AJ COLE IS GONZO

I liked AJ Cole and was getting excited to see him possibly becoming a regular on the Yankees staff. Remember he was with the Nationals before us. The Yankees are just sometimes hard to break into regularly. But it wasn't meant to be.  He's gone now.

Word came yesterday from many sources, but we'll go with MLB reporter Brandon Warne on this one...

Hearing AJ Cole is heading to Cleveland. Could be an interesting fit on a team that needs bullpen help.

— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) January 11, 2019

AJ Cole was one of those guys that had a nice, hot streak, but then he seemed to break down a bit.  No idea is it was overwork or losing rhythm or whatever.  I didn't care. I wanted to see him work through it in pinstripes.  But that's not gonna happen, he's headed to Cleveland.

Good luck AJ.

SIMULATION GAMES COMPLETE FOR CHAPMAN & JUDGE

Now it's time to beat the Red Sox.

We really need Aroldis Chapman and Aaron Judge, like... right now. Like in this series coming up, one of the most important series in our season.  We need to win all, but if we can get 2 of 3, I would very much like that.  Plus you have a Red hot A's team that wants our spot. Forget catching up the mighty Red Sox, they are too good and will probably celebrate in our home if they win. It's the way it is... tip your cap.

Anyway...Daniel Kramer of MLB.com writes:

"The Yankees are off on Monday, but both Aaron Judge and Aroldis Chapman made strides toward their respective comebacks with simulated games at Yankee Stadium. Judge, who was activated off the 10-day disabled list on Friday, took live at-bats against right-handers A.J. Cole and Chance Adams and Minor League lefty Phillip Diehl, and Chapman threw a 22-pitch session to Tyler Wade and Kyle Higashioka. 

Both Judge and Chapman completed their workloads without issues, the Yankees announced."

And so now we really need to get moving with our top shelf players.  Let's go Yanks. Big month here... we need wins, like, a lot.

BOONE NEEDS A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENCY

I am reading a book right now entitled Culture By Design by David J. Friedman.  The author describes a protocol for driving "better individual and organizational performance" through the development of a series of fundamentals, which help organizations take their desired behaviors and put them in action.  A few of the common fundamentals include "Take Ownership" "Practice Blameless Problem-Solving" and "Speak Straight."  With these in mind, watching Aaron Boone in his pre and post game press conferences lately have been especially painful.  Truth be told, since I am speaking straight, I have never really understood his riddling soundbites that seem to go on about nothing both in the context of his press conferences live or quoted in sports columns.  But, lately, they have been particularly cloudy and for someone who was hired for his articulation and relationship building qualities, I think Boone needs a little more transparency with fans and the media.

Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America

"Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Stanton's hamstring tightness has not subsided since he began feeling it a week ago, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. This issue has forced Boone to play Stanton primarily in the DH spot, which is where he's spent five of the past seven games," reported CBS Sports.  But it wasn't until this weekend that we even knew officially that Giancarlo Stanton had a hamstring issue.  He just kept playing him at DH despite many of us scratching our heads in confusion.  I mean they played Neil Walker in right field, who has had little to no experience in the outfield and who is barely hitting .227 (just started to "get hot").  Why not tell us why Stanton keeps playing DH?  Why not be upfront?

Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

So the first Fundamental for Boone to get under wraps in his journey towards transparency is Take Ownership.  He needs to take ownership for not playing his best team every night.  He needs to take ownership for his words or the words he chooses to either confuse us or keep things from us.  The New Haven Register calls him out for his choices of late. "Aaron Boone is beginning to overthink things. On Friday night he sat red-hot Neil Walker a day after belting two homers in favor of minor league-caliber bats Luke Voit and Shane Robinson. And slumping Gleyber Torres continues to move higher and higher in the lineup."  

Source: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images North America

The next Fundamental Boone needs to be concerned about is Practice Blameless Problem-Solving.  We have been told that we have the best bullpen in baseball.  Has anyone taught Boone how to use them effectively?  As NJ.com points out following the massacre in Fenway, perhaps not.  "Did Boone take CC Sabathia out too soon (three innings) on Thursday? Why did he keep Jonathan Holder in so long Friday? Why not go to Chad Green over Holder in the first place? Why go to A.J. Cole with his team down, 3-0, in the seventh inning vs. the Red Sox on Saturday rather than, say, Dellin Betances? (The game was close enough, and it’s Boston, after all.) It was only one or two times early, perhaps partially Yankees were bashing around teams, but Boone’s bullpen usage has deserved scrutiny lately." Why not own this Boone instead of placing much of the blame on Miguel Andujar for his error late in the game instead of just owning the poor bullpen choices.  Boone instead said this:

"We have to do a better job of playing a cleaner brand of baseball. Especially when things are hard and you're up against a real good opponent, you've got to play clean," Boone said as reported by ESPN. Cleaner brand of baseball? Real good opponent?  The words, the struggle, be real, Boone.  How about this, "We made some fundamental mistakes as a team and that includes myself as manager."  

Source: David Maxwell/Getty Images North America

The final fundamental Boone needs to put into practice is Speak Straight.  As I mentioned earlier, listening to Boone talk about the game the Yankees are about to play or the one they just finished is difficult.  He speaks in riddles and he uses a lot of phrases and clauses that are not linked to any substance.  "I see [this] as a bump," Boone said. "I see it as we didn't play great these last two days, but I have a lot of belief in those guys and the approach those guys have going into the day.
This is a long, arduous season. You're going to hit these little bumps in the road where it's difficult, where you're trying to preserve pitching a little bit, where you're up against it a little bit a lot of days in a row," Boone said after the loss to the Red Sox last Thursday.  I would rather him say that we blew it.  I would rather him own the loss and say that we just have to play better baseball.  Make no mistake, Boone, this is NOT a little bump in the road.  This is a gigantic pot hole and we are stuck.

Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

Bottom line, this late in the season, we need a little more transparency in our Yankee administration, and it starts with Boone.  Giancarlo Stanton speaks straight, so does Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia, owning their bad outings or injuries.  Jonathan Holder owned his poor game play.  Why can't Aaron Boone be more upfront with us as fans?  That's the message today- be a transparent leader, Boone.  Be honest with us.  Be honest with yourself and own your deficiencies.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEES MAKE SIGNIFICANT TRADE

You may not know the guy, but trust the move... it's a good one.

Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America

The New York Post has the story:

"David Hale threw two scoreless innings Monday night in his Yankees debut and then was replaced on the roster by right-hander A.J. Cole. Cole was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Friday and dealt to the Yankees for cash considerations on Monday."

Source: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images North America

If you need to know anything about Cole, it's this...  He's a tough righty pitcher, crafty. 4 years in the major leagues. He's only 26.  And there's more... as Yanks Go Yard writes:

"... he boasts a four-pitch arsenal which consists of a 93-mph fastball, 83-mph slider, 80-mph changeup and 79-mph curveball.

The Yankees must believe that the 2015 No. 52 overall prospect, can potentially thrive in the bullpen thanks to his career 8.3 K/9."

There you have it.

Holla.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. MICHAEL MORSE TO SEATTLE

There is no doubt about it.  There comes a time and place where Yankee fans are definitely onto something when we suggest certain players or certain moves Yankee brass needs to make to better our club.  We do it because we believe in our team and while we may not know the "ins" and "outs" of player contracts, injury reports and the like, we do know what we need.  Tonight, it's been revealed that a guy the Yankees should have traded for has slipped away.  It's not only a shock, it's a disappointment and freaking embarrassing and I ask... what in God's name are the New York Yankees doing? Hey... anyone want BYB as the Yankee GM?

I kid of course, but there is absolutely no reason and no excuse for Michael Morse to slip through the Yankees fingers.  Brian Cashman is either sleeping right now and has no idea this trade just happened and will read it tomorrow on BYB or he's about to get bitch slapped by Yankeeland, or, both.  No excuse, this was a smart player to pick up and we didn't do the job...again!

Morse was involved in a 3 team deal, he went to Seattle.  AJ Cole went to the Nationals from the Oakland Athletics and Mariners catcher John Jaso went to the A's. Read HERE.  

Now, I ask you... was a 3 team trade really needed to net Michael Morse? No.  There was definitely a combination of players the Yankees could have sent to Washington to snag Morse.  He would have been a good addition for the Yankees.  A right handed bat with power, something Cashman said we needed, remember?  Morse is a part time outfielder, a first baseman and he could even fill in as a part time Designated Hitter. He was right there in our grasp... plain and simple, but NO.  The Yankees either have something up their sleeve or all their talk about "not being done yet" is just a bunch of crap. Don't blow smoke Hal, do something.

I said it earlier today in WE NEED TO HOLD YANKEE BRASS TO THEIR WORD, and we do. Now Morse is gone. Now we need to get that right handed bat... Guess what? Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Upton appear to be the only other 2 options left and I don't have much faith.

So... what's it gonna be Cash? What's it gonna be?

  Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

GIO GONZALEZ: THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Keith Law of ESPN and others are reporting that Gio Gonzalez is going to the Washington Nationals in a trade. The story is HERE.

The MLB Fan Cave's tweet is here:Nick Cafardo of Boston.com writes:

"ESPN's Keith Law is reporting a deal between the Oakland A's and the Washington Nationals is done sending lefty Gio Gonzalez to the Nats for four prospects.

Law reports that the A's get A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock, Derek Norris, and Tom Milone."

Nothing more needs to be said. I'm disappointed in my New York Yankees and Brian Cashman. That disappointment may turn to anger. Dammit. I'll see if I feel like writing an opinion piece later, stay tuned for it. Right now I'm off the see The Adventures of Tintin.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.