'DAWG' SCHLITTLER GIVES YANKEES WHAT THEY NEED IN SOX SWEEP

The Yankees are cooking right now, and the one-two punch of Max Fried and Cam Schlittler has me doing a double take every time I look at the box score. Something has clearly clicked with this pitching staff. You can feel it. The confidence, the execution, the “good luck hitting that” energy—it’s all there.

Now, before anyone starts planning the parade down the Canyon of Heroes, let me be clear: it’s April. I’m not getting carried away. I am Robert Casey of Bleeding Yankee Blue. I will get you happy and then burst your birthday balloon right in front of you. I'm a realist. Baseball has a funny way of humbling you the second you start getting comfortable. But at the same time… you’d have to be blind not to see that something real is happening here.

And then there’s Schlittler—an absolute menace on the mound. The guy is a straight-up dawg. I mean, seriously, a 1.77 ERA? That’s not just good, that’s borderline ridiculous. And the wild part? He’s dealing with garbage off the field—death threats aimed at him and his family—and still going out there and shoving like it’s just another day. That’s not just talent, that’s toughness. Also, let’s get something straight: threatening players over a game is beyond stupid. It’s baseball. Get a grip.

Anyway, back to the part that actually makes sense—the Yankees are winning games. They’re 16–9, sitting on top of the American League, and just took another one from the last-place Boston Red Sox in their own building. And it wasn’t even a masterpiece offensively. The bats took their sweet time waking up. They had the bases loaded in the fourth and came away with nothing—strikeouts from Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham, plus a harmless popup from Randal Grichuk. That’s usually the kind of inning that comes back to haunt you.

But not this team. Not right now.

They found a way anyway, because that’s what this team seems to do when things are clicking—they win the games they probably shouldn’t, or at least right now. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t explosive, but it was enough. And “enough” has been more than enough lately.

Look, I’m still keeping one foot on the ground. I’ve seen too many seasons go sideways to start declaring anything in April. But I’m also not going to pretend this isn’t fun. The last three games? Yeah, they’ve put a smile on my face.

Let’s see how long they can keep this thing rolling.

 

YANKEES SWEPT BY THE RAYS & IT'S BOONE'S FAULT AGAIN

Anyone with an actual brain—and more importantly, anyone who understands the feel of a baseball game—could see this coming from a mile away. This Yankees start? Not surprising. Not shocking. Not even mildly confusing. It’s the same movie we watched in 2025, just with a slightly less shiny bullpen and a bench.

Sure, the Yanks came out hot. Great. Hang the banner. But some of us live in reality, not in whatever motivational poster clubhouse speeches are printed on. Because here’s the truth nobody wanted to say out loud except us here at Bleeding Yankee Blue: the moment Aaron Boone has to actually manage—not just smile and nod while things are going well—the whole thing starts to wobble. Are you reading this Jon Vankin from Newsweek? I would love for you to pick-up my story this week... because I've been preaching pure gospel about how bad Boone is and how it was going to go exactly how it has for the Yankees and this horrific manager. 

By the way, this is not a hot take. That’s a pattern when it comes to Boone sucking.

Any manager can look competent when the lineup is raking and the pitching is cruising. That’s not managing—that’s coasting. The real job starts when things go sideways. That’s when you need instinct, guts, and the ability to read the moment. And that’s exactly where Boone falls apart. Every. Single. Time.

Today was the latest masterclass in what not to do.

Down 5–4. Game on the line. Avoid the sweep against the Rays. Season momentum hanging by a thread. And who does Boone roll with? Ryan McMahon—while Paul Goldschmidt, a legitimate bat, sits there as the last option on the bench. First pitch to McMahon? Groundout. Game over. Rays crowd laughs. Boone's decision indefensible.

And no, this isn’t a one-off. This is Boone’s greatest hits album at this point.

April 5: high-leverage moment, Boone hands the keys to JC Escarra. Three pitches later—strikeout. Rally DOA.

April 8: Ryan McMahon, hitting a cool .077, keeps getting run like he’s being honored for lifetime service. Boone’s explanation? McMahon “had been on base four times in the previous three games.” That’s not analysis—that’s a cry for help.

April 10: Randal Grichuk gets the nod against a righty while Trent Grisham, a lefty, collects dust on the bench. Four pitches later—strikeout. Predictable doesn’t even begin to cover it.

And then today—back to McMahon again. Against a pitcher who eats hitters like him alive. Meanwhile, Goldschmidt watches. Again.

These aren’t tough managerial calls. That’s the scary part. These are the easy ones. The obvious ones. And Boone still manages to get them wrong. Because Boone doesn’t manage to win—he manages to avoid hurting feelings. He doesn’t feel the game, he tiptoes around it. And baseball punishes that kind of hesitation every time.

At some point, you have to stop calling it a slump or bad luck. This is who he is. A manager who cannot make the hard decisions, and honestly, sometimes can’t even make the easy ones. And this is exactly why this team isn’t going anywhere meaningful.

You think this holds up in October? In a short series where every move is magnified? We’ve already seen that movie too. 2 horrible moments come to mind.

2024 World Series Game 1—Boone trots out Nestor Cortes, fresh off an injury and over a month without pitching, to face the top of the Dodgers lineup. Predictably, it blows up immediately.

2025 Wild Card Game—he pulls Max Fried after 6.1 shutout innings on just 102 pitches. The bullpen comes in, gives up a backbreaking homer, and the game flips. Season altered because of one unnecessary decision.

And yet, here we are. Same mistakes. Same patterns. Same excuses. Same stupid manager.  Fans chanting “Fire Boone” aren’t overreacting—we’re exhausted. This isn’t impatience. It’s recognition.

Brian Cashman keeps building flawed rosters, Aaron Boone keeps mismanaging the pieces he does have, and Hal Steinbrenner keeps watching it all unfold like it’s acceptable.

It’s not.

This franchise used to demand excellence. Now it tolerates mediocrity dressed up as “process.”

And that’s the most disappointing part of all—because the problem isn’t just Boone anymore. It’s the fact that the people above him keep letting this happen.

Horrible sweep. Embarrassing.

BAD BOONE DECISIONS CONTINUE TO LOSE GAMES FOR THE YANKEES

Friday night’s 5–3 loss to the Rays wasn’t just another notch in a three-game skid—it was another reminder that the biggest problem in the Bronx isn’t always on the field.

Yes, Luis Gil had a rocky debut. Fine. That happens. But the defining moments of this game didn’t come from the mound—they came from the dugout, where Aaron Boone continues to manage like he’s guessing on a multiple-choice test and proudly circling “C” every time.

This is becoming a pattern, not a fluke.

April 5: high-leverage situation, Boone rolls with JC Escarra—three pitches later, strikeout, rally dead on arrival.

April 8: a .077-hitting Ryan McMahon keeps getting chances like he’s on a lifetime achievement tour. Boone’s justification was dumb. He actually said McMahon “had been on base four times in the previous three games.” That’s the bar now? Four times in three games? For a hitter batting .077?

And then Friday—somehow worse.

Down 5–3 in the ninth, the Yankees finally wake up. Giancarlo Stanton and Amed Rosario lead off with singles. Jazz Chisholm Jr. does his job, chaos ensues, runners move—suddenly, one swing ties the game.

This is where a real manager plays chess. But we don't have a real manager. We have Boone who plays rock-paper-scissors… blindfolded.

With a righty reliever on the mound, Boone sticks with Randal Grichuk while Trent Grisham—a lefty—sits on the bench watching the season pass him by. Predictably, Grichuk strikes out on four pitches.

And Boone’s explanation? Brace yourself:
“I like the righties against Baker. Had it been two outs, I might have gone Grisham.”

That’s not just a bad answer—it’s barely an answer. It’s the kind of logic that makes you wonder if lineup decisions are being made with a dartboard.

Then came the postgame philosophy lecture, where Boone said:

“Up until the last game of the homestand, we’ve been walking a ton, giving ourselves an opportunity, just got to get some guys clicking and obviously get that big hit... We’re not hitting a ton of longballs right now, but for the most part, approach-wise, I’ve been good…it’s going to happen sometimes from the offense. They’ll get it rolling and some people will pay the price.”

That all sounds nice—if you ignore reality.

Because here’s what Boone refuses to acknowledge: when you do get those opportunities, you can’t hand them to the worst possible matchup and hope for a miracle. Walks don’t win games by themselves. “Approach” doesn’t drive in runs. The right hitter in the right moment does.

Instead, Boone keeps rolling out scenarios where JC Escarra, Ryan McMahon, or a cold righty in a righty-righty matchup becomes the guy. Not because it’s smart—but because, apparently, it “feels” right.

That’s not strategy. That’s gambling. It's a guess. You need to give your team an opportunity. He's not.

Managing this team right now is like handing someone the keys to a Porsche and watching them say, “I like my chances,” right before driving it straight into a wall. And then afterward, they explain the crash by talking about how smoothly the steering wheel felt.

At some point, you stop calling it bad luck. You call it what it is: bad leadership.

The New York Yankees aren’t losing because they lack talent. They’re losing because, in the biggest moments, the decision-making collapses because of Aaron Boone. And until that changes, October isn’t the goal—it’s a fantasy. Mark my words, even if we make it to the playoffs, Boone doesn't have the brain capacity to guide us in a short series.  Trust me.

You cannot win a championship when your manager keeps explaining losses instead of preventing them. That's the bottom line.

GRICHUK IN. OSWALDO OUT.

 Grichuk’s in. Cabrera’s out. And yeah… it stings.

You can’t help but get a little déjà vu here—Oswaldo Cabrera starting to feel like Oswald Peraza 2.0: talented, versatile, and somehow always on the outside looking in whenever the Yankees start playing roster Tetris. At some point you wonder if it’s about performance… or just preference.

Anyway, the Yankees are busy putting the final touches on their Opening Day roster, and according to the New York Post, Randal Grichuk has punched his ticket. The numbers this spring? Let’s just say they won’t be framed and hung in Cooperstown—two hits in 16 at-bats isn’t exactly screaming “must-have.” But that’s not really why he’s here. Grichuk is the classic depth piece: a veteran bat, right-handed, with a reputation for punishing lefties and holding down a corner outfield spot without turning it into a circus.

Still, the ripple effects are hard to ignore.

Jasson Domínguez, who lit up spring like it owed him money, gets shipped to Triple-A. And now Cabrera joins him.

That’s the part that really hurts.

Because Cabrera didn’t just have a quiet spring—he had a brutal road to even get to spring. After that ugly injury in May 2025, he spent months stuck in a boot, rolling around on a scooter, watching his teammates from the sidelines and probably grinding his teeth down to dust. By the time 2026 camp rolled around, he was finally cleared, slowly working his way back, trying to rediscover timing that had been on pause for nearly a year.

And just when it looked like he was ready to re-enter the picture—boom. Ticket to Scranton.

Officially, it’s about getting him more at-bats. Unofficially? We’ve heard that one before.

So now Cabrera heads to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, tasked with proving—again—that he belongs. Maybe he forces their hand. Maybe he gets the call when the inevitable injury bug hits. Or maybe he becomes the latest name on the “what could’ve been” list.

Meanwhile, Grichuk settles into his role: veteran insurance policy, lefty-masher, bench piece with occasional pop. There’s value there, no doubt. The Yankees clearly see it.

But whether this move pays off—or just becomes another head-scratcher in a long line of Bronx decisions—is something we’re all about to find out.

A SOLID SIGNING & WHAT IT MEANS FOR DOMINGUEZ

The Yankees have finally decided that maybe — just maybe — adding a proven right-handed bat to the bench isn’t the worst idea in the world. And honestly? I like this move. It’s smart. It’s practical. It’s the kind of thing they could’ve handled back in December instead of waiting for the baseball equivalent of aisle-cleanup season.

They’ve signed Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, and that’s exactly the kind of low-risk, common-sense addition this roster needs.

Grichuk, 34, isn’t flashy. He’s not a headline. He’s not going to sell jerseys in Times Square. But what he is? A legitimate right-handed power bat on a team that leans so left-handed it might as well be writing with its off-hand. Against lefties, he owns a career .819 OPS. That’s not theoretical upside — that’s production. He can step in, punish southpaws, and sit down without drama.

Defensively, he brings flexibility. Left field. Right field. In a pinch, center. DH if needed. That’s real insurance, especially when your MVP right fielder — yes, Aaron Judge — has had his share of “please don’t dive for that” moments over the past few seasons.

And then there’s the ripple effect.

If Grichuk looks like his 2024 self, the Yankees suddenly have the freedom to let Jasson Domínguez marinate in Triple-A instead of forcing the kid into the Bronx spotlight before he’s fully cooked. And honestly? That might not be the worst thing. Poor Domínguez. The Yankees hype machine launched him into orbit before he had 200 big league at-bats. Was he overhyped? Maybe. That’s not his fault. That’s what happens when a franchise needs a savior and starts printing the T-shirts early.

Grichuk, meanwhile, is no savior. He’s something rarer in this organization lately — a steady adult in the room. Twelve years in the majors. Knows his role. Knows how to hit lefties. Knows how to show up ready.

Look, I’ve been critical of this front office. Loudly. Frequently. Deservedly. But this? This is a solid move. Depth matters. Balance matters. And adding a veteran who can actually do the job is better than hoping a spreadsheet manifests one.

Let’s see how it plays out. But for once, this feels like a move rooted in baseball logic — not just math.

"THE SHREDDER" NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED

I love analyzing baseball. It doesn't have to be stats or Sabermetrics, and we don't even talk about Sabermetrics here but I am just talking about a good breakdown of the game. As we reach the end of the MLB off season I have been watching a lot of MLB Network lately, and I gotta tell you....I am watching some of these "Top 10 right now" shows and shake my head.

Whether there are Yankee players on the lists right now or not, I am watching a lot of the "MLB Network's Top 10 Right Now" because let's face it, I am excited for Spring Training. If you have never watched the show a supposed unbiased algorithm based system called "The Shredder" picks the top ten players in each position and ranks them from ten all the way top the "best" at each position and I have to tell you....some of these I have to scratch my head at.

Let's start with pitching. There's the old saying that "Good pitching beats good hitting" well no matter how much I love the Yankees, I can't deny that the "other" New York team has an amazing starting rotation. I could go so far as to say that they have the best rotation in all of baseball, but interestingly enough "The Shredder" doesn't seem to agree because not a single Met made the list.

How do you NOT include Matt Harvey or Jacob DeGrom on that list? They pitched well all season and after years of not playing October baseball they finally made it! They have two of the best arms in the game. I just don't get it.

And how does Jake Arrieta get ranked as number 2? Not to take anything away from the guy because I know he had a great year but come on....second?! He is number two after Clayton Kershaw? That is a difference about the size of the Grand Canyon and I can't imagine Zack Greinke behind him either.

Now first base got to me a little. Yes, I stick up a lot for Mark Teixeira and I always will. He didn't even make the list! Now, I am not jaded. I am in no way even going to say that he deserved to be ranked number one but according to "The Shredder" Brandon Belt is the 10th best first basemen?

Sure, I wish Teixeira had his .280BA last season but he didn't have his home runs or RBI's. When I think about the best first basemen, my mind does not jump to Belt.

The real kicker for me, was the best center fielder list. In this case numbers seven and eight were puzzling to me. How are Kevin Kiermaier and Randal Grichuk on the list? Kiermaier had average numbers on an under performing team and Grichuk only played in 103 games. He doesn't even have the playing time to call him one of the best.

My biggest beef of all though....naming Jason Hayward the fifth best center fielder in the game. What algorithm did "The Shredder" use for that? It's based on a prediction at this point because last year he only played 10 games as a center fielder. How can you rate the guy number five when he was basically a substitute? It's a wild ranking to give with the lack of experience especially with a very under valued Andrew McCutchen only ranked a number four when he has been one of the best in the game.

I think "The Shredder" is crazy. The algorithm is broken somewhere because some of these rankings are a little screwy. It's just another reason why baseball can't be written like a math problem. There is a lot of logic involved in this but it goes deeper than that. So for the time being, I am going to scrap this Shredder for awhile before they try to convince me that two plus two is equal to five.



   
--Jeana Bellezza, 
BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 
 





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