THE INTERNET'S BUZZIN' WITH TRADE RUMORS TO REPLACE INJURED JUDGE

I don't even want to think about this, but after being asked about this constantly at work and now seeing rumors on the internet with every click I make....it feels impossible to avoid. Aaron Judge is sidelined and it's going to be a while. Now the Yankees moved back in first place over the weekend and everyone is asking how the Yankees are gonna keep it, without Judge playing.

If I am being honest, I am asking the same thing too. There are two very different versions of this team. There's the version with Judge playing that averages more runs score per game and then there is the version with no Judge and about two runs less scored per game. Not pretty splits to consider in a very right race with the Rays for the AL East.

And now we have to worry about exactly how long Judge is going to be out. The Yankees expect him to be back this season, but we do not know when. There's still a lot of baseball left so that's a lot of time that he could still be out. So now, the internet is abuzz with who the Yankees could trade for to fill-in for him until he does return.

That Judge fill in could be Seiya Suzuki, read more HERE. The Cubs are in a tough spot, they have been dropping games and the possibility of the Cubs becoming sellers at the deadline is becoming stronger. The Cubs have not played well since May 7th and unless they turn a corner, there is no reason for the Cubs to become a buyer by the deadline when they are 7.5 games back in their division.

And that makes the Cubs likely to trade away some of their impending free agents and that could easily mean Suzuki. He's a free agent at the end of the season and even though he had a rough stretch in May he's rebounded nicely in June with a .383 average, five home runs, and seven RBI's.

Suzuki is currently considered day-to-day after jamming his right knee after diving for a ball on Saturday. Initial reports are fine, the Cubs don't seem concerned but....time will tell. It's an option, and one the Yankees could consider with the injury bug still biting with Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham. Confidence isn't as high as it should be with Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones so the Yankees will sniff around. But the question is where and around who?

The Yankees may need a rental. I don't like to think about it because we NEED Judge, but it might be a harsh reality.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

VOLPE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT ON THE FIELD OR IN THE BATTER'S BOX!

There's just too much going wrong for the Yankees. The roster is a mess, the results aren't there and it just drives me crazy. Anthony Volpe is crumbling right before our eyes and Aaron Boone continues to sounds like a bumbling baboon. 

Look, I am tired of watching Volpe at shortstop. It's not working. I can understand the Yankees wanting to work with him and let him work through his struggles as a young, still developing infielder. At some point though, you have to realize it is hurting the team and it is time to make a change. Especially now, when the Yankees are struggling with everything.

Last game heading into the All-Star break, and the last thing I wanted to see was Vople make two blunders. The Cubs had a runner on second base in the seventh inning and two outs, Volpe got to a ground ball up the middle by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Volpe’s throw was wide to first and Seiya Suzuki came all the way around from second to score the Cubs’ fourth run. For me, the blunder in the eight inning was worse. He stayed back on a routine grounder (as we have seen before) and casually tossed the ball to second base and it allowed Dansby Swanson to beat the throw. Volpe admitted he should've been more aggressive. 

Volpe made a mistake, and as usual Baboonie had to coddle and defend Volpe.

I REALLY dislike this response. I'm not surprised by it because this is a typical Boone answer we've come to expect for years now. It just frustrates me more because we have to constantly be reminded of what is wrong and what isn't being fixed. Part of a manager's job is to problem solve - in any organization baseball or not. Volpe consistently backs up on routine ground balls and does not attack them with urgency. It's a consistent weakness that hurts this team without any action plan to correct it, so you aren't doing your job as a manager. What's it going to take for you to actually grow some huevos and be a manager?

I know Volpe is young and there will be highs and lows. Unfortunately, there are more lows than highs and as we head into the All-Star break he looks like he is regressing. He's not getting any better. He's had three seasons to piece it together so now it's you either got it.....or you don't.

Volpe doesn't have it....and four days off isn't going to fix him. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHY ARE THE YANKEES PURSUING SEIYA SUZUKI?

I'm disappointed in the Yankees. We're doing nothing.  I know that Steve Cohen over in Mets land thinks he's competing with the Yanks by signing all these guys, but that's not my issue.  You die when you go with the Mets. It's just the way it is. Look at Francisco Lindor. But as a Yankees fan, it's more than that. What are they doing really?

If they are doing what they did 20 years ago and slickly and stealthfully trying to pull out a big name in the dead of night right before Christmas so we all get all feel fuzzy inside, think again. That move is so 90's. Why? Because the Yankees haven't been successful for years. Their Marketing team needs to think about new ways to excite their fans. Like... here's an idea... sign someone when they are available. Show them the money! Make it happen to prove that you actually care about bringing a Championship to the Bronx.

My season tickets are gone. I gave mine up. I've had it. When top guys in their office don't make moves and when teams like the 2021 Yanks can't go deep in a series... you really have to think about what they want out of their team. And right about now? I have no faith.

Once again they are looking at a Japanese player they really don't know much about in Seiya Suzuki. I've seen this movie before. It never works out. I think they're actually "IN" because the Red Sox are in. And for me... we need to stop with being spoilers and start being competitors. That's no way to run a team.

MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"The Red Sox make for a fairly logical landing spot...The fit with the Yankees is a bit less smooth, given that they have a number of outfield options already on hand. On paper, the outfield consists of Joey Gallo in left, Aaron Hicks in center and Aaron Judge in right, with designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton available for the occasional appearance on the grass and prospect Estevan Florial on hand as depth. However, they may be reluctant to rely on Hicks as an everyday option, given that he’s now 32 years old and has dealt with injury setbacks in recent years, including only playing 32 games in 2021. "

All of this makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why the Yankees signed Hicks to a long term deal in the first place. He's injury prone and not as good as they think.  But more to that. Why are the Yankees pursuing Seiya Suzuki? What does it benefit them? Yes, he can play short... he can play third, and he plays outfield too but this isn't the guy. Why is it the Yankees top move this offseason when we need so much more... a lefty pitcher... a legit shortstop... a first baseman?

I have lost alot of faith in this team. I am a die hard Yankee fan that is fully disappointed in the direction they have gone.  It totally sucks.  

Stay tuned.