SANCHEZ IS ONE STEP CLOSER

Photo: Getty Images

I cannot wait to get Gary Sanchez back.  We need the guy. Sanchez will play in the Gulf Coast League today.

The New York Post has more:

Photo: Getty Images

"If that goes well, Sanchez will work out in Tampa on Sunday and join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start a minor league rehab assignment. Out since July 24 with a strained right groin, Sanchez could come off the DL in time to join the Yankees for the start of a critical West Coast trip on Sept. 3 in Oakland. 

Just being activated isn’t enough for Sanchez, who went on the DL with a .188 batting average and showed a decided lack of effort chasing a passed ball and running to first in the game before he was shelved." 

Photo: Getty Images

But not only that, we need more than Sanchez.  That wrist injury for Aaron Judge isn't good.  Having both these big boys in the lineup is important. Especially at the end of August.

The Yankees have not been playing badly with these guys out. But there is no question their big bats can help this team.  Right now the Yankees are 8.5 back of the Red Sox.  They have 35 games left.  6 are against the Red Sox. The Yankees CAN win the division. No, it won't be easy, but they can.  Can you imagine if we had Sanchez and Judge in the lineup?

This is good news for Sanchez.  Let's just hope we're not rushing these guys back so they get hurt again.

IT'S FOODBANK TIME! TIME TO DONATE!

The Yankees are playing the Orioles this weekend as many of you already know. They came out the winner against them last night 7-5 and they play the O's again all weekend long.  Tomorrow there's a double header and then they play again on Sunday.

But the most important part of the weekend is this... if you are attending these games at Camden Yards, do what the Orioles are asking... donate non-perishable food items or a monetary donation at the Orioles food drive! This is a great thing the O's do and we are happy to make this announcement on Bleeding Yankee Blue.

#OriolesREACH Food & Funds Drive!

Support local families and donate non-perishable food items or make a monetary donation to the @MDFoodBank at the ballpark gates all weekend. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/cEJPuhipPa

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 24, 2018

After all, we have written about this event before on BYB and are happy to continue. After all, our buddy Elite Rob, an Orioles fan and friend of BYB reminded me about this event.

This would be a great tweet to put out to your fans to help us out @BleednYankeeBlu! #Orioles #Yankees ☝️☝️

— STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS (@EliteRob2914) August 24, 2018

And you know what? I am happy to let our audience know... it's a great cause.

If you are going to Camden Yards this weekend... do the right thing... donate!

TEAM COMPETITION BRINGS THE BEST OUT OF AN ATHLETE

(Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)

Nothing should ever be handed to you. Many times a spot needs to be earned. More on that in a moment.

Love this article from Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record.  He has that nugget that everyone wants to know about when it comes to Greg Bird. Is he frustrated with his performance? 

As you all know, Birdman is struggling... big time. We all see it... we all know it. Many of us are getting fed up with Bird. For me personally... I like Bird, but they need to fix him, and in the meantime, I keep thinking about Tyler Austin and how maybe the Yankees shouldn't have traded him away but instead had him stick around, and show that playful competition between 2 teammates at one position and may the best player win the spot.

Robby Sabo, ESNY Graphic, Getty Images

Sometimes that lights a fire under an athlete's ass and for Bird... I honestly think it would have helped him.  They'd push each other... but no.  We have Austin on the Twins now, free from living in the Bird shadow and kicking butt. And then we have Bird... given a spot that he can't deliver in and by the way... DID NOT EARN.  It all kind of sucks.

Caldera writes:

Photo: NorthJersey.com

"Greg Bird’s two homers last weekend – including a grand slam – felt as if it happened a month ago. That’s what an off day and an 0-for-10 with four strikeouts against the Marlins can do to a hitter who has been searching all season to find his A-swing. 

'It’s frustrating. It (stinks) to (stink),’ the Yankees first baseman said bluntly after the Marlins’ 9-3 win on Wednesday night, earning Derek Jeter’s club a two-game split of the interleague series. 

Even the large contingent of Yankees fans at Marlins Park took to booing Bird, which really made the place sound like Yankee Stadium South. Bird’s seasonal average is down to .202 in 72 games (247 at-bats) with a flat .689 OPS."

But what happens in a situation like this? Do we bench Bird? Do we let him work through it? How long will this take?

The whole thing's frustrating, but no one is more frustrated than Greg Bird.  Meanwhile... Tyler Austin?

10-30, 3 home runs, .333 and a 1.049 OPS in Minnesota.

All very interesting.

PEDRO MARTINEZ HAS HARSH WORDS FOR THE YANKEES

And he isn't wrong.

These Yankees don't have the same spunk as the version that Pedro Martinez once referred to as "my daddy" and even he knows there is something wrong with this team that goes beyond all of the injuries.

We already said this last week in STOP BLAMING EVERYTHING ON INJURIES! Yes, the injuries are an issue. It's a long season and it is bound to happen but good teams finds ways to win. Guys step up and someone picks up the slack. The Yankees aren't doing that. They are just going with the motions and now finally an outsider agrees.

Photo: USA Today

The Yankees have key guys missing in the lineup with Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius and now we can add Aroldis Chapman to the list as of yesterday. Those are all guys that make a huge difference in a game but they aren't playing like a winning team. Their record and their performance in the last month simply do not match. Right now, we are lucky.

I don't like the idea of agreeing with Pedro but, his tweets are true.

The Yankees aren't hustling out there. There's no heart either. Sure the Yankees are 32 games over .500 and that's nice. That record doesn't tell the accurate story about the team since July. That record is thanks to early success. The Yankees haven't been that team in awhile.

Photo: New York Post

The Yankees just don't look hungry anymore. They look lost and no one is stepping up to be the leader that is sorely missed. We have all of the talent to get us to the postseason but our passion has been sucked dry. Aaron Boone doesn't have that fire and he can't get it out of his players, either. Without Judge, our team is missing a leader and there has been no one else to fill those shoes.
It's the end of August and the excitement is gone.

Sure, the Yankees are winning games but when you are not playing your best....can you really be called a winner? The Yankees aren't fooling anyone. They aren't playing to their full potential even with all of the injury concerns. They have holes without key players but they shouldn't be this ineffective.

And the Marlins series is a perfect example. It shouldn't take twelve innings to finally beat the Marlins 2-1. And last night? Ugly. Lance Lynn gave up five runs in the sixth. Oh and what about Austin Romine's needless and wild throw to second? That allowed Brian Anderson to advance to third, and he scored an unearned run on a ground out. The Yankees managed only one extra-base hit against five Miami pitchers. They committed three errors and struck out 11 times in a defeat that ended their four-game winning streak. They should've easily walked through the Marlins.

So now what? The Yankees have a day to try and get their act together before they head to Baltimore. The Yankees are 6-6 against a team that has the worst record in the majors. We are better than this.

The Yankees may have a winning record but Pedro is right, this team doesn't have the energy of a winning team. I don't like agreeing with Pedro, but he's right. A 100 win season won't matter if they keep playing like this. If the Yankees want to make that long postseason run like last season, leadership,  hustle and tons of energy will go a long way. If they don't find any of that it is going to be a short trip and a long winter.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

MIKE PLAYS RIGHT

Source: Getty Images North America

Perhaps forced by the fact that the Yankees are playing in a National League park, Giancarlo "Mike" Stanton took his rightful place in right field last night in Marlins Park.  I have to say this crap about him needing to be at DH because of a strained hamstring is just that, crap.  Once again I have to refer back to Aaron Boone's managing and choices of playing the best team each night.  But for tonight and likely tomorrow, he got it right with Mike in right.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

"It's getting there. We're gonna have some NL games soon, so I have to jump out in right field. It's getting better," Stanton said after homering for the seventh time in 12 games in Saturday's 11-6 win over Toronto. "We're gonna get there. Run around, test it and make sure it's ready to go," reported Newsday.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

The Yankees have elected to play Shane Robinson (BA .114) and Neil Walker (BA .225) in right field in Aaron Judge's absence.  Why?  I really see no advantage to playing either of these two in right field and taking the bat out of the hands of Ronald Torreyes (BA .329) who has spent 60 days in Triple A or Tyler Austin (BA .250) who they elected to trade.  Likely, Clint Frazier would have platooned with Stanton in right if he was well, but he's not so that leaves that option out.  Luckily for the Yankees, Neil Walker has decided to start hitting and Greg Bird hit a grand slam but has gone virtually hitless since, like most of the season.

Source: Getty Images North America

"Stanton has been used only at designated hitter for 11 games in a row due to a tight hamstring and the Yankees would like to keep it that way a while longer, but he’s apparently healthy enough to play the field and he will this week when there is no DH for road inter-league games in Miami.
And if Stanton survives those one or two starts in right feeling OK, he’ll probably be back in right one or two times this weekend when Walker plays second base," reports NJ.com.

Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America

Boone, Stanton and the Yankees need to just be grittier about the way they approach the game.  Didi Gregorius, before getting injured, played consistently at short stop.  He was never out.  He always showed up and gave his best.  He played banged up.  He stayed focused.  He gave it all.  To see him go down is just heart-breaking.  His reaction to the injury was priceless.

At the end of the day, I am glad to see Mike back in right, where he belongs, every night.  With only a few weeks left of the season and Houston and Seattle breathing down our throats for the Wild Card, we need our best team on the field and that includes Mike in right.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

TORRES GETS START AT SHORT

Photo: Getty Images

Quick note and I'm excited to see how this goes tonight.

Gleyber Torres is at Short.  Kuty and Miller of NJ.com have that nugget:

"Rookie Gleyber Torres will switch from second base to shortstop with Didi Gregorius placed on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday with a left heel contusion."

Good luck Gleyber.

BACKING YOUR KID ISN'T A BAD THING

Photo: Getty Images

As you know if you read BYB, I've always liked Tyler Austin.  We've been a supporter of the kid forever. Through the tough times... during the good times. Even during the Twins times.

The other day I liked a tweet by Tyler's Dad, Chris. He took a shot at the Yankees organization through Greg Bird (if that makes sense), because, let's face it... since Tyler went over to the Twins, he's been kicking butt, and besides that Grand Slam by Bird the other day... it hasn't been exactly wonderful. Bird's been struggling.

Chris tweeted:

"Tyler has more hits with the Twins in a week than Bird has in a month with the Yankees."

Now, the tweet has since been deleted. To be honest, he should have kept it out there for the world to see.  For 1, it's a fact... for 2... sometimes you need to stir it up. 3... it's damn OK to be proud of your kid, especially if he's been slighted by an organization that he's given his heart and soul to for years.

Photo: Getty Images

But as far as the Tweet by Chris... I get it.  I get it like a father would get it.  He's taking a shot. He's not really taking a shot at Bird though... he's taken a shot at the Yankees organization for giving up on Tyler.  And I have news for you... if you don't get that? I can't help you.

Now USA Today felt like they needed to slam the guy.  For what, I have no idea... I guess they just need clicks.

"Is Tyler Austin better than Greg Bird? Austin's dad, Chris, certainly thinks so, and he took to Twitter to make that point. The tweets have since been deleted..."

Who cares... family circles the wagon when it comes to family.  Makes sense, I tip my cap to Chris.

Keep kicking ass Tyler... become a legend in Minnesota. Prove the Yanks wrong!

And before anyone gets on my case for slighting Bird, I'm not... I'm rooting for Tyler.

STOP BLAMING EVERYTHING ON INJURIES!

Photo: Getty Images

What a difference a year makes. This time last year there was a lot of hope and excitement. Some say our postseason was a miracle and we should not have eliminated the Cleveland Indians and managed to get just one game away from the World Series again.

Last year we were WAY ahead of schedule. So we are supposed to be closer now, right?

We should....but every week it feels like something happens that puts us further and further away. We are a much better team than this, but  THIS Yankees team just doesn't know how to overcome challenges. There are too many obstacles and missed opportunities. Yesterday didn't get any better either.

For many reasons, it doesn't look like the run we had last year is not LIKELY to happen this year. I hope it does, but the Yankees have a lot of fundamental problems and they haven't been able to figure them out.

Photo: New York Post

One big problem would be the injuries. This team is completely different without Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez's bats and gloves in the game. Sanchez was in a major free fall before going on the shelf but his bat still makes the lineup longer. Not having both of these guys sucks but it may be even worse than we realize.

Photo: Getty Images

If you missed yesterday's game Didi Gregorius collided with Kendrys Morales in the first inning while trying to beat out an infield single. He remained in the game after being examined on the field but was later pulled at the top of the third inning. He was taken to Columbia-Presbyterian for tests that came back clear but Aaron Boone said due to the bad bruise on his heel that he could still go to the disabled list, read more HERE.

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees are crippled right now. With Judge out, the Yankees have turned to Shane Robinson in the outfield who has been ineffective. The Yankees have been trying to find someone to fill Judge's shoes and don't have many options but surely there has to be someone better than Robinson? The Yankees already have Neil Walker doing his own fill-in duty in right field. The Yankees need some serious help right now and it doesn't look like it is coming.

Photo: Getty Images

It's frustrating for us as fans, but I am sure all of this is even more frustrating for Brian Cashman. He has made all of the necessary moves to fix the weak spots on this team but it hasn't paid off like it should. Cashman can't control the injuries but he made moves to make this team better. The results just don't show that.

The Yankees are historically a good and exciting August team but the Yankees seem to be lacking the same passion as we have seen from years before. It was hard for me to watch Thursday's game against the Rays. The Rays had two runners picked off, botched a routine inning ending double play and had to pull ace Blake Snell early.

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees had their opportunities and couldn't capitalize against another bad team. Snell was pulled early thanks to an injury he still hasn't recovered from, he isn't stretched out and can't pitch deep into games. They gave the Yankees every opportunity to win and they just couldn't do it.

Photo: Getty Images

Injuries are one thing but the lack of leadership with this team is astounding. I really want to believe in Aaron Boone, but I just can't. The fire and spark are gone. I think his press conferences are a joke. He's calm and collected, nonchalant and looks like he is not phased by anything. Mediocrity is okay for him. I don't get it. He doesn't have that winning Yankee persona. He behaves like the Wild Card is okay for him. Everything will be okay as long as they get there somehow. This is the attitude of the 2018 New York Yankees and it's not okay.

Injuries do suck and they make the game harder. But good teams have winning attitudes and there is always someone there to pick up the slack.....and we don't have any of that right now. We have flat answers, lackluster results and no passion. This team has all of the talent to replicate last year, but not the leadership or culture. The Yankees need to figure this out before it is too late....and we are running out of time.

Stop giving it away and WAKE UP!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

HAPP'S BEEN AWESOME

Photo: Getty Images

I am the first to admit I was worried about JA Happ coming to the Yankees.  I'm the first to admit that I was not only wrong, I admit it and am happy he's doing so well. CBC Sports writes:

"J.A. Happ stayed unbeaten with New York by topping his former Toronto teammates and Greg Bird hit a grand slam during a six-run first inning. Happ (14-6) faced the Blue Jays for the first time since they traded him to the Yankees on July 26. The 35-year-old lefty has won all four of his starts for New York... 

Photo: Getty Images

Happ allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight."

For the record, and this is documented on the pages of BYB. I never hated Happ. I was however concerned about how he'd handle New York.  Well... it looks like he's handling it easily.  I'm happy about that.

DIDI INJURY, A BLOW FOR THE YANKS

Photo: Getty Images

I love watching Didi Gregorius play.  Now, he could be added to the hurt list... and believe me... that sucks.

Newsday writes:

"Gregorius almost certainly headed to the disabled list because of the left heel bruise he suffered Sunday in the Yankees’ 10-2 rout of the Blue Jays, the body count is getting uncomfortably high in the Bronx...That’s a big chunk of offensive production, not to mention the destabilizing effect of losing a premium defender. Eventually, those cracks begin to show. Maybe not right away, but the impact usually is felt over time. "

Photo: Getty Images

Look, this season is not going the way we thought it would when we were rolling in the beginning of the season.  It doesn't mean we get crazy about it.  Injuries happen... we as fans just need to try and rally and support our team no matter what.

This team is pretty impossible to hate, even though Brendan Kuty of NJ.com suggests differently. They are productive, likable and young. We just need to stay healthy.  That's it!

Get well soon Didi.



 

CELEBRATE THE LITTLE THINGS

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

The leadership literature all say the same thing: Celebrate successes, no matter how small because they give your team the drive to keep going.  Well, that's where I am at folks.  I am encouraging us as fans and the Yankee team as a whole to celebrate the little glimmers of success and use these moments to fuel us for the road ahead.

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

As ESPN stated earlier in the week, "Since there still is time and a mathematical chance for them to roar back and snatch the division -- something they famously did exactly 40 years ago -- the Yankees aren't done believing." And with this weekend celebrating the 1998 Yankees, a team that will live in Yankee and baseball lore, you have to believe the Yankees can catch the division.  But should that be their focus?

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Aaron Judge has the answer to that question with his statement here: "We're always hunting for the division. August just started. We've got August and September. A lot of crazy things have happened. For us, our goal has always been the division. It doesn't matter how many games we're back. We're going to keep fighting for that." Fair and with Giancarlo Stanton on track for career home run 300, Miguel Andujar on track for Rookie of the Year honors and guys like Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner consistently anchoring and focusing this team, we need to celebrate the successes we have had and will continue to realize with many days left in the season.

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

NJ.com says that, "It might be all about maintaining that AL wild card lead now. But the way Boone sees it, “we need to get on another roll where we’re playing like we know we’re capable of. “And right now, I feel like we’re battling through that a little bit.’’ We got on a roll on Friday night, battling back from a terrible first inning by Lance Lynn.  The rain gave us a reprieve of losing it in the late innings, Luis Severino gave us a good outing on Saturday and the Yankees offense backed him up with eight runs, eventually winning 11-6.  But then there's the bullpen issues, or rather mismanagement of the bull pen by rookie manager Aaron Boone, the lack of defense in right field by rookie right fielder Neil Walker and the woes of Gleyber Torres that pull the team down.

Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

Again I go back to the best practice of celebrating the little successes to fuel the future ones.  Whether it's the division, or the Wild Card, if we are lucky, the Yankees have to give it their all and use the wins, the smaller successes and celebrations to carry them through the tougher times knowing that the best is still left to come. Stay faithful fans!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Suzieprof