AROLDIS CHAPMAN IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE YANKS GIVING UP ON THEIR GUYS

I keep coming back to one question: why did the Yankees give up on Aroldis Chapman so fast? Sure, the guy had his rough stretches in pinstripes, but let’s not kid ourselves—Chapman was a force. A tough competitor, a fireballer with a presence few relievers in baseball history could match. Not a Devin Williams, not a David Bednar—Chapman was better. And yet, the Yankees couldn’t wait to show him the door.

Yes, there was the 2016 suspension, a messy chapter in his career. A girlfriend accused him of choking her and firing off shots in his garage. Prosecutors dropped the charges for lack of evidence, though Chapman admitted to the gunfire (which, let’s face it, was reckless but not exactly the same as the headline-grabbing allegations). MLB still dropped the hammer with a suspension—more about Rob Manfred flexing faux authority than proven wrongdoing. That was the start of the Yankees distancing themselves. They didn’t want to deal with the bad PR, so they quietly framed him as a headache and moved on.

And yet, George Steinbrenner once made second chances a cornerstone of his Yankees. Doc Gooden. Darryl Strawberry. Guys with real demons, who George embraced and who rewarded him with production and redemption arcs. Chapman and Hal Steinbrenner? Chapman didn’t get the same grace. Instead, the Yankees basically shrugged and said, “Go scratch.” Eventually, Chapman felt disrespected, and the marriage fell apart.

Now? The guy’s still shoving 100 MPH fastballs past hitters. He’s bounced around—won a title with Texas, now thriving with Boston of all teams. The Red Sox signed him, liked what they saw, and just extended him. They’re paying him $13.3 million next year with an option for 2027. Meanwhile, Yankee fans are watching him close games at Fenway while our bullpen situation looks like a coin flip. That’s not irony—that’s organizational malpractice.

And here’s where it burns: this isn’t just about Chapman. This is a pattern. The Yankees always seem to cut bait too quickly. Caleb Durbin? Gone. Now thriving in Milwaukee in their infield. Gleyber Torres? He’s torching pitchers in Detroit while we cycled through second basemen like they were scratch-off lottery tickets. At third base, we finally land Ryan McMahon—.217 hitter, hardly terrifying. And in the bullpen? Don’t get me started. They already had Luke Weaver proving himself, but Cashman couldn’t help himself—he had to overcomplicate things by bringing in Devin Williams, who has been, frankly, a disaster in pinstripes.

The truth is the Yankees operate from a place of confusion. They panic, they shuffle, they tinker, and they give up on their own too soon. Chapman is the poster child for this mess. The Red Sox gambled and are laughing their way to wins. The Yankees? They’re juggling four guys for the closer role and still can’t decide who should pitch the ninth. That’s not strategy—that’s indecision.

Yes, the Yankees are on a seven-game winning streak right now. That’s nice. But when October rolls around and the margins shrink, fans won’t forget how badly this team manages talent. And if the postseason ends early, maybe—just maybe—it’s time the Yankees give up on Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone the way they’ve been so quick to give up on everyone else.

Because let’s be clear: Aroldis Chapman is still out there blowing hitters away. The Yankees are still out there pretending like they’ve got a plan. And us fans? We see right through it.

GERRIT COLE THROWS 2000

On Tuesday night, the Yankees embarked on an important three game series against their division rival Baltimore Orioles. Those Orioles are always muckrakers against the Yankees. And they certainly had Gerrit Cole's number last night in the early innings. But Cole did something great despite giving up two home runs and a two run double, quickly giving the O's a 4-0 lead. But it wasn't enough to beat the Yankees as they walked off with a 6-5 win in extras. Making the night even more special. 

"Gerrit Cole fanned former Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo in the second inning and became the 87th pitcher with 2,000 career strikeouts. He got there in 1,714 2/3 innings, third fastest all-time. Only Chris Sale (1,626 innings) and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (1,711 1/3 innings) beat Cole to the milestone," reported CBS Sports. Good for him. He has been a different person, a different pitcher this season. Though he earned a no-decision in Tuesday night's game, he made history.

"In terms of games pitched, Cole is also the third fastest to 2,000 strikeouts. He got there in 278 games, behind only Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (262 games) and the great Clayton Kershaw (277 games)," reported CBS Sports. Anytime I get to mention Kershaw in a piece, it is a good piece!

Recall that last season Cole set the Yankees franchise single-season strikeout record, moving passed Ron Guidry's 248 strikeouts which he threw during his historic Cy Young season in 1978. Anytime I mention Guidry in a piece, it is a good piece! Cole has the opportunity to do much more as long as he stays healthy. He will be with the Yankees through 2028 given his current contract.

"He’s one of eight pitchers to achieve the milestone while wearing a Yankees uniform, joining the likes of Andy Pettitte, C.C. Sabathia, Catfish Hunter, David Cone, Mike Mussina, Bobo Newman, and Dwight Gooden," reported Sports Illustrated. Okay, I am a Pettitte and Catfish fan, so anytime I mention them...you get the point. 

Cole has shown tremendous growth and leadership as well this season. Often he is seen talking with young pitchers, reviewing their performance on the dugout iPad and even providing some much-needed humor when the team was down. His presence is invaluable to this team. Congratulations, Gerrit Cole on this well-earned accomplishment. And let's go Yankees, beat them O's!

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

TATIS TO THE YANKEES: A MADE-UP RUMOR, BUT A GREAT IDEA

Once Aaron Judge was signed, I'm not going to lie, I kind of wanted to hibernate. I was like the day I got engaged. There was so much build up to the moment, and then it happened, and I needed a long nap. It took everything out of me.

But now we want the next big thing to happen. Just read Suzie Pinstripe's story, YANKEES HAVE A LOT TO DO NOW THAT JUDGE IS BACK. I mean, we got Judge, but we need to improve the team as well.

A story went out today from ESPN, who is for the most part pretty unreliable and biased against the New York teams. This has been known forever. But what I found interesting was the nugget that popped up out of nowhere. Listen...

Tatis to the Yankees?  I laughed at first.  Listen to this...

Fernando Tatis Jr. to the #Yankees? @HDumpty39 is hearing rumblings.

LISTEN: https://t.co/cd8W4sHvNW. pic.twitter.com/Il8cwXx8sx

— DiPietro & Rothenberg (@DRonESPN) December 12, 2022

OK, now a few things here.

For one, this story is not true. If someone heard it, someone's making it up. There has been zero connection with the San Diego Padres and the Yankees.   If you search about the internet, this is the only source and plenty, even high-level baseball insiders have never heard a whisper.  But think about this... does it make sense? It does.

First off, Tatis has a 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres. That is insane considering we just signed Judge to a ridiculous amount, and we had to do that.  This we don't have to do, but we could.  

For one, Cashman would have to really think about a way to have the Padres pay for that contract.  Secondly, he'd have to give up some guys, some damaged goods like the Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson's of the world, and then some top talent.  And I'm talking about guys like Jasson Dominguez or Anthony Volpe or a guy like Oswaldo Cabrera and maybe even a player more.  Now you can say this is too much and what are we doing here... I am speculating because I love this idea and it falls in line with the old Steinbrenner way. 

Tatis needs a second chance after PEDs. And if we saw anything from Hal Steinbrenner this year it's that he is slowly turning into his old man. Willing to get on the phone himself, surpassing Cashman and locking in guys.  

Plus, like I said, Tatis needs a second chance. Remember Darryl Strawberry? Remember Dwight Gooden? Second chances, new environment and the nod from the Boss to turn it around and they did.  If Hal is really like his old man, he'll get all nostalgic about second chances and try to make this deal to clear up Tatis's image and allow his talents to shine in the Bronx. 

Tatis can hit. He can also play short, outfield and if we can move Donaldson, what a pleasure it could be to have him at third and IKF at short for a hot minute before we bring up Volpe.  And hey, you don't wanna do that? Put Tatis in the outfield with Bader and Judge. We need that too and he plays there.

The whole Carlos Correa to the Yankees story is not happening. He is hated in New York, and we'd be fools to sign that guy. He's an arrogant prick.  While Tatis can show arrogance, he more moldable now because of his shortcomings of the PEDs scandal. He's trying to turn it around and get in the good graces of baseball fans again.

Look, tell me I'm wrong, that's fine. But while this story is absolutely not true... it could be, and I like it. 

STRAWBERRY HAS SOME FREE AGENCY TRUTH-JUICE FOR JUDGE

I love that Darryl Strawberry turned it all around for himself.  This guy was in the pits for a while. I have to be honest. I thought that one day we'd find this guy dead of a drug overdose. It seemed like it was going that way.  

I loved that Steinbrenner gave Straw a comeback with the Yanks. It was special for him and for the team to see guys like he and Gooden get that chance they needed.  Anyway... now I'm just rambling.

I found this interesting and wanted to bring it to your attention. Straw has a few words to say about free agency and Aaron Judge.  Most importantly, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

NJ.com writes:

"Strawberry left the New York Mets for hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, signing five-year, $22.5 million contract. Strawberry tells a cautionary tale that the that the grass may not be greener at home on the West Coast. Via SNY:

“It was heartbreaking for me to leave New York because I was so used to Met fans and what New York fans were all about. Becoming a free agent, you let a player test the free agent market and most of the time he’s going to test it. I didn’t want to get to that place, but I got to that place, and I was very saddened about the fact that I had to leave New York because I was so used to the fans. L.A. fans come late and leave early. New York fans come early and never leave ... it was kind of different when I went to California, and it was more laid-back ... I was more used to the aggressive fans and playing in New York City ... when you suck, they tell you that you suck ... they want you to get better and that’s what I love about playing in New York ... that was the biggest mistake in my career, was leaving New York to go play in L.A.”

Look, one thing is clear, the Yankees have to make every effort to make sure Judge comes back. This isn't only on Aaron Judge. But still, this message from Strawberry is a powerful one, and worth sharing.  I leave you with this, from David Lennon:

Let's hope.

JESSICA MENDOZA'S BIG MOUTH WILL SEAL BELTRAN'S FATE

You're really gonna call out a major league ballplayer for doing the right thing and shedding light on the sign-stealing scandal, Jessica Mendoza? Really? You're really gonna screw over your Mets team, kiddo.

I guess we just like to keep secrets now. I guess we don't care about steroids in baseball, using technology to steal signs... but betting on baseball... that's bad.  If anything, these cheating techniques being exposed is going to clean up the sport. But I guess Jessica Mendoza likes the game all fouled up.  She needs to be quiet.

The New York Post writes:

"Mendoza, the Mets special assistant and ESPN announcer, criticized former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers for his role in exposing Houston‘s sign-stealing system, which led to the firings of manager A.J. Hinch, general manager Jeff Luhnow and Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

'Honestly, it made me sad for the sport that this is how it all got found out,' Mendoza said on ESPN’s “Golic and Wingo” on Thursday.

'This wasn’t something that MLB naturally investigated or other teams complained about because they naturally heard about and then investigation happened. It came from within. It was a player that was a part of it, that benefitted from it during the regular season when he was a part of the team. When I first heard about it, it hits you like any teammate would. It’s something that you don’t do.'"

First off, you're not a teammate Jessica. I don't even get that. Secondly...what, being a snitch is bad but cheating isn't if it's quiet and contained within a team clubhouse? Are we seriously suggesting this?

Look, you want to "steal signs", you get to second, you see what the catcher's signaling and you look for a pattern that you can relay to your teammates in the hopes to find the opponent's weaknesses. That's clean baseball. Sometimes it works, sometimes it a guess and whatever man... the goal is to win fair and square anyway, so why are these top athletes even going further than that? I'll never know. But that kind of "sign stealing" has been going on since the beginning of time.

But that's not what we're talking about. She thinks that really bad behavior, setting up devices, having a code that can be relayed to the batter... that's alright. You know...TECHNOLOGY. A PLANNED, STRATEGIC OPERATION, that's allowed even though the rules suggest the opposite. Jessica thinks that as long as it's among the players, quiet, even though illegal, THAT'S OK. But they way... SHE'S AN ADVISOR FOR THE METS! What Mets front office person thought it was a good idea to send her out and talk about this... because I'll tell you something, Jessica Mendoza just made it worse for the Mets!

Mike Fiers, now an opponent is a God damn hero for blowing this out of the water.  It's the biggest cheating scandal since steroids. It's bigger these days than Shoeless "Joe" Jackson.

Oh yeah... and that was known as the Black Sox scandal... eight men out... as in 8 men were removed from baseball by Judge Landis in 1921.  That was big... this is bigger.

And I get it. Some idiot in the Mets front office told Mendoza to say something because their beloved Carlos Beltran just got his big Mets manager job and they are trying to deflect.  But she's terrible at it.  Beltran was part of the problem.  Beltran must be fired and Mendoza needs to zip it.

The Mets finally made moves that were good for their team.  But if they keep Beltran, they will be part of the sign-stealing scandal problem too.  Maybe not fair... but accurate.

Let's call this what it is... BS. We all know Alex Cora, Carlos Beltran, AJ Hinch, Luhnow, Crane... all these morons need to be removed from their respective jobs.  Some of them should be banned for life just like those Black Sox from back in the 1920's.

And the biggest problem today is in the Mets front office.  They've never been good at baseball since the days of Gooden and Orosco.  I'd say they've gotten worse every decade.  And from the sounds of it, their advisor just dug them deeper suggesting technological sign stealing is perfectly fine... as long as the public doesn't get wind of it.

I wonder what the Mets have planned this season with Beltran at the helm? After all... My thought is if he decides to cheat... Jessica Mendoza would be fine with it.

Pathetic... all of them.

AND ISN'T IT IRONIC...

Oh how funny the Opening Series is for both New York teams this year. The baseball gods are laughing because this couldn't have been scripted to be any funnier. If this is a sign of things to come then Yankee fans better hold onto their seats because 2016 could be another crazy year.

I don't pay much attention to the Mets because let's face it.....most of my life they have been irrelevant. As I was looking over the Opening Day results I laughed when I saw that both the Mets and the Yankees opened up against the teams that killed their postseason run last year. The Mets had Matt Harvey take the mound yet again but did not get their revenge against the Royals.

 

The Yankees took on Dallas Keuchel once again and well.....it wasn't the ending that we all hoped for. Baseball is funny like that I guess.

So the Yankees started this season with a loss just like they ended last season. More irony, but I am not going to panic. A win last night eases that.



I can't help but think back to how when I was younger the Yankees had some miserable years. The Eighties were not kind to the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Mets were the team to follow. In 1986 the "Lets Go Mets Go" VHS tape was watched regularly in my house and Dwight Gooden, Gary Carter, and Darryl Strawberry were icons to many Mets fans including my dad.

On the other hand, the Yankees took over in the 90's. The Yankee farm system was finally showing off some of their best prospects and the Core Four was born. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte helped bring winning baseball back to the Bronx and a dynasty was born. The Mets were just the other team on the other side of the city now. The tables had changed and all of the buzz about the Mets I had been hearing was suddenly gone.

Last year was the first time since I was born that the Mets started to steal some of the Yankees thunder again. As our team continues to carry some lengthy contracts on some older players the Mets continue to get younger and start to bring up their own kids, just like we did.

So what will this year bring? I never like to draw similarities about the Mets and the Yankees but I realized last night that the Mets already have a strong identity. They have a starting rotation that could be championship caliber. In fact, their rotation reminds me a lot of the Yankees 1998 rotation where Andy Pettitte, David Wells, David Cone and "El Duque" Hernandez were a powerhouse rotation. This year, the Mets have a killer rotation. Great pitching rotations help win championships. The Yankees had that great rotation in 1998 and won it all......could the Mets be next? Is this their year?

These teams couldn't be anymore different. The Yankees have a veteran lineup and will have a strong bullpen. On the other hand, the Mets have a younger team and their starting pitching is their strength, The Subway Series is going to be very interesting this year.

I can appreciate irony, it keeps things interesting. I believe that you can't predict baseball and just when you think you have it all figured out baseball throws a curve ball at you and you swing and miss. I have a feeling this season will be filled with irony. I choose to leave on this high note though.....the Yankees may have lost the Opening Day game for five years in a row now, but there is this one time in 2009 where we lost the first game of the season but won the championship. Something to think about because if it happens again, wouldn't that be ironic?

 
   
--Jeana Bellezza, 
BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 
 





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OCTOBER 26, 1985

The title of this post is also the date on the console of Doc Brown’s infamous Time Machine in the 80’s hit “BACK TO THE FUTURE”. A young Marty McFly finds himself caught up in a bizarre trip back in time once the good Doctor’s invention hits 88mph on the speedometer. Today, in New York City, we are also rocketing toward the past. And just like that night in Hill Valley it’s 1985 all over again. The 1985 Mets came in second. In '86, they won the championship.  The Yankees back then? Yikes.

I hated the mid 1980’s as a baseball fan. The Yankees were lousy and the Mets (who I looked at as a USFL team) were the toast of the City That Doesn’t Sleep. I saw friends start wearing light blue and orange caps on the school bus. I remember walking into my buddy John’s room (a pal I went to many a Yankee game with) to see a Dwight Gooden poster on his wall. WHAT?! How did this happen?

The Yankees were the other team in New York and the Mets were the hot ticket in town. I would actually get ribbed by other kids for wearing my plastic Yankee batting helmet to school. (Side note: that was actually OK when I was little). This was Bizzaro World! The Mets were created to give Dodger fans something to root for when Brooklyn’s Pride caught a train to the west coast…they were like “Joey”, the “Friends” spin off.

Now the Mets are back. Their pitching is OUTSTANDING! It’s like Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine good…only will be BETTER! They have a nicer ballpark in Queens. Sorry, it’s true. We got a mall; the Mets built a Baseball Stadium. Their Top Brass suddenly looks great compared to the garbage Lon and Company are spewing. The Mets are fan friendly. They cost less and give more…it makes me sick and what’s more, sad.

Are the Yankees awful? No. They could easily put a good year together if all the pieces fall into place…but that’s A LOT of pieces, gang. We have the same health, age & financial limits, due to albatross contracts, that will make it an uphill battle in the Bronx again this year…but we made our bed.

I don’t know how long it will last. I mean the Mets didn’t actually win the series…their lineup isn’t all that scary…but still. The New York Mets seem to be holding all the cards in the poker game for the city’s heart and dollars.

I’ll hope the ghosts from the Old Cathedral wake up, come across the street and watch over the Yanks again. We need a little help from above, because the teams in Queens are now Kings.

** Here’s a tip of my cap to the New York Mets and their fans. A little ditty from the some local boys, THE GREAT RUN DMC. RIP JMJ.**

 
 
 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21















 
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YANKEES HAVE JOHAN SANTANA IN THEIR SITES

Nothing wrong with the Yankees looking to try and sign a guy like Johan Santana, especially if he comes cheap. Especially if he can produce.

I know what you're thinking. We already have washed up Mets guy Carlos Beltran. Why do we need another former washed up Met?

 Well, it's about productivity and getting Santana on the cheap... and that's what I like. Plus, he's a lefty.

According to the New York Post, there has been interest from the Yankees:

"Johan Santana’s comeback began Tuesday night, pitching two scoreless innings in the Venezuelan Winter League, and the Yankees were among the teams in attendance...

 ...the Yankees remain intrigued by the possibility of bringing in Santana and will “keep an eye on him,” according to a source."

Taking chances on guys is part of baseball.  There is no crystal ball in a players career. The best thing we can do, if we are REALLY INTERESTED, is make a reasonable offer that won't break the bank. Then, if things don't work out, we can cut him loose and it's a roll of the dice that didn't turn up snake eyes... or something.

No idea if the Yanks are truly going to make a run at Johan Santana, but I believe in second chances.  I know someone else who did too. His name was George Steinbrenner and last time he did it with guys like Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, they became Yankees for life... and the years with the Mets were a distant memory... that's all I'm saying...


 

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