I'D LOVE TO BLAME RODON FOR THE LOSS TO THE CUBS, BUT I CAN'T

 Suggest Carlos Rodon sucks.  Go try.  You'd be wrong.

While Rodon was the face of the 3-0 loss to the Cubs last night, did you notice that we didn't score a run? Did you notice we only had 2 hits?  I mean Jameson Taillon is a good pitcher, but the dude's no Cy Young.  

And so, I ask you... what are we doing about our offense? Why do we continue to flounder? Why can't we hit?  Twitter lit up last night, much of it attacking this man...

A hitting coach names Dillon Lawson that's no doubt proud to wear the Yankee pinstripes and yet unable to actually do his job.  He's there for the team name, the clout, a job to say "yes, I did that, it's a resume builder", nut he's not at all interested in doing the work.

And then there is Aaron Boone that likes to present theater to the Yankee fans, arguing with the umpires in front of us to make it appear that he has control, but he does not.  You can't go into a press conference talking about how the Yankees have to do better, BUT they are "hitting the ball on the nose".

"We've gotta do better. We hit some balls on the nose, I thought Volpe had a couple good at-bats at the top or the order, nothing to show for it. Higgy hit the ball well a couple times and we had some good at-bats mixed in there, but not enough."

- Aaron Boone pic.twitter.com/zZ2mzQDyeW

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 8, 2023

First of all, the Yankee fans know this already and secondly, the Yankees know it.  Mr. Boone, you're not adding information none of us already know... in fact, how about show some urgency, concern... stop being a robot. Get mad, make some drastic changes, some significant switches to wake this team up?

Rodon's loss wasn't on Rodon. Honestly, I can stay that and be confident about it. A pitcher pitching for a new team, a debut, you expect nerves, you expect him working through his debut. You cannot fault Rodon at all. The offense left his high and dry.  No... this loss was on the Yankees leadership.  Sure, the pro players that make up our lineup are professionals, and sure they are responsible for hitting a baseball, and sure Taillon may have just happened to have a great performance last night.  But the idea that we as Lawson and Boone don't get more hands-on and tweak and adjust and literally watch our team flop day in and day out only means one thing to me... it's the end of a really good run for the Yankees.  Call me dramatic all you want, I'm right.

We are sputtering. Also... and this is serious... I don't see this team making the playoffs and I'm going to be honest with you, maybe that's what we need for change to happen.  

If you want change... if you want guys like Lawson or Boone or even Cashman gone... we may need to suffer through not having a playoff run to make those changes.  Get ready folks... 'cause it won't be pretty.

NEXT WINTER WISH LIST ITEM: CARLOS RODON IN PINSTRIPES!

Let the battle begin! Carlos Rodon is the top remaining free agent starter, and several teams want him. This one may come down to yet another competition between the Yankees and the San Francisco Giants.

If that's the case and this does come down to us and the Giants, we do have momentum on our side now that Aaron Judge has returned. So hopefully that helps us get a strong pitching return to the roster now that Jameson Taillon is a Cubbie. The loss of Taillon may not sound like a big loss but he did throw 177 innings for us last season so that's a large workload to replace.

And it has to be the right replacement. Last season Frankie Montas didn't deliver as expected and Luis Severino hasn't pitched a regular workload since 2018 due to injuries. Taillon leaves a hole bigger than some may realize, and Rodon has matured nicely the last two years after five mediocre years with the White Sox. Rodon could be the guy that helps round out the rotation.

I'm a big fan of a lefty, especially at Yankee stadium. I believe Rodon adds depth to the pitching rotation that would make all opponents uncomfortable. I think he brings balance and could be very productive in New York....could be. The real question is, can he handle the pressure that comes with pitching in New York? That is always the million-dollar question.

Rodon is about to get a payday, and rumor has it he is seeking a seven-year deal, read more HERE. Before the offseason kicked into full gear, he was seeking a six-year deal but since teams so far are not shying away from their investments, he should easily get that. The question is.... will he stay in San Francisco? Will he be a Yankee....or will another team snag him? The Yankees are preparing an offer along with at least 6 other known teams but again, not surprising.

The Yankees need to address their rotation, I think Rodon has the skillset, but I'm not so sure the Yankees will make another long-term commitment at a high annual average value. The offseason has been crazy so far. I want Rodon, but I also don't want to overpay for him either. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

YANKEES HAVE A LOT TO DO NOW THAT JUDGE IS BACK

Source: CBS Sports

It is both a sigh of relief and cheers of excitement that our home-grown slugger is back in pinstripes. To even picture Aaron Judge in another uniform was nauseating. And now that Judge's negotiations are over, the Yankees need to get down to business with the rest of the team. The Yankees have a lot to do now that Judge is back. In fact it was Aaron Judge that told leadership he wanted to see improvement if he was to turn down the opportunity to pitch at home in San Francisco and leave $400 million on the table for San Diego. Time to own up to this pledge to do better. 

According to CBS Sports, "Left field is a glaring need and adding another starting pitcher is never a bad idea. The left side of the infield needs work too, though the Yankees do have good internal options there. Judge getting back was an important offseason goal. Now the Yankees have to improve the roster around him." Aaron Hicks offered nothing since signing his big contract a few seasons ago. His stints to the IL and lack of hustle in the field only added salt to the Yankees wounds. 

Source: Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

"During the Winter Meetings, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that the Yankees would “love” to bring Andrew Benintendi back. Last season was a career year for Benintendi, who was an All-Star for the first time. He hit .320 with a 124 OPS+ before joining the Yankees. In New York, he hit just .254 with a 109 OPS+ in 33 games before a broken hamate bone ended his season," reported NJ.com. The Yankees have also expressed their interest in Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds who asked to be traded earlier this week. The switch hitting All Star would make a great addition to the Yankees but it will cost them a lot to get him. 

Then there is starting pitching. The Yankees parted ways with Jameson Taillon earlier this week. Taillon accepted a four-year, $68 million deal late Tuesday night with the Cubs, pending a physical. That leaves a hole in the middle of the rotation, one the Yankees need to quickly fill. 

Source: Associated Press

"The Yankees are preparing to make an offer to Carlos Rodon, their top remaining target, and seem hopeful, or perhaps even optimistic, which shouldn’t come as a surprise the way this winter has gone. The Yankees beat out the Giants (who also are pursuing Rodon) for their own superstar Aaron Judge, and the Mets kept Brandon Nimmo, also preventing him from going to San Francisco," reported The New York Post. Rodon is a hard throwing left-hander and ironically was a Giant, last season. In 2022, he posted a 2.88 ERA, and 237 strikeouts over 178 innings. 

The Yankees have a lot to do now that Judge is back for good. Let's hope they can get some deals done before the end of the year and start 2023 in a great and powerful way. 

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

WILL THE YANKEES REUNITE WITH JAMESON TAILLON?

The pitching market is intriguing this winter. One of the two big names are off of the board and another name we all know well is getting a lot of attention.

Everyone is waiting to see where Justin Verlander lands, and after that the smaller pieces will come off the board faster....and one of those will be Jameson Taillon. It's easy to overlook that he was the Yankees winningest pitcher last season with a 14-5 record. It wasn't Gerrit Cole or Nestor Cortes, even though those are the names we think of immediately. Taillon's success last season has opened the eyes of other teams, including that other New York team.

Mark Feinsand talked about Taillon on MLB tonight and said Taillon has taken several Zoom meetings with other teams, read more HERE. The Mets and the Phillies are very interested in adding Taillon to their rotations, maybe even as a number two type starter and he impressed teams with his knowledge and his passion with the way he thinks about pitching. We shouldn't be surprised, when the Yankees signed him scouts called him a smart pitcher and that he could be a number two starter if he rebounded from his injuries.

And you can argue he has turned into that number two starter. I was a fan of the Taillon signing two years ago, and I still am today. I'd like to see him return to the Yankees. I really wouldn't like to see him go to the Mets or head over to Philly either. I still think could be a big difference maker for the back end of the rotation....but do the Yankees?

Feinsand says Taillon met with "a bunch of teams" and I hope the Yankees are still in the mix. He's proven that he can handle the bright lights of Yankee stadium. They say if it ain't broke don't fix it....and Taillon has proven he's anything but broke.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

IT'S REDEMPTION TIME AS THE YANKEES HEAD TO HOUSTON

The stage has been set. The field is ready. The walkup music is cued. And just like that, it's Game 1 against the Houston Astros in what will surely be an incredible battle in the American League Championship Series. After rocking some babies in the Bronx against the Guardians, the Yankees move on with a 5-1 victory in a winner takes all ALDS.  Following an abbreviated celebration at the Stadium, Yankees boarded a plane bound for Houston, pumped and ready for redemption at Minute Maid Park tonight, where they have had a storied history since 2017.

As ESPN reports, "New York now faces off against the Astros in a best-of-seven series that starts in Houston on Wednesday when Justin Verlander and Jameson Taillon go head-to-head in Game 1. During the regular season, the Astros and Yankees finished with the two best records in the American League, respectively, while Houston took five of seven games against New York."

In this all hands on deck game, Cortes certainly gave the Yankees early energy, throwing five innings of shutout baseball on short rest. And then it was Giancarlo Stanton who put the Yankees up early with a three-run bomb in the first inning. If they can follow the same formula of striking early, and staying locked and loaded on the hill, the Yankees have more than a chance to redeem themselves and punch their ticket to the World Series. 

In listening in to the post-game interviews, I can't help but be impressed with the laser focus of this team. In particular, one of the newest Yankees Harrison Bader who had a heck of an ALDS with three home runs, speed on the bases and terrific defense in center field, had a lot of positive and mature words for this Yankee team. He told Meredith Marakovits that this team just needs to focus—forget about Verlander, forget about the past, just focus on the present and play good baseball. And Nestor Cortes spoke about the leadership of a quiet guy in the dugout, Giancarlo Stanton. Cortes' simple words about his teammate are below:

From Aaron Judge's fourth home run in a winner-take-all game— the most in MLB history to the absolute stud-like performance of Wandy Peralta in five straight postseason games, the most ever by a pitcher, the Yankees set themselves up for a huge win. Now the momentum of this incredible performance needs to carry them throughout what will surely be a bloody battle against the Astros.

With first pitch set for 7:37 PM EST, The American League Championship Series will provide all of the drama that a good thriller does. The Yankees take on the underdog role, one they embrace as their focus is only on winning against a team that has been their only barrier to the World Series over the last few years. Let's go guys, best the Astros and bring home the American League Championship. Play baseball like you know you can. We believe in you. 

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

ANGER, NESTOR & THE YANKEES DUTY TO WIN GAME 5

Last night sucked.  

We were supposed to play but it never happened. Alot of people are pissed today because many can't take off of work to go to a baseball game. A 4 o'clock game means you really gotta get to the Stadium by 2:30, tailgate, beer up at the Hard Rock, whatever you want to do to get going.  Then you get in, you hopefully see a big win by the Yankees, the celebration and then the prep for the ALCS.  Otherwise, if there's that loss, none of it was worth it.  Alot of pissed off fans and "Fire Boone" and "Fire Cashman" as you leave the Stadium. 

Last night's shitshow was orchestrated by Rob Manfred. The clown of the MLB.  The Yankees were on the same calls with them and Cleveland.

My roommate, a Yankee fan, who has been at Yankee stadium since 6pm today sent me this… you have every right to be mad #Guardians fans…

Screw the @MLB … Cleveland against the world! #Fortheland pic.twitter.com/vXk0zwiNF2

— GlennyT (@glennytshinn21) October 18, 2022

Look, the bottom line is both teams wanted to play and if they waited another 20 minutes, they would have. But we all kind of knew they weren't going to play past 10pm last night. And so, we all gave out hope, but we knew deep down it really wasn't going to happen. 

This idiot Cleveland fan is probably the worst example of fandom you'll ever see.

Phony outrage: ✅

Screaming from start to finish: ✅

Victim complex: ✅

Stupid Yankee conspiracy: ✅

“The MLB”: ✅

A Masterclass in clout chasing with bad content pic.twitter.com/N9XwUoFXr0

— Emily Nyman (@EmSheDoesIt) October 18, 2022

 

I loved that @EmSheDoesIt was able to share this on Twitter. I didn't see it until this morning. What a tool this Cleveland guy is.   Don't get me wrong, there are ton of Yankee fan friends that were furious about last night too, but this guy is literally a straight up idiot.

Yankee Fans are getting really mad hearing this news. https://t.co/UncbBV88Lp

— NYSportsNews (99-63) (POSTSEASON CLINCHED) (@NYSportsNewsNYC) October 17, 2022

Today, many had to scramble to try and sell off their tickets from last night because we all have to work.  There will be no play for many of us. Instead, we're going to have to watch from our laptops or sneak 101.9 WFAN on their live stream.  We all don't have TVs when we work. Kind of blows.

But look, Yankee fans know this drill. How many times have you been to a game that you knew was going to get rained out. But you continued to eat, you continued to pound beers at the stadium. Why? Because it's there and you love to party, that's why.  Last night was no different. And sure, Yankee fans were pissed that we didn't play, but there is NOT CONSPIRACY THAT CLAIMS THAT MLB CATERED TO THE YANKEES BECAUSE THEY ARE A BIG FRANCHISE TEAM. That's stupid.

And so, we turn the page. Today is Game 5 of the ALDS.  Jameson Taillon was replaced by Nestor Cortes, Gerrit Cole said he'd give Aaron Boone whatever he needs and literally Boone needs to manager this like it's do or die today. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. 

We need our bats to wake up. This is our house. This is our year, and we need to do damage today.  I'd love to see Judge have a good day. I'd love to see some small ball mixed in with Giancarlo Stanton strength.  And yes, we need our pitching to be stellar!  

There is no question that Francona, a total pro when it comes to this type of series, will navigate his pitching perfectly. He always does. This game will come down to Boone and Francona and neither of them messing their pitching up. If they do, they lose this game. If they don't, they win. It's a blink contest.  

Sadly however, Terry Francona has the experience to absolutely beat the Yanks.

But we're the Bronx today, and so we need to deliver and that comes down to Boone managing perfectly. 

Aaron Boone lost Game 3 on his own the other night.  We had to dig out in Game 4 and did. But now, collectively, this Yankee team, us Yankee fans need to be loud and proud and win today.

Yesterday is yesterday. Today's a new day. Let's bring a win and let's get to the ALCS Yanks... it just makes sense!

Go Yanks!

YANKEE BOO BIRDS LOST THAT GAME. YOU GAVE UP ON YOUR TEAM.

You're all pathetic. Shame on you. What is wrong with our Yankee fan base that in OUR HOUSE, we boo OUR GUY... the same guy we are trying to keep this off season?

Let's keep this real for a second. We don't know if we're gonna see the Yankees in the Bronx again this year. After the bats went silent yesterday, we now send them off to Cleveland. SO READ THE FUCKING ROOM. You just sent this guy off to Cleveland in what could be the last home at bat as a New York Yankee.  Have some class and be mindful of what you're doing.  You're a fan, not a player, root, razz, but don't send our stars packing because one guy couldn't do anything so far this playoff. There are 25 guys out there, not just Aaron Judge. 

Do you know how hard baseball is? Do you know what it takes to hit a 99 mph fastball deep? To recognize the spin of a pitch coming in and knowing it's a breaking ball, fastball and get your timing going to smash it? Do you know what it's like to hit 62 homers in a season? Nope, none of you truly know when it comes to playing at a major league level. So why in the hell do you think you have it all figured out that you can boo Aaron Judge at Yankee stadium in a loss to the Indians *Guardians?  What is wrong with all of you? 

Aaron Judge was not the only guy in the lineup yesterday.  While Judge laid an egg, you all need to recognize the game.  Nine guys at bat. They all sucked yesterday.  But it was the 10th that it all changed. The New York Times writes:

"Two lazy fly balls, a line drive and a throwing error by third baseman Josh Donaldson defined a chaotic inning that felled the Yankees, 4-2, in 10 innings in Game 2 of this best-of-five American League division series. The sellout crowd of 47,535 went quiet when Guardians right fielder Oscar González’s bloop dropped in front of right fielder Aaron Judge for the go-ahead single. It stayed that way when first baseman Josh Naylor smoked a run-scoring double over center fielder Harrison Bader, adding an insurance run."

And yes, it came undone because the Yankees... ALL OF THEM, could not get things going with the bat. You want to blame Aaron Judge, do it sure. You want to blame Jameson Taillon, do it, but the bottom line is the Yankees could not hit in their own house and it was terrible.

To add insult to injury, Bob Costas might be the most annoying announcer ever for a Yankee game. But no, you can't blame him either.  We were just dealt a bad hand there. It is what it is. I can't wait until tonight when he brings up Joba Chamberlain being attacked by bugs and the Yankees losing to the Indians in 1997, because you know it's coming. But while Costas isn't responsible for the Yankees losing, Judge is equally not responsible for the loss either.

But go ahead, boo Aaron Judge. Makes perfect sense.  You try playing the game. You try coming off a historic season and still try to be smoking hot during the post season. It's a team effort folks... that means the players on the team, Aaron Boone, and yes US FANS!  

Here's the bottom-line boo birds; You give up on your guys during the playoffs yesterday and you might as well blame yourselves for yesterday's loss. Why? Because momentum is a real thing in baseball, and now we go to Cleveland with a fan base that gave up on their team and the nation knows it.  Nice work losers.  Act like you've been there before.

HOW YANKEE PITCHING WILL GO NOW THAT THIS RAINOUT HAPPENED

Look, with this latest rain out, there's alot of talk and worry about how the Yankees will be shuffling their pitching going forward. Here are my thoughts on why it's not bad that the New York Yankees will not have Nester Cortes available for Game 5. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but this is my thinking.

First off, I believe that this latest development actually helps the Yankees.  Here's why; 

The Yankees will need to use Jameson Taillon in Game 4 or Game 5 instead of Cortes in Game 5.  But on the other side of the field, Cleveland will need to use their 4th starter, which is either Aaron Civale or Zach Plesac in Game 4 or Game 5 instead of Shane Bieber.

And so, what's my point? Well, the drop-off for Cleveland is huge. You have to consider that both Civale and Plesac are not good and that is a big advantage for the Yankees as they will avoid one of Cleveland's top 3 starters. 

It's a bigger drop-off for them than it is for us.

But here's the most important part of this scenario... we better not go to Game 5 in this series! There is really no reason for it when you look out our team and what our Yankees can provide offensively.

Go Yanks!

--Douglas Solomon 

 BYB Guest Writer

YANKEES LOSE RELIEVERS AHEAD OF WHAT WILL LIKELY BE A TOUGH POST SEASON

Source: NY Post

Starting pitching just got even more important for the Yankees who will finish up their final home game against the Orioles this afternoon and head out to Arlington for the last regular season series with the Rangers. The Yankees need three reliable starters to get them through six innings before handing things off to an equally consistent bullpen. We saw Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes and even Jameson Taillon pitch some great baseball over the last couple weeks, making them seemingly a critical part of the rotation anchored by Gerrit Cole. Having all four of those pitchers in que will help the Bombers significantly as they will likely not see Clay Holmes or Zack Britton on the hill anytime soon. It is going to be a tough postseason and pitching will be key to the Yankees' success.

Source: CBS Sports

"Boone announced Friday that All-Star closer Clay Holmes is dealing with a shoulder issue and is unlikely to pitch the rest of the regular season. He received a cortisone shot but will not go on the injured list, because it would make him ineligible for the ALDS," reported CBS Sports. Furthermore, the Yankees likely saw the last of Britton who "exited Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, his former team, with left arm fatigue, the Yankees announced. He was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, ending his season." 

Besides Britton and Holmes there are question marks around whether or not Aroldis Chapman or Wandy Peralta will be part of the roster for the start of the postseason. With all of these guys out or questionable, the Yankees are missing one key ingredient in the bullpen- a consistent reliable closer. 

Now, I am not undermining what Ron Marinaccio, and Lou Trivino have been to this team over the last couple of weeks. They have been stellar—throwing hard strikes and getting key outs for the Yankees. Some are calling Trivino the Yankees' postseason right handed specialist, whatever that means. Bottom line, late in the game, Trivino and rookie Marinaccio have given the Yankees the much needed consistency, showing that likely the bullpen closing role will rotate among them and likely Clarke Schmidt.

Following the Yankees Friday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, the Houston Astros have clinched the American League No. 1 seed, locking in the Yankees as the No. 2 seed. And after their win on Saturday, New York is 97-60 with just five regular season games remaining. It is going to be a tough postseason for the Yankees, and pitching in the stretch will be key. I hope the current staff can stay healthy and remain consistent both in the starting and closing roles. Otherwise, things will go south very fast for this Yankee team. 

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

ARE THE YANKEES PITCHING PROBLEMS COMING TO AN END?

All I can say is THANK GOODNESS it is now September, because August just plain sucked. I've had pitching paranoia for a while now and I think it is starting to come to an end....at least I hope it is. We need some good news and I think we are finally getting close. 

The Yankees have 11 pitchers on the Injured list and two of those are close to returning and one may have dodged a serious injury. We have some good updates and hopefully....

1.  Luis Severino

He's on the 60-day Injured List now but says he is ready and waiting for the Yankees to give him the ball. Aaron Boone confirmed this week that Severino will start a rehab assignment on Friday. They will probably give him two or three starts before he gets back in a big league game but considering his injury history it makes sense. I'd really like to see Severino help this team finish out the regular season strong, but his history scares me. We need him, but we need him to be healthy also and rushing him back from a lat strain is not the answer. Hopefully they give him a couple of innings of work this week and let him ramp up and build up some arm strength.

2. Nestor Cortes

My attention is all on Nasty Nestor next week. According to Boone, he is on track to throw a bullpen on Wednesday and then throw live in Tampa on Saturday. If all goes well the Yankees could activate him and get him back into the rotation. We've all been excited about Cortes this season, he's been fund to watch and a stabilizing piece to this team. We've been concerned about his workload all season, his 131 innings pitched this season is a career high for him. We need him rested and healthy for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.

3. Jameson Taillon

The Yankees may get lucky here. I grimaced when I saw that line drive hit his forearm but thankfully X-rays are negative for a fracture and he was diagnosed with a right forearm contusion. Taillon says his forearm is already feeling better and swelling has subsided a little. Boone says they are going to take it day-by-day with Taillon but they are hopeful he won't miss any time. 

We've had all sorts of pitching problems and hopefully our luck is finally changing. Now if we could just get our pitching back, some our heavy hitters and give Gerrit Cole his mojo back we would have a lot more to celebrate.

Here's to crossing our fingers and getting some more good news soon.....we are overdue.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

WHY SEVERINO IS ON THE 60 DAY IL

Source: SI.com

Yankees have struggled mightily this second half of the season with an 11-20 record since the All-Star break and 6-14 in August through Monday's game. Ironically, their struggles began right around when their second starter, Luis Severino headed to the IL. The Yankee pitcher left his July 13th start with a low-grade right lat strain and has been in rehab ever since. But Sevy says he is ready to be back yet he is still on the IL. This is a systemic problem with this team. Aaron Boone babies his players thereby placing too much pressure on other players to fill the void. Why is Severino on the 60-day IL when he feels like he should be on the mound? Let's unpack it.

Source: NY Post

“I am 100 percent right now,’’ Severino said after throwing a 24-pitch live batting practice at the Stadium prior to Tuesday’s game against the Mets," reported The New York Post. Severino is still "serving a 60-sentence" in the IL which will keep him out of the rotation until mid-September. The Yankee starter remains upset and is anxious to get back on the mound. “I’m not OK with it,’’ Severino said. “I threw 95, 97 [mph] and it’s not even a thought in my mind. The 60-[day IL] wasn’t necessary. I know I could have been back by now.”

Historically, well since the Boone years and later Girardi days, the Yankees have be extra cautious with their players, often giving them extra days off, placing them on the IL for extended amounts of time and giving them rest days when they are seemingly on a hot streak.

Source: NY Post

“I’m just being cautious,” Boone told reporters before batting practice back in July. “I’m trying to strike a balance between the urgency of the situation against playing the long game,” reported NJ.com. This was the Cincinnati Series, where the Yankees lost two out of three to a low performing club. But they were up 14.5 games in the AL East and had no worry in the world. Fast forward to 6 weeks later and the Yankees cut that lead in half. They have not been able to string together a prolonged run like they did in the first half of the season. Besides seeing their bats go quiet, pitching, particularly starting pitching just hasn't had the length it used to- going from second-best in the AL to 13th. 

Source: NY Post

With Jordan Montgomery lighting it up in St. Louis, the Yankees pitching staff has been fractured. "Severino’s slip in production and injury have played a role, as has significant falloffs from Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon, who each have an ERA of over 4.00 in the second half. German hasn’t been as good as Severino was early on, and Tuesday night’s starter, Frankie Montas, has been a disappointment since arriving from Oakland," reported The Post.

So why is Severino still on the IL? Because he was placed on the 60-day IL which provides no mercy to the injured player. According to MLB rules, players placed on the 60-day injured must remain on it for a minimum of 60 days and are temporarily removed from a club's 40-man roster, which often makes the list a last resort for clubs. So why did they do this to Sevy? I just don't understand the leadership of this club. And the more I see them in action, the less I like what I see. 

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