THE YANKEES DON'T DESERVE AARON JUDGE

For me, the MVP race this year had the suspense level of a rerun—you know exactly how it ends, and somehow it’s still satisfying. Aaron Judge was the obvious pick to me, the neon-sign choice, the “don’t overthink it” candidate. The guy is the ultimate ballplayer, a human cheat code in pinstripes. Every time he steps onto the field, you’re watching baseball history stretch to 6-foot-7 and casually ruin a pitcher’s evening.

Judge didn’t just prove his value—he practically carved it into the side of Yankee Stadium. 53 home runs, a .331 average, and now his second straight MVP, third overall. At this point, he’s making MVPs look like Starbucks punch cards—collect ten, get your next one free.

And the man just joined Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx as the only players to launch at least 50 homers and win a batting title in the same season. That’s not a club. That’s a museum exhibit. Judge, being Judge, shrugged it off with his usual modesty. “Keep your head down through all 162,” he said, standing beside his family—who, frankly, are probably better at situational hitting than half the roster.

He beat out Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez, earning 17 first-place votes. Raleigh grabbed 13, proving voters do indeed love a good nickname, but even the Big Dumper couldn’t dump Judge off the podium.

Now, here’s where it gets complicated—not for Judge, but for the Yankees. Because while Judge keeps stacking hardware like it’s garage sale season, he’d trade every last award for a championship ring. And who can blame him? The last time the Yankees won a title as a long time ago. Meanhile Aaron Boone is still basking in the glow of that one home run people won’t shut up about against the Red Sox that literally means nothing no. Since Boone became manager? Nothing. Nada. A perfectly curated collection of October heartbreaks.

We’re witnessing a once-in-a-generation talent wasting prime years in a franchise that still thinks “running it back” with a roster of injury-prone bargain-bin specials is a strategy. Cashman keeps promising he’ll bring in impact players, and then what do we get? Another batch of “if-he-stays-healthy” signings—spoiler alert: they never do. It’s like he’s building the team using expired coupons.

So yeah, congrats to Judge. He deserves every ovation, every plaque, every headline. But everyone with a functioning brain knows he’d rather be hoisting a World Series trophy than another MVP. And the saddest part? The Yankees, as currently run, look about as championship-ready as a Little League team running laps for losing their juice boxes.

Judge can do it all—hit, lead, inspire, carry—but he can’t drag an entire front office out of its own delusions. He needs help. Real help. Not “2021 All-Star who’s been hurt ever since” help. Until the Yankees figure that out, the only thing Judge will be lifting in October is his luggage as he heads home early.

So congrats, Captain. Enjoy the MVP. You earned it.

Too bad your organization still hasn’t earned you.

 

CABRERA IS DONE, BUT HIS WORDS TO JUDGE SHOWS YANKEE PRIDE!

Let’s just get this out of the way: Oswaldo Cabrera is now my guy. The slide was routine, but in a freak accident, the man appeared to be shot down at home plate like a hero in a war film—face in the dirt, heart in his chest, and pain written all over his twisted left ankle. It was dramatic and expected for a freak slide like that. I feel terrible for him.

For any of you that didn't see it, Cabrera was trying to score, giving it every ounce of hustle he had, tagging up on a fly ball from Aaron Judge with the bases loaded and one out. The moment he pivoted awkwardly to dodge Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s tag, his ankle said “no thanks,” and down he went.

And we all felt it. The air went out of all of us. This wasn’t one of those “he’ll walk it off” moments. He pounded the dirt three times with his fist—once for the pain, once for the frustration, and once because sometimes baseball just isn’t fair. He didn't just need help standing—he needed the full cart treatment, the kind you never want to see unless it's delivering bubble gum and sunflower seeds.

Yankees head trainer Tim Lentych was right there, comforting him as Cabrera covered his eyes. Probably trying to block out the pain, maybe the crowd, maybe the thought that the rest of his season just disappeared in a cloud of bad luck.

Meanwhile, over at MSG, Jayson Tatum of the Celtics managed to hurt himself without even being touched. Tripped on a ghost. Slipped on a vibe. Whatever it was, it left him crumpled on the hardwood with less than three minutes to go. Celtics center Al Horford said he was “concerned about Jayson,” and sure, that’s valid. But let’s be real—Tatum’s going to get a wheelchair fit for royalty and a recovery timeline sponsored by three orthopedic surgeons and a Netflix docuseries. It was a weird night for ankles.

Back to Cabrera: he doesn’t get the red carpet. He gets grit. He’s always gotten grit.

And that’s what makes this such a gut punch. Cabrera isn’t just some warm body off the bench. He’s the Swiss Army knife of the Yankees roster—the guy who will play anywhere, do anything, and smile while doing it. He was never supposed to be the star, but tell that to Yankee fans who’ve watched him turn bloopers into doubles, bad hops into outs, and quiet at-bats into clutch RBIs.

Every team dreams of having a guy like Oswaldo Cabrera. The Yankees had him—and now, thanks to a bad twist at home plate, they might not for a long time. He’s almost certainly done for the season. And no, these kinds of injuries aren’t easy to bounce back from. You don’t just ice it, slap some pine tar on it, and jog back out to third base.

And the saddest irony of all? While I'm praying daily for Oswald Peraza to finally get playing time, nobody wanted it to come like this. Not even close. Cabrera didn’t deserve this—he deserved more chances, more at-bats, more appreciation.

Because if you ask anyone in that clubhouse who bleeds pinstripes, Cabrera’s name is at the top of the list. He loves being a Yankee. And if you needed any proof of that, here’s a quote that deserves to be carved in Monument Park:

According to the G.O.A.T. Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record, when Aaron Judge knelt beside Cabrera as he lay in pain, Cabrera didn’t ask for help. He didn’t complain. What did he say?

“Judgie, did I score?”

Wrap that quote in pinstripes and hang it in the dugout. That’s who Oswaldo Cabrera is—a competitor, through and through. He wasn’t worried about his ankle, his season, or his MRI. He wanted to know if he got the run in.

Judge said it best: “Kind of shows you what type of guy he is. He loves being a Yankee, he wears his jersey with pride.”

So yeah, the Yankees won the game. And yeah, the Knicks now lead the Celtics 3–1. But nothing feels like a win when your heart-and-hustle guy gets carted off the field.

Here’s to Oswaldo Cabrera—Yankee glue guy, hustle king, and the kind of player every fan should root for. Heal up fast, Cabby. Bronx baseball isn’t the same without you.

COULD AUSTIN WELLS WIN AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?

Source: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Wow. When Paul O'Neill read out Austin Wells' stats for the season against the rest of the American League during Tuesday night's game against the Royals,  I was blown away. According to MLB.com, "At the plate, his 121 wRC+ (meaning he's been 21% better than a league-average hitter) is now the best among AL catchers -- Wells leapfrogged his counterpart with the Royals, Salvador Perez, thanks to his big game Monday. Behind the plate, Wells has been the AL's second-most valuable defensive catcher behind only the Mariners' Cal Raleigh, per Statcast, thanks to excellent pitch-framing and blocking." 

Wells has been a white knight in this Yankee lineup, consistently and quietly helping the Yankees win games like they did in the opener against Kansas City on Monday night. Could Austin Wells win ROY honors? Yea, he really could. 

Source: NJ.com

According to MLB.com, "The 25-year-old catcher has emerged as one of the top contenders for AL Rookie of the Year honors down the stretch, along with the Orioles' Colton Cowser. Wells is batting .295 with a .511 slugging percentage and .891 OPS in 39 games since the All-Star break." He came in for the ailing Jose Trevino who went down with a quad injury earlier this season. And he hasn't stopped his persistently strong offense and defense, among the top rookies and catchers this season.

As The New York Post reports, "Wells has a .252/.342/.438 slash line with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs in 100 games for the Yankees this season." Among other favorites for the AL Rookie of the Year are Orioles phenom Jackson Holliday and Wells' standout teammate Luis Gil. Both have slowed down in their dominance once shown earlier this season, leaving the door open for Wells. Not since 1970 has a Yankee catcher won Rookie of the Year honors. And that guy was Thurman Munson. 

Wouldn't that be something? Aaron Judge wins AL MVP and Austin Wells wins AL ROY in the same season- homegrown stars in the Yankee organization. Now top that with a World Series victory and a Judge Triple Crown- I just can't. Exciting times for the Yankees if they can just get out of their own way. For Wells, I am just overjoyed for this young man's success. He has battled and if he continues to demonstrate his talent the way he has over the last several weeks, he just might find himself as the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year. 

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