GERRIT COLE IS JUST REALLY GOOD!

Gerrit Cole is awesome and this is just another moment where we can thank him for coming to the New York Yankees.

CBSSports.com writes:

"Cole did set an MLB record. When he struck out Joey Gallo for his third strikeout of the night, it was Cole's 59th strikeout since his last walk. That is the most strikeouts between walks in baseball history.

The previous record was not longstanding. Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes struck out 58 batters without issuing a walk to begin this season before walking a batter in his start last week. Burnes holds the record for most strikeouts without a walk to begin a season. Cole holds the record for most strikeouts without a walk at any point in the season."

Cole's just a pro, an old school, tough as nails pitcher and I gotta be honest with you... I kind of can't believe the Yankees are winning as much as they are with the rest of our rotation. I'm not loving our rotation guys after Cole. But we are finding ways to win and turn this season around and I could not be happier about it.

Here are the standings right now:

Don't look at place, look at games back. These standings will change 19 times between now and the end of the season.  The Yanks are coming baby!

Bring it Yanks... bring it!

NO ONE IS SURPRISED ABOUT HICKS, BUT DOES ANYONE MISS TAUCHMAN?

 

Do you remember this?
"I definitely see myself hitting 30 plus. That's what I want to do and that's what I believe I can do. If I get 500 plate appearances, I'm definitely going to hit my mark with those numbers." - Aaron Hicks

I do and I liked the enthusiasm, but just like we said in CAN AARON HICKS HIT 30 DINGERS? he's never healthy. Here we are in a new season and Aaron Hicks is injured AGAIN. It's a disappointment for sure but, it's predictable. We knew it was coming and we would need a backup plan but now that backup plan that we once had ISN'T predictable.

We always knew that If and when Hicks went down that we had Mike Tauchman waiting in the wings and he could fill in. That is until the elephant in the room finally showed up because while I was PREDICTING THE ODD MAN OUT it became clear that Tauchman just didn't fit on this roster. The Yankees had to make a move, and now he's gone. What's done is done and while some of us may miss Tauchman, it does nothing to help this situation we have now with needing the right person to fill in while Hicks is out. Missing Tauchman right now is pointless and he's not exactly killing it with the Giants, either.

And how long will Hicks be out for? Who knows right now but if Hicks does indeed need surgery for his wrist, read more HERE he could be out for most of the season. That is really hard to swallow right now. I hope that isn't the case, and maybe it's not as it could be BUT....we've seen this injury before. Remember what happened to Mark Teixeira? Yeah, same injury folks. He never came back to be the productive guy we needed him to be. Maybe I am a little haunted by that. I get that everyone's body is different and blah blah blah....

But this is Hicks we are talking about. He's made of glass and doesn't have a good track record at all. The facts don't lie, here are games played per season:
2018 - 137 games
2019 - 59 games
2020 - 54 games (Pandemic shortened 60 game season)
2021 - 32 games so far

And this is the guy that Brian Cashman gave a 7 year / $70 million contract to. He's our new Jacoby Ellsbury. That may be a bit harsh but it's how I feel right now. Sure $10 million average annual value sounds like a decent deal for the Yankees....but at seven years that's a long time to pay for a guy that hasn't proven that he can play 130+ games a season.

And now we have to get creative in the outfield while we play the 'wait and see' game with Hicks and hope for some good news. I hope Ryan LaMarre will be the sparkplug we need but I'm tired of rolling the dice and hoping we get lucky. Do I want to see Estevan Florial play in the Bronx? Absolutely! Problem is I really don't think he is ready. He was just promoted and needs more time in Triple-A.

Hicks latest Injury is just more proof that the Yankees really need to overhaul their player development team because outside of a few small notable exceptions, they have missed the mark. I hope we get good news on Hicks, but honestly....I will never feel comfortable with Hicks in the outfield without fitting him for his own personal suit made out of heavy duty bubble wrap. Even that doesn't make me feel super confident.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES LIGHT THINGS UP IN BALTIMORE—WITH UNLIKELY HEROES LEADING THE WAY

Source: New York Post

No one is happier than me to see Tyler Wade go 3 for 4 in the Yankees 8-2 victory over the Orioles on Saturday night. Finally, he is making a greater impact offensively. There is no doubt that he makes the Yankees a better team defensively, but the question has always been could he be a solid infielder and even outfielder but also hit for average? Then, there is the story of Gio Urshela, who is quickly becoming a hero for this team. And the steadiness of Brett Gardner,  along with the early contributions of Miguel Andujar. Sure, the Yankees have been lighting things up in Camden Yards, but beneath the power and might are the most unlikely heroes who are making an impact. 

Source: Associated Press

Ken Davidoff of the New York Post called Gio Urshela the Yankees glue guy; the one who keeps them together. Delving deeper, he was reporting what skipper Aaron Boone said about his most valuable player outside of the obvious MVPs who seemingly steal the limelight like Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. 

“I think that’s a good way of putting it. He has been an absolute glue guy for us,” Aaron Boone said of Urshela. “He’s hit everywhere in the order for us. Gotten a ton of big hits. And obviously special defensively for us as well,” reported the Post. 

Urshela and the rest of the unsung heroes of the team are making up for the loss of guys who you expected to be there but due to circumstances facing all teams, they can't be, at least right now. "Hicks’ specific injury is a serious concern and anything with Stanton generally sets off alarms. Gleyber Torres, moreover, missed another game due to his positive COVID-19 test, although it sounds like he might be the quickest to return," reported the Post.

Source: NJ.com

The Yankees are calling on guys like Wade and veteran Gardner to step up and keep the Yankees consistently winning because if the Yankees don't, they simply will be out of the race. But it has been Urshela leading the pack. "As their lineup has struggled mightily, with some key guys underperforming and others not available, no one has produced more steadily than Urshela, and we’re just now getting around to his defensive excellence," reports the Post.

The Yankees will finish up their series with Baltimore this afternoon and head out to Texas before returning home next weekend to host the Chicago White Sox. Can there heroes keep on performing, and lead this team to consistent wins? My answer: "They have no choice!" 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

OAKLAND NEEDS TO "PLAY BALL" SOMEWHERE ELSE - AND I KNOW THE PERFECT SPOT!

Rooted In Oakland? Maybe not! A trend has started....baseball hasn't joined the party just yet....but maybe they will. Sports has found it's way to Las Vegas, and now we are all left to wonder if baseball is destined for Sin City. All signs point to yes.

The Oakland A's may not be staying in Oakland. You've probably heard the rumors by now, but in case you haven't, MSN has a pretty good story on it HERE. It's not Yankees news BUT it's still a big deal. Baseball might be making some more changes. I'm not talking about Rob Manfred's stupid 'runner starts at second base for extra innings' crap. This actually makes sense. Las Vegas is the place to be.

The new cool home for sports is Las Vegas. It's trendy and hip and Oakland isn't. I spend a lot of time in Vegas....it's a hungry sports town. I never would've guessed that HOCKEY of all sports would move to Vegas and THRIVE there....but it HAS and the Vegas Golden Knights have an exciting and growing fan base. Fans have embraced it as the first original Vegas team and are proud of their #VEGASBORN slogan.

Teams have learned quickly that Oakland isn't the attraction it used to be and the NBA started the trend we are seeing today. Before the 2019-2020 season started the Golden State Warriors moved from Oakland back to San Francisco. Then, after two decades the Raiders moved from Oakland to Las Vegas and kicked off their 2020 season in Allegiant Stadium just off of the Vegas strip...and it definitely has room for another stadium.

Vegas isn't little Vegas anymore. MLB wants their piece of the action and Vegas would embrace it. They are willing to PLAY BALL if the A's are. MLB has given their blessing for the A's to look for a new home. The Coliseum is "not a viable option for the future of the franchise" but a $1 billion privately funded waterfront ballpark is if local city politicians will agree to help finance the remaining estimated $11 billion needed to complete construction. This is a similar scenario that happened with the Raiders back in 2017 and negotiations failed which ultimately led to them moving to Vegas.

The question is, will Oakland let this happen for a THIRD time? Oakland's mayor is already saying "HELL NO!" HERE but can they offer enough to really keep the A's in town? Maybe not. Rob Manfred also listed Portland, Vancouver, British Columbia, Nashville, North Carolina and Montreal as alternate sites if the A's do decide to move and some make sense....but not as much sense as Vegas IF Vegas can make it work again financially.

If the A's decide to move but it is not to Las Vegas I still believe that it is inevitable that baseball will have a home in Sin City soon. I'd bet money on it at the casino. Even if it isn't until the distant future I am convinced it will happen. It benefits both sides, Vegas tourism gets an additional boost and Baseball expands into a new market. 

Las Vegas is ready to PLAY BALL, but are they ready to become the Las Vegas A's? I think it could happen....and I won't lie, I'd like to see it happen! 

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES BREAK THE FIFTY FIRST DATES CYCLE WITH RAYS

Source: Kim Klement, Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I don't know what it is with the Yankees. But it certainly is mental when they play the Tampa Bay Rays. As I said on the BleedBlueShow Dugout Podcast Monday night, "The Yankees playing the Rays is like 50 first dates...same thing every time.." By the time they figure things out, it is too late and it is the next matchup with the Rays, with the same result. That is up until Tuesday night. Something is clicking with this team as they best those Rays to kick off a three day series and it is about time. 

Maybe it's the fresh haircuts the team got before facing the Rays, but the Yankees seemed locked and focused to play their modern day nemicus at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night. Likely it is the combination of many little things clicking up the chain that have helped break the cycle of 50 first dates with the Rays. Let's take a closer look.

Source: CBS Sports

Back in the lineup for the first time since March is Luke Voit, who had some good at bats and got hit by a pitch in Tuesday night's game. His energy alone can jolt a lineup. Is it Voit being back that is turning this team around? Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to have Voit back in the clubhouse. 

Source: Sports Illustrated

How about Gleyber Torres? Things are really clicking for the Yankee shortstop who ripped his first home run of the year on Mother's Day. He has settled down defensively as well, which is good news for the Yankees. But Torres clicking is not the reason on its own. 

How about starting pitching? Jordan Montgomery pitched a stellar 6 innings and struck out nine Rays in his outing last night. His change up and cutter were cruising but yet, Aaron Boone chose to relieve Montgomery in the bottom of the 6th despite his low pitch count. You could claim starting pitching is the reason why the Yankees are clicking. Certainly this rotation seems to be the most stable the Yankees have had in several years and therefore is adding tremendous return for this team. 

Source: USA Today

Teams win when the chemistry is even, when starting pitchers give their teams a chance by taking care of business on the mound, when fielding keeps pitchers confident and when hitters, bat for average and don't leave ducks on the pond. The Yankees were able to execute many of these features that helped break 50 first dates, but still they struggle with runners in scoring position. 

For the first time in the long time, I have no complaints about this team who took the field against the Rays on Tuesday night. They gelled, they focused, they hustled and they won. Let's make it two guys. You are the best Yankee team to face the Rays in a long time, so Aaron Boone, put the same team on the field again tonight and let them keep this momentum going. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ESTEVAN FLORIAL IS THE NEXT BEST THING!

Gotta love a few things in Yankeeland. For one, the Yankees are slowly climbing up the division into second place, just 3 games out to the Red Sox. That's a great thing. It took a while to get there, but we are seeing progress and it's wonderful. 

Secondly, can we talk about Estevan Florial right now? The kid's an animal!

Inside the Pinstripes write:

"Estevan Florial has four home runs in his first six games with the Double-A Somerset Patriots...

In six games with the Somerset Patriots—New York's Double-A affiliate—Florial is hitting .318/.400/.955 with four home runs. He has seven base hits in 22 at-bats with five runs, two doubles and six RBI."

Sometimes players just see the ball really well.  Sometimes they play higher than they're expected to play and sometimes they play like they're supposed to. Right now Florial is superhuman and we should all tip our cap!

Gotta love when the Yankee farm system works in our favor. Looking forward to the future.

INCOMING! VOIT AND URSHELA ARE READY TO GO!

And I can't more more excited for tomorrow. The Yankees have a stretch of 13 games in 13 days coming up so getting back two important pieces to the roster right now is HUGE! The Rays are waiting in Florida, and these two coming back for the series is perfect timing.

We've all been watching Luke Voit tear it up during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton / Wilkes-Barre so we've known his return has been imminent. Yesterday, Aaron Boone finally confirmed it HERE, and Voit will be back sometime during the Rays series. At long last, the 2020 Home Run machine is going to make his 2021 debut.....and he's ready.

When Voit went down early in Spring I was pretty disappointed. The Yankees have been plagued with injuries for so long and for spring to start with such bad news it really sucked, but it sounds like this time, the Yankees didn't sit around and wait too long to make some decisions. "It was something that popped up early in spring and just kind of got better as we went on, but it just didn’t feel right. I am just done playing hurt and I wanted to play 100% and I feel like it was the right thing," he continued. "I think I could have made it worse to where I could have been out a lot longer than what I will be for this." 

We've seen what Voit can do when he is 100% so I'm glad he listened to his body and knew that even though he felt some improvements, he knew it wasn't healing right. Missing Voit for the first five weeks of the season has hurt, but missing him even longer would've really sucked.

We've only missed Gio Urshela the last two games but the Yankees have been plagued with knee injuries so far this season so I was worried this could be worse than we thought. It's good to hear that the Yankees dodged a serious bullet with Urshela since Boone feels pretty confident that we will see him in the lineup tomorrow as long as he doesn't have any additional discomfort before then.

The Yankees just got some much needed help as we start a long stretch of games. Welcome back, boys! Now seriously....can we stop with all of the knee injuries? We've had too many and it's freaking me out.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

ALL I WANT FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Source: Twitter

Saturday night was a great kickoff to Mother's Day— a walk-off win in 11 innings courtesy of the small ball. The Yankees were bested for 8 innings with Max Scherzer on the mound. But it came down to the phantom runner on second in extra innings and Gleyber Torres just putting the ball or rather dribbling the ball in play that enabled the Yankees to beat the Nationals 4-3 in the 11th. 

If the Yankees can take the rubber game this afternoon it might give them the confidence to take on the Rays and actually beat them. All I want for Mother's Day is for the Yankees to take the hard right turn and drive it up the straight away to the top of the AL East, taking everyone in their way down. 

Source: NY Post

"Kluber, the two-time Cy Young winner who was coming off a vintage performance with eight shutout innings last Sunday against the Tigers, wasn’t quite as sharp this time. But he still gave the Yankees a strong chance to win, tossing 5 ²/₃ innings while giving up two runs on six hits and three walks and striking out six," reported the New York Post. And keeping the game close is key for the Yankees to be able to pounce late and get their team the win. 

Consistency. That is really the key for the Yankees to stay close in the AL East and eventually take the lead. Keeping their team close, starting pitchers need to set up the offense to win. And hitting with runners in scoring position, taking advantage of any missteps, and playing with heart is what the Yankees need to keep at the forefront of their focus. It doesn't happen overnight but it can happen. 

Source: USA Baseball

Last year I torn my achilles tendon and it was a tough set back for me as a runner. For those of you who know me, I battled. I worked hard and I continue to work on my form. And on Saturday, I ran pain-free for 7 miles. I was efficient, I was focused and I gave myself every opportunity to achieve my goal. I appreciate anyone, or any team that can push passed injuries, passed the negative voices in their head, and work toward the goal. This year, the goal for the Yankees is the same as it has been since 2009—win #28. And after last night's win, I have a renewed faith in this team. Because they worked together, starting pitching and offense, to get the win after a terrible setback on Friday night.

Source: Twitter

So all I want for Mother's Day is the absolute best. Your best, the Yankees best, my family's best, my friends' best, my own best. Give it your all and you'll be surprised how far you will get. To all our mothers out there, have a great day. And to all of the Yankees' mothers, wives, and partners, I celebrate you for your loyalty, gumption and the support you give your husbands and sons. Now, Yankees, let's go get this one today; do it for us!

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @suzieprof

HOME RUN OR NO HOME RUN, YANKEE FANS WILL TORTURE TINY ALTUVE FOR LIFE

In the end, baseball is a game, but in life, if you're a cheater... you'll always be a cheater.  And Jose Altuve is a cheater. That speaks volumes in the world of humanity and common decency and everyone knows this.  And so, while the Yankees couldn't sweep the Astros because of a tiny Altuve home run, you move on as a team and as a fan. But trust me when I tell you... Yankee fans and baseball fans don't forget cheats and it changes nothing for the torture and abuse we will deliver to Altuve for the rest of his baseball life.  He's a loser, a cheat, a tool. Mark my words, we will shorten his baseball career... he'll lose his damn mind.

The Yankees lost the last game to the Astros.  The New York Post writes:

“It was just a great feeling,” Altuve said of his swing that broke the Yankees’ five-game winning streak, and broke a few hearts too. He clearly wasn’t in the mood after the game to celebrate the payback, or to do an end-zone dance for reporters via Zoom. Maybe Altuve didn’t want the fans know just how much they got to him these last three days. Maybe this was his way to remind people that he’s been doing this for a long time — hitting baseballs where opponents can’t catch them — whether the fans have been cheering for him, or chanting against him.

“I’m just trying to do my best to play the game,” Altuve said. “You don’t like to get booed by anybody, but that’s part of the game. I was just going out there trying to do my best to help my team win.”

But here's the thing that will always drive us crazy... saying stuff to the media like "I'm just trying to do my best to play the game", and getting caught cheating and sign stealing and then stealing a championship are 2 very different things. No one trusts what Altuve says. It really doesn't matter what he says. Reputation is a pretty serious thing and Altuve's, Correa's, theirs have been tainted... forever.

Yanks lose this one, but Yankee fans? They won this series BIG TIME... it was awesome! Keep it up!

THE ASSTROS REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF PATHETIC

What a nice, warm welcome for the ASSTROS, right? I mean, it couldn't happen to a more deserving team. Sure, there are only five guys on the ASTROS still from that 2017 cheating team, but they are the biggest lowlifes of them all. They deserve what they got and what is still to come.

There's no forgive and forget for these guys. Booing and heckling these guys was a long time in the making. I'm sure we've all seen the pictures and we know about all of the chants from the fans, and none of it was a surprise, but man some of the reactions from the Astros themselves have been the best parts for me.

First of all, why the hell is Kyle Tucker even opening his mouth? He's a 24-year old nobody who barely has a job but he sure threw himself in the spotlight on Tuesday before the game when he said, "Our job is to go out and play baseball and not worry about what the fans or anyone says, so that’s really what we’re focusing on." There's nothing wrong with that statement, but why was he even talking to the media anyway? He's a no-name, so it's no surprise why fans responded with the "We don't know you!" chant. This kid with his .183BA barely has a major league job and wasn't even around in 2017. He needed to blend into the background and just be thankful he wasn't stashed in the minors. Maybe he learned a lesson, we don't know you, Tucker....but you sure do know us.

And what about Dusty Baker's reaction? That was good too. He thought "the fans were extremely hard on Altuve tonight," Baker said HERE. "He's exerting a lot of effort, maybe too much effort." Nobody feels sorry for him. I doubt he expects anything different and he shouldn't. Altuve isn't remorseful and no one is throwing Jose Altuve a pity party. He exerted a lot of effort to cheat....at least let him exert a lot of energy at the plate and lose. 

But for ME, the best reaction came from Alex Cora! Have you seen THIS? He had a lot to say about the Astros treatment and I had to laugh.

"Yeah, I saw it. Obviously, it was interesting to say the least," Cora said. "What we did was wrong. Three people got suspended, another one (Carlos Beltran), he doesn't have a job in baseball. I still don't know how or why, because he was a player at that point. And then the guys, it's gonna be around them for a while. I know Dusty Baker made a good point, there's only what, four or five guys that played with us in 2017? But I mean, this is what we did and people are paying the price in different ways."

Now that he's got his job back with the Red Sox and he's ready to move on and hopefully forget it all....he knows "what we did was wrong." He should be counting his lucky stars that he got a second chance because he doesn't deserve it AT ALL. 

And at least he knows his turn is coming and he hasn't escaped any ridicule, either.
"It was a different atmosphere at Yankee Stadium with only 10,000 people, I can only imagine when they have 100 percent when the Red Sox are there," Cora said. "That'll be interesting. The fans, they're gonna remind us what we did and that's their right. You have to respect that." Cora better start preparing now for his June visit to the Bronx.

It's funny how Carlos Correa, Altuve and Alex Bregman had more to say when they were exposed as the dirty cheaters they are....but now they aren't talking. I'm sure they will have plenty to say when they leave Yankee stadium. I'm sure when we visit them in Houston they will have comments....but for now they are pansies.

This is what the Astros get. They didn't get punished by Rob Manfred, so now they can deal with the fans reactions and suck it up. The chants and the booing is far from over. Hey ASSTROS....you made your bed, now lie in it!

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

HOW THE YANKEES ARE GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS

Source: NJ.com

It has been a great last few days for the Yankees. Coming off the sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees hosted the Houston Astros for the first time in two years. The fans lit up the stadium giving grief to every Astro cheater, I mean player, that took the field. But to put things into perspective, it really doesn't matter who the Yankees are playing or when. In order to dominant the division and win the series, the Yankees simply have to get back to the business of playing baseball as well as they believe they can. And it starts with good pitching.

"The Yankees’ pitching is on the rise and Gerrit Cole was named AL Pitcher of the Month for April after going 4-1 with a 1.43 ERA — to go along with 62 strikeouts — in six starts. And Corey Kluber was named AL Player of the Week a day after picking up his 100th career victory. For the week, Kluber was 2-0 with a 0.62 ERA in 14 ⅔ innings in a pair of starts," reported The New York Post.

Bryan Hoch's latest newsletter spells out the recipe for "How the Yankees can get back in 1st place by June." It begins with digging themselves out of the under .500 hole, which they did with good pitching and consistent hitting this weekend and it continues with the long ball, which thanks to guys like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, has started to happen more regularly. Now bringing home the 2020 home run leader in Luke Voit, can only help the team win more ball games. He's rehabbing at the Somerset Patriots this week and will continue to progress his way back up to the Bronx. 

And when you are starting to click and win ball games, you inch your way back into the top half of the AL East Standings and eventually you are on top, looking down at the others. It is about dominating eventually, but you have to get there first. And the keys to the enterprise are solid starts for the rotation, hitting with consistency and staying healthy. If you do that, you are back in the business and right now, I like our chances for taking care of business...if we stay focused on the keys. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT REGGIE JACKSON'S SHOCKING NEW GIG?

Just a little bit of news to wrap your head around on this important off-day for the Yankees. The cheating ASSTROS are coming into town on Tuesday....and they are bringing one of OUR OWN with them.

Think back to February, we asked REGGIE JACKSON IS LEAVING THE YANKEES - BUT WHY?!  In February there were rumors that Reggie Jackson might be taking on a new gig with the cheating ASSTROS since he has a close relationship with owner Jim Crane. 

It was all speculation at the time, especially after Reggie said, "It's just time to step back. I want to be around the game and I want to contribute. I want to leave my knowledge but it's just time to move on." We really didn't know what that step back really meant but now we know WHY and a little more about what he is doing.

The ASSTROS have not formally announced this yet BUT we have confirmation HERE that Reggie is in fact, working for the Astros. It's pretty hard to ignore when Reggie shows up at Minute Maid Park last week for the Mariners-Astros game and said himself that "I’m happy to be here, it’s working well. I’m fitting in. All to make the ballclub better and at the same time we’re working on a lot of baseball fields and charity things that we can do together for the community."

But what exactly is he doing? His description of his new gig sounds VERY different from what he was doing for the Yankees. That doesn't sound like a special assistant role. Reggie's new role has nothing to do with the day-to-day operations or teaching players. In fact, according to the Houston Chronicle his new role will be focused on charity work.

I guess that is how Reggie is stepping back. It's hard to get upset about any charitable work, it's just hard to wrap your head around it when the team who hired you cheats. Jim Crane is trying to repair his teams image, I just wish he wasn't using Reggie to do it. This team is a PR nightmare so it can use all of the positive they can get.

The Astros will be in the Bronx for the first time since they were lightly slapped on the wrist by FAILING commissioner Rob Manfred for cheating. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season saved them from ridicule in Yankee territory but they can't run and hide anymore. We haven't forgotten what's happened and now the Yankees are going to remind them that there is no forgive and forget here.

Reggie's news is a big deal before this series with the ASSTROS. The timing couldn't be any better....but Yankee fans aren't fooled. We love Reggie, but his association with Astros won't repair the Astros cheating reputation. It also won't save them from what's about to happen.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj