SCOTT BORAS HAS REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF CRAZY!

Winter would be very tame if there was no super agent Scott Boras. An offseason with no Boras would not be as entertaining but he would annoy less people. Boras is baseball's most powerful agent but he's also really freaking strange.

Boras is many things. He's sought after by many players, especially all of the big names but also hated by many fans. He's a smooth talker that can convince owners to open their wallets and spend the big bucks because they NEED his players. He's the schmoozer and entertainer that has done so well at it that we all have grown to despise him and now he's added one more quality....he's also a bizarro wannabe poet.

In case you missed it, Boras wants us all to know just how many suitors Cody Bellinger has and he did it in poetic fashion, read more HERE. He got cutesy at the Winter Meetings yesterday. Now that the Phillies have locked up Kyle Schwarber, he's doing what Boras does best....trying to drive up Cody's price.
"It's not for me to JUDGE, but great players see RED if they have a big bat YANKED out of their lineup," Boras said. "I haven't MET a team that DODGES a five-tool player. To PHIL the center field need is a GIANT step towards the playoffs. North and South, outfielders that fly with power, they're rare BIRDS. In the offseason, there's a lot of startup to organizations, and for that reason, there's a lot of ANGEL investors that are looking for very versatile outfielders. So other than that, Belli doesn't have much interest."

When I read that, I thought I was back in English Literature class creating sonnets and haiku's or something. That's just weird and on a whole new level of crazy. So going off of Boras' poetry session the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Giants, Orioles and Reds are all in on Cody. I don't think the Phillies are as IN on Cody as Boras wants us to believe now that they have a deal with Schwarber. Again, this is what Boras does he drives up the price.

I don't see the Reds here, Cody is going to a big market with bigger money and the Angels are kind of funny too. Bigger market but just not realistic. This could easily come down to the big three once again....the Yankees, Mets and Billion dollar Dodgers. The Mets could be more aggressive now that they have lost out on Edwin Diaz and the Dodgers just have to spend money like they are in Congress.

How much does Cody want to be a Yankee? I guess we will have to wait and see. There's one thing that no other team has....the nostalgia that the Yankees have for the Bellinger family. It's a legacy connection. Like father Clay Bellinger, like son Cody. I know this isn't a guaranteed lock by any means but Cody enjoyed his time here just like his dad. 

This comes down to Hal Steinbrenner. He lost big last winter....does he want that to happen again? That would be a hard pill to swallow. Boras is just being Boras, but trying to make this cute is creepy even for his standards. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WEAK-CHINNED WILLIAMS SIGNS WITH THE METS

There’s really no polite way to frame it, so let’s just belly-flop straight into honesty: I am ecstatic that Devin Williams is officially someone else’s problem. Truly, this might be the first offseason moment where Brian Cashman didn’t step on a rake. Whether he hesitated, procrastinated, or simply stared into space long enough for the Mets to do something reckless, it worked out beautifully for the Yankees.

Because let’s be real — did anyone watch this man pitch in pinstripes? It was like buying a fancy espresso machine that only spits out muddy water. Williams showed up from Milwaukee, immediately lost the closer job, and then spent the rest of the season trying to remember where the strike zone lived.

But fear not, New York baseball fans! The Mets — God bless their chaos — have swooped in with a three-year, $51 million love letter. A big one. A “did we really need to spend that?” one. Enjoy that ride, Mets. Bring a helmet.

So, what now? Do the Yankees make a bizarre, galaxy-brained run at Edwin Díaz? Who knows. Stranger things have absolutely happened in this town.

If it were up to me, I’d happily bring back Luke Weaver, hand him the ninth inning, and rebuild the bullpen with actual logic. Will Cashman do that? Of course not. This is the same GM who treats roster construction like a Sudoku puzzle he’s too tired to finish.

But hey, at least he didn’t sign Devin Williams. Even a broken franchise gets one right every now and then.

Go grow that beard, Devin. Have fun with it.

CUBS MAY BE IN ON WILLIAMS & I'M GOOD WITH THAT

I’ll be honest: Devin Williams to the Yankees always felt like inviting a raccoon into your kitchen because “maybe it’ll cook.” Unnecessary chaos. A vibes sinkhole. A self-inflicted wound we absolutely did not need going into 2025.

The Yankees would have been perfectly fine rolling with the bullpen they had and making adjustments on the fly—shocking concept, I know. Instead, Brian Cashman decided to get cute and shipped off Caleb Durbin, a major-league-ready infielder who could’ve actually helped the Yankees in the spot they desperately needed help. And what did we get? A season of infield musical chairs, a bullpen that felt like a panic attack in real time, and Devin Williams… existing.

Honestly, I didn’t want him here. Still don’t.

But—maybe—the winds are shifting. The Athletic says the Cubs are rethinking how they build bullpens this winter, which is a polite way of saying: “We realized one-year deals for relievers is the baseball equivalent of duct-taping a broken chair.” They might even commit to multi-year deals for the right late-inning arms. No, not Edwin Díaz money, but real investment.

Naturally, Devin Williams—Counsell’s old Brewers closer—is on their radar, and apparently drawing enough interest that his next contract might stretch beyond what the Cubs are even comfortable with. They’re also sniffing around Pete Fairbanks. In other words: Chicago might actually give Counsell options instead of prayer candles.

So… what does that mean for the Yankees?

Simple: if Devin Williams packs up his changeup and leaves the Bronx, I will personally throw a parade. Streamers, confetti, the whole thing.

And let’s not pretend this saga hasn’t been a mess. Williams went through a full-blown confidence crisis this season and admitted it out loud after coughing up a loss to the Astros: “I stink right now.” He said he hasn’t felt like himself, hasn’t found his groove since Tommy John, and is basically fighting ghosts out there. This is not the energy you want anchoring your bullpen.

He’s a free agent after 2025, and of course Brian Cashman—king of familiarity hires and emperor of the “easy way out”—might try to bring him back. Why? Because it’s simple. Comfortable. Familiar. It’s classic Cashman: miss the big picture entirely, then pretend he’s playing 4-D chess while the rest of us are watching him knock over his own pieces.

Letting Williams walk would be the smartest thing the Yankees could do. His shaky performances made the bullpen wobbly, his beard policy drama created noise for no reason, and the whole thing even threw Luke Weaver out of sync. Domino effect chaos.

And sure, the Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, and Giants are reportedly interested in Williams. He’ll get his market. Some team will gamble on a bounce-back. Good for them.

Me? I’m praying the Yankees sleep through the entire bidding process. If Craig Counsell truly feels comfy cozy with Williams, then by all means—Chicago, come get your guy.

One less bullpen headache in the Bronx? Yes, please.

REMEMBER ADAM OTTAVINO? WE MAY BE SEEING HIM AGAIN SOON!

Sometimes, there are random headlines that catch your eye....and this is one of them. Anytime I see Adam Ottavino's name pop up I just have to look. In this case, he's finally leaving New York because he's no longer a Met, but he's not going far.

Mr. I'd 'strike Babe Ruth out every time' is heading to Boston on a minor league deal. This will be Ottavino's second stint in Boston as he looks to reestablish himself as the big reliever he was when he signed with us. He pitched one season with the Red Sox back in 2021 before heading to the Mets for three seasons. His best season was 2022 where he pitched to a 2.06 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings as a setup man for Edwin Diaz.

But years since 2022 haven't been as pretty. Last season was very inconsistent, he pitched to a 4.34 ERA which led to the Mets keeping him on the Wild Card and NLDS roster but not pitching him in either series. So that leads us to where we are now.

So, the guy that once could strike Babe Ruth out every time, is on a prove himself deal, read more HERE. 

"I talked to Boston for a long time. It was a long process," said Ottavino. "Once I was open to the NRI (non-roster invite) situations, I got a lot of offers really fast after that. I was parsing through that, trying to figure out what move to make. I had one MLB offer but I didn't want to take it in that location. I just kept doing my research and talking to the teams, then made this decision last night."

Interesting that there was one major league offer but he didn't like the location. Inquiring minds like mine really want to know who the offer was from and why he didn't take it. Definitely a difference in money, and even nothing in Boston in guaranteed. Masslive reports that he will make $2 million if he makes the Major League roster and he'll have the ability to opt out and test free agency again at the end of camp if he's not added to the 40-man roster.

Interesting new scenario for Ottavino. It will be interesting to see if he can rebound and make the major league roster this year. If he does.... maybe we will see him again. Crazier things have happened. I'd like to see him succeed, just not against us. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES WILL LOSE OUT TO THE RANGERS FOR HADER

The way the season has gone, and now the off-season being slow and the Yankee front office being defiant and not accepting responsibility, I don't see a lot that's gonna happen to better this team.  

I mean, I know what they're doing right now... they waited for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to post, and he did, and Cashman is now in some back room seeing how much money they have to try and get him in pinstripes. They will wheel out Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka to speak fondly to Yamamoto of the Yankees organization and then they will make a pitch, hoping to not be out bid.  

And if they can get him, that would be great. If they can't, we wasted a ton of time.  Oh, and also, one Yamamoto does not make a successful Yankee off-season. They still have a ways to go to please the Yankee fan base, trust me. Remember we can't hit!!!

But hitting help is for another post. This post is about Josh Hader, a guy that the Yankees should absolutely go after, but a guy that they will not get because of non-aggressiveness and them putting all their eggs in the Yamamoto basket.  Inside the pinstripes writes:

"The Rangers should be prepared to pay. Reportedly, Hader and his agent are seeking to beat the five-year, $102 million deal that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz signed last offseason."

And in that same article? Not a mention of the New York Yankees. Why? Great question.  By the way, if the Rangers are interested and they have the team they have and they can show Hader the money, there is no question that deal is sealed.  Hader to the Bronx will not happen.

Feels eerily like every other offseason in the Bronx, don't it?

METS ARE SNIFFING AROUND A STILL RELIABLE FORMER YANKEE PITCHER

The Mets are still "Just the Mets".  They still don't impress me; they still have the same vibe that they always do, and they still have fans that run around talking about how they have the "Nice" George Steinbrenner in Steve Cohen.  And me? I find it all pretty ridiculous.

The biggest hit they took recently was Edwin Diaz getting hurt in the WBC. It was a freak accident and you gotta feel bad for Diaz.  But now with Diaz out, the Mets are searching for a way to fix their problem on the field, knowing good and well that they need that closer until Edwin Diaz is able to return.  And it just so happens that Zack Britton may be that guy.

Britton's time in the Bronx was decent, but as we all know he made a brief return in late September after doctor's determined that his ulnar collateral ligament had suffered damage and then he had Tommy John.

That September performance was awful and ended up leaving injured again.  But now he's back, meaning, he's looking for a home. In March, Britton was in California and played a simulated game and the Mets were in attendance.

And the Mets are interested. Clutchpoints writes:

"The Mets have shown continued interest in Zack Britton.... Despite the interest, there is still a gap in talks between both parties. New York is a bit hesitant to give Britton a major commitment with his sinker still sitting at 91-92 MPH.

Still, New York has Britton on their radar. With Diaz out, the Mets know they need to make improvements in the back end. Britton may not be the pitcher he was in his prime. But he’s a veteran presence who would give the Mets’ bullpen a much needed boost, assuming he is fully healthy. "

Whatever happens, know this; Britton is a guy I root for. Hard worker, good work ethic and the ability to really make things happen on the field. No, he's not a superstar pitcher any longer, but for the Mets needs, it could be the perfect fit.

THE WBC IS ABOUT PRIDE & FREE BASEBALL & YOUR OPINION DOESN'T MATTER

I'm a huge Portnoy fan when it comes to business. I find his drive to create a product and run with it incredibly inspiring. While I would have loved BYB to be as big as Barstool, I also appreciate the controlled following that we do have. You are our BYB freaks, you read us because you found us in 2010 and you're loyal. We've done our best to bring you opinion, entertainment, laughs, truth and just plain Yankee fandom. And yes, we do get angry and we do rant sometimes too. Listen, Barstool is a monster. I will never compare us to them, but damn I admire it. 

But when it comes to BYB, what we don't suggest here in our stories is that people should get hurt, have harm sting someone or suggest someone should die. I mean sure, we will be harsh when we don't like a player, but let's face it... it's more of a "you just need to get traded, dude", not a "I hope you get injured."

BYB also doesn't womanize, and we aren't racist. Kind of important. We're also don't go political on these pages.  Botton line is we can rant about our team, but we don't hate.

Now that being said, I guess this dude from Barstool thinks being violent in his tweet means it falls into the provocative category.  No, sometimes people tweet stupid shit.  

Now let me state for the record that I am not a big, true fan of the WBC, but yes, I do like free baseball. I watch it here and there, but the idea of players getting hurt is always in the back of my mind. 

The other night it was Edwin Diaz, and while it was a fluke, he getting hurt in turn could affect the outcome of the Mets season since he won't be there to close for them.  But in the end, that decision to play is personal and fans should respect the fact that not only is it free baseball, but it's guys who believe firmly in their ethnic culture and want to represent the country where their ancestors are from. Respect it, it's blood line, pride stuff, not to mention sentimental.

Let me also state that I am no Marcus Stroman fan, but his point back to this guy is pretty important, being that he's an actual athlete, and not a guy typing behind a screen.

Personal choice. We may be fans and this blogger is just butt hurt by the fact that I guess he's a Mets fan and now he's destroyed about Diaz, but it's not his concern actually... I mean is it? The dude appears to be totally unraveling.

I mean is it because his personal life is in shambles that he's going off on this ridiculous WBC rant? It's weird.

And it gets worse. Keith Olbermann who I find to be straight up provocative trash crossed the line too.  

Alot of people went after him, because again, sometimes people think they're funny, but it comes off as idiotic.  Listen, when you piss off Lindsey Adler of the Wall Street Journal, one of the more respected, smart writers out there, you have a problem and clearly idiot Olbermann knows it. 

He apologized, but did he really? And would he have if Lindsey didn't say anything? Probably not. He's a piece of shit.

WBC is not my cup of tea, but let's face it, it gets players amped up and of course, they rep the country they came from and where it's name on their chest. That pride runs deep. You need to respect that.  But again, this Barstool dude, this Olbermann idiot, they just don't get that.

Let's break this down. 

1. These are not points, they are opinions. 

2. If you're asking Edwin Diaz AFTER the injury the likelihood of him saying it was worth it might be NO but could very well be YES, because it's a pride thing.  

3.The WBC is all over my feed and everyone is talking about it.  

And by the way, let me state that all this bullshit is over the WBC. 2 guys out there with really no credibility are screaming till their heads blow up about not having the WBC because guys get hurt.  Meanwhile, today Brendan Nimmo got hurt in a Spring Training game for the Mets.

Brandon Nimmo appears to be injured after a slide in to second base pic.twitter.com/5kQAONWe7T

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 17, 2023

Should we cancel that too?

In Closing and to move to story forward, this was the message from Edwin Diaz about this whole mess:

“To all my beloved fans, especially the Mets fans, I want to let you know that I am doing well and healing. I feel blessed and grateful for your support with messages and prayers, thank you very much,” Diaz tweeted. “I can’t wait to see you guys in NY again and play those trumpets.”

Class act. 

The others? They're clowns.

FREAK ACCIDENT OR NOT, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Edwin Diaz got hurt in a freak accident in the WBC last night.  He was carted off the field. While it stinks for him, it really stinks for the Mets.  But more to that... it's a big eye opener to why the WBC or any off-season sport brings concern when it comes to professional athletes.

Now you can blame a lot of people for all of this. Blame the WBC if you want. Blame Edwin Diaz for deciding to play.  You can blame the Mets for allowing it to happen, or maybe you want to go after clown Rob Manfred for giving us free baseball before the season even starts.  But that's a matter of opinion. The fact of the matter is risk is everywhere.

Bob Nightengale might have put out the stupidest tweet in a while when it came to Edwin Diaz and the WBC:

I mean. This is kind of a silly tweet

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) March 16, 2023

Stop Bob. Trout and Betts aren't an authority of anything. No one cares.  How about you ask Edwin Diaz himself. How about you ask someone connected to the story? That's what journalists do.

Here's what happened to Edwin last night. The New York Post has it:

"Edwin Diaz, the team’s All-Star closer, was removed from the field in Miami in a wheelchair after he was injured during Team Puerto Rico’s postgame celebration following a 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic.

Diaz had just recorded the final out of the game and was crowded by teammates who began hugging him near the pitcher’s mound.

Diaz emerged from the celebration unable to put weight on his right knee and was helped to a wheelchair.

Diaz’s younger brother Alexis, also a reliever for Team Puerto Rico, was in tears as Edwin was helped from the field."

Careers are destroyed when things like this happen. And many times careers are set back.  Reminds me of Aaron Boone with his ridiculous pick-up baseketball game after the 2003 season. ESPN wrote this story in 2004.

"Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone injured his left knee playing basketball and might miss the season.

Boone was hurt Jan. 16 and may have torn his anterior cruciate ligament. He was examined three days later by Anaheim Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum, and Boone informed the Yankees of the
injury that night.

The extent of the injury will not be known until swelling subsides, and he has not yet been examined by Yankees' doctors.

Boone agreed Dec. 1 to a $5.75 million, one-year contract, and the contract contained language saying it would become nonguaranteed if he played basketball."

Boone's career was never the same after that, until the Yankees put him on a pedestal and made him puppet of the Yankees.  When it comes to athletes, as a fan I have always believed that if you are in a contract, your actions are vital to your contribution to the team.  Boone failed his team. Dare I say Edwin Diaz may have too, although on a much smaller scale than Boone's situation.

My point is these athletes are adults. They make their own decisions. Diaz had a choice, no question, but obviously he and all these MLB players are in contract and so, ultimately, it's a risk.  

It comes down the personal responsibility in my opinion.  Diaz probably feels terrible about what happened. But the worst part was he did nothing wrong but celebrate with his brothers in a moment of excitement. I don't fault him, although blame leans his way.  

But this is why we don't do off season activities when it comes to professional athletes in a contract.  Risks are everywhere.  It's just a damn shame. WBC should revisit when they play their season.

I wish Edwin Diaz nothing but a speedy recovery and crossing my fingers he gets back on track and continues to have a terrific career.  When are we going to see a Edwin Diaz meme of him on the ground and Timmy Trumpet playing Taps? Cause you know it's coming.

Get well soon Edwin. I am not a Mets fan by any means, but I appreciate hard workers and you're it buddy.

COULD YANKEES AND METS STEAL EACH OTHER'S FRANCHISE PLAYERS?

Source: New York Post

Well, how's that for a headline? It's an interesting idea but I am not so sure how real it is. I mean anything can happen—it is Hot Stove season after all. But could the Yankees and Mets swap their greatest modern day franchise players? Jacob deGrom just entered the free agency market joining Aaron Judge who wasn’t thrilled with the Yankees’ $213.5 million offer in spring. deGrom officially opted out of his current contract on Monday. Events leaving me and many others to question: Could the Yankees and Mets steal each other's franchise players?

According to the New York Post, "The belief is that the Yankees will be willing to top Judge’s $36 million a year asking price from back in spring, before he became the AL single-season home run record holder, and if deGrom wants to top Max Scherzer’s record $43.3 million Mets salary, as some suggest, the strong indications are that it will not be with the Mets." But would the Yankees buy deGrom over Judge? Would they even be given that choice?

Source: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

The Mets locked up their trumpet-themed closer Edwin Diaz earlier this week. The Yankees picked up Luis Severino's $15 million team option for 2023. The Mets now seem focused on keeping their center fielder Brandon Nimmo a Met and the Yankees, well keep Judge a Yankee. So is the idea of franchise swapping futile?

According to the Post, "The speculation that either New York team may try to steal the other team’s marquee franchise player — i.e. the Mets signing Judge, the Yankees signing deGrom — has no noticeable legs. There’s an era of good feeling between our local teams, and while that may not last, it seems very evident right now. Neither side seems up for an intracity war. " Well that's good. But are the Yankees willing to let Judge sign his career way to the San Francisco Giants? And what will happen to deGrom? 

Hot Stove and others predict Judge will receive a big offer from the Giants while deGrom could be a welcome addition to the pitching staff of the new manager of the Texas Rangers, Bruce Bochy—ironically a three-time World Series manager for yes, the San Francisco Giants. Irony is everywhere.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Stealing franchise players could well, cause a riot in New York. And truthfully speaking, not good for the sport. The Yankees need to be focused on signing Judge and keeping Anthony Rizzo. And if the Mets let deGrom walk, they need to think about who they are replacing him with on a pitching roster that was very unforgiving at the end of the 2022 season. The Hot Stove is heating up with more interesting trade concepts coming in over the next few weeks leading up to the Winter Meetings in December. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE YANKEES NEED SOME TRUMPETS IN THEIR CLUBHOUSE

I remember when the new Yankee Stadium was being built next to the original House. The construction workers took tremendous pride in building the stadium of the future for the Bombers. As Derek Jeter said at the time, we are going to take our legacy across the street, in not so many words. And then I remember that there was this chatter about now Hall of Famer, David Ortiz, trying to bury his jersey into the foundation to place a hex on the Yankees. I know he didn't— but do I really? So fast forward to today. I am witnessing our cross town rival New York Mets success at Citi Field. It is making me sick and excited at the same time.

There is so much energy, padgetry and just excitement blaring from that stadium—literally blaring. Like trumpets blaring as their triumphant closer, Edwin Diaz trots in from the outfield much like a Mariano Rivera did for us when we were, well good. Maybe that's it. Maybe the Yankees need some trumpets in their clubhouse, wrapped around their stadium, and blaring the sweet and powerful music they need to snap out of this crazy spiral of losses and go back to playing the way we know they can.

                                                                                Source: The Washington Post

"Díaz entering games to a bouncy trumpet beat is nothing new. After walking out to “No Hay Limite” by Miky Woodz in 2019, the right-hander’s dreadful first season in New York following a trade from the Seattle Mariners, Díaz reverted to “Narco” before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and has been using it ever since. With the first-place Mets enjoying their best season since they won the World Series in 1986 and Díaz striking out more than half of the batters he faces, the entrance has taken on a life of its own this year," wrote The Washington Post. 

Source: MLB.com

Much like a movie, SNY's John DeMarsico has made the broadcasts light and fun, adding more salt to my wounds as a diehard Yankee fan.  “I never understood why a baseball broadcast can’t be more like a movie, and that’s how I approach every day,” DeMarsico, 35, said in a phone interview. “I’m covering a game, but I’m going to pick a spot here or there where I’m going to show people something that they’ve never seen before,” wrote The Washington Post.

The Yankee broadcasts are lackluster, boring and filled with the TV announcers scolding the team on the field. The Mets broadcasts are completely the opposite with Keith Hernandez often trending on Twitter for his clever quips and light disposition. So between the bad performances as of late for the Yankees, the broadcasts have not been kind to them either. Perhaps some music will lighten them up too.

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Music has been known to soothe babies, calm busy kids, provide hours of enjoyment for teens and definitely a mainstay for exercise junkies, beach goers, celebrations and just backyard deck life. For years, players have played DJ in the dugout to boost the energy and excitement for their team. So how can music and a bit of cinema be put to good use to jumpstart this team? Heck, if we had to hire an entire band to welcome in Aaron Judge or Anthony Rizzo to the plate and get the stadium rocking, then do it!

Source: The New York Post

The downspirel of Clay Holmes is probably the most upsetting as the Yankees continue to struggle with pitching overall, both bullpen and starting rotation. Maybe we need to get him some music therapy. The Yankees simply will not win if they don't snap out of this funk. And it can't be the long ball or no ball. It has to be the entire unit working together to generate runs and protect leads. 

The Yankees need some trumpets in their clubhouse. In other words, they need to shake it up. Otherwise, they will be once again fall short of their goal—and I can barely remember 2009. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

OPENING DAY STANDOUTS

Source: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

It’s happening people, baseball season has officially BEGUN! I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally have something to watch almost every day, and the fact that New York baseball has kicked off with a bang certainly makes the start of 2019 even better. 

Luke Voit’s first-inning, three-run homer hyped up the stadium crowd. Voit also racked up an impressive four RBI-day when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. Yes, I know it is the first game but I think this move definitely won him some brownie points for the first base position. Although Bird struck out his first three at-bats, he joined Voit and launched one out of the park in the eighth.

Source: Newsday Jim McIsaac

Voit is not the only player to shine; Masahiro Tanaka also helped embarrass the Orioles with a 7-2 victory by striking out five and giving up no walks. Our favorite pair Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton took position at the corners to set Voit up in the first inning.

Not only are Yankees fans hungry for a win, so is legend Mariano Rivera who threw out the first pitch at the Opening Day game. 

Source: NY Post

“I believe in the team,” Rivera said. “I see the guys playing and the talent that we have is enough to win. So the question is, are we hungry enough to win? I believe we are. So, saying that, I’m happy to see the guys on Opening Day and to be able to share it with them. But we need another championship and I think we’re going to have another great year,” reported NJ.com

Source: NY Post

Down in DC, the Mets also won their Opening Day game 2-0 against the Nationals. Robinson Cano was a star in this game, hitting a homer during his first at-bat as a New York Met, and helping the team get an early 1-0 lead.

Met fans also got to see an incredible pitching duel with Jacob DeGrom and Max Scherzer. Even though Scherzer gave up an early run, he ended up staying in for most the game and recording an impressive 12 strikeouts. 

Like we saw last season, DeGrom was able to pitch well without receiving too much offensive support. I’d say DeGrom was definitely relieved because of his contract extension, recording 10 strikeouts and lasting six innings. 

Source: The Sports Daily

New closer Edwin Diaz impressed me by flawlessly striking out the side in the ninth inning and collecting his first save for the New York Mets. 

I know it is a little early to start getting our hopes up, but it feels like it is going to be a great year for New York baseball. 

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke