JUAN SOTO JUST GOT KNOCKED DOWN QUITE A FEW PEGS

Steve Cohen and the Mets have singlehandedly rewritten the manual on how to torpedo a baseball franchise—all in the name of beating the Yankees. In their desperation to flex financial muscle, they threw nearly a billion dollars at Juan Soto, a player who, while a monster at the plate, is as one-dimensional as a cardboard cutout in the field.

Veteran scout Tyler Kepner finally said what I’ve been screaming for years: Juan Soto is overrated. Finally, FINALLY, someone with the guts to call it like it is! Sure, the guy can hit, but he's a selfish player, and his defense? A liability. Yet every time I point this out, it’s like talking to a brick wall. But now that Kepner has spoken, maybe—just maybe—people will open their eyes.

Cohen just sabotaged baseball by handing out a deal that guarantees regret. In about three years, when Soto is lumbering around first base or hiding at DH, the Mets will still have ELEVEN years left on that monstrosity of a contract. Hope that family suite was worth it, Cohen.

Kepner didn’t pull punches. He compared Soto to Brian Giles—a fantastic hitter, but hardly a game-changer elsewhere. “Giles was an elite hitter,” Kepner said. “But he wasn’t a game-changer defensively or on the bases. Soto is the same—he’s got a great bat, but he doesn’t offer much outside of that.” Sound familiar? That’s because I’ve been saying it before the Yankees even signed him!

Kepner threw in a small caveat, saying, “He could always improve his defense as he matures,” but let’s be real—why would he? That contract is a golden ticket to complacency. We’ve seen it before: guys secure the bag and suddenly, the hustle disappears. Soto got paid. He doesn’t need to run, dive, or put in extra effort. In a couple of years, when he starts half-jogging to first, the Mets will be stuck paying top dollar for a glorified DH.

Essentially Sports says: “Soto is just getting started. At just 26, for him, the sky is the limit. After leading the AL in runs and hitting 41 home runs, Soto has the potential to do even more. He could challenge for the lead in RBIs, runs, and homers, all while carrying the Mets to an improved record.”

That’s all well and good for now, but let’s fast-forward a few years. When Soto’s legs are gone, when he’s a statue in the outfield, when his contract has become an anchor weighing the Mets down—then what? He’ll ask to play DH, and of course, the Mets will cave. They’ve given him the keys to the kingdom. No one sees it yet, but they will.

Cohen has wrecked the Mets. Sure, they might get some short-term gains, but in the long run? Disaster. Cohen fought so hard to outbid the Yankees. I hope it was worth it. Mets fans will be stuck watching a declining player eat up payroll. The Yankees dodged a bullet.

Don’t take my word for it—listen to Johnny Damon. Speaking to DJ Siddiqi of SportsCasting.com, Damon said: “He’s an amazing player. When the Yankees couldn’t get Juan Soto, they were able to go out and get a number of All-Stars where the team may actually be better now. You have more quality players around.”

Exactly. One player doesn’t guarantee a championship. If it did, the Yankees would have won it all in 2024. Soto was phenomenal in the postseason—.327 average, 16 hits, 4 home runs, 9 RBIs, 12 runs in 14 games. But guess what? No ring.

So, enjoy it while it lasts, Stevie. The warning signs are there. When Soto starts misplaying fly balls, when he’s a liability on the bases, when he’s clogging up payroll with a contract that still has a decade left—then we’ll all be chanting: BRI-AN GI-LES! clap clap, clap clap clap!

JOHNNY DAMON SPEAKS OUT ON THE YANKEE HAIR POLICY

 I didn't see this one coming.

Johnny Damon, known for his famously unkempt look during his playing days, might have seemed like a natural fan of the New York Yankees' recent change to their strict grooming policy. However, his reaction to the news was anything but enthusiastic.

Damon, who had to chop off his long hair and shave his full beard when he joined the Yankees in 2005, shared his thoughts in a recent Instagram video. "I just heard that the Yankees are not requiring people to cut their hair and trim their beards..." said the two-time All-Star. "I think we need to keep it how it was, with respect to legends like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera."

For Damon, the Yankees' grooming rules were a part of the team's storied tradition. "The Yankees are a tradition," he said. "Let's keep it. I cut these lovely locks off many years ago because George Steinbrenner was such a great human being, such a great boss, that I wasn’t even going to question it. Let’s keep the policies the same. Listen to your bosses, always bring your A-game, and let’s go!"

In a side note, Damon also mentioned his support for Jorge Posada’s Hall of Fame candidacy, a sentiment many fans share.

While the tradition of the Yankees' clean-cut image has its charm, there’s another perspective worth considering. Beards and hairstyles can play a role in a player's personality and performance. For some athletes, their hair isn't just a style choice—it’s a part of their identity, almost like a source of strength or confidence.

There’s a psychological aspect to it. When a player arrives in New York sporting a rugged beard and leaves looking like he just went through basic training, it can mess with his mindset. It might affect how he pitches, how he hits, or even how he sees himself. It’s like taking Superman’s cape away and expecting him to be the same hero.

Personally, I’ve always been well-groomed and appreciate the Yankees' classic approach. But I also think there’s something exciting about letting players find their groove with a bit more freedom. If a light beard helps someone like Devin Williams thrive in New York, then why not?

Tradition is important but so is adapting to the times. Finding that balance could be the key to helping the Yankees maintain their legacy while allowing players to feel like themselves.

JOHNNY DAMON SPEAKS OUT ABOUT IMPROVED YANKEES WITHOUT SOTO

When Juan Soto put up an impressive 7.9 WAR during his time in the Bronx, it seemed like losing him would leave an irreplaceable gap in the Yankees' lineup. But guess what? The Yankees didn’t flinch. As a fan, neither did I. I was happy Juan left. I was a financial logjam What was better was they didn’t even try to replace Soto with just one player. Instead, they went on a spree, grabbing Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams. Talk about an All-Star buffet!

In a January 20 Sportcasting.com article, Yankees legend Johnny Damon gave his stamp of approval, claiming the Yankees might be even better now without Soto. Damon’s words? Pure gold:

"He’s an amazing player...When the Yankees couldn’t get Juan Soto, they were able to go out and get a number of All-Stars where the team may actually be better now. You have more quality players around. Juan Soto is going to win you so many games, but all these other players, you need them to help out for 162 games. I think the Yankees are in a really good spot."

And he's not just blowing smoke. Damon believes this squad is geared up to chase the World Series title. And frankly, so do I! I’ve been saying it since I penned that BYB article titled THE YANKEES WILL WIN THE 2025 WORLD SERIES, and nothing’s changed my mind.

Damon doubled down on his optimism:

“I do think the Yankees have a better chance to win the World Series this year. It’s always tough to win. I was fortunate to win two times in my career, but you get to the postseason, pitchers get hot, players get hot, and sometimes the best team doesn’t win. At the end of the day, it’s your team pulling in the same direction. It’s your team getting the job done."

The bottom line? The Yankees didn’t just need Soto—they needed a collaborative team effort. They’ve got that now, a roster brimming with talent ready to tackle the grind of 162 games and beyond.

Meanwhile, across town, the Mets have Soto, but that’s about it. Didn’t they learn anything from watching the Yankees fall short in the World Series? It’s not about one superstar—it’s about building a team. Silly Mets. The Yankees are primed and ready, and this time, they’re coming for that trophy.

SOTO LEAVES HIS MARK ON BALTIMORE'S EUTAW STREET

I got a text message from a fan Tuesday night that said, "We already look second class against Baltimore." My response, "It's too early for that talk." And with that comment Juan Soto launched a 471 foot 2-run shot into Eutaw Street. "It's Juanderful", as John Sterling would say. So despite Baltimore being well, Baltimore and taking the first two games of the series, the Yankees keep things exciting with Soto.

Source: David Dermer/AP Photo

"For those who don’t know, Eutaw Street is the festive area that’s located between Camden Yards and the B&O warehouse. Every home run ball that completely clears the right-field wall and lands on the street gets a mini plaque on the spot where the ball lands. Didi (Gregorius) is the first Yankees player to hit a homerun on Eutaw Street since Curtis Granderson did it back in 2013," reported Elite Sports NY. Didi did it in 2019 with a 417-foot home run. In fact, Granderson, Gregorius and now Soto are in great company with other Yankee lore including Jason Giambi (three plaques on the street), Paul O’Neill, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon, and Nick Swisher. Soto's blast is the 11th by a Yankee. 

Besides this huge home run last night in Baltimore, Soto has been absolutely on fire. According to MLB.com, "He was doing historic things from the first series of the season. Soto became the first player in the expansion era (1961) to record a go-ahead RBI in the 7th inning or later in three of his first four games with a team, and the first to do so in three of his four with the Yankees, specifically, since RBI became official in 1920, according to the Elias Sports Bureau."

We have watched him be selective at the plate, choosing the right pitches to hit. He make hard contact when he does swing, among the best in the majors. And he hits the ball in the air. According to MLB.com, "Soto is hitting .521 and slugging 1.083 on fly balls and line drives, and has always had similar numbers on such batted balls. By hitting fewer grounders, he’s positioning himself for those positive outcomes even more. The culmination of all of this: he isn’t just hitting the ball in the air more overall, but also when making hard contact. 66.7% of his hard-hit batted balls have been fly balls and line drives."

The Soto party is very popular in Yankee Stadium, of course, but even on the road, Soto has more fans than not. Sure he gets boos, but honestly, it is hard to boo for a guy that has a smile and disposition like he has. Now Soto has left his mark, permanently in Baltimore. And his plaque will soon replace the ball that he muscled out there on Tuesday night. 

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

WHEN THE BYB YANKEE FAMILY SPEAKS

Plenty of reaction to my post BEING A FAN WHEN YOU HAVE NO FAITH over the past 24 hours. I did not expect that. 

I'm fine. I'm not suicidal... I'm frustrated and I've lost the heart for my team right now.  Will BYB end? I've seriously considered it. There's only so many different ways you can write that the Yankees leadership has failed us fans.  You gotta appreciate Suzie Pinstripe's post today titled: YANKEES WIN NEW AWARDS... read it. It's about being a true Yankee fan and her mom's perfect words.  That mindset is beautiful.  

But fandom is really an individual thing and the idea of me writing about frustration for my team every day just seems manic and painful.  What's the point?  I did get some advice from many readers saying "See how the season plays out" and "this space won't be the same if you're gone" and that's fair and nice of everyone. I mean, I'll always be a "fan", I just wouldn't be presenting my heart's true feelings for my team every day.  

I did have one reader on Facebook write "It's OK to go away."  Trust me, you don't hurt my feelings with your 200 friends, pal.  You don't stick around in cyberspace since September 2010 if you weren't relevant.  Bleeding Yankee Blue is still here cause we have alot to say and we don't hold back... you still have those 200 friends. Have fun with that.  

But look, ultimately it comes down to the Yankees, right? We're all annoyed, frustrated, happy, concerned, hopeful... insert the word here.  I've always had the approach that it it's how I feel that moment and write about it. That is where I am and have been for months. the Yankees front office and leadership is awful.  They lie to the fans; they don't make true significant changes and a lot needs to change but won't.  We've all been fooled once again.  

And so yea, my problem is I feel this way every day when it comes to my team... that's just me.  But look, I am thankful for the notes and comments and rally cry to keep Bleeding Yankee Blue going.  I haven't truly decided yet.  We will see.  

In the meantime, I wanted to share this heartfelt fan's email.  His name is Rob, and he is a Yankee fan true and true and wrote this to me. I asked him to share it with our audience and he said sure... so here it is.  Thanks Rob

Hey Folks:

I'm not saying you're wrong about Marcus Stroman, but I am saying you might be.

Free agency has upset old notions of team loyalty, and the age of social media magnifies a lot of stuff. Like the NBA or a fight, there's a lot of hype on social media that should be taken with a grain of salt. One could even say that Stroman's brashness will help him in Da' Bronx. (It did wonders for Reggie Jackson, who never loved the Yankees but loved being the straw...)

I might remind you that some very significant Yankees in their day used to lambaste the team. Roger Clemens hated the Yankees–until he came to love them. Ditto Wade Boggs, Johnny Damon, Graig Nettles, and David Cone to name a few others.

There are, of course, players who came to town that hated it and did better elsewhere: Kevin Brown, Ed Whitson, Kyle Farnsworth, Sonny Gray, A. J. Burnett, Carl Pavano, Rick Cerone, Don Baylor. Jacoby Ellsbury never really fit in either and I sincerely wonder about Carlos Rodon.

But agents, GMs, and money talk these days. Jordan Montgomery prefers to stay in Texas, but do you think he'd love the Yankees again if they made him an offer that he & Scott Boras couldn't refuse?

For the record, I've never been a huge fan of Stroman, but if you ask me if I think he'll be better than Rodon or Schmidt, yeah, I do. I also think Cashman has worn out his welcome.

But if Hal's money was mine, I'd make that can't-refuse-offer to Montgomery. That's WAY better than dumping out the minors for Dylan Cease.


Cheers,
Rob


P.S. My MA residency notwithstanding, I've been a Yankees fan since the days of Mickey Mantle.

Sometimes you need an outside perspective to make you understand where we've been and where we need to go. Everything Rob said came back to me like a rush. He's right. He's right in many examples. Let's hope stuff like this can reset my mind and refresh me as we are walking into spring training. Great letter, Rob.... we appreciate you here at BYB.


Happy Sunday everyone. Make today great. Keep truckin'.

--Robert Casey
Bleeding Yankee Blue Chief
Twitter: @bleednyankeeblu

COULD THE YANKEES ACTUALLY GET YAMAMOTO?

Source: Yuki Taguchi/WBCI/MLB Photos

What does the #18 mean to you? It means Johnny Damon and Didi Gregorius to me and likely others. The last time #18 was worn by a Yankee is was when Andrew Benintendi played for the team. But to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, #18 could mean everything. As reported by SNY, "According to league sources, the Yanks have purposefully held the number 18 for Yamamoto over the past year. That is not only Yamamoto’s number with the Orix Buffaloes, but is traditionally considered the "ace" number in Japan." So could this small gesture lure Yamamoto to the Yankees? Let's drill deeper.

Source: NY Times

"Hiroki Kuroda, a onetime NPB ace, wore 18 with the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka wore number 18 as an ace for the NPB’s Rakuten Golden Eagles before signing with the Yankees, but took 19 in New York out of respect for Kuroda, who was still on the team," reported SNY. God I love that Tanaka! He truly gave ace-like performance as a Yankee and could Yamamoto be next?

There are several teams linked to the Japanese ace right now including the cross town rival New York Mets. But guess what? #18 is about to be retired to honor Met favorite Darryl Strawberry. According to the New York Post, "Yamamoto, by all indications, would be the right fit for both the Mets and the Yankees. Which doesn’t mean he will end up here; there’s more teams with money to spend now than there’s been since the dawn of free agency in 1976, when the numbers were still low enough that even small-market teams like Montreal and Cleveland were big free-agent players. But when the bids begin to build, assuming Yamamoto is bullish on New York, he can do what precious few have ever done: Craft a full-scale bidding war between baseball’s two fiscal monoliths."

Yet to throw another wrench into the free agency mix, there's Shohei Ohtani who the Post calls "the biggest prize on the market." Although the Yankees and the Mets for that matter are longshots for a deal with Ohtani, Steve Cohen has shown how deep his pockets can go. He even tried to throw his hat in the ring for Aaron Judge. And we know how that went down.

So could the Yankees go for it? The asking price before a bidding war ensues is $200 million. And the bidding war could also include the Dodgers, Red Sox and Giants- all who have #18 available by the way. But if Yamamoto wants to be a Yankee and the Yankees are willing to go for it, we may have our modern day Tanaka come spring. 

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

FAMILY RIVALRY & THE LAST WORD

This story was written on the pages of Bleeding Yankee Blue on May 13, 2011. Not sure why is came back to my mind yesterday, but it did. I decided to republish it today.  Written by Christy Lee, one of our former BYB staff writers, it still holds up.

--Casey

When the Yankees face Boston, I have a lot on my mind. Although I’m more than a little pleased at the fact that Boston seems to be less than the “dream team” these days, I have mixed emotions about the rivalry.

All day, I keep looking at the phone, waiting for my Uncle Bruce to call me. He hasn’t. A huge Red Sox fan, he never missed an opportunity to call me and bust my chops a little. Or a LOT. The calls would start before the game and continue during the game. If the Yankees lost, I never heard the end of it.

Sometimes, I would pick up the phone to hear nothing but his laughter if Mariano blew a save. He would often forget that there was a two-hour time difference from Colorado, calling very late into the evening just to let me know that yes, he watched it, and yes- my team blew it.

Being the typical Sox fan, he could dish it out, but he couldn’t take it. I made it a point to call him when the Yankees signed Johnny Damon. He didn’t answer his phone. I took my picture next to a life-sized cutout of Derek Jeter and sent it to him; he sent me an envelope full of Red Sox confetti.

This back-and-forth razzing would last all season long. An avid fan, he could get downright mean and nasty about it. I don’t play like that, and it started to get on my nerves. So, I made it clear to him that I would no longer have these discussions with him. I declared a truce. He ignored this and continued to call anyway.

I tried to explain to him that a true fan loves their team; that hating another team was bad sportsmanship. He spent so much time hating the Yankees that it seemed that he didn’t really know what was going on in his own team’s camp. Look, I’m all for the rivalry against the Red Sox, but I don’t take it to the extreme. To love baseball, you have to love the game, respect good players, and think objectively. As painful as it is to say sometimes, I have respect for Big Papi as a player, and a person. 

My uncle would never, EVER, say something like that about Derek Jeter. So I just accepted it and continued the game with him. Sometimes, I felt like screaming at him, but I just laughed it off. I let the baseball Gods handle the karma for me.

When I visited his home near Denver this past summer, my point of view about my uncle was forever changed. Bruce had every ticket stub to every game that he ever went to. He loved the Colorado Rockies as much as he loved the Red Sox, and his home was filled with souvenirs not only from Coors Field and Fenway Park, but many stadiums throughout the MLB. Right there, on a little cul-de-sac nestled up against the Rocky Mountains, was his very own Baseball Hall of Fame.

As I looked around some more, I noticed something. Prominently displayed in his dining room was a collector’s edition plate commemorating Don Larsen’s Perfect Game. Don Larsen. A New York Yankee. I was thrown for a loop. I stood there, staring at it, and I thought for a long time. Then, it occurred to me. All this time, he really was a real baseball fan. He was playing this game with me as a way of making the 2,000 miles between us disappear. He was having fun and staying connected with me at the same time.

Earlier today, less than two hours before the first pitch at Yankee Stadium, I sat on my cell phone and accidentally dialed Bruce’s number. It rang forever, and he didn’t answer. This time, I know why. My Uncle Bruce died in July, leaving a pile of unused Red Sox and Rockies tickets, and leaving me to face this series without him.

And so, to my friends, Yankees fans and Red Sox fans alike, I say this: Enjoy this weekend. Enjoy the series. Enjoy every minute with your fellow fans, even your rivals. And to you, my dear uncle, in the spirit of family tradition, I say, with love… LET’S GO YANKEES!!!!!



--Christy Lee 

BYB Staff Writer
Twitter: @ladybleedsblue

JOHNNY DAMON IS BANANAS... LITERALLY

The Savannah Bananas are intriguing in themselves. Now add in Johnny Damon and you really have something, don't you?

A great story this week about a Yankee and baseball veteran just trying to give it one more shot and get a little publicity too.  Johnny Damon signed and played with the Savannah Bananas. Now if you don't know anything about the Savanah Bananas, know that they are a fun team. If you want to know more, just go to Wikipedia:

"The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia.The team was founded in 2016 and has played at Grayson Stadium since its inaugural season. Until 2022, the Bananas competed in the Coastal Plain League's (CPL) West division, where they won three Petitt Cup championships (2016, 2021, and 2022). The team has sold out every game since the first season in Savannah and every city on the Banana Ball World Tour."

Now that you know this, understand what happened with Johnny Damon. Yahoo Sports writes:

Johnny Damon makes his debut for the Bananas in Daytona Beach last night😎 pic.twitter.com/D8RDvTnB73

— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) February 23, 2023

"The 49-year-old suited up for the amateur baseball team and made his debut Wednesday night during an exhibition game in Daytona Beach, Florida.

He sauntered to the plate, grinning widely with his signature long hair, and got into his batting stance. The pitcher threw the ball and he whiffed right past it. The momentum from his powerful swing nearly spun him around....

The Bananas are known for their antics, so Damon fit right in.

Damon connected on the next pitch for a dribbler toward third base. He was thrown out at first, but he got to keep the ball. "

Look, my take on this is simple; I've never been a huge fan of Damon because he seems to go where the wind blows, meaning, if the Yankees get heat, he acts like a former Red Sock. If the Red Sox are caught up in some crap, he leans Yankees.  I don't like that and I'd rather he stays loyal to one team, whomever that may be. That being said, I love that he's 49 and out there playing!

Fun story and I wanted to share it.

You like this? Read these:

JOHNNY THE GREAT

F JOHNNY DAMON

NO NAMES ON YANKEE JERSEYS: TRADITION OR SALES BAIT?

Source: SB Nation

So, when Johnny Damon retired from baseball, I had a nice, home #18 jersey in my closet. I hadn't worn it in years. After the fanfare of Derek Jeter's last season, that #18 jersey became more and more relevant as Didi Gregorius filled some big shoes left by the Yankee Captain.  #18 was alive and well for some time but now, it's not all over again as Didi headed to the Philadelphia Phillies this off season.  I guarantee #18 will come back in season again with the next guy in to choose a very precious low number commodity in the current Yankee lineup and my #18 jersey will live on. Why am I saying all of this?  Well, I read a nugget today about Yankee traditions and one of the first items was the tradition of the Yankees not wearing their names on their jerseys, home or away.  But is it just tradition or is there another reason?

According to Sporting News, in a piece they wrote ahead of the Yankees break from tradition in support of Players Weekend for the Little League World Series, "So, why don't the Yankees have names on their jerseys in the first place? There's no real clear answer anywhere, but the best guess is that it's just tradition. When other teams joined the trend of adding names, New York abstained." Actually, it is a heck of a lot more than that.

Source: Newsday

Simply, players wore numbers that indicated their place in the batting order. Babe Ruth batted third and wore #3 and Lou Gehrig batted fourth and wore #4. While other teams began putting names on the backs of jerseys in the 1960s, the Yankees did not follow the trend, and instead chose to stick with tradition. Many companies create jerseys with Yankee names sewn on the back for fans to purchase and you may even have one at home. The shops around the Stadium have a plethora of them. Yet, no official Yankee uniform has ever had names on the back.

Teams also stuck with this "no name" on the back of the jersey as a way of selling score cards and programs, so fans would know who was in the field and at the plate for each game.  It was actually considered one of the first baseball souvenirs, next to, of course actually catching a ball in the stands and getting it autographed.

Another reason for no names in later years as more and more teams added names to the back of jerseys was that the the Yankees administration's stance of there was no one player who was the standout of the team.  It is a team effort first and individual records second.  Tell that to egocentric players today!

A third "official" jersey was tossed around for years.  As Fansided reports, "No one is asking for nicknames or a totally different color scheme. But would it be so much of a crime to wear the navy-blue tops during the season every once in a while, considering they’re worn all spring and throughout Yankee Stadium anyway?The pinstripes are beautiful. They should, and probably will, remain forever. But a third Yankee uniform won’t kill you."  We call those "shirseys" actually!  You can buy them almost everywhere around the Stadium and outside of Stan's you can grab up some vintage ones.

Now with the added Nike "swoosh" to the jersey, the first change in decades has come to the Yankee uniform.  It will be interesting to see, however, if the Yankees decide to "give in" and create something more than a Mother's or Father's day spin on the pinstripes and grey road jerseys.  Maybe the shorten season will have more surprises? Who knows. Raising more money with a new jersey could be another kind of sales bait after all.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE REAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

It's time to start asking the tough questions here. We've tackled a lot of tough subjects this week everything from I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THE SECOND STRING YANKEES to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE PEN. Both emotionally charged subjects and important.

But honestly, I want to know why aren't more people asking questions about all of these injuries? It's time to start asking the tough questions here and possibly make some unpopular decisions.

As of the writing of this post, we have twelve guys(!) on the Injured List with a possibility of growing to 13. Anyone else ticked off by how freaking INSANE this is? Word has it that Giancarlo Stanton had a setback and is expected to be out until around May 10th. Again estimated, but he definitely won't be back until after this long west coast swing. His biceps strain is healed but now he has a barking shoulder and got a cortisone shot.

Now my biggest fear of all could be coming true....Clint Frazier's "precautionary" day off on Tuesday may be more than just a conservative day of rest. He went for an MRI and may have a sprained ankle, read more HERE. He could be the 15th guy the Yankees place on the Injured List this season. 15 folks and it isn't even 30 days into the season! This is stupid!

I get it, injuries happen. All athletes get them but look around major league baseball.....no one has the same problem we do. No one has a Triple-A roster like we do. Anyone else remember the last time this happened? I sure do!

Let's turn back time, shall we? Prior to 2007 the Yankees hired Marty Miller as the team strength and conditioning coach. Injuries piled up within a month of the season beginning and it proved to be Miller’s undoing and he was let go early in the season. Do you remember all of those hamstring sprains? I do! Hideki Matsui, Mike Mussina and Phil Hughes had some bad ones, and that's just a few that I can remember. Johnny Damon had a bad calf strain and Andy Pettitte worked through back stiffness after a weight lifting mishap that never should've happened.

Photo: Marty Miller, right

Cashman never publicly blamed Miller or Dana Cavalea his assistant back then but he said players declining to participate in a team’s strength and conditioning program could have been a contributing factor to all of those injuries. Think about that one....players DECLINING to participate in the team's conditioning program leaves a bad perception. It's probably what led to Miller's dismissal. It's at least a safe assumption.

Photo: Dana Cavalea

Back in 2013 we also had issues with injuries and Cavalea was the strength and conditioning coach. We said in YANKEES STRENGTH & CONDITIONING NOW IN QUESTION that while the Yankees started to look at which coaches should be cut that the Yankees strength and conditioning coach at the time, Cavalea should not be excluded. There was too much going wrong for the Yankees to just let it slide. That was a much older team, so some people argued that some "concessions" could be made but somehow with all of Cavalea's experience and tenure with the Yankees there was still a disconnect. The Yankees had to go a different direction and parted ways with Cavalea after he was in the organization for nine years.

So here we are, new leadership since then. But something just isn't right here and even though it is taking some time to finally wake up and realize it....people other than just US here at BYB are starting to notice. According to NJ.com HERE, Brian Cashman is starting to get a lot of questions about the medical staff. Even Yankee ownership has gone to Cashman seeking answers. If the boss were around....you know heads would be rolling. If the brass is finally asking you KNOW something is brewing, but is it too late?

Cashman has always been the master of deception. He has a great poker face and he tends to give answers to questions that don't truly answer the question, and leave you wondering. One quote that always stuck with me was his reasoning behind the dismissal of Miller. Just one sentence, HERE.

"It got to the point where the perception is there's a problem here."

That was valid back in 2007....so what about 12 years later? You can't ignore 12 or 13 guys on the Injured List. Three of our guys have torn UCL's (Didi Gregorius, Ben Heller and Jordan Montgomery). Four of our opening day starters have various strains (Aaron Judge, Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Troy Tulowitzki). You can argue that again perception here is there's a problem. It was true back in 2007, and again in 2013....history could repeat itself in 2019.

Cashman called this "bad luck" in his interview on WFAN. You can't call this bad luck. Poor offseason conditioning and lack of proper training lead to muscular issues and strains. The pitching injuries are likely caused by the repetitive unnatural motion but also poor mechanics. There are enough injuries here to make it reasonable to question the Yankees training and medical staff. The Yankees have some of the best resources you can ask for, I'm sure other teams are not nearly as fortunate. It's time to fix the problem!

We have to start to question the strength and conditioning as well as the medical staff here. They are the common denominator and history shows there have been problems before. The only way to get to the bottom of these issues is to look at every possibility. If this isn't the problem then so be it but it's time to be proactive here, and not reactive.

Something just doesn't add up here. I'm sorry Cashman, this isn't bad luck. You may have another perception problem on your hands. So what are we going to do about it?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj