ARE THE YANKEES LYING ABOUT CAM SCHLITTLER'S INJURY?

I'm trying not to think the worst here, but we are talking about the Yankees here. Something doesn't feel right about Cam Schlittler's ailment. First, it was minor back inflammation but now there's also lat discomfort. I have alarm bells going off....and I REALLY want my skepticism to be wrong.

The Yankees have a horrible track record when it comes to diagnosing and treating injuries, Aaron Judge with his fractured rib and partially collapsed lung always be the example that sticks out for me. The Yankees say they aren't worried about Schlittler, read more HERE but Aaron Boone gives his words of encouragement which only makes it worse for me.

"I expect him to be good (for the start of the season) now," Boone said. "I don't think he'll be at 80-90 pitches yet, but short of that....I think he'll two ups, 30-something (pitches) in four days and then fall into his five days. And then that next one will probably be in the game, three (innings) and 40 (pitches) or whatever."

That sounds like a load of Baboonie crap to me because it's very unconvincing. Lat discomfort is tough, and it is very rarely minor. I'm thinking back to Luis Severino back in 2019 and 2023, that was a big blow. What about Clarke Schmidt? He missed time from May to September 2024 with a partial tear. These injuries are not ones you bounce back quickly from. They are very slow to heal and if you try to rush back before they properly heal setbacks are common, especially if players don't understand the cause of that injury and don't make adjustments. This is what concerns me the most.

Last year was a heavy workload for a rookie that throws hard. I love that he can throw a fastball up to 98 mph and it fooled a lot of batters last year. While he was wowing all of us on the mound, he also pitched himself to a career high of 146 innings pitched between the big league stage and down in the minors. That's a lot for a hard throwing rookie pitcher. It's also hard if he didn't rest it enough over the winter. Call it a rookie mistake.

But it could be a costly rookie mistake. I don't know if the Yankees have done enough testing on this. Even if they have....could they honestly identify any bigger problems like a tear? Our medical staff is a joke. The Yankees already have enough to deal with pitching wise. We are already starting the season without Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole, we can't afford to lose anymore pitching.

It's early in spring....but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to be following this storyline like a hawk. I just hope the Yankees aren't lying to us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SEVERINO & THE A'S ARE ON THE OUTS - COULD HE BE ON THE MOVE?

We just saw Luis Severino pitch in the Bronx for the first time since he left after the 2023 season. It must be weird pitching in Yankee stadium again after he bragged about how much easier it was to pitch in Queens then in the Bronx. Orange and Blue agreed with him, enough to establish himself as a viable starter again and cash in with the A's.

It's not such a happy homecoming for Sevy though. He followed the money and cashed in on a three-year, $67 million contract with the A's. It was a splash the A's have never made before....and one they felt they needed to make. It's hard to attract talent when you are the A's and average more than 100 losses in your last three seasons. Now add that the A's don't have a major league stadium to play in right now and that just went from really hard to nearly impossible to attract players. Sevy took the bait, he took the money the A's were offering because no one else was.

And now he is unhappy, read more HERE. Sevy wants a REAL stadium to pitch in.
"We don't have that at home right now. It's not the same. It's not the same atmosphere. We don't have a lot of fans. Our clubhouse is in left field. So, when we play day games, we have to just be in the sun. There's no air conditioning there, too. It's really tough."

Welcome to playing in Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Sevy. Aside from the fact that there are no MLB caliber amenities to offer, even when the A's played in the Coliseum, they didn't have a lot of fans, either. It's not like people were showing up in droves to see the A's play even bigger name teams. You get paid big money to play in a minor league park. You ignored the situation at hand for the money. 

So now the A's front office is unhappy that Sevy is talking about how unhappy he is. They are ready to trade him, but that won't be easy. Sevy could be one of the most attractive starters available, so while that should work in his favor it might not be that easy.

This trade deadline could look a lot different. With an expanded playoff format there are many teams that are not buried in the standings and can still fight their way into possible playoff berth. This means a lack of teams in "sell off" mode. Not good if you are looking to buy, but this could be a great reason for the A's to try and cash in and sell.

There's just one problem. Sevy's road and home splits are night and day. He flourishes on the road, before Sunday's game he had a 2.27 ERA, but a 6.79 ERA at home....and no wins. Very different story. Would a team take Sevy in hopes to help his splits better and make a run into the postseason? Maybe, but paying him upwards of $57 million left on his deal is another story. And to make it more interesting, as much as the A's front office wants to trade him, it might cause more problems than solve. Shedding Sevy's contract would risk potential grievances from MLB Players Association, read more HERE. It is estimated "The A's could receive $70MM or more in revenue sharing after drawing the worst attendance figures in baseball last year, which would mean the club needs to reach a player payroll of $105MM or more for luxury tax purposes in 2025 in order to avoid risking a grievance." The A's need to add payroll to avoid grievances, not reduce. 

So if this grievance wasn't a real possibility, Sevy might be on the move. But it's more likely that Sevy and the A's are stuck with each other....so they better make the best of it. Severino has not held back, everyone knows he is unhappy about pitching at a minor league stadium. Unfortunately, that was an issue he was well aware of when he agreed to terms with the A's who won't have a major league stadium for a couple more years. He chose the money. Now he's gotta deal with it. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

GIO URSHELA'S STILL GOT IT

The Oakland Athletics are keeping the offseason interesting, and the latest chapter involves none other than Gio Urshela! Now, I’ll admit, I had this wild scenario in the back of my mind where the Yankees swooped in, gave Gio a spot at third, and shifted Jazz Chisholm over to second base. Hey, it could’ve worked, right? But alas, Gio is off to Oakland, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier for the guy.

Last season, Gio posted 104 hits, 9 home runs, a .250 batting average, and 52 RBIs while splitting time with the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers. He’s that steady veteran you can count on—a guy who doesn’t strike out much and is always looking to put the ball in play. Sure, he’s not exactly a power-hitter, but his glove at third? That’s where he really shines. Gio is a defensive wizard, and the A’s are lucky to get him in their infield.

Plus, Gio isn’t flying solo in Oakland. He’ll be reunited with former Yankee teammates Miguel Andujar and Luis Severino, which feels like a bit of a reunion tour. I’ve always been a fan of Gio—he’s just one of those guys who quietly goes about his business, does his job, and gets it done without all the drama. So, while I’m still daydreaming about a Yankees-Gio reunion, I’m thrilled he’s got a fresh start in Oakland.

Wishing Gio all the best with the A’s! You’ve earned it, my dude.

THE YANKEES & RED SOX ABOUT TO FIGHT FOR MAX FRIED

As you know, Max Fried’s time in Atlanta is looking as over as a fried chicken sandwich at lunchtime. Braves fans, brace yourselves—your ace is packing his bags, and his next stop is likely in a city where $200 million contracts flow like sweet tea in the South.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports put it bluntly:

“They haven’t thrown a pitch in more than two months, but their stocks have soared thanks to the contracts given to pitchers whose resumes pale in comparison. When Matthew Boyd receives a 2-year, $29 million contract without throwing more than 79 innings since 2019, when Luis Severino is getting $67 million over three years and Blake Snell is making an average annual salary of $36.4 million, Burnes and Fried should top $200 million.”

Translation? Fried is about to get paid. Like, Scrooge McDuck diving into a vault paid. And why not? His resume is pure gold. Over 168 appearances (151 starts), he’s put up a dazzling 3.07 ERA, a tidy 1.16 WHIP, and racked up 863 strikeouts. Toss in two All-Star nods, three Gold Gloves, and a couple of Cy Young votes—one as the 2022 runner-up—and you’ve got a pitcher who’s not just good. He’s elite.

The Braves? Well, they’re not the Yankees or Red Sox when it comes to free-agent spending sprees. And let’s face it, Fried’s not sticking around for pocket change and a nice thank-you note. Nightengale didn’t hold back here, either:

“Fried priced himself out of Atlanta, but is expected to sign with the Yankees or Red Sox. If Soto goes to the Mets, Fried could find himself in a nice bidding war between the Red Sox and Yankees.”

Bidding war? You better believe it. The Yankees reportedly had a Zoom call with Fried that went “very well.” Translation: they’re already envisioning Fried carving up lineups in pinstripes. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have been hot on his trail from the jump, ready to throw Fenway-sized money at the lefty ace.

For Braves fans, this is a gut punch. Losing Fried stings. But Atlanta’s hands are tied here. Thanks to an offseason market that saw guys like Luis Severino and Blake Snell cash in big, Fried’s price tag rocketed into another stratosphere—one the Braves can’t afford.

Now, if it were up to me (and let’s pretend it is), I’d love to see the Yankees pivot to Corbin Burnes. Why not Burnes, you ask? He’s every bit as good as Fried and would add a Milwaukee-style kick to that rotation. But hey, what do I know? I’m just here for the drama.

For now, all eyes are on Fried and where he’ll land. Yankees or Red Sox? Either way, Braves fans will be watching through their fingers, wishing they could hold onto their ace just a little longer. Meanwhile, Fried is about to dive into a pile of cash that would make even his curveball jealous. Stay tuned.

SEVERINO HEADS TO CALI

Hold onto your hats, folks—Luis Severino is heading to the West Coast, and the Oakland Athletics are picking up the tab! That’s right, the A’s—the A’s—have signed Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal.  But wait, there’s more: the deal includes an opt-out after 2026, because why not give Severino the ability to bail once he’s back to being an ace? It’s not like the A’s have commitment issues or anything.

Ah, Severino. Remember 2017 and 2018? Those were the days—back-to-back All-Star appearances, a blazing fastball, and a swagger that screamed “future Cy Young winner.” He was the guy you wanted on the mound when everything was on the line. Yankee fans wore his jersey with pride, imagining years of dominance ahead.

Then came the injuries. First, it was a lat strain in 2019. Then came Tommy John surgery in 2020, and by the time 2021 rolled around, Severino was practically living on the IL. He made a modest comeback in 2022 but stumbled through 2023 with the Mets on a one-year, $13 million “show us you’re not broken” deal. Spoiler: he kind of looked broken.

And what did the Yankees do? Did they roll the dice on the guy who once electrified their rotation? Nope! They packed his bags, called him an Uber, and probably threw in a fruit basket for good measure. I always felt like the Yanks gave up on Severino too soon.  He did OK with the Mets, and now he's headed west.  The A’s, fresh off a relocation to Sacramento, decided they needed a headliner for their new rotation. So, they did something completely out of character: they spent money. Real money.

Let’s not mince words here: $67 million for Severino is a flex, especially for a franchise that usually treats “free agent spending” like it’s a dirty phrase. This is the same team that probably still has vending machines that only take nickels.

But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. The A’s needed to make a splash, and Severino, injury history and all, is considered a big one to them, I think. The opt-out after 2026? That’s just the cherry on top of this gamble sundae.

For Severino, this is a fresh start. The A’s are hoping he’ll return to form and lead their rotation into their Sacramento era. For Severino, it’s a chance to show the Yankees and maybe the Mets (alittle) that he’s still got it.

And for us Yankee fans... me especially? Well, they’ll have a front-row seat to watch Severino prove giving him up too soon wrong.

So, here’s to Luis Severino: the Yankees’ former ace, the Mets’ temporary project, and now the Athletics’ $67 million bet. If he returns to glory, don’t say I didn’t warn you, Yankees fans.

I SAW THE LINEUP FOR YANKEES VS. METS GAME & I GAVE UP

Can someone share how the heck these lineups come to be? I was discouraged once I got the lineup alert to my phone. Jahmai Jones leading off, JD Davis batting cleanup what in the actual...? Yeah, I saw the lineup for the Yankees-Mets Series and I gave up.

"In the last month, the Yankees have too often been a top-heavy mess. Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo particularly cratered and the first and fourth spots in the order now feel like a reality show with anybody capable of landing in those slots. In the Subway Series opener Tuesday night, it was Jahmai Jones and J.D. Davis, who you might have forgotten were even on the roster," reported The New York Post. I certainly forgot about them. 

Source: Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

But everyone knows who is leading this team: Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Even former Yankee Luis Severino jabbed at his former team by calling the Yankees "a two man team." According to the Post, "The Yankees pretty much must find a righty complement for Verdugo (.196 batting average .556 OPS versus lefties) whether it is Jasson Dominguez or comes from the outside. This is just another area Gleyber Torres (.208 vs. lefties) and DJ LeMahieu (.118) were hurting the Yankees." 

The Yankees will need to be at the table for the trade deadline which is quickly approaching. The Series against Tampa was the best of times, worst of times kind of series. Sure they split but it was so lopsided. And it revealed so many glaring holes in the Yankees lineup. So as much as I hated the starting lineup in Tuesday's bout against the Mets, I see the desperation, which is equally concerning.

"We dominated most of the first half, so I don't think this is only about one or two players," Soto said. "It takes every single guy in the lineup and our relievers in the bullpen and everything, so I think it's not only a two-player team. I think it's a really good team right now," reported ESPN. 

It is a weird part of the season we are experiencing right now. A time of uncertainty and a time for revisions. The Yankees are in the midst of both. If they can find a way to win in New York before they leave for Boston and then to a series against the best in baseball Phillies, they may have the fuel they need to withstand some tough games ahead. But hitters better hit, because the lineup on Tuesday looks like surrender to me. 

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

TORRES: "ANYONE WITH A GOOD FAMILY DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE HIS HOME."

With the Yankees continuing to pick up depth and build up their infield by exposing some top prospects to big league ball this spring, the question again is will Gleyber Torres be a Yankees after 2024? I have not seen much of Torres this spring as the Yankees test out other players in games. He did get one hit against the Minnesota Twins earlier this week but really that is it. Torres enters his final season before free agency this year. Is this his final season in pinstripes?

"I don't want to leave," the 27-year-old infielder said Wednesday. "I want to be a Yankee for life," Torres said. "Torres has a one-year, $14.2 million contract and is eligible for free agency after the World Series. There have not been any discussions about a long-term deal, and he understands why the team might be reluctant after two notable players who underperformed: Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks," reported ESPN.

Torres knows that business is business and he remains motivated to play well and hope it is good enough for the Yankees to pay his asking price when the clock tolls especially since phenom Juan Soto will also have a big price tag following this season.

Source: Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

 “I think a lot of people on the outside don't know what it’s like playing here (for Yankees)," Torres said to Rojas. "I've been here since the minors and playing here has been incredible. Anyone with a good family doesn't want to leave his home, it's literally like that," reports Enrique Rojas for ESPN. 

I really admire that statement by Torres. Torres has had a home in New York since the Yankees obtained the then 20-year-old in a 2016 trade with the Chicago Cubs for closer Aroldis Chapman. And the weight of the pinstripes are heavy. Not everyone can hack it. But he has, despite having tough defensive bouts over the years. His offense and persistence has kept him in the lineup. Last season Torres despite the Yankees offensive lows, the Yankees second baseman played in 158 games and hit 25 home runs, drove in 68 runs, and slashed .273/.347/.453. Can he have another standout season?

"I think he's highly motivated," Boone said. "I think we saw a more mature approach last year that lends itself to more consistency at the plate. Now it's about putting it all together," reported ESPN.

Hey, I am rooting for Gleyber. I appreciate his sentiment and good work ethic he demonstrates both on and off the field. But also, I am rooting for the Yankees to have a strong season. If he can contribute the way he did last year, stay healthy and be a leader in the clubhouse, the Yankees could give him his pay day. But again, remember there is Soto who has had a terrific start to his spring. Anything can happen.

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

SORRY SEVERINO, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON!

It's the end of a journey for Yankees fans. The early years of Luis Severino were exciting to watch but those times faded fast, and the last few years have been hard to watch. It's all come to an end, and sadly it needed to happen.

I'm glad Severino's days in pinstripes are over. I'm not trying to be mean but, I couldn't watch it anymore. He's headed to that other New York team now, and I do wish him well. I want to see him succeed when he isn't pitching against us. In a strange way, I feel like the Yankees are finally going in the right direction when it comes to the starting rotation. The Yankees are finally showing that they are looking for stability in the rotation by moving on. It's progression. Or a weird addition by subtraction if you will. Honestly, the same can be said for Domingo German. It's time to move on.

What comes next, no one knows especially since Brian Cashman is washed up and fails too often with his reclamation projects. At least now there are new possibilities on the horizon, and I am not mad at that. The Yankees have been on the same path of failure for a while now so the idea of "new" anything right now doesn't bother me.....may the baseball gods help us and not let Cashman screw it up again.

I have no problems watching Steve Cohen spend money on Severino. At the end of the day, $13 million is a drop in the bucket for him and I hope Severino succeeds. I'd like to see him prove me wrong, but I just don't see Severino as a starter anymore. His mechanics don't bode well for a long or productive future as a starter. Matt Blake tried to fix that, and he couldn't. I can't say I have any sort of faith in Blake at all, because I think he contributed to Severino's failure. I don't know how Severino comes back from that now, and in the end, Cohen is spending a nice chunk of change to try and make a miracle happen. I'll eat my words if I am wrong, but I don't think I am.

So Sevy....thanks for 2017 and 2018. I think the Yankees mishandled you and now you get a fresh start and hopefully we do too. See you in the Subway Series and Sayonara!  

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SEVERINO GONZO!

And just like that, Luis Severino as a New York Yankee is history. I'll miss the guy!

The New York Post writes:

"Luis Severino isn’t going far in free agency. The former Yankees right-hander is signing a one-year, $13 million deal with the Mets..."

I wish the guy well. I always liked him in Yankee pinstripes.  

Good luck Sevy!

THE OTHER MATSUI

While we all know that the Yankee bullpen was pretty good last year, it would only make sense that the Yankees look at the places to fix that don't really need fixing. I mean think about this for a moment, the starting rotation besides Gerrit Cole and the occasional good performance by Michael King was really all they had.  Carlos Rodon laid an egg, Luis Severino was a rollercoaster and Nestor Cortes was forever hurt.  We had nothing. Oh, yeah... that's right we got rid of Jordan Montgomery, a big lefty, because we needed a big lefty in Rodon.  How'd that work out Cashman? You're a fool.

So now, with the bullpen pretty much solid and dominant in the Major Leagues, why not make it better... cause, you know, there aren't other areas that need fixing, right?

Word is the Yanks may have interest in Japanese closer, Yuki Matsui. Inside the Pinstripes writes:

"If the Yankees were to land Matsui this offseason, he likely would help the bullpen immediately. The 27-year-old has played 10 professional seasons for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball League and has a career 2.43 ERA in 517 games played. Matsui has racked up 236 saves so far in his career and would be an intriguing piece to add to an already sturdy New York bullpen.

Matsui has compiled an ERA above 2.00 just once over the last five seasons and impressed in 2023 with a minuscule 1.57 ERA in 59 outings along with 39 saves."

Let me also state 2 things; Matsui is intrigued by an MLB move, but we don't know if it's something he will pursue. The other thing is the idea that the Yankees will go full throttle to pursue this guy is very, very premature.  But knowing Cashman's track record with "new shiny things" and picking wrong, I would not put it past him and this Yankee front office. They literally have no idea what's going on and what our needs are.

THE YANKEES NEVER LEARN, DO THEY?

In an unusual story by Empire Sports Media (and many others), there's an idea out there that the same player that lied to them about his health, and the same player the Yankees brought over to the team without truly doing a real physical of any kind, might be considered a player that could return to the Yankees in 2024 when the season's over in 2023. I'm not kidding.  That's right, slug Frankie Montas may still have a career with the Yankees... it's something the Yanks are mulling over according to reports.

Read this:

"There’s a compelling case to be made that the Yankees could benefit from re-signing either Severino or Montas to a budget-friendly, one-year contract. While letting Severino test free agency could offer him a much-needed change of scenery, the Yankees might be looking to salvage any lingering value in Frankie Montas....

Montas recently began a rehab assignment and made quite an impression, surrendering just one earned run and one hit over an inning while striking out two batters. He was efficient, needing only 17 pitches and landing 10 strikes. If Montas can string together a few more promising rehab performances, the Yankees might be willing to offer him a cost-effective extension to bolster the tail end of their rotation."

What happened to integrity, Mr. Cashman? What happened to holding grudges when guys lie about their abilities? Montas is trash.  Look, you want to re-sign Luis Severino to one year, a home-grown guy who just had a bad season, I can see that. Milk him for everything he's got. I can't see bending over and offering Montas anything.

But we will see what happens.  Look, the Yankees will need a 5th starter at this point.  A one-year deal is all it would be... that's a handful of starts.  The Yankees are big when it comes to trying to find lightning in a bottle.  Why they are choosing the Montas bottle is beyond me, but let's see what happens next.  Ultimately, I feel like it would be a huge mistake.

THE YANKEES HAVE THEIR EYE ON THIS STARTING STUD PITCHER THAT EVERYONE WANTS!

The Yankees better start thinking about next season, because the Yankees have some big holes and not a lot of top end talent available. Hal Steinbrenner has promised to take a "deep dive" and really study how the Yankees operate. IF he plans to use new resources to spend money, he won't have the cream of the crop to choose from.

The Yankees have been awful offensively for a long time. They definitely need to balance out their lineup and that means adding some left-handed hitters in the lineup for sure. That has to get done for sure but.... what about the pitching?

The Yankees have at least two starters they need to replace. The writing is on the wall, Luis Severino isn't coming back and neither is Domingo German. It's time to move on but there isn't a lot of great free agents out there, assuming Hal wants to trust Brian Cashman to just throw more money into a free agent and hope it magically fixes the problem.

Every team is going to be checking in on Shohei Ohtani, regardless of the fact that he won't be pitching in 2024. The Yankees will check in because we check in on every big-name free agent, but I feel confident saying Ohtani will not be wearing pinstripes. That is the motherload of all longshots. It's out there.... he doesn't want to play for the Yankees, and he prefers to stay on the west coast. Mark this off the list.

So who is available? The other names on the list aren't super exciting, check it out HERE. Some of the biggest names out there are Blake Snell, Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray. Let's just cross Gray off the list (been there done that) and I'm not excited about Snell. Nola has finished top five in Cy Young voting twice in his career, so that top end starter potential the Yankees need is there. He was a big reason why the Phillies were able to make it to the World Series, and he could be an instant upgrade to our rotation. 2023 hasn't been a great season for him, but he is still a workhorse and should get plenty of attention this winter. The Yankees will check in on Nola too but....is this it?

No, there's another option. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the new Japanese superstar that is on every MLB team's radar right now. The Orix Buffaloes will reportedly post their ace this off-season, and several teams are getting ready to pounce, read more HERE. There's a lot to like about Yamamoto's resume: 

"He was Japan’s Pacific League MVP in 2021 with a 1.39 ERA, including 206 strikeouts in 193.2 innings. In 2022, Yamamoto lowered his ERA to 1.65. And this year, his ERA is down to a ridiculous 1.26 as of last week, while averaging a strikeout an inning."

He could be the game changer in the rotation that the Yankees are looking for. Sure, the Yankees signed Carlos Rodon last winter thinking he would fill that role, but he hasn't yet. Maybe Yamamoto can and maybe he will. Oh and, considering that Cashman and advisor Omar Manaya flew to Japan to watch him pitch a no-hitter on September 9th, the Yankees may decide the other free agents are Plan B and go all in on Yamamoto.

Will the Yankees take another splash on a Japanese pitcher? Maybe, and maybe their success with Masahiro Tanaka could help steer Yamamoto to wear pinstripes. I hope that could be an advantage, but the Red Sox are also interested, and they have their own Japanese success stories to brag about.

I don't know what the Yankees are going to do.... but the Yankees need pitching depth and Yamamoto looks pretty enticing. Now the challenge is, can the Yankees persuade him to land here after this disastrous season? That's a real and scary question.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE 2023 YANKEES ARE SIMPLY CURSED!

Seriously. Michael Kay just said if the Yankees can pull out a victory in the second of two games against the Red Sox, the Yankees will be tied for last place in the AL East. Is that what we are striving for these days? Not being last? It is that bad. We have reached rock bottom. We just need to cruise into the October and move on. There is nothing else to do because the 2023 Yankees are simply cursed.

As a friend shared with me in text message Tuesday afternoon, "It is not safe to wear a New York uniform." And I know he was referring to more than just the Yankees. Just in the last couple of days, The New York Football Giants got blanked 40-0 on national television by the Dallas Cowboys, The New York Jets quarterback and future hall of famer Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in less than five minutes into Monday's game against the Buffalo Bills and we lost our favorite Martian, Jasson Dominguez to a UCL tear, requiring season ending surgery. The phrase "out for the season" is likely the most common phrase used to describe the New York Yankees this year. 

In fact, the Yankees lost 4 impact players to season-ending injuries in a week. Guys like Luis Severino, and Jonathan Loaisiga just joined the IL and are listed as out for the season status, but they are part of a laundry list of players who won't see beyond the dugout until next spring. You can see the entire roster of Yankee IL players here. 

Aaron Boone sounded off his frustration with the latest injury to Loaisiga who has chronically visited the IL over the last several seasons. “Every season has been interrupted,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the Red Sox in Game 1 of their doubleheader. “When he’s going well, it’s as good as there is because he’s efficient, he’s got great stuff, he can get both handed out, he can go one-plus [innings] for you, he can fill any role, whether it’s closing out a game or in the biggest spots. When he’s going good, I don’t know if there’s much better in the league, frankly. But his seasons have been interrupted pretty much every year,” reported NJ.com.

But if not him, you can go down the laundry list of IL offenders and get more and more frustrated. Are the Yankees actually made of glass? It seems like when you hustle you pay dearly as we saw with Aaron Judge in the early part of the season. Then there are those who visit the IL every season consistently, quite frankly Anthony Rizzo is an offender there as well. 

I have to say, this season, above all of the others has been the worst for the Yankees. Unless something changes with their strength and conditioning, or whatever is causing this curse, the Yankees are doomed. You can blame the front office for many things, but injuries fall on bad luck, not being fit enough to sustain innings across a long season, athletes overextending themselves, poor conditioning, we can keep going. An athlete's body sustains a lot of impact night after night on the field, flight after flight, and many sleeps in different places and spaces. Unless there is good recovery protocols and opportunities to maintain healthy routines, injuries are more prone to happen. Seems fixable, but why isn't the team listening?

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