JUDGE WAKES UP & THE YANKEES ARE STILL ALIVE!

Set the pigeons free! The Yankees finally made some magic happen. I guess it's just like they say...it's better late than never? We live to see another day. A day....but I'm praying to the baseball gods that is turns into more than just one day.

We've played three games in the ALDS and we witnessed terrible starting pitching in ALL of them. I thought Max Fried was bad on Sunday but Carlos Rodon was a disaster! It looked bleak after he allowed 6 runs after 2 2/3 innings. It looked like winter was starting early....until the Yankees were given a gift.

Thankfully, Shane Bieber had a rough night also. He had a short appearance too, he was removed in the third inning after allowing three runs on five hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. He struggled against the Yankees top of the order, giving up back-to-back doubles in the second inning and being pulled with the Blue Jays up 6-3. The Blue Jays thought he would be an advantage for them. He has experience pitching at Yankee stadium, so the Blue Jays hoped he could put an end to the series. His elevated pitches did him in and the Yankees clearly read him well. They had some hard hit balls against him.

Then finally, Aaron Judge had his huge playoff moment that the Yankees (and all of us!) have been waiting for. He ran into a 99.7 mph fastball for a three-run homer off the left-field foul pole to tie the game at six. After that, everything seemed to fall into place as the Yankees stayed hot and the Blue Jays crumbled under bad defense.

Last night, the Blue Jays looked like the 2024 Yankees. Former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa started the trend in the bottom of the first, booting a ground ball at second base. It helped the Yankees score a run. In the fourth inning, Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger, missed a routine fly ball from Austin Wells with one out and nobody on. Barger was a pinch-hitter in the game and I thank the Blue Jays so much. Without his addition in the game, two batters later we may not have seen a Judge home run. The mistakes didn't end there. In the sixth inning, Anthony Santander couldn't catch a line drive from Cody Bellinger and gave the Yankees a double and an eventual run from the Yankees to pad their lead to 9-6.

This feels good now, but the Yankees can't celebrate this today. The Blue Jays are a good defensive team. What we saw last night is not typical and we can't rely on a sloppy game from them again. We need to swing the bats, move runners, play strong defense and PLEASE.....have a good start from Cam Schlittler.

The Blue Jays are approaching today as a bullpen game, but we have Schlittler! It's a lot of pressure for him, especially after what he just did against the Red Sox. 

We CAN tie this up today....I'm crossing every possible body part I can and praying to the baseball gods. Please Schlitt....keep us alive!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE BLUE JAYS JUST GOT BETTER

Look, I don’t need to give you a strict talk on how pitching wins championships. If you’ve watched even one Yankees game this season—heck, even just the first inning—you already know. Carlos Rodón and Max Fried have been the two bright spots, doing their best impression of duct tape holding together a house during a hurricane. But the rest of the rotation? Yikes. And the bullpen? Let’s just say "volatile" is a generous way to put it.

Oh, and if Anthony Volpe could go one full week without launching a routine ground ball into the seats, we might not be in this mess. But alas, here we are—half-collapsed, semi-sad, and watching the Yankees flail around like a team allergic to dominance.

Meanwhile, just across the border, the Toronto Blue Jays are out here making big-boy moves.

In case you missed it (or were too busy watching the Yankees strand runners in scoring position), the Jays just landed former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the Guardians. One-for-one deal. Boom. Done. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Toronto just added a fully rehabbed Bieber fresh off Tommy John surgery—and judging by the early returns, his arm is back and better than ever.

Twelve innings. Two starts. Zero runs. Two wins. This man’s elbow might be made of vibranium.

Bieber’s arsenal is as nasty as ever: fastball, slider, curveball, changeup, and a cutter he sprinkles in just to be rude. None of them blend, all of them bite. And with his elite command, he doesn’t just throw strikes—he paints with them. Think Greg Maddux, but taller and slightly angrier-looking.

And the Yankees? We just watched this whole thing happen like we were window-shopping at Tiffany’s with five bucks in our pocket. It’s not like we don’t need the help. It’s not like the rotation is overflowing with reliable arms. But once again, while the Yankees sit around waiting for Anthony Volpe’s bat to show up and Boone to make a good pitching change, another AL East rival gets stronger.

So now what? The Jays are coming. Actually, scratch that—they’re already here. They’re already beating us. Bieber just gave them a front-line ace, and we’re out here hoping our fifth starter doesn’t trip over his own cleats walking to the mound.

The Yankees had a chance to make a splash. Instead, we’re drowning.

And as always, we end with this: Do better, Brian Cashman. Please. Before we start reminiscing about the glory days of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacón.

COULD SHANE BIEBER BE IN PINSTRIPES SOON?

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

I haven't been excited about the Yankees lately. Even the Juan Soto pickup didn't give me goosebumps. But, the idea of getting another strong, young pitcher into our rotation, gets me amped up about the possibilities of real contention. According to SI.com, "Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber is in the final year of team control before hitting free agency next offseason," Kuty and Kirschner said. "The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that the Guardians are considering moving Bieber but could hold off until the trade deadline in the hopes that he builds up his value."

Cleveland is interested in building up some outfield depth and the Yankees are perfect trade partners for that. Now that they have added Soto and Alex Verdugo, the Yankees could part with some of the farm for the chance to pick up a veteran starter in Bieber. 

Source: Reuters

"A package centered around Everson Pereira, who struggled after getting called up, could entice Cleveland, especially with the power he showed in the minors. Attaching a good pitching prospect like Henry Lalane should show the Guardians how serious they are about adding Bieber," reported SI.com.

But as quickly as I get excited, I think about injuries both lingering ones with Bieber and the potential of new ones surfacing as the Yankees move through what will likely be a long, grueling season. Remember Carlos Rodon? How about Frankie Montas? As reported by The Athletic, "Rodón was one of the worst pitchers in the major leagues this season. Out of all pitchers who completed at least 60 innings, Rodón’s 6.85 ERA was the ninth-worst in MLB." Yuck!

Source: The New York Post

And also, "Bieber has lost velocity each year since 2020 and is coming off an injury last season, but he was still effective even though his 3.81 ERA was the highest it’s been since his rookie year. Bieber was at his peak when Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake worked with him in Cleveland, so there’s some familiarity here," reports The Athletic. And honestly, Blake really does not impress me, so there's that.

Source: Forbes

So I went from excited to amped to blah. But I will say this, despite Blake Snell showing great stuff last season, he will only turn out to be a Sonny Gray if he came to New York. Could Bieber turn things around in New York, I mean Corey Kluber did but then he fizzled. Could he do something to help the Yankees win and be in contention? Could he find his way into pinstripes come spring? All of this hype is just that, hype, but the reality is the Yankees need someone to pitch alongside Nestor Cortes and Gerrit Cole. And if Montas and Rodon can't turn things around, and Clarke Schmidt continues to just be okay, all the bats in the world can't win the games on the road to the Fall Classic. 

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

RUMOR: THE YANKEES HAVE THEIR EYE ON A NEW STARTER!

Let the trade rumors begin! The August 1st trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Yankees have their eye on an interesting target. As much as this team has underperformed the Yankees are still ready to make moves to improve their chances of a playoff run.

The Yankees want and need some rotation help. Hopefully, Carlos Rodon pitches like the top of the rotation stud the Yankees envisioned but the Yankees can't bank on it. The Yankees always battle injuries every season, but this one seems to hurt more and Gerrit Cole can't do it all.

Sports Illustrated ran an interesting piece yesterday, check it out HERE. The Yankees and Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians could be a nice match, IF he is available. That could be a big IF. The Guardians are currently leading the AL Central division with a 45-45 record so they could do anything at the deadline. They are locked in for a playoff spot now, but that division is still close and anything can happen. Cleveland has had a rocky season just like the Yankees, and they could choose to offload Bieber in hopes to reload for 2024 and beyond.

Bieber could be a nice upgrade for the Yankees, but we've heard tis before. It's exactly what we heard when we added Rodon. The vision was Cole, Rodon and Nestor Cortes for a lights out 1-2-3 but that hasn't panned out. Bieber has been reliable with a 3.77 ERA in 19 starts and could be even better. He was the 2020 AL Cy Young winner and has experience that could be valuable in the Bronx.....if he can handle the added pressure.

That's always the unknown, can a proven pitcher outside New York handle the bright lights. Even if Cleveland is willing to deal him, he won't come cheap. He's under team control through 2024, so they will want a pretty penny for him. But getting a top of the rotation pitcher under team control for two postseasons is attractive and so is a rotation of Cole, Rodon, and Bieber. It's intriguing.

This is my favorite time of the year (not including the postseason). I love the trade rumors and buzz as the deadline gets closer! I like the idea of Bieber, but honestly pitching is not the Yankees biggest problem. We could have five number one starters, but if this offense isn't fixed it won't matter.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

HOW YANKEE PITCHING WILL GO NOW THAT THIS RAINOUT HAPPENED

Look, with this latest rain out, there's alot of talk and worry about how the Yankees will be shuffling their pitching going forward. Here are my thoughts on why it's not bad that the New York Yankees will not have Nester Cortes available for Game 5. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but this is my thinking.

First off, I believe that this latest development actually helps the Yankees.  Here's why; 

The Yankees will need to use Jameson Taillon in Game 4 or Game 5 instead of Cortes in Game 5.  But on the other side of the field, Cleveland will need to use their 4th starter, which is either Aaron Civale or Zach Plesac in Game 4 or Game 5 instead of Shane Bieber.

And so, what's my point? Well, the drop-off for Cleveland is huge. You have to consider that both Civale and Plesac are not good and that is a big advantage for the Yankees as they will avoid one of Cleveland's top 3 starters. 

It's a bigger drop-off for them than it is for us.

But here's the most important part of this scenario... we better not go to Game 5 in this series! There is really no reason for it when you look out our team and what our Yankees can provide offensively.

Go Yanks!

--Douglas Solomon 

 BYB Guest Writer

WHO WILL BE THE YANKEES ALDS STARTER?

Source: New York Times

The Cleveland Guardians outlasted the Tampa Bay Rays to sweep the series and head to the American League Division Series as the Yankees worthy opponent. With this in mind, Aaron Boone and his coaches have an important decision to make: Who will be the starter on Tuesday night against the Guardians?

Source: USA Today

“The good thing is, with Gerrit, Nestor and Sevy, I feel really good about where those guys are at and how we can match up from a starting standpoint against really any team right now,” Boone said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM. “So it’s a little bit of a decision right now, but mostly I look at it as a good decision to have," reported ESPN.

Both Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes have pitched well against the Guardians in the regular season. And the Yankees have a leg up when it comes to Cleveland both in the postseason as well as winning 5 out of 6 games against them in 2022, including a sweep at the Stadium. But this is a whole new team, and a whole new "season" as the Yankees face the youngest team in baseball in the ALDS 2022.

"Cleveland features a lineup that includes Jose Ramirez, who would have been an AL MVP candidate if not for the historic seasons put up by Aaron Judge and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani," wrote the New York Post. "And the youngest team in the game has 25-year-old Steven Kwan in left field. Kwan would have been an AL Rookie of the Year possibility if not for the presence of Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez and Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman. Shane Bieber is the ace of Cleveland’s staff, but Triston McKenzie and Emmanuel Clase might be more dangerous to the Yankees’ hopes."

So with this kind of lineup and defensive pitching facing this Yankee team, Boone has a tough decision—kick off their series against the Guardians with their "ace" or go with one of the most consistent pitchers in the game with Cortes?

Source: NY Post

"By sweeping the best-of-three series, the Guardians avoided using starter Cal Quantrill, so he's the likely Game 1 starter against the Yankees," reported The New York Post. The Wild Card certainly has not disappointed as the Seattle Mariners came all the way back to beat the Yankees' other nemesis in the East, the Toronto Blue Jays. And if the ALDS is anything like what we are seeing now, the competition will be fierce, making Boone's decision for starting pitcher even more interesting.

Who will be the Yankees ALDS starter? We don't know....yet, but if I had to guess Boone will go with the big contract, and big strikeout pitcher in Cole, even though the Guardians are second in the least number of strikeouts in the regular season. Would I prefer Nestor Cortes to kick things off? Yes. And we will soon see who will take the hill as the Yankees get primed for what will surely be a tough start to the postseason for the Pinstripes. 

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

THE YANKEES CAN NOT WAIT TO SIGN A SHORTSTOP!

Source: AP

Competing for a championship means you can't wait to home grow a shortstop. You just don't have the time—you a need a team that is Series-ready when they hit the field in 2022. But is that in the cards for the Yankees given the lockout, luxury tax, paydays due for other players and needs beyond a middle infielder? Let's take a closer look at the options the Yankees have in front of them.

Source: NY Post

"The Yankees could shore up shortstop for the next generation if they give Carlos Correa more than the $325 million than Corey Seager got from the Rangers. Correa, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, might be the best shortstop in the game not named Fernando Tatis Jr. Trevor Story would be a bit of a different question. While the bat, glove and speed are real, concerns over Story’s arm strength are loud enough to wonder whether he’d be better off at second base," reports NJ.com.

Then there is Aaron Judge who is due some cash in the coming year if they want to keep him in the Bronx. Not to mention, cash already on the books for Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton. But let's go back to shortstop for a minute. The Yankees have said that Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza could be there future at shortstop but they will take some brewing and polish before they are everyday players for the Bombers. But do the Yankees have time or even the patience to wait 'til either of these guys are game-ready?

"Volpe was tremendous in 2021, raking with Low-A Tampa before a promotion to High-A Hudson Valley. Across both levels, Volpe hit .294 (121-for-412) with 27 home runs, 113 runs scored, 86 RBI, 33 stolen bases and a 1.027 OPS over 109 games," wrote Sports Illustrated. But no major league experience. 

"Peraza, 21, is the closest to making his big-league debut of the pair, finishing out the 2021 campaign in Triple-A. Peraza played across three different levels a season ago, slashing .297/.356/.477 with a .834 OPS, 18 homers and 58 RBIs," Sports Illustrated reported. But neither seem to be ready to fill the big shoes at shortstop. And they will need grooming but veterans as well as coaching to even come close. 

Source: AP

But if the Yankees go all in on a guy like Correa or Story, what about the other holes in the team? First base, starting pitching and even centerfield? In the starting pitching arena, names like Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Rodon and Shane Bieber have been floated about. We've heard buzz around Matt Olson for first base and at centerfield? Who knows. Aaron Hicks will likely come out of the box ready to play but by June, he will be out like he always is. At least that is my prediction. The guy just can't stay healthy.

The Yankees can't seem to wait to sign a shortstop but there is a lot more to that to make this team Series-ready. Will the team really be able to make the moves to give the Bombers a fighting chance in 2022? Wish I could say for sure, yes, but the jury is still out on that. 

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

YANKEES LIGHT IT UP IN CLEVELAND

Source: USATSI

All of the anticipation of Game 1 came to a rocking halt when Aaron Judge stepped up to the plate in the first inning. He hit a laser over the fence and quickly the Yankees lit things up in Cleveland, a theme that continued throughout 9 innings of play.

Despite the loud artificial crowd noise, and Cleveland's ace Shane Bieber, the Yankees dominated the Indians giving them a slight edge heading into Game 2 today. Not since April 21 of last year has Bieber allowed at least seven runs in a start and yet the Yankees were too much for him in Game 1.

Source: David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

Besides Judge, Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres and veteran Brett Gardner demonstrated their force at the plate and contributed most of the runs, proving true that the team looked at this game as a clean slate and the start of a new journey.

According to CBS Sports, "Momentum may not mean anything but confidence sure does, and Cleveland is a confident team right now. They're good and they know it. The Yankees have been punched in the face a few times this year and they didn't always respond in a great way. This is their last opportunity to get up off the mat and answer the bell." Which clearly happened last night.

Source: ESPN

Also putting together a stellar performance was Yankee starter Gerrit Cole, who threw 13 strikeouts in 7 full innings. According to MLB Stats, "Gerrit Cole joins Tom Seaver (1973) as the only pitchers with 13+ Ks & 0 BBs in a postseason game." Cole was absolutely electric on the mound, keeping cool and staying locked in. 

With last night's 12-3 victory over the Tribe, the Yankees have Masahiro Tanaka on the hill tonight. Let's hope the Yankees can finish things off tonight and move on to the ALDS, ready to compete against one of their AL East rivals, either the Rays or the Jays- both proving to be a challenge to the Bombers during 2020, but with the clean slate in their mind, anything goes for the Yankees. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE... YOU STILL GOTTA BELIEVE!

I have not been too engaged with this year's Yankee season. You could probably tell by the lack of my writing on Bleeding Yankee Blue.  

Don't get me wrong, I love my Yankees and I will be front and center when the Yankees face the Indians tonight. But the truth is, these awards, this season, the teams in the playoffs this year and I guess 2020 in general... has taken my anxiety to another level.  I'm gonna say something I never thought I'd say... It's not that fun right now.

But when it comes to the New York Yankees, I will always have a place in my heart for them.  Gerrit Cole takes the mound tonight, and Lord knows... games like this were built for Cole.  We need this win... we need it badly.

As Mike Lupica says:

"They hired him to win postseason games, and ultimately the team’s first World Series since 2009. It all starts with his start in Game 1 on Tuesday night (7 ET on ESPN), Wild Card round, Yankees against the Indians, Cole against Shane Bieber -- who was better than Cole during the regular season, because Bieber was better than everybody.

Before he even gets to October, Gerrit Cole was hired to win this game."

What happens if he loses? Well... it will sting, but that's why there are 3 games in this series.  And let's take it further. 

Let's, for argument sake say the Yankees lose this series and are eliminated from the playoffs. Will you truly be heartbroken? Will it truly matter to you in a year where the home run leader in the American League has 22 homers?  Will it really matter to you where one of the teams happens to be the Miami Marlins?  

We all love Don Mattingly, but in a full season, could the Marlins truly sustain a playoff run? I doubt it... I doubt a lot actually. 

This season is weird, strange and everything else I can think of. 

And this is another bizarre and outrageous part of the season.  Trevor Bauer put this out:

Home team: family members can attend the games.
Visiting team: family members cannot attend the games. @mlb: Yup! Checks out!

Guess we didn’t win enough games this year to earn the right for our family to watch us play. Sorry Mom and Dad!

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) September 28, 2020

I thought, "This can't be true, can it?" Then I did my research... and he's 100% right. Yardbarker writes: 

"MLB hasn’t announced anything specific policy-wise on this. Players will be allowed to bring their families into the bubble, but the league had not clarified any rules about them attending games. Bauer seems to have been told that home players will have families attending games, but visiting families will not."

Now it is very very possible that MLB put an internal memo out there to playoff teams with this stipulation. It's a sneaky tactic and I will bet Bauer is right and that's why he has a hard-on for Rob Manfred right now. But it just goes back to my point. This whole year is bizarre. In a move to bring some normalcy to the year, both team's families should be allowed.  Jesus man.

Now there is some great news this year.  The Astros suck without a garbage can, which is terrific because it makes the idea that these guys being cheaters more accurate and amplified than before.

They all suck.

But here's the most outrageous part of this season... the Astros had a losing season... LOSING SEASON OF 29-31. But they made the playoffs.  I'm sorry, who and how can anyone get excited celebrating mediocrity like that?  How?

In the end, it's about 1 team for me... the Yankees and I do believe.  But listen to me very clearly. Will I root in this playoffs? I will.  Will I be happy they win? Sure. But does it really and truly count for me? Not really. In fact... this entire season is a joke.  And you know what's telling me that? My heart.  This season was manufactured, fake, stupid.

That doesn't take away my appreciation for the Yankee fans out there that love every minute of this season, in fact I tip my cap to you! You found a way to love this season much better than I ever could. And so, I'll be watching and reading your tweets this playoff in your honor.  But for me personally... I just don't feel it, not like I normally do anyway.  

For me... tonight's about Cole and the Yankee fans! Let's get a win!

Go Yanks!