YANKEES IN FREE FALL & PLAYERS ARE ACTING WEIRD

There is no question the Yankee players are feeling it because they are not playing well. That part is obvious to anyone with two eyes and half a baseball brain. The more important question is: why are they so bad?

Let’s not sugarcoat this—the Yankees front office is an unmitigated disaster. A flaming clown car careening down River Avenue. This team bears no resemblance to the Yankees of the Derek Jeter era. Those Yankees stood for excellence. These Yankees stand around staring blankly after grounding into another inning-ending double play.

There’s no edge. No accountability. No fire. Just soft, stale baseball—and that rot starts at the top. Because when leadership is weak, when the manager is more interested in being a buddy than a boss, the product on the field suffers. And oh boy, is it suffering.

Now, I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but let me be clear: the Yankees are the horse. And someone needs to beat some urgency into this lifeless team.

Hal Steinbrenner’s silence through all of this is deafening. His stoic detachment is basically an endorsement of the chaos. If you were wondering whether Hal understands the depth of the mess, wonder no more. He doesn’t. He’s got the same clueless, deer-in-the-headlights energy as the front office he installed—and it's contagious.

Meanwhile, the players are getting weirder by the day. Case in point: Marcus Stroman. After being released—yes, released—his social media suggests he’s doing just fine, thanks. Flashing his private jet like he’s on vacation, not licking his wounds after flopping in the Bronx. 

That vibe? That “I’m good no matter what” attitude? Yeah, that’s pure Aaron Boone. It’s the signature Boone-brand delusion: accountability is optional, losing is fine, and if you suck, don’t worry, we’ll clap for you anyway.

Stroman was a bad fit from Day One. A mood-swing pitcher with a social media addiction, dropped into the biggest media market in the country like a grenade. Cashman tried to sell it as a savvy, under-the-radar steal. Instead, it blew up in his face. Stroman never belonged in pinstripes—he wasn’t built for this city, this pressure, or this moment.

And now, more uncertainty looms. Reports are swirling that Cody Bellinger may already be eyeing the exit. Can you blame him? He’s having a solid year—slashing .276/.327/.500 with 20 home runs—and holds a $25 million player option for next season. But after watching this circus unfold in the Bronx, he might prefer a one-way ticket to literally anywhere else.

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts Bellinger bolts and signs a “three- or four-year deal with the Giants.” Can’t say I disagree. The Giants are trending upward. Buster Posey’s calling the shots now and has already proven he’s willing to be aggressive. And unlike the Yankees, the Giants don’t treat August like nap time.

Let’s face it: why would Bellinger stay? To be a part of this? Amateur Hour featuring Aaron Boone and the All-Shrug Team?

We’re in the dog days of summer, but the Yankees are in the dead zone—flatlined in third place with no accountability, no urgency, and a manager who hasn’t had to answer a real question since 2021.

Nothing changes unless someone shakes this tree. But Boone stays, the front office hides, Hal naps, and the fans suffer. That’s the Bronx blueprint right now.

And that is the bottom line.