THE OTHER MATSUI

While we all know that the Yankee bullpen was pretty good last year, it would only make sense that the Yankees look at the places to fix that don't really need fixing. I mean think about this for a moment, the starting rotation besides Gerrit Cole and the occasional good performance by Michael King was really all they had.  Carlos Rodon laid an egg, Luis Severino was a rollercoaster and Nestor Cortes was forever hurt.  We had nothing. Oh, yeah... that's right we got rid of Jordan Montgomery, a big lefty, because we needed a big lefty in Rodon.  How'd that work out Cashman? You're a fool.

So now, with the bullpen pretty much solid and dominant in the Major Leagues, why not make it better... cause, you know, there aren't other areas that need fixing, right?

Word is the Yanks may have interest in Japanese closer, Yuki Matsui. Inside the Pinstripes writes:

"If the Yankees were to land Matsui this offseason, he likely would help the bullpen immediately. The 27-year-old has played 10 professional seasons for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball League and has a career 2.43 ERA in 517 games played. Matsui has racked up 236 saves so far in his career and would be an intriguing piece to add to an already sturdy New York bullpen.

Matsui has compiled an ERA above 2.00 just once over the last five seasons and impressed in 2023 with a minuscule 1.57 ERA in 59 outings along with 39 saves."

Let me also state 2 things; Matsui is intrigued by an MLB move, but we don't know if it's something he will pursue. The other thing is the idea that the Yankees will go full throttle to pursue this guy is very, very premature.  But knowing Cashman's track record with "new shiny things" and picking wrong, I would not put it past him and this Yankee front office. They literally have no idea what's going on and what our needs are.

DESPERATE YANKEES WILL TRY & REUNITE WITH THE GUY THEY NEVER SHOULD'VE TRADED

I've never moved on from the Jordan Montgomery trade. I hated it from the moment it happened. I screamed in frustration and called Brian Cashman every possible obscenity I could think of. It was a stupid move right when it happened, and now after some time has passed, I call it an epic failure.

I know a lot of people really liked Harrison Bader, some even told me he was a favorite of theirs. I never really felt the same. I didn't dislike the guy early on and I don't now but in the end, I ALWAYS want to keep a reliable pitcher, because those are in short supply and add that the Yankees have a terrible injury history it just felt like an irresponsible move. Now that Bader is also gone, the whole chain of events is just embarrassing. 

But can the Yankees make amends? They sure hope so. While we wait to see who becomes the World Series Champion, the Yankees are waiting for the offseason, and thinking about a possible reunion with Montgomery, read more HERE. Likewise, the Cardinals want to reunite with Montgomery also after being one of very few teams to become sellers at this year's trade deadline. I can't imagine what the Yankees have to possibly lure Montgomery back.

I love a lefty pitcher; they can be a dangerous weapon in a rotation. I think Montgomery has come into his own over the past year, he blossomed away from the Yankees where he pitched to a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. After six years of Yankee tinkering, he evolved as a Cardinal. So, why would he want to come back? 

The Yankees are in a downward spiral of chaos, so I'm not sure why. They are in the middle of an identity crisis because they are supposedly built to win but yet they can't. We all know they haven't because the Yankees are so buried in bad analytics and a GM that just doesn't know how to build a winning team. Aaron Boone is a moron who can't lead, and the medical teams are just pretenders. If I am Jordan Montgomery, I would stay far away from the Bronx and I would tell my agent to laugh hysterically when the Yankees call.

I believe getting rid of Montgomery was a huge mistake. When we did, he turned into the pitcher the Yankees now want back. He thrived away from the Yankees. He shouldn't want to come back. I shouldn't be saying that he shouldn't come back because deep down I would love that.... but the Yankees don't deserve Montgomery. 

I think this season has traumatized me. The Yankees want Montgomery back, they know they screwed up. Montgomery shouldn't miss the Yankees....I will miss him though. He never should've been traded. Maybe this is a lesson the Yankees will need to learn the hard way. They have to change their ways.

Now we get to watch Montgomery pitch in the American League Championship Series and wonder what comes next. Will he reunite with the Yankees this winter? Maybe, but I am not going to hold my breath.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEE PLAYERS MOST LIKELY GIVEN "WRONG NUMBERS" FROM ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT

It's worse than any of us thought.  

Not only did Brian Cashman trade away or dismiss the wrong players to build the Yankees, it turns out the analytics department just didn't have a clue on how to do their job. Look, there's no question that analytics is needed in baseball. But as an old school guy, much of the game comes down to gut moves and feel.  It's the way it should be, because that determines a lot more than a computer. A computer can give you matchups, but the scenario is not always the same based on a whole bunch of stuff.  The Yankees relied on the numbers like it was law rather than a reference sheet and that's the problem.

Now there are stories floating around that one unnamed Yankee was so annoyed with the Yankees analytics department he went with his own guy.  Why? Because the Yankees guys sucked.

Fansided writes:

"That's not a good look for the analytics department that a top player on the team doesn't want to use the information they are giving him. So, he brings in his expert to provide analysis to help him out."

And the loudest alarm comes from our captain.  

"Judge spoke publicly about the team after the end of the season. Judge said that the analytics department may not be giving the team "the right numbers."

"I think it's just about how we use [analytics] and how we value them is an aspect that we just maybe need to look at again," said Judge, h/t ESPN. "The Yankees are top-notch in the numbers we get. I think we're the best in the game at that. I think it's about funneling those down to the players in the right format.

"I wouldn't say [we are] overloaded. I think it's just looking at the right numbers. I think maybe we might be looking at the wrong ones."

Now Judge is being kind.  He uses "We" like the Yankees were determining what numbers to look at and insinuated that the players were looking at the wrong ones, but what he is not telling you is the players are provided these numbers, they are vetted, BY THE ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT.  And that's why that unnamed player said "Are you kidding me? I'll use my guy."

The Yankees are in a world of hurt, and remodeling the clubhouse is not the change we need. We need a brand new analytics department, we need a few solid players, and we need to cut the dead weight. Oh, and most importantly, the Yankees need to think long and hard about why Aaron Boone or Brian Cashman deserve a job with that organization.  This season has been a disaster.  And the pile on again the Yankees organization is real.  

But will they listen?  No, probably not.  Look for 2024 to be more of the same. Good thing I gave up my tickets when I did.  It's not worth it. I'm not a fucking Mets fan for crying out loud.  Do better.

JOBA & WELLS SPEAK OUT ON THE YANKEES HORRIBLE SEASON!

Joba Chamberlain is the recent Yankee hero in my mind.  He says that the fans have a right to be pissed off about the Yankees ridiculous season.  Meanwhile David Wells is shouting that it's not Brian Cashman or Aaron Boone, but instead the players who need to step up and do their job. 

The New York Post writes:

“Everyone’s blaming Cashman, they’re blaming Aaron Boone,” Wells said during an appearance on “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.” “… So to me, it’s a matter of if the players don’t produce, send them a message, and I don’t care how much money they’re making. Send them down, and let them sit in the minor leagues for a bit.

“Yeah, they got guaranteed contracts, but they’re not getting the publicity that they want in a big-league stadium. Go to a minor-league stadium. It’s not fun when you’re in the big leagues and you go back down, because it’s humiliating when you get sent down. But do your job, and that’s what they gotta do.”

Let me tell you something. Both guys are right.  But when it comes to the fans, they take it personally.  There is no question that Cashman brought in players that did not do their job.  But we're rehashing alot of garbage now.  

Guys like Montas, Rodon just didn't work. Trading Montgomery for Bader proved to be stupid.  Not signing Harper when the Yankees should have bit the Yankees in the ass.  All this is true.  Wells can complain all he wants about how the players needed to do their job, but who can forget the time Wells didn't do his job when the Yankees needed him.

October 2003.  In the first inning against the Marlins, David Wells was pulled from the mound when we needed him most... for... back spasms.  ESPN writes:

"Back spasms forced New York Yankees pitcher David Wells from his start in Game 5 of the World Series against the Florida Marlins after only one inning Thursday...Florida went on to win 6-4, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series."

David Wells didn't do his job that day. We lost the series. What's my point? I hate when guys can spew their mouth about crap and forget what they didn't accomplish on the field for us fans for merely the same thing.  Say what you will about the players doing their job, but at the end of the day if comes down to the talent on the field and what they can do on any given day. And these players were brought in by YOU GUESSED IT... Brian Cashman.  Cashman thought he was putting the best guys on the field, like Wells, like Stanton or Rodon... but those players failed.  Let me say this again... Cashman brought them in.

Wells is loyal to Cashman because Cashman defended Wells after that 2003 game. That's all it came down to:

"He is as big a competitor as you can find and he fights through a lot of stuff, but today he couldn't get through it," Cashman said."

Joba has stepped up finally to say that fans deserve better, and they have the right to be critical. Great job Yanks Go Yard with this interview!  (34:22)

He said that the fans should be mad and that's all us fans really want. Us fans want to see change. We're the ones that pay a ton of money to see the players that Cashman puts on the field compete.  And when they don't, we want Cashman's head. It's pretty simple. When the Yankees lose, we lose money. When the Yankees win, we feel satisfied because we spent a $1000 bucks on the game that day, money to get tickets, to park and to buy food for our family.  It's pretty simple and to be honest, obscene.  

The prices at the stadium are outrageous... do pardon us fans for not being happy when Cashman gets us Rodon and he lays an egg 5 games straight.  The front office picked Rodon because Rodon was supposed to be good. Analytics, top office guys made that decision and Cashman was in on it.  But at the end of the day, they picked the wrong player.  And so, that's why fans are mad.  And Joba gets that. 

Look, The Yankees will get through this, but only if they make changes.  Wells is a good dude with great opinions... Joba too.  I just love how to players have different perspectives on this situation. It's fascinating to me.

Anyway... Happy Sunday!

HAL STEINBRENNER IS A TEASE!

More smoke and mirrors, folks....but we are smarter than what Hal Steinbrenner is trying to make us believe. Yankee fans know what is going on, it's just too bad Hal doesn't.

Against my better judgement, I decided to check out what Hal and Randy Levine had to say at the Sportico's Invest in Sports conference, and I should not have. You can check out what Hal said HERE, multiple sources are carrying this story, but I particularly liked AP's take on this over all the other media outlets.

Naturally, Hal's "deep dive" was a topic of conversation and as much as I don't want to write about it anymore I will because next season we will see if this made any positive change or was just a bunch of garbage. I hope it brings positive change but, I don't buy anything Hal said at this conference. It was all a bunch of vague soundbites.

Hal says changes are coming, but I don't think they will be the right ones. When AP asked what those changes might be he said "We're going to be making some changes. Some may be more subtle than others. But I think we've uncovered certainly things we can do better." Vague. "Anything's possible. There's a lot more discussions to be had." Just more noise. Do I believe those discussions include Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole? Yes, because those are Hal's centerpieces that he wants to keep happy, especially Cole if Hal doesn't want him to exercise his opt out clause in the future. Beyond talking to them both, I have little faith anything comes from it.

Hal went out to talk about renovations to the clubhouse for the players and review of everything from culture to health and wellness, analytics, scouting and communication. We all knew that was part of the plan, but I have no faith that Hal will actually make the changes that are truly needed. There's a lot that needs to be changed and I just don't think he has the desire to do it. He's not ready for the overhaul that is needed.

And the rest of us are talking about an overhaul in personnel. It's time for new blood and leadership and Hal wants us to believe it's a possibility. When asked about personnel changes he replied with "Possibly personnel, but not necessarily personnel" and the mind games keep coming. Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman should suffer the same fate you and I would if we were not performing to standard in our jobs, but they won't. They are different, but they shouldn't be. Hal wants us to believe he can be the enforcer and make changes.... but that was George Steinbrenner....the opposite of Hal.

The more I talk about this with other Yankee fans the more I hear people say they wish Hal would just sell the team, but that sounds like a longshot. I chose to highlight the AP's story on this because as you read it you can see just how deep this "family business" really is. Hal has nieces, nephews, grandchildren and even his own tinkering with this business. One can only hope that one of these other Steinbrenner's is more like George and can run the Yankees smarter in the future.

This "deep dive" is just a bunch of BS in my opinion. I doubt Hal has the balls or desire to make the changes this organization needs. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am. For now, Hal is going to keep talking the talk and try and sell you on his great act, but this girl isn't buying it. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHY WOULD THE YANKEES TRADE FOR ANOTHER HURT CARDINAL?

I'm tired to hearing about guys that could help the Yankees. Look, we all loved Harrison Bader for a hot second in the Bronx.  But he's already gone and we're seeing his trade partner Jordan Montgomery shine with the Rangers! A big tree lefty that we HAD to trade away to get an injured Bader, only to replace him with big tree lefty Carlos Rodon and somehow the Yankees got ZERO from all that.  By the way, not to harp on it again, but what the F were the Yankees thinking with all that?  Horrendous.

Now comes word the Yankees may benefit in getting another gold glover from the Cardinals.  You know, a must-have that's gonna help them in 2024?  His name is Brendan Donovan.  Got it.  OK, tell me, what's so special Inside the Pinstripes?

"The Yankees simply need more good hitters heading into next season, and Donovan fills that hole...

"Because Donovan is a pre-arbitration player, it will likely take a lot for the Cards to consider moving someone like him."...

New York has been linked to Donovan in the past and a move could make sense this offseason. The Cardinals seem to have an overflow of young offensive talent and need pitching.

Donovan impressed again in 2023 with a .284/.365/.422 slash line and 11 home runs and 34 RBIs, but appeared in just 95 games due to injuries. If he's healthy, he could really help New York."

And did you notice that last sentence? If he's healthy, he could really help New York. IF HEALTHY. That's no throw away line... that's significant when you think about the Yankees track record.

Why? Why, why, why, why, why. why, why? Why would we do this to ourselves again? And does anyone really think our medical staff can handle another injury? They couldn't handle what we already had?  And if we're gonna go after a gold glover from the Cards that gets hurt a lot, just re-sign Bader. At least then we know what we're gonna get and he LOVED the Bronx. Am I right?

Donovan was shut down in September.  FOX Sports wrote: "Donovan underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair the flexor strain in his right elbow, so a move to the 60-day IL was expected. His spot on the 40-man roster will be filled by Ryan Helsley (forearm), who came off the 60-day injured list Friday."

The bottom line with all of this? The Yankees need to learn from bad mistakes... we've seen this before.  We don't need turmoil; we need sure things.  That's the bottom line.

REMEMBER WHEN THE 2001 D'BACKS HANDED THE YANKEES THEIR LUNCH? I MIGHT BE OVER IT

The post season is not necessarily disappointing despite the Pinstripes sitting it out. Yet when I think about the Diamondbacks, I can't help but think about how the Yankees underestimated them 22 years ago. I was in the hospital after having my daughter, 22 years ago today. And I remember it like it was yesterday— Frustrated by the grittiness of the D'backs. But this time, I am somewhat excited. They have a veteran who deserves a postseason victory in Evan Longoria and they have what might be the rookie of the year in Corbin Carroll. The Division Series are certainly out performing and this time it's the Dodgers and Orioles on the receiving end.

"The Diamondbacks started the playoffs by first rolling into Milwaukee for a wild-card sweep of the Brewers that included two comeback victories, earning the team the nickname of "The Answerbacks," and then handing Clayton Kershaw the worst start of his entire career in their National League Division Series-opening win. Carroll has been at the center of it all, posting an incredible .500/.571/1.083 slash line while providing his first signature October moment -- and leaving his teammates wondering where this postseason ride will go next," reported ESPN. 

Source: Sports Illustrated 

Carroll is to the D'backs as Anthony Volpe was supposed to be to the Yankees. Unfortunately, poor leadership and just a lackluster team that puts mediocre ahead of excellence tarnished what Volpe did his rookie year. No he's not Derek Jeter but Volpe gave the team a good performance for his first year. Carroll shined above the rest and put the team on his back. He had leadership on his side with veterans and a coaching staff that ushered him in and set him up to be his best. 

According to his teammate Longoria, "The national viewership deserves to see a player like him in big moments like this," reported ESPN. I couldn't agree more. And so, I have to root for them to win despite my PTSD from 22 years ago.

Then you have the team of the year, the comeback kids Baltimore Orioles blowing it to Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers. They went from worst to first in a blink of an eye, and once again, the opponent was underestimated. The Rangers have taken many games away from the Yankees and this time the Orioles are on the receiving end. As much as I wanted the Yankees in the Orioles' position, I feel like we all know the outcome. The Rangers are on a mission and it excludes the AL East. They are all in and who knows, it could be an all Texas AL Championship Series. Go ahead and beat the heck out of each other. It will make for good ratings. Hey, if we can’t be in it, at least I need to have a little fun.

So as the D'backs stare at opportunity, the Yankees need to reflect on where they were 22 years ago. They were in it. They were franchising it. And now, they are sitting out of it. Carroll is no Volpe but if the Yankees want more, they need to lead with excellence. And apparently that's not in the cards yet. 

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

WHAT AN EXPERIENCED MANAGER CAN BRING

 

If you haven't read Tim Keown's piece on Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy yet, let me bring you a taste of it. This paragraph encapsulates all you need to know about the man, but more to that, all you need to know about what a manager for a major league baseball team should be:

"BRUCE BOCHY SPEAKS in a low rumble, walks like his shoes are three sizes too small and prefers to talk about anything but himself. He manages a baseball game as if there are actual human beings on the field and not just a collection of numbers designed to dictate all outcomes, big and small. He is 68 years old and back for another run at glory that, if successful, he will refuse to accept credit for helping to create."

A brilliant description, but all those words are just another way to saying this one word to describe Bruce Bochy... CONFIDENT.  

When you're confident, losses hurt, but will roll off, a restructuring of a lineup will take place, but you never panic, you never coddle... you still continue to play hard-nosed baseball. It's a gut thing many times, because you're confident. This is what I have been missing on the New York Yankees this year.  This is why I want a guy like Aaron Boone to be removed as the Yankees manager.  He lacks confidence, he doesn't command a room, he cannot lead in good times and definitely not in bad.  

Boone uses charts and books and numbers and match-ups only.  The idea of using instincts is foreign to him. That's a major issue. And if you think about it, all truly great managers before Boone have been successful winners because they don't try too hard. Again, typically is a gut thing, a feel thing. Boone's got this thing where he's probably overthinking his players on the field and not going with instincts, but instead matchups... matchups that might have worked in one scenario a week ago, but it's not a computer.... so no doubt the outcome will be different this time around. And to be honest? That's the problem here.  

There's this too, to really hammer home what I'm talking about comparing a champion manager like Bochy to Boone.  Rangers' outfielder Travis Jankowski:

"He obviously appreciates analytics and uses analytics," Jankowski says, "but he's trusting his gut and his baseball instincts. We're not computers. We're human beings, and I know guys appreciate and thrive on being treated like one."

The gut check.  The players are human beings.  Instead of having a computer run your team, have an actual FEEL for the game.  When you don't do that, it's called inexperience.  

It's something the Yankees cannot seem to understand and surely Boone does not.  If Boone comes back next year... it will just be the same movie... a movie I hate.

Who knows if Bruce Bochy and the Rangers will win the World Series this year... but there's one thing I do know... I'd bet on it that they do.  If the Yanks were there... I would never, ever make that same bet. Why? Poor leadership... that's why.

NO EXCUSES FROM NESTOR CORTES... THE YANKEES NEED TO DO BETTER

Nestor Cortes was interviewed by Randy Miller of NJ.com and he had a lot to say about a lot of stuff.  But no one wants to hear about all the other stuff. We really want to hear from the Yankees mouths directly about how bad the Yankees were. Cortes was asked about the direction of the Yankees point blank.  And I admire Cortes for answering it.

"Are you worried about the direction of the organization? Will the Yankees be the Yankees again next year? Will ownership spend the money it might take to fix this?

The focus always has been on the Yankees living up to expectations. We owe it to the fans and I’m sure the front office is going to do its hardest to put the best product out there for sure."

There's no question that the Yanks had way too many injuries, which you need to really question the medical staff on that as well as the players, and then we had guys like Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino just being a total disappointment.  That "deep dive" from Hal Steinbrenner really needs to dig into everything.   But as I've said, I'm not sure how to you into a deep dive if you're allowing Cashman and Boone to be part of that process when they are part of the problem.  

I mean, think about this; Boone is a player's coach. He really coddles his guys.  He's the anti-Joe Girardi who was tough on his players.  But the Yankees moved away from that guy, changed their approach with Boone, a guy that is soft and a puppet clearly.  Now the word on the street is the Yankees front office wants Boone to have a different approach in 2024. Inside the Pinstripes writes:

"Heyman said. "Higher-ups will likely just suggest to Boone to instill more discipline (i.e., be tougher)."

It is clear to me that the Yankees front office has no true gauge on what they want.  And if they wanted tougher, why the hell did they get rid of Girardi again?  

Look, there's no question the Yankees "owe" us Yankee fans. They need to get back to being competitors. It's not fair to the guys that worked their tails off this season.  It's not fair to the ticket holders.  The bottom line, we need to be better... but does Hal really know how to do that?  

I'm really not sure.

THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION FROM THE "DEEP DIVE" IS LAUGH WORTHY!

I didn't want to say it before, but I will now. This "deep dive" is an epic waste of money! For years, we have witnessed how bad the Yankees are at spending money to build the right roster.... but now we can see that they also don't know how to spend money to tell them how to get better. It's pretty tragic.

Okay so, Hal Steinbrenner's "deep dive" is underway and the first big detail we get out of this smoke and mirror fest is that Aaron Boone will be asked to make one major change.... get ready for it.... instill more discipline, read more HERE. What does that mean, exactly? Well according to Jon Heyman, that means be tougher.

So, they want Baboonie to be like Joe Girardi? Maybe that's not how you see it, but honestly Girardi wasn't perfect, but he sure as hell was a tougher manager. He didn't coddle his players and he gave tough love when it was needed. He may not have been the so-called "player's manager" that Baboonie is supposed to be but, Girardi knew how to get the best out of his players. They performed better for him. Baboonie is well liked, but his players can't win for him. Interesting.

So, what does "be tougher" really mean and what does that look like? If Girardi was too mean and Baboonie is too soft and can only slam his hand down on a table and act all tough, what exactly do the Yankees want? Maybe the better question here is.... if they do know what they want (I doubt they do), would it even matter?

Honestly, I don't think so. How does being tougher fix a highly flawed roster? This team has zero understanding of baseball fundamentals. Instead, they are too focused on swinging for the fences and finding the perfect launch angle and studying exit velocity. No matter how tough or soft Baboonie is with this flawed roster, it's not going to help them win more games and be contenders until they actually construct a roster that can hit and contend and of course.... that depends on having a competent GM which Brian Cashman is not. 

If the Yankees think the secret to turning this around and winning in 2024 is Baboonie changing his management style, they have another failure coming in 2024. This "deep dive" is an epic waste of time and makes Hal look incredibly foolish.  

The Three Stooges are still a thing....and actually, probably an embarrassment to the iconic show. Hal can take his "deep dive" and flush it down the drain with the rest of his money. I'm tired of hearing about it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE YANKS WILL TRY TO GET A BIG SCORE TO SHUT UP YANKEE FANS, BUT WILL IT WORK?

I believe the Yankees will do anything they can to distract the fact that their front office and analytic department is horrible. And so, I believe the Yankees will do something big this off season.  I believe they will try and sign Juan Soto.  I swear.

Inside the Pinstripes writes:

"... if the Yankees want to contend for a World Series title next year they will need to make at least one or two solid additions this offseason. It's unclear exactly what the club will do, but one player who possibly could be a fit is San Diego Padres star Juan Soto, according to The Athletic's Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner.

"The best and potentially realistic left-handed option for the Yankees to consider would be trading for Juan Soto. If the San Diego Padres entertain offers this offseason, the Yankees need to be all in for the generational talent who’s still in the prime of his career."

But if they do pursue Soto. Will they trade away the wrong players? Will they trade away the youth movement? Will they try and make us Yankee fans happy but then crush our dreams about our new guys?  

Look, the Yanks are in a bad spot.  They need someone big to bring happiness to the Yankee fans, but they need an overhaul of the front office and try to get wins to the Yankees team. But at the same time, they need to balance who they give away to get Juan Soto.  

I'm watching this off season closely.  It's going to be very interesting. 

THE IRRESPONSIBLE QUOTE ABOUT OHTANI WITH ZERO FOLLOW THROUGH FROM AN "INSIDER"

What a stupid nugget, designed to get every Yankee fan riled up. Let me start by saying that I have no use for Shohei Ohtani. He's a player of privilege, allowed to be a pitcher and a hitter in the MLB while other players with the same talents cannot.  So right there I'm out.  

But then I think about the horrible Yankee season and then I see this headline:  Shohei Ohtani 'Doesn't Love' Pitching at Yankees' Stadium amid FA Buzz.

Now you have to admire it.  Clearly it was about clicks.  I clicked on it. But then I realized where it all originated from.  Jon Heyman.

"That might be a problem for the New York Yankees' chances of signing the pending UFA, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"Word is Ohtani doesn't love pitching in Yankee Stadium," Heyman wrote Thursday."

But that was it.  No follow-up. No continued quote about why... no solution.  Nothing. I even went back to Heyman's original article HERE.  This is all he wrote:

"Word is Ohtani doesn’t love pitching in Yankee Stadium (27.00 ERA in 3 ²/₃ innings). He has to love hitting there though (.972 OPS)."

And so, this is what journalism has come to. A game of telephone.  As a reader, we want more. As a Yankee fan, the fact that I had to go dig to figure out what else came with that quote and then didn't find is ridiculous.  

And let's go further. It is my opinion that Ohtani coming to the Angels destroyed the Angel's team dynamic.  I think the media blew this guy up.  I feel like there was way too much attention on Ohtani and the Angels were left behind. Not to mention the whole idea of wrapping a team around Ohtani and Trout. The Angel's team never had a chance. And so Ohtani ran the headlines and clearly ran this one too.  

It shouldn't be about this guy all the time.  And that's when the media gets nuts and that's when they put out nuggets with nothing attached to it.  Bottom line? Read everything, and when you can't find the real story... call them out.  I'm tired of the click bait and the guess journalism. It's literally the fall of society.