FOR THE LOVE OF THE YANKEES, A TRUE FAN PERSPECTIVE

Ladies and Gentlemen, a post from a Bleeding Yankee Blue reader, you should all take a look today. Thank you Steve.

To my frustrated fans. Let me introduce myself through my 80 years of Yankee history. I was born and raised in the Bronx. At birth, I was practically swaddled in a Yankee blue blanket. So, it began.

From ages 1-5, I knew little about baseball, but I was heavily influenced by my older cousin to become a Yankee fan — much to the dismay of his younger brother, a diehard Dodger fan. I attended my first Yankee game at age 6 with my father. There in right field was #6, who would ultimately take #7 and move to center field. The Mick. I was hooked on him and the team from that moment on.

Loving the excitement of Yankee baseball, I would attend 20-30 games a year, paying only 25 cents plus my school pass. What excitement those years were under the ownership of Topping and Webb.

Darkness and clouds arrived in 1964 with the purchase of the Yankees by CBS. The team became nothing more than their CASH COW. I persevered and still loved the Yankees, though with annual disappointment.

The clouds finally cleared when George Steinbrenner purchased the team. He was tough on players, but he loved the Yankees. He directed and spent whatever it took to build a championship team. With George’s passing, and the transfer of control to his sons — ultimately to Hal Steinbrenner — the dark clouds slowly began to roll back in.

The first problem with the Yankees, resulting in a non-championship team, is that Hal loves his NYFC and Manchester soccer interests. The Yankees are once again becoming a CASH COW for ownership.

The second problem is Brian Cashman. Yes, his budget is restricted by Hal, but he has lost his eye for young, quality talent and has resorted to band-aid fixes — mainly finding players who are nearly over the hill to fill holes.

The third problem, as most of us see it, is Aaron Boone. He is not a championship-caliber manager. Robert Casey has stated that numerous times on Bleeding Yankee Blue. He lacks natural managerial instinct. He continues to play struggling players simply because he likes them. His bullpen management is often atrocious.

The fourth problem, in my opinion, is scouting. The Yankees are no longer finding enough high-quality talent capable of thriving at the major league level.

Now the time has come to either make or break this year’s team. We need strong right-handed hitters batting .290-.300, especially at third base and shortstop. I am not a fan of Volpe there. We need to find a catcher who is not only solid defensively but also an offensive threat. Clean out the bullpen and get rid of the mediocrity. Find a true closer who can protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

We can only hope Boone finally understands both his strengths and his WEAKNESSES and adjusts accordingly. Move away from the automatic lefty/righty obsession. Stay away from algorithm-driven, numbers-only baseball. As a former baseball player myself (non-pro), I know that a left-handed hitter and a right-handed hitter still carry the same strike zone — only the angle changes. There is too much overthinking behind the concept, especially when you bat Goldschmidt for Rice in critical situations.

I hope these improvements are not just a pipe dream before the clouds roll back in once again. A brief break of sunshine appeared when Hal allowed Juan Soto to be signed. At least we were rewarded with a World Series appearance.

If Hal, Cashman, and Boone are not replaced or held accountable, I will once again be crying Yankee Blues.

That's my take. 

--Steve Cohen

EVEN YANKEE LEGENDS BURY BOONE IN CRITICISM!

When former Yankees turn on Aaron Boone, you know it's bad. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez no longer wear pinstripes, but their opinions about the state of the team still matter. Beyond that.... they are also true. It's one thing when we as fans share our opinions, but when they share the same sentiments, it can't be overlooked.

Two pivotal Yankee players are just as unsatisfied with the state of this team as we are. ARod and Jeter did not mince words; you can check out what they had to say on Saturday night’s Speedway Classic HERE. It's about time that players who know the expectations finally echo the same sentiments we have. 

"They make way too many mistakes," Jeter said. "And you can't get away with making that number of mistakes against great teams. It just doesn't happen. They had baserunning mistakes today – you saw [Trent Grisham] getting thrown out at home plate. You can't continue to do it. You have to clean it up."

Fundamentals are non-existent with this team. We saw it with Jazz Chisholm Jr and Austin Wells again in embarrassing fashion. Obviously, the coaches don't reinforce fundamentals during Spring Training and the players can't retain them or don't seem to care. Honestly, by this point these guys should have fundamentals, they shouldn't have to be taught from scratch. At the same time, the coaches should recognize their weaknesses and be able to help coach players through these moments and get them back to standard.... but they can't. The players can't execute, and the coaches can't teach. It's an epic failure no matter how you look at it.

And when there's a pattern, the manager needs to step in and fix it. He needs to hold his players accountable and that's what ARod was saying, "If any one of us made a mistake, we would be sitting our butt right on the bench," Rodriguez said. "I see mistake after mistake, and there's no consequences."

And we all know he's not wrong. Baboonie coddles his players, and we just have Deja vu moments constantly. We've had them for EIGHT years now. His so-called management style doesn't work, but he is of course ready to try and run defense after hearing what ARod and Jeter had to say.

"I would disagree a little bit with the accountability factor, but the reality is, we're focused every day on being the best we can be," Boone said. "That's how we have to do it. But I understand when it doesn't happen, or we don't have the record that I think we should have, or certainly people think we should have – that comes with the territory."

There's something else that USED to come with the territory too....and that was getting canned when a manager failed. Billy Martin was fired and rehired FIVE times by George Steinbrenner. Baboonie has been here for too long, and the writing is on the wall that his leadership is not bringing a championship back to the Bronx. 

ARod and Jeter can see it. WE see it, but as long as Hal Steinbrenner makes a profit, he's not gonna care. He's still making money. So, what's it going to take to get rid of this clown?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE BATTLE OF THE MULLET

In the long, dramatic, pinstriped history of the New York Yankees, there are stories of towering home runs, perfect games, postseason miracles, and then… there’s the tale of Don Mattingly’s hair. Yes, his hair. Not his bat. Not his back. Not even his mustache. Just his business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back mullet that dared to defy a billion-dollar empire.

It was 1991, and the Yankees were a hot mess. The postseason hadn’t been seen in the Bronx since Reagan’s first term, and the only thing more rigid than the Yankees’ offense was George Steinbrenner’s grooming policy. Enter Don Mattingly, the team's captain, a six-time All-Star, MVP, Gold Glove machine—and owner of a magnificent mullet that practically needed its own locker.

George Steinbrenner had a rulebook, and unlike most owners, he actually read it. The rules were simple: No facial hair below the lip. No long hair. No individuality that wasn’t pre-approved by the front office. Basically, if you looked like you might play guitar in a bar band on weekends, you were violating club policy.

Donnie Baseball, clearly not a fan of acoustic conformity, let his hair grow a bit past regulation. Nothing too wild—just a little business-casual rebellion. Then came Stump Merrill, the manager at the time, who found himself in the unfortunate position of being Steinbrenner’s style police. Stump told Mattingly to cut his hair or sit on the bench. Mattingly, being Mattingly, refused.

And so the Yankees benched their captain. Over hair.

The media had an absolute field day. Newspapers dubbed it “The Battle of the Mullet,” which honestly sounds like an off-brand pro wrestling pay-per-view. TV crews descended on the Stadium as if the Yankees had just signed Babe Ruth’s ghost. Fans were confused. Children wept. Stylists everywhere sharpened their scissors.

Steinbrenner, never one to back away from a good PR firestorm (he practically set them for warmth), leaned all the way in. In one of the more bizarre moments in Yankees broadcast history, Phil Rizzuto, Bobby Murcer, and Tom Seaver took to the WPIX pregame show to spoof the drama. Rizzuto, with clippers in hand, pretended to be Steinbrenner’s personal enforcer-barber. It was performance art, really. Three legends of the game riffing on their boss’s obsession with follicles.

Mattingly didn’t think it was funny. Publicly, he cracked a few smiles. Privately, he was fuming. He was the team captain, for crying out loud. He wasn’t some kid showing up late to rookie camp with dreadlocks and a backwards hat. He was Donnie freaking Baseball—the guy kids imitated in their backyards and whose mustache should be in Cooperstown by itself. And yet, here he was, benched over a mullet.

It got so bad that Mattingly briefly considered asking for a trade. From the Yankees. Because of hair. Somewhere out there, an 11-year-old future Derek Jeter probably said, “Wait, I’m not allowed to grow my sideburns either?”

But no story this goofy stays hidden from pop culture. Enter The Simpsons.

In the legendary 1992 episode “Homer at the Bat,” Mattingly appears as one of Mr. Burns’ recruited ringers. In a scene that can only be described as animated perfection, Mr. Burns demands Mattingly shave his sideburns—repeatedly. Mattingly insists he already has, but Burns screams, “You’re off the team, for good!” 

It was a brilliant, spot-on jab at the real-life hairgate, and Mattingly’s deadpan delivery made it even better. The man got benched in a cartoon again. This time, by a yellow billionaire with liver spots.

And yet, despite the absurdity, something kind of beautiful happened over time.

There’s no evidence that Mattingly and Steinbrenner ever became besties who went shopping for buzzers at CVS together, but they found peace in their own grumpy way. George, for all his eccentricities, admired work ethic and loyalty more than anything. And Mattingly, despite the mullet mutiny, never stopped giving 100 percent. Eventually, the two developed a working relationship built on—you guessed it—mutual respect.

When Mattingly retired in 1995, he was still the Yankees’ captain, still beloved by the fans, and still rocking a little extra length in the back. And years later, when he returned as a coach, there was no talk of hair—just hitting.

So while Mattingly never won a World Series ring with the Yankees, he did win something far more important: a cultural moment. A slice of Bronx folklore. A legacy that includes Gold Gloves, a retired number, and a full-on hair-based standoff with the most controlling owner in sports history.

George Steinbrenner wanted everyone in uniform, clean-cut, regulation-perfect. Don Mattingly just wanted to let it grow a little.

And for one glorious, silly, headline-making stretch in the early '90s, Donnie’s mullet led the league in defiance.

And honestly? That’s the most Yankee thing of all.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

TIME TO CALL OUT HAL STEINBRENNER & HIS COMPLACENT YANKEE FRONT OFFICE

Ian O'Connor has balls of steel, and I respect the hell out of him for it. 

The legendary sportswriter just went scorched earth on Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, saying what every furious Yankees fan has been screaming for years. Let’s be real: this team is crawling into Opening Day, and there’s no way they’re winning a championship this season. Injuries or not, the front office and manager lack the fire, the backbone, and—most importantly—the guts to spend like a team that actually wants to win.

O’Connor appeared on Colin Cowherd’s podcast (Yankee part starts around 31:31) and dropped a truth bomb that exposes exactly how this franchise is being run. When asked why the Yankees weren’t spending more to shore up the roster, Hal’s response was a masterclass in spineless ownership:

“There are banks and partners and lenders that I have to deal with, and I have to answer to,” Hal apparently said.

O’Connor, who spent years covering George Steinbrenner, knew immediately how embarrassing that sounded.

"I never heard him talk about a bank, lender, a bondholder, or a partner ever," O’Connor fired back. "He did not care. I don't even know if he cared about turning a profit—he just wanted to win and win at all costs."

Hal Steinbrenner doesn't want to win, he wants money. And on Ian's point, that’s the kind of quote that should make Yankees fans sick. It lays bare the difference between George, a man obsessed with winning, and Hal, a man obsessed with playing it safe. And the worst part? The Yankees have plenty of money. As of March 2024, they’re worth an estimated $7.55 billion—billion with a B. Their revenue in 2023? $679 million, and rising. Yet somehow, there’s no urgency, no aggressive moves to fix this mess.

Just think about how ridiculous this has gotten. Right now, fans are seriously hoping Carlos Carrasco makes the rotation. Read that again. 

In the early 2000s, as Kristie Ackert recently pointed out, George Steinbrenner would’ve taken one look at the hole left by Gerrit Cole’s injury and had a new pitcher in pinstripes before lunch. Hal? He’s sitting on his hands, waiting to see how things play out. And Ackert nailed it: this franchise is stuck in neutral, no longer a legitimate powerhouse.

That’s why O’Connor’s takedown matters, and why Ackert backing him up is so damn refreshing. We need more reporters willing to call this organization out. If you read Bleeding Yankee Blue, you know I don’t hold back. The Yankees should and must do more.

Fans pour their hard-earned money into this team—easily dropping close to $1,000 for a family of four to attend a game. Tickets, food, parking, merch—it all adds up. And for what? So your kid can get a Carlos Carrasco jersey and a foam finger with Anthony Volpe’s face on it and an injured Gerrit Cole riding the bench? Yankees fans have been getting fed nonsense for too long, and this season is shaping up to be more of the same.

I can’t help but wonder—does Aaron Judge regret signing that long-term deal? Because much like Mike Trout, he’s looking at spending his best years stuck on a team that won’t sniff a championship. And that’s gotta suck.

Like This? READ THIS:

YANKEE BEAT & MORE: AN IAN O'CONNOR INTERVIEW

THERE ARE MUCH BETTER IN THE BUSINESS, ALEX CORA

I still can’t get over how absurd Alex Cora sounded when he suggested that Aaron Boone is "the best in the business." The best in the business? Are you kidding me? That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. That’s why I titled this article DUMB AND STUPID. Because that’s exactly what this statement is. If Boone is the best, then what does that make Bruce Bochy? Or Joe Torre? Prophets? Baseball gods? Maybe we should just start building shrines to them because, compared to Boone, they’re untouchable legends.

It’s as if Cora just pulled this shit out of thin air to make his buddy look good. But let’s be real—Boone sucks. He always has. And Cora, by making such a laughable statement, just proved he has no integrity. He’s out here playing PR manager instead of speaking facts, and I’m not buying it.

There was an interesting sentence, a take from ClutchPoints that bothered me when writing about Cora and Boone. They wrote, and I quote, "A lack of talent cannot fairly fall on the manager, but it often does." I mean, what? The Yankees have had plenty of talent for years. The problem isn’t a shortage of skilled players—it’s a manager who has no goddamn clue how to use them effectively.

I’ve been saying it for years—the Yankees weren’t going to win the World Series under Boone, and guess what? I am right so far. Sure, they made it further than I predicted last year, but that wasn’t because of Boone’s genius managerial skills. That was because of talent. The same talent that Boone consistently fails to utilize properly. When things get tough, when a manager has to make the hard calls like Boone, that’s when you separate the truly elite from the frauds and that's where Boone does not rise. That’s when the so-called "best in the business" proves their worth. And Boone? He fucking folds, literally every time.

If Boone were anything close to elite, he’d be able to maximize his team’s potential. He’d recognize strengths, adjust for weaknesses, and make the tough, smart decisions that lead to winning. But isn't managing, the front office is. Boone doesn’t have the guts, the intelligence, or the leadership ability to do it. Girardi did. Girardi won. Girardi wasn't asked back because Girardi had balls!  And so back to Boone... that’s why, after all these years, he still hasn’t won a single goddamn championship.

Look at the history of baseball—managers get fired for far less. Some are let go after missing the playoffs. Some lose their jobs after a 10-game losing streak. The reason? Because they fail to manage, lead, motivate, and problem-solve. Yet somehow, Boone continues to skate by doing the bare minimum. The Yankees have embraced mediocrity, and it’s embarrassing.

And let’s talk about that mediocrity for a second. It’s not just Boone—it’s the entire Yankees front office. This team used to have a standard. A fire. A demand for excellence. But now? Now it’s all about participation trophies and "we’ll get ‘em next year." This isn’t Little League. This is the New York Yankees, the team that built a dynasty on winning. And here we are, stuck with a manager who embodies the very definition of "just enough."

Alex Cora’s statement was complete nonsense. That's why everyone is writing about it today. But we here at Bleeding Yankee Blue are going to be the only Yankee fan site to be honest about it. It's stupid. And ClutchPoints wrote in their piece was wrong, love you guys, but it's not accurate. Talent matters, but what a manager does with that talent matters even more. If this were the 1980s, Boone would have been fired a long time ago. If George Steinbrenner were still around, Billy Martin would be back in the dugout replacing Boone because, say what you will about Billy, he knew how to lead. He wasn’t a puppet. Boone? He’s nothing but that. A puppet controlled by an organization that has lost its way.

So, before we start throwing around empty praise, let’s remember what baseball is really about. It’s not just about trying—it’s about winning. And as Derek Jeter once said if a team doesn’t win the championship, the entire season is a failure. 

Well, Yankees fans, we’ve had plenty of failures. And it all comes down to one thing—we have a failed leader as our manager. F Cora. F Boone.

HAL CAN'T BE SERIOUS ABOUT EXTENDING "NO CHAMPIONSHIPS" BOONE...

The mere fact that a contract extension for Aaron Boone is even on the table is an absolute disgrace. The New York Yankees, once the gold standard of winning, are now being reduced to a joke under the feckless leadership of Hal Steinbrenner and his incompetent front office.

Boone has won nothing. Not a single meaningful accomplishment to his name. Oh wait, he hit a home run against the Red Sox in the ALCS over 20 years ago... then busted his ankle the next season. But here we are, watching Hal Steinbrenner seriously consider extending his tenure as if failure is now the standard. Boone has had teams capable of competing for championships, but his tenure has been marred by playoff collapses, baffling in-game decisions, and a complete inability to inspire urgency or accountability. And yet, instead of cutting ties with this loser, the Yankees’ leadership is thinking about rewarding him. It’s beyond absurd.

Steinbrenner recently admitted that the Yankees will be speaking with Boone "in the days and weeks to come" regarding a contract extension. This would be his second extension despite his repeated failures in October. The fact that Boone has lasted this long is already an indictment of the Yankees’ current state. Extending him further? That would be sheer incompetence at its peak.

Boone initially signed a three-year deal in 2018, followed by another three-year extension in 2021, which included an option for 2025. Why? Because under Hal Steinbrenner’s soft and clueless leadership, the Yankees value familiarity over results. Brian Cashman has openly stated that the team envisioned Boone being a decade-long manager. For what reason? Joe Torre got 12 years and won four championships. Joe Girardi got 10 years and delivered a title while enduring the toughest post-dynasty era. And yet Boone, who has consistently failed when it matters most, is somehow being given the same treatment as if he’s earned anything.

Let’s be honest: Joe Girardi was fired because he wasn’t a pushover. He challenged the front office, held players accountable, and demanded excellence. That was the kind of manager George Steinbrenner would have respected. But Hal Steinbrenner, in his infinite mediocrity, would rather enable Boone—a man who makes terrible in-game decisions, refuses to hold his team accountable, and believes brushing off failure with empty platitudes is acceptable.

The Yankees used to be synonymous with excellence. Now, under Hal, they are just another team content with regular-season wins and postseason embarrassments. Boone was never the right guy for the job, and he never will be. But Hal Steinbrenner, the most inept and spineless owner in Yankees history, seems dead set on doubling down on failure.

Us Yankee fans deserve better. They deserve a front office that prioritizes championships, not one that continues to enable mediocrity. If Boone gets extended, it will be the final confirmation that winning is no longer the Yankees’ priority—because under Hal, it’s clear that failure is perfectly acceptable.

Yuk.

JEFF PASSAN JUST PUT THE YANKEES ON BLAST!

SHOTS FIRED! I love some good baseball drama....and this is definitely some off field drama. Baseball insider Jeff Passan was a guest on The Michael Kay Show, and he didn't hold back on how he sees the current state of the Yankees and Hal Steinbrenner's perceived lack of spending this winter.

"If the (luxury tax) penalties are so tough, then why are the Dodgers and Mets doing it? The Mets have been the past two years, and they've shown a willingness to go there," Passan said on Kay's podcast. "And at the end of the day, these are the New York freaking Yankees. If a luxury tax threshold is impeding them, that says more about where they are than it does the luxury tax itself. When have the Yankees ever played third fiddle in baseball? That's where they are right now when it comes to spending."

I will say this, it's not for a lack of trying by the Yankees. They made a HUGE offer to Juan Soto and it may have limited other additions to the team if Soto had accepted. The Yankees pivoted and made some good moves to strengthen both the infield and the outfield especially with a big commitment made to Max Fried. We improved several areas, especially within the infield and I really don't think we are completely done.

The Yankees traditionally spend money. We can't call them cheap when they spent well over $300 million in payroll last year and they had the second highest payroll only behind the New York Mets. You can argue that the Yankees don't spend their money wisely (and I do!) but saying they don't spend money is just false. 

The Mets are operating at a loss, it's not up for debate that Steve Cohen is paying out of pocket but he's also worth $22 billion dollars! The Dodgers ownership group has a large net worth so they also have money to spend AND have proven they will defer money as they see fit to try and avoid stiff penalties. The idea of deferring $1.3 BILLION dollars blows my mind. The Yankees should go over the luxury tax to make the last few upgrades they need in order to win a championship, but I think we need to recognize there is new, bigger money in baseball. The Yankees are "old" money, and the Dodgers and Mets are "new" money. It's a new baseball world whether we like it or not.

And as the Yankees are competing against the "new money" Dodgers and Mets, they are also operating in a much different mindset. When George Steinbrenner was alive, the Yankees were a life passion for him. He spent the money because he wanted to win and that was what mattered most to him. Now we have "new" vision Hal running the team, and he's not running it as passion.... it's a business for him. Businesses are all about the bottom line. He wants to win, but not with the same determination or drive his dad did.

So I understand why Passan is throwing shade because no team in the old-world order outspent the Yankees. Everything changes over time and even if other teams are spending more, they certainly aren't being cheap. If this is Passan's way of motivating the Yankees to re-sign Tim Hill or a strong third basemen then I am all for it because honestly.... I want Hill back BAD!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THAT TIME BOB UECKER WAS ALMOST IN THE YANKEES BOOTH!

Ever hear the one about Bob Uecker nearly becoming the voice of the Yankees? It’s the kind of story that perfectly captures just how beloved Uecker was across the baseball world, even in the Bronx!

Earlier this week, Michael Kay dropped a gem on his show, revealing that George Steinbrenner himself tried to lure Uecker away from Milwaukee “a few times.” Yep, the Boss saw Uecker’s brilliance and wanted to bring his quick mind and humor to Yankee Stadium. Kay explained, “George Steinbrenner made him an offer and cleared it through Bud Selig, who owned the Brewers at the time. But Uecker, ever the Milwaukee man, ultimately said no. Just think how life would’ve been different for Yankee fans with Bob Uecker in the booth. Steinbrenner knew how brilliant and entertaining Uecker was. It was a real possibility for a bit, but Ueck, in true Uecker fashion, turned it down.”

Can you imagine Uecker in the Yankees booth? It would’ve been a whole new level of entertainment! But Milwaukee was in his blood, and Uecker, known for his razor-sharp wit and outstanding game-calling, stayed loyal to his hometown.

Uecker’s love for the game and his unmatched style made him a legend. He was baseball's funny man, always ready with a quip or a story, and that charm didn’t go unnoticed—not even by the Yankees! His passing at 90, after a private two-year battle with cancer, has left a hole in the hearts of fans everywhere.

Who wouldn’t want Uecker? His mind worked faster than a fastball, and his humor hit harder than a home run. He was simply the best, and baseball loved him for it—including, as it turns out, the Yankees.

What a story, huh? It’s classic Uecker—always keeping us on our toes and smiling every step of the way.

GLEYBER TORRES: THE BEARDED ERA

Ladies and gentlemen, Gleyber Torres has entered his bearded era, and honestly, it’s a vibe. Now that he’s out of the Yankees’ clean-shaven clutches, Torres is rocking an impressive beard that screams, “I’m free, and I’m fabulous.” Say goodbye to the baby-faced Bronx Bomber and hello to the rugged, reinvented Tiger.

Here he is now:

With the facial rule gone, Greyber Torres can now rock an impressive beard. pic.twitter.com/OnTXyLZnqB

— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) December 28, 2024

Well, well, well.

Let’s rewind to when Gleyber first burst onto the Yankees’ scene. He was the golden boy, the prodigy, the guy you just knew would deliver in the clutch. And boy, did he deliver—especially in the postseason, where he had an uncanny ability to get on base like it was his job (because, well, it was).

But fast forward to this offseason, and it felt like the Gleyber love was fading. Was I the only one pounding the table and yelling, “KEEP THIS MAN”? Apparently so. The Yankees had other plans, and Gleyber’s grand farewell included a Game 4 home run in the World Series—a mic drop moment for the only MLB team he’d ever known.

Now, he’s off to Detroit, where the beard is thriving, and so is the vibe. Speaking to Detroit media, Torres said, “I feel like I have to play where somebody wants to give the best for me, and I just want to be available to do the best for the team.” Translation: “If you’re cool with the beard, I’m cool with you.”

Apparently, Gio Urshela hyped Detroit to him like a real estate agent trying to sell a fixer-upper: “Great history, lovely parks, you’ll love it here!” Torres is slotted to stick at second base, with Colt Keith sliding to first and Alex Bregman potentially joining the Tigers’ infield party.

But let’s get to the real star of this story—the beard. For decades, the Yankees have been facial-hair police, enforcing a strict “no beards allowed” policy like it was their primary mission in life. Credit George Steinbrenner for starting this nonsense back in 1976, and somehow, the rule stuck for nearly half a century. Players literally had to shave their identities at the door.

Now in Detroit, Gleyber is letting it grow, and honestly, he’s glowing. Will this newfound follicular freedom help him play better? Maybe! Will it make him look cooler while doing it? Absolutely.

Whatever the case, I’m rooting for Torres to thrive, beard and all. May he hit bombs, turn double plays, and prove that a little facial hair can go a long way in redefining a career. 

Go get ’em, Gleyber—you’ve earned it!

JUAN SOTO TROLLS US AS THE OFFERS PILE UP!

Listen, Yankees fans, we’ve seen this movie before. Other teams splash cash, make big moves, and we’re left making excuses like, “Well, we’re saving for the right guy.” The right guy is staring you in the face. His name is Juan Soto, and if Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t channel his inner George Steinbrenner—stat!—this could go down as yet another humiliating chapter in the “post-George era” of mediocrity.

According to NJ.com’s Yankees beat writer Randy Miller, Soto is officially the hottest commodity in free agency. He’s got five teams throwing money at him and the Phils are interested: the Yankees, Blue Jays, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, and Dodgers. Yeah, the usual suspects.  

But here’s the kicker: Soto wants a 15-year deal worth more than the record $700 million Shohei Ohtani got last year from the Dodgers. Oh, and Soto isn’t here for any of that deferred money nonsense that Ohtani agreed to. Nope, Soto wants his cash upfront, like a man who knows his worth—and honestly, respect.

Let’s be real. While the Yankees are hopefully putting together a competitive offer, you know who else has their checkbooks wide open? Steve Cohen and the Mets. That guy is like the Monopoly Man on steroids. Reports suggest Cohen isn’t playing games:

“We’re going to find out,” Cohen said. “It’s either going to be yes or no, there’s no in-between, time will tell.”

Translation: Cohen is ready to back the Brinks truck up to Soto’s house, and Hal Steinbrenner better wake up before the Yankees get lapped by the Mets. Could you imagine? The Mets getting Soto while we re-sign someone like Jake Bauers for “depth”? No offense Jake.

Negotiations with Soto are entering their next phase, with offers getting "increasingly more serious" over the coming week. The timing? The Winter Meetings in Dallas from Dec. 9-12. If the Yankees don’t step up and close this deal by then, fans might riot. Or worse, start wearing Mets hats. I kid, I kid, I can't stand the Mets... they're just the Mets.

Oh, and the Red Sox? Those guys just upped their offer to Soto on Tuesday, which means Boston is very much in play. Imagine Soto slugging homers over the Green Monster while Yankees fans are stuck debating the wisdom of another “high upside” bargain signing. It’s sickening.

Meanwhile, Soto is out here trolling us all. On Tuesday, he posted a video on Instagram, standing at a podium and making it look like he was about to announce his new team.

Juan Soto just post this on his IG 😂 #JuanSoto pic.twitter.com/7yaTICFTCM

— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) November 26, 2024

 

Instead, he announced a partnership with Celsius energy drinks. Are you kidding me? He played us all like a fiddle. And you know what? Damn you, Juan Soto!

This isn’t just about money—it’s about legacy. George Steinbrenner would have already closed this deal by now. He would’ve offered Soto $750 million, a private island, and a lifetime supply of pinstripe pajamas. Because in the Boss’s world, winning was everything.

Hal Steinbrenner has a chance to prove he’s cut from the same cloth. Land Soto, and suddenly the Yankees are back to being the Evil Empire, feared and respected across baseball. Let him slip away to the Mets or the Red Sox, and it’s another black mark on an organization that’s already been too cautious for too long.

The Yankees need Soto. Not just because he’s 26 years old, a generational talent, and the missing piece to a lineup desperate for star power. But because failing to get him sends a clear message to the rest of the league: the Yankees aren’t who they used to be.

Hal, if you’re reading Bleeding Yankee Blue (and you should be), remember this: You’re not just signing a player—you’re saving the Yankees’ soul. Don’t let Cohen, the Red Sox, or those smug Dodgers beat you to the punch. Pull the trigger, make the deal, and let’s bring Soto to the Bronx. Anything less is unacceptable.

If we don’t get him? Don’t be surprised if fans start chanting “SELL THE TEAM” in April. You’ve been warned.

SERIOUS QUESTION. DOES HAL STEINBRENNER KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING?

Hal Steinbrenner made waves today at the owners’ meetings with his candid remarks about the Yankees’ pursuit of Juan Soto. “I have no idea” how it will play out, he admitted multiple times. While he assured fans that the team has “the ability to sign any player we want,” his measured tone exposed a lingering truth: 

Hal runs the Yankees like a business, but fans demand a dynasty.

For Yankees faithful, it’s hard not to think of George Steinbrenner in moments like this. When George wanted a player, he didn’t hesitate—he got them. It wasn’t just about talent; it was about the pulse of the fans. He understood their passion and mirrored it in his relentless pursuit of excellence. George’s Yankees weren’t just a team—they were an identity, a legacy built on bold moves and a refusal to accept second place.

Hal, by contrast, speaks of sustainability and luxury tax thresholds. “Payrolls like this year’s are not feasible year after year,” he explained. That logic makes sense in a boardroom, but Yankees fans don’t care about fiscal responsibility—they care about winning. Soto, just 26 and one of the game’s brightest stars, represents a chance to ignite another golden era. But Hal’s comments suggest he’s bracing for a bidding war he may not want to win, especially with Mets owner Steve Cohen, whose $16 billion fortune overshadows Hal’s $4 billion.

Michael Kay’s warning that Cohen could outbid Hal by $50 million has only stoked fears. If the Yankees lose Soto, it won’t be because they couldn’t afford him—it’ll be because Hal chose not to. That distinction is where frustration turns into fury.

Hal insists he gets it. “I’ve got ears. I know what’s expected of me,” he said. But does he? Yankees fans want more than words; they want action. When Aaron Judge turned down a bigger offer from the Padres in 2022 to stay in the Bronx, it felt like a triumph of loyalty and legacy. But Soto isn’t a homegrown Yankee. He’s a mercenary who will follow the money—and fans need to see that Hal is willing to fight for him, no matter the cost.

George Steinbrenner wasn’t perfect, but he was a man who understood the soul of the Yankees. He spent recklessly, demanded fiercely, and lived for the roar of the crowd. For George, losing wasn’t an option, and excuses didn’t fly. That intensity—sometimes chaotic, always exhilarating—defined the Yankees’ golden years.

Hal’s calculated approach feels like a pale shadow of that legacy. He’s a businessman navigating modern baseball’s financial waters, but in doing so, he risks losing the emotional connection that made the Yankees more than just a team.

Juan Soto is more than a player—he’s a chance for Hal Steinbrenner to prove he understands what it means to lead the Yankees. If he lands Soto, it will show he can rise to the moment, channeling the fire that made his father a legend. But if he doesn’t, the narrative is already written: Hal, too cautious and too detached, let another cornerstone slip away.

Yankees fans don’t just want wins; they want a leader who shares their passion, their urgency, and their pride. George had it. Now, it’s Hal’s chance to show he does, too.

FORGET IT. THE YANKEES WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE FALL CLASSIC ANYWAY

Last night I cannot blame on Aaron Boone. Crazy right?

But as a whole, in the bonehead moves he has made, in our 4th place finish last year... in the way he over tinkers, befriends his players, argues balls and strikes in meaningless games, and just plain sucks as a manager because of his inexperience, and now because we have gotten to the World Series and lost it, it only makes sense that we say goodbye to this guy and turn the page on making the Yankee organization leadership brighter and better moving forward. This HAS to be the end of the Boone Era. The experiment didn't work... not even alittle bit! Hal, are you listening?

Look, the Yankees were never supposed to be in the World Series this year.  Let's not fool ourselves. The Yankees have been so inconsistent all season, so the idea of making it to the World Series was a gift.  Did I hope they won this year? Of course, but do I think they actually are the best team in baseball, nope.  I'm a realist, this Yankee team is deeply flawed.

The Yankees made a few minor offseason tweaks even though we all knew they needed better pitching and that was the priority.  We got Juan Soto instead. Now, don't get me wrong, Juan Soto was fantastic, I loved seeing him in pinstripes, but as I said then, we got this guy for one year, what happens if we DON'T win it all?  And here we are... we didn't win it all.  And so, what happens next?

For one, Juan Soto will be a free agent.  That's big.  Seems like we had one opportunity, and it was just now, and yet, we didn't win. And so, if he leaves, do you really think we have what it takes to try and win again? We were lucky to get to the World Series this year WITH Juan Soto. If Juan Soto leaves, you can forget our chances. And that is where you really need to go after our Yankees front office and lightweight manager Aaron Boone.

Leadership in any business is vital, and this guy just doesn't have what it takes to lead this Yankees team.  

It's been a long time since Boone has been in the driver's seat. Here's the problem; he doesn't know how to drive stick.  This isn't a team you just hand over to a JV coach and say, "Here, try and tinker with this." These are the New York Yankees. They are celebrities, personalities and they are wearing the pinstripes and so the stakes are much higher.  While many people didn't like Joe Torre taking over after Buck Showalter in the 90's, the one thing Joe Torre had was experience. He was a long-time player and a manager, and while not a successful manager, he understood the game and surrounded himself with wisdom. In other words, he had a plan.  

I see Aaron Boone as a guy who wants to hang out with the celebrity Yankees, have barbeques, a few drinks, play a pickup basketball game with Cortes and Judge, and just enjoy life as a millionaire. The problem? He's not actually doing his job.  Being in the friend zone with Gerrit Cole doesn't win you a championship.  He doesn't understand the stakes, He doesn't understand much of anything.  

And I'll take it further. Better, smarter and more experienced managers in baseball have been fired for way less than what Boone's mistakes have led this Yankee team over the years.  Buck Showalter is probably one of the most respected baseball minds in the game and the Mets lost a few years ago, and they cut him loose right away.  Billy Martin was back and forth with George Steinbrenner for years, but when he couldn't win, he'd be fired. It was pretty simple.  

The White Sox fired La Russa after the club got off to a 26–38 start in 1986, yet LaRussa is one of only two managers in MLB history to win World Series championships in both the American and National leagues.  What's my point? My point is Boone should have been fired years ago. He's terrible.

Now last night's game you cannot blame on Aaron Boone. The 5th inning for the Yankees was the strangest thing I've ever seen.  You always hear that errors will cost you ballgames, and last night it was evident. It was big. It was horrible.  The Yankee club should be embarrassed. But let me be clear, errors are part of the game, and while no one wants to see the Yankees fold like they did, the bigger issue is our leadership.

Hal Steinbrenner either doesn't have his finger on the pulse or Brian Cashman has fooled him enough to handle this team and tricked big Hal into believing that "close enough" with Aaron Boone is "good enough" and the bottom line is as fans, we are very in tune with what's going on, but as fans we also love to watch our team win it all.  Us fans spend the money, and we root hard only to be heartbroken and then we do it all over again the next year with our shitty manager and a wish and a prayer that we can retain Juan Soto long term.  

None of it makes sense, yet we do it anyway. It's a trap. It's an abusive relationship and we're the ones getting mind fucked every season. And so, my biggest gripe with this team is simple; the management is stale, the hunger only comes when we hit home runs, and the idea of manufacturing runs is a very small part of the Yankees game and that my friends has been going on since the days of Jason Giambi.  We will never break the mold if the manager gives Hal what he "thinks" he wants.  Boone does not think for himself. Boone panders. Boone does what he's told. In essence, Boone isn't running this team as a true manager would.  

I will give Joe Girardi credit for one thing; he was tough as nails when it came to managing this club. He wasn't the best at it, but he also didn't bend over and tried his best to manage the team his way.  Many times, it didn't work, but one time it did and 2009 was glorious.

But 2009 was a long time ago and everyone knows that Aaron Boone's not winning us a championship.  I mean, that lineup never changed in this World Series and there were major problems with our hitting.  I am still baffled by the fact that Boone started Jose Trevino because Austin Wells was slumping just to then pinch-hit Wells for Trevino later in that game anyway.  That's a manager that doesn't trust himself and it's embarrassing.

And so now the season is over.  Last night will I PRAY brings real changes to the New York Yankees manager and coaching staff.  Seeing the Dodgers celebrate at Yankee Stadium was sad, but this is the game.  Someone had to lose and why not us... we don't have leadership anyway.

Finally, I'll leave you with this; Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" is a staple for the Yankees when we win at the Stadium.  Last night the Yankees played that song while the Dodgers were celebrating.  While this was a total mind fuck for many of your fans, I clearly understood why they did it.  There are 2 reasons actually and while it's my opinion, I know I'm right. 

For one, it was a Thank you. It was a Thank you to the Yankees for the fight. It was a Thank You to us fans for sticking around and believing in the pinstripes. It was a "so long" as we head into the winter, not a "Goodbye".  Maybe it's my maturity, maybe I just understand symbolism, but for the love of God for silly fans and this Jomboy hack to make it appear that the Yankees "messed up" for playing that song are just ridiculous.

idc what it costs, Juan Soto needs to be a Yankee for life

You can't let this generational talent and attitude walk out the front doorpic.twitter.com/yd7a7eh1sr

— Mike Salvatore (@MikeSalvatore10) October 31, 2024

I have been a fan of this team since the old Yankee stadium, 1981, Yankees vs. Dodgers Game 1 of the World Series.  Even before that in '78 when I saw Ron Guidry strike out 18 Angels, but definitely in that World Series. The fans were loud, it just made sense to me that the Yankees were my team. And so, yes, I understand symbolism. I understand appreciation. The Yankees organization as a whole may not appear to be about the fans, but even they understood the gut punch last night.  It was a peace offering, a "we're sorry, but thank you". It was supposed to make you feel good about our team. And Secondly, they probably snuck this in too; While Sinatra was a Hoboken kid, he was a Dodgers fan. 

I know, I know, your brain just exploded. Well calm down, it's not that deep. It's symbolism and a gesture all the same. You may not have gotten it, but it was actually nice and guys like Jomboy make it about them and it's not. 

And so now we crawl into our caves and wait.  Hopefully Boone gets canned, it just makes sense at this point.  Hopefully the Yankees can figure out a way to retain Juan Soto while getting another top starting pitcher.  Hopefully we will see the fall classic next year and we win with a new manager and new hunger and an Aaron Judge who just tees off every at bat.

To our Bleeding Yankee Blue audience.  You are loyal, you are wonderful, and we thank you for your support and love. Many of you have been reading BYB since we started in September 2010. That is a long time, and we love you very much.  To the newbies, yeah, we complain about our Yankees a lot here, but we also celebrate them. Thank you for finding us and we hope you enjoy the ride.

Congrats to the Yankees for making it this far. You weren't supposed to be here, but you did prove many of us wrong and I respect the hell out of that.  I always will.

Go Yanks.

See you all in the offseason. We will not stop writing and will bring you as much news, info and humor as we can.  Thanks for reading Bleeding Yankee Blue.

-- Robert Casey
Chief & Head writer of Bleeding Yankee Blue
Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu

THE YANKEES CHANNEL 1996 & HOPE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

I'm thinking back to 1996 and suddenly feeling very old. The Yankees are down 2-0 in the World Series and it doesn't feel good at all. We've been here before though, and we ended up beating the Atlanta Braves. So, anything is possible. This could be the inspiration we need that changes everything. As Yogi Berra once said "it ain't over till it's over."

And we are now back in the Bronx, back on our own home turf. Back to that rich tradition of Yankee greats of the past. Back in 96 Joe Torre was in his first year of his managerial career (soon to be legacy) and his back was up against the wall. He had a much more demanding boss in George Steinbrenner back then who was expecting nothing short of miracles and victories to become World Series Champions. 

Here we are again in 2024. While it is clear that Aaron Boone is no Joe Torre (nor will he ever be), and Hal Steinbrenner doesn't have the passion to win like his dad did, the Yankees can still pull this off....but it's going to be really hard. It also makes tonight's game a MUST WIN. We ain't dead yet, but we are hobbling and stumbling. If the Yankees want this, they are going to have to play their butts off.

Playing their butts off also means getting Aaron Judge right again. He's getting plenty of pitches in the zone, he's just not hitting them. Judge looks lost at the plate. His mechanics are okay, they aren't wonky but his timing is. Judge is pressing at the plate and cracking under the pressure instead of just going with the flow and trusting his talent. It's hard to watch and he needs to pull himself out of this. 

If Baboonie were smart, he'd make some changes that might help get the lineup going instead of making some cutesy move that backfires like he did in game 1 that I'm still mad about. Baboonie needs to cut some of the pressure. Maybe swap Juan Soto and Judge in the batting order and see if that sparks something. And speaking of making swaps, don't get cute and bench Austin Wells for Jose Trevino. You need your best catcher playing right now, even though Wells is struggling offensively. Trevino is not an offensive upgrade but would be a defensive liability behind the plate. The Dodgers are already capitalizing on our weaknesses.... let's not add a catcher with lesser defense that can't throw into the mix.

This series comes down to Judge. We've got to get him going again. He left a lot of runners on base during the first two games that could have turned the game around. This ain't over yet....but it's get late early out there if Judge can't pull himself out of this slump and hit. 

I'm not giving up.... but I am frustrated. Let's hope some of that 1996 magic is still out there and makes an appearance tonight. We need it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj