SURVEY: PLAYERS WILL GO AWAY, NOT GM & MANAGER IF YANKS FAIL

I’ve been trying—really trying—to keep my distance from Bleeding Yankee Blue for a bit. Call it self-care. Call it survival. Because the truth is, I’m flat-out miserable with the Yankees front office right now.

This front office? The GM? The manager? They’re spreadsheet people. Decimal-point romantics. They worship at the altar of projections and probabilities, while the human element of baseball—the grit, the urgency, the give-a-damn—gets shoved into a footnote. They guess. A lot. They stare at their charts, shrug, and convince themselves that second place or an early playoff exit is perfectly acceptable as long as the revenue graph keeps pointing north. Then comes the annual press conference lullaby: “Well, we tried.”

No, you didn’t. And this sure as hell isn’t the Yankees I grew up with.

Now comes the latest report: if the Yankees don’t succeed in 2026—and let’s be honest, they won’t, you heard it here first—the organization is supposedly ready to “blow it up.” Big changes. New players. Fresh upgrades. Bold moves... this according to an Athletic survey. Except… funny thing. The same executives who built this mess apparently get a pass. Never mind that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009. Never mind that this roster is their creation. Nope. When it fails, it’s always the players’ fault.

The standards are supposedly “high” in the Bronx as we head into spring, especially with this franchise trudging through a 16-year championship drought. That’s why we’ve heard endless chatter since the loss to the Blue Jays in the 2025 Division Series about Aaron Boone’s future. Yes, he’s only missed the playoffs once in eight seasons. And no—that doesn’t impress anyone anymore.

Because the point isn’t making the playoffs. The point is making the playoffs and winning the whole damn thing.

But brace yourself, because Michael Kay will be right there to soothe everyone: “Hey, they made it to the World Series. That’s good.” No. It’s not. You don’t hang banners for “Almost.” And last year? They didn’t even get there.

So where does the pressure land in 2026? On Boone? On the roster? According to this Athletic survey of 36 MLB executives, former executives, managers, coaches, and scouts, the answer is clear: not the people in charge. The survey suggests the players—the core guys fans actually love—are the ones under the gun. Meanwhile, the front office and manager skate by, insulated by contracts, relationships, and the comfort of profitability.

Cashman’s deal runs through 2026. Boone’s through 2027. And if things go sideways, the expectation is roster surgery—not leadership change. Translation: the players you root for get shipped out, while the same decision-makers keep their seats because they’re familiar, friendly, and financially reliable.

Baseball is a business, folks. And this survey screams it. But where’s the survey of the fans? The people dropping thousands of dollars to watch their team come up short? That’s the data I’d like to see. Because if you ask executives, executives will protect executives. Fans don’t cheer for balance sheets—we cheer for players.

And yet, here we are. The money matters more. The fun is gone. Baseball doesn’t feel joyful anymore, and the Yankees feel like a corporation wearing pinstripes.

So yeah, that’s why I’ve been stepping away from BYB more lately. This version of the Yankees? Not fun. This leadership? Brutal. And until the organization remembers who actually fuels this whole machine—the fans—it’s hard to get excited.

We need to do better.
Not for the spreadsheets.
Not for the execs.

For the fan.

KAY HOLDS THE YANKEES WATER WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR MISERABLE OFF-SEASON

Michael Kay has officially volunteered for the offseason hydration station. While Yankee fans are pacing the room, Kay is out here holding the team’s water bottle, explaining why actually this winter has been totally fine, thank you very much.

His defense of the Yankees’ inactivity is… something. According to Kay, the Yankees didn’t miss out on anyone this offseason because they simply didn’t want any of the players who signed elsewhere. Which is a fascinating argument if your goal is to lower expectations into the Earth’s mantle. The logic goes like this: if you pretend you never wanted to improve, then you technically didn’t fail to improve. Galaxy brain stuff.

But here’s the giant hole in Kay’s reasoning, and it’s the size of the 2026 roster: the Yankees have done absolutely nothing meaningful to make the team better. That’s the frustration. Not “oh no, we didn’t get that guy,” but rather, why does this organization seemingly not want to upgrade at all? Why did half the league improve while the Yankees stockpiled minor leaguers like canned goods for a long winter? Those are the questions we want answered.

And that leads to the bigger, far more uncomfortable question Kay conveniently sidesteps: why didn’t the Yankees want any of these players? Are we supposed to believe that every impact free agent was suddenly beneath the Yankees’ interest? That the front office collectively decided, “No thanks, we’re good with vibes and non-roster invites”?

What makes it worse is the complete lack of transparency. Where are the press conferences? Where is the vision? All we ever get is an October soundbite from Brian Cashman promising an “aggressive” offseason, followed by January rolling around with… a flurry of minor league signings and some hopeful shrugging. And of course, the most recent Boone sound bite where he says he wants to win a championship. Well, no shit.  Go do it, we've been waiting.  

And let’s not dance around the obvious: Michael Kay is employed by YES. Of course he’s not going to torch the organization. He can’t. That check comes with invisible handcuffs. It’s a shame, too, because everyone knows Kay is smart enough—and passionate enough—to tell the truth if he were free to do so. I actually love the guy, but I don't love that he's defending a terrible off season. 

The bottom line? The Yankees haven’t won a damn thing under Aaron Boone. They haven’t won anything at all since 2009. Yes, they got to the World Series in 2024. Great. Hang the banner that says “Almost.” This is the New York Yankees, not a participation trophy factory.

And that’s exactly why Bleeding Yankee Blue exists. We’re not here to sugarcoat, spin, or hydrate the front office. When we’re mad, we say it. We’re not shackled. We’re not on the payroll. And we’re not pretending that a quiet offseason full of minor league deals is some master plan.

If that makes us loud, so be it. Someone has to say what everyone else is thinking.

NO "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" THAT I CAN SEE

Mission Accomplished? How about "Mission, who's starting Game 3?"

So, let’s just say it out loud: The Yankees don’t have a new starting pitcher. You can dress it up in Pinstripes and slap a hype video on it, but facts are facts. They’ve got closers. Lots of closers. Enough closers to start a whole separate bullpen league. But a starter? The thing they actually needed? Nope. Not one. Not a single real-deal, innings-eating, rotation-stabilizing starting pitcher.

And yet, somehow, Brian Cashman stood in front of cameras with a straight face and dropped the words:

“Mission accomplished.”

What is this, a bad sequel to Moneyball? Except this time, it’s Funnyball — and the punchline is us. Sure, Cashman also said,

“I know we’re better today than we were yesterday.”

Cool. But saying we’re better is like putting whipped cream on a trash can. Still garbage underneath.

Let’s review the receipts, shall we?
Gerrit Cole: still out post-Tommy John.
Clarke Schmidt: same surgery, same fate — toast.
Luis Gil: M.I.A. since February with a lat issue.

Marcus Stroman: Um
And that’s your top-end depth, folks. Behind them? A collection of “openers,” “bullpen games,” and desperate finger-crossing.

We have Max Fried and Carlos Rodon and I'm thrilled with that. But that's not gonna help anyone in a short series and the Yankees are not thinking ahead. And what’s worse — nobody in the front office seems remotely panicked about it. The Boone-Cashman tag team continues to operate like a malfunctioning GPS: absolutely convinced they know the way, ignoring every single “WRONG TURN” alert.

Enter David Samson. Now, listen — I don’t like the guy. He’s a smug little troll who used to run the Marlins and was bad at it. But unfortunately… he's right.

“They act like everything’s fine,” Samson said. “But it’s not.”
On Volpe’s defense? “No, he’s not [good out there]. You know that.”

This from a guy I’d normally dismiss as a human mosquito, but at this point, I’d rather hear him than another Boone soliloquy about grit and “playing the game the right way.” Enough already.

Volpe’s defense has been brutal. We’re past the point of “rough patch.” It’s a liability. But Boone just smirks and spins it like he’s selling timeshares. And the fanbase? We’re not stupid. We know what we’re seeing. And what we’re seeing is a front office that’s perfectly fine settling for kinda okay.

We’re 3.5 games back. Could we make a run? Absolutely. But this isn’t about just sneaking into October — it’s about winning a championship. And right now, this roster isn't built for that. 

Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners — a team with actual vision — loaded up with Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to thicken their lineup, and Caleb Ferguson to reinforce the ‘pen. All without coughing up elite prospects. That’s how you win a deadline. That’s how you push chips in without flipping the table. The Yankees? They scrambled like it was a fantasy league draft and Cashman got auto-picked eight middle relievers.

And don’t even get me started on Michael Kay. This man — sitting high on his YES throne — tried to sell us the idea that Boone “got to the World Series” and you have to give Boone credit for that? Um, no we don't. This tool actually suggested that Boone got there with two guys who don't even have jobs this season: Anthony Rizzo and Alex Verdugo.

Excuse me? Let’s talk numbers:

 
Verdugo had 8 RBIs, and 6 runs scored in the postseason.  Rizzo? .267 average in 10 playoff games. That’s production, not irrelevance. So why is Kay acting like they were lucky fans who won a raffle to be in the lineup? They did their job last year's post season.

Kay is defending the indefensible. He’s gaslighting Yankee fans into believing that this mess is part of a master plan. He also gets paid by the Yankees, so see how that works? He's actually suggesting that Boone is a misunderstood genius and Cashman is some modern-day baseball Mozart. But it’s garbage. All of it. The Yankees front office picks wrong, sticks with wrong, and then tries to convince you that wrong is the new right. Just look at Volpe.

Let’s make this simple: You don’t win rings with vibes. You win with starters.  You don’t build a championship roster around hope and “he’s trending up.” analytics. You build it by addressing obvious, gaping holes with urgency — something the Yankees have lacked for years. But remember fans, the money’s still pouring in, so why change?

Well, here's why: fans aren’t stupid. We’re fed up. This deadline wasn’t bold — it was bizarre. It was Cashman filling a wine cellar when the roof is caving in.  So yeah, we might still make the playoffs. But what then? Another flameout while Boone shrugs and says he “liked our compete”? No thanks. I’ve seen that movie — and spoiler alert — it doesn’t end well.

This team, as constructed, isn’t winning the World Series. They aren’t built for a parade — they’re built for a press conference. And once again, us fans are left with the bill and the empty trophy case in Loserville.

SOUNDS LIKE BOONE IS BRAINWASHED WHEN IT COMES TO VOLPE

Anthony Volpe is not an elite shortstop.  We were lied to and fooled. There are people that can pull out analytics projections all they want. There are scouts out there that claim that he is, and to be honest, he might have been at some point in high school. But the kid never played college ball and was rushed to the major leagues and while the adrenaline was still high, Volpe made a nice run for himself in a major league uniform in his first year.  But now, it's becoming clear, he's a kid in a big uniform... and no, he is not elite.

And with his continuing slump both at the plate and in the field, the walls are closing in on the Yankees, Volpe and Aaron Boone, Volpe's biggest brainwashed cheerleader. 

Michael Kay went off about the Boone love fest with Volpe. He pointed out the facts and still managed to expose Boone for being obsessed. I've said it once, I'll say it again; I think Boone's relationship with Volpe is downright weird. And finally people are seeing it too.

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Kay tells a story about how Meredith Marakovits asked Boone a question about if Volpe could have made the play when the ball was hit to him on his backhand side by Pete Alonso.  Boone said it was 50/50 and then Kay very alertly noticed that Boone was getting mad and Jason Zillo, the Yankees media relations guy decided to move things along and get Boone out of there. 

Well, this is where it gets truly bizarre. Boone got up to leave and he turned to Meredith Marakovits and mouthed the words, "He's Fucking Elite."  When Michael Kay revealed this, I fell off my chair. Boone actually thinks that this kid is good.  I mean, he's not, but for some odd, and strange reason, Boone defends this kid like he's the next Derek Jeter. It's not only misguided, it's crazy and delusional.

Then Kay says what needs to be said. For Boone to be continually angry about answering questions about how bad Anthony Volpe is is no good for anyone. And I'll add to that... how about own the fact that this kid doesn't have it and maybe, just maybe the Yankees and Aaron Boone are wrong about this kid!

As Kay says "Stop telling me he's playing great!"

Volpe is what Volpe is, a kid of privilege that is in over his head and needs to be removed from the shortstop position for the New York Yankees... and while we don't have a top shortstop to replace him, think about a way to get rid of this guy.  The trading deadline's coming up, we have new shortstops waiting in the minor leagues... there are options.  But one thing Aaron Boone needs to stop doing is drooling over this kid that may have been a good shortstop 3 years ago but is now a .214 error maker.  

Trust me when I tell you, no team needs that, not even the Mets.

Aaron Boone is obsessed and brainwashed, and I have to tell you... that's the other part about what's wrong with this team.  A manager that is freaking clueless.  

Jeez.

MICHAEL KAY CRUSHES JUAN SOTO FOR BEING A GREEDY PIG

 Oink, oink... I'm thrilled you didn't make the All-Star game, Juan Soto.

You’d think signing a 15-year, $765 million mega-deal—with potential to balloon over $800 million—would be enough to make a guy happy. But apparently, for Juan Soto, it's still not quite satisfying. Because now, he’s whining about missing out on the All-Star Game… not for the honor, not for the fans, but for the bonus check he didn’t get to cash.

Juan Soto was asked if he would have liked to have made the All-Star team:

"What do you think? I think it's a lot of money on the table if I make it" pic.twitter.com/OTkqmR6zVx

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 9, 2025

Yep, $100,000 was “left on the table,” as Soto put it when asked about not making the All-Star team. That’s what had him bent out of shape. Not pride. Not legacy. Cold, hard cash. As if the $47 million he’s making this season alone wasn't enough to soften the blow of an off year.

Talk about tone-deaf.

Michael Kay—God bless him—went in on Soto, and rightfully so:

“The last I looked, you are making a smidge under $47M this season. And you are upset that you aren’t making the All-Star Game because of an All-Star bonus you have in your contract? Do you know how bad that looks that you said that?”

Bad? It's brutal. It reeks of greed and delusion. Soto is having a meh season, by his own standards—and yet, instead of humility, he delivers a cash register sound effect.

Let’s be real. The contract was already outrageous. Steve Cohen and the Mets basically handed Soto the GDP of a small country, and in return, they got a guy who’s more worried about his All-Star stipend than actually playing like an All-Star.

And when Kay heard Soto’s response?

“I thought it was some [artificial intelligence] nonsense. I said, ‘There is no way that he said that. There is no way that someone I know, that is a smart dude and is represented by one of the smartest people I have ever met in the business, Scott Boras, would ever say something like that.’”

But he did say it. Because this is who Soto has become: a guy lost in the zeros, blinded by the bank account, completely detached from reality. The All-Star snub didn’t sting because of pride—it stung because of a missed payment.

And honestly, that’s not a player you build a championship team around. That’s a walking direct deposit. Enjoy him, Mets fans. We’re good over here.

Go off, Michael. You’re speaking for all of us.

NO TRUE YANKEE FAN WANTS A REBUILD. WE JUST WANT BOONE GONE.

Let’s set the record straight: no true Yankee fan is calling for a rebuild. That’s not in our DNA. Rebuilding is for franchises like the Royals or the A’s — teams that hold bake sales to afford a closer. The Yankees? We’re supposed to be above that. And yet, here comes this bizarre narrative that fans are banging the table for a fire sale at the trade deadline. Where did that come from?

Cue Michael Kay, respected voice of the Yankees, long-time broadcaster, and apparently, part-time misreader of the fan base.

On his ESPN radio show, Kay fired off about how Yankee fans are being unreasonable for wanting change. He pushed back hard against the idea of a rebuild, quoting, “What are you trading? What are you rebuilding for? You’re three games out of first place!” And listen, Michael — we get it. You’re defending the castle. But no one’s asking to burn the whole kingdom down. We just want to stop handing the throne over to the village idiot in the manager’s chair.

Yankee fans aren’t irrational — we’re impatient. There’s a difference.

This team made the World Series last year, yes. And while that’s nice, it doesn’t erase the consistent mediocrity and missed opportunities that preceded it. The real issue, the one that fans keep screaming about into the void, is the guy wearing the manager’s jersey who has never — not once — delivered the goods when it counts. Aaron Boone has had more chances than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. And what does he have to show for it? A blank resume when it comes to winning anything.

You don’t even need to open Baseball Reference to know Boone isn’t it. Just watch him. The energy. The decisions. The same postgame babble about “grinding it out.” He’s not managing the Yankees. He’s babysitting them. "It's right in front of them", right Michael?

So no, Michael Kay, we're not asking to rebuild. We're asking to reboot. Specifically, to unplug Boone and plug in someone who knows how to manage under pressure, adjust mid-game, and maybe — just maybe — stop bunting with two outs. That's sarcasm... the Yankees don't play small ball... another problem.

Now, let’s talk moves. The team needs help, sure. The front office has done some things right — Max Fried is dealing, and yes, Goldschmidt can still get hot. But how in the world did we fumble the infield situation this badly? Letting Gleyber Torres walk without a real backup plan has aged worse than the Volpe hype train. If Gleyber was still manning second — or even willing to shift around — we wouldn’t be duct-taping this infield together with prospects and prayers.

Yankee fans don’t want to see this team torn down. We want to see it tightened up. We want to see the holes fixed — the ones that should’ve been addressed last offseason. And we want the leadership to reflect the standard of excellence this franchise is known for.

So yeah, trade for some help. Make smart moves. Get this team locked in for another October run.

But for the love of Mo, fire Aaron Boone already. That’s not a rebuild — that’s just common sense.

MICHAEL KAY DOESN'T GET TO TELL US HOW TO FEEL AS YANKEE FANS

I don't need to be reprimanded by Michael Kay about how us fans should feel about how good Anthony Volpe should be.  He is so short sided in this clip and he clearly misremembers the hype surrounding Volpe. And for him to sit there and suggest that the shortstop doesn't have to be the best player and compare Anthony Volpe to Bucky Dent "doesn't mean anything to me.  For one, it starts with the manager and at the time it was Billy Martin.  You can't try to even compare Boone to Martin because you'd be wrong. Two... Volpe isn't a good player. Simply use the eye test... he isn't a great player under pressure and he sure as hell won't be a franchise favorite for the New York Yankees as we move forward in our fandom.

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The best part? We're fans. We can feel however the hell we want.  Michael Kay doesn't get to tell us we're wrong, in fact his grandfather motivation mentality might be the most tired exercise on the internet right now.  

Kay says "You're saying he should be Derek Jeter."  No, we didn't say that... the media planted it, and don't get me wrong, the Yankees loved it... especially when things are going good.  Here are some of the headlines and the quotes:

NJ.com (Feb. 08, 2022) 

Is Anthony Volpe the next Derek Jeter? Fellow Yankees prospect says hype is legit

“Yeah, I can definitely see he’s being compared to Jeter now", said Yankees pitching prospect Ken Waldichuk told NJ Advance Media in a recent interview.

NJ.com (January 26. 2024) 

Yankees greats make bold Anthony Volpe prediction

"As a matter of fact, I think Anthony is more polished than Jeter was at the same time." -- Willie Randolph

Essentially Sports (May 26, 2024)

The Next Derek Jeter? Anthony Volpe Nears Legendary New York Yankees Captain’s Hitting Record

"... there have been comparisons with Derek Jeter." --Sanskar Dubey, writer

And what I don't get about Michael Kay is the fact that his own peers started this comparison and yet Michael Kay has the balls to come after the casual or diehard fan and try and blame us? 

Here's my thoughts on this dude, plain and simple; Kay works for YES, which means he doesn’t just cover the Yankees — he works for them. So naturally, he can’t go scorched earth on Anthony Volpe, no matter how lackluster the kid’s been. He’s paid to keep the Yankee narrative clean, shiny, and uncontroversial. And this latest outburst? Peak corporate shill.

Kay went off on Instagram, throwing a tantrum defending Volpe like he’s Derek Jeter reincarnated, telling fans to “get ahold of yourselves” and practically calling Volpe a lock for 20 homers and 90 RBIs. First of all, those projections feel more like fan fiction than forecasting. But even if they were real — nobody's screaming about personal stats, Michael. We’re screaming because Volpe vanishes in key moments and plays like a ghost when games actually matter.

Kay’s next pearl of wisdom? “Do you not remember that he was the shortstop on the Yankees team that went to the World Series last year?” Yes, we remember — because we LOST. Since when is showing up and failing now a badge of honor? Did we lower the bar that much?

And don’t even get us started on the "hitting .250 is good enough" nonsense. First off, he's not batting .250. What crack is that take laced with? .250 used to get you benched in the Bronx. Now, thanks to Kay’s new analytics-lite, it gets you a gold star and a bouquet of excuses.

Then Kay — self-appointed moral authority of Yankees fandom — tells us to stop screaming that Volpe has to go. Um, excuse us? We pay to watch this team. We pay for seats, parking, hot dogs, overpriced beer — and the right to be frustrated when the shortstop of the future looks more like the shortstop of Trenton.

The truth is, Volpe's not it. Maybe he will be one day. But right now? There are better athletes sitting on the bench while we get nightly "just good enough" mediocrity. And Kay’s desperate spin-doctoring isn’t helping — it’s insulting.

Let’s call this what it is: Kay, doing his duty as the Yankees’ corporate hype man. His job isn’t to tell the truth. It’s to manage the fan temperature and protect the brand.  That ESPN New York post is masked as commentary, but it's really there to attempt to calm the waters and who better than Kay, the guy with a direct deposit from Steinbrenner HQ?

But here’s the rub, Michael: you don’t get to lecture fans. You don’t buy tickets. You don’t ride the 4 train or drive an hour and a half home in traffic after another lifeless Volpe night. We do. So don’t tell us how to feel. Don’t scold us for not falling in line with the company narrative. Fans have every right to want more. We’re not unreasonable — we’re just tired of being gaslit by people who get paid to smile and say, “It’s fine.” What happened to you, dude.

Kay, stop telling us how to think. We don’t like Volpe right now. And that’s okay. You can keep doing PR. We’ll keep telling the truth.

And for the record? Comparing Volpe to Bucky Dent? Please. Bucky won at least one World Series. Boone couldn’t manage a Little League team into a playoff. The only similarity is that both wear pinstripes — and lately, that's starting to mean less and less.

Do better, Michael. Or at least, stop pretending you're not reading from the Yankees’ script. Bad look, dude.

JUAN SOTO: ALL MONEY, NO SWAG!

I'm sure I am not alone but, I have some Mets friends and there tune sure has changed a lot since December. So, after taking it gracefully for months, I decided to have a little fun this week. I found the Juan Soto milk carton several times in my feed on X and I had to have some fun with it. Soto is missing....and Mets fans are hating it.

Meanwhile, yes I am loving it. I will admit that I loved watching Soto look so lost in the Subway Series. I know realistically he won't stay in this slump all season but seriously....what a change from Soto in pinstripes to Soto in that other ugly New York uniform. What's missing?

I think David Cone said it best HERE. I've always been a big Coney fan, so when he talks, I listen. I think he hit the nail on the head here. Not for nothing, he knows what it is like to play for both teams so I really don't think anyone can relate to Soto the way he can.

"It just reminds me of what my ex-manager Joe Torre used to talk about a lot. And he was around it sort of at the end of his career, when analytics started to come into the game and make a big play and all the information in the big data era. He still wanted to talk about the heartbeat," Cone said. "He still managed the heartbeat of the player. And that’s what’s going on with Juan Soto. It’s the heartbeat. It's emotional. There’s no question about it. That's what leads to the confidence in the batter's box. That leads to the lack of the Soto shuffle. That's just feeling it, and that's clearly emotional. That's the human element that's going on with him. And I don't know how you work through that. That's something he's going to have to figure out himself. He's got a good support group around him that is going to give him everything he needs. But bottom line is, Juan Soto's got to feel it emotionally. And until he does, we're not going to see the same old swagger that we're used to seeing from him."

I think he's on to something there and I say that because when I was watching the series, I disagreed with some of what Michael Kay said. When Soto was at the plate being booed, he was smirking. Kay said he wasn't fazed by it, or letting it get to him....and I disagree. Plenty of players have been booed in Yankee stadium, but I feel like many of them did a much better job at just tuning it out as best as they could and just focusing on the at bat. His body language said the opposite and honestly it fueled my reaction to him watching at home. I became MORE vocal with every smirk he gave. He was letting all of the noise around him consume him....so I don't agree with Michael Kay at all. It's like we were watching a completely different series.

I think Soto is dealing with some feelings. I think he didn't want to be in the shadow of Aaron Judge. I think he thrived with Judge's support and protection and now he doesn't have that in Queens and he isn't dealing with it. Now he is the guy that needs to live up to his ridiculous salary and he hasn't figured out how to do it. He's choking, and he's lost the spark that he once had. He's a shadow of himself and until he deals with that his swag is all but gone. He's all money, no results.

So yeah, Soto belongs on the milk carton. He chose to leave the Bronx for the money so now he needs to MAN UP and deal with it. Or don't and let the rest of the baseball world watch him spiral out of control and flush Steve Cohen's money down the drain.

#SORRYNOTSORRY

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

PLAIN & SIMPLE: STEVE COHEN ISN'T GETTING WHAT HE PAID FOR

When Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets this past offseason, he didn't just accept a contract—he accepted a crown. A record-setting deal that made headlines for its size, scope, and symbolism: Steve Cohen’s Mets were not only willing to back up the Brinks truck, they were ready to build around Soto for the next decade and a half.

Yes, the Mets gave him the most money. More than the Yankees, more than the Dodgers, and more than anyone else even dared to offer. Soto chose the Mets, plain and simple. But now he has to show why he was worth that decision—not just in dollars, but in desire.

Instead, it’s been a slow, uninspiring start in Queens. And the questions are piling up fast.

Soto's body language? Flat. His smile? Nowhere to be found. His hustle? Noticeably missing. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Mets fans, already exhausted by years of bloated payrolls and underperformance, are beginning to turn. It's not just that Soto's struggling at the plate—it's that he doesn’t look like he cares.

Even Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has acknowledged Soto's sluggish demeanor, noting that the star outfielder is “frustrated” with his slow start. Mendoza didn't share details of their conversations, but it’s clear something is off. He’s not running balls out. He’s not playing with fire. He's not, well, Juan Soto.

Inside the clubhouse, some say the mood is just as concerning. Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay recently said Soto seems “very, very glum.” There’s chatter that he already misses the Yankees—who were serious contenders in free agency but, in the end, weren’t ready to go as far as Cohen financially.

Which brings us to Scott Boras.

Soto’s agent defended his client in a May 23 interview with Jon Heyman of the New York Post, insisting that a bit of regret is natural when all your options are elite. According to Boras, Soto is just adjusting to his new reality. “It’s taking time to learn how to wear the crown,” he said. Boras described this transition as a “90-day assimilation period,” saying there’s still another month to go before Soto fully acclimates.

Boras went on to say he’s advised Soto to "swing less" and be patient. Wait—what? Swing less? Ease into a $700 million contract? What kind of message is that sending? Is this really the time to slow-play greatness?

Let’s be blunt: there’s no time for a 15-year honeymoon. When you accept the richest contract in baseball history, the spotlight doesn’t dim—it blazes hotter. This isn't the time for excuses. It’s the time to lead. To electrify. To perform.

Because right now, Soto doesn’t look like the centerpiece of a championship team. He looks like someone who’s unsure of his choice.

And maybe he is. In a Sports Illustrated profile from spring training, Soto struggled to explain why he ultimately picked the Mets. He acknowledged that the Yankees "did a pretty good job" recruiting him, but hesitated, rambled, and admitted that their lack of urgency bothered him. “I wanted to get it done,” he said, referring to a deal with the Yankees, but they were "still bouncing around.”

Eventually, he chose the team with the most certainty—and the deepest pockets. Soto said Cohen’s commitment to contention made him believe the Mets were best suited for the long haul. He mentioned Cohen’s hands-on recruiting efforts. Family-friendly. Big vision. Big wallet.

But none of that matters now if the performance doesn’t follow.

Because here’s the hard truth: Juan Soto looks miserable in a Mets uniform. And that’s not what a nearly billion-dollar man should look like. He should be bursting out of the dugout with fire. He should be running out every ground ball like his contract depends on it. He should be leading—not sulking.

And if he isn’t, it’s on Steve Cohen to step in and ask the tough question: Are we getting what we paid for? If not, the conversation shouldn't just be about patience—it should be about accountability.

If this continues, Cohen has every right to sit down with Boras and Soto and say, “We need to talk...we need to restructure this contract. We're not getting our return.” Because elite money demands elite effort. And right now, Juan Soto looks like anything but a generational superstar.

He took the money. Now he has to earn it. That's the bottom line.

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.

JUAN SOTO WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY & THE YANKEES GOT FOOLED

It's no surprise that Juan Soto is already hinting that he will hear offers from every team this offseason. His mission was not to be a Yankee for life, it was to be a gazillionaire after the 2024. In other words, he already trusted his ability in 2024, all he had to do was be good.  The dude can be good anywhere FYI, he's Juan Soto.  He bet on himself and now he can go make more money than he needs on any other team for the rest of his career.

Juan Soto was asked if he expects the Mets to go after him in free agency:

"I don't know what's the teams that are going to come after me. Definitely, I'll be open to this and every single team. I don't have any doors closed. I"m gonna be available for all 30 teams pic.twitter.com/3VICeWeney

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) October 31, 2024

 The Mets are the top team cause the Mets have something to prove. But I have said this since the day the Yankees have had interest in bringing him over for 1 year. Read THE GAME OF TELEPHONE & JUAN SOTO when I asked "Will Juan Soto go to the Mets after this season as I believe he will? " That was June.  Nothing in my mind has changed. The Mets will go hard, harder than the Yankees.  

I've also asked so often if the one year of Juan Soto even if we don't win the World Series? I mean sure, it was fun to watch him in pinstripes, but what did the Yankees and Yankee fans get out of it?  Just good baseball, no championship.  Isn't that the goal?

Michael Kay was ranting the other day about Juan Soto, and I loved every minute of it. Why? Because he was 100% right.

ICYMI on @TMKSESPN:@RealMichaelKay says Juan Soto’s press conference after the game made one thing clear: he’s going where he gets the most money. pic.twitter.com/mQsZrYmYID

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) October 31, 2024

There's also speculation of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I mean, if you want to get kicked in the balls as a Yankee fan, let the Dodgers sign him, they already have the best team in baseball, could you imagine?  

At the end of the day, this is not a surprise to me.  The Yankees thought that an Aaron Judge relationship, the pinstripes, the rich history of the New York Yankees would win this guy over. Sure us fans love him, Sure, it's a big market and Soto can easily perform in it. But Soto doesn't actually care about any of that.  Soto just wants to make the most money he can. He can play anywhere in the universe and lift that franchise up. 

It doesn't matter if it's the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers or the Albuquerque Balloon knots. At the end of the day, it's about Juan Soto, not the team he signs with.

I wrote this in 2022: JUAN SOTO IS YOUR NEW SHINY THING AND YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS!

"Do they need Soto? Actually? YOU WANT MY TRUE OPINION? They don't. "

I'm right.

Cashman and Hal got fooled. Just another reason why this Yankee franchise is failing.  And another reason why the Yankee front office and their manager need to go.

BOONE DISRESPECTS YANKEE PROGRESS WITH ONE HORRENDOUS DECISION

It was an obvious choice for every Yankee fan watching that game last night. In fact, I was proud of the YES network guys who were clearly chomping at the bit to say something about the horrendous Boone decision to bring Nestor Cortes into the game to pitch to arguably one of the best hitters in the game in Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded.  I have said this many times on Bleeding Yankee Blue and I have said it all season; when it truly comes time to strategizing matchups in tough spots for the New York Yankees, Aaron Boone cannot and is not capable to make a good decision. Last night, in the World Series, Boone decided to give Cortes a rehab shot when it was the worst possible time to do it, and it didn't go well for the Yankees. In fact, it exposed him for what he is; 

Rattled.

Inexperienced.

Not Qualified.

Weak.

I applaud Jack Curry, John Flaherty, Bob Lorenz and Michael Kay. They did everything they could without crossing the line to blast Aaron Boone on the worst decision of his managing career.  They were baffled and confused.  They even asked Joe Girardi and he took a shot at Boone suggesting Hill was sitting right there, experience in the post season, weird delivery, lefty and Boone went with Cortes, who is really no longer qualified for that kind of pressure.

I don't know who Andy was in the press room, but he was the guy that I want to shake hands with. Boone was asked why he went with Cortes. He said he liked the "lefty-lefty" match up.   But Andy, much like me was baffled by that answer and he pressed him.  Of course, Boone thought he'd be safe in that press room, but he wasn't and also didn't have an answer. In fact, Boone couldn't answer at all. Why? Well, because he didn't have a strategy... he was exposed for making a horrendous decision.

Aaron Boone disrespected the Yankees progress last night.  Gerrit Cole pitched a good game.  Boone took him out "because he was laboring".  Note to the millions of people watching. Cole was NOT laboring, in fact, he was humming.  Aaron Boone went to the bullpen too soon.  Boone strategized the bullpen like it was Game 7 when anyone can tell you his pick of qualified pitching after Cole was plentiful.  

And so, what he did for the Yankees was back them into a corner with using his bullpen too early, essentially erasing his closer and then made every attempt to try and piece it together.  And what do you do to reward a solid Tim Hill in the World Series? You pass him up for a rehab inning guy who hasn't pitched since September, and dare I say, looked terrified and equally confused that he was even on the mound.

Giancarlo Stanton puts the Yankees ahead.  Erased cause Boone overthinks and is not qualified. The Yankees take a 3-2 lead... erased because the bullpen was used up the wrong way.   He undid everything in that game to not only prove to the Yankee fan base that the World Series is not important to him.  He acted like it was April 15th or something.  The lack of skill, urgency and confidence in Aaron Boone is the exact reason why I have been banging the drum of dread when it comes to the New York Yankees manager. It's the wrong guy, plain and simple.  Aaron Boone has no business managing this ballclub. I mean let's face it, the wins we got were wins Judge, Soto and company got.  You don't need to manage hard in a long season when your two top hitters are hitting.  

I'll say this again. When things get hard, when there are men on base, a struggling pitcher, a team that needs runs, and the need for a manager to TRULY manage a team, this is when Aaron Boone does not understand his job.  That's why guys like Bruce Bochy are successful. Longevity. This is why Tony LaRussa was. Longevity. This is why Joe Torre was. Longevity. Oh yeah... and they are also part of baseball royalty.  They are respected, have a track record and understand the game and finding it on their own.   Boone will never compare to them and never will be successful.  He was handed the job IMO because of his baseball pedigree, the Yankee front office new they were getting a puppet with this guy and his real only claim to fame is hitting a home run to advance to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox with NOW MEANS NOTHING because we never won that World Series and that jack ass injured himself in that same offseason because he was playing a pick-up basketball game.  What's my point? The dude's soft and inexperienced. I don't know how many times I need to say it.  And last night he did the New York Yankees a disservice.  He proved that he doesn't know how to do his job. 

The players are doing their best to not talk trash in public about Aaron Boone, but trust me, every one of them know that he blew that game last night.  

The Los Angeles Dodgers are really, really good.  This wasn't an exhibition.  Boone didn't know where he was last night and I have news for you, I hope to God that Hal got on the phone with this dude and ripped him to shreds.  THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LAST NIGHT'S LOSS. It's not like Cortes was the only one available.  It's pretty unreal.

So now the Yankees are in the hole and have to dig out, not by anything they did.  The best we can do in LA right now is get a split.  But what if they don't? Look, the Yankees can do it, but it has to come down to them. I have no faith that Aaron Boone will lead us.  Neither should you.

Say a prayer, cause this World Series just got more complicated and difficult because the guy driving doesn't know how. 

It shouldn't be this way. Us Yankee fans do not deserve this. #FireBoone. Go Yanks.