BABOONIE CAUGHT LOOKING SILLY....AGAIN!

There's so much to think about, and hell even worry about as we wrap up the regular season. The Wild Card series is waiting for us where we will probably be playing the Red Sox again and we don't even know who is gonna be able to play!

That's because Aaron Boone is talking crazy again. It happens all the time, I just didn't think we would get an extensive sneak peak into his insanity. The Yankees are preparing their postseason roster, and Baboonie is living in an alternate universe, read more HERE and HERE.

Let's start with Aaron Judge, arguably the heart and soul of the team. He's the guy that is the difference maker for anything and everything. The Yankees suffered without him for three months and now they suffer again because they rushed him back to action without a minor league rehab assignment and now Baboonie has said "we're planning on him not being a part of " the first round. But then it gets dicey.....

The Yankees and Judge are clearly not on the same page. We all know is going to rush back. He's already done that. No one believes that he wouldn't push to be in a wild card series against the Yankees biggest rivals. We know what is on his mind, he's going to "try to get my body ready so I'm ready to go" because we expect no less from Judge. Baboonie says he will not be an option, and Judge tells a different story. "We've done a lot of talks, but I can't control what people say," Judge said. "So you'll have to talk to them about that."

Judge-less against the Red Sox is not the only challenge though. This one is a real head scratcher though because Giancarlo Stanton is "knocking on the door" of a return. Yup, after Stanton has been out since April with not one but three different calf strains. Oh and two of those strains happened while he was running the bases and ramping up for a return to the team. The guy is a rotation of chronic reoccurring calf strains but Baboonie thinks this time it's all gonna work out! Stanton is coming back everyone! He took a few at bats recently and hit a home run so it's a sure fire sign he's ready to come back!

So history be damned, everyone. Baboonie even admitted that he wasn't sure if Stanton returning during the first round was realistic but "anything's possible" so there's hope (I guess). Of course, IF Stanton is ready to play it's "looking more at a pinch-hit scenario. We'll see if that's even a realistic option. I don't know yet," Boone said. It must be exhausting being this stupid.

So there we have it. Let's completely rule out Judge but talk about crazy fantasies about Stanton that just don't make any sense. Logic does cease to exist in Baboonie's world. If we are going to live in an unrealistic world, I'd rather live in the world where Baboonie no longer manages the Yankees!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

IS PLAYOFF BASEBALL A POSSIBILITY WITHOUT JUDGE?

Nothing hurts more than being kicked when you are down. That's how I feel right now. The Yankees are down, and begging for a postseason miracle as the bad luck just keeps on coming. It's a consistent kick to the gut and the pain just keeps intensifying.

What a weekend. We lost the series to the Diamondbacks which I hate more than anyone here could ever understand. The weekend they celebrate their 2001 World Series against us, we lose again. Luis Gonzalez didn't deliver the crushing blow this time but that spirit still lives on. Of all the times I wanted the Yankees to win, this ranks high up there. We lose again, and it stings.

Then to add insult to injury, we all get to sit and hold our breath about Aaron Judge, who is back on the Injured List. On September 2nd, we wrote AARON JUDGE IS CLOSE TO A RETURN - BUT IS HE READY? I was worried he wasn't going to be ready because a rub injury is no joke and our medical staff IS a joke. Now Judge lasted 7 games before his next problem....a calf strain.

I swear I am so sick about this team and their calf strains. It is ridiculous! Here we are again. Judge has a right calf strain, and we don't know how bad it is. Our plan of attack includes hoping that we can get him back by the last game of the regular season and ready for the postseason. This sounds a little scary....

"They haven't told me yet [grade of muscle strain]. But he did reveal that the strain was to the soleus muscle, which he said "is a little more crucial with running and hitting," said Judge.

"It doesn't matter what grade it is, said Aaron Boone. "We're going to get him back, or we're not. That's what we're going to work to do, and we'll see."

That doesn't make me feel great. For the record, I don't believe that the Yankees don't know what grade strain he has. They absolutely do, they are just trying to keep it under wraps.....which makes it sound really really bad. It also makes the rest of us speculate which is dangerous.

Soleus muscle injuries can be precursors to Achilles tears if they are not treated properly or if someone is rushed back prematurely. Judge is so important to this team, but if they don't rehab this correctly it could cost us the rest of the season. The Yankees are six games behind the Rays with seven games left to go. Odds are the Yankees are going to be playing in the Wild Card spot again....and we need Judge ready to contribute.

A Wild Card berth means the Red Sox would be waiting for us again. The Red Sox are always a pain in the ass, but would be an even bigger one without Judge. That's just something I don't want to think about.

It's been a rough season, and even though the regular season is almost over it certainly isn't getting easier. This is definitely more than I want to stress about right now. It's time for the bleeding to stop. It's time to start praying to baseball gods and asking for a postseason miracle.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CC SABATHIA COMMENDS VOLPE'S PERSEVERANCE WHILE FANS CONDEMN HIM!

We don't need a reminder about how brutally honest the New York Yankee fan base is, and neither does CC Sabathia. Fans didn't hold back when he was playing, and they still don't. The only difference now might be that there may be more CC's out there to support those underperforming players.

That's what he is doing now, he's supporting Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar and last but not least Anthony Volpe, read more HERE. These guys were given "labels" from the fan base, which happens a lot when you don't meet expectations underneath New York's bright lights. For years we have been writing about how the Yankees coddle their players and but now CC wants the Yankees to also help them adapt to this demanding environment.

I agree with that to a point. New York is a tough place to play for established veterans, let alone when you are a young kid like Volpe was making it onto the big stage as an everyday player. There should be some mental preparation there for players, but it should also be prepared with the confidence of pairing that with good fundamentals to help you perform at a high level under those bright lights. If you have that track record of faltering (like Volpe has) that's when the Yankees need to be more hands on. It's exactly what the Yankees haven't done well.

Everyone in life needs feedback. It's what helps us improve and hone in on our craft. The Yankees do need to look for new ways to help guys deal with the pressures in the bright lights but maybe that doesn't look like what CC is suggesting. Maybe it's a more real-world scenario that the rest of us deal with since we don't make the big bucks playing a kid's game for a living.

The Yankees coddle; I call it the Aaron Boone approach. He's warm and fuzzy. The Bronx, however, is not a warm and fuzzy place. It's as real as it gets. Why aren't we giving that fair, but realistic approach to these guys? This isn't a sunshine and rainbows environment. This isn't a "safe space." This is a 'pull your big boy pants up and be tough' environment and get the job done. Figure it out and use your resources. The Yankees have lots of resources and patience. The fans don't have the patience, and we shouldn't be expected to have patience.

You can still give honest feedback that is firm but fair. It builds character. Hugs are not included on the side here. That's what Boone and the Yankees do. They give hugs, but they don't give reality. Give these guys a real environment to adapt in and help them through the bumps and they will perform better, period. If they don't, then they get sent down to the minors like Volpe did or traded. 

Only the strong survive here, and the Yankees need to figure that out. The coddling isn't working. Not everyone is cut out to play here so it's time to be honest about that. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

GERRIT COLE-APSE: IS HE STILL AN ACE?

There's two weeks left in the regular season and Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make two more starts in that stretch. If that doesn't make you nervous.....it should. He's set to pitch against the Diamondbacks and the Rays. The last thing I am comfortable with right now is Cole pitching against the Rays in a game that could mean the difference in winning the division or just being a Wild Card.

What the hell is going on with Cole? The guy that was once our ace looks like a shell of himself. It's hard not to ask some tough questions after watching him give up four home runs against the Padres and then three this past weekend against the Mets. This is definitely a problem that Matt Blake and the Yankees need to fix NOW.

The good news is, Cole knows he needs to make those adjustments, read more HERE. The bad news though? We are out of time to tinker with mechanics. Granted, Cole has historically been a quick study and has made adjustments quickly throughout his career but the Rays are around the corner. The Yankees are four games behind them and this four game series against them will be the difference between being a division winner or just securing an invitation to the postseason as a Wild Card. Everything is on the line.

So a short time line and a stumbling ace are not working in our favor. Ordinarily, we might be able to ride something out and exercise some patience but we don't have that luxury. Cole is faltering at the wrong time. Right now, the Yankees best starters are Carlos Rodon, Max Fried and Cam Schlittler and the guy that is supposed to be the ace looks like he is a fourth or fifth starter.

Meanwhile, Schlittler is a favorite for Cy Young (as he should be) and is pulling the weight that a Ace should. It's hard to watch the guy that has been the anchor of your rotation falter. It's a reminder that at some point injuries or just age catch up to you and at a newly 36 years old, could we be seeing the start of his regression?

I hope now is not the time for the regression that comes for every great baseball player. But I have to ask at this point....is Cole still our ace? Is he still the guy that we can count on or is there a new Ace on this team?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

AARON JUDGE IS CLOSE TO A RETURN - BUT IS HE READY?

It's September so when we think about how Aaron Judge has been out since May 31st, it feels like a freaking lifetime ago. In baseball, three months is a lifetime. The clock is ticking on the regular season though, so there's not much time left if Judge is going to make it back for the playoffs.

If the rumor mill is true, Judge might be gearing up for a return very soon read more HERE. I hope it's true. Judge did travel with the team and he is ramping up his baseball activities as he works his way back from a right rib injury. Aaron Boone estimates that Judge could be back in action when the Yankees kick off a homestand against the Colorado Rockies on September 8th.

I hope he is ready to come back. Rib injuries are no joke and this isn't the first one he's ever had. The difference now is he's 34 and not the younger spring chicken he was when he experienced it back in 2019. He's on the other side of 30, and in baseball that's when everything slows down including your abilities and recovery time from injuries. Oh and, not for nothin, I don't trust the Yankees trainers or medical staff one bit. They suck. It's not the first time we've ranted about this.

There's one thing we all know about Judge. He wants to play, he's not okay sitting out and it's the end of the season so he is hungrier than ever. He's going to do or say whatever he has to so he can get back on that field. I love his spirit and drive in that respect, but it also makes me cringe because he's also the guy that is going to go balls out and play through anything and everything. If he's not 100% he's still going to tell you he is and play through any injury or setback. It's what makes him great. It's what makes him a leader. It's what makes him the most respected guy in the whole damn organization.

So, I just want him to be okay. I don't want him to dive on that ball in the outfield and injure his rib again or god forbid something else. He is the heartbeat of this team and getting him back could be the spark that we've been missing. This team looks VERY different when Judge is not on that field and in the lineup.

Fingers crossed that in less than a week Judge is back on the field and he is ready for action. We need him!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

A GIL-VANIZED BULLPEN: YANKEES RECALL LUIS GIL TO SAVE THE DAY

The Yankees need backup in a big way as they continue to work through their injury plague. So the next man up is Luis Gil. Now it is time to ask yourself if that makes you feel safer or uneasy.

Either answer would be valid because you wouldn't be wrong. Let's just hope it pays off. Gil is back. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a relief role. His recovery journey started in the bullpen where he allows two hits, recorded two strikeouts over three innings pitched. He did enough to give the Yankees confidence to call him back up to the majors and now we hope that trend continues back in the majors.

If there was ever a time to get back into the Yankees circle of trust, it is now. Gil started the season as a starter but was plagued with injuries and consistency. Now the Yankees have a short amount of time left int he regular season and need reinforcements now that Fernando Cruz and Ryan Weathers have hit the Injured List. The Yankees need all the help they can get to make a final postseason push as they try to keep their distance from the Red Sox in the Wild Card and hopefully take the division back from the Rays.

Now the Yankees make a west coast swing with the Angels waiting starting today. After that, the Yankees will travel to take on the San Diego Padres. Now if Gil can give the Yankees some length without giving up runs the Yankees will be in a much better spot and can walk away feeling better about their continued injury woes. But that could be a big IF. I really want to see Gil come out of this with some renewed confidence and consistency to help us get over the hump. As the regular season winds down, the Yankees still have time to climb the standings but every game matters. Every appearance from Gil (and everyone else) matters.

So it's reunion time. Now we get to see what Gil can do when the pressure is on. It's time to contribute and save the bullpen as we all hold our breath and watch. Welcome back Gil, let's finish the regular season off strong.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ARM-AGEDDON?

And the hits just keep on coming, huh? We can't catch a break. Just when we think it's getting better the other shoe drops. The rug is ripped out from under us. Pick a cliche, any cliche you like because ladies and gentlemen that is exactly where we are as we inch closer and closer to September.

I guess we could go with "There's always next year" or "We can chase number 28 in 2027" for right now. The state of the Yankees pitching staff is arm-ageddon right now. My heart sank when Max Fried hit the injured list, and as much as we don't need to see another arm like Fernando Cruz suffer the same fate I'm not surprised. I am tired of it though.

This team just doesn't demonstrate fundamentals or execute like other top teams in the league. We can't stay healthy. When our starting pitchers get past the fourth inning it feels like a miracle. Our starters can't get deep into games and then our relievers are coming into games too often and expected to clean up the mess that was left for them and eventually it catches up to guys. That could be what happened to Cruz.

Back in April, May and June, Aaron Boone was running him out on the mound constantly. His early success earned him a setup role to David Bednar and lately, he's looked like a shell of himself. The splitter doesn't split like it did, the fastball isn't as fast and the slider doesn't move the same. He's already pitched 54.2 innings this season, and his career high was 66.2 innings. He's 36 and not a young spring chicken anymore. We've seen it with the home runs he's given up and blown leads recently.

And this is why Brian Cashman needed to add stability at the trade deadline and find us some fresh arms. He failed. The Yankees are failing, because they aren't meeting expectations. They are in danger of falling further in the standings because the Yankees have four critical games this weekend against the Red Sox, who have magically come back to life and chasing down the Yankees in the Wild Card race. 

If the Red Sox pass the Yankees in the Wild Card race, I won't be able to accept that. NONE of us should. This team isn't what it should be. Everything needs to be torn down to the studs and built back up otherwise it is the same old dance.

Will arm-ageddon be the Yankees final nail in their coffin? I hope not....but this season has been exhausting.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT I AGREE WITH AROD, BUT IT JUST HAPPENED!

Ten years ago yesterday, August 12th, 2016, Alex Rodriguez played in his last game as a Yankee against the Rays. Oh how I look at that and think about the irony. Now he just sits back and talks about them and the strategy the Yankees should've taken to chase down the Rays in the AL East.

It's funny because he's been doing a lot of talking lately. I don't always agree with him. His idea that the Dodgers are good for baseball this week is one I don't agree with. However, the idea that the Yankees should've gone "all in" at the trade deadline I do agree with. If you missed it, check it out HERE. 

"The issue that you have with the Yankees, it's a tale of two stories," Rodriguez said. "They have the best pitching in baseball. They've collected some of the best pitchers, and by the way they haven't even been healthy all year but this is a championship-caliber pitching staff. I would've loved to see an extra arm or two because the by-product of not having a good offense, especially without Aaron Judge, they're pretty much 30th in every offensive category. What's gonna happen is you’re gonna play in a lot of tight games, you're not gonna blow anyone out. That means you're gonna tax your bullpen. You're gonna be the belly of your bullpen most of the year, and by the time September comes, their arms are gonna fall off. So that's my biggest concern."

We have wasted so many good, productive years in Judge's career. Next year he will be 35 and let's be honest, he's had some gnarly injuries. That's not going to get easier for the Yankees to manage. He's not going to be the young spring chicken anymore. Our starting pitching hasn't been this strong in a long time. Why waste that with an anemic offense that doesn't show up when Judge is out? It's even worse considering Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton are still out with their own injuries. It's like they are giving up without actually selling off the team.

Why not go "all in" as Rodriguez said and get some impact bats and upgrade your weaknesses that clearly aren't working? If you aren't going to sell, then don't just stand pat and make Band-Aid fixes! Cut the dead weight! Cutting Anthony Volpe wasn't enough. George Lombard Jr. getting his promotion needed to happen (it just wasn't an option not to), but they should've done more than just that. They needed to upgrade Austin Wells too!  That line from Brian Cashman about having "limited options" at catcher was a load of crap! Our rivals did it. That doesn't fix the Yankees but it sure is an addition by subtraction just getting rid of Wells who can't even hit his weight.

The Yankees needed to do more. They needed to be hungrier. The rest of these teams are looking at our starting rotation wishing they had it. They are envious for a moment, and then they realize all their offense has to do is 'keep them in the game' because they are likely to win those close games because our bullpen is not at the same level. A one run lead isn't as hard to protect for our rivals as it should be. You can't just rely on your starting pitching....the offense and bullpen need to also execute.

As Rodriguez said, "It's amazing how the whole fan base knew exactly how this was going to turn out and it did." That shouldn't be okay. That shouldn't be accepted and swept under the rug. Judge deserves more. The team deserves more. The fans deserve more. We deserve a front office with balls. We deserve a change from the top down. 

What a disgrace.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SOX ON FIRE, YANKEES ON EDGE!

Almost 4 months ago, the Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora and it looked like Boston was done for. All of Yankee land was laughing as we enjoyed looking down at Boston all the way at the bottom of the AL East. They were deflated, we were in first place and that what we want to see. 

My how times have changed. Since then, the Yankees have lost heavy hitters in Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger. Add in pitcher Carlos Rodon and it is doomsday. The Yankees have been trying to tread water and the Red Sox literally lit a fire underneath everyone and went on winning streaks of 26-3 and 32-5 while the Yankees continue to stagger and stumble. Now the Yankees are literally feeling the Red Sox breathe down the necks. Suddenly a slip to third is very possible.

And I sit here and hate it all while being in amazement of George Lombard Jr and be pleasantly surprised at times by Spencer Jones. Those bright moments have come too late though because we are now as uncomfortable as it gets. What was once a 15 game lead over the Red Sox is now down to a game and a half.

I always say never underestimate the Red Sox. You never count them out....ever. They just reminded us of this. Months ago it looked like a minimum of a first Wild Card spot was likely. The American League is curiously weak compared to the National League. If the Yankees couldn't catch the Rays, we would at least have the first Wild Card spot. But....that the reality is, that might not be what happens here.

Not unless the Yankees start playing like their hair and asses are on fire! Rodon should be back soon, and Judge is progressing. Hopefully we also have Bellinger back by the time we see Boston again but that's not a guarantee. No doubt our injuries have hurt us, and we are missing our star power but both teams feed off of their starting pitching. The Red Sox have still found a way to win with a lineup that is not exactly loaded with big names or contracts.

The difference between these two teams is heart. The Yankees have shown we have that recently, but we need more of it to get us to the finish line. This is going to be a dog fight to the very end, and it's not going to be easy. 

Just in case you need a reminder.....NEVER underestimate the Red Sox.....EVER!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE RIDICULOUS YANKEES! BEST TEAM ADDITION WAS ALREADY IN HOUSE!

You know, I'm really not happy about how the Yankees botched the trade deadline. They really screwed that up to the point that the Red Sox and the Rays are off in the distance pointing and laughing at us. Our rivals made the upgrades that Brian Cashman claimed weren't possible. There were "limited opportunities" on the market. Limited to who? Only Cashman who can't seem to get the job done.

He has one job, and that is to build a championship caliber team, and find ways to improve upon it. Other teams did it, but he's just not capable. Sure, I know he added Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. He added offense which is needed because this lineup is dead without Aaron Judge but, it's a band-aid fix. Neither of these guys play catcher or can come out of the bullpen. They are fine. I want more than fine. I am tired of settling or being complacent while our biggest competitors become more dangerous.

Nothing against Ramos or Garcia. They are just bats the Yankees hope will add some offense to the lineup. Meanwhile, we are still stuck with Austin Wells who can just continue to suck without having an excuse like he's under too much pressure and folding because of it. Now he can just suck because the Yankees will let him because now they have no opportunities instead of "limited opportunities." The only plus to this is Anthony Volpe can suck down in Triple-A and we don't have to watch him night after night screaming the same obscenities when he doesn't hit or screws up defensively. 

So the win for Cashman is we stop bitching about Volpe and now we get to watch George Lombard Jr. finally get his opportunity. He's as untouchable as one could be for a while, but the Yankees stupidly stuck with Volpe for too long. He certainly wasn't holding onto his spot because he earned it, they just wanted Volpe to blossom into something he was never going to be. If the Yankees weren't going to trade Lombard Jr, they needed to give him a chance. It's not like he could be worse. That's almost impossible....

So now you have to wonder if the Yankees best addition was actually a subtraction of Volpe and calling up top prospect Lombard Jr. That was their trade deadline. We got better by sending down a scrub. That's it. Lombard Jr is a talent for sure, we saw it last night there is so much potential there but.....this can't be the big splash for a team with championship aspirations!

We are defined as a team that makes additions by subtraction....that's what we have become. These "decision makers" are a joke. Time will tell, but I hope Lombard Jr. makes the Yankees regret being stupid for so long.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj