DEVIN WILLIAMS IS ON FIRE, YA'LL!

I didn’t believe in him at first. Devin Williams showed up in the Bronx this season looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. He blew saves like candles on a birthday cake, lost his job to Luke Weaver, and gave off major “when’s my flight back to Milwaukee?” vibes. Honestly, I thought he was just passing through — facial hair and all.

But then Bob Klapisch, journalism legend and baseball whisperer, dropped a stat that stopped me in my tracks.

“Williams hasn't allowed a run in 21 of his last 24 appearances dating back to May 7,” Klapisch wrote for NJ.com.

Well damn. That’s not a rebound. That’s a full-blown redemption arc.

Devin Williams isn’t just settling in — he’s taking over. He’s turned into the cold-blooded closer the Yankees hoped for when they traded for him this past offseason. Two-time All-Star, two-time Reliever of the Year — this guy’s résumé was never the problem. It was the rocky start in pinstripes that had us all ready to bail.

But here he is, dialed in, mowing hitters down, and casually reviving facial hair in a clubhouse that once outlawed sideburns. The man’s making statements on the mound and in the mirror.

And now, just as the narrative was shifting toward whether the Yankees might flip him at the deadline, Williams made it clear he’s open to sticking around.

“They're the ones who would have to offer me a contract, but I'm open to anything,” he told Klapisch. “I'd be cool with that.”

Cool with that? Buddy, we’d be cool with that too.

Don’t get me wrong — I still have love for Luke Weaver. The guy stepped up when things were shaky. But this is about winning a World Series this year. And if Devin Williams is shoving like this down the stretch? You ride the hot hand. You slam that door shut with a vengeance.

Props to Devin. Props to Klapisch for turning me around. And props to the Yankees if they’ve got the sense to keep this guy in pinstripes beyond 2025.

Because make no mistake — Devin Williams is that guy now.

SHOCKER: SOTO'S FEELING THE PRESSURE OF CHOOSING THE WRONG TEAM

There’s a storm brewing in Queens — and its name is regret.

Juan Soto was supposed to be the answer. The Mets’ near billion-dollar swing. The superstar who would bring Citi Field back to life, stack MVPs, and carry the team on his broad shoulders all the way to October glory. But here we are, not even halfway through Year One of his 15-year megadeal, and it already looks like Steve Cohen’s grand experiment is turning into a very expensive case of buyer’s remorse.

Because what we’re watching unfold isn’t a coronation — it’s a cautionary tale.

Soto came to the Mets to be the man. But the problem is… he’s not. That title still belongs — definitively, unmistakably — to Aaron Judge who is the king of New York. And no amount of money, press conferences, or forced “fresh starts” in Queens can change that.

This weekend was the clearest example yet. While Judge was tearing the cover off the ball, Soto was barely a presence. He didn’t just get outplayed — he got owned. Judge looked like a superhero, a natural-born leader who carries his team with poise and power. Soto, on the other hand, looked like a guy who wandered into the wrong borough and immediately started wondering how fast he could get back to his Uber.

But the most damning moment didn’t even happen on the field. It came from behind the scenes, courtesy of Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media, who reported that Soto agreed to be miked up for ESPN in the second inning — and then backed out at the last minute. Why? Because he was “tired” of answering questions about Aaron Judge. He didn’t want to talk about why he chose the Mets. He didn’t want to talk at all.

And then he ghosted reporters after the game, pulling a classic “I’ll be right back” move to go see family, never to return. It was a Houdini act that fooled no one.

Mets execs are reportedly “concerned” about Soto’s energy. His mood. His commitment. And honestly, they should be. This is a guy who was marketed as a once-in-a-generation superstar, a five-tool phenom with the bat of Barry Bonds and the charisma of David Ortiz. But what they’ve gotten so far is a player who can’t run, can’t field, and looks like he’s one bad game away from asking his agent if there's an escape clause in his contract.

And as if things weren't embarrassing enough, the one time Soto looked genuinely happy this weekend according to Klapisch? It was during batting practice — chopping it up with Judge, Aaron Boone, and Jazz Chisholm like a kid who snuck into the cool lunch table and forgot where his locker is.

It’s clear now: Soto never stopped wanting to be a Yankee. That dream died when the Yankees passed on giving him a lifetime deal. So, he did the next best thing — he took the biggest check. But with that check came pressure, expectations, and, unfortunately for Soto, reality.

Because reality is, Aaron Judge is that guy. Always has been. Since the moment he broke into the league, he’s been doing things Soto can only dream about. He’s the face of the Yankees, the heartbeat of the clubhouse, and the guy every player — including Soto — still gravitates toward.

Judge didn’t just stay with the Yankees. He became the Yankees. He turned down overtures from the Giants and others not just to win — but to lead, to be the captain in a city that eats its stars alive unless they shine brighter than Times Square.

And shine he does.

Judge is what Soto wanted to be — a superhero, but in Queens, beloved by fans, respected by rivals, and absolutely terrifying at the plate. Judge hits for power, plays Gold Glove-caliber defense, and leads by example. And let’s not forget — he carried the Yankees when they were injured, underachieving, and battered, putting the entire city on his back.

Meanwhile, Soto is out here acting like a moody transfer student who can’t believe his new school doesn’t have better lunch options. He even managed to annoy Pete Alonso — the one guy who was supposed to be his partner in crime — by implying that pitchers go at him different now because, gasp, Judge isn’t behind him. Talk about bad optics. Especially when Alonso is currently hitting better than Soto. You don’t throw shade at the guy who’s raking. Not unless you’re producing like peak Miguel Cabrera. But Soto isn’t.

This whole saga has already veered into sitcom territory. Soto wanted to be King of New York. Instead, he’s Judge’s jester — stuck in a long-term relationship with a team he doesn’t seem excited about, in a city that already crowned someone else the face of baseball.

And Yankees fans? Oh, they’re loving every second. Not just because the Yankees dominated the series — but because we dodged a bullet. We watched the Mets drop a Brink’s truck on a guy who can’t even commit to answering a few mic’d-up questions, while our guy quietly continues to build a legacy worthy of Monument Park.

Let’s call it what it is: Juan Soto chased the money. Aaron Judge chose greatness.

And that, more than anything, is why one man wears the crown — and the other wears a very expensive reminder that he made the wrong choice.

Suck it Soto, you chose wrong.

THE GAME OF TELEPHONE & JUAN SOTO

It's a story that pretty much means nothing until we see what happens at the end of this year.  It's gossip... it's a game of telephone, but it's fun anyway.  Will Juan Soto go to the Mets after this season as I believe he will? Well, this nugget just popped up and it comes from Yardbarker.  A friend of Soto talked to the great Bob Klapisch... and that's a good story for any paper.

Yardbarker writes:

"Somebody allegedly close with Juan Soto recently spoke with Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media about the New York Mets' possible pursuit of New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto this coming offseason.

"Juan is not going to play for a joke of a team," Soto's friend said about the Mets. "Period."

But does that mean he's going to stay with the Yankees for a big pay day?  I don't know about that. Remember what Steinbrenner said the other day. The Yankees payroll is not sustainable.  

Soto is no doubt a franchise player. The Yankees clearly need him. He's a superfreak.  But it's just too early to say.  I really hope he stays in the Bronx. But it's June 1st... a long way to go. Alot of rumors ahead but remember... we won't know till it's done.

And we wait.

IF TRUE, YANKEELAND CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT AARON JUDGE RETURNING TO THE BRONX

I was just reading Twitter. It's weird tonight. Andrew Tate is back, there is plenty of parody accounts of all sorts of celebrities and I can't tell which is actual news and which isn't.  So I left because my anxiety was through the roof.

And then this report came out. Yardbarker has it but it originally comes from legend Bob Klapisch:

"For a piece published Friday, Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media noted that Judge "will allow the Yankees to finish as the highest bidder" after the new American League Most Valuable Player hit free agency last week. That update comes after Steinbrenner confirmed he had "very positive conversations" with Judge following the season, including one face-to-face meeting, and after Klapisch and others claimed that re-signing slugger Anthony Rizzo improves the Yankees' chances of keeping Judge through his physical prime.

"I saw it as a good sign that (Steinbrenner) reached out and wanted to sit down one-on-one and get a chance to talk," Judge explained during a Thursday conference call. "I saw that as a great sign."

Here's the thing, the bad news is this is going to drag on long, meaning, Judge is going to listen to EVERY SINGLE CLUB that has a legit chance of building a championship and winning one in the future. And he has that right and we will let him do it. And if I'm Judge, I go to January out of spite. Make the Yankees sweat!  Bryan Hoch tweeted this:

Now look, give Judge time. Let him test the market. Here's the good news for Yankee fans... We appear to be the ones that will get final say. 

So, what does that mean? It means if the San Francisco Giants go the Aaron Judge and say, "Hey, we wanna give you $310 million for 8 years", he can go back to the Yankees and say, "This is the offer from the Giants, they have a good group there, they wanna win, what do you think?"  

Hal and Cash can stand up and say, "Hey look, we will give you $312 million. You know these guys, the fans love you, we love you, and we want to make you our Captain for the next 8 years with a 9-year option."

Guess where he's going?

Case. Closed.

Do it Yanks... do it.

 

RUMOR: YANKEES MAKE RECORD SETTING OFFER TO GERRIT COLE

Will Gerrit Cole be under the Christmas tree for Yankee fans this year? We sure hope so. Rumor has it that interested teams are submitting offers to Cole early this week. The top free agents could move fast, maybe some exciting news before the end of the Winter Meetings. That would be nice!

So I am still hopeful about Cole. Other teams are just as hopeful, but the Yankees have this history of chasing after Cole. It would be nice to see the Yankees finally get Cole in pinstripes. So I am still sticking to the idea that A FOUR HOUR LONG MEETING MEANS SOMETHING, and maybe it did. There are conflicting reports out that the Yankees MAY have already made an offer. We'll have to watch these rumors and see what happens, but here are two rumors posted to twitter.

So I wonder which Bob is right here. If Bob Klapisch is right and the Yankees made a seven-year offer, will the Angels or Dodgers add an additional year or more money to try and sway Cole back to the West Coast.

If the Yankees did make a seven-year, $245 million offer it would exceed Zack Greinke's average annual value and it sounds like any deal Cole signs will surpass David Price's $217 million contract that he signed with the Red Sox in 2015.

So this may be the start of a bidding war. It will be interesting to see if the Angels will try to outbid the Yankees, or if being closer to Cole's home in Southern California will ultimately win out. The Winter Meetings kick off today, it will be interesting to see what other rumors come about Cole.

I hope Hal Steinbrenner wasn't bluffing about what he said and he is ready to be active in the free agent market. Cole is the ultimate prize, and could be the answer to get back to the World Series. It's been 10 years....it's time to stop chasing for an ace and it's time to finally get one.

Stay tuned everyone and cross your fingers that we finally get our ace.

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

BRITTON'S A YANKEE & WHY NEWSPAPERS ARE NO LONGER IMPORTANT

Photo: USA Today

It was a stealth move by Brian Cashman and a suggestion made by non-baseball insider Mike Lupica.  We wrote about it the other day on Bleeding Yankee Blue in a piece titled LUPICA SAYS MAYBE IT SHOULD BE ZACH BRITTON...

And then it actually happened.

I must point out that Lupica is a non-baseball insider because it's the baseball insiders that typically throw all kinds of crap at the wall and see how many clicks they get. Lupica has a following, this is true, but he's not looking for all that garbage.  He's looking for quality.  One of the last good ones I must say.  After all... what the publications like the New York Daily News, Newsday, New York Post don't seem the realize that in their haste to cut back on solid sports writers salaries... they have cut the meat and quality from their sports pages as well. In other words, they are killing themselves.  I'm a sports reader. But me and thousands of others have no reason to go to those newspapers anymore as long as guys like Harper, Marchand, Klapisch and Matthews are gone.  Now sure, the icons like Davidoff and Caldera are still there in their respected publications, but it's them I seek, not their companies pages.  Lupica is still kicking, but reality will tell you that these guys, all of them, have the following because of their quality of work... not because the paper has backed them.  In this day and age, these genius and witty writers can run the table by putting out independent columns and tweet them to their fans.  To hell with big time papers.  Truth be told, I told both Wally and Marchand when they first were released from their respected papers that if they ever want to write a guest column on BYB... they can. Why? Because they are iconic in New York and it would be an honor.

Why am I telling you this? Simple. I didn't find that Lupica nugget about Zach Britton because I wanted to read the Daily News.  I read it because I wanted to read Lupica.  Point being... these papers, while saving a few bucks are losing readers rapidly and they are too stupid to realize that.  All because some big wig in a corner office can get their bonus at the end of the year because he kept costs down.  Whatever man.  Remember this... it's the people that make the sports stories great... never the paper.

Anyway... where am I? Oh yeah... Zach Britton is a Yankee. Lupica had it first last week... here's my man Jack Curry of YES now.

Britton to Yankees is a done deal, says @JonHeyman. Dillon Tate is reportedly one of the players the Yankees will send to the Orioles. https://t.co/quE0w8sH3B

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 25, 2018

It's a big deal.  Remember Dillon Tate? Yes... he's now gone.

Yanks bolstered their pen even more.  And now Yankee starters don't need to go 7 innings... they can go 5... or 4, depending on the day.

Nice move Cash.  I wonder if there will be more. Stay tuned.

WHEN IT'S ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE & NOT TALENT

Photo of Bob Klapisch

I hate big business because I hate to see how they are constantly worried about their bottom line and not about the hardworking people that go into the product.  You could have a great player, hard worker, top writer that an audience falls in love with, but behind closed doors a company looks at their charts and numbers and says, "Yeah, that guy's good, but we need to save a few bucks and if we remove him... that saves us."

Now I can't say that's exactly how it went down, but I do know this... another fantastic writer has been cut, not because he wasn't delivering... but because a company just needed to save a few bucks.

Iconic to some or not... and he kind of is to me... Bob Klapisch is no longer writing for the Bergen Record... and that sucks, because for as long as I have admired guys like Jack Curry and Pete Caldera... Bob Klapisch has always been in the reading mix for me. And trust me, I don't always agree with Bob, but that's what makes Klap great. He would get my blood boiling one day, or get me smiling the next, agreeing or disagreeing almost every day.... and that was Bob.  And I looked forward to it and appreciated it. 

For a guy like me that is able to speak my mind on my own Yankee fan site of Bleeding Yankee Blue, manage writers, interacting with literary heroes through this journey... when I read Bob's tweet yesterday... it blew me away...

Looks like I’ve come to the end of the road with the Bergen Record. The baseball column has been eliminated by Gannett. On to free agency.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) November 3, 2017

And I love to see the others who sent him notes... me included, because big or not... for me, I am a part of this writing family in some way now.  Check these out....

For 16 seasons it was a privilege to have a press box seat next to one of the very best in the business. Thanks for everything Klap.

— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) November 3, 2017

In the baseball writing world, Bob Klapisch is as desirable a free agent as there is. Someone will hire him and he'll make them look smart. https://t.co/x82lw0sIA6

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) November 4, 2017

This is terrible news...for the Record. Klap will take his terrific talents elsewhere and that place will be lucky to have him!

— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) November 3, 2017

Terrible news for readers. No one breaks down a game better than you, Klap. Any outlet would be lucky to scoop you up.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) November 3, 2017

@BobKlap you’re an extraordinary writer. Someone we’ve referenced and read for years at #BYB. Thanks for being someone to look up to.

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) November 3, 2017

Writing is a family.  Most of these writers travel around the country together all season long and they become friendly.  I admire it, it's a grind. Heck, I've become friendly with some these guys... and I appreciate that because I love what they do.

People ask me who I look up to in my life, even at my age of 46.  It's not baseball players or politicans or actors... it's real people.  It's my parents... it's a coach that inspired me to work hard in my life... and it's guys like Klapisch that were passionate about what they do and rose to the occasion to become well established and successful in his craft. 

I often speak of writers here at BYB... because it was because of them that I took a leap and tried to make something here at BYB.  It's a sad day in the news business... but no doubt Klapisch will keep grinding like he always has.

I tip my cap to one of the best. You will rise again like you have always done. Thanks for keeping guys like me passionate.

Hey Bob... if you wanna go "blog world"... let me know, I can take you here immediately at BYB! We'd love to have you.

KLAPISCH TAKES AROD'S ACTIONS PERSONALLY

Hey... I don't get it.  I've said it once and I'll repeat; What did Alex Rodriguez do to you?

I wrote THE MATURING ALEX RODRIGUEZ the other day.  It was a a bunch of thoughts about Alex Rodriguez and his meetings coming up with Rob Manfred and Yankee brass.  It was also about the hate machine against him, and the reasons why he probably SHOULD be hated. But there was another part to it. It was also about not getting too close to players as fans, or in Bob Klapisch's case, as writers.

Alex Rodriguez messed up big time. Bad choices and lying and cheating will do that to an individual. But this isn't personal for me and unless you're getting beers with Alex or holding the needle going into his ass because he asked you too, it shouldn't be personal for you either. And that's what the haters and Bob Klapisch seem to be forgetting. We're not personally attacked by Alex, we're just fans. We're removed from his personal disasters.

Bob wrote a piece called A-Rod should let bat do his talking. It was filled with anger, but the underlying message after he took it personally for 4 to 5 paragraphs was that Alex was a steroid user, abuser, and nothing he could do could make it better.  In the end, Bob suggested, ARod needed to hit the ball. Alex Rodriguez needed to produce, pretty much everything everyone has already said. There's nothing new there.

But it isn't the hitting part that got me.  It's that Bob can't let go.  Geez man, get over it bro! By the way, it's not just Bob, it's all of the haters as well.

Bob writes:

"...There’s no coming back from his years of lying about steroids and the manner in which he hunted down his enemies."

Alex is coming back Bob... remember? If you're speaking of reputation, sure, maybe, but I don't think that was the underlying reasoning for his meetings at this point.

Bob also wrote:

"Rodriguez’s scorched-earth policy, which included suing Major League Baseball, the players’ association and Yankees physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, have left a permanent stain on his legacy. A-Rod is, at best, naïve to think all parties involved are ready to forgive and forget. At worst, he’s delusional. Rodriguez should stop the pandering... the idea of a face to face with Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman is ludicrous and pointless...Steinbrenner might listen politely as the slugger apologizes for his mistakes, but that’s not going to change a thing. A-Rod is still loathed, no matter how much he begs for forgiveness."

Way off base when it comes to the forgive part.  Why? I'll explain...

I wonder if Bob ever did anything bad in his life... something bad enough where he felt he needed to talk it out with someone he hurt, or even if the act was so terrible, ugly and stupid... that he was embarrassed by it after the fact.  Hmm, I guess not.  I guess Bob's squeaky clean and that's why he has no idea why "talking it out" or even apologizing shows something important about a person.  Even a "bad" person as Bob portrays Alex Rodriguez to be.

Think about this for a second; Bob's got it all figured out.  He knows the sit downs are "not going to change a thing", and you know what? I have news for you. Alex Rodriguez is not looking for a pat on the back from the Yankees.  He's not looking for a "It's OK pal, we still love you."  Alex is meeting with his team to "clear the air".  He's actually being man enough to face his employer and say "Hey, I'm a piece of shit, I know that, but I will work for you."  It doesn't matter if Yankee brass doesn't crack a smile. It's about coming to a common ground. It's about communication.

And let me explain something else before people start yelling about how much of a circus it will be in Spring Training with Alex there.  Um... it's been a circus since the Yankees signed him.  This is nothing new.  It's Alex Rodriguez, not Jaret Wright ladies and gentlemen. It comes with the territory, scandal or no scandal, the cameras still show up.

Bob Klapisch needs to turn it down a notch.  He's showing me he's personally offended by what 1 man did to his own reputation. As an ARod fan, maybe you're disappointed.  If you're a Yankee fan, you're disgusted, but why do you care this much about Alex Rodriguez?  You can argue that he let the Yankees down, but let's be frank.... YOU DON'T PLAY FOR THE YANKEES!

"Disgracing the pinstripes" wasn't invented by Alex Rodriguez. He's a player who made stupid choices, but ultimately he did it to himself.  He became too big for his own good and found himself to be invincible...or so he thought.  But unfortunately, Bob and millions of ARod haters fell into the trap of bringing on this burden of ARod-gate like their lives have been changed because of him.  Get over yourself!

Oh, and before you defile my site with "You're a freaking ARod fan, you're just as disgraceful as him," Let me state here for at least the 10th time this year that I was never an ARod fan.  I was always a Jeter guy.  Since the Big 3 of he, Alex and Nomar ... I was always a Jeter guy. But over time, and now, me being in my 40's, raising my own children, I started to see the big picture about a lot of stuff.  My children ultimately learn from me.  If I make mistakes, my kids learn from me. If I want forgiveness or want to talk it out with someone I hurt, I would hope my children learn that sometimes, no matter how hard it may seem, sometimes you gotta take your lumps, whether it will change the outcome or not.  Sometimes people make such big mistakes it's even harder.  But as human beings, there is always a soft side.  Well, maybe Bob Klapsich doesn't have one... but most of us do.  Sometimes what makes an individual great is the way we listen... or the way we need to "get something off our chest." Sometimes Bob, we know it won't change a thing... we just need to talk.

Bob Klapsich wanted to get a rise out of you.  Bob wanted to make you feel angry about Alex Rodriguez.  But the underlying message is talking through it, no matter what... helps.

It doesn't matter if it's your brother who broke the window in the neighbor's yard, or your son who used a bad word in school.  It could even be Alex Rodriguez.  Sometimes listening, and sometimes talking... well... brings the real you out, and helps get over the hurdle.  Sure, ARod has climbed way too many to mention... but he's still a human being trying to fix this mess.  In the end... he's doing the right thing, and the Yankees are too... for listening to him. Yup... even if it won't change a thing.

In your haste, there's a bigger message Bob... and you missed it.

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!

DON'T PANIC MR. KLAPISCH, CC WILL BE FINE

Bob Klapisch did his best in his column HERE to suggest that CC Sabathia and the loss he gave his team last night is the beginning of Armageddon.  I say that's pretty dramatic because there are so many ways to look at the Sabathia performance. Plus, let's face it... crying over it and suggesting "failure", well, it's literally about about interpretation and further analysis than just a blanket "concern." Call me in July if CC isn't doing well. Don't do it now.

Look, the way I see it, anyone can throw their hands up and say "it's over."  Now Klapsich is good at what he does, but he's also over-critical. Plus, he once tricked me into following one of his pals and said "he'd follow me" and he did... only to unfollow me while I slept. For me, it's person between me and him, but that's another post for another time...

Bob writes: "..Say what you want about the way Sabathia settled down over his last four innings, holding the Astros scoreless – it was all for cosmetic effect. Truth was, the big left-hander put the Bombers in an insurmountable hole, pitched them right out of the game by allowing six runs in the first two innings. The Astros sent 13 men to the plate in the early carnage, en route to a 6-2 victory over the Yankees’ team that gorged itself on a $438 million stimulus package this winter..."

Now, let's break that down; CC DID put the Yankees in a hole. Fact. But, the Yankees with the lineup they have couldn't hit Scott Feldman either. That's a big problem too.  To me, the last time I checked, there were 9 guys in the lineup that could actually hit and score runs. Am I right? So, this is CC's fault... because why?

Wait, there's more: "..it was reasonable to believe the Yankees would roll right over the Astros on opening day. Talk about the ultimate therapy session: these were the same Astros who finished last in the American League in OPS in 2013 and concluded the season with a stunning 15-game losing streak. The Astros weren’t just bad, they were hopeless..."

Sure, that's an obvious statement. It WAS reasonable to believe the Yankees would win on Opening day.  But it was also reasonable to believe the Yankees wouldn't be swept by the Red Sox in 2004 after winning 3 in a row either. The point is, it's baseball, John Sterling tells us that all the time.  Sometimes the underdog wins... get over it.

More from Klpaisch: "...If Sabathia can’t control bat-speed against the Astros, what’s going to happen the first time he runs into the Red Sox, or has to hold the Rays to one or two runs because they have the best pitching in the division, if not the AL?

That’s why Sabathia matters; that’s why the Yankees needed him to nuke the Astros right out of Minute Maid Park on Tuesday. If he couldn’t get them to swing and miss they he used to in his younger, more fearsome days, then Sabathia was supposed to finesses his way to a miniature classic, the way Andy Pettitte used to with virtually the same 89-mph..."

I agree with Klapisch on that point. Sure, it matters that Sabathia is effective against all teams, "If CC can't handle the Astros, how will he handle the Red Sox? Amazing question. The answer is simple: he will, because it's CC.

I know, it seems too simple. But let's explain this clearly... and honestly, I don't want to keep doing this, because I believe in CC, be it at 89 MPH or 94 MPH.  In short, CC Sabathia WILL figure it out.  I wrote a piece titled "SKINNY" IS LIKE LEARNING TO RIDE A BIKE, a few weeks ago.  People didn't take to it like I wanted, because fans want players to be automatic and robots and I find that the be totally unfair.

The truth is, players come to play and they are looked upon almost like they're in a circus or a show or something. They are expected to be perfect all the time. That's not reality ladies and gentlemen.  God forbid they don't have their "A" game, they're crucified.

Just for the record, Jacoby Ellsbury was 0-4 last night. Alfonso Soriano was 0-4.  But I guess because they were hitting, NOT pitching, it's not as dramatic for Klapisch to grasp and form an opinion on.  The truth is, there's a team of 25 out there. CC SABATHIA IS BUT ONE MAN. What's happened with CC was something he did to better himself, better his health. He lost weight. Here's the thing though:  Now he has to learn to compete skinny. That's right...LEARN AGAIN.  As I wrote: "...I remember quite clearly a piece written by Bob Klapisch last year with the headline being "Yankees can't afford slow start from CC Sabathia." In it, he wrote: "Sabathia was merely the victim of his own history, as he’s always been vulnerable early in the season: he has a 4.13 ERA in 55 March/April starts, but has always been better in September and October (2.86)." Remember, that was in 2013, but I remember thinking "Sure, you can beg the guy to NOT be a slow starter, but that's the way the man  is built and that's the way he operates. The numbers reflect it... stop trying to figure it out and live with it." 

The funny thing is Klapisch likes to beat up on CC every year around this time.  Sure, you can sit on the sideline and figure out how to "fix" CC Sabathia as a reporter, but I don't think that does much good in the big picture.  The end result is, CC will give you what he can. Sure, it doesn't help that CC is a slow starter AND skinny right now, but don't give up hope, especially if you're a Yankee fan... Sabathia is a gamer.

CC will be with us for a few more years. After 2014, he'll be with us 2015, 16 and in 2017, there's a  $25M Vesting Option, $5M Buyout. No doubt he signed on with Jay-Z for his next contract, where ever and whenever that happens, if it happens at all, but just know that CC is protected.  But Klapisch makes it seem like CC will suck for the next 2 decades and he'll suck the life out of the Yankees and destroy the franchise. That's not what's happening and we not worry.   It's not doom and gloom. This is not the end of the world.

This is CC reinventing himself. It's CC Sabathia LITERALLY re-adjusting to his new body and outings.  CC will crack the code, but sitting around biting our nails and writing criticism only jacks everybody up for no reason.   Or... maybe that's what Klapisch wants.

All I say is this; Yankee fans! Stand with your Yankees, be it CC or Kelly Johnson.  These are OUR guys.  This is our season.   Don't forget, we have a championship to win and no one knows that more than CC Sabathia!

Have faith.

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MELKY DID GOOD, BUT SELIG'S GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO

Newspaper columnist Bob Klapisch writes a good piece every day.  Many times, I yell at my Bergen Record... Damn you Klapischhh!!!!  

Another good piece today titled Melky Cabrera did right thing bowing out, but come on Bob, how much is Major League Baseball paying you so you can say kind words about them? 

Let's agree on this; Melky Cabrera did what was morally right, he requested to be taken out of contention for the National League Batting title. That was great. That's not what I have a beef with. My beef is what Major League Baseball said 1 day earlier about the NL batting title.

They said that they wouldn't interfere, read HERE. Selig said “We’ll see how it all plays out... We generally don’t interfere in that process. We’ll take a look at it at the end of the year.”  So what's my point? Simple, How is that good for baseball and Selig? The only thing they did was agree to withdraw Melky's name, but Melky made the request, MLB didn't do anything. The solution fell in their lap.


It's my opinion that MLB should have pushed "rules" aside, took the reigns of their "Clean up of PEDs in Major League Baseball" campaign and acted like the authoirty. They are the ones that should have made the decision, before Melky came forward. Remember that dog and pony show in front of Congress that sparked this whole thing?

Remember Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro being asked hard questions about PEDs in baseball? Remember Major League baseball coming forward after that enforcing new rules? MLB should have dropped the hammer the day Melky admitted it.  But no, they found the easy way out, they waited it out in the hopes that fans would forget again.

I love what  Melky Cabrera did yesterday, but I'm skittish when it comes to Major League Baseball, because it's personal for me.  Kids want answers. My kid wants answers.  Kids are confused and kids need to know that cheating is wrong, not just from their parents, but by the sports they follow. Remember, they want to be like these athletes.  Sure, Melky stepping forward was huge, but MLB needs to make stronger and tougher punishments for PEDs in baseball, bottom line.


And yeah, I've been beating this drum for a while now and I know, it's old and tired and I apologize.  But finally, Klapisch writes that everyone should be a fan of this purge because "it would slow cheating to a trickle." I disagree. Trickle only comes when the authority drops the hammer.  MLB is the authority. I doubt there will be a trickle, but I hope I'm wrong.

Sure, Klapisch and I disagree on things quite a bit, but damn he makes you think. You need to admire that.  OK, enough with Melky and PEDs... time for breakfast.

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WHY KLAPISCH MISSED THE POINT OF THE JOBA OUTRAGE

I admire Bob Klapisch so much, but in his attempt to be provocative, he missed the entire point of why so many spoke their mind on the Joba Chamberlain trampoline debacle. He had the nerve to attempt to call out some who speak their mind, like me writing "Only the black-hearted wouldn't feel forry for Joba Chamberlain, who for one unlucky moment had stopped being a Yankee and was just a dad..." His full piece is HERE. Look, after I ripped Joba alittle, I decided to move on, explaining that I am wishing Joba well and wanted the best for him and so over this past weekend, I asked many, many fans about Joba because I wanted a batch of ideas and opinions on the husky right hander’s injury. But more importantly, I asked Yankee fans who were parents. Why? Because it goes back to Klapisch. Sure, Joba was trying to be a dad, we all get that, I wrote about that in my piece WHY JOBA CHAMBERLAIN NEEDS TOUGH LOVE... this is what I wrote:

"I get it, kids want their dad’s to do stuff with them and you never say "NO" to your kid because, they think you're Superman and you always want to do things for your children... I have 4... I get it. Who knows if that’s how it went down, but in my mind, I see Joba not wanting to let his son down, getting on the trampoline and suddenly, there's tragedy."

But it’s much more than trying to be a dad, there’s a much bigger point; Responsibility. You are a member of the New York Yankees and that doesn’t stop when you leave the ballpark unfortunately for the players that put on that pinstriped uniform. Sure, Joba can be a dad all day long, a lot of players have kids, but Joba needed to carry with him the notion that he was asked by his employer to stay on the straight and narrow and NOT to do things risky in fear that he may jeopardize his progress, he should follow directions for the sake of personal responsibility and for of the team. (Read Bill Madden HERE on that.)

Being a parent is providing for your family as well as throwing the ball with your kid, or riding bikes, or in Joba’s case, jumping on a trampoline. If I lost my job, I’d worry about not being able to provide...that's also being a dad by the way. I feel like that should have been in the back of Joba’s mind too. “What if I get hurt, will the Yankees dump me?” Especially after all Joba and the Yankees have been through together. No one is untouchable.

Now, people said I was being hard on Joba in my piece the other day, but if you know me, I have a heart too. Sometimes tough love is needed to open someone’s eyes. Many of these players are given a boatload of dough before they even go pro. All I was suggesting was that Joba needed to think for a moment, then act. How about miniature golf? Maybe laser tag? I’m half joking but I’m making a point. A trampoline was a ridiculous idea. You’ve heard the expression, "You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone"... and if you grew up in the 80’s, you know Cinderella sang that classic song with the same title. But the words are important. If Joba were to lose his job with the Yankees, a job he been working toward all his life, and god forbid he couldn't get another job pitching anymore, what would be of him then?

We fans love Joba Chamberlain. We love him so much the debate about Joba Rules and whether or not the Yankees “ruined” him has always been debated. The point is if we were so worried about the Yankees "ruining" him, why wouldn’t we be on the same page and apply that to Joba "ruining" himself? Many of us want him to succeed. He was literally weeks away from returning and then the trampoline got in the way. What a dick tease...seriously! The point is now we start all over and Joba’s got to know that he’s in jeopardy of being a former employer of the New York Yankees, and not providing for his kid, which in my opinion is worse than NOT going on a trampoline with my son.

In the end, the Yankees have come out and said they will not release Joba, read Jon Heyman HERE…maybe they will and maybe they won’t, but there is one thing I believe for sure, Joba Chamberlain made a mistake and he’s man enough to admit it and hopefully bounce back. Joba just matured the past 3 days and what we’ll see from him now is some hard work and dedication as he tries to get on track, he’ll be like the workout montage in any of the Rocky movie…once he’s allowed to put weight on his ankle…in 3 to 4 months, of course.

So yeah, Klapisch was being provocative, but missed the point. Oh and Bob, just because some people used their frustration and hammered Joba alittle bit doesn’t mean we're black-hearted, it does mean however that we believe in personal responsibility, and that’s not just a baseball thing…that’s a life thing too.

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