THE YANKEES CAN WIN THE AL EAST IF BOONE DOESN'T GET IN HIS OWN WAY

Better late than never.   I guess the idea is to be red hot going into the playoffs than not.  And right now the Yankees have a winning streak and to be honest, it's great that the Yanks are playing a team like the Orioles right now.  

Let’s rewind a few nights. The Yankees smacked the Twins around 10-5, and Trent Grisham is apparently on his “pretend I’m Barry Bonds” tour again. The guy parked two balls in the seats, Cody Bellinger added his own fireworks, and suddenly the Yankees looked like an actual offense.

Aaron Judge, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 and raised his average to a league-best .329, because he’s just casually carrying the entire team on his back like it’s no big deal. With that win, the Yankees crept within four games of Toronto in the AL East.

Now, here’s the rub: Luis Gil. Four and two-thirds innings. Nine hits. Five runs (four earned). Not exactly the dominance you want from a supposed starter. It’s like clockwork with this staff—another day, another short outing that forces the bullpen to punch in before the 5th inning. And if there’s one thing we know, it’s that Aaron Boone managing a bullpen is like me trying to assemble IKEA furniture—chaotic, inefficient, and guaranteed to break at the worst possible moment. The pen deserves better.

But then, baseball giveth. Last night, Max Fried was absolutely filthy. Seven innings, 13 strikeouts, and his 18th win of the year. Yankees blank the Orioles 7-0, and suddenly hope feels possible again. Fried was a gift. The kind of performance that makes you think maybe, just maybe, the Yankees can claw back some ground in the division.

Tonight it’s Warren vs. Trevor Rogers, and let’s be honest—Warren has been a coin flip all year. Heads: solid outing. Tails: bullpen at it again in the 4th inning. Which, again, brings me back to the point: if this team wants to actually make October matter, the rotation has to learn how to carry its weight.

Now, credit where due: the Yankees are riding a little winning streak, and momentum matters. They’ve got a stretch of home games against opponents that aren’t exactly setting the league on fire.They play the Chisox and O's. Translation: no excuses. They can Win. Don’t make boneheaded Boone mistakes, don’t yank starters too early, and for the love of all things pinstriped, don’t trot Anthony Volpe out there to do his best impression of Robinson Canó jogging to first. What a waste of a shortstop.

This team needs to act like a runaway train—10 straight wins, no looking back, smash everything in sight. That’s how you clinch the AL East. Otherwise? We’re back to the same tired story: the Yankees leave it to the last week, pray for perfection, and Boone stands at the podium shrugging like, “What do you want me to do?”

As it stands, the Yankees are three games up on the Red Sox and Mariners for the first Wild Card spot. The Sox (83-70) and Mariners (84-69) are chewing each other’s ankles off. Meanwhile, the Yankees are three games behind the Blue Jays for the division. Translation: anything can still happen.

So now we wait. Will the Yankees act like contenders, or will Boone trip over his own bullpen phone and remind us why we all drink in October? Stay tuned.

THE END OF VERDUGO THIS SEASON?

Wow!

The Braves have designated Alex Verdugo for assignment to make room for Jurickson Profar, and all I can think is: how did we get here? How did he get here?

Verdugo is 29. That’s not old. That’s not “washed.” That’s “should still be slugging doubles into the gap and firing missiles from right field” territory. But here we are, DFA’d in July like he’s just some roster filler, and not the passionate, fiery outfielder who once carried himself like he belonged in the thick of every big moment.

And yeah, let’s not pretend this is actually the end. This league has seen worse players get third, fourth, and fifth chances. But it feels like the end right now, and that’s the problem. Because Verdugo isn’t some lazy journeyman who never gave a damn. He cared. You could see it in the way he played—when he was allowed to just play. This is a guy who has always brought energy to the field. A gamer. A spark plug. A guy who clearly loves the grind.

And yet somehow, the Yankees got ahold of him and—poof—he's unraveling like a loose thread on a 99-dollar replica jersey.

Remember when he was the Dodgers’ top prospect? Remember when Boston flipped Mookie Betts for him? It didn’t pan out in Boston. He clashed with Alex Cora, sure—but "lack of hustle?" Come on. I rip guys who don’t hustle. Just ask Robinson Cano (read HERE). Ask Anthony Volpe (read HERE). But Verdugo? He was never the problem.

Then came the trade to New York. The pinstripes. The “fresh start.” Except… was it really? Or was it just another case of this black hole of a franchise chewing up another guy who actually plays with heart?

In 197 plate appearances this season with the Braves, Verdugo slashed .239/.296/.585. No home runs. 12 RBIs. Not good. But you don’t go from promising outfielder to DFA’d by two teams without something deeper being wrong. And no, I don’t think it’s Verdugo. I think it’s the Yankees. They turned him into a shell of the player we once saw as a clubhouse energizer and everyday guy. They stuck him in a lineup with zero identity and a manager who couldn’t lead a jog around the block, let alone a major league clubhouse. I say it jokingly, because that's where he seemed to vanish.

So yeah, I feel for Verdugo. I hope he latches on somewhere—hell, maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow after dreaming that the Yankees bring him back on a minor league deal, he starts raking, gets called up, goes full October legend and leads us to a ring.

And then I’ll write that piece, happily. But don’t worry—I’ll still say Boone sucks. Because no matter who’s in the dugout or on the field, that part hasn’t changed.

I hope Alex latches on somewhere.

GLEYBER TORRES HAS SOMETHING SAY TO THE YANKEES

Gleyber Torres looks right at home in his Detroit Tigers uniform, and honestly, it’s about time he got the respect he deserves. As a longtime supporter of Torres, I couldn’t be happier that he’s thriving in Detroit. Now that he’s had time to process the Yankees kicking him to the curb, he’s not mincing words about how he was treated—and he shouldn’t. Let’s not pretend he wasn’t treated like a disposable asset by the Yankees near the end of his tenure.

People love to nitpick about hustle or defensive miscues, but let’s be real—Torres was held to a completely different standard than others. Remember when Robinson Cano used to get flak for not running out ground balls? The Yankees still desperately wanted to keep him but simply couldn’t match Seattle’s jaw-dropping 10-year, $240 million offer. Their counter? A weak 10-year, $170 million deal—around the same annual salary they were giving Jeter, just to keep the captain happy. Losing Cano ended up being a blessing, as his career tanked, but the point remains: when the Yankees want to keep a guy, they find a way. With Torres, they didn’t even bother.

And let’s not forget—Torres was no scrub. He was once the Yankees’ top prospect and ranked second in all of baseball, trailing only Shohei Ohtani. And when it mattered most, he stepped up. In the 2024 postseason, he hit .241 with 14 hits, two homers, eight RBIs, and 10 runs across 14 games. His .348 on-base percentage was better than plenty of his so-called superstar teammates. But when the time came for the Yankees to show some loyalty, they tossed him aside like yesterday’s leftovers.

Now, in Detroit, Torres is thriving and happy. He’s respected, valued, and—most importantly—wanted. A.J. Hinch has made it clear that Torres is a key piece for the Tigers, and the difference in atmosphere is night and day. Torres isn’t shy about his bitterness toward New York, and honestly, good for him.

During a recent spring training game, he sent a clear message after launching his first home run at Joker Marchant Stadium: “I feel I deserve to be with an organization that wants me. I’m here now, and that’s the reason I’m here.” And when asked if he believed the Yankees wanted him, he didn’t hold back: “I don’t know. Maybe you can ask [Brian] Cashman.”

The Yankees had every opportunity to make Torres feel like part of their future, but instead, they shoved him out the door. Now, I hope he absolutely torches the league in a Tigers uniform. 

I personally want him to make the Yankees regret every second of their decision. Let him be the one that got away. No matter what, Torres will always be my guy.

THE MARTIAN JUST CHANGED HIS UNIFORM NUMBER!

I kind of love this story. 

The youth movement in the Bronx is alive and well, and the kids are doing it right! Jasson "The Martian" Domínguez, the Yankees’ electrifying young outfielder, is taking a step into the franchise’s rich history—one jersey number at a time. After rocking No. 89 for his first two seasons in the big leagues, Domínguez is making the switch to something with a little more legacy attached: No. 24.

Now, if you're a Yankees fan, you know exactly why this is significant. That number belonged to one of the smoothest second basemen to ever wear the pinstripes—Robinson Canó. The sweet lefty swing, the effortless style, the Gold Gloves—Canó made No. 24 iconic in the Bronx. So, for Domínguez, this isn't just about picking a new number; it's a tip of the cap to a fellow Dominican legend. And we love to see it.

Of course, let’s just hope that’s all he takes from Canó—because while Robbie’s bat was magic, his hustle down the first-base line… well, let’s just say it had room for improvement. (I kid, I kid… kind of.)

With Alex Verdugo leaving town, the No. 24 was up for grabs, and Domínguez wasted no time swooping in. And honestly, it’s a perfect fit. The young phenom is set to be the Yankees' starting left fielder in 2025, and after his electric debut (before that pesky UCL injury), expectations are sky-high.

So, here’s to Jasson Domínguez, the new No. 24. If he brings even half of Canó’s smoothness and keeps up the hustle, Yankees fans are in for a treat.

Like this? Read this: HUSTLE MATTERS: ROBINSON CANO, ANTHONY VOLPE & THE PRICE OF COMPLACENCY

HUSTLE MATTERS: ROBINSON CANO, ANTHONY VOLPE & THE PRICE OF COMPLACENCY

If Bleeding Yankee Blue is going to go after Robinson Cano for non-hustle, one of the most talent baseball players of our time, I will take the time to rip Anthony Volpe a bit for his non-hustle the other night. 

In the annals of baseball history, the importance of hustle cannot be overstated. Yet, time and again, players fail to give their all, leading to scrutiny, criticism, and sometimes, the unraveling of careers. This harsh reality was epitomized in the career of Robinson Cano and, more recently, a silly little league play by Anthony Volpe. Their stories serve as cautionary tales, reminding us why every game, every play, and every sprint matters.

Cano, a player of undeniable talent, often found himself at the center of controversy for his perceived lack of hustle. The criticism was not unfounded. Cano's occasional lackadaisical approach on the field drew the ire of fans, analysts, and writers alike. Among the most vocal critics was our Robert Casey of Bleeding Yankee Blue. Casey's scathing articles highlighted Cano's failure to consistently run out ground balls and hustle on the base paths.

In one particularly notable piece, Casey stated that Robinson Cano is the epitome of wasted potential. His lack of hustle is a disservice to the game and a slap in the face to fans who pay to watch players give their all. That resonated so strongly that it was later lifted by ESPN The Magazine, referring to Casey as a "get off my lawn" type of critic. Despite the derisive tone, the core message was clear: hustle matters.

Casey's foresight extended beyond mere criticism of Cano's effort. He predicted that Cano's complacency would lead to desperate measures as his performance waned. Tragically, this prophecy came true when Cano turned to HGH in a bid to maintain his edge. This decision ultimately undid his career, leaving a once-promising player tarnished by scandal.

Fast forward to July 5, 2024, when Anthony Volpe made a critical mistake against the Boston Red Sox. In a pivotal moment, Volpe failed to hustle home, costing the Yankees a crucial run and ultimately the game. The lack of effort was glaring and inexcusable. If this had been Game 7 of the World Series, Volpe would have been crucified by the Bronx faithful. The Yankees' loss highlighted a fundamental truth: every game matters, and hustle is not optional.

Robert Casey's theory that hustle is vital in baseball was painfully validated once more. Volpe's lapse in effort not only cost the Yankees a win but also leaves a question mark on what kind of player he is. In the high-stakes world of professional sports, there is no room for complacency. Every player must give their all, every time, without exception.

Casey gets it. His unwavering stance on the importance of hustle has been vindicated time and again. ESPN The Magazine's dismissal of Casey's critique as old-fashioned misses the mark. The essence of Casey's argument is timeless: hustle is the lifeblood of baseball. Without it, even the most talented players can fall short.

The harsh reality is that Robinson Cano's career serves as a warning of what happens when talent is not matched by effort. Anthony Volpe's recent blunder is a stark reminder that complacency can cost dearly, both in individual games and in the broader arc of a player's career. Volpe's failure to hustle is pathetic and unacceptable, a mistake that should never be repeated.

Hustle is non-negotiable. Players who fail to give their all jeopardize not only their own careers but also the success of their teams. The message is clear: every game, every play, every sprint matters. Hustle is the difference between greatness and mediocrity.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

OLD MAN CANO STILL PLAYING

Just when you thought you heard the last of Robinson Cano, you didn't. Believe it or not, the dude is still playing baseball.  Not in the major leagues, but in Mexico.

CBS Sports writes:

"Robinson Canó, an eight-time All-Star second baseman best known for his time spent with the New York Yankees, will continue his professional career after signing with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.

Canó, 41, last played in Major League Baseball during the 2022 season. Over parts of 17 campaigns, he batted .301/.351/.488 (124 OPS+) with 335 home runs and an estimated 68.1 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference's estimates."

As far as I'm concerned, I am impressed that a 41-year-old is still following his dream, but with his tainted reputation of PED use, his kid that was a secret for years and then he never paid child support, you really need to just move on from this guy.  I hate to be that guy to judge because I often will not, but reputation means everything to me, and while I loved the guy early on, he never adapted as that leader we wanted.  He didn't hustle, he didn't feel much like a team player to me.  

That being said, hey, I wish him well in the Mexican League.

SOTO FEELING 22

Source: ESPN

Juan Soto is getting used to his new digs as the newest Bronx Bomber. Doning #22, Soto is excited about one thing: winning. Soto's mindset is just the kind the clubhouse needs this season; not to mention his hot bat from the left side. Soto is feeling 22 (which is Taylor Swift's code for feeling free and alive) and I am all about it.

“My priorities right now are just getting to know the guys, really,” Soto said. “I’ll try to get a good relationship and really stick together, get to know those guys and try to get to the same goal [from] Day 1. That’s what my main thing is right now," reported MLB.com. Soto dodged questions about contract extension talks, keeping his focus on being a Yankee and assimilating to the organization.

Source: Forbes

“We just gotta get to know the organization, get to know the team,” he said. “Right now I’m more than excited to get there and see those guys and see how big is Aaron Judge and [Giancarlo] Stanton. It’s going to be pretty cool. That’s what I’m looking for right now, is just to get comfortable on the team and watch how it’s going to be and how we’re going to grow,” reported The New York Post.

This is Soto's third ball club in his six years in the majors, starting with Washington, moving out west to San Diego and now to his new home in the Bronx. Soto will decide if the pinstripes suit him over the 2024 season, knowing that next year he will be a free agent and can go elsewhere.

 “We understand that he’s a free agent at the end of this term, and we understand that it’s a possible short-term situation,” Cashman said. “I know he’s just going to make our team significantly better," reported MLB.com. 

I think my favorite part of Soto's press conference on Tuesday was when he said this, “Whatever they need from me, I’m going to be there,” Soto said. “I’m going to be positive to do it. Whatever spot they need me, I’m going to be ready. Whatever spot in the lineup, whatever position they want me to play, I’m going to be right there,” reported MLB.com.

Soto is wearing 22, after a long line of bearers of the same number including Jimmy Key, Roger Clemens, Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury (yuck) and most recently Harrison Bader. And his youthful presence and mindset is just what the doctor order for the Yankees. Feeling 22 and ready to go, Soto is a Yankee. Now, who's next?  

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

"WE CAN'T REPLACE HIM" ATTITUDE PROVES YANKS NOT EQUIPPED WITHOUT JUDGE

Aaron Judge will be out for "weeks".  Because of that, the feeling around Yankeeland has suddenly become gloomy.  Bob Klapisch writes a great column about life without Judge today. In the headline, "It's not pretty" should be enough to want you to dive in.  Bottom line, reading it, you feel like doubt has entered that clubhouse.  There's a void, a dark cloud lingering.  As Bob says "It's grim enough to make Aaron Boone wake up in a cold sweat."  There's some truth to that.  Boone doesn't understand or navigate well when he's challenged as a manager. It's his biggest flaw. Not only will it be a test for the team, it will be a test for our manager, who is unqualified and unsure of himself.  Yelling at umpires does not make you a leader... it makes you a whiner and that's where we're at with this guy. So, in short, with Aaron Judge out, this will be a wacky ride.

With Judge out for what looks like weeks, the Yankees need to step it up, that's the bottom line.  Getting a quote from Josh Donaldson say "we can't replace him" worries me. Look, the Yankees just have to play hard. It wasn't great last night losing to the White Sox 3-2, but maybe that was the "initial shock" of not having Judge there.  It's one game, we need to improve on that.

But I guess the bigger question is these athletes and how they play the game. If I'm paying my hard earned money to see these athletes work their tails off, I really can't blame Aaron Judge for making a fantastic catch and then slamming into a wall to do it. He'd tell you he'd do it again. It's what athletes should do.  

Reminds me a lot of the Robinson Cano debate about longevity in baseball. Top athletes and playing hard, not jogging to first.  It was years ago now that that idiot Peter Keating of ESPN the magazine tried desparaging me writing that my opinion as a fan and journalist was twisted and wrong.  His solution was let them play 162 games at 50% so they can play for a long, long time.  

Everyone knew looking at Cano he was always looking for shortcuts except Keating. In the end, Keating was wrong. Cano banged around the league for a few more years and was even caught using PEDs. He was laughed out of baseball, and Keating was mocked on Bleeding Yankee Blue for years to follow and I will never stop. Dummy.  

But that "not playing hard" narrative continues on Pinstripe Alley, a site I admire, but the thinking is crazy to me:

"I’m not going to file this into the column of “Judge is injury prone,” but it is perhaps illustrative of why guys like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Bryce Harper have largely stopped trying in the outfield. These kinds of players are just so valuable at the plate that the runs they cede defensively are made up tenfold by the runs they produce by being healthy and at the plate. It’s impossible to tell a pro athlete not to try hard, but maybe Judge should have gone less than 100 mph trying to make that play."

The last statement is odd to me. Every athlete knows you can't stop momentum and going "100 mph trying to make a play" sometimes isn't a choice but exactly what it is, momentum.  But more to that, athletes should never stop trying. Athletes need to continue to play hard and no doubt Judge will too. That's what makes him great and the sport amazing. I actually think for the Yankees this is less about Judge's injury and more about how the Yankees and Boone will react.  They NEED to step up. Boone NEEDS to make hard decisions and navigate smarter than the nit-wit he is.  Boone's about automatic, and now he actually has to think.

Can the Yankees do it? Yes, but it won't be easy.

Get well soon Aaron, you will be missed. No doubt Yankee fans will rally. But can your manager? Serious question. Sadly, I don't know the answer.

AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU DIDN'T TRADE GLEYBER TORRES NOW?

Gleyber Torres is batting over .350 as this post is released by Bleeding Yankee Blue. Is it early? Yes. Is it good? No, it's great. Do you still want him traded? Probably not. But the Torres haters are nowhere to be found, and I often get annoyed by that. Give credit where credit is due. Torres is doing the job.

Let's not forget, we as a Yankee family were thrilled back in 2016 when we shipped Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs and snagged Gleyber Torres with others.  Torres at the time was the 24th overall prospect and there was a real upside to him.

We got him, he showed glimpses of success, glimpses of failure and glimpses of Robinson Cano, sometimes not hustling.  But overall, he grew up in the Bronx and learned the Yankee way.  Then other guys began to show up, and with that the idea that Torres was anything special kind of fell at the waste side.  By the winter, all I read was that the fans wanted him out of the Bronx because we had guys like Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe coming down the pike. "Why do we need this guy (Torres), we don't need him."  

Oh... but we do.  Why? Volpe isn't exactly lighting it up in his rookie season, Peraza is hurt and Cabrera is an outfielder, utility essentially. I'm not crapping on them, but I'm making a point.  We NEED a guy like Torres, still only 26 years old. And he's hitting, and we should be rejoicing.

Torres said winter ball really helped him reset.

ClutchPoints writes:

"Gleyber Torres is finally looking like the superstar he was projected to be...Torres has been arguably the best second in MLB through the first 12 games. No other player has stats as uniformly excellent as Gleyber Torres, who’s rocking a 1.179 OPS and drawing a league-leading 11 walks while also stealing bases at a career-best rate. Over the winter, Torres played winter ball in his native Venezuela and starred on Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Torres’ time in Venezuela had benefits far beyond the diamond; he didn’t just work on his game, he worked on himself, summoning the clarity to handle the pressures of being a Yankee.

“Now,” he said, “I just play the game. I don’t think too much at home plate. I just go there and I feel good because I did my routine before the game, and I know it works well. When the umpire says ‘play ball,’ I just try not to think too much."

This shows maturity.

What's the key here? Do, don't think.  It's a simple thing. Look, you get to the Majors and you want to stay in the Majors. If you're a Yankee, there's even more stress. So you think a lot. But the idea is to not think so much, just play, and now that is what it appears Torres is doing, and I'm thrilled for him.

Where are the haters that want Torres out now? 

Silence.

NO ONE LIKES LACK OF HUSTLE IN A NEWBIE

We here at Bleeding Yankee Blue used to rip on Robinson Cano when he didn't run hard to first base.  Cano ended up leaving New York for Seattle and became their problem. 

Then we heard about Gary Sanchez being in the minor leagues and back then it was reported that he was lazy.  By 2018 I called him out in YES, THE PROBLEM IS SANCHEZ IS TOTALLY LAZY.

Yankee fans don't like lazy players. The thinking is you make it to the Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in the MLB, and jogging is not supposed to be a thing.  Well, enter Jasson Dominguez, who, according to one scout, isn't working too hard in the Arizona League.  Why? Who knows... but one thing I do know is he better turn that shit around quick.

NJ.com writes:

"The 20-year-old Dominican switch-hitter put on a show at the Futures Game blasting a long homer at Dodger Stadium and was the hitting star of the Somerset Patriots’ Eastern League championship run with a .450 average, three homers and 10 RBI in five games...

And now for the cherry on top …

Well, it’s been a little sour because Dominguez hit just .159 with no homers in 20 games facing other blue-chip prospects in the Arizona Fall League, which wrapped up its season this week. Of course, Dominguez was one of two 19-year-olds in the AFL, so he faced more polished players.

However, it doesn’t take experience to hustle, and according to a scout who’s been watching Dominguez in Arizona, running hard to first base on groundballs hasn’t been in his repertoire. Scouts who watched Dominguez the two seasons in A-ball have echoed the same thing.

I just wish he would run hard when he hits groundballs. I timed him one time running just average. First to third? He runs hard. He’ll steal a base. But he doesn’t run out groundballs. He runs his 4.4 down to first. I want to see him go out there and play like his hair is on fire one day... The tools are there, but he’s not close to being Major League ready. I’d start him next season back in Double-A and keep him there the whole year.”

Did you catch that? "...he’s not close to being Major League ready. I’d start him next season back in Double-A". That's significant for anyone who thinks this guy is MLB ready.

Hustle matters.  It's like when I was picked up by ESPN magazine because I said Robinson Cano was lazy, and dummy Peter Keating of ESPN said I was the old man yelling to get off my lawn.  Keating's claim was to give Cano a break... he was pacing himself because 162 games is a lot in a season. Well... this is a guy who works with a laptop. Keating was never an athlete, you can tell. Keating also doesn't compete like these players. He just works on story deadlines. Must be nice to know about nothing you're writing about, huh Pete?

Hustle matters. You Hustle to be the best. You get signed and don't hustle? That is what I call a problem.  Gary Sanchez may have been one of the laziest catchers I have ever seen. And the Yankees saw it too... because he's out of the Bronx.  

I just hope Jasson can turn it around. Seems like he's already buying into his own hype, and he hasn't even played a major league game yet... that's a problem.  Gotta fix that Jasson.

ROBINSON CANO HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM

I mean how embarrassing!

Exactly how you predicted it with your analysis, right Peter Keating?

Robinson Cano is at the end. It's a shame, but I often think back to that time that moron Peter Keating of ESPN the magazine (Read our 2013 BYB post here) tried to disparage me here at Bleeding Yankee Blue when I ripped on Robinson Cano for not being a hustler and padding numbers.  Here's a portion of that silly article. I will not post the link, because it's really a bad article. But here's the part that's signfiicant.

Keating decided to try and suggest that I was wrong, that Cano was playing, but not playing HARD because he was saving himself... you know, longevity in baseball and all that shit. I guess what Keating was trying to do was suggest that Robinson Cano is SOOO talented that's all he needed to do, pace himself.  

Well, note to every single baseball analyst out there, but espectially to Peter Keating; You're close to idiotic.  We are now 9 years from when you tried to disparage me in your article and Robinson Cano is dresssed up like fucking Spongebob on a minor league Padres ballclub, because, well... it's over. Pacing did nothing Keating. Do you watch sports???  Cano didn't hustle, he didn't hustle for years and when didn't and wasn't performing, he went to PEDs. and when he got caught, he just forgot how to play the game in general. Pacing himself was not part of the equation. Plain and simple, Cano was LAZY. Exactly what I said. He never worked hard and guess what else... Cano won't be in the Hall of Fame either. He's fallen.  

CBS writes: 

"...the Padres have little to lose by sending Canó to Triple-A and giving him an opportunity to get on track. The worst-case scenario is that he doesn't perform much, if any better and that they have to release him again. "

Now with the El Paso Chihuahuas, Cano had an RBI hit.

Notice he gets the hit and jogs to first base. Losers never learn. 

Here's my point. Robinson Cano never respected the game, he cared about himself and 9 years later the slug still jogs and is a minor league baseball player in a spongebob uniform.  Peter Keating who is a freaking analyst couldn't be more wrong about Cano, or, dare I say the athlete in general. You get to the pros to play hard and win. You don't get there to be second, you get there to be first.   

Cano, isn't first... he's like 15th. My has he fallen.  

Hey Peter, I'm still waiting for me apology after you decided to try and embarass me in your stupid stealth-attack publication all those years ago. It didn't work. It just made me angry.

You won't like me when I'm angry.

F off.  Imagine if Aaron Judge or Derek Jeter or Mike Trout jogged to first? You're ridiculous and so is Cano. Maybe you should move in together and talk about loser things.

I'M TEAM ANDUJAR BECAUSE THE YANKEES MAKE BAD DECISIONS!

Say what you want about Miguel Andujar's talents or opportunities he has been given here with the Yankees, he's had many opportunities. It hasn't worked out the way I had hoped for sure but he has deserved better this season. There is no other way to say this....the Yankees have screwed up and they need to OWN this.

So we've all seen the headlines by now but HERE it is again, Andujar is fed up with the Yankees and has asked them to trade him. It's not the first time he's made this request, and in the past I really didn't voice an opinion, but now I am.

I'll be straight and to the point with this.....I have no problem with this request at all. It is time for Andujar to start thinking about what is important to him and where he will be happiest. All players want to be on a winning team, and the Yankees have enjoyed a lot of success so far but they also want to PLAY regularly. At this point, that's all he wants and while we all remember him as the great prospect that had such potential time is no longer on his side.

At the end of the day, I can't ignore that he is 27 years old, playing for brief appearances in the majors and in his last year of arbitration. He's a guy on the 40-man roster that is used on a brief rotation basis that has made more of an impact than two other idiots who the Yankees have more money or years committed to.

It's hard for me not argue FOR Andujar's request. Do the Yankees have to honor it? Of course not, but Andujar has good reason for the request. He has done everything the Yankees have asked from him after coming back from an injury. They asked him to learn how to play the outfield.....and he did it. Is he the greatest outfielder? No, but I'd rather watch him in left field than Aaron Hicks and he's not going to be a guaranteed out like Joey Gallo is when he steps in the batters box. What grinds my gears even more is to think that we are stuck with Hicks for three more years thanks to Brian Cashman's TERRIBLE contract.

Andujar is a casualty only because the Yankees won't cut Gallo even though he's in a walk year and we have a long term deal with Hicks. There are other teams out there that Andujar COULD be an everyday player on. He could play everyday if he was a Tiger, National, Red, Diamondback or Oriole! 

One other important part I can't ignore and no one seems to be talking about....we have a new CBA that says players can only be optioned five times per season and after that, it requires outright assignment waivers to the Minor Leagues. It's the beginning of June and there's a lot of baseball left but Andujar has already been optioned three times. That's a concern.

I'm on Andujar's side on this one. The Yankees should follow what the Mets did. If they can cut Robinson Cano who they owed $40 million to through the 2023 season there is no reason they can't cut Gallo, but they won't make that move.

When merit is no longer the reason for why you stay or get sent down, it is time to demand a trade for a better opportunity. The Yankees screwed this up big time and I hope in the future Andujar gets the last laugh.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ROBINSON CANO IS ON THE MOVE

Not that anyone cares, but because Robinson Cano was a popular Yankee while he was in the Bronx, it just makes sense to mention this.  Cano could be on the move... like today.

The Spun writes:

"Cano was released by the New York Mets earlier this season after his lackluster start to the year. It was previously believed his MLB career might be over, but it appears he's going to get one more shot.

Cano, 39, is "expected" to sign with the San Diego Padres today. He could even be available for Friday night's game between the Padres and Braves in Atlanta. "

This information was tweeted by Jon Heyman, who, is like Bob Nightengale of USA Today... nearly wrong all the time, but I do find it interesting, and we should wait to see what happens.

I have always rooted for Cano, and while I'm not a huge fan... I wish the guy well.

LIGHTING A FIRE UNDER GARY SANCHEZ'S ASS

Gary Sanchez needs to work harder, or at least show to the Yankee fan base that he cares.  Much like Robinson Cano, the laziness he appears to demostrate is horrendous.  Now I like Gary, but I feel like this guy is just going through the motions some times.  Remember when Cano used to jog down the first base line on a ground ball? I hated that... most did.  Now we have a kid like Sanchez who doesn't work well behind the plate. He blocks horribly, doesn't get on his feet, appears slow and as a defensive catcher, you really have to do better.  While Kyle Higashioka is probably a better option defensively, this guy is a career minor leaguer who can't really hit.  That's not a slight at Higgy... that's reality.  Honestly, believe when the Yankees decided this would be the catching team they would have in 2021 it would like a fire under Gary's butt. It really didn't happen. Now maybe it will...

NJ.com writes that the Yankees could and should be alooking into maybe getting some more help once again. And by "help", I mean making it alittle uncomfortable for Gary/

"Cashman could re-sign Sanchez, who will be a free agent after the 2022 season, but bring in competition for playing time behind the plate. If Cashman is not content with Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka as his backstops, there’s a new name for the GM to consider, according to Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes: Roberto Perez.

It’s unlikely the Guardians will exercise Perez’s $7 million club option for 2022. That would make him a free agent so teams can just wait to see what the Guardians do with Perez. If they don’t exercise the option, all it’s going to cost a team to sign Perez is money. They won’t have to give up a player.

So who is Perez? Glad you asked.

The 32-year-old catcher is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2019 and 2020), so he would be an immediate upgrade defensively over Sanchez."

The problem? Perez struggles at the plate too. He struggles like Sanchez struggles, and so while it may be a foolish move, what could happen is a real competitiion for the lead catching role for the New York Yankees, especially defensively/ Hey, I find this interesting. Bottom line... something needs to happen. Sanchez's trade value is probably pretty low and so they need to figure out what to do while he's in pinstripes.

It's interesting... it's necessary if catchers want to up their play and it's important that the Yankees find some way to get this guy motivated.  Trust me when I tell you... as a fan, I am quite disappointed.

May the best man win.

IF YOU'RE A MAJOR LEAGUER, YOU BETTER HUSTLE

A long time ago when Bleeding Yankee Blue was in it's infancy, a tool by the name of Peter Keating of ESPN the magazine thought it would be unique to try and throw an up and coming writing under the bus in a much bigger forum than my BYB audience... (ESPN) to shame me with my OPINION of why Robinson Cano needs to hustle his ass off as a millionaire role model for the New York Yankees.  He didn't reach out to tell me... he just did it. Hey, that's his right.... but thank god for the BYB audience. Because when it was published, our readers were all over it and let me know it happened.  

In my piece CANO: NO LEADER, NO DRIVE, I wrote "Maybe it’s him NOT fist pumping after a game or big play like Jeet does. Maybe it’s him just making it seem like it’s “too easy.” The energy is much different. Comparing the 2, Jeter and Cano, and I hate doing it… Cano looks like he’s padding numbers as opposed to leading a club to a championship."

I'm slamming a Yankee there, I fully admitted that back when I wrote it in 2013. But in 2013, not everyone was so sensitive. 

Back then you could write an opinion and have a mature banter back and forth on social media or in the comments section of your story.  But that's when that shady Keating wrote this in his article:

And with a difference of opinion from Keating, I'm fine with that... it's how he handled it that made me realize what kind of a sad journalist he is. Do you know to this day he has never responded to a single email, call, tweet? Nothing. That's spineless.  But more to it... he missed the point of what fandom is and why I wrote what I wrote. 

Fans WANT hustle. Fans WANT players playing hard. They pay good money to go to games and to see wins. They understand that teams will lose, but they get frustrated anyway. One thing they don't get? Dogging it.  Keating can act like an intellect all he wants, many of these journalists can. But the difference is these so-called established writers are really just bending over for these athletes because it helps them. They'll rarely slam players because they don't want to look bad in front of these organizations and not get future interviews and freebees when the team allows. And so, they kiss ass, they act like they care and they push their integrity aside and try to slam the little guy, the fan as being wrong and ignorant.  

But we're Bleeding Yankee Blue. We cater TO the fans. We don't care if a Yankee sucks, we're gonna tell you and if the Yankees win, we celebrate. That's because being a fan is special, either way. 

I'm not looking to get into the Yankee party. Our BYB team will never sway from our integrity and that's vital in journalism... in fact, dare I say, integrity in journalism is gone these days.

Fast forward to race, white privilege and no one getting along on any level in 2021. (Wow that escalated quickly.) 

Opinion these days gets you attacked, abused, yelled at. You can't have an opinion.  Now, before I go further with this, I need to state what opinion is, and what fact is.  There is a difference.

Facts are important. If you're gonna spew facts, make sure they're right. If you are listening or reading a commentator talking about something, make sure you can decipher if that person is offering opinion or FACT. Sometimes these commentators or "influencers" say things that aren't true.  That's bad. Aubrey Huff is a perfect person for that. He's a tool, lies and acts like what he says is fact, when, if you were to research his comments, there is usually no source attached and you can debunk it with actual research from legit sources.  

And then you have opinion, which, I respect. But it's when we dive into that line between journalism and fan that I have a problem.

Enter Jesse Spector and his attack of Andy Martino's assessment of Gleyber Torres. He claims, and this is so odd to me, that Martino made a racial attack against Torres. That not hustling for a man of color is different than for a white player.

what is this effort pic.twitter.com/mdgUaPqSPc

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 22, 2021

I appreciate that, but I gotta tell ya, I don't agree. No, not because I'm white, but because I have a difference of opinion.

What I DO agree with is the unfair attack toward Torres. If you are gonna look at a check swing tapper to the mound and yell at a player for not running hard to first, you are pretty much an idiot.  These are professional athletes in the field. The percentage of him busting down the line and making on that play is probably 0.08%. Not Happening. So, if Spector is calling Martino out for that, good for him. 

Spector writes: "As it is, the Yankees have lost six of seven, are tied with the Twins for the worst record in the American League, and sit only half a game ahead of the Rockies for the worst record in baseball.

And it’s all Gleyber Torres’ fault, apparently.

Torres did not run hard on a check-swing tapper back to the mound, it’s true. You can understand his frustration, being 11-for-59 on the season with no homers and 15 strikeouts, while also struggling defensively at shortstop....

At the same time, it’s 17 games into the season. Torres is a two-time All-Star — and he’s only 24...

Or, for Andy Martino of SNY, Torres can be made the scapegoat. The idea here is that “It’s not a birthright to start games for the New York Yankees, even if you’re one of the most talented players on the team. It might be worth a shot for the front office to remind the entire group that these jobs must be earned on a daily basis.”

That’s right, the Yankees should send Torres to the minor league alternate site, and install Tyler Wade, an objectively worse player, at shortstop, in order to cure their slow start.

“The Yankees’ problems are not nearly all Torres’ fault,” Martino wrote. “But he’s optionable, struggling, and showing a lack of hustle.”

This is where I have a problem. Balance. 

I don't know if Andy Martino has called out white players for lack of hustle before, and to be honest, that should be Spector's focus of this article.  Spector is grouping ALL WHITE JOURNALISTS into a pot and basically suggesting that white journalists don't call out white athletes on hustle.  And that's my problem... All black people aren't the same... neither are all white journalists. I don't feel like that's too fair. 

Spector says: 

"Gardner’s “lack of hustle” in April of 2019 was described as “uncharacteristic” by the New York Daily News. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle’s reference to Posey was a caption, noting that Posey was “not booed … for his lack of hustle,” associated with a Sept. 15, 2019 column by Ann Killion headlined, “Why Giants’ Buster Posey still gets benefit of doubt in frustrating year.”

The other white players who have gotten tagged this way are Harper and Souza, both of whom were benched by managers explicitly for incidents where they didn’t go as hard as they could...

Is it really the case, then, where not hustling is an almost universally Latino issue, and when it isn’t, it’s highly likely to be a Black player not giving his all? Or is this an issue of perception from the heavily white media corps, not to mention the heavily white baseball executive and managerial contingent?"

And see what he does there? Couches it as a question, yet his headline says so much more:

"What it really means when white sportswriters talk about lack of hustle".

I read Jesse Spector. I love what he does, but I also feel like this is just as racist as what he's accusing white journalists of doing. Do I dislike the guy for it? Nope. It's a deep, important perspective that needs to be taught and explained. I just didn't like the bunching.  

But you know what it does? It opens my eyes. I will be mindful of how I react to hustle going forward. And you know what? Black, White, Latino... they're all ballplayers... they ALL should be called out if they're not busting down the line.  On a check swing tap back to the mound?... NO.  But on an infield hit to the shortstop or third baseman? ABSOLUTELY. 

I don't care if it's Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano, Bryce Harper, Gleyber Torres or Fred the Martian... if you have fans paying big money to pay your salary and you jog? You need to be called out... not racially... but as a chump athlete that thinks he made it because he's a millionaire on an MLB team.

Fans pay big money to see big things. It's what they expect. While human, this is the biggest stage in sports... they're ain't nothing racial about hustle.

Smart perspective Jesse Spector. Makes you think.