THIS FEELS LIKE YANKEE BASEBALL AGAIN!

Something strange happened while I watched the Yankees beat the Braves 5-4 today. I wasn't stressed out. I wasn't waiting for the stupid mistake, the lifeless at-bat or the inevitable Yankee self-destruction. I was actually sitting there enjoying baseball.

Imagine that.

The energy around this team has changed, and for me, George Lombard Jr. is right in the middle of it. The kid has been in the majors for less than a week, yet he already carries himself like he belongs here. It's not just the talent. It's the athleticism, professionalism and class. There is a confidence about Lombard that doesn't feel forced. He plays hard, handles himself the right way and brings an energy this team desperately needed.

Then he goes out Saturday and launches his second major-league home run. This kid is 21 years old. I'm not crowning him Derek Jeter. I'm not doing that nonsense. But there is something about the way Lombard carries himself in pinstripes that gets your attention. He looks comfortable. He looks prepared. Most importantly, he looks like he's having fun.

And that feeling is spreading. Spencer Jones was another huge part of it today.

Jones drove in two runs today, including a go-ahead triple against Chris Sale. That's what I've been waiting to see from these young players. Not hype. Not prospect rankings, not stuff that the Yankees are telling me these players are supposed to be. Just them being them. No Drama. Production in important moments against great players.

Jones and Lombard have injected athleticism and unpredictability into a Yankee lineup that too often felt slow and stale. Suddenly, I want to see what happens next.

And none of this works without pitching.

Gerrit Cole looked like Gerrit Cole.  Seven innings. Two runs. Nine strikeouts. He also became the fastest pitcher in Yankee history to reach 1,000 strikeouts with the club. But forget the milestone for a second. Cole pitched like an ace. That's what matters.

He went toe-to-toe with Sale and gave his team seven strong innings. If the Yankees are going anywhere meaningful, that's the Gerrit Cole they need. Yes, the bullpen made the ninth inning more interesting than necessary. Bednar eventually shut the door and the Yankees walked away with another win.

But I'm looking beyond one Saturday afternoon. This team feels different. For too long, watching the Yankees felt like work. Every game came with aggravation. Bad fundamentals. Bad decisions. Bad energy. Even wins sometimes felt exhausting. I was literally pissed off every day.

Right now I'm watching George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones and feeling something I haven't felt enough watching this team.

It's Fun.

Lombard especially has changed the temperature for me. There is a professionalism and maturity to this kid that jumps off the screen. He doesn't need theatrics. He just plays baseball, and he plays it beautifully. That's what Yankee baseball should look like.

Good young players. Athleticism. Great pitching. Energy. And fans actually enjoying themselves again. Maybe it's only the beginning. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Who knows.

For the first time in a while, I'm not watching the Yankees wondering how they're going to screw it up. I'm watching to see what George Lombard Jr. is going to do next. And somehow, this 21-year-old kid has made me believe again.

Wow, I miss that feeling. 

Meanwhile... Austin Wells is batting .170.  Next on the chopping block? Man I hope so.  We need a clean team... no more dead weight!