’t get to lecture fans. You don’t buy tickets. You don’t ride the 4 train or drive an hour and a half home in traffic after another lifeless Volpe night. We do. So don’t tell us how to feel. Don’t scold us for not falling in line with the company narrative. Fans have every right to want more. We’re not unreasonable — we’re just tired of being gaslit by people who get paid to smile and say, “It’s fine.” What happened to you, dude.

Kay, stop telling us how to think. We don’t like Volpe right now. And that’s okay. You can keep doing PR. We’ll keep telling the truth.

And for the record? Comparing Volpe to Bucky Dent? Please. Bucky won at least one World Series. Boone couldn’t manage a Little League team into a playoff. The only similarity is that both wear pinstripes — and lately, that's starting to mean less and less.

Do better, Michael. Or at least, stop pretending you're not reading from the Yankees’ script. Bad look, dude.