THE MARTIAN WILL GET HIS SHOT

Yankee fans everywhere are looking forward to seeing what Jasson Dominguez can do in his first full season the MLB.  We have talked about this a lot, but it looks like we are finally here.  Thank goodness. Jasson Domínguez’s MLB career has been more stop-and-go than full-speed ahead, but that might be about to change. The Yankees’ 21-year-old phenom—once hailed as the future of the franchise—is finally healthy and ready to make his mark.

Ever since signing a record-breaking $5.1 million deal out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in 2019, Domínguez has carried sky-high expectations. A switch-hitter with explosive power and elite athleticism, he’s the type of player who can transform a lineup. Now, there’s even talk of him taking over the leadoff spot—a clear sign that the Yankees believe in his potential.

Of course, his big-league debut in 2023 was a wild ride—four homers in eight games, including a jaw-dropping first at-bat blast off Justin Verlander. But just as quickly as his star was rising, disaster struck: a UCL tear ended his season before it really began. Instead of handing Domínguez a full-time role in 2024, the Yankees played it safe, trading for Alex Verdugo while shifting Aaron Judge to center and Juan Soto to right.

Domínguez worked his way back, finishing his rehab by June—only to get sidelined again with an oblique strain that delayed his return until late July. Meanwhile, Verdugo? Let’s just say that experiment flopped.

Now, finally, the Yankees have the guy they’ve been waiting for. No more waiting. No more stopgaps. 

It’s Jasson time.

JUSTIN VERLANDER'S STILL GOT IT APPARENTLY

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with starting pitcher Justin Verlander. While it’s not Yankee news, Verlander is one of those players you have to report on when he’s on the move.

A nine-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner, Verlander has been one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, earning accolades with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. He even snagged the AL MVP award in 2011, the same year he won his first Cy Young with the Tigers.

However, Verlander is no longer in his prime. His 2024 season was rough, posting a 5.48 ERA over 90⅓ innings and hitting a career-low in strikeout rate. Despite his determination to pitch until 45, the declining velocity of his fastball has been hard to ignore.

There was some doubt about whether Verlander would continue his illustrious career, especially after last season’s struggles, which included a career-worst ERA in 17 starts for the Astros and two stints on the injured list. Still, it’s good to see him giving it another go. I’m not a Verlander hater—he’s had a fantastic career and deserves respect. Let's see if he has anything left in the tank.

I wish him well.

IN THE LATEST SAGA OF THE METS WANTING TO BE THE YANKEES...

Steve Cohen and the New York Mets—baseball’s answer to that one person in high school who keeps trying to reinvent themselves to impress the cool kids, only to trip over their own shoelaces. The latest twist in the Mets' ongoing obsession with the Yankees? A desperate grab at bullpen pieces that might as well come with pinstripes stitched in for good measure.

According to Dan Bartels of the New York Post, the Mets are considering a trio of options for their bullpen, including Yankee fan-favorite Tommy Kahnle. Bartels’ tweet sums it up:

"If the Mets don’t spend big in the bullpen: David Robertson, Chris Martin, or Tommy Kahnle could be a fit, per @NYPost_Mets."

All former Yankees by the way.

Oh, the audacity! Kahnle, who practically breathes Yankee mystique, posted a career-best 2.11 ERA, fanned 46 batters, and boasted an absurd 59.8% ground-ball rate. Naturally, this would make him a tempting target for a team that has spent the better part of the last decade looking like they’ve been cursed by the ghost of Bobby Bonilla’s contract.

But wait—this is the same Mets team that’s already poached Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas, two former Yankees by the way. Did I mention that they were former Yankees? Are we seeing a pattern here? Maybe Steve Cohen isn’t building a team so much as he’s collecting Yankees like they’re Pokémon cards. What’s next? A monument at Citi Field dedicated to "Almost Yankees We Paid Too Much For"?

And then there’s the Juan Soto saga. Former Yankee. Cohen’s near-obsessive pursuit of the slugger reportedly included outlandish offers—rumored to flirt with a near billion-dollar price tag and a luxury suite for Soto’s family. Really? NEARLY A billion dollars? That’s Bezos money, not "we're still paying for Max Scherzer’s arm and Justin Verlander’s ghost" money.

But here’s the kicker: the Yankees and us Yankee fans couldn’t be happier about the Mets taking Soto off the market. With their rivals distracted, the Bronx Bombers were free to bolster their lineup and pitching staff, leaving Mets fans wondering if Cohen is secretly a double agent sent by Hal Steinbrenner.

If Cohen wants to mimic the Yankees, here’s a free tip: it’s not about signing players who used to be good in pinstripes. It’s about cultivating a winning culture, making smart investments, and, oh yeah, not treating your team like a vanity project. Until then, the Mets will remain what they’ve always been: the Yankees' shadow, forever chasing the light.

Good luck with Tommy Kahnle, Mets. Maybe he’ll bring some of that Yankee magic with him. Or maybe he’ll just bring another reminder that Citi Field is where pinstriped dreams go to die.

But I actually hope Kahnle comes back to the Yankees. I liked him there, and I know he loved being a Yankee.

I HAVE MAD RESPECT FOR CLAY HOLMES

The Mets made waves Friday, snatching up a free agent from the Yankees—but not that free agent. No, Juan Soto is still out there deliberating on where to spend the next 12-15 years of his life, but in the meantime, the Mets locked down Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million deal (pending a physical). While it might not be Soto-level headlines, this signing is intriguing for one big reason: Holmes, a reliever for a while now, wants to be a starter.

Let’s pause for dramatic effect.

Yes, Clay Holmes, a man who has spent seven years coming out of the bullpen, has decided it’s time to embrace his inner Justin Verlander. To his credit, he’s got guts. Holmes has been a reliable (though occasionally nerve-wracking) reliever, posting a career ERA+ of 113 across 311 games—307 of which were relief appearances. But now, at 31 years old, Holmes is ready to reinvent himself. If nothing else, you’ve got to respect the audacity.

Holmes didn’t exactly burst onto the MLB scene. Drafted by the Pirates, he spent seven years in the minors and then three-plus seasons as a middling reliever in Pittsburgh, where he compiled a forgettable 4.93 ERA. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes—or maybe just a guy who needed a change of scenery—Holmes found new life with the Yankees.

When the Yankees acquired him at the 2021 trade deadline for two minor leaguers (who are probably running batting cages somewhere), Holmes immediately clicked. He slashed his ERA to 1.61 in 25 games and quickly became a bullpen staple. By 2022, he replaced Aroldis Chapman as closer, made his first All-Star team, and looked like the Yankees’ new ninth-inning sheriff.

But then came 2023. Holmes started 2023 strong but hit turbulence late in the season. By September, he was removed from the closer’s role after racking up 13 blown saves. The Yankees pivoted, using him in a setup role during their postseason run, where he pitched respectably (2.25 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings). Still, the shine had dimmed, and questions about his long-term role swirled.

Apparently, Holmes had an answer: starter.  Enter the Mets, who are apparently feeling experimental these days. They’ve signed Holmes with the plan to convert him into a starter, despite his complete lack of experience in the role at the major-league level. The Mets clearly see potential, and hey, $38 million isn’t chump change. Maybe they’re hoping for another Nathan Eovaldi-type reinvention. Or maybe they just really like rolling the dice.

As for Yankees fans, it’s hard not to feel a mix of emotions...slightly. On one hand, Holmes’ bullpen heroics in 2021 and 2022 earned him a lot of goodwill. On the other hand, there’s something oddly satisfying about seeing the balls on this guy wanting to start a new in Queens in a pretty significant role. It takes guts to pivot your career after all these years, especially under the bright lights of New York. That said, I’m skeptical. Reinventing yourself as a starter at this stage is a tall order, and Holmes’ track record doesn’t scream “ace material.”

At the end of the day though, there’s mad respect for Holmes taking this leap. It’s not every day a two-time All-Star reliever says, “You know what? Let’s rewrite the script.” Whether it works out or not, Holmes deserves credit for betting on himself—and for pocketing $38 million while doing it.

YANKEES SWEEP OUT THE TRASH!

What a great ending to a Easter holiday weekend! A three-game sweep is hard enough, but we just watched the Yankees sweep a four-game series against the team I hate the most. Now I want to see this team stay hungry and carry that into Arizona.

It's a small sample size, but the Yankees are doing better than I thought they would. Last year the Yankees would be lucky to split a four-game series....and I do mean lucky. Maybe this team is hungrier than I thought. Maybe the ASSTROS are struggling with their new identity. Let's face it, Dusty Baker was an energizer to that team... and now he's gone.

Meantime, the Yankees have a new spark. We all knew Juan Soto was going to add steady offense that this team was lacking, but he exceeded almost everyone's expectations with his 9-for-17 in the series, a double, home run, four RBIs and three walks and add in two game winning hits. Aaron Judge was a cool 2-for-16 in the series, but he started similarly in 2022 and he still finished with an American League record of 62 home runs. I am imagining what it looks like if Soto and Judge go on an offensive run at the same time.

It's no secret, I HATE the ASSTROS and their owner Jim Crane. I think they are the dirtiest team in baseball and their returning cheaters Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander are disgraceful lowlifes. We've owed the ASSTROS a punch in the face for a long time. We gave them four in a row, and now I hope Verlander is healthy when we play them at home in May so we can smack him around, too. That would make this even sweeter for me.

I'm trying not to get overly excited here, because I know we just barely got started but I am liking what I see so far. The Yankees are headed to Arizona, and I will be at Tuesday's game, so I hope they bring this momentum with them, and sucker punch the Diamondbacks also. Last time they came here, we didn't play well and my husband who supports the Diamondbacks for his NL team wouldn't let me hear the end of it.

Don't let me down boys!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHEN IT COMES TO THE YANKEES, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY...

Are you mentally checked out? Let me put it to you this way: Have you stopped investing time and money in the 2023 Yankees? I am looking for a series to stream and other hobbies to occupy my time between now and the World Series. I ran over 130 miles in the month of July, can I do 150 in August? Where will you allocate your time now that the Yankees have sent a message that they are no longer competing? Honestly, I don't even know if they are building.

Source: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

"There was no enormous trade-deadline splash in The Bronx on Tuesday. No 6 p.m. gasp at Yankee Stadium when a game-changing trade hit social media or lit up the pre-game blather on the scoreboard. No thunderous bat for left field. No starter who might replace the struggling Luis Severino or even just add insurance to the pinstriped rotation," reported Yahoo Sports.

Just status quo. Nothing brewing. No sense of urgency. They have given up. And therefore, so have I. Work is a lot. Plenty of other things to do than watch the Yankees piss their talent and season away. Just need to figure out what to do with all my newly opened calendar space.

According to CBS Sports, "The last place Yankees -- made two minor trades at the deadline, picking up relievers Keynan Middleton and Spencer Howard in separate deals, and that's it. They neither bought nor sold, and they didn't address their season-long left field problem either." 

"We're in it to win it. We stayed the course because of that," GM Brian Cashman said after the trade deadline. "This was the best play for us with the team we have, still within striking distance," reported CBS Sports. Are they serious? What world are they living in? And it must be nice to simply not care and get paid a lot of money to not care.

"The trade deadline makes you wonder whether anyone upstairs, specifically Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner, has a grasp on reality and the team's current situation. Are they honest with their self-evaluation? Do they understand they have an aging roster and have struggled to finish off the development of their young players at the MLB level, or that the other four teams in the AL East are on the rise? They're so sure of themselves even though the team on the field inspires no confidence," reported CBS Sports.

The Yankees have been coasting since 2009, living off their prior wins and complacent with where they are. They are not racing toward anything. They are stuck in the salary mud, with deadbeat, used to be players not interested in doing anything but giving us lip service that they are trying.

Let's put it this way...if the Mets are two years out from having a championship team, unloading key fixtures in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander to AL teams that are contending, where are the Yankees? Three years, four years out? What are they doing to improve? 2023 was a disaster but unless the Yankees are going to have a hard look at that themselves in the mirror will 2024 be any different? 

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

"THE PLAN NOW IS FOR ALL OF US TO CLICK AT THE RIGHT TIME."

9 games back. 

But things are taking a turn.  The addition of hitting coach Sean Casey will prove significant, and the addition of Andy Pettitte offers hope for Yankee fans everywhere.  It shows a true effort to surround an unqualified manager with smarter, more qualified former players are now in the mix. The Yankees decision making just got better. Pettitte and Casey will help pump up players, offer approach strategy, and hopefully show the fans that Yankee brass is serious about improving this team.  Will it work? I think seeing guys like Casey and Pettitte shows the Yankees are throwing everything at the problem without disrupting the clubhouse with major trades, firings or demotions.  There's no doubt that things are starting to change for the better.  Not we just need everyone to contribute.

That title above is actually a Giancarlo Stanton quote.  The New York Post writes:

"After DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton crushed key home runs on Saturday, Anthony Rizzo ended a two-month homerless drought among his four hits on Sunday as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Royals...

They will face a more formidable test Tuesday night in three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, who has posted a 1.74 ERA over his past five starts for the Mets.

“It doesn’t matter who they have going, we have a job to do and we gotta be ourselves and do what we have to do,” Stanton said Sunday. “Good at-bats, tough outs, that’s what builds four-, five, six-run games. … The plan now is for all of us to click at the right time.”

It's simple thinking, but that's the kind of thinking you need to have when you're a ballplayer.  Us fans treat these losses like it's the end of the world. I cannot believe how many times I hear from fans that the Yankees "suck".  Yea, on paper we're better than we're playing, but 9 out is not as bad as saying "last place" and it's a mindset.  I really think the Yankees have a shot this year. I hate thinking this way, but they're only 2.5 out of the wildcard.  My point is, it's not as bad as Yankee fans make it out to be. And the Yankee press has been pretty bad as well. It just plays to the baseball insiders favor, throwing possible trades against the wall... all guesses, but helps their readership.  Everybody calm down.

But what Stanton says is key. All of the Yankee players have to click at the right time.  There are winning streaks, losing streaks, hot streaks and slumps.  We got the worst of all of that recently, but we're turning a corner.  

It's July 25th. Not August 25th. That too is a significant part of it.  We need to be patient, but we need to turn it up now!  It's a hard approach when you think about it.  But I have no doubt that guys like Casey and Pettitte will be influential with this latest winning streak.  The bottom line however is that we just need to keep going.

We got this.

LET'S GO WITH FOUR & SEE WHAT THE SPRING BRINGS!

With the Yankees being bit by the injury bug only a few weeks before spring training, I have to wonder do the Yankees need to decide who slides into the fifth spot now? In case you are unaware, the Yankees stated late last week that their fifth starter, Frankie Montas will not be ready for the start of the 2023 season—leaving that slot wide open. I don't like the obvious choices of Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German to fill that void—sorry skipper aka Robert Casey. Not a fan of Schmidt and honestly he has been given dozens of chances last season alone and he has underperformed. And German, I have no desire to even see him in pinstripes any further. So my question is this: Can the Yankees go with four and see what the spring brings before naming their fifth starter?

Competition does a lot for a team. It brings out the best in people as they work to be their best selves. Personally, on Tuesday mornings right at sunrise, you can find me at a local track, running 200 repeats to increase my speed and endurance for an upcoming 10-miler this spring. Putting in the work, hard work, is humbling and reminds you what you are going for, what you want in your goals and aspirations. Spring Training does the same thing—giving players an opportunity to perform at their best, showing the coaches and scouts what they can do and pushing themselves to their threshold of power. All this to say, why not let the spring play out, bringing the best of today's youth to the mound, throwing for their spot in the rotation.

"Almost all of the time since the Yankees did last win the Series, they haven’t had enough pitching. They never had the starters to drag them across the finish line the way Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez did against the Phillies when the ’22 Series was two games apiece, and the way Lance McCullers Jr. and Charlie Morton did against the Yankees in that ’17 ALCS," reported Mike Lupica in his recent post on MLB.com. The Yankees have four great starters: Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino. When healthy, they can be lethal to the batters they face. Are they akin to the Yankee starters of 20 years ago? Andy Pettitte: 21-8, Mike Mussina: 17-8, Roger Clemens: 17-9 and David Wells: 15-7 were those starters and the answer to the question, why not?

Source: NY Post

"The best starting rotations are the ones when you have a deep talented staff, and every day, yesterday’s starter hands the ball off and the competitive spirit to his teammate and says, ‘Now top that.’ If you can get a collection of talented pitchers that have that type of capability and makeup, that’s when some magical things have a chance to happen," said Brian Cashman when he introduced the Yankees newest starter Carlos Rodon.

This brings me back to the point of competition. Healthy competition can put you and your team in the best position to reach your goals. So, let the pitchers compete for a spot. This spot could be permanent or temporary as Montas continues his rehab to full strength. We really have not seen a healthy Montas pitch and perhaps the almost 30-year-old needs to see a youngster in his slot to empower him to get better and take his spot back. The Yankees have one of the best farm systems in the majors. So, let's see them compete. And go with four and see what the spring brings.  

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

WILL THE YANKEES REUNITE WITH JAMESON TAILLON?

The pitching market is intriguing this winter. One of the two big names are off of the board and another name we all know well is getting a lot of attention.

Everyone is waiting to see where Justin Verlander lands, and after that the smaller pieces will come off the board faster....and one of those will be Jameson Taillon. It's easy to overlook that he was the Yankees winningest pitcher last season with a 14-5 record. It wasn't Gerrit Cole or Nestor Cortes, even though those are the names we think of immediately. Taillon's success last season has opened the eyes of other teams, including that other New York team.

Mark Feinsand talked about Taillon on MLB tonight and said Taillon has taken several Zoom meetings with other teams, read more HERE. The Mets and the Phillies are very interested in adding Taillon to their rotations, maybe even as a number two type starter and he impressed teams with his knowledge and his passion with the way he thinks about pitching. We shouldn't be surprised, when the Yankees signed him scouts called him a smart pitcher and that he could be a number two starter if he rebounded from his injuries.

And you can argue he has turned into that number two starter. I was a fan of the Taillon signing two years ago, and I still am today. I'd like to see him return to the Yankees. I really wouldn't like to see him go to the Mets or head over to Philly either. I still think could be a big difference maker for the back end of the rotation....but do the Yankees?

Feinsand says Taillon met with "a bunch of teams" and I hope the Yankees are still in the mix. He's proven that he can handle the bright lights of Yankee stadium. They say if it ain't broke don't fix it....and Taillon has proven he's anything but broke.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

FOUR TARGETS THE YANKEES ARE LOOKING TO SIGN!

Aaron Judge is the big fish, but he's not the only one out there. Remember, the Yankees didn't get very far in the post season for a few reasons. Judge wasn't the only reason. Their offense stunk and pitching was a little shaky. I had said it all year; I said the Yankees looked great for most of the season, but it's in those short series that you truly find what kind of team you have. The Yanks didn't have it, and so, we really need to think about what to do to improve.

There are some names attached to the Yankees this offseason. I wanted to share four of them with you. Do with it what you want. The rumor season is always a weird one built up with clicks and ideas. So, in the end, who knows what will really happen. But I wanted to share the names anyway... because it's fun.

Pablo Lopez:

The Yankees liked this guy back in August. But nothing ever happened.  Now, his name is back in the fold and this time he's connected to Gleyber Torres to make it a reality. Jon Heyman tweets this:

Biggest name hear available in trade so far is Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. Fish need hitters! Came close to dealing him to Yankees at deadline in a Gleyber Torres deal.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 8, 2022

Yanks go Yard says this:

"The Marlins need hitters and they have a plethora of starting pitchers, with Lopez slowly becoming expendable because he’s a free agent after 2024 who likely won’t be re-signed due to the other emerging arms in the organization. He’s expected to make $6.3 million in arbitration in 2023, which would be a cost-effective price for a pitcher of his caliber as well as the Yankees’ needs (a No. 4 and 5 behind Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino)."

My take? I think Lopez will turn into another Frankie Montas. Looks decent when not in a big market like New York... nerves get the best of him IN New York.  While I do see Gleyber Torres getting moved this off season, I don't want it to be for Lopez.

Michael Conforto:

Why Conforto you ask? I ask that too... why the hell do we want Michael Conforto?  Heyman writes "Conforto, said to be healthy now, would fit Yankee Stadium..."  But why Jon, because he's available and a lefty hitter? Conforto batted .232 in 2021. And he did not play a single inning in 2022. Hardly a powerhouse and definitely not better than what we already have in the outfield. You wanna dump Hicks for him? Sure, then maybe it's an upgrade. But just getting Conforto for the sake of getting him is ridiculous. Heyman doesn't seem to get that missing a year can be a severe blow to a player's ability. Conforto may be fine, but he also could be a bust. Hard sell. 

Andrew Benintendi:

No brainer. The Yankees had Andrew this year and are interested in retaining him in 2023. Benny wants to come back, and so now it's just a matter of time to get that done. Bleacher Report writes:

"Benintendi was supposed to be their answer after they acquired him from the Kansas City Royals, but his season ended Sept. 2 when a pitch broke his wrist. The 28-year-old hit .304/.373/.399 in 126 games with the Royals and Yankees last season."

It's respectable, and definitely a hell of a lot better than taking a chance on Conforto.

Carlos Rodon:

David Cone says this of Rodon:

"Carlos Rodon is in a class by himself. Upper-90s fastball. Left-handed. Power pitcher. Coming off a great year. He’s a cut above. He’s going to command a big deal wherever he goes, as long as you can get past his medicals. He does have a little bit of an injury history. But he certainly had a great year last year once again with the Giants.”

He is not wrong. Yahoo Sports writes:

"Rodon proved the last two seasons that when he’s right physically, he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The southpaw pitched to a 2.37 ERA over 24 starts for the White Sox in 2021, posting a 0.957 WHIP and an eye-popping 185 ERA-plus.

Then last season, after signing a short-term deal (due to his injury history) with the Giants, he went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA over 31 starts. He racked up 237 strikeouts over 278 innings, and his K rate of 12 per nine innings was the best in the majors for a starting pitcher."

While it appears to be a smart move, it comes down to money, and how this guy will perform in a place like Yankee stadium.  Plus, you always have to factor in injury, which, is an issue with this guy.

Yes. the Yankees are connected to a lot of other guys as well, including Justin Verlander and Cody Bellinger, but I just don't see those names as guys with a big upside. We definitely do not need Bellinger, and while Verlander has been dominant in 2022, I just don't see this guy wanting to come to New York. I mean, I'd love it, but I don't think the marriage is possible.

More names soon.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, get to shopping. Great deals on the BYB store! Be sure to check it out. Requests are being taken as well, so let me know what you want made and I will do it!

HERE'S YOUR THANKSGIVING APPETIZER - VERLANDER TO THE YANKEES?!

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving BYB family! We hope you are happy, healthy and enjoying your day with friends and family. Before you indulge in some turkey or pumpkin pie, let's have a Yankee appetizer.

That rumor is back again....you know, the Justin Verlander one. This time last year I asked JUSTIN VERLANDER TO THE YANKEES? and I really didn't think anything of it. I STILL don't think anything of it today...but the rumor is back and NJ.com has the scoop on it HERE.

The Yankees are always tied to big name free agents, so why would it change now? Add in that the Yankees wanted him last season and missed out on him so why wouldn't they be interested again? Oh, especially after he was just named the 2022 AL Cy Young winner after winning 18 games and posting a career low 1.75 ERA. EVERY TEAM is going to be knocking on Verlander's door.

And that is also going to make him very expensive. He's going to cash in after the season he just had so now we wait and see who's going to dig the deepest in their pockets to get him. I really don't think it will be the Yankees.

Look, Verlander had the chance to be a Yankee this season and he turned us down. The Yankees supposedly had some inside information.... but boy was it wrong.
"The Yankees tried for him last year, and they’ve gotten word through some high-ranking, political people, that he’d like to go to New York," Jon Heyman said, "They made him an offer, and they felt, the way it was handled, that he didn’t want to go to New York. The Yankees are again trying with Verlander, but I don’t think they’re confident."

So there you go...the Yankees aren't confident in their offer (supposedly) and neither am I. I don't think Verlander wants to be a Yankee and I am okay with that. I really don't want him anyway. I just want this dumb rumor to go away. Let the Mets, Dodgers or Houston throws their money at him.

So there is your Thanksgiving nibble.... personally I think some Apple pie sounds better right now so I am gonna leave it at that. Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving, everyone!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

STRATEGY IS SIMPLE, DON'T STRIKE OUT 30 TIMES

3 Yankee hitting coaches and we can't fix this problem. Pathetic.

We are in the Bronx tonight. Gerrit Cole is on the bump.  The stage is set for us to win. But here's the problem.  Our offense is in the crapper and we don't have explosive innings as we should. Can you blame Boone for that? Not really. I can blame Boone for plenty more, especially when it comes to being in the Yankee manager role and drowning because he has no idea what he's doing. But when it comes to offense, guys not only need to swing the bat, but hit the ball.

SB Nation writes:

"The offense has been a problem throughout the playoffs. Even while beating the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series, they did so while hitting just .182/.273/.370. They haven’t topped six hits in a single game since the regular season, they struck out 17 times off Justin Verlander in ALCS Game 1, and they didn’t fare much better with Framber Valdez in Game 2 last night.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, but the Yankees won’t be in a position to win the series if they can’t put together good at-bats and if they keep wasting the few chances with runners in scoring position they have. To explain the Yanks’ offensive woes during the playoffs, it’s important to understand there isn’t just one factor: each hitter is going through something different."

Boone put Bader as lead off. That helps.  But guys like Judge, Rizzo, Stanton are our big boppers and they haven't been consistent. Donaldson seems engaged sometimes and lost in others. The Oswaldo boys are rookies, but that energy can actually help us. And seriously, the only way it does is if they get comfy with being in the playoffs.  If they are, they will perform. I believe that. Meanwhile Boone doesn't know if he wants to even put Peraza in tonight. He's an idiot.

Here's the thing; 30 strikeouts in 2 games means the approach at the plate has to change. They need to adjust in the box, and they need to be smart about what they are swinging at.

I mean, don't you find it weird that we have 3 hitting coaches on the Yankees roster and we have struck out 30 times in 2 games?

FIX IT YANKEES!