Bleeding Yankee Blue

VOLPE HAD HIS MOMENT & THE YANKEES STILL LOST

2026-09-17T11:32:37.935-04:00

Maybe I’m getting old. Maybe I’ve watched too many Yankees teams that actually finished the job.

But can we please stop celebrating every little moment like we just won Game 7 of the World Series?

The Yankees lost to the Twins Wednesday, 5-4, in 13 innings. They had chances. Lots of them. Anthony Volpe delivered a two-out, two-run double to tie the game. The Yankees took leads in both the 10th and 11th. Then they loaded the bases with nobody out in the 12th and somehow scored nobody. Minnesota eventually walked it off in the 13th.

Yet watching Yankees social media after Volpe tied the game, you would have thought the Canyon of Heroes parade route was being mapped out. And yes, I’m picking on Volpe because everybody knows I’m not exactly president of his fan club. But this really isn't about him.

It's about the constant need to manufacture stars and manufacture moments.

A big hit happens? Clip it. Slow motion. Dramatic celebration. Everybody loses their minds.

Wonderful.

They lost the game. That’s the part that actually matters.

It reminds me of how we still see Aaron Boone’s home run off Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Was it incredible? Absolutely. I remember exactly how that felt.

But here's another thing I remember:

The Yankees didn't win the World Series.

Florida did.

Volpe is Boone. I think that's why Boone glazes him so much. He sees so much in him. My opinion of course.

And maybe that makes me different from today's marketing department, but I don't want moments. I want championships. I want moments when championships and wins happen, not when they lose. When they lose, I don't care.

Meanwhile, the biggest story Wednesday wasn't Volpe's double anyway.

It was Aaron Judge leaving the game.

Judge was removed in the sixth inning because of tightness in his lower right leg. He said he first felt it while playing the field in the first inning and tried to continue before deciding it wasn't worth risking something worse. This was only his seventh game back after missing more than three months with a stress fracture in his right rib. Judge indicated afterward that he probably wouldn't need imaging, but we'll see.

That's the story I'm worried about.

Because we've already watched this Yankee season without Judge for far too long. The last thing this team needs, with October approaching, is another Judge injury.

So spare me the premature celebrations.

I'm a Yankee fan. I want this team to win. I desperately want to get excited about them. But give me something worth celebrating. Win the games.

Win in October. Win the World Series.

Then post every damn video you've got.

Until then, they're just moments.

And Wednesday's big "moment" ended exactly where too many of these Yankee moments eventually end:

With somebody else celebrating.

CC SABATHIA COMMENDS VOLPE'S PERSEVERANCE WHILE FANS CONDEMN HIM!

2026-09-16T07:39:11.538-04:00

We don't need a reminder about how brutally honest the New York Yankee fan base is, and neither does CC Sabathia. Fans didn't hold back when he was playing, and they still don't. The only difference now might be that there may be more CC's out there to support those underperforming players.

That's what he is doing now, he's supporting Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar and last but not least Anthony Volpe, read more HERE. These guys were given "labels" from the fan base, which happens a lot when you don't meet expectations underneath New York's bright lights. For years we have been writing about how the Yankees coddle their players and but now CC wants the Yankees to also help them adapt to this demanding environment.

I agree with that to a point. New York is a tough place to play for established veterans, let alone when you are a young kid like Volpe was making it onto the big stage as an everyday player. There should be some mental preparation there for players, but it should also be prepared with the confidence of pairing that with good fundamentals to help you perform at a high level under those bright lights. If you have that track record of faltering (like Volpe has) that's when the Yankees need to be more hands on. It's exactly what the Yankees haven't done well.

Everyone in life needs feedback. It's what helps us improve and hone in on our craft. The Yankees do need to look for new ways to help guys deal with the pressures in the bright lights but maybe that doesn't look like what CC is suggesting. Maybe it's a more real-world scenario that the rest of us deal with since we don't make the big bucks playing a kid's game for a living.

The Yankees coddle; I call it the Aaron Boone approach. He's warm and fuzzy. The Bronx, however, is not a warm and fuzzy place. It's as real as it gets. Why aren't we giving that fair, but realistic approach to these guys? This isn't a sunshine and rainbows environment. This isn't a "safe space." This is a 'pull your big boy pants up and be tough' environment and get the job done. Figure it out and use your resources. The Yankees have lots of resources and patience. The fans don't have the patience, and we shouldn't be expected to have patience.

You can still give honest feedback that is firm but fair. It builds character. Hugs are not included on the side here. That's what Boone and the Yankees do. They give hugs, but they don't give reality. Give these guys a real environment to adapt in and help them through the bumps and they will perform better, period. If they don't, then they get sent down to the minors like Volpe did or traded.

Only the strong survive here, and the Yankees need to figure that out. The coddling isn't working. Not everyone is cut out to play here so it's time to be honest about that.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKS KEEP TEARING IT UP

2026-09-16T05:17:00.000-04:00

The Yankees are rolling. There, I said it. And now I’m immediately nervous.

New York beat up the Twins again Tuesday night, 8-1, winning their third straight and seventh in their last eight games. Suddenly this team looks dangerous at exactly the right time.

Max Fried was outstanding. Seven innings, one run, six strikeouts and no walks. That’s the Fried the Yankees need in October.

Cody Bellinger stayed hot, going 3-for-4 and launching a two-run homer in the first inning. Then Spencer Jones delivered the knockout punch — a massive 423-foot, three-run bomb in the sixth that blew the game open.

And don’t overlook George Lombard Jr. The kid had two more hits and drove in a run. Heliot Ramos had two hits as well, and the Yankees piled up 14 hits even with Aaron Judge getting the night off.

This is what we’ve been waiting for. Pitching. Power. Young guys contributing. Different guys stepping up every night.

The Yankees are 88-63, they’ve already punched their ticket to October, and right now they’re playing some of their best baseball of the season.

I want to get excited. I really do.

But I’ve watched this team too long to get my hopes up just yet.

Keep rolling. Keep winning. And maybe — just maybe — they’ll make believers out of us.

YANKS OCTOBER BOUND—BUT IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THE CHAMPAGNE

2026-09-15T07:46:09.522-04:00

The Yankees are officially headed back to October, and yes, I’m happy about it.

They clinched a playoff spot beating the Twins, turning a late 2-1 deficit into another one of those nights when the lineup suddenly wakes up and remembers it’s allowed to score runs.

José Caballero got the Yankees started with a solo homer in the third and later tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth. Ben Rice followed with a two-run single, and then Aaron Judge finally delivered the swing everyone had been waiting for.

Judge launched a three-run homer to finish off a six-run eighth inning. It was his first home run since returning from the injured list—and hopefully the first sign that the big man is finding his timing exactly when the Yankees need him most.

Austin Wells added another homer in the ninth, while Will Warren gave the Yankees 5⅔ strong innings and allowed two unearned runs. It was a good win, a big comeback and a well-earned postseason berth. By the way, Wells? Batting .180... hardly a threat.

Also, I have one question: Should we really be pouring champagne?

I mean, come on, gang. Be happy. Shake hands. Play some music. Maybe crack open a cold one. But goggles, plastic-covered lockers and a full champagne celebration because you secured a playoff spot?

What are we doing here—handing out participation trophies?

These are the New York Yankees. Reaching the postseason is supposed to be the expectation, not the final accomplishment. They’re still chasing Tampa Bay in the American League East, and that should be the focus.

Win the division. Avoid the Wild Card round. Put yourself in the strongest possible position to make a real October run.

Then you can pop the cork.

For now, congratulations. The Yankees are in.

Now go win something. That's what the fans want.

GERRIT COLE-APSE: IS HE STILL AN ACE?

2026-09-14T06:12:00.000-04:00

There's two weeks left in the regular season and Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make two more starts in that stretch. If that doesn't make you nervous.....it should. He's set to pitch against the Diamondbacks and the Rays. The last thing I am comfortable with right now is Cole pitching against the Rays in a game that could mean the difference in winning the division or just being a Wild Card.

What the hell is going on with Cole? The guy that was once our ace looks like a shell of himself. It's hard not to ask some tough questions after watching him give up four home runs against the Padres and then three this past weekend against the Mets. This is definitely a problem that Matt Blake and the Yankees need to fix NOW.

The good news is, Cole knows he needs to make those adjustments, read more HERE. The bad news though? We are out of time to tinker with mechanics. Granted, Cole has historically been a quick study and has made adjustments quickly throughout his career but the Rays are around the corner. The Yankees are four games behind them and this four game series against them will be the difference between being a division winner or just securing an invitation to the postseason as a Wild Card. Everything is on the line.

So a short time line and a stumbling ace are not working in our favor. Ordinarily, we might be able to ride something out and exercise some patience but we don't have that luxury. Cole is faltering at the wrong time. Right now, the Yankees best starters are Carlos Rodon, Max Fried and Cam Schlittler and the guy that is supposed to be the ace looks like he is a fourth or fifth starter.

Meanwhile, Schlittler is a favorite for Cy Young (as he should be) and is pulling the weight that a Ace should. It's hard to watch the guy that has been the anchor of your rotation falter. It's a reminder that at some point injuries or just age catch up to you and at a newly 36 years old, could we be seeing the start of his regression?

I hope now is not the time for the regression that comes for every great baseball player. But I have to ask at this point....is Cole still our ace? Is he still the guy that we can count on or is there a new Ace on this team?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCHLITTLER OWNS NEW YORK

2026-09-13T21:55:37.288-04:00

The Yankees didn’t need much offense today. When Cam Schlittler pitches like this, apparently two runs will do.

The Yankees beat the Mets 2-0 in the rubber game of the Subway Series, and once again Schlittler looked less like a young pitcher figuring things out and more like the guy everybody else is trying to figure out.

Six innings. One hit. No runs. Eight strikeouts. His ERA dropped to a ridiculous 1.95, best in the majors.

Ben Rice got things started immediately, launching his 38th homer of the season in the first inning. Austin Wells — yes, Austin Wells — finally escaped an ugly 0-for-20 skid by going deep in the third. Those two swings were enough. Don't worry, this dude's still only batting .179. Like how embarrassing.

And that’s really the story.

Schlittler shut them down. Rice keeps raking. Wells finally woke up. The bullpen finished the job.

Yankees win the series and improve to 86-63.

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay keeps winning too, so the Yankees remain four games behind the Rays in the AL East.

There’s not much season left.

Keep winning.

Keep pushing.

And maybe — just maybe — make Tampa Bay sweat a little.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF YESTERDAY? MEETING BALD VINNY IN THE FLESH

2026-09-13T10:36:45.832-04:00

I hadn't been to a Yankee game in two years. And quite frankly, the only reason I went Saturday was because I was invited. I'm certainly not paying for a ticket while Aaron Boone is still at the helm.

Turns out, I didn't miss much.

The Yankees were absolutely awful in a 12-2 embarrassment against the Mets. Gerrit Cole set the tone immediately, surrendering three home runs and five runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings. That's now seven homers allowed in his last two starts. This is supposed to be the ace we're counting on when October arrives? Figure it out, Gerrit. Quickly.

The offense wasn't much better. Cody Bellinger at least showed up, driving in both Yankee runs, including a homer. Aaron Judge went hitless, and Anthony Volpe appears to be settling nicely back into his normal JV ways, killing one of the Yankees' few opportunities by grounding into an inning-ending double play in the seventh. Welcome back.

Meanwhile, the Mets hit six home runs and basically used Yankee Stadium for batting practice. Francisco Lindor started the game with a homer and later added a grand slam just to make sure the humiliation was complete.

The highlight of my day? It had absolutely nothing to do with the game.

I finally got to meet Bald Vinny in person outside Billy's. That was worth the trip. Total businessman, solid hustler, got to appreciate this dude. Last time I met him was 2013. It's been years.

But baseball? Not so much.

Twelve runs allowed. Seven lousy hits. Two runs scored. An ace getting knocked around and an offense that looked lifeless.

Two years away from Yankee Stadium, and this is what I came back to?

Maybe I'll wait another two.

RODÓN SETS THE TONE IN SUBWAY SERIES OPENER

2026-09-12T09:38:14.136-04:00

The Yankees took care of business Friday night, beating the Mets 6-4 in the Subway Series opener at Yankee Stadium and extending their winning streak to four.

Cody Bellinger delivered the big blow, crushing a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Yankees a lead they never surrendered. Ben Rice added a solo shot and finished with three hits, while Spencer Jones got the scoring started with an RBI single.

Carlos Rodón gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, going 6⅓ innings with eight strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. The bullpen made things a little too interesting late, but David Bednar came in with the bases loaded in the eighth and finished off a five-out save.

The Yankees are now 85-62, winners of four straight and still three games behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East.

Bottom line: Bellinger brought the thunder, Rodón brought the pitching, and the Yankees kept moving forward. With 15 games left, winning the division is still the mission.

LOOK WHO SHOWED UP? YANKS SWEEP ROCKIES

2026-09-11T07:55:57.625-04:00

Anthony Volpe finally did something to help the New York Yankees win a baseball game.

There. I said it.

In his return from Triple-A, Volpe went 3-for-4, drove in five runs and launched a grand slam as the Yankees beat Colorado 10-3 and completed the sweep. It was a hell of a game. Give him credit. He showed up when his number was called.

But everybody relax. I'm still not buying Anthony Volpe.

First off, there were other Yankees who deserve some attention from last night. Luis García Jr. launched his 30th homer of the season, a two-run shot that got things started. Spencer Jones delivered a huge two-run single in the seventh. Cody Bellinger drove in a run, and Max Fried struck out seven while allowing just one run, although it took him 80 pitches to get through 3.1 innings. The bullpen did enough from there.

That's called a team win.

We aren't asking Volpe to be Derek Jeter. We're not asking him to be a superstar. We're asking him to become something resembling the player Yankee scouts told us he was going to be. That's it. Like Jesus, bat .280 on the year.

We've spent years hearing about the talent, the upside and the potential. Meanwhile, we've watched the inconsistency. So, one huge night against a Colorado team that has lost 100 games doesn't suddenly erase everything we've already seen. I'm a realist.

Was Volpe's adrenaline pumping after getting recalled? Absolutely. Did he look energized? Sure. Did he have a great game? Damn right.

But we've seen this movie before. A big game. A little hope. Everyone starts screaming that Volpe has "figured it out." Then comes another stretch where we're wondering what happened.

So, spare me the redemption tour after one night. I've been fooled for 3 years with this guy.

Am I happy for Volpe? No. I'm happy the Yankees won.

Volpe did his job, exactly what he was supposed to do. That's what I'm happy about. There is way too much emphasis placed on the fact that Anthony Volpe did it instead of what actually matters: the Yankees need to win this division.

So that's the story. This isn't about rebuilding Anthony Volpe's confidence or proving the Yankees were right about him. September isn't about protecting prospects, organizational pride or winning arguments.

It's about winning baseball games. Volpe helped them do that last night. Good. Do it again.

And again. Because one grand slam doesn't change my opinion of Anthony Volpe. But helping the Yankees get to first place might.

That's the standard now.

Win the damn division.

LOMBARD GOES GRAND. VOLPE GETS ANOTHER LIFE

2026-09-10T07:55:26.745-04:00

George Lombard Jr. gave Yankee fans the moment of the night.

With Spencer Jones working a two-out walk to help load the bases, Lombard stepped up and crushed an opposite-field grand slam — the first of his career and the Yankees’ first grand slam of the season.

The kid continues to impress.

Jones deserves credit, too. Two walks, patience at the plate and another contribution from a young player who looks like he belongs.

And Will Warren? Six strong innings, one run and eight strikeouts. Exactly what the Yankees needed.

Then came the news that made me roll my eyes.

Anthony Volpe is coming back.

With Jazz Chisholm Jr. suffering a thumb sprain, Volpe will rejoin the major league roster Thursday. And apparently we're going to force this experiment into second base now?

Why?

José Caballero is already here. He can play second. Let him.

I simply don't care about the Anthony Volpe experiment anymore. He had his opportunity. It was a long time. The Yankees finally sent him to Triple-A, Lombard took over at shortstop, and the kid has brought energy and excitement.

Why are we still trying to manufacture opportunities for Volpe?

At some point, stop trying to prove you're right about a player and just play the guys who give you the best chance to win.

This is the kind of organizational nonsense that makes it hard for me to root for this team sometimes.

Lombard is giving you something special. Don't screw it up.

JUDGE RETURNS & THE YANKEES KEEP ROLLING

2026-09-09T06:37:30.676-04:00

Aaron Judge is back. Finally.

The Yankee captain returned Tuesday night after missing 100 days, and while he went 0-for-3, nobody cares about the box score right now. Judge is healthy, he’s in right field, and the Yankees beat Colorado 5-3.

QUICK HITS: Judge is back. That’s the headline. Now stay healthy.

Cam Schlittler shoved: 7 innings, 1 earned run, 10 strikeouts. The kid continues to be the real deal.
Ryan McMahon ripped an RBI double to put the Yankees ahead.
Heliot Ramos delivered the dagger — a three-run bomb in the eighth.
David Bednar closed it out for save No. 32.

The Yankees are 82-62. September is here. Judge is back.

Enough excuses. Go win the damn thing.

WHOEVER MADE THIS MEME OWES BILL BELICHICK AN APOLOGY

2026-09-09T01:48:00.000-04:00

I saw this floating around and immediately had one question:

Who the hell made this thing?

Bill Belichick standing next to Aaron Boone with “8 rings combined” plastered across the bottom is technically clever, I guess.

Except Belichick did the heavy lifting.

The meme says one has eight and the other has zero. The larger point is dead-on: Belichick has actually reached the mountaintop repeatedly. Boone has been managing the Yankees since 2018 and still hasn't won a World Series.

So please don't put these two guys together like they're some kind of championship power couple.

One is associated with championships.

The other is associated with explaining losses.

And that's where this meme accidentally pisses me off.

I've heard every Aaron Boone defense imaginable. Great regular-season record. Players love him. Good communicator. Keeps the clubhouse together.

Wonderful.

Where's the freaking ring?

Boone has 778 regular-season victories and a .582 winning percentage as Yankees manager. That's impressive until you remember we're talking about the New York Yankees, where the assignment isn't win a bunch of games between April and September. The assignment is to win the World Series.

Nine seasons. Zero championships.

That's the stat I care about.

And worse, I still don't trust him when the game gets tight. I don't trust the pitching changes. I don't trust the lineup decisions. I don't trust the feel for the moment. October exposes managers because eventually the spreadsheet stops helping and somebody has to actually manage the baseball game in front of him.

That's where Boone scares the hell out of me.

Yet here we are again in 2026. Aaron Judge is 34. The championship window isn't going to remain open forever, and somehow the Yankees continue acting as though Boone deserves unlimited attempts to figure this thing out.

Why should I expect this October to be different?

I don't.

Maybe the Yankees get hot. Maybe Judge carries them. Maybe the pitching catches fire and Boone finally pushes every correct button.

I'd love to be wrong.

But after nine years, I'm done predicting something I've never seen.

So congratulations to whoever made the meme. You got your engagement.

But don't ever put Aaron Boone's name next to Bill Belichick's rings again.

Belichick earned his jewelry.

Boone is still looking for the damn store.

THE CAPTAIN IS BACK! GO GET 28!

2026-09-08T07:47:48.800-04:00

Aaron Judge is back.

Finally.

The Yankees activated their captain Monday night, and Judge is expected back in the lineup today against the Rockies after missing more than three months with a fractured rib. No rehab assignment. No more waiting. It’s go time. And man, did this lineup miss him.

The Yankees went 45-39 without Judge, but the offense was ugly. They hit just .227 during his absence, and now they enter the final 19 games four games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East.

So yes, I’m thrilled. Judge changes everything. His presence changes the lineup, changes how pitchers attack the Yankees and gives this team something it desperately needs:

Fear.

But now comes the question nobody wants to ask while we're celebrating: Can Aaron Judge get us to the finish line? Not September. Not a Wild Card banner. Not another “great season.” October. The World Series. A championship.

Judge is back.

Now go finish the damn job.

STANTON LIVES!

2026-09-08T01:15:00.000-04:00

Everyone's waiting for Aaron Judge to return, but apparently Giancarlo Stanton isn't completely dead for 2026 either. Wild.

Aaron Boone says Stanton is hitting and gave us the always-informative “we’ll see.”

Thanks, Aaron. Pulitzer stuff.

Look, Stanton hasn't played since April 24 because his calf apparently has the structural integrity of wet toilet paper. At 36, expecting him to suddenly become Cal Ripken Jr. is ridiculous.

But here's the funny part: I still want him.

Because if October comes and I need one gigantic human being to walk to the plate and scare the absolute hell out of a pitcher, give me Big G.

Judge and Stanton back for October?

I'll believe it when I see it.

But I'm certainly not deleting Stanton's number yet. Interesting.

JUDGE GAVE THE YANKEES A DECADE. WHAT THE HELL HAVE THEY GIVEN HIM?

2026-09-07T12:17:58.840-04:00

Ten years.

That's how long it's been since Aaron Judge arrived in the Bronx and hit his first Major League home run. August 13, 2016. Ten freaking years. Since then, Judge has become an MVP, a home run king, the captain of the New York Yankees and the face of baseball.

You know what he hasn't become? A World Series champion.

And I'm tired of pretending that's just bad luck. At some point, somebody needs to point the finger where it belongs: Brian Cashman, the Yankees front office and Aaron Boone.

Judge has given this organization everything. The Yankees have given him excuses.

Every year we're sold another version of the same garbage. The roster is talented. The underlying numbers are encouraging. Boone has a terrific winning percentage. Cashman believes in the process. Who gives a shit? Where are the championships?

This is the Yankees. Nobody hangs a banner for "pretty good regular season." Nobody walks through Monument Park reminiscing about Aaron Boone's winning percentage.

And please spare me the Boone defense. I've watched enough.

When the game gets tight, Boone gets exposed. When October demands instinct instead of a spreadsheet, we're treated to another pitching change that makes you scratch your head, another lineup decision nobody understands, another moment where Boone looks like he's managing the seventh game of spring training instead of the seventh game of a World Series.

Yet somehow, he's still here. Year after year. That's the part that drives me insane. How much evidence does this organization need? Judge isn't some prospect anymore. He's 34 years old. The clock isn't ticking quietly anymore. It's banging on the damn wall.

The Yankees were handed something most franchises would kill for: a generational superstar who wanted to be a Yankee, became captain and embraced everything that comes with playing in New York.

And they've managed to surround his prime with zero championships. That's organizational failure, sorry, it is. Yes, players need to perform in October. Judge included. Nobody gets a free pass.

But Brian Cashman has been responsible for constructing these teams. Aaron Boone has been responsible for managing them. And when the ending keeps looking familiar, eventually you stop blaming coincidence. You blame the people running the show. That's where I am.

I don't care how many regular-season games Boone has won. I don't care how many times Cashman explains how difficult winning a championship is. We know it's difficult. That's why you're paid to freaking do it. The Yankees used to measure seasons in championships. Somewhere along the way, this organization started measuring success in playoff appearances, winning records and organizational self-congratulation.

That's not Yankee baseball. That's corporate spin. And here's the scary part: They're running out of Aaron Judge. There aren't another ten prime years coming.

Keep Boone. Keep Cashman. Keep running back the same philosophy and hoping October magically ends differently. But don't act shocked someday when Judge retires, they put No. 99 in Monument Park and everybody suddenly realizes what happened. The Yankees had one of the greatest players of his generation. They had him for years. They had the money. They had the resources. They had the opportunity. And they pissed away his championship window.

Aaron Judge deserves his ring.

The question isn't whether he's done enough for the Yankees. It's whether the Yankees have done nearly enough for Aaron Judge. Right now?

Not even freaking close.

YANKEES WAKE UP LATE TO LOSE THE SERIES

2026-09-06T21:09:38.121-04:00

If Gerrit Cole was looking to set the tone Sunday, he certainly did. Unfortunately, it was the wrong one.

Cole opened the game by serving up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado. Three batters. Three bombs. Welcome to the ballgame.

To Cole's credit, he settled down and gave the Yankees seven innings, but when you're chasing the game from the opening minutes, you're playing with fire.

The Yankees eventually woke up. Spencer Jones ripped an RBI double in the eighth, and Amed Rosario helped turn some Padres sloppiness into two more runs. Suddenly, it was 4-3 and the Yankees had a pulse.

George Lombard Jr. doubled, too, and once again the kids showed some fight. That's encouraging.

But encouraging doesn't win divisions.

The Yankees lost 4-3, dropped two of three in San Diego and now head home four games behind Tampa Bay.

September is here. The excuses are gone.

Time to stop chasing games and start winning them.

YANKEES PUNCH BACK IN SAN DIEGO

2026-09-06T07:49:31.705-04:00

Every once in a while, the Yankees play a game that doesn't require blood-pressure medication.

Saturday was one of them.

The Yankees bounced back from Friday's brutal extra-inning loss and handled the Padres, 5-1, at Petco Park, evening the series and setting up a pretty important Sunday rubber match.

The fun started in the second inning when Spencer Jones — playing near where he grew up — ripped an RBI double into the right-field corner to get the Yankees rolling. And I continue to like what I'm seeing from this kid.

Then San Diego starter Robbie Ray temporarily forgot that throwing strikes is generally part of the job. The Yankees actually did something we've begged them to do for years: they stayed patient.

Walks piled up, Paul Goldschmidt drew a bases-loaded free pass, and Cody Bellinger eventually made Ray pay with a two-run single. Just like that, it was 4-0. George Lombard Jr. added a sacrifice fly in the third and the Yankees had five runs without hitting a home run.

Imagine that. Actual baseball.

Ben Rice was terrific, going 3-for-3 with two walks and reaching base all five times. That's called being a pain in the ass, and every good lineup needs one.

Carlos Rodón took care of the rest. He gave the Yankees five innings, struck out seven and allowed only two hits and one run — a Manny Machado solo homer. The bullpen slammed the door from there as San Diego managed just three hits all night.

So now it's simple.

The Yankees took the punch Friday night, got off the mat Saturday and punched back.

Now win the damn series.

WHY ARE WE FORCING VOLPE ON THE NEW YORK YANKEES?

2026-09-06T05:18:00.000-04:00

Apparently, Anthony Volpe is Barry Bonds now.

Wonderful.

Alert Cooperstown. Somebody get the plaque ready. Jasson Dominguez says Volpe has “become Barry Bonds” down in Triple-A, and while I understand a teammate pumping up another teammate, can we please come back to planet Earth for five freaking minutes?

Barry Bonds? Anthony Volpe has five homers in his last five games in Scranton. That's terrific.

Barry Bonds hit 762 home runs in the major leagues.

Small difference.

And before everybody starts screaming that I'm picking on poor Anthony again, understand something: I'm actually happy Volpe is hitting. Since being sent down, he's put up good numbers — .299/.393/.701 with 10 homers over 97 plate appearances.

Bravo. Seriously. Now leave him the hell down there.

Why is that controversial?

We've spent three years watching the Yankees try to hammer a square peg into a round hole while insisting that if they just hammer hard enough, eventually we're all going to see the superstar they promised us.

I'm tired. How many Anthony Volpe auditions does one organization get? He struggled. We waited. He struggled some more. We waited some more.

More adjustments. More patience. More Aaron Boone speeches about how Anthony is “really close.” Close to what?

Because apparently he's finally arrived — in Scranton. Maybe this isn't a comeback story. Maybe it's a discovery. Maybe we've finally located Anthony Volpe's natural habitat.

Triple-A.

Mean? Not really. This is reality. It's the article you will not read anywhere else. Sometimes honesty needs to peak through the looniness of this entire story. Perhaps we've learned something incredibly important here.

When the lights aren't as bright, when Yankee Stadium isn't packed, when the New York media isn't hovering and when 40,000 people aren't wondering why you just chased another slider off the plate...

Anthony Volpe can rake. Great. Unfortunately, Yankee Stadium isn't moving to Scranton. The Bronx doesn't come with training wheels. Maybe New York is simply too damn big for Anthony Volpe.

It happens. Some guys walk into Yankee Stadium and become bigger. Other guys get swallowed by it. Maybe Volpe needs Miami or Kansas City. Seriously.

Send him somewhere he can play second base on a Tuesday night without every at-bat becoming a referendum on whether he's the next Derek Jeter. Let him breathe. Let him play. Let him figure himself out somewhere that doesn't require him to carry Yankee expectations around like a refrigerator strapped to his back.

Because I already know what's coming. September. Expanded rosters. Volpe keeps hitting bombs in Scranton. And somewhere inside Yankee Stadium, Aaron Boone starts getting that look in his eye. You know the look. His boy toy is hitting again. And Boone is going to want his boy toy back.

“Anthony's in a really good place right now.”

Oh, Jesus Christ. Here we go again. Boone's crush is coming home. Then we'll get the press conference.

“He's worked really hard. He's made some adjustments. We really like where he's at. He's impacting the baseball.”

Maybe Boone will even tell us he's been “elite.” They love that word over there. And before Volpe's Scranton apartment has even cooled off, Volpe will be back in the Bronx and we'll begin another exciting season of Everybody Pretend Anthony Volpe Has Finally Figured It Out.

Why?

Leave. Him. Down. There.

For once, let the kid actually develop. If he's finally comfortable, let him stay comfortable. Give him 200 more plate appearances. Give him 300. Hell call him Scranton's Captain for crying out loud!

Let him destroy Triple-A pitching until the International League files a restraining order.

There is absolutely no rule saying that because Anthony Volpe gets hot in Scranton, the Yankees must immediately drag him back to New York to see whether he can find a brand-new way to disappoint everybody.

Meanwhile, George Lombard Jr. is here and he's better anyway. So play him! Stop treating the Yankees' major-league roster like Boone's boy toy has a lifetime membership.

And please stop pretending Triple-A success means the Yankees were right about Volpe all along.

Maybe the scouts weren't completely wrong about Anthony Volpe. Maybe they just had the wrong league... on the smaller stage, without the suffocating pressure and expectations of New York, Anthony Volpe really can be a star.

Beautiful.

Then let him be the Babe Ruth of Scranton. Let him hit 40... 60.

I'll send flowers.

But until Anthony Volpe proves he can consistently hit major-league pitching, spare me the Barry Bonds comparisons. Barry Bonds terrorized major-league pitchers.

Anthony Volpe is currently terrorizing Triple-A.

Pump the freaking breaks, Jasson.

This one's for you Boh.

NEVER ROOT FOR AN INJURY… BUT SOMETIMES YOU THINK IT

2026-09-05T17:21:39.717-04:00

You never want to see a player get hurt. Ever. Let me get that out of the way before somebody comes after me with a pitchfork.

Trent Grisham is headed to the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain, and the Yankees have recalled Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A.

That's bad news for Grisham.

But for the Yankees?

Forgive me... maybe not.

Because suddenly Aaron Boone doesn't have to perform advanced calculus trying to figure out how to squeeze everyone into the outfield. Spencer Jones has been earning his playing time, and with Grisham down, Jones should get a legitimate opportunity in center. Meanwhile, Dominguez is back, and perhaps—crazy concept here—the Yankees can actually find out what these young guys can do by playing them.

Jones has already shown flashes that scream, Don't send me anywhere. And Dominguez? I've been waiting forever for the Yankees to stop treating "The Martian" like he's classified government property.

Grisham hadn't exactly been forcing the issue lately, either. He was just 4-for-44 over his previous 14 games before landing on the IL.

So no, I'm not celebrating an injury. I hope Grisham heals quickly.

But baseball has a funny way of making decisions for organizations that refuse to make them themselves.

The Yankees have young outfielders who need at-bats. Spencer Jones needs to play. Jasson Dominguez deserves another look.

Now they have their chance.

Sometimes opportunity knocks.

Sometimes it grabs its hamstring.

Forgive me.

THE YANKEES WASTE MAX FRIED'S START

2026-09-05T09:10:56.320-04:00

The Yankees wasted one Friday night. And in September, those are the ones that hurt.

Max Fried gave them 5 2/3 innings of one-run baseball. Ben Rice launched a 444-foot homer. Then Spencer Jones delivered the big moment, ripping a go-ahead RBI single off Mason Miller in the 10th. The kid stared down one of baseball's nastiest relievers and delivered.

And the Yankees still lost, 3-2.

Paul Blackburn surrendered a two-run walk-off homer to Luis Campusano in the bottom of the 10th, wasting Fried's performance and Jones' heroics. Worse, Tampa Bay won, pushing the Yankees four games back in the AL East.

This is September. These games matter.

And this is where Aaron Boone continues to worry me. Managing isn't just keeping everybody happy for 162 games. When the pressure rises, somebody has to push the right buttons. Boone has had years to prove he's that guy.

I'm still waiting.

Fried deserved better. Jones deserved better.

October won't care about excuses.

CAM SHOVES AS YANKEES TAKE THE SERIES

2026-09-03T07:48:43.808-04:00

The Yankees beat the Angels 6–3 in 10 innings Wednesday night, taking the series and escaping Anaheim with another important win.

Cam Schlittler was magnificent. Eight innings. Two hits. One run. Nine strikeouts. No walks. He retired 20 of the first 21 hitters he faced and lowered his American League-leading ERA to 2.04. Schlittler didn’t merely give the Yankees a chance—he carried them until the offense finally woke up. The kid is becoming a great major-league pitcher right before our eyes.

Then came the 10th inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Austin Wells slapped a two-run single into right field to break the tie. Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Ben Rice followed with RBI singles as the Yankees hung a five-spot on the Angels.

Tip your cap to Wells. It was a clutch hit in a big moment. But let’s keep the parade under control. Wells is still batting an awful, horrendous .190. One big hit doesn’t suddenly turn him into Jorge Posada or Thurman Munson. Those were championship catchers who produced when it mattered over entire seasons—not once every few weeks.

Celebrate the hit. Praise the moment. Just don’t confuse one clutch swing with greatness. Write that down.

This game belonged to Cam Schlittler. That’s a series win. Pack the bags and keep moving.

AARON JUDGE IS CLOSE TO A RETURN - BUT IS HE READY?

2026-09-02T07:49:39.797-04:00

It's September so when we think about how Aaron Judge has been out since May 31st, it feels like a freaking lifetime ago. In baseball, three months is a lifetime. The clock is ticking on the regular season though, so there's not much time left if Judge is going to make it back for the playoffs.

If the rumor mill is true, Judge might be gearing up for a return very soon read more HERE. I hope it's true. Judge did travel with the team and he is ramping up his baseball activities as he works his way back from a right rib injury. Aaron Boone estimates that Judge could be back in action when the Yankees kick off a homestand against the Colorado Rockies on September 8th.

I hope he is ready to come back. Rib injuries are no joke and this isn't the first one he's ever had. The difference now is he's 34 and not the younger spring chicken he was when he experienced it back in 2019. He's on the other side of 30, and in baseball that's when everything slows down including your abilities and recovery time from injuries. Oh and, not for nothin, I don't trust the Yankees trainers or medical staff one bit. They suck. It's not the first time we've ranted about this.

There's one thing we all know about Judge. He wants to play, he's not okay sitting out and it's the end of the season so he is hungrier than ever. He's going to do or say whatever he has to so he can get back on that field. I love his spirit and drive in that respect, but it also makes me cringe because he's also the guy that is going to go balls out and play through anything and everything. If he's not 100% he's still going to tell you he is and play through any injury or setback. It's what makes him great. It's what makes him a leader. It's what makes him the most respected guy in the whole damn organization.

So, I just want him to be okay. I don't want him to dive on that ball in the outfield and injure his rib again or god forbid something else. He is the heartbeat of this team and getting him back could be the spark that we've been missing. This team looks VERY different when Judge is not on that field and in the lineup.

Fingers crossed that in less than a week Judge is back on the field and he is ready for action. We need him!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SPENCER JONES IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A YANKEE

2026-09-02T04:01:00.000-04:00

Well, look at that. The Yankees remembered they're the Yankees.

Twenty-four hours after getting their doors blown off by the Angels, New York showed up Tuesday night, collected 14 hits and walked away with a 7-3 win. Gerrit Cole battled, Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered, Cody Bellinger had three hits and the bullpen shut the door.

But let's get to the good stuff.

Spencer freaking Jones. I love this.

Jones went 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs, two walks, two runs and a stolen base. The home run was his second in two nights.

Remember when the conversation was whether this gigantic human being could actually make enough contact in the majors? Yeah. About that. Jones isn't just showing up anymore. He's starting to look comfortable. There's a swagger developing. There's patience. There's power. And when this dude connects, baseballs start reconsidering their career choices.

Best of all, he's becoming a problem for opposing pitchers instead of a Yankee “project” we're told to patiently wait six years for.

That's refreshing. Jones launched a two-run bomb in the first, Jazz followed immediately with another homer, and suddenly Gerrit Cole was handed a 3-0 lead before he even threw a pitch. Later, when the Yankees needed another run in the ninth, Jones knocked that one in too.

That's what I want from the kids. Don't tell me about exit velocity projections for 2028.

Show me.

Spencer Jones is showing us. He's not a finished product. He's going to strike out. He's going to make mistakes. There will be nights when he looks lost.

Who cares? Because we're finally watching a young Yankee come into his own right in front of us, and I'm enjoying every damn second of it.

The Yankees won 7-3. Spencer Jones keeps growing. Play the kid. Get out of his way.

And enjoy the ride.

I’M A YANKEE FAN, BUT WILL FLEMMING WASN’T WRONG ABOUT JAZZ

2026-09-01T15:36:08.285-04:00

I’m a Yankee fan.

Not casually. Not when they’re winning. I’ve been writing Bleeding Yankee Blue since 2010, and if you’ve read this blog for five minutes, you know exactly where my allegiance sits.

But apparently we’ve reached the point in society where being a fan means surrendering your common sense.

Sorry.

I’m not doing it.

Jazz Chisholm stealing second and then third with the Yankees up 7-1 in the eighth inning against the Red Sox was bush league.

There. I said it.

And apparently Will Flemming said it too.

The Red Sox broadcaster watched Jazz swipe two bags with Boston essentially waving the white flag and lost his shit. He called it bush league, said Jazz was playing the game the wrong way and then went too far by talking about drilling Austin Wells and suggesting somebody should fight Jazz.

Was that smart? Hell no. Flemming made the mistake of saying the quiet part out loud. You’re the broadcaster, Will. You have a microphone. Thousands of people are listening. Maybe don't provide the play-by-play for baseball retaliation. That's amateur hour.

But here's where everybody needs to calm the hell down: Flemming wasn't wrong about the baseball. He was wrong about broadcasting what should have stayed unspoken.

There's a difference. And somewhere along the way we've lost the ability to understand that difference. Everything now requires outrage. An apology. A statement. A clarification of the statement. Then an apology for the clarification.

Jesus Christ. Sometimes a guy gets pissed off and says something stupid. Flemming apologized afterward. Fine but he shouldn't have.

Maybe:

"I shouldn't have said that on the air." Done. Because what exactly are we pretending happened here?

The Yankees were beating Boston 7-1 in the eighth. The Red Sox weren't even holding Jazz on. The game was cooked. Jazz took second. Then he took third.

Was it legal? Absolutely. Was Aaron Boone giving him the green light? Yes, but that's just bad managing. Was it necessary? Give me a break. That's where baseball etiquette comes in.

Not everything that's legal needs to be done. Baseball has always had a language underneath the language.

Guys know. Dugouts know. Managers know. Fans know. You don't need a committee meeting to figure it out. You need a look. A nod. And then you handle your business within the game.

That's what Flemming apparently forgot. Nod and handle it. Every Red Sox player in that dugout should have been thinking exactly what Flemming was thinking. Every one of them. But the Red Sox didn't do a thing and I find that weird. The rivalry is dead.

Flemming had the microphone and decided to narrate the inner monologue. That's the stupid part. The thought wasn't shocking. Saying it publicly was.

And spare me the pearl-clutching afterward. We have become so terrified of offending somebody that grown adults apparently need emotional bubble wrap every time somebody says something harsh.

This is Yankees-Red Sox. What the hell are we doing? These teams aren't supposed to exchange friendship bracelets. They're supposed to dislike each other. They're supposed to get pissed off. They're supposed to remember things. They're supposed to have some damn pride. That's what made this rivalry great in the first place.

And let's remember something else: Flemming is a Red Sox broadcaster. He's passionate about his team. He watched his club getting embarrassed by its biggest rival and watched Jazz dancing around the bases while it happened.

He reacted. Poorly? Sure. Humanly? Absolutely. Hell, passion is why Bleeding Yankee Blue exists. I didn't start writing this blog because I wanted to carefully workshop every sentence until nobody on planet Earth could possibly be offended.

I started it because I love the Yankees. Sometimes I get pissed. Sometimes fans get pissed. Sometimes broadcasters get pissed. That's sports. We've sanitized enough of society already. We don't need to sanitize Yankees-Red Sox too. And Yankee fans need to be capable of admitting when our guy looks like an ass.

I like Jazz. I love the energy. But stealing two bases up six runs in the eighth inning when the opponent isn't even bothering to hold you?

Come on, Jazz. That's a bitch move. And I don't care if Boone gave him the green light. Boone was wrong too. Being a Yankee fan doesn't require me to pretend everything a Yankee does is wonderful. Baseball deserves more respect than that.

There used to be an understanding in sports that you beat somebody, shake hands and move on. You didn't need to humiliate them just because technically there wasn't a rule preventing you from doing it.

And if somebody crossed that line? The other team remembered. A nod. Message received. We'll remember.

That my friends is baseball.

So yes, Will Flemming screwed up. He had a microphone in front of his face and forgot that some things in baseball aren't supposed to be broadcast to the world.

Amateur move. But stop pretending the guy committed some unforgivable sin because he got pissed off during Yankees-Red Sox. And stop pretending Jazz didn't know exactly what he was doing.

He did.

The Yankees won 16-1. They beat the hell out of Boston. That should have been enough. Sometimes winning is the message. You don't need to underline it, circle it and draw a middle finger next to it.

Jazz should've stayed on the bag. And everybody else? Stop being so damn soft. It's baseball.

Act like you've been here before.

STOP BLAMING CABALLERO. THE YANKEES COULDN’T SCORE

2026-09-01T07:49:44.918-04:00

I’m seeing a lot of attention being thrown at Jose Caballero after the Yankees got embarrassed by the Angels Monday night.

Yes, Caballero made an error. Yes, it was ugly. But can we please tell the whole story?

When Caballero botched the potential double-play ball in the sixth inning, the Yankees were already losing 6-1. His mistake allowed another run to score and made it 7-1.

So, explain something to me. How exactly did Jose Caballero lose this game? Were the Yankees suddenly going to score six runs if he fielded that ball cleanly?

Because they didn't. They scored one run the entire night.

One.

Spencer Jones hit a solo homer in the fifth inning. That was it. The Yankees finished with six hits, didn't draw a walk and went quietly against Angels rookie Walbert Ureña, who gave them seven innings of one-run baseball.

And let's remember what happened before Caballero's sixth-inning error.

Elmer Rodríguez had already put the Yankees in a 4-0 hole. The Angels made it 5-1 in the fifth. Then Michael Fulmer's errant pickoff attempt helped another run score.

It was 6-1 before Caballero made the error everybody wants to talk about.

That's context. Caballero deserves criticism for playing sloppy defense. Absolutely. He'd probably tell you the same thing. But blaming him for a 10-1 loss is ridiculous.

The Yankees didn't lose because their shortstop booted a ball while they were already getting blown out.

They lost because they couldn't hit. They couldn't score. And they couldn't give themselves even the slightest chance to win.

You don't beat anybody scoring one run.

Stop looking for a convenient scapegoat. Jose Caballero didn't lose this game. The Yankees offense did. Get over it.