YANKEES SWEEP OUT THE TRASH!

What a great ending to a Easter holiday weekend! A three-game sweep is hard enough, but we just watched the Yankees sweep a four-game series against the team I hate the most. Now I want to see this team stay hungry and carry that into Arizona.

It's a small sample size, but the Yankees are doing better than I thought they would. Last year the Yankees would be lucky to split a four-game series....and I do mean lucky. Maybe this team is hungrier than I thought. Maybe the ASSTROS are struggling with their new identity. Let's face it, Dusty Baker was an energizer to that team... and now he's gone.

Meantime, the Yankees have a new spark. We all knew Juan Soto was going to add steady offense that this team was lacking, but he exceeded almost everyone's expectations with his 9-for-17 in the series, a double, home run, four RBIs and three walks and add in two game winning hits. Aaron Judge was a cool 2-for-16 in the series, but he started similarly in 2022 and he still finished with an American League record of 62 home runs. I am imagining what it looks like if Soto and Judge go on an offensive run at the same time.

It's no secret, I HATE the ASSTROS and their owner Jim Crane. I think they are the dirtiest team in baseball and their returning cheaters Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander are disgraceful lowlifes. We've owed the ASSTROS a punch in the face for a long time. We gave them four in a row, and now I hope Verlander is healthy when we play them at home in May so we can smack him around, too. That would make this even sweeter for me.

I'm trying not to get overly excited here, because I know we just barely got started but I am liking what I see so far. The Yankees are headed to Arizona, and I will be at Tuesday's game, so I hope they bring this momentum with them, and sucker punch the Diamondbacks also. Last time they came here, we didn't play well and my husband who supports the Diamondbacks for his NL team wouldn't let me hear the end of it.

Don't let me down boys!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

HEY BOONE, TRY "MANAGING WITH YOUR EYES!"

Derek Jeter said it best when talking to Nathan Eovaldi when he was on FOX during the Playoffs. Nothing smarter than what was said, and by the way, very specific to the Yankees situation when it comes to their manager.  Read these words:

"We've been talking about on this set about managers in this series. Boch & Dusty having the ability to go with their gut and manage with their eyes. How much do you appreciate in this day and age, Boch leaving you out there to get out of that jam?"

Going with your gut and managing with your eyes… was Jeter taking a shot at the Yankees overly analytical approach with Boone? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ebk9vJ54m0

— Jonny's Lasagna ⚾️ (@JLasagna43) October 17, 2023

Now a statement like that is an old school baseball player. A player that has experience, that understands not babying players, hard-nosed baseball and playing with everything you got on the field.  This, my friends, is something that Aaron Boone never does when he manages. 

Derek Jeter is an institution.  Not only does he understand baseball, it is my opinion that he was extremely strategic with how he placed that question to Eovaldi. He knew all eyes were on him. He knows there are a ton of Yankee fans sucking sour grapes watching these playoffs without the Yankees in them. He knows we're mad Yankee fans, but he also knows that he's not the type to go abandoning us either. Jeter understands us fans.  He played in front of us forever.  He knows how ruthless we are and how we want wins all the time.  He also knows Yankee fans got hosed this year. And so, he'll deny it, but he spoke to us.  Sure, he peppered it with "this series" and gave examples of Dusty and Boch to throw us off... but we all knew what he was doing and saying.  And by the way, saying it to another former Yankee player that is just dominant now in Texas.  Why? Cause the Yankees gave up on him, no doubt... way too quickly.

Derek Jeter is a true baseball guy.  He's a Yankee for life and he also holds grudges like you and me.  It's been reported that he and Cashman do not get along ever since his contract negotiations went public when he was trying to reup in New York. Remember that?  But all that aside, he knows what good managers are, playing for one of the best.  Sure, Jeter has no issue with Boone. Sure, he knows not every season is a championship one in the Bronx.  But what he also knows is that good managers use analytics as a guide... and gut and feel and "managing with your eyes" as a talent and religion.  Again, it's hard-nosed baseball. Not all managers do it well as we know from watching Aaron Boone, but all managers should do it if they want to be great.

Sure, we'll never know for sure if Jeter was taking a shot at the Yankees for putting amateur Boone in the manager role for the Yanks, but I personally felt like he was taking a shot, a shot that I happen to agree with.

Great find Jonny's Lasagna! Way to clip it.

COLE CROSSES ANOTHER MILESTONE OFF HIS BUCKET LIST

 
Source: MLB Photos

It is embarrassing to see the Yankees have just one representative at the 2023 All Star Game in Seattle. I guess if our captain was well, this would not be the case. But still, I feel sad. I was however, lifted when I learned that Gerrit Cole would in fact start the game. And even better, he was really excited, so much so that he shared that starting in the All Star game was on his bucket list and last night he crossed that milestone off.

“I think it’s just always something that I’ve wanted to do, and I feel like I’m physically able to do it,” said Cole, who will be pitching on two days’ rest after throwing 7 ¹/₃ innings Saturday. “I got an opportunity, and [I am] thankful that Dusty [Baker] selected me," reported The New York Post. 

Source: MLB Photos

Cole is the first Yankee to start in the Mid-Summer Classic since Roger Clemens back in 2001. And Baker was more than happy to give Cole the ball, given is passion and excitement to pitch in this year's game.

“Guy’s been here five, six times. About time he started one,” Baker said on Monday’s workout day at T-Mobile Park. “And plus he’s one of the best there is. And plus he wanted it. A lot of guys, sometimes they might not want to pitch in this particular game, but he wanted to pitch. Hey, man, if a guy like Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch,” reported The Post.

Cole is having a hell of a year, despite the Yankees abysmal first half of the season. When he pitches, he gives the Yankees a lift, especially after a loss. In fact, the Yankees have gone 8-0 when Cole starts after a loss. 

In his starting debut in last night's game, he retired the side, but with a little help from his corner outfielders who saved their AL pitcher from giving up two home runs in the first. I still have to root for our guy out there and I am grateful he had the opportunity to rep the Yankees. 

If Cole can stay consistent this season, he could reach another bucket list item- The Cy Young Award. And if the Yankees can turn things around, he could potentially...well let's not go there quite yet. The Yankees have a lot more to do before Cole and the rest can reach the World Series. Anything can happen and it all begins again on Thursday. But for now, the Yankees can regroup, reflect and get back out there- battling to win. 

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

IS MLB READY FOR THE UNIVERSAL DH?

I've been preparing myself for months now, have you? On December 1st, the current collective bargaining agreement will expire and I'm sure negotiations for a new agreement will be very eventful. There will be many hot topics including the possibility of adding a universal DH.

All signs so far point to both the National and American leagues adopting the DH. It has more support now than it has in years past and even I have warmed up to the idea. I used to be dead set against it. I'm not 100% sold yet but I'm not opposed as I was before.

And I'm no the only one who has warmed up to the idea. I found an interesting read as I was scouring the internet for baseball news today, check out this article by the San Antonio Express-News HERE. Even World Champion Braves manager Brian Snitker has warmed up to the idea. Like me, he had his own hesitations.

“Prior to experiencing it last year (2020), I was kind of like the old guard,” Snitker said of using the DH during the pandemic season. “I was not for it. I am now. Pitchers don’t grow up hitting — they grow up pitching.”

Funny how a short 2020 season can change perspective because now he says “I didn’t know if I would, but I ended up liking it.” And then on the other hand I get Dusty Baker's point of view too. He likes baseball just the way it is.

“I’m in favor of leaving it the way it is,” Baker said of the last half-century of baseball in the American and National leagues. “… They’re both interesting in their own ways. I remember when the DH first came in the league, it was basically for a lot of older players … guys that could hit. Either your knees were bad or whatever it was, and you couldn’t play the position."

The DH was and you can argue still is for the players that couldn't handle being an everyday position player. Looks at Giancarlo Stanton, he's been stuck in a DH only role now due to his previous injury  history even though he played 139 games this season. They could've tested given him more opportunities in the outfield but did not.

Baker added, “The DH is kind of hurting some of the kids that are coming up that don’t want to play a position, and just want to DH at 12, 13 or 14 years old. You go to a Little League … practice, and after they hit, they’re ready to go home. There’s more to the game than just hitting, if you’re going to be a ballplayer.”

And he's not wrong either but like Snitker said if you are a pitcher you grow up pitching and they aren't known or expected to be great hitters. I used to be so against the idea of the universal DH because even though my favorite team plays in the American league I have always LOVED watching interleague games. The strategies are different and every once in awhile you get to witness an unexpected thrill. Do you remember watching Bartolo Colon's big hit in 2016? That's what makes baseball so exciting and those are moments that I would miss.

But now I have started to change my opinion a little. As much as I do appreciate National League baseball I am more concerned with protecting our pitchers. The last thing I want to see is Gerrit Cole go up to the plate and get hit in the hand or the leg and miss significant time. Baseball contracts are just extra expensive these days and injuries are more frequent too. I guess this is what makes me more open to the change.

Question is will we see the DH happen next season? So far all signs point to yes. Times are changing but are players and fans ready for it? I'm anxious to see what this new collective bargaining agreement brings. Did we just watch pitchers bat for the last time? My guess is yes.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Senior Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

GOING OFF ON THE NEW YORK YANKEES

Or as I said the other night on Twitter... the Zombies.

They're a loser.

Fans are pissed... even now.  I mean what an embarassment that this team couldn't get it done.  But look, this is what happens when teams are streaky. You never know what you're gonna get.  Now look, I blame Boone. Not just for the Wild Card game, but for the entire season.  I mean, being honest here, the players have to be responsible for a one game loss like that, it's embarassing, but I have always said and I will always believe that if you don't have the right leader leading the ship to victory, you ain't gonna win anything. 

Joe Girardi was a pretty damn good manager, but even he was let go because he couldn't win in the playoffs. It comes down the leaders. 

We've seen Michael Kay launching on this team and on guys like Joey Gallo for weeks.  I'm thrilled he did because it needed to be said.

Gallo was the wrong guy to pick up and now it looks like we have control for him for next year. OMG. Sure, defense is solid with Joey, but that's about it. He was exposed in New York. You gotta wonder what will happen to this guy.  The city is too big for this guy and will literally eat him alive. And it showed... he was cracked.

Suzyn Waldman went off the other night.  Audio here, but here is what she said:

"If what they think they're doing offensively is the right thing, then they either have the wrong players or they aren't paying attention.  We can go through this pitching staff, who did what and who didn't do what. The thing that happened this year Sweeny to me, is they did not hit. And we saw this at the beginning of the year, they were supposed to pummel everybody... "

"Did you not see how good this offense was when they didn't have big people in there? When Giocarlo Stanton is at his best, he can't be pitched to, but that is not all the time. I'm not saying you have to lay down a bunt, I'm really not, but there's gonna be other things that you can do. Look at the Red Sox. Look at Tampa Bay, they hit. They have scored more runs than anybody, so they're not just sitting there and playing small ball, but when they need it, when they get men on and they get them in. And there were stakes tonight, why in the world would anyone send their runner, just from third base? You play at this level, you're gonna make mistakes you're gonna lose."

"How long do you do this with Gary Sanchez? How many years do you do this? They keep bringing in people, and look, we love Gary Sanchez, he's trying, they change his catching every single year, they bring in a new person. How many catching instructors? And if they're gonna go with the way they're doing, that alot of veteran catchers won't do, this together, knees down cause you can't move, alot of veteran catchers do not do it. If theyre gonna keep changing him. I mean maybe, and it's too late now, I thought they were gonna have a great offensive catcher. If he isn't Johnny Bench who cares if he hits 40 home runs. We've seen that before and it works. But if they're gonna do the same kind of offense, who knows what they're gonna do. I dont know how along with the same thing, banging your head against the wall."

I mean Suzyn came off hot and she should. Someone within that Yankee group, announcer or management needs to be HONEST. The team is trash with the exception of a few guys.  But this is a perfect example of failing up.  Guys in high back office positions that are more fascinated with a big name than actually winning are in charge.  We need a change and we need it fast.

Even CC Sabathia was going off.

Larry Brown Sports writes:

"He questioned how the Yankees could lose to Boston in 2018 and 2021 with the same core, while the two Red Sox teams were radically different and overhauled.

“Our core lost to a team in ’18 that’s not even the same Red Sox … Mookie (Betts), Jackie Bradley, (Andrew) Benintendi … they traded all them,” Sabathia said, via Chris Bengel of CBS Sports. “We still have the same core. We come back to Boston four years later and lost to a completely different core … What the f— are we doing wrong?”

The bottom line is enough is enough. The Yankees are a winning franchise, but it's clear that while many of the players must go, we must find and weed out the weak thinkers in the front office and managerial role.  I gotta be honest, I don't know if I can fault a guy like Brian Cashman here.  He has put a decent team on the field with a few big duds, but no one really thought those duds would be as bad as they have been.  On paper, this team has what it takes, but that's on paper.

Someone with balls needs to make swift changes. If that means Hal fires Aaron Boone, PLEASE DO IT. If you look at this coaching staff and really thinks they are a winning combination, here's a crack pipe... smoke deep.  Phil Nevin is the most experienced coach we have on the Yankees coaching staff... AND EVEN HE BLEW IT THE OTHER NIGHT SENDING AARON JUDGE HOME. You need to clean house... you need experience.  Perfect example? 

Look at Tony LaRussa.  I know... people think he's abrasive, he's crazy. Guess what... he's also experienced.  The White Sox are in the playoffs.  Look at Dusty Baker... experience? Yea. Are the Astros in the playoffs? Yup.  Alex Cora is a piece of garbage, a total clown, but he does have a decent baseball mind, much better than Aaron Boone.  Playoffs? Yup. Dave Roberts. Kevin Cash. I mean... HEY YANKEES, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?

Boone doesn't have what it takes to be a leader, but let's go deeper.  Yankee brass needs to start vetting their front office folks.  Give a long hard look. This isn't about collecting players for photo ops. This is the MLB. We are watching teams pass us by and we are the laughing stock of the league.

I have news for you... if Boone and this coaching staff isn't fired this off season, I will for the rest of my time start watching these games on TV. I will not pay a dime to go to that ballpark.  Not worth it for me... not until they ditch this coaching staff with Boone out the door first.

Inexperience has been exposed. You're losing fans in droves, Hal. You're even losing your loyal broadcasters around you too!  You need to fix it.

THE ASSTROS REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF PATHETIC

What a nice, warm welcome for the ASSTROS, right? I mean, it couldn't happen to a more deserving team. Sure, there are only five guys on the ASTROS still from that 2017 cheating team, but they are the biggest lowlifes of them all. They deserve what they got and what is still to come.

There's no forgive and forget for these guys. Booing and heckling these guys was a long time in the making. I'm sure we've all seen the pictures and we know about all of the chants from the fans, and none of it was a surprise, but man some of the reactions from the Astros themselves have been the best parts for me.

First of all, why the hell is Kyle Tucker even opening his mouth? He's a 24-year old nobody who barely has a job but he sure threw himself in the spotlight on Tuesday before the game when he said, "Our job is to go out and play baseball and not worry about what the fans or anyone says, so that’s really what we’re focusing on." There's nothing wrong with that statement, but why was he even talking to the media anyway? He's a no-name, so it's no surprise why fans responded with the "We don't know you!" chant. This kid with his .183BA barely has a major league job and wasn't even around in 2017. He needed to blend into the background and just be thankful he wasn't stashed in the minors. Maybe he learned a lesson, we don't know you, Tucker....but you sure do know us.

And what about Dusty Baker's reaction? That was good too. He thought "the fans were extremely hard on Altuve tonight," Baker said HERE. "He's exerting a lot of effort, maybe too much effort." Nobody feels sorry for him. I doubt he expects anything different and he shouldn't. Altuve isn't remorseful and no one is throwing Jose Altuve a pity party. He exerted a lot of effort to cheat....at least let him exert a lot of energy at the plate and lose. 

But for ME, the best reaction came from Alex Cora! Have you seen THIS? He had a lot to say about the Astros treatment and I had to laugh.

"Yeah, I saw it. Obviously, it was interesting to say the least," Cora said. "What we did was wrong. Three people got suspended, another one (Carlos Beltran), he doesn't have a job in baseball. I still don't know how or why, because he was a player at that point. And then the guys, it's gonna be around them for a while. I know Dusty Baker made a good point, there's only what, four or five guys that played with us in 2017? But I mean, this is what we did and people are paying the price in different ways."

Now that he's got his job back with the Red Sox and he's ready to move on and hopefully forget it all....he knows "what we did was wrong." He should be counting his lucky stars that he got a second chance because he doesn't deserve it AT ALL. 

And at least he knows his turn is coming and he hasn't escaped any ridicule, either.
"It was a different atmosphere at Yankee Stadium with only 10,000 people, I can only imagine when they have 100 percent when the Red Sox are there," Cora said. "That'll be interesting. The fans, they're gonna remind us what we did and that's their right. You have to respect that." Cora better start preparing now for his June visit to the Bronx.

It's funny how Carlos Correa, Altuve and Alex Bregman had more to say when they were exposed as the dirty cheaters they are....but now they aren't talking. I'm sure they will have plenty to say when they leave Yankee stadium. I'm sure when we visit them in Houston they will have comments....but for now they are pansies.

This is what the Astros get. They didn't get punished by Rob Manfred, so now they can deal with the fans reactions and suck it up. The chants and the booing is far from over. Hey ASSTROS....you made your bed, now lie in it!

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

PRESSURE BUILDING ON THE ASTROS... EVEN IN A SHORT SEASON WITH NO FANS

Ballplayers may be loyal to each other, but when it comes to cheating, I mean REALLY cheating like the Astros did... stealing signs and stealing a championship, I am relieved to see that the players don't forget.  

I think it's also refreshing because there are no fans in the ballparks.  So, it's essentially man to man. Peers settling the score on the field, be it with pitchers head hunting or just snide comments to the dopey Astros in the press.  It's the way it should be. Hell, they didn't get punished, and so the punishment really needs to be a good razzing and an uncomfortable career moving forward, orchestrated by their peers. Fellow teams settling the score. That's Manfred's fault. F them.

Joe Kelly did it knowing good and well he'd be suspended, a ridiculous rule Manfred put in place when Dusty Baker became the Astros new manager.  Here's the problem with that.... Rob Manfred is NOT a leader.  You can't sit there and not punish a team for cheating the league out of the biggest trophy and then nit-pick about punishment for players who throw at the Astros. 

He's a terrible leader... P.S., that asshole still owes me a phone call after I called his office about it. Still waiting. 

Joe Kelly threw at Bregman and Correa the other night and should have. Again,  F them.  

Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers pride and joy made a comment about Jose Altuve the other night as well.   I guess Preston Wilson didn't like it and attempted to take a shot on Twitter.

I faced Orel when he pitched for the Mets and everyone knew the way his pitches moved was not normal. Our whole team knew it so does he. The worst part was he had the audacity to send bibles over to clubhouse (autographed if I remember correctly). Maybe not the best messenger. https://t.co/iynNQKVnzF

— Preston Wilson (@PrestonWilson44) July 30, 2020

Look, autographed bibles are a little weird, but let's get back to the story at hand, tiny Altuve sucks without his garbage can.  And let me be more specific about this. Most of the Astros are solid hitters. They are in the major leagues, that's pretty much a solid overview. They are good players. The problem? 

They fell into the trap of depending on a garbage can to determine how they hit. Couple that with them afraid they're gonna lose their head in the batter's box, and suddenly they need to reinvent themselves and they can't do it fast enough. That's why you see more strikeouts, more uncomfortable dancing in the box. In other words, they did this to themselves, and now they have to live with it.   Well too bad.

Dusty Baker followed up with more from Joe Kelly the other night when he got into a spat with bitch Carlos Correa. Bleacher Report says:

" Houston manager Dusty Baker said Kelly, the L.A. reliever, shouted at shortstop Carlos Correa after a strikeout, causing both teams to come running onto the field.

After throwing near Correa's head earlier in the sixth-inning at-bat, Kelly came back with a knuckle-curve that sent him flailing for strike three to end the frame. Baker said Kelly shouted, "Nice swing, b---h," at the shortstop while walking off the mound, clearing out the benches."

So? Hey Dusty, do you think these ballplayers are happy about how the Astros presented themselves? You think they like the arrogance of them? After all, they cheated their way to a championship and got caught AND DIDN'T GET PUNISHED. If anything they need to be apologetic, not arrogant.  No once cares. Correa is a piece of garbage anyway.

We're starting to see cracks in the porcelain. These Astros players cannot sustain the pressure of fan hate and opponents coming down on them. George Springer may have hit a homer the other day, but that was his only hit all season. And now, suddenly he's "a little sore" after making a catch in the outfield, so he's getting a day off... IN A 60 GAME SEASON. Really Loser? No, the truth is the dude was in a slump because he's waiting for a garbage can to bang to determine what pitch to swing at. A 1-21 slump. Dummy.

MLB writes: "Mired in a 1-for-21 slump to start the season -- and nursing a sore knee -- Astros leadoff hitter George Springer was out of the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Dodgers. Springer banged up one of his knees when he ran into the wall making a catch to rob José Marmolejos of a hit in the first inning Sunday against the Mariners."

Oh... poor baby. Bitch.

What's the point of this post? Pressure. Uncertainty. Keep it on them and they will eventually go away.

The Astros did this to themselves, and they and some of their ridiculous fans better get used to the new normal of feeling really uncomfortable in the batter's box moving forward. Because when it comes to baseball and getting something legitimately... players and true fans take that seriously.   These Asstros players are gonna have a hard time moving forward and it's a good thing, because maybe, just maybe it will clean up the game for the better.

I leave you with this idiot.

@NYYCarrie33 You need to fuck off dude. Seriously. Does that mask go over your entire face? You should be grateful the Asstros aren’t banned for life. Keep clinging to those losers. Real Great for your image. Align yourself with failure. Nice work.

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) July 30, 2020

Sorry.... I couldn't sit quietly.

 

ASTRO FANS "HATE US" SHIRTS ARE A BAD LOOK FOR BASEBALL

It's bad enough that the ASSTROS are okay with cheating, but apparently so are their fans. It's disgusting, it's just going from bad to worse over in Houston and Rob Manfred just doesn't care. This is a PR nightmare.

Not all ASSTRO fans are bad, but anyone who wants to wear these shirts should be embarrassed. This cheating scandal is not something to celebrate, but ASSTRO fans want to embrace it. How sick is that? Hey ASSTRO fans....your team cheated! I will use Dusty Baker's new favorite word...the ASSTROS PREMEDITATED to cheat and disgraced the integrity of the game. That's not a good look, and neither are these shirts.

Who would want to support that? It's bad enough that the ASSTROS chose to be cheaters. Their legacy and stats are forever tainted. They CHOSE that legacy. They chose to be remembered as the team who had a ton of natural talent, but decided they needed to cheat just to win. Don't you want to EARN the title of a champion? Why embrace cheating and then use this shirt as a proud "call to action" for this season? No fan base should embrace this.

This was already embarrassing enough for the team, but now the fans have just made the whole situation even worse. The Astros pulled off one of the worst cheating scandals in sports history, and some fans want to celebrate the cheating? This is the last thing baseball fans should celebrate.

That shirt is a reminder that Aaron Judge was robbed of an MVP award and that Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers did not have a fair shot at a World Series ring. It's the reason why MIKE TROUT TORCHED THE ASTROS. There are a lot of any players right now, and they have every right to feel the way that they do. The players involved in this have lost the respect of their peers and that is never cool. Integrity has been lost. These should never be things that we celebrate.

Baseball's credibility has taken a serious hit right now and Manfred's lack of action only makes things worse. This isn't a good look for baseball right now....and these shirts aren't a good look for ASSTROS fans either.

Stay classy, ASSTRO fans.

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

ANGER AGAINST LOSER ASTROS GROWS AT A FEROCIOUS RATE

The Astros and Jim Crane might be the biggest group of tools in the country. They all need to go away.  It's crystal clear to me that the baseball world is now aiming to destroy them all mentally and eventually financially. They've turned the baseball world upside down.

And here's the other thing. They're lost in the batter's box this Spring training. Are you watching? They no longer walk up confident. They now flinch. They now swing for the fences like little leaguers trying to prove a point. Well, the problem these Astros players have right now is there's no garbage can to bang. They can't decipher pitches anymore. They relied too long on the banging garbage can. It's quite comical... losers.

.⁦@GeorgeSpringer⁩ it’s hard to hit a baseball when there’s no garbage can banging... isn’t it loser? #byb #AstrosCheatingScandal #asstros pic.twitter.com/5AT3kMFrwF

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) February 27, 2020

Or... they're just afraid they're gonna get it on the chin.  I don't care anymore about safety. Retaliation is a real thing... and it really doesn't matter if Rob Manfred wants to puff his chest and claim repercussions for retaliation or if Dusty Baker says he's concerned about premeditated retaliation.

With Alex Bregman’s HBP today, the #Astros now lead the league with 7 hit by pitches in Spring Training.

1.) Astros: 7
2.) Reds: 6
2.) Tigers: 6
3.) Phillies: 5 pic.twitter.com/1odDShWRmj

— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) February 26, 2020

Those pro players the Astros are playing against? They're PISSED! And they should be.

Some dude tried to tell me that the MLB pitchers and teams... even the Yankees should turn the other cheek and beat them on the field.

Oh... that's nice in theory, but this is more about competition. This is about integrity and character. And when the Astros decided to do whatever they wanted, and then Rob Manfred didn't punish the cheaters and Tony Clark decided to publicly acknowledge that he would do whatever it took to protect players... essentially the entire life rule about pride, respect and humanity went out the window.

And so I wrote MANFRED JUST MADE MLB THE WILD, WILD WEST! RULES DON'T APPLY! and guess what... I'm right. I'm literally always right when stories about integrity fall into my lap. Why? Because I am a very good judge of character. Jeez.. even Tim Kurkijan of ESPN said he didn't expect this scandal to still be hanging on.

ESPN MLB analyst Tim Kurkjian says the Astros' scandal has 'gotten bigger' than he thought it ever would https://t.co/UVuZHXEDZc - @NBCSWashington pic.twitter.com/NaL2RDkWZk

— Redskins Gold Pants (@SkinsGoldPants) February 26, 2020

Well... he's obviously misguided and a dinosaur... because social media will help the Astros Cheating Scandal NEVER go away. And thank God. Wrongdoing needs to be dealt with.

And the fans are pissed too. Yet another story about a lawsuit against this failed and disgraced Astros team.

KIIITV South Texas writes:

"The lawsuit is on behalf of fans, and once the law firm is done, they believe they will have filed a total of five class action-style lawsuits over the Astros cheating scandal. 

'Those tickets, in our opinion, are based off a lie,' attorney John Duff said. According to Duff, fans who bought tickets to Astros games feel they were duped into watching dishonest games. 

'Everyone who went to those games, it was not a fair game, it was essentially rigged there was no point in buying those tickets, so we want to get those people compensated,' Duff said. 

Three Major League Baseball managers and one General Manager have lost their jobs over the Astros illegally stealing catcher's signs during the 2017 season. Some baseball fans are suing because they feel duped after paying to go to Minute Maid Park in Houston and believing they were watching an honest game of baseball. 

'It's not just the tickets, some people spent $6,000 per seat, it's not just the ticket it's everything that leads up to going to the game being there coming home,' Duff said."

And you know what? Those fans will win that case... because they're right.

The Astros are a lie. The Astros are cheaters. The Astros? They're pathetic. Jim Crane must be forced to sell the team... and Baseball? They need to punish these losers.

WE WILL NOT GO AWAY.

DUSTY BAKER'S NEW PLEA IS IRONIC & PATHETIC!

Unfit commissioner Rob Manfred knows he has a long list of problems on his hands. He's trying to get in front of them but he won't be able to. The Astros cheated, the game is disgraced and the player-driven cheating has been excused with no acceptable punishment for the masterminds. Now that baseball is back, he hopes to move forward....but this isn't over.

He thinks his stern warning to the league will keep players from seeking their own justice, but baseball doesn't care what he thinks. We don't respect his "authority" anymore and even if FOOLISH MANFRED TO PUNISH RETALIATION OVER CHEATING ASTROS and now Dusty Baker makes his own statement as he piggy backs off of Manfred's weak words.

"I'm depending on the league to try to put a stop to this seemingly premeditated retaliation that I'm hearing about. And in most instances in life, you get kind of reprimanded when you have premeditated anything. I'm just hoping that the league puts a stop to this before somebody gets 
hurt."

How pathetically ironic. "In most instances in life, you get kind of reprimanded when you have predmeditated anything..." except for when you are the ASSTROS, eh?

Someone should get Dusty Baker a dictionary!
premeditate - verb
"to think out or plan (an action, especially a crime) beforehand" 

So the ASSTROS PREMEDITATED to cheat. The players involved should have been REPRIMANDED for their actions that altered the course of the game, affected players careers and ultimately led to a tainted title. Based on what Dusty said.....Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and the entire team should be REPRIMANDED!! But they weren't....

The $5 million fine, firing of A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow and loss of draft picks have no consequence to the PLAYERS who PREMEDITATED all of this. So the players involved deserve to be protected but not punished? Oh and the rest of the baseball world isn't supposed to feel angry about it? They were denied justice and a fair game. Neither Manfred's warning nor Dusty Baker's plea will deter the course of how this season is going to go.

So Dusty....your plea for protection is pathetic. We understand you will be like every other good manager and defend your guys, but your plea does not put an end to the frustration we all have. You manage a bunch of cheaters and you may have the commissioner on your side....but that isn't enough.

Get ready, Dusty. You can continue crying about it but this is far from over. The Astros will find out exactly how it feels to be on the other end of a PREMEDITATED act and they won't like it.

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