A CHEATER IS A CHEATER AND MLB SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF

 Alex Cora is a piece of garbage. Always has been.  

He's a guy that bought into the notion that he's a great manager and great baseball mind.  Now he might be a good baseball mind in some regards, but when you're cheating your way through life, sooner or later you are banished for bad behavior.  You would have thought that MLB would have banned Alex Cora and AJ Hinch for life after the Astros cheating scandal, but clearly a deal was struck between Jim Crane, the Astros owner and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and for that I will always frown on Manfred.  Integrity didn't matter to him... friendships and back-room deals were more important.

And so, Cora gets to come back after his suspension and tries to redeem himself. And sure, the Red Sox has had some successes, but it's just like any team... if you don't have top talent, your manager isn't going to look good because the team won't win.  It takes a really good manager to understand how to navigate a mediocre team.  And when teams are really good, it's clearly the talent pool and not the manager.  I mean, look at Aaron Boone.  

The games we lose are usually because he made a horrible decision and then tries to gaslight us in the presser after the game.  The games we win are always guys like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto and have NOTHING to do with Boone.  Same thing could apply to Cora.  While he a decent status among peers in the league, is he really that good of a manager? Nah.

Now look; when it comes to hitting players in the batter's box, it's kind of an unspoken thing.  I mean, we have seen head hunting before with the greats of Bob Gibson, or Gus Weyhing, but it was not something you talked about in the dugout. You as a team collectively knew what had to be done and sometimes you did it and sometimes you didn't.  Well, when it's talks about OUT LOUD, that's just being a dick and when Alex Cora does it, that just goes to show the MLB world that he really hasn't learned his lesson when it comes to giving his team an edge.  

He's a cheater and he'll always be someone trying to get away with whatever is unsavory.  In other words, MLB messed this one up.  MLB should look long and hard in this latest situation about Alex Cora publicly stating that he wanted to hit Aaron Judge.

Pinstripes Nation writes:

Alex Cora basically admitted that Brayan Bello tried plunking Aaron Judge on purpose. He was asked if he considered yesterday's IBB/HBP fiasco closed:

"It was closed yesterday around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/x1z4iA0HfF

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 15, 2024

"Major League Baseball is reportedly investigating comments made by Red Sox manager Alex Cora that suggest his team intentionally targeted Aaron Judge with a pitch. As of Monday evening, the league had yet to reach a decision on the matter.

Cora hinted on Sunday that the Red Sox might have retaliated during Saturday’s game after Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole hit Rafael Devers with a pitch in the first inning and later intentionally walked him in the fourth. Cora, visibly upset, believed the walk indicated Cole’s earlier hit-by-pitch was no accident and stemmed from a desire to avoid Devers.

When asked about the situation on Sunday, Cora implied the matter was settled during the sixth inning of Saturday’s game, noting they had an opportunity but failed to take advantage of it."

Not ultimately MLB will protect Alex Cora. Crane was so far up Rob Manfred's butt back in the day there will be calls from fake folks saying "Well hitting guys in baseball, Rob.  Alex was doing what any manager would do."  But if Manfred had any balls he would look long and hard into the kind of person Alex Cora is.  He lacks character, professionalism and he's just a dick.  

While I don't think anything will happen to Alex Cora, I am a man of integrity, and I believe in common sense.  Something should be done, even if it's small.  The Red Sox have no shot this year, the Yankees do, and any baseball guy will tell you that if that ball hits Judge on the knee and he's out for the remainder of the season it would be a free for all among fans.  Thank God it didn't... but think about if it did.  My point is there is also an unspoken rule about tipping your imaginary cap to the teams that have had success and not playing dirty.  Alex Cora knows better, but Alex Cora is about himself.

A cheater is always a cheater.  Alex should be ashamed, but MLB should have nipped this in the bud a long time ago and didn't. Shame.

ASSTROS PLAYERS COULD BE PERFECT FIT IN THE BRONX SAYS SHERMAN

All fans have strong opinions, Yankee fans especially. That is no exception for me. I have some very strong opinions that I make no apologies for. We all disagree about ideas from time to time, but I really disagree with Joel Sherman this week.

In case you missed it, check out his post on the New York Post HERE. His title is fine, but after that he loses me. I think the Yankees and Yankee fans should root for the ASSTROS to keep losing. They are our rivals after all, so yes please keep losing. However, Sherman thinks we should want them to keep losing so the ASSTROS may be forced to become sellers at the deadline.

If they do become sellers, Sherman thinks Ryan Pressly and Alex Bregman would be perfect Yankee additions. I wouldn't mind Pressly in pinstripes, but Bregman is an absolute NO for me. Sherman's take is "Bregman, a terrific defender and low-strikeout hitter, would ideally step in at third for the Yankees with DJ LeMahieu going to second, first or the bench depending on the health and performance of him, Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo." The Yankees could use some infield upgrades, he's not wrong there.... he's just wrong about his choice.

We've had a lot to say about Bregman over the years, especially me. I hate the guy and I don't use that word lightly. He's a cheater and he fit in well with Jim Crane's circus. I value integrity and I live it every day. Bregman has none and he has proven that to the world. He doesn't deserve to be a Yankee or wear the uniform. The Yankees have always had high expectations and Bregman just doesn't meet them.

All teams want the best players possible to help them win, but players who disgrace the game don't fit that category. The Yankees should not be motivated to trade for the guy that cheated and then eliminated them. That's just insanity in my book. Bregman doesn't respect the game, why would he respect the Yankee expectations and traditions? He's just not worthy of the uniform.

I don't even think the ASSTROS will be sellers at this point AND anyone who is interested in Bregman will have a hefty price tag to pay because the ASSTROS will ask for the moon. BUT I will continue to root for the Yankees to win, and hopefully the ASSTROS don't. That won't change. I'm just not going to root for the ASSTROS to continue to lose so I can potentially trade for a low life cheater. 

Bregman is bad news, and he doesn't deserve to wear our uniform. He doesn't even deserve to play. Sherman's got some crazy ideas, and he can keep them.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

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

REGGIE GOES OFF & HE'S RIGHT

Just a few short days before the Rangers beat the Astros in the ALCS, it was Yankee legend Reggie Jackson blasting the Yankees on how they treat fan base and their legends who wore their pinstripes.  On MLB on FOX and talking with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, Reggie went ham and by that he expressed something that we fans think about all the time... the fact that unqualified managers like Aaron Boone are there, but veterans who actually have knowledge of baseball aren't brought in to help the team whenever possible.  I'm assuming he means the front office, because as we all know, Reggie is now with the Houston Astros working as an advisor for Jim Crane, the biggest cheater of them all.  

What Reggie said hit me between the eyes. And I stood up and applauded at my laptop.  He said the Yanks are unwilling to listen to the experienced guys, Jackson included, but he and others were never asked.

“I’d say the biggest difference between us, and really most other teams and especially with the Yankees… your voice isn’t heard,” Jackson said. “You didn’t participate. You know, I walked away because I wanted to be involved and leave my knowledge in the game. I certainly think that I know that Derek Jeter still loves the Yankees. Andy Pettitte still loves the Yankees. (Rodriguez) is still a Yankee and I’m still a Yankee, but we didn’t get a chance to be involved in some of the say-so in our opinions really didn’t get valued.”

This speaks volumes.  This my friends is exactly what fans are angry about.  You can look at a guy like Boone and defend him and suggest he's a scapegoat, but once again, it comes back to experience.  Sure, the Yanks brought in guys like Pettitte near the end of the season, but for me looking at that, they weren't bringing him in to "advise".  They brought him to be the Yankee fans "shiny thing".  Remember, the Yankees suck so anything to distract us fans was good enough for them. They just wanted us to shut up.

Experience matters.  Reggie is right. You know who else is? Me.  Bruce Bochy gut managed his Rangers to the World Series last night.  Analytics as his guide... gut and feel was his go-to.  That's how you win ball games. That's how you win championships.  

Will Bochy bring the Rangers to win the World Series? I would bet on it.  I can't say that if Boone was and that's the honest truth.

Make changes Hal! You have a failed franchise!

CLOWN CORA ADMITS BEING A CHEATER

 I hate liars.

Years after the 2017 season, Alex Cora admits to having involvement in the Asstros cheating scandal.  The fact that this guy still has a job in baseball is just a testament to how horrible loser Rob Manfred truly is.  Between this, the phantom second base runner and the pizza box bases, why doesn't he just put juggling clowns in the infield as obstacles too. He's a disgrace, and the fact that the MLB made a deal with Astros owner Jim Crane to not punish the entire Astros team severely will be the biggest black eye on the MLB... even worse than the Black Sox scandal... even worse than Pete Rose betting on baseball. 

But back to that loser Alex Cora. NJ.com writes:

"Evan Drellich’s book, “Winning Fixes Everything: How Baseball’s Brightest Minds Created Sports’ Biggest Mess,” was released on Tuesday.

It goes into detail about the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. In 2017, they illegally used electronic equipment on their way to winning the World Series. The Astros bench coach was Alex Cora, now the manager of the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Globe reports Cora was asked about the book Tuesday as the Red Sox opened spring training in Fort Myers, Fla.

“We’ve got to talk about it,” Cora said. “I don’t want to say they are used to it, you know, but I’ve been open with them about the whole situation and they understand that stuff like this is going to come out. We’ve just got to keep going forward. I made a big mistake in ‘17.”

I made a big mistake in '17.  But that's ok Alex... you get to still manage a top Major League club... cause Uncle Manfred will take care of it.

Pathetic.

THE ASTROS OWNER & FRONT OFFICE ARE BAD PEOPLE

You knew it would come out.  We all knew it was bad, but the MLB's slap on the wrist was just not enough.  People should have been fired, banned, removed forever!! But the relationship between Rob Manfred and Jim Crane was too much make the banning a real life thing, and so MLB and Manfred made a fairy tale about how they were wrong, but they will apologize and MLB will move on.  It was all bullshit, and we all knew it. But we the fans have no control over that. We will never stop going to games and never stop loving baseball, and MLB top brass knew that.  

So what happened? We the fans turned on the bad guys when we showed up to games and we will continue to humilate them all until the day they retire. Because that's all we can really do.  Correa. Altuve. Bregman. The others got their jobs back... Hinch, Cora, and even Carlos Beltran became a commentator on YES.  But none of them should have been back.  

Meanwhile, a dope named Jeff Lunhow was the only one who lost a job and still hasn't returned or even works. Why? Well, not because he did the garbage banging and came up with the scam and executed it himself, but because he erased evidence that pointed fingers in his own organization.  

Explain this to me? Explain how Lunhow loses everything and all these other assholes still work in the MLB? It's the wicked web of Jim Crane and Rob Manfred and their friendship... and it's absolute bullshit.

Mark Powell of Fansided writes:

"Jeff Luhnow, the general manager at the time who oversaw this entire mess, has yet to get another job in baseball.

Luhnow, it turns out, tried to warn those within the Astros organization of an impending investigation before the fact. Those close to Luhnow even suggest he deleted data from his own phone, and insinuated others to do the same...Seemingly every reminder and/or update to this cheating scandal makes matters worse. It's another layer and reminder that Houston knew exactly what they were doing, and continued to sweep it under the rug."

Jim Crane is a bad dude. Luhnow? Sure, he is too, but this just proves that even the owner was in on it, and cutting Lunhow loose and creating another narrative is the way to go and that's what Crane is trying to do. Don't know what I mean?

Remember when Cashman came out back in March (CBS Sports) saying:  "The only thing that stopped (us) was something that was so illegal and horrific. So I get offended when I start hearing we haven't been to the World Series since '09. Because I'm like, 'Well, I think we actually did it the right way.' Pulled it down, brought it back up. Drafted well, traded well, developed well, signed well. The only thing that derailed us was a cheating circumstance that threw us off."

He was ripping the Astros and it was amazing. Jim Crane shot back, from Bleacher Report): “I found his comments to be extremely strange,’’ Crane told USA Today's Bob Nightengale. “There’s the letter, and you were doing it, too. You were there dude. What are you talking about? If I was one of the teams, and I knew our team was doing it [cheating], I’d keep my mouth shut and just go about our business."

Crane sounds like a 5 year old. "I pulled his hair because he pulled mine!" Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Go in the corner, you dunce.

By the way, the letter?  CBS Sports writes:  "In that letter, it notes that the Yankees were fined for sign-stealing behavior from 2015-16, but also clears them from wrongdoing"

Whatever Crane.

What we know these days is damaging and guys like Crane should be punished. Mandfred and the MLB should reopen this investigation on the Luhnow phone stuff. It's bad. But they won't.

As long as we are in a MLB world of stupid rule changes and relationships to make more money for the commissioner and the baseball owners, us fans will continue to shout but not be heard.  It's terrible what's happened to the MLB, but what's worse is that this Astros front office found one guy to truly punish and destroy, while the rest of these assholes can continue to live their life. The punishment did not fit the crime.  It's shameful.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT REGGIE JACKSON'S SHOCKING NEW GIG?

Just a little bit of news to wrap your head around on this important off-day for the Yankees. The cheating ASSTROS are coming into town on Tuesday....and they are bringing one of OUR OWN with them.

Think back to February, we asked REGGIE JACKSON IS LEAVING THE YANKEES - BUT WHY?!  In February there were rumors that Reggie Jackson might be taking on a new gig with the cheating ASSTROS since he has a close relationship with owner Jim Crane. 

It was all speculation at the time, especially after Reggie said, "It's just time to step back. I want to be around the game and I want to contribute. I want to leave my knowledge but it's just time to move on." We really didn't know what that step back really meant but now we know WHY and a little more about what he is doing.

The ASSTROS have not formally announced this yet BUT we have confirmation HERE that Reggie is in fact, working for the Astros. It's pretty hard to ignore when Reggie shows up at Minute Maid Park last week for the Mariners-Astros game and said himself that "I’m happy to be here, it’s working well. I’m fitting in. All to make the ballclub better and at the same time we’re working on a lot of baseball fields and charity things that we can do together for the community."

But what exactly is he doing? His description of his new gig sounds VERY different from what he was doing for the Yankees. That doesn't sound like a special assistant role. Reggie's new role has nothing to do with the day-to-day operations or teaching players. In fact, according to the Houston Chronicle his new role will be focused on charity work.

I guess that is how Reggie is stepping back. It's hard to get upset about any charitable work, it's just hard to wrap your head around it when the team who hired you cheats. Jim Crane is trying to repair his teams image, I just wish he wasn't using Reggie to do it. This team is a PR nightmare so it can use all of the positive they can get.

The Astros will be in the Bronx for the first time since they were lightly slapped on the wrist by FAILING commissioner Rob Manfred for cheating. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season saved them from ridicule in Yankee territory but they can't run and hide anymore. We haven't forgotten what's happened and now the Yankees are going to remind them that there is no forgive and forget here.

Reggie's news is a big deal before this series with the ASSTROS. The timing couldn't be any better....but Yankee fans aren't fooled. We love Reggie, but his association with Astros won't repair the Astros cheating reputation. It also won't save them from what's about to happen.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

REGGIE JACKSON IS LEAVING THE YANKEES - BUT WHY?!

Shocking news over the weekend (well at least for me) but Reggie Jackson will no longer be a special assistant to the Yankees. I can't really wrap my head around this one, but I will have to figure out HOW to since it's true.

The New York Post broke the news HERE yesterday. I can't imagine Mr. October NOT working for the Yankees because he has been so important within the organization. It will be weird not having Reggie around during Spring Training especially. It just seems surreal.

I am confused as to WHY he's moving on though because some of his comments contradict others. At first, he made it sound like it was just time to retire and obviously he's earned that. "I would say I’ve stepped back a little bit, taken my retirement, really," Jackson said. "I just think it’s time." There is nothing wrong with moving on and finding new passions. He even said he would like to participate in Old-Timer's day if we are able to have one this year. I'd like to see that happen if this pandemic finally calms down.

But maybe he has a different idea about retirement? Or maybe, he just wants to retire from the Yankees. "It’s just time to step back. I want to be around the game, and I want to contribute. I want to leave my knowledge. But it’s just time to move on." He still wants to be around the game, so the New York Post mentions finding other opportunities closer to his home in California, and possibly working for Astros owner Jim Crane, whom he is friendly with.

And this is where I become violently ill. If Reggie wants to retire then I say "Happy retirement" because he deserves it. I just can't stand the idea of Yankee legend Reggie Jackson working for the cheating ASSTROS because he has befriended their cheating owner.

I really hope this is just a poor fluff piece and not an actual possibility because I couldn't stomach Reggie working for the ASSTROS. There are other west coast teams, even ones in California.....just please not the cheaters.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

THIS IS BIGGER THAN THE GOP & DEMOCRATS ARGUING...

Now we know... they're caught!

I can't stand Rob Manfred as Baseball Commissioner and I always knew that there was a quiet, handshake deal so the Astros could keep their title and so the world of baseball wouldn't become totally chaotic.  And now... that accusation is made and it appears that it could be true... let's see what the courts say. The accusation? It comes from a guy who was part of it and now a guy who is allowed to speak about it and is suing because of it.

USA Today writes:

"Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow filed a civil lawsuit Monday against his old team, alleging that Major League Baseball’s investigation into the sign-stealing scandal that cost him his job was a “negotiated resolution” between the league and Astros owner Jim Crane that ensured Luhnow would be fired and the team would retain its tainted 2017 World Series title."

Now look, Jeff Luhnow is a loser, we all know that. But as I've said since day one... so is Jim Crane who's just hoping to keep his handle on the Astros championship and of course Rob Manfred who's just hoping to keep his phony bologna job.  

Trust is this deal is outrageous and proves that we need to have a new investigation into this whole matter.  What's worse is if you're Jose Altuve... Carlos Correa... and you know you cheated and got caught and people who were in your front office were taking the heat and got fired like Jeff Luhnow... how are you not more silent in front of the camera? In other words, take your lumps, know you got off easy and shut up! Correa is the worst at that. He's pompous and just a total a-hole.

Loyalty is big in life. I think it's a major sticking point for myself.  Jeff Luhnow was doing what he was told and I get that. That's the loyalty part. But when something is said or done that is FALSE OR MORALLY WRONG... he really needed to stand up and have a little character and say "no, let's do this the right way." 

I equate it to this whole election BS right now.  I love a good debate... we have it here at BYB all the time, but stay loyal to the ones you know, even when they disagree. Disagreement is healthy, it's the nastiness that can sometimes follow that isn't. If you're loyal... if you can take a deep breath, that conversation can be had... and you still walk away unscathed.

Like in the case of Jeff Luhnow.  He was loyal. He shouldn't have been shown the door. He also knew something was going on and said nothing. I should take that back... maybe he did try and say something. Maybe, just maybe it was ignored. And maybe, just maybe Jim Crane knew Luhnow could be a problem and he was the guy who was axed so that deal would go through smoothly. Either way... loyalty sucks when  only 1 in that discussion forgets what's important... character... integrity.  

I have had friends for years. I have had colleague-friends for longer. Why? Because a solid foundation and honesty make for a productive and honest and fair collaboration.  That's the bottom line with me, with humanity and dammit I am sure that's what should have happened with Luhnow and Crane. But in the end, nothing was said by Luhnow most likely and loyalty from Crane went out the door and he axed Jeffrey knowing he could make a deal. 

Luhnow is a creep. He didn't do the right thing.  But this entire Astros organization needs to be gutted starting at the top. Jim Crane is a loser.  Strip the 2017 Astros title.  Fire Manfred... make changes to have checks and balances in Major League Baseball. This is disgusting.

And stand up for what's right... not your opinion... YOUR MORALS AND LOYALTY! There are plenty of people in this country that have strong opinions about a lot of stuff.  The presidency... votes... even whether or not to cheat in the game of baseball... with steroids... with high tech equipment like the Astros did.  

Here's an idea... explain why it's good... or bad... but have facts. And the person on the other end that has a different point of view? LISTEN TO THEM. Sure... if they're saying stuff that's not factual... is a lie, not true, challenge it. But if it's constructive... meet in the middle. Crane's greed got the best of him. He should have NEVER made a deal with Manfred.  He's more loyal to him than his own employees. Think about how damaging that is.

For me? The Astros have shown no character and now we know the truth.  Good for Luhnow for speaking up. He's still a loser, but now we know that bad behavior get's rewarded. That garbage? It can't stand.

How many times can I I hashtag #FireManfred and #FireCrane.  They are both pieces of garbage.  Where the hell is Joe Torre in all of this? I really want to know what he has to say.

THE VILLAINS OF AMERICA

Jim Crane is playing the victim with his horrendous, loser organization.  

Jim Crane needs to shut his fat whore mouth.

Jim Crane is part of the problem when it comes to the Astros cheating scandal. After all, he's top of the heap there. He had to be aware of what was going on... the garbage can banging, the cheating their way to a championship.  He should have been removed by the Astros board of directors. MLB should have forced him to sell when the corruption and findings came to light.  

But Jim Crane was given a gift by friend Rob Manfred. The gift was, 'fire your manager and GM to send a message, have your players apologize publicly and you can keep your team.'  And so at that point? Jim Crane needed to understand that was a cue for "Shut the fuck up"... plain and simple.

But he has a big mouth, and now it's being reported. The New York Post writes:

"Astros owner Jim Crane is pointing fingers.

Crane believes sign-stealing – and cheating in general – is present around the league, with the blame falling solely on the Astros.

'I think [MLB] had a bigger problem than everybody realized,’ Crane told USA Today. 'Two other teams [the Yankees and Red Sox] were doing things and got caught, but we’re the ones who took the bullet. That’s the way it works. I’m not trying to blame anyone else. It was our problem. We dealt with it.'"

But the Astros didn't deal with it, did they? They were handed a gift and that's the part of Crane's story that he doesn't reveal.  The Astros got off way too easy and the problem is this team is just too arrogant to understand it.  

You remember the smug, non-sincere apologies... you remember that that Asstros team just acted like they were the victim. Well... it's back again, and this time the owner, the one who is supposed to lead, is doing it. Pathetic.  Jim Crane is a coward.

There's a reason why the Astros opponents are throwing at their heads. There's a reason why this Astros team can't seem to do anything productive with their bats.  The Astros relied too much on manufactured signaling and lost all ability to think through counts on their own. They essentially reprogrammed themselves and now... they are lost... ALL OF THEM. It's a great payback... it really is.

But don't think for a second that the Astros took one for the team.  No. The Astros are the problem.  But the bigger problem is they weren't dealt with forcefully and quickly because of friend favors between Crane and Manfred.  In the end, Crane should be walking around with his tail between his legs. He's a moron... much like the rest of that worthless team.

THE BLACK MARKS OF BASEBALL & 2ND CHANCES: PART TWO

Remember when we used to talk about great baseball plays, thrilling come from behind wins and Yankee injuries? Yeah, me too. I long for the days that we talk about those again. I am hoping that comes back soon. I wonder when though, as I type this out I am listening to my state governor Doug Ducey extend our Stay at Home Order. It was supposed to expire today, April 30th. Instead, it is extended until May 15th. Guess I get to experience the same reaction that a bunch of my New York friends and family did weeks ago, huh?

Instead, I reminisce. It's a sign of the times, like I said earlier in THE BLACK MARKS OF BASEBALL & 2ND CHANCES: PART ONE. Alex Cora got the first look, I bet someone gives him a second chance, maybe even the Red Sox. You could give him a "maybe" on the likelihood scale, but there is another guy that I am "certain" gets another chance.

If one of these managers from cheating teams gets another chance I am betting money it would be A.J. Hinch. I think he has a lot more in his favor then Cora or Carlos Beltran does. He has a track record on his side, which any owner is going to look at and consider.

So Hinch did make a statement after Rob Manfred "punished" the Astros, and I believed his more than any other Astros player that made a statement. He claims he wasn't involved, and regardless of if he was more involved than he says, he has proven he can win....and not just a tainted World Series title.

Can a character flaw be forgiven if it results in wins? That's the real question here. Looking at it from an owner's perspective....if it makes them money, it is something to consider. It's all about the money for them, right? Jim Crane definitely made money when Hinch worked for him from 2015-2019. He managed 810 games during this time and won 481 games, which is a .594 Win-loss percentage. The Astros moved to the American League in 2013 at the bottom of their division and in 2015 Hinch turned the Astros around. They became competitive, and they gave the Yankees a few headaches in most recent years. That still says something.

We continue to think about the Hinch that apologized for not stepping in to stop the cheating, and the Hinch that destroyed two monitors in a desperate attempt to gain control. Oh and we can't forget when he denied the cheating allegations, either. That came back to bite him big time. Those are glaring issues....but at the end of the day, he proved he could manage a successful team before the cheating. An owner will look back at this and remember it, I am sure of it.

So will more people be willing to forgive a lapse in leadership compared to someone who had direct participation in a cheating scandal? I think so, which is why I think we will see him again.

This isn't about right or wrong....everyone who reads us KNOWS we have ripped the Astros from the very beginning. You know where we stand. But an owner on the other hand, will likely see just as many pros as cons to hiring Hinch in the future.

What do you think? Does an owner give Hinch a second chance? Stay tuned for the last black mark, I'm sure you can figure it out who it is by now.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

BOONE DISAPPOINTS IN LAME REACTION TO SOX PUNISHMENT

On Wednesday, the Red Sox received their penalty resulting from the investigation into their sign-stealing during the 2018 season. The punishment was nothing but a slap on the wrist, Rob Manfred explaining that what Boston did was not as bad as what the Houston Astros did in 2017.

After hearing of the punishment, Aaron Boone was asked if the punishment fit the crime.

"I don't know. Who knows exactly what went down," Boone told Meredith Marakovits of YES.. "I do trust that MLB thoroughly investigated and got to the bottom of things as best they can. And (I) feel like if that's what was come up with then so be it. It's time to move on, and I'm glad we're kind of through those situations."

Boone is ready to move on from all this drama, but should he? I mean, if you've read anything about all these cheating investigations its that Major League Baseball didn't do enough.

Bleeding Yankee Blue has been leading the charge with facts and information that just make everyone involved look like a bunch of turds. As fans, as baseball people you really need to fight for what's right here and Boone's response kind of sucks.

Deals should NOT have been made. Punishment of players SHOULD have happened. And while Boone wants to move on, his only reason is because there is literally nothing he or anyone else can do about it.

I mean, what are we gonna do at this point, get Congress involved and see a big dog and pony show like we did when McGwire and Sosa and Canseco were on Capitol Hill denying steroid use? If you remember, it did come out that they all used. What a joke.

It's ridiculous.

The bottom line is Manfred did everything wrong, he clearly didn't want to cross a powerful man like Jim Crane who owns the Asstros, and didn't want to look too deeply into the Red Sox situation because it would just cause too much of a headache for him and taint Major League baseball worse than it already is. Alex Cora is guilty, and only suspending him for the 2020 season makes no sense. Why?

I find it hard to comprehend how Cora’s punishment is that he can’t come back to baseball until after the 2020 season, yet no one is playing baseball. A real punishment would be ‘20 and ‘21. Or of course, banning him for life which is what should happen. #FireManfred #byb

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) April 23, 2020

Because baseball isn't happening yet in the 2020 season. So what is he really being punished for? Our BYB chief highlighted that on Twitter yesterday. I mean, what is Cora missing out on if there isn't anything going on?

And why the hell wouldn't MLB reprimand Steve Pearce for just being a bitch and attacking MLB calling the whole thing a joke? (Read HERE.) It's a pretty serious matter. Cheating like this damages the integrity of the game.  He probably needs to shut up.

But let me ask our readership... our BYB fans and freaks... is Boone right? Is it time to move on from all of this and focus on what is ahead?

Comment. Let us know.

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke