HEY HAL STEINBRENNER, WE HATE THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW!

The job of the trade deadline? Simple: upgrade the New York Yankees. And we needed starting pitching. So yeah—make the team better, fix glaring holes, stop the bleeding, do the thing where you act like a team that actually wants to win. But instead, what did Brian Cashman do? He showed up to the deadline with a pack of duct tape and a bottle of NyQuil. Relief pitchers. That’s what he brought. More middle relief, because apparently the Yankees are planning to bullpen their way to October golf.

And right on cue, Aaron Boone shuffled out with his usual glassy-eyed optimism and dropped this gem: “Devin Williams is still the closer.” Oh, great. Boone's the dumbest guy in the room every single time. That’s like saying the Titanic is still unsinkable after it’s hit the iceberg. Everyone watching this team knew exactly what Boone was feeding us—pure, uncut, grade-A B.S.

Let’s get real here: David Bednar is a legit closer. A weapon. A guy with ice in his veins and a fastball that makes grown men cry. He's born for the role and we all know this... and if you're going to trade him for that, use him for that! Then we have Luke Weaver. Despite the chaos in his resume, he's miles better than Devin “Changeup Over the Plate” Williams. So, when Boone said they’d “mix and match,” Yankee fans everywhere rolled their eyes.

And then came Monday night. Of course it went down the way it did. The Yankees blew the game, an 8-5 game Rangers win in extras. Shocker—Boone once again mismanaged the bullpen like he was drawing names out of a hat during a rain delay.

JOC IN A PINCH TIES IT! #AllForTX pic.twitter.com/s3cDe9RHJ0

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 5, 2025

Here’s what happened: Devin Williams took the mound in the ninth, trying to “lock it down.” Instead, he served up a batting practice changeup to Joc Pederson, who launched it 408 feet into the Arlington night. Tie game. Here we go. In the 10th, trade-deadline acquisition Jake Bird—who’s about as trustworthy as a broken umbrella—gave up a three-run nuke to Josh Jung. Ballgame. Loss number whatever. And it’s all avoidable if anyone in this dugout had a clue.

Aaron Boone is not a manager. He’s a vibes curator. He claps, he spits seeds, he looks surprised a lot. But managing? Not his thing. He’s a failed manager. Put it in context: Yankee fans don’t want wild cards, we want Division wins and a World Series Championship. We want parades. Aaron Boone has delivered none of that. Zero rings. Zero accountability. But you know who did win a title? Dave Martinez with the Nationals. And you know what happened when his team stunk this year? He got fired. Actions. Consequences. Novel concept.

But Boone? Still here. Still making the same bullpen mistakes he made in 2019. Yankee fans are stuck watching this horror movie on loop and nobody’s coming to change the channel.

This team is unwatchable. Directionless. There’s no urgency, no identity, no heart. If you’re a Yankee fan watching this right now, you’ve probably asked yourself the same question we all have: What is the damn point?

And here’s the kicker—Anthony Volpe is probably the happiest guy in the room right now. Why? Because nobody’s talking about the fact that he still doesn’t belong at shortstop. But don’t worry. Bleeding Yankee Blue didn’t forget. Volpe’s got hustle, sure, but a .218 average and punchless at-bats aren’t going to cut it in the Bronx. Not now. Not ever. I am watching.

Fans are begging for a shake-up. Somebody do something. This is the New York Yankees, not some sorry AL Central team just happy to be here. When the front office checks out and the manager becomes a walking motivational poster, what’s left?

And where the hell is Hal Steinbrenner?

He needs to speak. He needs to act. He needs to care. Because right now, Yankee fans are losing their minds watching the franchise they love sink into a pit of mediocrity while Cashman counts his job security and Boone draws smiley faces on the lineup card.

We’re furious. We’re exhausted. We HATE THIS TEAM. Not because we’re not fans—because we are. Because we know what this team should be. And this? This ain’t it. Fix it. Fire someone. Light a fire. Because if nothing changes… then what the hell are we even doing?

We are the Yankees. Start acting like it.

GETTING KYLE HENDRICK IS WORTH GOING OVER THE LUXURY TAX!

Gerrit Cole is undoubtedly the Yankees number one starter, but who is number two? That slot seems to virtually invisible based on the current roster. Masahiro Tanaka was that guy but with his days in the Bronx seemingly numbered, not sure I see number two in Corey Kluber, Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, or dare I say Domingo German. But I could see Chicago Cub Kyle Hendricks as that guy and that might be worth going over the luxury tax.

Source: Valley News

"He pitched in Game 7 of the World Series back in 2016, which the Cubs won. Across 175 games (174 starts), the right-hander owns a 3.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 133 ERA+. He doesn’t strike out a ton of batters, but he induces a lot soft contact (and ground balls), barely walks anyone, and is extremely efficient in regards to his pitch count in a majority of his outings," reported Fansided.

Hendricks is under contract with the Cubs through 2023 for $14 million a year and a $16 million vesting option for 2024. Trading for him makes sense and he could potentially "co-ace" the rotation with Cole, given his success with the Cubs, particularly in the post season. And Hendricks offers consistency, experience and perhaps a little bit of a Mike Mussina kind of quality. 

Source: Orange County Register

What would the Yankees give up for him? Likely Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar would be in the mix, opening up the need for the Yankees to sign another free agent or trade for a stellar outfielder.  I have had my eye on Joc Pederson who is currently without a home, now a free agent from the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

"Theoretically, there should be plenty of interest in Pederson, given that the Steamer projections have him as a 20-top outfielder in wRC+ (118) and top 30 in WAR (2.4) next season. Pederson may not be a star, but he can be a solid contributor on a good team," reports MLB.com.

Source: The New York Post

Pederson would not be a good fit for center field but he could certainly fill in for Aaron Judge in right and certainly platoon in left with Brett Gardner. His left-handed bat would be a welcome addition to the Bronx as the Yankees currently are weak on pure left-handed hitters. And perhaps Pederson has been overlooked with big name players George Springer, Michael Brantley and Marcell Ozuna being at the top of team's lists.

So, it would be in the Yankees best interest to pursue Hendricks however, they would have to give up some great players in return plus go over the luxury tax. All of this would be worth it if the Yankees get the pitching they need to keep opponents from over taxing the Yankee offense and the expectations of hitting always bailing out bad pitching. Maybe guys like Judge and Giancarlo Stanton could actually stay healthy and the Yankees could be more balanced team with Kendricks in the rotation. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

JOC PEDERSON TO THE BRONX? BRING IT!

Love this nugget about Joc Pederson and the need for the Yankees to try and snag him in Free Agency.  That's because, let's face it... we could use him, and there's more than one reason why he'd be valuable in the Bronx.

Thomas Carannante writes:

"The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger has delivered on the big stage in the NLCS and World Series this year and has been a member of the NL powerhouse since 2014. Pederson is a lefty and New York badly needs that in their lineup. This would take some roster tinkering (Pederson is an outfielder and we already have plenty of those), but it could be worth it.

The short porch in right field, though it complements many left-handed hitters, just feels like it’ll be an unmatchable advantage for the veteran....

And what about his postseason prowess? It’s considerable. For his career, he’s slashing .272/.345/.503 with 25 runs scored, nine home runs and 20 RBI in 63 games, largely as a part-time player. Remember, he’s a platoon guy for the Dodgers and manages to produce despite limited plate appearances. That’s exactly what the Yankees need."

And guess what? I absolutely love the thinking here.  If we learned anything this season with the Yankees... it's that we can't go deep into a post season, we need a lefty bat that's reliable and we don't have pitching. We do however know how to hit dingers and play a little small ball.  

And so, adding this lefty bat in the lineup with guys like DJ LeMahieu (hopefully we sign him long term), Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton would made our club powerful in the offense part. If we can add one top starter that secures our pitching and then? Then we win the World Series in 2021.

Anyway... just spit-balling here, but no doubt, I love this idea. LOVE IT!  

Nice work Carannante! Making people think!

BIG NEWS FOR BYB FRIENDS, THE BELLINGERS!

Just a quick note to pass along in this last full week of April baseball....because you can never have enough good news, right?

Photo: USA Today Sports / Picture of Cody Bellinger

Early in 2016 I was fortunate enough to meet Clay Bellinger. We talked about his time with the Yankees and his life now as a firefighter in the town I live in, you can read that in BYB's EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CLAY BELLINGER.

I could tell how much he really enjoyed his time with the Yankees but the part that he loved talking about the most was definitely his son Cody Bellinger. Last year Cody was working his way quickly through the Dodger's minor league system, and now Cody has finally been called up and Clay is definitely a proud dad!

Cody is considered to be the Dodger's top prospect and future first baseman, but his versatility, talent and experience in the outfield makes him an even bigger reason why he is so important to the Dodgers. Right now the Dodgers have a lot of holes in their outfield to fill. Center fielder Joc Pederson is on the disabled list with a strained right groin and left fielder Franklin Gutierrez is on the DL with a left hamstring strain. Infielder Logan Forsythe is also sidelined by a broken right big toe....and that opens the door for Cody.

After a brief interview with Fox Sports HERE, it sounds like Cody was surprised to get the call but we aren't. Cody has progressed quickly through the system thanks to his hard work and recognizing his own areas of improvement, like changing his swing that Clay talked to us about last year. The season is till young but he has a .343BA with five home runs, four doubles, 15 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 18 games at Triple-A this year. He is also among the Pacific Coast League leaders in several offensive categories. Numbers like those are how you get a quick call up

Once the Dodgers get some of their regulars healthy again they are likely to send Cody back down....but I bet money he will be back up again this season. We did text message Clay Bellinger Tuesday night assuming the proud dad had to be in San Francisco for his son's big debut and sure enough, we got a text back thanking us and shortly after MLB Network had a quick story on Cody and we spotted the Bellinger family in the stands. What a cool moment!

Bellinger may not be a Yankee, but he and his whole family are now part of the BYB family and if you read us regularly you know how important that is to us. This isn't just a blog about baseball, it is much bigger than that. It's cool witnessing people that you meet in life achieve big things. So a big congratulations goes out to Cody and the Bellinger family! We look forward to watching you continue to do big things.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

CUBS FRENZY IS KEEPING ME SANE!

Wow.  The history.  The excellence.  The bucket list. The World Series.  The unlikely duo who will take us out of MLB 2016 and into the off season is the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. What an incredible October!  And throughout what I am calling the Cubs Frenzy in Cubdom, I am remaining sane.  Usually this time of year, I feel sad about the Yankees not making it to the playoffs but this year, I am with the Cubs fans because its been 71 years since the Cubs got to the Series and 108 years since they won.  This is the perfect setting to an incredible World Series.

The climate for this historic night was so electric that in the second inning a random firework went off somewhere in the distance causing Joc Pederson to stand frozen at home plate.  This isn't Hollywood's The Natural exploding lights somewhere in the heavens.  No this isn't heaven, either.   It's real time, it's real life and the Chicago Cubs are headed to the World Series.

And to make my evening even better, I have muted Joe Buck and taken on Dan Schulman and Aaron Boone on ESPN Radio.  What a sigh of relief.  Unbiased, clearly articulated post season baseball, finally.  I am not alone, actually.  The Chicago Tribune published an article on Friday entitled, "Why are Cubs fans hating on Joe Buck?" 

Besides the fact that Cubs fans hate the way Buck gushes all over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers (who exited Game 6 very early by the way), this quote came about half way through the article sent to the reporter by a fan, "Playoff tickets $400. Parking $100. Ballpark food $38.75. Not having to listen to Joe Buck: priceless." Bahahahaha...Oh yea and there is now an official #DeportJoeBuck movement among Cubs fans on Twitter.  So, whether it's my new radio companions, or whether it was Angels in the Outfield that caused Andrew Toles to drop the ball in the first inning or just that it's the Cubs time to shine, it's the Cubs Frenzy that is keeping me sane.

As the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday evening just before first pitch, "Fans descended on the ballpark in waves, by "L" and yellow shuttle buses, riding Divvy bikes, and spilling out of ride shares and taxis. They pushed toddlers in strollers and walked their dogs, dressing both in Cubs regalia. Hundreds of Chicago police officers looked on."

Then if you could imagine what it would be like outside of Stan's Sports Bar at the mouth of Yankee Stadium on a night like this, "The line to get into the bars adjacent to the ballpark snaked down the block hours before the game started. Vendors on the streets hawked "Ain't Afraid of No Goat" T-shirts for $25 and a fan wore a "#WaitTilThisYear" shirt. Another vendor, willing to tempt fate, proclaimed that he was selling "World Series water."  Yes, it's the Cubs Frenzy that is keeping me sane.

I can't commit to watching a new television series or streaming past episodes on DVR, On Demand or on Netflix. I have to be with the Cubs, lead by the two-punch knock out of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, to the finish, with the first game of the series to commence on Tuesday, October 25th, my always faithful baseball assistant mother's 74th birthday.  She proudly acknowledged this event in baseball history with this comment to me, "World Series for my Birthday? That's awesome."  

Could this get any sweeter?  Sure, the Cubs could beat Cleveland in the Series and end their 108 year championship drought. But that's it.  This postseason has been incredible and if you didn't know it, it is the Cub Frenzy that is keeping me sane.  Maybe you can relate but if not, only 117 days until pitchers and catchers.  Let's Go Cubs! #GOAT

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

HOMETOWN HERO WINS HOME RUN DERBY

Honestly, I absolutely love the All Star Break! It turns me into a 5 year old on Christmas morning. I love watching the talent from all over the MLB. And the Home Run Derby always makes me super excited.

The rules have changed a little this season. It's now a head to head, single elimination game. Each contestant gets 5 minutes to swing for the fences. Then for two homers hit 420+ feet, they get an extra minute, and for one homer hit 475+ feet, they get an extra thirty seconds. Here's a picture for those of you who are visual.

This years Derby featured some incredible bats, including two time champ Prince Fielder. Personally, I thought Fielder had it in the bag. I was so very wrong. Josh Donaldson, Albert Pujols, Manny Machado, Joc Pederson, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Todd Frazier also participated.

The first round went to Donaldson, Pederson, Pujols and Frazier. The most exciting first round was the match up between Fielder and Frazier. Like I said, my money was on Fielder. He came out strong, and hit an impressive 13 homers. Frazier proved that 13 was not enough, with an equally impressive 14 homers. Pederson also had an impressive first round, hitting 13 homers in 3 minutes.

Pederson would again give an impressive show in the semi-finals beating Pujols, 12 homer runs to 11. He went on to face Frazier in the finals, where he hit 14 homers. Incredibly, 14 was not enough to get Pederson the win. Frazier, this years ASG Hometown Hero, managed to hit 15 insane home runs.

I didn't really enjoy this years rule change. I know it's meant to keep the derby from going all night. However, Fielder and Machado who had 13 and 12 homers in the first round respectively, both out hit Pujols and Donaldson who only hit 9 and 10 homers in their match ups. The fact that they out hit Pujols and Donaldson, and were still eliminated from the semi's seems rather absurd. The best performing hitters should have moved forward. Of course, the MLB will probably make another change to the rule next season. The MLB is always looking for ways to bring in an audience.

Frazier did an incredible job. It was a well earned Home Run Derby win. For it to happen in his home field was great for the fans. Congrats, Frazier. From little leaguer on the field with Captain Derek Jeter, to Home Run King.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

  


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