AMERICA'S FAN

Everyone knows at least one. They are everywhere unfortunately. They live all over this country! They are in cities and towns far and wide! The thing that they have in common…I mean other than the ridiculous stories they gives us as to why they are how they are…is that they know, deep down, that they are full of S&%#!

I’m referring to the fans that like the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Duke Blue Devils and, sadly, the New York Yankees. 

These full tilt, front running asshats can live in Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio…New Jersey (like that McPherson guy on the WFAN).

“Oh, well I like them because my Dad was a Tony Dorsett guy and so I just followed suit…”

“Well, we didn’t get Sixers games because we didn’t have cable, so I just saw the Lakers a lot…”

“My aunt lived in Charlotte, and I got to go to a game at Cameron when I was 7 so…”

“I always loved Reggie Jackson…so even though I’m from Forrest Lawn, Illinois…yeah, huge Yankee fan, buddy.”

These people are either Gung-ho and show up in jerseys everywhere…or when the team is in the playoffs and they caught a game or two a few months earlier. Either way, they suck.

O’Hara! What is up with you today, kid? What’s with the rant?

I watched the end of the year Yankee word salad presser, and I realized…the Yankees deserve those types of fans now. They deserve each other in fact. 

We’ve become the Lakers, Blue Devils and Cowboys…the Yanks are the Kardashians now!! They are famous for being famous!!! Grit? To the modern day Yankees, that’s just a something you serve up for breakfast down south. Heart? The Wilson sisters rocking Barracuda on the stadium PA system is the only time you hear it in the Bronx. Where have you gone, Paul O’Neill? Our fan base turns its lonely eyes to you…oooo. What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson? The Warrior is up in the YES booth with Coney? 

WELL, TELL HIM TO CHOKE HOLD HAL AND DEMAND THAT HE IS MADE HITTING COACH AND EXECUTIONER! Make Jorge Manager!! Make A Rod GM!! Jeff Nelson can be bullpen coach! Give us SOMETHING to believe in!

I mean the front office drags old dynasty Yankees out to the ballpark every other day for some retired number ceremony, bobblehead day or to toss out a 1st pitch…hired them while you’re at it!!

Listening to Hal, Cashman and Boone is just as bad as bumping Maroon 5!  I can’t listen to it and am STUNNED when others do! That Adam levine’s voice could crack paint…. but this love (of the Yankees) HAS taken it’s toll on me.

Arrogant leadership pushing a model that fails and telling everyone they just don’t understand is truly insane. Brian Cashman is NOT a good GM. He has NEVER been. That is a FACT! He was a strap hanger under Stick Michael. 

 The Core was the foundation. They won on that formula. When Michaels left, the Boss did Boss things and prolonged the winning with the checkbook while making 1980’s moves – Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano etc…. Cashman got “his ring” in 2009 when he was able to buy Tex, CC, AJ and Swish with a core still very much intact…. he didn’t do ANYTHING but buy the world with George’s last big shopping spree. He couldn’t carry Theo’s golf clubs…AND HE KNOWS IT!

Hal isn’t his dad…he ain’t even his sister. He’s a guy who doesn’t know or like baseball. He’s the Jeremy Strong character from HBO’s Succession.   Watch it and tell me I’m wrong!!

Boone? Aaron is a good guy. I was lucky enough to meet him and hangout for a bit back in 2011. He is a class act…but so was my uncle Jack and he shouldn’t be the skipper of the Yanks either after all these years. Remember GI Joe? Girardi?  He was let go after winning a title and growing the Baby Bombers up (with a young Aaron Judge) and we were told they needed a new voice….Aaron Boone’s voice is as stale as the one you hear on the 6 train…”Stand clear of the closing doors please.”

Well, it’s more like a closing window…on Judge and Cole…the Yankee way…and the patience of a fan base.

Hey Hal! Get bent!

--Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor




I wrote this while listening to the Pistols…they have the pulse of TRUE Yankee fans…

YANKS MARCHING

In the mid 90’s the “Jam Band Movement” hit this country like the British Invasion of the early 1960s. Suddenly songs elongated from around 3 and a half minutes to 15 minutes of vamping, flourishes, solos and breakdowns. Some of it was ok…at first. However, it wore out its welcome quicker than your typical jam band tune.

Most of those puka shell necklace wearing outfits - Rusted Root, Widespread Panic, Dispatch and Big Head Todd & The Monsters – have drifted into the ether. There is one band that, in many ways, have become the New York Yankees of Jam Band music…THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND.

Much like the Bronx Bombers, this crew packs them in on the road. They have a massive, loyal following. Even causal music fans are familiar with their act…the way someone who’s never watched baseball knows who the Yankees are. Unfortunately, the comparisons aren’t all a good thing.

I recently saw David and his gang…twice…in 3 weeks’ time. The first time in Camden just across the bridge from Philadelphia (I bet someone I was with that no matter what we’d hear a E A G L E S! spelling chant…you never disappoint, Philly…. awful.)

The second show was in the Insurance Capital of the World…Hartford, CT. What was the takeaway? Well, I still like many of Matthews’ songs. Dave and his band are very talented and the rush of memories of past shows made nostalgia hit like the contact high hanging in the air like a sad, hippie quilt. The other thing I left with is how formulaic it has all become. Sure, the set list is different each night but the rest…the rest is just the same old song. Dave is quirky. He offers up a few, “Thank y’all very, very much. We hope you’re having a nice time.” He may toss in a political nugget or dance like a Muppet with his loose leg hops and struts. Then we are treated to DMB’s Free Bird. A song as tied to a Dave Matthews show as New York, New York is to Yankee Stadium.

It’s catchy. Everyone knows the words…or has made up their own. It’s a great ending song…but it’s canned. The band walks off and gives us the 7-minute rest period before returning for the encore. It was fine. I enjoyed the show…but not as much as I once did.

The Yanks are the DMB. HUGE! DYNASTIC! CHAMPIONSHIP PROVEN! EXCITING...in the 1990s. Back when Stick Michaels was the “Tour Manager”. 

The club is now like the shows I saw. They dine out on old stories. They still bring in the audiences. They make you nostalgic with Paul O’Neill Nights, Bernie Bobble Heads or letting us watch Nelly groove one to Nick Swisher so he can go yard.

Brian Cashman is the record exec using yesterday and loyal fan base to hold down a job he does poorly. 

He knows the formula gets us just “good enough”…but that’s it? We do the same song every year and get the same story when it goes upside down at season’s end. We leave the ballpark in the Bronx the way I left the Dave Matthews shows…I’m a fan…but not like I was. 

Sure, they’re still the Yanks. He’s still Dave Matthews…and even to a punker like me the dude is worth seeing. But it’s not new…it’s not evolving. 

Look, we have Judge. We do have great pitchers. And Dave has put out a new song here and there that is solid…but it’s touring the old stuff to let older-ish folks from the 90s feel like high school and college kids again. It’s not about winning new fans or bringing in a championship. The formula is there…so the dollars will follow…until they don’t. 

So, take these chances…place them in a box…until a quieter time…lights down you up and die.

I’ll always like Dave and his talented band. I will always love the New York Yankees…but the shows pale to the 90s versions.

--Mike O'Hara

Bleeding Yankee Blue Contributor

THE LOCKOUT IS LOOMING & A FAMILIAR FACE COULD TAKE CENTER STAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS!

Forget about the pit you feel in your stomach right now with Anthony Volpe back in the big leagues. It's about to get really real. The thrill of the regular season is still heating up, but the real drama is going to unfold off the field this winter. Buckle up, this is the start of a very long lockout with a twist that could come out of left field.

The season is still young, but we are already talking about the end of the season. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires December 1st and Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) met face-to-face Tuesday to give opening presentations for negotiations, read more HERE.

The league will pursue both a salary cap AND a salary floor, something that players have firmly opposed, including Bryce Harper openly criticizing it most recently when he cursed out MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, check it out HERE.

Even though talks have started, progress on the proposals probably won't be significant until after the season ends. If an agreement can't be reached by March, schedule adjustments for 2027 will need to be made. In a lockout, no transactions can be made so that means no trades or free agent signings. I still remember the last lockout which was 99-days right on the heels of a pandemic. That irritated me beyond belief when Sonny Gray was whining like a baby about money while the rest of us were dealing with our own lockdowns and hardships. That was bad, this could be even worse. 

The anticipated lockout is only in talks, but it already has the attention of Congress. It is rumored that a lockout would cause an intervention from politicians and President Trump would be possible. The last thing I want is congress or the president meddling with America's favorite pastime, but it's possible that politics and baseball could collide in a new way.

In case you hadn't heard, one of my favorites Mark Teixeira is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas' 21st Congressional District in 2026. By the way Mike O'Hara....if you are out there buddy, LOOK Tex is relevant again unlike Greg Bird! Sorry, I couldn't resist the throwback to old times when we traded zingers. Anyway, Tex is a former member of the MLBPA's executive subcommittee so if he wins his race, he could play a pivotal role in negotiating a new deal. Interesting thought to see him go from one of the MLBPA members, to someone who could potentially bring both sides together in a different capacity.  

I've had several people tell me not to worry about this now because "It's too early" but this is going to be a negotiation unlike any other. Baseball as we know it could look VERY different here soon. Things are gonna get ugly....and this is just a warmup for what's to come.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

PLAY IT AGAIN, HAL

Are you listening to Brian Cashman’s end of the year presser? WHY?! Why do it again? It’s like the same awful Christmas sweater that you bought in a pinch 10 years ago to make it a friends Holiday Party! Now you keep dusting it off to re wear each year. Throw it away! Donate it to Goodwill! Better yet don’t go the the next “Bad Christmas Sweater” get together…those parties are worse than fruitcake.

The Yankees are now like that Christmas sweater in a way. Sure, they’re still the NEW YORK YANKEES. They are synonymous with big time sports like the Tree at Rock Center is with Christmas. But the magic is gone! It feels like the years after we were told Mom and Dad were Santa (Though I’m still investigating that one).

Who changed it all? Well, it seems to be the 3 UNWISE MEN! Hal isn’t a baseball man or a competitive titan like his father was. He is a silver spooned bank teller who reads from a Steinbrenner script…but he can’t sell it. George NEEDED to win. He believed he owed it to New York. Hal hears about all the subways in the city and probably thinks they just have a lot of low-rate, chain sandwich shops! He isn't NYC.

It's like that movie “Funny Bones” with Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis. The great comedian and his unfunny son. “There are some that can read funny, and there are those with funny bones…you’re neither.” See it. It’s great and sums up the massive gap between “The Boss” and “The Bust”.

Cashman is a clown. He was the wunderkind under the Stick Michael regime and just a figure head while the Dynasty was playing and winning. Then he took the massive checkbook at his disposal and found a way to get it done in 2009…still with Mo, Jeter and company.

He constructs bad teams! He makes dumb moves. Sure, the sun shines on a dog’s ass now and then but…well hell, I'll just shout Ellsbury and leave it there! He is defiant every year when the press asks why the Yankees are a broken record of broken teams. He needs to go! FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE!! They canned GI Joe Girardi and he was good! Cashman is like 10-week-old milk at this point. He stinks and you’ll get violently ill if you drink any of his nonsense. Hit the Deegan, Brian. You need to move on.

Then we have Boone. I like Aaron Boone. Had the chance to meet him a few times, He is genuine. He loves the game, and I KNOW he gets that he is the skipper of the greatest franchise in sports. He has been ok. Not great. Not the main reason they fall short. He’s been ok. But this is NEW YORK! Like Colin Quinn once said about New York audiences, “I don’t care if Jack Nicolson gets up on that stage…if he isn’t funny within the first 5 minutes he’s gonna get booed.” 

 

 

Boone is a nice guy…but my Uncle Jack is a nice guy, and he shouldn’t manage the Yanks either. I think Aaron would be better suited skippering the DBacks or Pads. He’s a So Cal guy and they can skate by with the laid back thing. NOT IN THE BRONX.

Sadly, ZERO will change. The great player we have…and we have 1…will be another year older and edging closer to the Pat Ewing, Charles Barkley club. Pitching is touch and go. Max is good, Cam could be great, and Cole is on a new elbow. They are selling a dream, and we haven’t shown interest in buying into it for years now.

Change is the only thing in life that is guaranteed…somehow the New York Yankee Brass is the exception to the rule. They won’t for yet another year. Firing a bullpen coach named Mike Harkey? He was the problem???

Look, I still believe in Santa. I stopped believing in the Yankees…and that is more of a kick in the head to my childhood than fading faith in a jolly elf from the North Pole, gang.

That's the bottom line.

--Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @mikeyoh21

A DISGRACEFUL SHOWING & A MANAGER THAT IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE THERE

Sure, you can blame the Yankees for not hitting — and believe me, that’s fair — but what’s truly infuriating over these last two games is how this so-called “dominant repeat” team has looked anything but dominant. Remember the hype? The 2025 Yankees were supposed to bulldoze the league. They were supposed to be the 2024 encore tour — louder, meaner, unstoppable. Instead, we got a front office asleep at the wheel, a manager without a plan, and a dugout full of players being micromanaged like lab experiments. The word MICROMANAGING is the key to all of this, folks.

Aaron Boone — the master of mediocrity — has once again proven he’s not qualified to lead this team. I don’t care how many spreadsheets they hand him, how many analytics reports Cashman’s army of interns print out — this man couldn’t manage a lemonade stand at a Little League game. He’s a “vibes” guy surrounded by people who think spin rate wins championships. The result? A team that looks robotic, joyless, and flat-out lost.

Even Luke Weaver hinted last night that he’s being told things about how he’s performing and needs to adjust — that’s me paraphrasing, but the message was clear: he’s being micromanaged to death, which ultimately has him second guessing and sucking. 

Somewhere in the bowels of Yankee Stadium, a bunch of front-office statisticians are dissecting every breath these guys take and it's destroying this team. How do you expect anyone to play freely like that? It’s baseball, not a coding competition. You can’t play instinctive, winning baseball when every decision — from pitch selection to defensive positioning — has to pass through a corporate algorithm.

And that brings me to today’s disaster. The Yankees, who supposedly can hit anyone, couldn’t even touch Trey Yesavage. His first postseason start. A kid with four regular-season games under his belt. I called it before the game — the Yankees wouldn’t hit him. Why? Because they’ve never hit unfamiliar pitching and there ain't much data for the loser nerds in the back office. It’s tradition at this point. Some rookie shows up, throws strikes, and suddenly the Yankees are swinging like they’ve never seen a baseball. Yesavage didn’t need to be special — he just needed to be unknown.

Max Fried? He wasn’t great. Gave up five runs. But the Yankees didn’t hit either and they probably could win the game if Fried's in longer. But, like clockwork Boone — naturally — made it worse. In comes Will Warren. Now listen, Warren isn’t a bad pitcher. He’s fine. But at this point in the season, he’s the mop-up guy. The “get us through this without embarrassment” guy. And Boone, in his infinite wisdom, decided that was the moment to call his number. Bottom line, Fried had more in the tank to allow the Yankees a shot and Boone didn't allow it. It’s like watching someone pour gasoline on a fire, then complain about the smoke.

And let’s not pretend Game One was any better. We all knew Luis Gil wasn’t going to outduel Kevin Gausman. Everyone did except Aaron Boone. You don’t start the kid against Gausman in Game One of the ALDS — not unless you enjoy digging your own grave. But Boone did it anyway, because his gut told him to. Translation: the analytics team told him to. Gausman is a bona fide ace — filthy stuff, veteran poise — and we treated him like a pop quiz we forgot to study for.

Meanwhile, the rotation depth I’ve been screaming about since April? Nonexistent. Fried and Rodón are your only dependable starters, and “dependable” is a stretch. Rodón is a coin flip every start. I said it all year: the Yankees’ rotation was shallow. I said it at the trade deadline when Cashman decided to collect four closers instead of adding a starter. FOUR. The man stockpiled relievers like he was preparing for an apocalypse. What good is that when your starters can’t get through five innings?

This is not a pitching staff. It’s a house of cards built by a GM who’s lost touch with how to construct a winner. Brian Cashman has spent the last few seasons convincing himself that he’s the smartest man in baseball, when in reality he’s the most stubborn. He can’t admit when he’s wrong, so instead of correcting mistakes, he doubles down on them. Cashman’s been running the Yankees like a tech startup — data-driven, buzzword-heavy, emotionally empty. The man who once built dynasties now builds spreadsheets.

And as bad as that is, let’s talk about Austin Wells. I like the kid’s spirit, but he’s been exposed. Can’t hit. Can’t frame as well as he thinks he can. And the most important part which is obivous at this point, Can’t call a game. Thurman Munson caught through broken bones and World Series pressure. Austin Wells sits more in one season than Munson did in his entire career. And it shows. Our pitchers look lost. There’s no rhythm, no leadership behind the plate. Wells calls games like he’s guessing what pitch Boone’s spreadsheet wants next.

And Anthony Volpe — I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — he’s not the answer right now. We needed him the most today. What did we get? Two strikeouts, zero fight. If you can’t rise up in moments like this, what’s the point? We’ve protected him, pampered him, and excused him all year. Enough. You either produce or you don’t. The Yankees can’t keep giving away at-bats in October because someone might develop in 2027.

This team has no edge. None. They’ve gone soft. The fire that once defined the Yankees — gone. Mike O’Hara, who writes for Bleeding Yankee Blue, texted me tonight and said it best: “Volpe is a disappointment. The team looks lifeless. Cam will pitch 3, 5, and 7 at this rate.” You gotta hand it to Mike — he still believes. But how can any of us, really? This team doesn’t look like they want to win. They look like they’re waiting for someone to tell them how to.

And Boone? He’ll walk into that postgame presser, blow his bubblegum, and mumble the same clichés. “We had good swings.” “We just ran into a better team.” Spare me. You didn’t run into a better team. You got out-managed, out-prepared, and out-hustled. Boone is an excuse machine in a uniform. He manages like a man allergic to accountability.

The Yankees are now down 0–2 in the ALDS, and does anyone feel good about this team? Be honest. You can’t. Because deep down, we all know what the problem is: the front office is complacent, the manager is clueless, and the roster is built for mediocrity. Boone doesn’t inspire players — he babysits them. Cashman doesn’t build winners — he builds “projects.” And the analytics department has turned this proud franchise into a collection of decimal points and theories.

This isn’t a bad week. This is who they are. They played catch-up tonight just like they’ve been playing catch-up all season — because bad decisions have consequences. Remember August? Total collapse. Boone “rested” players, managed scared, and the team fell apart. You don’t rest your way into a World Series. You fight. You grind. You lead. And the Yankees have done none of that.

So yeah, yell at me if you want. Tell me I’m negative. Say I’m repeating myself on Bleeding Yankee Blue. But guess what? I’m right. This team isn’t built for a championship — never was. I said it in January 2025, said it in July, and I’m saying it now: the Yankees need to clean house. READ MY ARCHIVE. From the front office, to Boone, to the coaching staff. Complacency kills, and this team’s been flatlining since the All-Star break.

Boone sucks. Cashman’s vision is outdated. The analytics crew runs the show. The players look like they’re drowning in instructions. And the fans — the real ones — we’re left watching the same movie every October.

If the Yankees want to win again, it starts with this: humility. Fire Boone. Rebuild leadership from the top down. Put baseball people back in charge — not computer people.

Because right now? The New York Yankees are a numbers experiment masquerading as a ballclub — and the results are in. Failure.

#FireBoone
#FireCashman
#WakeUpYankees

DAVID WELLS, AARON JUDGE & CHANNELING BABE RUTH!

The Yankees kicked off the 2025 season like they were shot out of a cannon. Scratch that—more like they brought the cannon and started launching baseballs into orbit like it was their full-time job. And honestly? It was glorious.

From the jump, Yankee bats weren’t just hot—they were volcanic. I lost count of the home runs somewhere between my third slice of pizza and the fifth souvenir ball flying into the seats. It was a festival of dingers, and nobody was enjoying it more than... Russell Wilson? I loved what Wilson tweeted a few weeks back.

By the way, Wilson is now fully living his best New York sports life being with the football Giants. He took to Twitter during the homer-fest and posted:

“So sweet! The Great Bambino is smiling!”

Now that is elite-level fan energy. Wilson is out here referencing Babe Ruth like he’s quoting scripture. The man is in it. And honestly? Same. The Bambino might actually be smiling, somewhere up in baseball heaven, puffing a cigar and watching Aaron Judge go full Paul Bunyan with the bat.

Because let’s talk about Judge for a second. The guy isn’t playing baseball; he’s putting on a power-hitting clinic. Six home runs in his first seven games—including a grand slam—because when you’re Aaron Judge, you don’t “go deep,” you go galactic.

And he’s doing it his way.

While some Yankees players have been experimenting with the so-called "torpedo bats" (which sound more like something out of Star Wars than the MLB rulebook), Judge wants no part of that.

“I’m not hopping on the bat trend,” he said, casually after launching another moonshot.

And to drive the point home—literally—he went out the next day and crushed another homer in his very first at-bat. Four homers in the Yankees’ first three games. No Yankee has ever done that before. Not even Ruth. Not even Reggie. Not even Alfonso Soriano in his "I’ll hit the first pitch I see into the East River" days. I kid, I kid.

 

The numbers are absurd. Judge is batting .379 with six home runs and 17 RBIs through just seven games. This after putting up a ridiculous .322 average with 58 homers and 144 RBIs last season, on his way to winning his second AL MVP in three years.

At this point, Judge isn’t chasing Ruth—he’s walking right alongside him. Fun fact: both hit 321 home runs in their first 1,000 games with the Yankees. That’s not a stat, that’s folklore. Judge is becoming a living legend, and if you’re watching this era of Yankee baseball, you are witnessing something genuinely special.

If you know me, you know how much I LOVED being a part of this series on Babe Ruth and the Called Shot. Check it out! https://t.co/qMVX2Mn88P

— Brian Brenberg (@BrianBrenberg) April 3, 2025

Speaking of Ruth, there’s a must-watch FOX documentary out now about The Called Shot and it is hosted by one of our favorite BYB contributors, Mike O'Hara! 

Apparently, Babe Ruth calling his shot has been debated since the 1932 World Series when Babe Ruth (supposedly) pointed to the stands before blasting a home run off the Cubs. It’s baseball’s version of Bigfoot, but with pinstripes and hot dogs.

I caught David Wells talking about it during one of the shows on FOX—still one of the most entertaining voices in the game—and he swears Ruth did it. “No doubt in my mind,” he said. 

Technically? Ruth was probably pointing at the Cubs dugout with some good ol’ fashioned Bronx attitude, not the bleachers. But who cares? Bill Dickey, Ruth’s teammate, once told the Washington Post:

“So we just made an agreement not to bother straightening out the facts.”

Translation: the truth is boring. The myth is better.

Back in 1992, the Babe Ruth Museum asked fans if they believed in the Called Shot. 85% said yes. That tells you everything you need to know about baseball fans—we’re romantics with great taste in legends.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Ruth literally called his shot. I think he taunted, then obliterated. But hey, semantics. Ball left the park either way.

Fast forward to 2025, and while Babe Ruth may be a myth, Aaron Judge is pure reality.

Now let’s clear up two things:

1. Torpedo bats? Fake news. Despite what Dave Portnoy might be yelling from a rooftop somewhere, Judge isn’t using anything fishy.

2. Judge’s power? 100% certified real.

“What I’ve done the past couple of seasons speaks for itself,” Judge told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.

And he's right. What he's doing is absurd. He's already rewriting the history books—and he’s doing it while carrying the most legendary franchise in sports. The Yankees are launching bombs like it’s 1927 all over again, and Judge is the one swinging the sledgehammer.

Yes, the pitching needs some work (and yes, I’d like to see someone other than Anthony Volpe field a routine grounder cleanly). But when this offense is clicking, it's like watching The Avengers assemble every night—with Aaron Judge playing the role of Thor, hammer and all.

So, here's to Yankee bombs, Babe Ruth smiles, and Russell Wilson fully leaning into his inner baseball nerd. It’s all just... fun. And in a sport built on drama, nostalgia, and raw power, fun is the secret sauce.

Now if we could just get a little better defense and a manager who doesn’t treat the bullpen like a game of spin-the-bottle, we’d be set.

But hey, Ruth didn’t need perfection. He just needed a bat—and a little belief.

So do we.

BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT

Since September 2010, Bleeding Yankee Blue has been a steadfast part of the Yankee fan community, delivering heartfelt articles, sharp insights, humor and unwavering passion for our beloved Bronx Bombers. For over a decade, we've shared our journey with you on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and more recently, BlueSky. Today, we are announcing a new chapter for BYB—one that reflects our dedication to our readers and our commitment to continuing this journey in a way that strengthens our connection to you.

After much thought, I have made the decision to stop posting regularly on social media platforms.

Instead, we are refocusing our efforts on our core home. We are asking for you to go directly to our website: bleedingyankeeblue.blogspot.com. We encourage you to bookmark our blog and make it your go-to destination for all things BYB. 

This change allows us to bring you the same heartfelt content without the distractions of ever-changing social media algorithms. I'm tired of all of it to be honest with you. Too much noise, too much anger and it's tedious, let's be honest. No, Bleeding Yankee Blue is not disappearing—far from it! We are simply restructuring how we deliver the content you’ve come to love and expect.

We want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to you, our incredible audience. For 14 years, you’ve supported us, shared our articles, and brought life to the community we’ve built together. Many of you have become more than just readers—you’ve become my personal friends, confidants, and kindred spirits in this shared love for the Yankees. Your comments, likes, shares, and encouragement have meant the world to us. It’s because of you that BYB has thrived, and it’s because of you that we’re excited to continue this journey.

To those who have followed us across the various social media platforms, we can’t thank you enough for your loyalty and engagement. You’ve been the driving force behind every post, every article, and every late-night brainstorm session. While we may not be posting as regularly on those platforms, our love and appreciation for you remain steadfast. We encourage you to keep the conversation going by visiting our blog, sharing your thoughts and posting our stories wherever you'd like. We however will not be.

As we look forward to 2025, we’re filled with excitement and determination. BYB isn’t going anywhere. We also want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible team behind BYB. Suzie Pinstripe, Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa, Mike O'Hara, and Alvin Izzo—your stories, support, and unwavering commitment have been the backbone of our success. Each of you has brought unique perspectives and unmatched talent to this platform, and we are endlessly grateful for everything you’ve contributed. Your voices have made BYB what it is today, and we’re excited for what’s ahead with your continued brilliance.

To our readers: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your loyalty, passion, and engagement have made this journey worthwhile. You are the reason BYB exists, and your support fuels our drive to keep going. This isn’t a farewell—it’s simply a shift, a new way for us to connect and grow together. We love you all, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.

So, here’s to the next chapter of Bleeding Yankee Blue. Bookmark us, visit often, and let’s make 2025 our best year yet. Together, we’ll keep the spirit of the Yankees alive and well. Thank you for everything, and we’ll see you on the blog!

--Robert Casey
BYB Chief & Head Writer
Bluesky: @bleednyankeeblu.bsky.social

WE AIN'T IN KANSAS ANYMORE SOTO!

Yes, here is another "typical Yankee fan" popping off about Juan Soto taking his big payday with the other ball club in Queens. 

No, I'm not running the Mets or their fans down. What bothers my about the Orange and Blue...and sometimes black team and their fans is that WE DON'T HATE THE METS! They want us to! 

They want us to hate them. They want a rivalry... but they, as Derek said, they're "just the Mets". They are the place holder wearing the colors of New York originals... THE BROOKLYN DODGERS and THE NEW YORK GIANTS. They will always be the "other team". 

Steve Cohen will never change that. Why? Because all the money in the world can't erase The Babe, The Mick, Joe D, The Iron Horse, Reggie, The Bronx Zoo, The 90s etc.  No, this isn't me holding onto the past either. IT'S JUST BASEBALL HISTORY, that's all, and there happens to be a lot of YANKEE BASEBALL in that proud story of the American Pastime. Full stop.

I'm glad for my pals that root for the Metropolitans. Truly. They have a great park over there. It's a quantum leap over the big "Ashtray near LaGuardia" as my Pop once called it. Yea... remember Shea Stadium? They have some great players these days and the Mets of the 1980s were fun to watch.

My issue is with guys like Barstool's KFC puffing his chest out on WFAN today saying, "NOBODY CARES ABOUT MONUMENT PARK AND THE PINSTRIPES ANYMORE!" Seems like Yankee fans live rent-free eating nothing but high scoring Portnoy Pizza's in Kev's head. Take your big-time player! Steve had the money, Soto has Boras and so it goes and so it goes. I enjoy KFC on the Barstool podcast, and know he's breaking balls, but the glee people get from the Yanks not signing someone outweighing the rush of getting a big bat like Juan is nuts.

Signing Soto would've been awesome for the Yankees. He seemed to like the Bronx, playing with #99 and the fans loved him...BUT it's a lousy move. It hamstrings you from getting anything else, even having Cohen's monopoly money. The luxury tax is heavy and buying all-star teams does not work.

We are so far gone on players and these contracts. 700 plus million? For a one ballplayer? Think on that. Yes, dollar amounts increase as time passes, but that is insane. Even if they do a little presto chango like Ohtani and backload it all...it still sucks. WE AS FANS END UP PAYING THE NOTE, GANG! Higher ticket prices. Higher concessions prices, Taking a family of 4 to a game? Call your bank and take out that second mortgage.

I don't blame the players. They take what is offered. If the owners put a cap on cash the Union will strike. Agents like Boras don't care about you and your love of the game. They don't. Juan Soto doesn't either. You cheering him as a Met or booing because he ain't a Yankee anymore makes NO difference to him. He is a hired gun. He NEVER claimed to be anything else.

Don't the Mets still own Bobby Bonilla? Baseball is a clown show of contracts these days. For every Juan Soto story we see flame outs, injuries... or they lose the hunger because they got all they wanted. S

Sickboy's line in Trainspotting - "First ya have it. Then you lose it. Then it's gone forever. In all walks of life." 

THIS WILL HAPPEN. The Mets just overpaid for a guy who is GREAT! He is a great ballplayer...but in 2 years he'll be really, really good. In 5 years he'll be a strong power hitter who will be a permanent DH. In 7 years, Mets fans will be calling into WFAN saying, "I said it then! We should never have given him that type of money! 15 years??"

Look, the Yankees have PLENTY of problems. I don't think much of the GM. The owner ain't his old man. The team has stars...and a lot of black holes too. The new stadium is a nice outdoor mall, and there are loud mouth Yankee fans spouting off with the sad, "27 championships, bro!" But they're still the Yankees for better or for worse. Steve Cohen and Juan Soto can't make them a lesser franchise in the world of sports or baseball lore any more than Rolling Stone could try to make the Beatles a lesser band. In short, some things just stay gold in this world. The New York Yankees were never about one player. They are, whether KFC and his ilk like it or not, what people think of when baseball is uttered - fan or not.

What Soto did was great for Soto, good for the Mets and lousy for baseball fans. It will keep pushing our game more and more out of reach. It's not because the slugger passed on the Yankees either. I feel the Yankees are culpable too. No organizations are innocent. No superstar player is either.

We always hear the cliche', "hey, it's a business." That may be true. It's a business for the owners and big-time players...but for us fans? We're outside looking in at a sign that reads : BASEBALL FANS NEED NOT APPLY.

A 90's song about greed ought to do it... Silverchair for the Golden Throne Juan Soto now sits on.

--Mike O'Hara

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @mikeyoh21

 

STANDARD OF THE OLD GUARD HAS FALLEN

It's one of my favorite movies in recent memory, and the reason is summed up in the dialog of one scene. "Whiplash" is truly outstanding. Even if you're not a musician, and can't read music any better than you can read ancient greek. The message is undeniable. Play to win!

The scene I refer to has Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons having a quiet drink in an East Village club and talking about Jazz legend Charlie Parker's rise to greatest. Simmons, truly one of the great actors ever, talks about how the phrase, "Good job." is the worst thing you can say to someone with talent. It means "ok". It means "fair". It means you wasted a chance to truly be great. I love that sentiment.

We have a similar sin being committed by the current regime heading up the New York Yankees, THE CHARLIE PARKER OF BASEBALL. When the late, great Boss was at the helm this past World Series fumble would have been might with a stool being flung at the heads of the GM, Manager, Star players etc... AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE RIGHT MOVE! Can you always win? No. Should you strive for that? YES! Especially when you have the talent to be great.

In recent years I've listened to Brian Cashman's monotoned excuse filled droning on sports talk radio. He loves to highlight numbers of wins, playoff appearances, signing this player or trading for that one. BUT he doesn't get it. He no longer has George holding his feet to the flame and demanding the best. No, he has Fredo Steinbrenner. The softer, kinder, gentler, zero baseball in his blood son of the MIGHTY BOSS running the show. He has allowed the "good job" mentality to drench the organization in mediocrity. Are the Yankees a good team...sure. Are they a great team? No.

Look, it's baseball. In the grand scheme of life, it's entertainment and we all need perspective before letting it ruin our day. But it does offer a lesson to us year in and year out. That's why sport is so relevant! It is the human spirit being pushed to be the best it can be! We unfortunately now live in a time when things are half measure. When being ok or showing up gets you a pat on the back. THE STANDARD OF THE OLD GUARD HAS FALLEN. The New York Yankees are an error filled 5th of that FACT.

What will change? Zero chance. It doesn't have to change. The money comes in. The Yankees are still the Beatles to fans across the world. The Jerseys will sell. The TV contracts will pay up. The hotdogs and beers will be a second mortgage at the Stadium...and being good enough...well, it'll just be good enough.

I know these aren't my Yankees. Mine started in the late '70s and ran through Jeter's last hurrah. When the Yankees were special to me. I still root for them. I think the world of Judge, Rizzo and some of the others...but they aren't a must see to me anymore. The sad thing is outside a select few...I don't see anyone who would watch that great seen from "Whiplash" and get the life changing message in it.

How haunting are Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's lyrics now? And not just for Yankee fans...

"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you..."

Band from Jersey singing for all that believe that "good job" is an awful thing to say to someone with the heart and talent to be great.

--Mike O'Hara

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @mikeyoh21

THANK YOU, MR. T

I’m a creature of habit in so many ways. I go to what I know when I feel off, lost, alone or confused with whatever type Maddux-esq bleeder crosses the plate of life. I make jokes…normally at my own expense. I sing along to my favorite songs…been belting out “House of the Rising Sun” a good bit of late. I’ll watch baseball and I write. Lord knows the Yanks haven’t been a ton of help this season...and I could use those Bomber of the Bronx that’s for sure.

I’ve been lucky to have had so many coaches in my life when stuff goes sideways. Not just skippers on the diamond, field, water or court, but the best ones from the game of life. My old man, lifelong pals or even a fella I met reading a blog about those Pinstriped Players and became fast friends with. These people have been to me what Mr. Torre was to Jeter. Sometimes when you feel like you're last in your own “division”, relating to what you know isn’t just a good thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.

I’m here at the end of the bench beating myself up for everything like Paulie would do after missing that 3-2 limper that passed over the dish and wink at him on the way by. I’m angry, confused and utterly spent…but KNOW I must play on. There are people that count on all of us and to say, “Bulls**t I quit!” just isn’t what you do. If you truly have heart, you know you can’t quit on anyone that needs you.

So why Mr. T? Why bring up Stoic Number 6? Because of something he told Jeter. I’m paraphrasing of course, as I wasn’t on the roster or in the clubhouse to hear it. “We play the game with all we have. We
play it heart and soul…but it isn’t ours. We are charged to return it to the next generation better than we were given it.”

That’s something I’ve thought about a lot lately. The way Joe Torre was a Yoda-like thinker is why, in my opinion, he is a Hall of Fame Manager and person. 

I try to play the game I was given by my folks, family, the old guard with respect and with my heart and soul. Having good manners, good intentions, trying to be a hero as my grandfather, the good Cop from Bay Ridge was to the people in the neighborhood he patrolled. I owe that to them.

My time as a kid enjoying the everyday fun of school, little league and carefree summers is over. I need to turn over the game to my kids (the next generation) and steward over it like the Old Timers watching this current group of young Yankees. There is something in Torre’s message that shakes you out of whatever is dragging you down. It is like hearing Mickey Goldmill screaming his war cry of, “Get up! Get up you son of a bitch! One more round…cuz Mickey loves ya.”

We all must find the message in what Mr. T said. He wasn’t just about Baseball…it was about so much more, and he knew it when he said it to that skinny shortstop from Kalamazoo.

I write when I’ve lost my way and can’t see how things will work out. It helps to see my words on the page. Whether it be a post, song lyrics, a reminder…do what you know. Remember you are important to so many, and so many loved to watch you play the game. Now it’s your turn to give it back better than you received it. That’s how it’s done the right way.

Not a song that fits the post…but it’s a great one nonetheless.

--Mike O'Hara

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @mikeyoh21

ROLLING OUT OLD YANKEES FROM YESTERYEAR WON'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE YANKEES STINK!

The Yankees are rolling the bones out yet again.  Old Timer's day is September 9th.  On that day, Derek Jeter will debut as an Old Timer for the New York Yankees.  Nice moment, but let's keep this real; in my opinion is might be the biggest game of distraction ever. 

Yankee Brass should be ashamed of themselves. THE YANKEES STILL STINK.  Sure, it's a moment to celebrate but give me a break.

Hey look, I’m not saying Jeets, Andy, Jorge, Mo, etc.… are in rascal scooters or in-home nurses in tow, asking, “When are my stories on?” No, I’m saying their GLORY DAYS have passed us by.  They were epic! They were legendary! They were truly a Dynasty. 

BUT HOW IN THE NAME OF VON HAYES DOES THIS ROSTER OF PINSTRIPE TITANS HELP THIS, to steal a line from Pop Fisher, DEAD TO THE NECK UP BALL CLUB?  Yankee Faithful, are we stupid? I’m asking if we are somehow now the biggest clown show fanbase in baseball? Serious question. 

For decades the Yankee Fan was dialed into the game and team like no other. Now, well in the front office’s view, we see something shiny and forget about everything else.  We’ve become Cubs fans from the early 90s. Get 12 Olde Styles at Wrigley, sing Take Me Out with Harry, stumble out of the Friendly Confines and hit The Cubbie Bear. It’s so bad in the Bronx these days.

So rather than putting any thought into the current team the Brass rolls out Yesteryear ONE MO' TIME! Like it’s a bad Skynyrd Cover band that plays FREE BIRD once to open, once to close and 4 times in the middle of the set! 

AM I ALONE HERE? I feel like Lewis Black at this point!  F*&^% EVERYTHING AND F&^% EVERYBODY!

deep breath…

I am just done watching the Yankees this year. I still love Judge, Schmidty, Cole and some of the other fellas, but this is just lousy baseball. The team is a badly run ship of misfitting pieces. It was built with massive holes in the hull. HOW CAN IT FLOAT? It can't.

So go watch the Old Timers Day game! Sure, Paulie, Jeets, Boomer, Coney, Mr. T, Mo! Yes, they'll all be there. Hell, you can then hit the Deegan and be home before the actual team gives up a five-run 3rd and meekly scratches across a run in an 8-1 loss.

I have to ask... WHERE HAVE YOU GONE STICK MICHAEL? THE YANKEE FAN TURNS THEIR LONELY EYES TO YOU!

Well, Cubs’ fans…er, I mean Yankee Fans…there’s always next year. At this point I’d take the four lads from Liverpool over DJ, Volpe, Torres and Rizzo.  Paul, John, George, Ringo…take it away. I too believe in Yesterday. Today? Nah. Tomorrow? I’ll get back to you at Mike Stanley Day at the Stadium next May.

--Mike O'Hara

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @mikeyoh21