A YANKEE SEE-SAW, BUT WE GOT THE WIN!

We win, we lose, we win. That's our Yankees.

The Yankees are down to their final seven regular-season games, and the finish line comes on Sunday, September 28. Six of those games will be in the Bronx—a closing homestand that screams “season finale” vibes against the White Sox (Sept. 23–25) and Orioles (Sept. 26–28).

As for tonight? Giancarlo Stanton went full Marvel superhero, belting career homer No. 450 in a 6-1 win over Baltimore. Only four legends—Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez, and Harmon Killebrew—ever had more homers through their first 1,719 games. Stanton also leads all active players in career blasts, which feels like a polite way of saying: “he’s still terrifying.”

The playoff picture? The Yankees’ magic number is down to five, and thanks to the Blue Jays losing to the Royals, Toronto’s division lead shrunk to two games. That crown is still up for grabs.

On the mound, Carlos Rodón looked the part of an ace, breezing into the seventh on 87 pitches and nudging his ERA down to 3.04. He’s heating up at exactly the right time. And yes, even Anthony Volpe chipped in tonight. Sure, he’s still hitting .207, but hey, baby steps.

With Stanton flexing, Rodón cruising, and a six-game Bronx sendoff on deck, the Yankees suddenly look like a team that could snatch the AL East title. 

Shocking, I know—but don’t blink.

THE COBRA IS DEAD

Dave Parker—“The Cobra”—wasn’t just a baseball player. He was a movement in motion. One of the most electrifying and intimidating outfielders the game has ever seen, Parker passed away Saturday at the age of 74, following a long, brave fight with Parkinson’s disease.

And while his death is deeply sad, there’s no ignoring the sheer impact he left behind.

Let’s talk greatness. The man was the 1978 National League MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a two-time World Series champion—first with the Pirates in 1979 and then with the A’s a decade later in 1989. He won back-to-back NL batting titles, had three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and was the MVP of the ’79 All-Star Game. Oh, and he also won the very first MLB Home Run Derby in 1985. Just for fun.

He finished his career with 2,712 hits, 339 home runs, and 1,493 RBIs. He batted .290 over 19 seasons, from 1973 to 1991. Those aren’t just Hall of Fame numbers—those are the stats of a cornerstone. A franchise player. A guy pitchers feared and teammates admired.

And yet, Dave Parker’s legacy isn’t just about numbers. It’s about presence. Parker was cool. Parker was powerful. Parker was the kind of player who looked like he could bench press the dugout and still outrun your center fielder. He had a cannon for an arm, a swing that cracked like thunder, and a confidence that didn’t ask for your permission.

He was the heart and soul of the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates. And in Oakland, he became a mentor to young sluggers like Mark McGwire and José Canseco. His influence went beyond what showed up in the box score.

But we can’t talk about Parker without acknowledging the darker chapters. In 1985, he was named in the Pittsburgh drug trials—a sweeping scandal that pulled back the curtain on widespread cocaine use in Major League Baseball. Parker, along with several other players, admitted to drug use and was among those initially suspended. The suspensions were ultimately lifted in exchange for community service, drug testing, and fines. It was a black mark—but one that speaks to a larger moment in baseball’s history, not just an individual failing.

And here's the thing: people make mistakes. Athletes are human. Parker owned his missteps and kept moving forward. That, too, is part of the story. Like Pete Rose, Parker showed us that greatness can be complicated—and that flawed doesn’t mean forgotten.

Personally, I’ll always remember Dave Parker as a Pirate, because that’s where he roared the loudest. But he meant something everywhere he went. He played with passion. He played with fire. And when he was at his best, no one—and I mean no one—played the game harder.

Rest in peace, Cobra. The game was better because you played it.

PETE ROSE IS ELIGIBLE, BUT WILL THE WRITERS DO THE RIGHT THING?

The first ballplayer I ever saw live was Pete Rose. Lexington, Kentucky, mid-1970s. I was just a kid, but even then, I knew I was watching something special — the guy was a machine. Not a “launch angle” or “exit velocity” machine like today’s stat-sheet nerds. The dude was full-throttle, headfirst-sliding, never-met-a-fastball-he-didn’t-like hit machine. And he just kept going.

To me, that mattered more than anything else. Not the headlines. Not the scandals. Not the whispers and bans. Just a guy who played like the game owed him nothing, and he was going to outwork it anyway.

So, when people wring their hands over what Pete did off the field — the gambling, the ban, the puritanical pearl-clutching — I’ve always thought: Who cares? Not me. Play hard, play honest between the lines — that’s baseball. The rest is just noise.

But then, irony rears its roided-out head. You’ve got the steroid-era guys — Bonds, Clemens, McGwire — who, yes, juiced to hit harder, throw faster, recover quicker… you know, for the actual game. The part we judge them on for the Hall of Fame and the MLB let them play. In fact, they were in on it because baseball was dying after the 1994 strike and we needed baseball back, after all. But yet, the writers hold a moral ground, and they get iced out. The same moral guardians of the Hall let Harold Baines stroll in — a solid player, sure, but let’s not pretend he was a generational talent — while holding back titans of the sport because they broke the "unwritten rules."

Here's the kicker: MLB never even banned those steroid guys. But the BBWAA blackballed them anyway. The writers have taken it upon themselves to be the ethical gatekeepers of the game, when maybe they should just be the historians. Because whether we like it or not, history happened.

And now, we’ve got this strange, sad, cosmic joke. Rob Manfred, in his infinite PR-savvy wisdom, finally removes Pete Rose from the permanently ineligible list — but only after Pete dies. Dead men, it turns out, no longer threaten the "integrity of the game."

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote. "Permanent ineligibility ends upon death." What a gesture. So meaningful. So… late.

Look, I’m grateful Pete is eligible now. That’s the right call. But it should’ve come while he could still appreciate it. The punishment was decades old. As far as I could see, he did his time. So, what did we get from Manfred? We got a delayed half-apology masquerading as a policy update.

Now it’s up to the writers. Again. They hold the pen, and the power, and maybe — just maybe — the conscience to finally do what’s right. Let Pete in. Let Shoeless Joe in. Both are eligible now. And while we're at it, let the steroid-era guys be considered on merit, not morality. They played the game. They broke records. They defined eras. That’s the job.

Stop pretending the Hall of Fame is a shrine to virtue. It’s not. It never was. It’s a museum of greatness — flawed, complicated, brilliant greatness. And no one embodied that better than Pete Rose.

So thanks, Pete. For playing your guts out. For being the first player I ever saw. For being the greatest I ever saw. They might’ve buried your legacy under bureaucracy and self-righteousness, but now, maybe, they’ll finally let it breathe.

Manfred got it technically right. But he missed the moment. The human moment. Again.

WHEN WILL THE HALL OF FAME WRITERS STOP THEIR MORAL JUDGEMENT?

Alex Rodriguez has shown significant growth since retiring from baseball, and his maturity was on full display as he extended heartfelt congratulations to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees this week. While his graciousness is admirable, it’s hard to ignore that he’s likely feeling some disappointment over not being considered for the Hall of Fame himself. After all, Rodriguez is undoubtedly one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. However, his connection to performance-enhancing drugs has cast a long shadow over his career, and it’s evident that sportswriters are reluctant to honor athletes tied to scandals or controversy.

Rodriguez’s career stats speak for themselves: three AL MVP awards, 696 home runs, 3,115 hits, 14 All-Star Game appearances, and a 2009 World Series championship with the Yankees. Yet, despite these achievements, he remains on the outside looking in, even as he appeared on the ballot for the fourth consecutive year. His predicament isn’t unique, as history shows that Hall of Fame voters consistently penalize players linked to performance-enhancing drugs or other ethical concerns.

Take Mark McGwire, for instance. Despite his record-breaking home run season and an illustrious career, McGwire has not been elected to the Hall of Fame due to his admitted steroid use. Similarly, Roger Clemens—who dominated as one of the best pitchers in MLB history—fell short of the 75% vote threshold in his final year of eligibility in 2022, earning just 65.2% of the vote. This trend reveals a clear pattern: past transgressions, whether proven or suspected, continue to hold players back from baseball’s highest honor. 

And it’s not just players from the steroid era who face scrutiny. Even Carlos Beltrán, whose involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal tarnished his reputation, has found himself under the Hall of Fame microscope. Terry Collins, former Mets manager, recently spoke out about the situation, calling Beltrán’s treatment unfair. Collins pointed out that plenty of Hall of Famers likely benefited from knowing what pitches were coming, yet Beltrán seems to be bearing the brunt of the blame as one of the few players associated with the Astros scandal. Collins stated, “He wasn’t even a starting player, so it’s not like he gained much from what was happening.”

The broader question remains: when will this end? How long will Hall of Fame voters continue to blacklist players from the steroid era or those caught in controversial moments? At what point does the selective moral outrage stop? It’s worth questioning why certain players—such as Harold Baines, whose inclusion in the Hall sparked debate—are inducted while others with far more impressive resumes are excluded.  Think about it; even Jered Weaver tweaked this after Ichiro got in:

"1 writer said no on Ichiro?  another example of why Hall of Famers should vote on it and not writers"

He's not wrong. Why should these writers hold any power?

Barry Bonds, for example, is arguably the greatest hitter the sport has ever seen. Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and even Pete Rose—all legendary players in their own right—remain outside the Hall due to scandals or suspicions, despite their undeniable impact on the game. Isn’t it time for voters, many of whom have never played baseball at the professional level, to reconsider their stance?

The Hall of Fame is meant to honor the greatest players in the history of baseball, yet it feels increasingly like a battleground for moral judgment. If the goal is to preserve the integrity of the game, perhaps it’s time to reflect on whether this rigid gatekeeping is achieving that—or simply rewriting history.

THE NEW YORK YANKEES CLINCH!

So, the Yankees have won the division.  Amazing.  

It's been a long road for a team I really like.  But I've been poisoned by this manager that just doesn't deserve to be there.  It's a me thing, not a Yankee team thing.  I sincerely cannot stand Aaron Boone, I feel like he's the dumbest guy in the room and when it comes to character for me, I cannot stand when a team in any profession carries a figurehead and they really didn't lead anything.  And again, that's a me problem. I take that stuff seriously.  Brought up in a hardworking middle-class family it comes down to earning your keep and common sense.  And that guy hasn't done a God damn thing.  And so yea, am I torn? It's one of those things where you want the Yankees to win, but you don't want THAT GUY to.  

That being said, the Yanks are in, they won the division.  And now the real season is about to begin.  They have one more series against the Pirates and then things fall into place.  Last night was a rout against the Orioles.

The New York Post writes:

"The road back to the top of the division took much longer, following last year’s abysmal fourth-place finish that was billed as a “disaster” by Brian Cashman, but the Yankees officially climbed all the way back to the top of the AL East with a 10-1 win over the Orioles on Thursday night in The Bronx."

And Judges quote is priceless: 

"This team was hungry. It goes back to not making the playoffs last year. That was just enough fuel for this team to go out and say hey, we gotta make some changes, we gotta do better.”

This is a true leader, folks. This is a guy that has 58 homers and with his superhuman strength, it is not out of the question that he goes on a rampage potentially tying his homerun record for a single season. It will be hard, but I believe in this guy.  But he's not thinking about that, he's thinking about team first. How do you NOT love this guy.  

ESPN writes:

"Next week, the attention turns to ending the franchise's 15-year championship drought with World Series title No. 28.

"You can't take this for granted at all," Stanton said. "It's expected, for sure, but times like last year, they happen, so you got to appreciate it. We're here now, enjoy it, you never know if you ever get a chance again, so you got to go."

You can't take none of this for granted.  Baseball is hard work in itself, and so when you see players like our Yankees go out there and dominate, you really have to give the credit to them.  It's 162 game season, and they need to be on every game, it's hard.   If you get there, like the Yankees just did with the division, you can NEVER take it for granted.  

I leave you with this, ESPN again:

"Aaron Judge padded the lead in the seventh inning with his 58th home run of the year, a two-run moonshot that carried into the Orioles' bullpen beyond the left-center field wall.

With it, Judge became the fourth player in major league history with at least 58 home runs in a season twice, joining Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa...

"I didn't realize that," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when informed of Judge's streak. "That's the take it for granted part."

And this is why Aaron Boone may be the dumbest guy in the room.  NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. It's a life lesson.  Shows who this guy is.

Go Yanks! You deserve it! Keep climbing, keep fighting and go get 28.

MCGWIRE BACKS AARON JUDGE FOR THE YANKEES HOME RUN RECORD & BEYOND

It's not exactly a glowing endorsement. I mean Mark McGwire was a cheater... why should we care what he has to say, right? Well... he actually makes alot of sense here, and it's provocative, and that's why I'm sharing it with you all. In the end, Big Mac believes that Judge is on the right path to break Maris's home run record, but thinks he could even go further.

Clutch Points writes:

"McGwire stated that he believes that Judge would break Maris’ record this season, which isn’t exactly bold. But what is bold is that McGwire also predicts that Judge will be able to surpass Bonds’ number in the future, and he thinks that his desire to achieve that historic feat could influence which team he signs with in free agency this offseason.

“He’s definitely going to break Maris’ Yankee record, but I truly believe he’ll break Barry’s record, too. I think he’ll finish with at least 65 home runs this year, and then position himself to hit, get to 73 to 74 in the next five to eight years. I really believe he’ll have that opportunity. He’s going to get close to it, and say, ‘Where can I bunch in nine more homers?’ God willing that he stays healthy, he’s going to do that, too.’’

Now look, as a Yankee fan, my biggest wish is that the Yankees can turn their season around and win the whole damn thing this year. I think that would be great for New York.  At the same time, I want Judge to break Maris's home run record because it shares baseball history with a whole new generation of baseball fans. But Judge's record is not the priority... and even he will tell you that.

Look... after Maris, the whole home run record was tainted anyway. I don't consider McQwire, Sosa or Bonds as true home run leaders. I know the record books say otherwise, but as far as I'm concerned it's Maris.  But to wipe that whole steroids scandal clean and to show a clean record... I would love to see Judge break Bond's tainted record one day.  It would be good for baseball and great for the New York Yankees as we move forward in history.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

ROGER MARIS JR. & THE HOME RUN RECORD

Records are made to be broken. But when guys who make records die, and the steroid era comes barreling in full steam and breaks records, you really have to think about what the hell's going on here.

Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, one more than Babe Ruth. It was a stressful, exciting and crazy year for Mr. Maris who received threats and ripping because of the fact that at the time Babe Ruth was sacred in sports. But he did it because his abilities let him.

I have never felt as though that single season home run record was ever broken since Maris did it, meaning to me, Maris still holds the record. I'm probably the only one, but when you talk about steroids in the same conversation, it's clear that hitting the ball further is definitely part of the equation. 

In 1998, Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs, and Sammy Sosa hit 66. At the time, everyone knew what was going on. Even Roger Maris Jr. But do you think for a second he was going to expose that when the mic was in his face about his father's record and legacy? The guy was too classy. He was quiet. These days however he is talking. Why, because since the record was tainted by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the record was broken again by Bonds with 73. At this point is was a ridiculous circus.

Now, with some seperation between that Bond record and the arrival of Aaron Judge, perhaps the record can be revisited with a legit New York Yankee who does it clean.

The Spun writes:

"Aaron Judge is currently on track to hit 63 home runs this year. If he manages to maintain this incredible pace, he'll break the New York Yankees' record for the most homers in a single season...

Earlier this week, Roger Maris Jr. spoke about his father's record. Believe it or not, he would be "very happy" if Judge breaks the record.

“You don’t want to see anyone get it, but I’d be very happy if Judge did do it,’’ Maris told the New York Post. “Dad always said records are meant to be broken. You don’t want to see Dad’s record go, but if it happened, I can’t think of a better guy to do it. He’s a great Yankee. To do it in New York, how cool would that be? "

For me, I'm not sure Judge can do it, but I hope he does. There are so many variables and situations that can knock him off the pace. Judge would have to be near perfect. Yes, I hope he does, but it's unclear right now.

I do love that Maris Jr. spoke out. I have always appreciated Roger Maris. I loved him as a Yankee. I think his story is wild and he in my opinion never got the true recognition of being a solid Yankee as he should. 

Anyway... I love this story, and yes, ultimately I hope it happens for Judge, for Jr and for the Yankees.

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

REFLECTING ON JUDGE'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD

I'm thankful for a lot of things. As a Yankee fan, I am thankful for Aaron Judge. When Judge won Rookie of the Year, I was pretty happy and I've been thinking about it since.

“I'm still a work in progress; there's a lot of things I need to improve on...”

Those are the words of a guy who just put together a pretty incredible Rookie season.Those are the words of Aaron Judge. If you've read my stuff in the past, you know the soft spot I have for this kid. The reason why is demonstrated in this MLB.com piece:

(Jim McIsaac/Getty)

"The gentle giant from tiny Linden, Calif., claimed the Big Apple as his own, shattering Mark McGwire's rookie record by belting an AL-leading 52 home runs. In 155 games, Judge compiled a .284/.422/.627 slash line, leading the AL in runs (128) and walks (127) while ranking second in RBIs (114), on-base percentage (.422) and slugging percentage (.627). "

I mean think about that. Are you kidding me? How many kids in today's game would have a year like that and still realize that they have areas they need to improve on?

Kathy Willens/AP

Even if they did, how many would have the humility to put it out there to the national media? Aaron Judge has found his home in right field in the Bronx and I believe he will be roaming it wearing pinstripes for quite some time. Will we as fans have to learn to deal with the strikeouts? Absolutely. But it looks to me like he is trying to do something to correct what needs be corrected. Judge joined Ted Williams (1939) as the only player to tally at least 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 100 walks in his rookie season. 

If you love dreamers... if you love new life in the Bronx... embrace Judge.  He's the whole package, folks.

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

JUDGE MANIA DOWN UNDER!

Photo: Newsday

I have to share this because the truth is I've been talking with Joey Moses since the day I met him and his old man Charles at Shula's steakhouse in New York City many years ago now.  Shula's restaurant is no longer there. Our friendship is.  The point is, we are pals, and I love the Moses family.

Now we all know that Aaron Judge is the poster boy for PlayStation 4's... The Show '18. But if you don't... here's that news item from a Playstation blog. That's right... give them some love:

"To add to his already massive resume, Judge has hit 52 home runs as a rookie, breaking legendary Mark McGwire’s MLB rookie record of 49; and also hit 33 home runs at Yankee Stadium, breaking the record of 32 set by legend Babe Ruth in 1921. This rookie is the living, breathing example of Road to the Show – create a player with massive stats and trek on to becoming a legend – which is why we are proud to announce him as the cover athlete for The Show 18."

Well...

I just got this note from Joey Moses... in Australia:

"It seems our boy has made the cover. Getting my copy as soon as it’s released. "

Damn I love technology.  Yes Joey, I'll be snagging my copy soon too.

50 & THE INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY OF AARON JUDGE

"Judge is back, Dad! Big time!"

--My 15 year old

Photo: Getty Images

My son said that on Saturday, a few days before he hit number 50.  The truth is my son's been watching Judge all season.  The hot streaks, the struggles, and some would suggest he's analyzing Aaron Judge and internalizing his own journey in youth baseball. For years it was never easy for him in a "Daddy Baseball" mentality.  But he stayed patient, he never quit working and through it all, he emerged as one of the better hitters in our area, and he was recognized for it, and that makes me kind of proud.  Hard work and determination was a huge part of that. But he also learned disappointment, much failure, being picked on by peers and all of that, but he did learn one truly valuable lesson... "one game at the time."  These days, he feels pretty good, but it took a lot of learning to get there.

Now he watches Aaron Judge and while my son is not a home run hitter at all, he recognizes the pitches coming in to Aaron's wheelhouse and how Judge went from not being able to lay off the outside pitch to waiting on it, recognizing the ball coming out the pitchers hand, and re-adjusting.  Judge did it.  So did my own kid.  And watching my boy totally absorbed in a rookie like Judge makes me very happy.

Photo: Getty Images

Aaron Judge hit 2 yesterday.  Number 49 and 50.  Sports Illustrated has the story:

"Since the calendar turned to September, it's been another story. Judge's home run on September 3 against the Red Sox, his 38th of the year, ended a season-high 15-game drought. He's hit 12 since then, including seven in his last six games, capped by back-to-back two-homer games against the Blue Jays on Sunday and the Royals on Monday. In Monday’s third inning, he tied McGwire's record with a 389-footer to right centerfield off Jakob Junis, and then in the seventh, he broke it via a 408-footer to left center off Trevor Cahill. For the month, he’s now hitting .307/.444/.893 with 13 homers and 26 RBIs."

Photo: Getty Images

What makes all of this sweeter is that the Yankees are playing so well.  But the story of Aaron Judge is one of folklore in a lot of ways. It's almost not believable. His journey has been amazing to watch, and for my son, Aaron Judge has a new fan, big time.  In the end, even if the Yankees don't succeed this season and win it all, Aaron Judge has inspired a fan base, and that my friends brings a big goofy smile to my face.

Congrats to Aaron, you deserve everything positive coming your way, kid.  Thanks for inspiring.


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AROD WILL NOT BE A 1ST BALLOT HALL OF FAMER

It's almost Hall of Fame voting season, one of my favorite times of the year. I will admit that it started out with a big dud last week on the announcement that Bud Selig was elected to the Hall by the Veteran's committee, but that is neither here nor there. People have started talking about which players they think will get in this year, which ones will not but get in later, and so on. It's really great stuff. As a member of the IBWAA (Internet Baseball Writers Association of America), I get to vote on our own Hall of Fame inductees, which adds to my excitement.

I read an article by IBWAA Director Howard Cole for Forbes which not only got my attention, it got a reaction out of me: Why Alex Rodriguez Is A First-Ballot Hall Of Famer. I have been following Howard for a while now. He is a really great writer and this is a great piece. Nevertheless, I cannot fathom how this will ever happen. The basic premise of the article is that public opinion on accused steroid users is trending positive and that by 2022 people will judge Alex Rodriguez based on his numbers and not on the PED controversy that surrounded him for most of his career.

If opinions change that much, Alex has a good chance. You cannot argue with the numbers. His career slash line of .295/.380/.550 is amazing. He led the league in home runs five times, fourth all-time in career home runs (696), AL MVP 3 times (with three more times finishing second or third), season OPS over 1.000 six times, two Gold Gloves, 16th all-time in career WAR (117.7), 20th all-time in hits (3115), 8th all-time in runs scored (2021), 3rd all-time in RBI's (2026, only Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron are ahead of him), and on and on and on. Like I said, you cannot argue with the numbers.

The thing is, I doubt very much that the controversy will disappear that dramatically. Or that quickly. You can easily make the argument that his numbers are inflated based on his use of PEDs. That will make any voter at least think twice. Furthermore, I do not see the trend to vote for players associated with PED gaining that many votes. Roger Clemens is on his 5th ballot, and his number have moved from 37.6% to 45.2%. Barry Bonds' numbers moved from 36.2% to 44.3%. Mark McGwire has never gotten 25% in his 10 ballot appearances. These were the biggest stars of their generation, and none of them show signs of skyrocketing to the requisite 75% for admission to the Hall.

From my perspective, it's kind of sad really. Alex was a great athlete and a great player. Personally, I think he could have put up Hall of Fame numbers without the PEDs. Not only was he that good, he was that smart of a player. If you watched him covering the playoffs, you know how well he understands the game. If he does get into the Hall, it will be because his charm and warm personality coming across on TV will increase his likability and the likelihood that people will overlook his missteps. But that won't happen on his first go-round.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

GARY SANCHEZ IS 'DAMN YANKEE'

I can't help but make a connection to our very own catcher phenom Gary Sanchez and fictional character Joe Hardy, the protagonist of the iconic musical Damn Yankees.  I mean, the resemblance of Sanchez's early successes in the field and at the plate are just incredibly complimentary to Hardy.  According to the story's plot, after losing year after year and game after game to the New York Yankees, middle-aged Joe Hardy trades his soul to the devil for an opportunity to become the Senators' next phenom and leads his team to the World Series. "Joe proves the spark plug necessary to send the team flying at full speed for victory after victory," according to TheatreHistory.com.  Could it be that Gary "Joe Hardy" Sanchez is leading our team to the post season?  Well, his numbers certainly provide the much needed numbers for a Damn Yankees sequel.

In case you missed it, we are up two in a series with the Baltimore Orioles.  Alright, I know it's not Washington but close enough given the proximity and their rivalry in the American League East.  We beat the birds with 27 scored runs over the last two games.  Sanchez hit two home runs, knocked in five RBIs with eight at bats.  It's absolutely incredible and he is making a believer out of us, who may have left this 2016 Yankee for dead until Sanchez's ascendance to the Bronx.

"I don't have an explanation for it," Sanchez said, through an interpreter. "I'm doing the same routine that I was doing in the Minor Leagues, I'm doing it here. I'm getting really good results right now. That's it," reported ESPN's Bryan Hoch after Saturday's game.  In addition, this nugget may impress you even more.  "Sanchez's 11 home runs in August are the most hit in a month by a Major League rookie since the Brewers' Ryan Braun also hit 11 homers in July 2007. They're the most by an American League rookie since Mark McGwire hit 15 for the Athletics in May 1987," according to the same ESPN report.

Now Joe Hardy's story didn't end well, so I don't want to make any further comparisons.  But seeing Sanchez's streak of success really made me feel like this is all surreal.  Truthfully speaking everyone thought the Yankees' chances of making the playoffs were unrealistic for this year, hence the fire sale earlier this month at the trade deadline.  But interestingly enough, we are still in it.  Lesson learned, never underestimate a team like the Yankees...ever!  There is this history and soul in the Yankees like no other team in baseball.  So whether Joe Hardy's ghost found his way into Gary Sanchez or the Yankees are just proving that they are always a team to be reckoned with, it's exciting to see things play out.  All things told, we are headed for a wild September.

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