CABALLERO IS JUST BETTER THAN VOLPE

 

The Yankees may have dropped one to Boston last night, but one thing became painfully obvious: José Caballero should be the everyday shortstop. Period. End of debate.

Of course, Aaron Boone is still strangely fixated on Anthony Volpe, but Caballero has made it clear that a shortstop who plays with energy, flair, and actual production changes everything. With him on the field, the Yankees look like a team capable of running down the AL East. With Volpe? They looked like they were running in quicksand.

When Volpe struggled, he handed out free outs like coupons at a grocery store. Caballero, on the other hand, balances things out. Even if he has a rough at-bat, he’ll turn around and flash leather, or wreak havoc on the bases. That kind of tradeoff? No downside whatsoever.

Caballero himself kept it humble, saying consistent playing time “helps a lot,” and when asked about his defense he replied, “I’m trying to help the team. It doesn’t matter what I do. As long as we keep winning games, I’m gonna be happy.” Meanwhile, the man has gone 6-for-18 with two doubles and a homer while filling in for Volpe.

And here’s the irony: Caballero says consistent playing time helps. Funny, because Volpe played every single day and still managed to be a black hole in the lineup. Now, suddenly, he’s “injured.” Forgive me if I don’t buy it—this feels more like the Yankees putting him in bubble wrap, hoping they can hit reset next year to justify the marketing millions poured into him. Spoiler alert: busts don’t reboot.

The fact the Yankees are in the middle of a postseason chase while still fumbling around with their shortstop situation is insane. Back in July, this was already obvious. I said then on Bleeding Yankee Blue that Volpe needed to ride the bench. Had Boone acted then, Caballero could have been steadying the infield for months instead of days. But Boone is too emotionally invested, clinging to the hope that Volpe will figure it out. Guess what? He hasn’t.

Volpe hasn’t played since Tuesday, allegedly nursing a sore shoulder that required a cortisone shot. Fine—stay on the shelf. At this point, pulling Caballero for Volpe would be beyond foolish. Boone needs to stop coddling Volpe and play the hot hand.

The truth? Volpe should sit the rest of the season, including the playoffs. The Yankees need wins, not feelings. And Caballero, not Boone’s pet project, gives them the best shot.

DON'T LOOK NOW, BUT THE YANKEES ARE BURYING THE SOX

The Yankees have woken up.  Now if we can continue to stay consistent and bury the Red Sox, I will be a very happy guy. The Yankees showed up at Fenway on Saturday night and reminded Boston who’s boss, taking a 5–3 win that not only clinched the series but also sent the Red Sox to their third straight loss. 

September baseball at Fenway is supposed to be dramatic—unless, of course, you’re a Red Sox fan watching Aaron Judge walk all over your pitching staff.

Judge reached base four times and scored twice, Cody Bellinger drove in two runs like it was second nature, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. turned the night into his own highlight reel, adding three RBIs and a solo homer. Meanwhile, Max Fried kept cruising, collecting his league-leading 17th victory with six strikeouts, looking every bit like a man on a mission toward October.

And yes, Anthony Volpe was absent again. No, the Yankees aren’t suddenly cruel—they’re just wising up. Volpe’s bat has been dragging at .206 with a .661 OPS, and his defense has slipped too. Enter José Caballero: high-energy, steady glove, and most importantly, not handing free outs to the other team. This isn’t Little League where everyone gets a turn—this is the Yankees chasing wins, and Caballero helps deliver them.

The Bombers knocked Brayan Bello around for four runs before the Red Sox could even think about damage control, padding their cushion to 2½ games over Boston for the top wild-card spot. The Blue Jays, however, continue to hog the top of the AL East, refusing to hand over any ground.

So the stage is set for Sunday night: Yankees aiming for a sweep, Red Sox praying to stop the bleeding. One team’s building October momentum, the other’s looking like they’re already shopping for tee times.

WATCHING JUDGE PLAY BALL IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Aaron Judge didn’t just hit a home run Friday night—he swung his way into Yankees history and left Joe DiMaggio in the rearview mirror. With one thunderous crack of the bat, a 468-foot blast into the Boston night, Judge secured career homer No. 362, leapfrogging the Yankee Clipper for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time home run leaderboard.

Let that sink in for a second: Joe DiMaggio, the icon who gave us the 56-game hit streak, Marilyn Monroe, and a name that still rolls off the tongue like a jazz solo, just got passed by a guy who looks like he could probably punt a sedan if you asked him nicely.

A Monster Mash for Cap's 362nd Career Homer 🫡#AllRise pic.twitter.com/BdPIrwI2lk

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 12, 2025

The moment wasn’t just symbolic—it mattered in the standings, too. Judge’s moonshot put the Yankees up 1-0 on the Red Sox, a game they went on to win 4-1. That victory nudged New York a game and a half ahead of Boston in the AL East, turning what could’ve been just another chapter in Judge’s personal record book into a pivotal night in the playoff race.

And true to form, Judge played it cool afterward. “It’s special,” he said. “But just like all those guys in front of me on those lists, they weren’t playing for records. They were playing to win. I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps. I’m here to win.”

That’s classic Judge—downplaying the feat while everyone else scrambles to update the record books. But make no mistake: this is history we’re witnessing. DiMaggio’s 361 homers once looked like a skyscraper few could climb, but Judge scaled it with ease, pausing only to tip his cap to the legends above him.

Now the conversation shifts. If Judge has already moved past DiMaggio, who’s safe? Mickey Mantle? Babe Ruth? Lou Gehrig? The answer: no one should feel too comfortable. Judge isn’t just rewriting Yankees history—he’s erasing lines and penciling in new chapters at a pace that feels inevitable.

So, while Toronto and Boston keep stressing about playoff math, Yankee fans are basking in the bigger picture. Every Judge at-bat is a chance at another milestone, another “I was there when” moment. Beating DiMaggio’s mark is incredible, yes—but it feels less like a finish line and more like a mile marker on a journey that still has plenty of thunder left in it.

Friday night wasn’t just a win over Boston. It was a reminder that we’re watching one of the greatest sluggers in Yankee history live out his prime—towering home runs, shattered records, and all.

And somewhere, Joe D is probably smiling.

SUDDENLY THE YANKEES ARE SUGGESTING VOLPE IS HURT?

I don’t buy it. Not for one second. The Yankees want us to believe that Anthony Volpe has been quietly dragging a busted shoulder around since May, and that’s the reason he’s no longer starting at shortstop. Convenient, right? This is classic Yankee gaslighting—protecting the golden child at all costs, while insulting every fan’s intelligence in the process.

And I’ll be honest, it’s gross. Not just because the Yankees are spinning a fairy tale, but because this whole saga spits right in the face of José Caballero, who has been clearly the better ballplayer. Caballero fields better, runs better, hits better—and guess what? He doesn’t need a PR machine and a billboard campaign to validate his spot on the roster. But instead of giving him the job outright, we get the Yankees’ coddle-fest for Volpe, complete with an “oops, he’s been hurt all along” bedtime story.

The Yankees never admit mistakes. Ever. They would rather bury themselves in layers of excuses than own up to the reality that Anthony Volpe isn’t the guy they promised us. They plastered his face on buses, jammed him onto every scoreboard montage, and branded him the next Jeter before he’d earned it. And now, when it’s clear he’s not measuring up, they’d rather invent a cover story than face the music.

Let’s rewind: back in May, Volpe supposedly dove and hurt his shoulder. Boone admits they MRI’d him, found a “partial labrum tear,” and still trotted him out there every day. Months go by, and only now—now—we’re suddenly hearing that he’s been battling through pain since spring? Please. If he was truly that hurt, the Yankees would’ve shut him down earlier. Instead, they kept running him out there, watched him flail at the plate and butcher plays in the field, and only after he got benched did this injury magically resurface. It’s not an explanation. It’s an alibi.

Aaron Boone shares that Anthony Volpe has been playing through a partial labrum tear:

"Nothing that we think is going to land him on the IL or nothing that he can't continue to play through" pic.twitter.com/RfSDrQwX5j

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 11, 2025

And then there’s Boone. Oh, Aaron Boone. If there’s one thing more embarrassing than the Yankees’ obsession with Volpe, it’s Boone’s creepy devotion to him. Boone talks about Volpe like he’s a prized child in a school talent show. Every slump is excused, every error downplayed, every strikeout brushed aside with, “He’s learning, he’s battling.” It’s uncomfortable at this point—like Boone can’t let go of the fantasy that Volpe is destined to be his success story. Boone can’t quit him. In fact, Boone’s relationship with Volpe feels less like a manager-player bond and more like a dad clapping too hard at his kid’s piano recital. Enough already. Manage the team, not your adopted son.

Here’s the part that stings the most: the Yankees got too invested. They fell in love with the narrative. Hometown kid. First-round pick. Poster boy for the “Baby Bombers 2.0” dream. And once they went all-in, there was no turning back. Volpe could bat .190 and boot routine grounders, and the Yankees would still tell us he’s “grinding through it.” They don’t want a shortstop; they want a marketing campaign.

But fans aren’t stupid. We see what’s happening. So I assume that Volpe will be hidden now, tucked away under the guise of injury so the team can reboot him next year with a “fresh start” spin. The Yankees will act like 2025 never happened, as if fans didn’t boo, didn’t groan, didn’t witness the mediocrity. Spoiler: we remember. Yankee fans always remember. Ask Joey Gallo how long it takes to shake a bad reputation in the Bronx.

So sure, Volpe just got his second cortisone shot of the season. Sure, Boone insists he’s been grinding through it since May. But I’m not buying the sainthood package. My opinion of course. I see a kid who was a great high school player, hyped into a franchise savior by an organization desperate for its next Jeter. The Yankees didn’t just draft Volpe—they married him. And like every bad marriage, they’re now too embarrassed to admit it was a mistake.

Volpe isn’t the problem alone—the Yankees are. They’re so terrified of being wrong that they’ll keep coddling, keep protecting, keep spinning excuses until the whole thing collapses. And Boone? Boone will keep patting him on the head, feeding us the same tired lines about “growth” and “battling,” like we can’t see the truth with our own eyes.

Anthony Volpe may or may not be hurt. What I know for certain is that the Yankees’ credibility is on life support. And unless they stop treating Volpe like a sacred cow and start treating him like any other player who has to earn his job, the fans’ patience will run out.

We don’t forget bad players. We don’t forget organizational failures. And we sure as hell don’t forget when the Yankees treat us like fools.

A WORLD IN WHICH ANTHONY RIZZO IS OUR YANKEES MANAGER

I’ll admit it: sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about the glorious day Aaron Boone finally gets canned. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not cheering against the Yankees — I’m cheering against their manager. Boone’s brand of “leadership” has been little more than press conference word salad paired with in-game mismanagement. The man has made the Yankees allergic to consistency. This team doesn’t play with urgency unless their backs are stapled to the wall, and that’s a reflection of a manager who has spent years lowering the bar.

What I’m waiting for is that perfect “not good enough” moment — when Hal Steinbrenner takes a look at his bottom line and realizes he only made millions this year instead of billions. That’s when I want him to say, “Boone, you’re gone.” And with Anthony Rizzo’s retirement announcement, I couldn’t help but think: what if Rizzo is the guy who finally replaces him?

Here’s the thing about Rizzo — he’s the anti-Boone. Rizzo has leadership in his bones. He was never just a first baseman; he was a clubhouse general, a player guys rallied around. He wasn’t just about stats (though, let’s be clear, his career had plenty of those too). He was about presence, about grit, about setting a tone. Even through struggles and injuries, he commanded respect. That’s something Boone has never once inspired in pinstripes. Boone gets eye-rolls; Rizzo got buy-in.

Rizzo’s résumé speaks for itself: four Gold Gloves, a Platinum Glove, a Silver Slugger, three All-Star nods, the Roberto Clemente Award, and of course his role in the Cubs’ 2016 World Series — a championship that ended a 108-year drought and cemented him as a legend in Chicago. And let’s not forget, the Yankees got the benefit of his leadership too. He may not have been the same hitter in the later years of his career — the concussion robbed him of that — but his influence in the clubhouse was always there. Rizzo wasn’t just a player, he was a culture-setter.

Contrast that with Boone, whose managerial style feels like it was downloaded from a malfunctioning analytics spreadsheet. His bullpen decisions alone could qualify as a new form of baseball torture. He’s the king of excuses, the maestro of mediocrity, the pilot of a ship that keeps circling the drain. Under his so-called guidance, the Yankees are on the verge of missing the playoffs again — and somehow we’re supposed to keep pretending he’s the right man for the job?

Now imagine Rizzo in that dugout, not with a glove but with a lineup card. Picture him commanding respect, actually holding players accountable, and bringing that edge that’s been missing since the Joe Torre days. The Yankees don’t need a cheerleader clapping in the dugout; they need a leader who players want to follow. Rizzo fits that mold perfectly.

Look, my dream scenario is still Don Mattingly as manager with Jorge Posada as his right-hand man — that’s pure Yankee nostalgia heaven. But if Rizzo is ready to trade in his batting gloves for a manager’s uniform, I’d take him in a heartbeat. He has the pedigree, the credibility, and the leadership chops Boone has never had.

Rizzo will forever be a Cubs legend, no doubt about it. But what if his second act is in the Bronx, not as a player, but as the man who rescues the Yankees from Boone’s clown show of a tenure? That wouldn’t just be an upgrade — it would be a revolution.

HOW'S 'BELIEVE & HOPE' WORKING OUT, BOONE?

How many times do I need to say it? The Yankees’ mismanagement has been one long disaster this season, boxing the team into a corner where they have zero margin for error. They’ve been forced into this ridiculous situation where every night they need to play flawless baseball just to keep playoff hopes alive. That’s not “Yankee baseball.” That’s a self-inflicted wound.  

And when you’re the manager who misplayed his hand all year, that’s on you. Boone has flat-out screwed this team, Cashman is just as responsible. But Boone's left them praying for perfection instead of actually building a team that can win with some breathing room. Fans don’t want to crawl in through the wild card like some half-assed charity case. We want the AL East crown, because that still means dominance, it still means Yankees. But Boone? He’s fine squeaking in through the back door like, “Hey, at least we got in!” This bozo would throw a party over leftovers.

Here’s the problem: Boone doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand winning, he doesn’t understand managing, hell, the guy probably couldn’t pick the right gallon of milk at ShopRite without asking Cashman for a spreadsheet. He’s fucking awful.

But don’t let the players completely off the hook either—the Yankees have played like absolute garbage. The bullpen implodes every night, and Boone only makes it worse by mismanaging them like he’s actively trying to blow leads. In two games against a playoff contender at home, they’ve been outscored 23-3. Twenty-three to three! And here’s the kicker: only four of those runs came off the starters. Nineteen came from the bullpen. Boone’s response? “Track record, stuff, who they are.” Translation: he’s crossing his fingers, hoping the same guys who keep shitting the bed suddenly turn into Mariano Rivera.

This is Boone-ball: built on “believe and hope.” It’s the dumbest philosophy imaginable. Baseball isn’t third-grade math, dude. You don’t just plug numbers into a calculator and pray. You have to feel the game. You have to notice who’s sharp, who’s gassed, who looks like they just rolled out of bed with a migraine. Stats won’t tell you that. Track records don't tell you that either. But Boone would rather point to “track record” while watching his bullpen get their tits lit up like the Macy’s fireworks. Last night? An 11-1 embarrassment, courtesy of Boone’s special brand of bullpen roulette.

And don’t get me started on the players chirping. Austin Wells basically shrugged off the beating by saying, “You can’t make as many mistakes against good teams.” Thanks, moron—you’re batting .210. How about you shut up and focus on putting the bat on the ball? Nobody wants a lecture from a guy who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.

One small win? The front office finally forced Boone to bench Volpe. It didn’t matter last night—since the offense scored one run—but at least shortstop was clean for once, and Jose Cabellaro even picked up a hit. Imagine that.

The truth is simple: the Yankees are three games back of Toronto with 17 left. Time is running out. To even have a chance, they now need to play damn near perfect baseball. And guess what? Baseball is not a game of perfection. It never has been. This is what happens when you let Aaron Boone steer the ship: the Yankees end up taking on water while the captain is below deck drawing up more spreadsheets and blowing bubbles.

Can the Yankees still squeak in? Sure. But who the hell wants that? Fans don’t want to sneak into October. We want to storm in by winning the East—because that’s the Yankees way. That’s what this franchise is supposed to be. Boone doesn’t get it. And until he’s gone, we’re stuck with a team that keeps shitting the bed and a manager who thinks “hope” is a strategy.

YANKEES PLAY LIKE GARBAGE WHILE BOONE CLINGS TO "BELIEVE & HOPE" FOR VOLPE

Before we get into this shit show, let me state for the record that the Yankees let Gleyber Torres walk and he's had quite a production season for the Tigers. It's refreshing. He bet on himself, took the one year deal with Detroit and he will have a wonderful offseason because he proved to Major League baseball that he can still play. Meanwhile the geeks in the Yankees "analytics" back room wanted him off the Yankee roster last year because they saw no future in Torres projections.  

But what those numbers do not tell you is that heart and guts play a major role in a major league player.  And they picked wrong.

Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe is at this point the worst shortstop in the league, due to errors... do to him just sucking the life out of the Yankees lineup with zeroes on the board every night.  Last night was another example. And if you look at say, the comparison of hitting between Torres and Volpe, Torres was quite productive.  Volpe? I mean, my mom might have done a better job... at least worked a walk. 

What are we doing here Aaron Boone? Why are you obsessed with this kid? Does he remind you of him? Is Michael Volpe you golfing buddy? Are you in love with him? Serious questions here, because I have to tell you, when you are playing for a playoff spot, you put the best guys on the field. You're not and rolling out Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe night after night is just Loserville.

Boone says the Yankees “believe and hope” Anthony Volpe’s best days are ahead — preferably now, as the team claws for October baseball. Cute. The problem? We’ve been “believing and hoping” since April. It hasn’t worked. At all.

This isn’t about injuries or bad luck. This is about Boone. He picks wrong. Constantly. He manages like a guy rolling dice in a dark room, then spends half his energy arguing balls and strikes he knows won’t get overturned. It’s leadership theater — and the Yankees are paying for front-row seats.

And now, on September 10th, the grand strategy is to… keep “believing and hoping” Volpe figures it out? That’s not a plan; that’s wishful thinking disguised as management. Bench him. Yesterday. This is a great tweet by the way. Those numbers? Those are numbers of a high schooler playing in the major leagues, folks. The kid sucks. 

Give Jose Caballero the keys to shortstop and walk away slowly. The guy’s got a ton of innings already at short, owns four defensive runs saved, nine outs above average, and, newsflash, he actually knows what to do with a baseball when it comes his way. Even on an off night at the plate, Caballero can still get on base, create chaos, and score runs. That’s called production.

Volpe? He gives away outs like Halloween candy. It’s painful. It’s predictable. And it’s killing this team. Boone’s refusal to make the obvious move isn’t just frustrating — it’s flat-out embarrassing.

Bleeding Yankee Blue has been yelling about this for six weeks. It’s obvious. Caballero should be the everyday shortstop. Everything else is Boone’s ego talking, and right now, the Yankees can’t afford his bad choices.

Do you want me to make this even sharper and more sarcastic — like a rant that sounds fed up with Boone and the front office? It could hit harder, trust me.

And last night's game? A disaster.  As of right now the Yankees are 3 games out of the lead in the American League East. In the Wild Card, which is like 3rd place closer, we are clinging to a lead that we could pretty much lose if we have a bad series to the Tigers and Red Sox next.  But year, let's "believe and hope" Boone, you fucking idiot. How about manage?

The game, if you can even call it that — it was more like a live demonstration of how to burn down a season in one inning. Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. managed to give up nine runs without recording a single out in what has to be one of the most humiliating seventh innings Yankee Stadium has ever witnessed. Tigers 12, Yankees 2. On a crisp night in the Bronx, the only thing colder than the bats was Aaron Boone’s brain.

Cruz and Leiter’s stat line looked like a drunk Little League scrimmage: four walks, four hits, one hit batter, one wild pitch, 36 pitches thrown… only 14 for strikes. That’s not pitching — that’s performance art.

And then here comes Aaron Boone, Mister “Everything’s Fine,” delivering another one of his canned sermons:

“Tonight’s a tough night, but it doesn’t change a lot of the good things that have happened in some of these games…”

Stop. Talking.

Boone, fans don’t care about the “good things" yesterday. You don’t get credit for showing up to work and doing your job occasionally. Yankees fans expect this team to be good all the time. That’s the standard. But instead, we get chaos, inconsistency, and empty platitudes from a manager who treats every meltdown like a minor inconvenience.

And don’t even start with the “it’s on the players” narrative. No. This disaster starts at the top. Boone, Brian Cashman, and Michael Fishman are steering this Titanic into an iceberg at full speed. Boone can’t manage a bullpen. Cashman’s roster construction is a joke. Fishman… honestly, what does he even do? And HAL STEINBRENNER? The man’s somewhere on a yacht pretending this team isn’t unraveling like a cheap sweater.

This isn’t “bad luck.” This is bad leadership. The Yankees are playing panic baseball because the people in charge have no plan, no vision, and apparently no accountability. We’re stuck in “catchup mode,” but time’s running out, and Boone’s strategy is basically “close your eyes and hope for the best.”

Hal, where are you? Boone, pack a bag. Cashman, start updating your résumé. The fans deserve better than this clown show.

GET IT TOGETHER.

THE YANKEES AREN'T FOOLING ANYONE, AARON JUDGE ISN'T OKAY!

The Yankees just won 4-of-6 on a difficult stretch against the Houston Asstros and Toronto Blue Jays and as happy as I am about that, I'm worried about something else. The series wins were nice, but we got our first glimpse of Aaron Judge back in the outfield and....it wasn't great. 

Friday was Judge's first game playing the outfield since July 25th, and the Blue Jays wasted no time testing his arm out there. It took no time at all for them to see that Judge wasn't his usual self out there. The Jays had the bases loaded and two outs when a ball was hit into right field. By the time Judge fielded the ball, Daulton Varsho was on second base and was waved home by the Jays third-base coach. It's a ballsy move when Judge is healthy because he can gun down almost anyone out there. Few outfielders have a better arm but Judge isn't healthy as we could see. Instead of throwing home, he lobbed a throw to cutoff man Jazz Chisholm Jr who was in close proximity to Judge instead of throwing home which allowed the Blue Jays to score an additional run.

 The Jays weren't sure which version of Judge they were going to see out there and wanted to test it. "There was a little bit of unknown with how he was going to respond," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said HERE. "He's got a great arm. At that point, it's Varsho at second, so you don't really know because he can run. But we wanted to test it." Clearly it worked well for them.

Sunday we saw similar plays. In the second inning, another fly ball was hit to Judge. This time, Judge threw to Anthony Volpe instead of throwing home. Later in the inning, another fly ball was hit and Judge lobbed it to Chisholm again. Judge claims his thought process was to just get the ball in as quick as possible by using the cutoff man, which leads a lot of us to ask if he is physically capable of making the throw.

It's a fair question to ask. If he can make the throw, why isn't he? And if he can't make the throw then why is he out there? It's the Yankees trying to get creative to get Judge back in the outfield. We all want to see Judge back in the outfield, but considering Aaron Boone said "I don't think we’re going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year," just three weeks ago, check it our HERE if you missed it. Then he tried to walk it back the same day and said "Maybe that's a little (overstated)." It's concerning and infuriating.

So after two nights in the outfield, Boone's comments seem to be correct. Judge is clearly not at full strength, and the Yankees are trying to get cute and creative at this point. The Blue Jays exposed it first, and now it could really bite the Yankees in the ass....especially if playing Judge in the outfield makes this injury worse. 

The Yankees hope he can get back to as close to 100% as possible over the coming weeks. In the mean time though, Boone is gonna give soundbites like "We're handling it how we handle it, OK?" and hope and pray for a miracle....because that's what the Yankees do.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SABATHIA DEFENDS VOLPE, BUT THE ARGUMENT FALLS FLAT

Sure, I get why CC Sabathia is backing Anthony Volpe — I really do. CC’s a Yankee legend, a straight shooter, a guy who bleeds pinstripes. Of course he’s going to support the kid. But let’s not act like this is breaking news. It’s not. It’s not even a headline — unless you’re desperate to make it one.

Here’s the truth: CC is the best, but CC in my opinion, is wrong. And that’s fine. You don’t need advanced analytics, exit velocities, or “projected WAR” to figure this out — just use your eyeballs. Watch Volpe flail at the plate. Watch him get lost in the field. Watch Aaron Boone drool over his golden boy like he’s the second coming of Derek Jeter. Even the beat writers who’ve covered this team for decades know Volpe isn’t it right now — many just won’t say it out loud, some do, and I respect that.

The other night, Boone finally benched Volpe and started José Caballero at shortstop. Guess what? Caballero didn’t do much hitting ninth, but at least shortstop wasn’t a circus act. That was the smartest move Boone’s made all year. And yesterday? Volpe’s back in the lineup. That’s not just bad managing — that’s malpractice. The kid needs a week on the bench. A full mental reset. But no, Boone can’t quit his obsession.

Now, CC’s telling people to relax, using Miguel Andújar as an example — you know, the guy the Yankees jerked around for years, switched positions on, didn't allow to have consistency and eventually they dumped him. And somehow, after a long road, he’s still in the Majors. Good for Andújar. Really. But comparing him to Volpe? Nonsense. Andújar never got consistent at-bats or a stable role until he found a team to allow him to blossom. Volpe’s been handed both on a silver platter and still hasn’t figured it out. In other words, the Yankees have been consistent letting Volpe play, but Volpe isn't good, but they still give him chances.  they never did that to Miguel.

CC even tossed out Gary Sánchez’s name, saying with patience he could’ve still been the Yankees’ catcher. Yeah, about that — Sánchez got run out of town because he didn’t hustle, couldn’t block, and looked allergic to effort. He had plenty of chances; he just didn’t care enough. That’s not Volpe’s issue — but it’s still the same result: too much rope, not enough production.

Look, Volpe’s not a rookie anymore. He’s had flashes, sure, but consistency isn’t just lacking — it’s vanished. If you’re out there every single day and you’re still awful, that’s not a slump, that’s who you are right now. And if Boone refuses to adjust, that’s on him too.

So yeah, CC’s saying the “right” things publicly. He’s a company guy. He’s not going to blast a young player in front of cameras. But behind closed doors? There’s no way the competitor in CC doesn’t know the truth: Volpe needs to sit. The kid’s not good right now, and no amount of blind loyalty is going to change that.

My opinion right now, and I love Sabathia!

BELLINGER IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. YANKEES WIN!

The New York Yankees are giving me whiplash. One day they look like contenders, the next they look like a Little League team that forgot which base comes after second. (Blame Volpe for that.) Can we just pick a lane already? This constant yo-yo of hope and heartbreak is exhausting.

Saturday’s 3-1 win over first-place Toronto should have been one of those “we’re back, baby!” moments, and, sure, it was — but it came with all the drama this team loves to manufacture. The play of the game? Cody Bellinger — the human defibrillator keeping this team alive — unleashed a laser from right field to gun down Bo Bichette at the plate on Nathan Lukes’ single in the top of the sixth. That throw saved the Yankees’ lead and, let’s be honest, probably my sanity.

“I feel like every win at this point is pretty big,” Bellinger said afterward, which is adorable considering the Yankees have made every loss feel enormous, too. “I got a good jump on it… just wanted to make a good throw.” Well, mission accomplished, Cody. Without you, we’d probably be talking about another ninth-inning meltdown today.

Speaking of miracles, the bullpen — yes, the same bullpen that’s been leaking runs like a busted faucet — actually came through. Fernando Cruz and David Bednar tag-teamed the final seven outs without blowing up the scoreboard. Imagine that: three scoreless innings in a high-leverage game. Somebody give them a medal. 

The win sliced Toronto’s AL East lead to three games, and the Yankees are somehow still clinging to the Wild Card like a cat hanging from a ceiling fan. But here’s the thing — these games are big. This series is massive. This is season-on-the-line stuff. Aaron Boone, of course, had his usual “zen monk” take:

“We know what’s at stake,” Boone said. “We know how important these games are. But you also can’t make them bigger than what they are.”

Sorry, Boone, but no. These games are bigger than big. They’re enormous. Treat them like it. If the Yankees are clawing back now, it’s only because they’ve spent the last four months digging their own grave thanks to your weak decision-making, a front office allergic to common sense, and an analytics department that thinks baseball is played on spreadsheets instead of grass.

Here’s the ugly truth: if this season ends without a playoff run, the Yankees need a full-blown purge. Boone? Gone. Fishman? Gone. Every single number-crunching “genius” who thought math could replace instinct? Pack your calculators and leave.

Because here’s what I believe — if this team played with more gut and less algorithm, we wouldn’t be clawing back right now. We’d already be on top of the AL East, laughing at Toronto instead of chasing them.

But no, here we are, praying the bullpen holds, begging for consistent offense, and counting on Cody Bellinger’s right arm to save the season. Again.

Win today please!

WE'RE WATCHING THE AL EAST SLIP AWAY

 The Blue Jays will not go quietly.

Benching Anthony Volpe? Absolutely the right call. Starting José Caballero at short? Also the right call. The Yankees winning? Well… that should be the easy part, but somehow, they still find ways to fumble it.

At this point, I can’t even bring myself to blame the players anymore. This isn’t just about slumps or injuries — it’s about a franchise drowning in its own mismanagement all season. We were backed into a corner. The obsession with analytics, projections, and "modeling outcomes" has sucked the life out of this team. Aaron Boone? Half the time he looks like he’s solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded in the dugout.

And don’t even get me started on that whole Astros series sideshow — the Yankees whining about an "anti-Yankee" umpire conspiracy,  the Ryan McMahon “did he or didn’t he” catch fiasco… Grow up.

Brian Walsh ruled that Ryan McMahon didn’t catch this ball and after some dialogue the call stood pic.twitter.com/WcPI0n6Nc5

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 5, 2025

We clearly got squeezed in the Astros series.  There is NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. This team sounds like a toddler blaming the teacher for losing recess privileges. Umpires aren’t our problem, boys. I didn't even write about it on BYB, because the whole thing was stupid.

Here’s the reality check: the Yankees are backed into a corner, clawing at excuses like they’re clinging to a life raft. Complaining about bad calls isn’t going to save this season. Winning games against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Tigers might. But, sure, keep crying about the ump while Toronto casually slaps you around.

Last night was another lesson in humility. Kevin Gausman completely dismantled the Yankees’ bats — seven innings, three hits, five strikeouts, and the only damage was Stanton’s solo homer. That’s it. That’s the game. Cam Schlittler? He was due for a rough outing, and Toronto made sure it arrived on schedule.

Bo Bichette, meanwhile, continues to make Yankee pitching look like batting practice. Broken-bat RBI double. Sacrifice fly. Crushing souls on repeat. The Blue Jays have now beaten the Yankees eight times in 11 meetings this year and flipped the division race on its head. Back in May, Toronto was eight games behind. Now? They’re not.

Forget conspiracy theories. Forget bad umps. Forget the excuses. The Yankees have a Blue Jays problem, a Boone problem, and — let’s be real — a reality problem.

Right now, they’re four games back. Four games, a manager on autopilot, and a fan base clinging to umpire drama like it’s gospel. 

It’s pathetic.

BOONE HAS BACKED US IN THIS CORNER. PANIC FEELS LIKE THE ONLY WAY OUT

 The Yankees should have beat the Astros last night. They didn't. The end.

You want to look desperate? Go ahead, argue balls and strikes. You want to look like a total clown? Be my guest. But let’s get one thing straight — the Yankees should’ve won that game.

And before you say I’m being dramatic, here’s what I wrote yesterday in YANKS WIN, BUT GIVE OUTS TO ASTROS BECAUSE OF VOLPE about Anthony Volpe and the cost of “free outs”:

“...they can’t afford too many ‘Volpe moments’ dragging down the October run. We are giving outs away. In close games? We lose because of that.”

Well, guess what? Last night we lost. Last night was Exhibit A. And yeah, we’ll never know if Volpe actually connects on those swings — if those hits would’ve flipped the game — but I do know this: the best possible Yankees weren’t on the field. Williams? Really? Volpe? Again? It’s like Aaron Boone fills out his lineup card with a dartboard and a blindfold hoping to get a reach around late night after the game. it's creepy and bizarre and I don't get any of it.

Let’s talk about the game, though, and how they coughed it up.

The Yankees were up 4-1 after Ryan McMahon’s sac fly in the sixth. Then Jeremy Peña parked one in the seats, and suddenly the Astros had all the momentum. In the eighth, Boone decided to roll with Devin Williams — a guy whose “struggles” are becoming a personality trait at this point — and shocker, disaster struck. A 4-4 tie turned into chaos.

Williams and Boone both got tossed for chirping the ump over balls and strikes. Williams said afterward:

“I said, ‘I had four that you missed,’ and he threw me out for it. Never been ejected in my career.”

Translation: guilt by association. Boone has managed to turn himself into Public Enemy No. 1 among umpires. Stand next to him, you’re toast too.

Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and still somehow kept his spot. Jose Caballero has been gathering dust on the bench.Makes no sense.

Oh, and Giancarlo Stanton? After his defensive adventures in left, maybe — just maybe — don’t roll him out there for a third straight game. But nope. Logic took the night off.

This wasn’t a game the Yankees “got squeezed.” This was a game lost because of panic, bad lineup choices, and a season-long pattern of mismanagement. Now, they’ve got their backs against the wall and a brutal stretch of games coming up.

And here’s the kicker: nobody in that front office ever admits they screwed up. They just let Boone roam free like Chucky on a Saturday night murder spree. Chaos.

It’s time to cut the head off the snake. Send Boone packing. Change the narrative. Because Yankees fans are done watching this team play catch-up.