WHY DO UMPS THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD?

Source: Seth Wenig/AP

Honestly—like I wouldn't be with you—I am sick of umpires. Now, I am not a fan of Aaron Boone by any shape or form, and certainly like anyone else, you should be mindful of your reputation out in the field, but umpires need to focus on calling the game, not engaging in extracurricular activities. Look we can all be hot headed from time to time. And fans pay a lot of money to enjoy the game and state or rather yell their opinions, but umps need to stay focused, like the London guards, unfazed by anything but doing their jobs. So, I ask you, sincerely, do umps think they should be held to a different standard?

"Major League Baseball is expected to look at the Monday incident involving Aaron Boone, home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt and a fan sitting behind the Yankees dugout, a source told the Daily News. The source, granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, said that it is standard for the league to review “all ejections and unusual on-field circumstances.” They added that Boone’s ejection and “other circumstances would merit reviewing.”

In case you are late the party, and easily the game could have been missed, as the Yankees played a sneaky game on a Monday afternoon to kick off a series with the Oakland A's, so I will recap. Boone got cranky about a hit by a pitch vs. swing at a pitch call that the home plate umpire called after confirming it with his first base counterpart. Boone was warned to shut his trap, or he'd be out. And if on cue a fan sitting directly behind the dugout chirped at the home plate umpire and guess what, without confirming it was in fact coming from the Yankee dugout, he just tossed Boone, who actually was quietly chewing his gum.

"Per MLB, Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt conceded postgame that Boone “probably, you know, is not the one who made the comment,” but doubled down on his reasons for the ejection. “I know what Aaron was saying, that it was a fan above the dugout,” he said. “That’s fine and dandy. There were plenty of fans that were yelling at me before I called a pitch until the end of the game … but Aaron Boone is the manager of the New York Yankees and is responsible for everything that happens in that dugout," reported CNN. Oh, now Aaron Boone is not just responsible for his players, and his own behaviors and of course winning, but he is accountable for what fans say? That is simply ridiculous. And honestly, outrageous.

How about saying, you know what, I overreacted. I am wrong. Nope, umpires don't have to apologize. And we have seen this time and time again. What makes them special? What makes them immune to being, you know, human and perhaps maybe even reasonable, professional and dare I say just kind? 

Source: Jason Szenes / New York Post

According to The New York Post, "Before Tuesday’s game in The Bronx against the A’s, Boone said he spoke several times to Mike Hill, MLB’s senior vice president of on-field operations, about the situation and was told he would not be fined." In addition, the Post reported, "t is uncertain whether Wendelstedt will face any discipline. It is standard for MLB to review all ejections or unusual on-field circumstances, and this certainly qualifies. Umpires have to file a report within a day of a baseball operations department review."

The YES Network mics have all the evidence needed to have MLB and the umpire association issue an apologize. Maybe Wendelstedt should be fined. Boone is certainly no saint. And his reputation proceeds him, but this kind of petty nonsense and unprofessionalism just takes away from the game of baseball. Own mistakes, focus on your craft and just ignore the pettiness. Players do. They clear the mechanism despite being scrutinized by fans, their opponents and the media quite frankly. Why can't umpires do the same? Umpires need to be fined and penalized if they get things wrong. And this is just another example of why. 

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

THE GOOD & BAD ABOUT THE YANKEE SEASON SO FAR

The Yankees are off to a hot start, and for many of us fans, it's pretty exciting. Juan Soto is as promised.  The Yankees starting pitching has been productive, solid.  I'm a big Carlos Rodon guy, so to see him performing the way we envisioned has been fantastic.  Marcus Stroman? What can I say, he's been fun to watch.  Nestor Cortes is unique and does it many games better than several top starters. It's just been cool. But here's what I don't like...

Why are we booing Aaron Judge?  I am a pretty passionate fan, but even I don't get the logic in that.  This is a guy that has been dominant for our Yankees, even though last season for the team wasn't really memorable.  The guy rakes... he has pride, a solid work ethic.  He's literally everything we love about this team and why so many kids wear #99 on their little league jerseys.  He's the example of what we want and love on this team.  And so, he strikes out 4 times the other day and we boo him. 

You ever play professional ball? Do you understand how much commitment is needed? No, you show up, pay way too much money and feed your face with chicken tenders and fries while sitting on your fat ass expecting perfection every time. Relax.  Even the greats have a bad game... even a bad start.  It happens, it's professional sports.  After the game, Judge was asked about the booing, and he was just being kind when he said "I'd probably do the same thing in their situation."  You know what? I doubt it.  He's saying that because the Yankees are paying him.  He's not gonna cause waves... he's not gonna make it a thing between him and fans.  What was he really thing? He was thinking "Yea, I suck today, but WTF."  Trust me fans, there ain't no room for that. And that disappointed me.  

You know what else bothers me?  That ya'll don't understand that Aaron Boone has a target on his back.  You know I think this guy may be the worst manager in Yankee history. That has been long documented here on Bleeding Yankee Blue.  Yesterday he was ejected for something he didn't do.  Not sure you're following this (I'm sure you are), but it was a fan that called out behind Aaron Boone after Boone was asked by the umpire to not say another word.  This time Boone said nothing, but the umpire thought he heard him and kicked Boone out.  It was embarrassing for being wrong.

The ump ejected Aaron Boone for something a fan in the crowd said pic.twitter.com/wMNejcBYNe

— Welcome to the Ump Show (@umpjob) April 22, 2024

Now here's the thing; Aaron Boone has a bad reputation among the umpires in the Major Leagues.  He runs out there to bitch and moan about balls and strikes and all other stupid stuff. He puts on a show, is a whiner, a complainer and literally thinks that if we see him "Fighting for the players", that's what managing is.  But that's the problem, Boone is no manager. He's awful. The umpires know this and are fed up with it. It's like crying wolf... sooner or later you have a reputation, and no one believes you or cares.  Now, while yesterday was a mistake big time by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, I really believe that the seed has been plated.  Boone's a problem manager and now any time they hear anything from that dugout they're gonna go after him, assuming it's him and why not... he's annoying.

Now do I agree with the Wendelstedt's ejection of Boone? Absolutely not. What a stupid mistake.  Do I understand why it happened? 1000%.  It's a lesson to Boone, shut up and manage... stop being a showman and cry baby.

In the midst of that, the Yankees lost 2-0 to the Athletics.  Sears pitched well for the A's.  Rodon did too, but the bats were silent.  But let's keep it real, it's April 23rd. Much like the Yankees being on a hot streak early, it's nice to watch, but means nothing.  Things always level out.  The Yankees will go on a losing streak, guys like Stanton will get hurt, Pitching will pitter out and the debate about where or not we need better starting pitching will surface again and at the end of it we expect a championship, but ultimately, and I'm saying this again... we do not have a championship team here.  We have a fun April because baseball is back, and we have Soto... but that's about it.  

The Yankees cannot win 162 games in a season... yesterday was an example of that.  But we still come out and root hard and hope they can.  And that's what being a fan is. 

Let's hope they go on a winning streak. That would be great. 

JOHN STERLING—GENERATIONS OF FANS LOVE YOU!

There is something calming about listening to a ball game on the radio. Having a familiar, consistent voice calling the play by play, providing game insights and a little humor, all while you are in the backyard, on a run, in the car. My brother recently relocated to Minnesota from Long Island. The miles ticked by quickly because there was that voice. Saturday, the Yankees honored John Sterling, a boy from the Bronx that became the voice of the New York Yankees for 36 years. He opened up the game to young fans listening in with their parents. He shared milestones, championships, and heartaches with us. He is John Sterling, and he is my broadcaster, and his iconic voice will live on for generations. 

“He gives you all the qualities that you would want in a broadcaster. He has the voice, the knowledge of the game, the ability to tell a story. He keeps you up to date on what has transpired in the field, and he has a great sense of humor. I think he captures the ambiance of the greatest franchise in all of professional sport,” said University of Rochester professor Curt Smith, a baseball author and historian per NJ.com. 

That is what we were treated to over the last 30+ years. His wit, his passionate home run calls, they were all part of the Yankees game. I remember my son and I riding up to Sacred Heart University one May for my niece's graduation. The weather was abysmal. And John Sterling in his genuine way, welcomed us to the broadcast with "Well, Suzyn, I thank you. It is an awful, awful day here at the Stadium." Ha! Appreciate the honesty, Mr. Sterling.

Then there was the time when my son and I got to the game eight hours early to ensure we were in line to get the best bobble head ever—The John and Suzyn from the broadcast booth bobble head. And who can forget all of the home run calls- which started with "Bern Baby Bern and ended with a Soto Photo." He made us even more jacked up about the game and the Yankees winning. From "Jorge Juiced One, to You're on the Mark, Teixeira, to All Rise, Here Comes the Judge," the calls just kept on coming. Some had a jingle to them. Some went on a lot longer than what was comfortable. But he didn't care. He was enjoying the moment. And he shared that enjoyment with all of us.

What does it mean to be passionate? A passionate person has very strong feelings about something or a strong belief in something. John is passionate about his craft—and the game of baseball. He is a Unicorn. He laughs at himself when he makes a mistake. He gets frustrated with the team when they don't hit or when pitchers don't throw strikes. He even shared frustrations about dugout leadership from time to time. He is the fans' broadcaster. He said the things we were often thinking. And he made even the more laborious games tolerable. 

The New York Post did a one-on-one interview with Sterling. It is a must read. It is like a manuscript documenting the words of a historian. He talks about his favorite games and players over the years. When asked what was his favorite call, his answer is classic. "I don’t think there is such a thing. I think the best call is heard by someone who likes it, and you could use that same call, and ask someone who dislikes me, and they wouldn’t like it. So I think it depends on who’s listening. Period." Typical John. 

What will John do during retirement, you ask? "Here’s my plan — I plan to listen and watch 162 Yankee games, 162 Mets games, all the games on Turner and ESPN, and all the games on MLB [Network]. You know that I’m also [a] basketball, hockey, football fan. Basketball and hockey are just starting their playoffs. I can’t wait to relax, sit back and watch and listen to the games," reported The Post. 

John is priceless. His imprint on this game is timeless. He crosses three generations of Yankee fans. And I am going to miss listening to him; anticipating his home run calls, his perspectives and of course the iconic "Thaaaa Yankees Win." John, you are a gem. I started listening to you in college, raised my kids listening to you, ran with you on some long runs, took many a road trip with you, did housework with you in the background. You have comforted me when life was hard, because I knew if I tuned in, you would be there. No one deserves the accolades and tributes than you. Thank you, John from a fan for life.

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

THE YANKEES JUST MADE ANOTHER MOVE

Yup, the Yanks are still making moves.  Some are not big ones, but some are. This one is small, but significant. You know Taylor Trammell? Yea, we got him.

Newsweek writes:

"Yankees have claimed outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, the team announced. To make room on the 40-man roster for Trammell, infielder Kevin Smith was designated for assignment...

Trammell has tons of talent, but just hasn't been able to put it together at the big league level.

Fortunately, he won't have much pressure to contribute, as the Yankees' starting outfield consists of Alex Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, who is off to one of the best starts in franchise history in his first season in the Bronx. Behind them as the fourth outfielder is Trent Grisham, whom the team acquired in the Soto trade with the Padres.... Trammell will likely start in Triple-A, and will hope to earn himself a call-up to show what he can do in New York."

And that's that. Happy Friday to you.

THE GRIND STARTS NOW!

Well, we stopped the slide, for now. We all knew the Yankees were going to drop a series at some point after they had a hot start. So now, we take the win yesterday and get ready for the next.

I hate losing more than I love winning.... call me Billy Beane. I also really hate losing to division rivals and I do think the Blue Jays have a lot of talent on their team. This was the first test. We didn't do as well as I had hoped for but there's a long way to go in the season.

The grind starts now. I know there is a lot of hype surrounding the Yankees right now. Yes, they had a great start. They did better than what I expected for sure, but now this is where the real test begins and the Yankees have a few things to fix.

I'm still concerned with how the starters don't pitch deep into games. Luis Gil lasted five innings but gave up three runs and seven walks. Carlos Rodon didn't do any better with four innings five hits, three earned runs and four walks. If we keep doing this, our bullpen is going to be gassed. It's too early to tax the bullpen and if these guys get overworked early in the season it's an injury risk.

The offense is better with Juan Soto in it, but it still has some of the same old problems. When you look at Monday's game the 1-5 and 8 and 9 hitters had one hit in 20 at bats! Tuesday's game the 1-5 hitters had one hit in 20 at bats. That's the same Yankees of prior seasons and a sure way to lose games and drop series. I think Soto is a great addition, but after that the Yankees lineup looks very similar. Okay, you added Alex Verdugo too.... but it's still a very similar lineup to last season.

It was good to see Aaron Judge make the game winning hit, but we also need him to get in a groove. This .182BA isn't going to help the Yankees. I know it's early, and he's in a slump.....I know all of the logic people are going to say about it BUT it doesn't change the fact that we need Judge to find that consistency and all of these guys need to stop with the strikeouts.

This team looks like it has more swagger so far.... but some of the same challenges exist. The Yankees need to get back on track and dial it up. The Rays are up next, and the Orioles are waiting at the end of April and that will be a BIG test. 

The Grind starts now!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHY OSWALDO CABRERA NEEDS TO PLAY EVERYDAY

Source: AP

I have been impressed with Oswaldo Cabrera since he first stepped into the big leagues. Firstly, his smile is contagious but secondly, and more importantly, he can play baseball. He has speed, he has good defense and a consistent sweet swing. And he has had an incredible start to the 2024 season. So why does Boone keep him on the bench instead of playing him everyday? Your guess is as good as mine.

"Between his critical long ball on Saturday afternoon and his run-scoring double in Game 2 of the doubleheader, Cabrera is hitting .333 (13-for-41) on the season with a .973 OPS. In 11 games played, Cabrera has 11 RBI. Only superstar Juan Soto — who also homered on Saturday — has more (15). “He’s a big part of this team in this offense right now,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “We love to have him here,” reported NJ.com. 

But like the Aaron Boone of the past, Cabrera sat for games when he was hot with the bat. Instead Boone opted for Jon Berti in his place. And of course Cabrera would have been sanctioned as the utility man if DJ LeMahieu was healthy. Yet, his teammates like what they see in Cabrera, which might keep him in the lineup even when Berti and LeMahieu return from the IL.

“Talk about somebody that comes to the field every day and gives everything he has,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “The definition is Oswaldo Cabrera. Watching him grow, watching him come up, watching him play the game, how he handles himself, how he handles his teammates. It’s top of the charts for me,” reported NJ.com.

Source: AM New York

The challenge for Cabrera is to stay consistent and keeping up with the pitching across baseball. It takes a lot of work to stay sharp and focused, night after night. And as a young player he needs to see more pitches to continue to grow and improve. Cabrera's defense may keep him in the lineup as Gleyber Torres continues to tumble both at the plate and on the field. Torres' defense has been abysmal as of late. And it is a free agent year for Torres, who started the season at the top of lineup and has since moved down to the 6 or 7 slot.

Cabrera is certainly making a case to be an everyday player for the New York Yankees. Will his campaign win him a place once LeMahieu comes back into the fold? It's anyone's guess, but if it was my choice, I would be damn sure Cabrera got as much time in the lineup as possible, so he can demonstrate his value and perhaps find a place in the lineup permanently. 

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

WHY CAN'T AUSTIN WELLS GET GOING?

When it comes to his offense, Austin Wells is slow out of the gate. He's a solid catcher and can hit. We all know this. Remember last year?  Empire Sports Media writes:

"We saw a glimpse of what Wells could do offensively last year during the final two weeks of the season when he hit four homers with 10 RBIs, so the Bombers are remaining patient as he acclimates to the season ahead and starts to pick up more momentum."

But you know Yankees fans, we grow impatient pretty quickly.  I know I do.  In the last 5 games he's had 12 at bats, struck out 4 times and not a single hit.  It's a small sample, but it's a terrible serving.  And look at this... over the last 8 games, his batting average is .130.  He has one RBI and scored 4 runs. That's it.  Those are not major league numbers, folks.

Look, you have to hope things will change. The Yankees like this guy, the fans do too.  Maybe he needs to shave the mustache for good. Who knows.

MINOR YANKEE MOVES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Not a ton of bells and whistles here, but stuff is going on. 

First off, remember Josh Maciejewski? He was with the Yankees for a hot minute. He was designated for assignment.  

Secondly, Jon Berti showed up for the Yankees and he's already on the IL.

MLB Trade Rumors writes:

" Utilityman Jon Berti has been placed (retroactive to April 11) on the 10-day injured list due to a left groin strain, and left-hander Josh Maciejewski was also designated for assignment."

And finally, Ron Marinaccio, we all love Ron, he was called up.  Good.

Last night the Yankees couldn't do a thing offensively against the Blue Jays.  Let's hope today being a new day brings some change.

That is all. Carry on.

JOHN STERLING RETIRES IMMEDIATELY

There's no other way to describe it, John Sterling was the G.O.A.T. in New York when it came to the Yankee broadcasts.  Don't get me wrong, some people didn't like him there. Some people thought he was a clown with his calls. I did not. There was something comforting to hearing John in the booth with Suzyn.  The home run calls were weird and sometimes didn't make much sense, but that's John and he did it for us.  Yesterday was the day that we found out that it was final... John retired, like immediately.  Sad, an end of an Era, but it was time.  

The New York Post writes:

"The Yankees announced Monday that Sterling is retiring, effective immediately, after 36 seasons of being synonymous with the franchise.

Known for his iconic voice, colorful personality, unique home run calls and announcing Yankees wins in a way only he could, the 85-year-old Sterling will be honored in a pregame ceremony Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium."

The Yankees honoring him is the right thing to do.  I love that they are doing a pregame ceremony.  He gave so much for so long. You gotta respect that.

The fact that health concerns is the issue makes sense.  If Sterling was in better health, I'm sure he'd keep going.

So, as BYB will do, we give our best to John. A tip of the cap as they say. Thank you. Thank you for giving us so much for so long.  You will be missed. 

Thank you.

WHEN TWO CAPTAINS TIE

Sunday's game has me feeling a little bummed out. To have the lead more than once and not be able to hold onto it is tough. I guess the silver lining is that the Yankees still won the series. It could be worse so I will take what I can get.

You know who else "gets" something? Aaron Judge. Yup, after the loss I had to remind myself that there's another twist to yesterday's game. Our current captain has company. His 260th home run yesterday ties him with his Yankees captain predecessor Derek Jeter for ninth place on the Yankees all-time home run list.

I pointed this out to one of my non-Yankee baseball loving friends and he was surprised to hear that. "No way! Jeter hit line drives, not home runs" is actually what he said to me. I guess I can understand his shock and be a nice friend. Jeter knew how to put the ball in play, he was not known as a home run king, so that makes this even cooler for me.

My friend was quick to point out that Judge and Jeter are the last two people he would expect to be TIED for home runs in the nine spot. Judge is known for some big hits, so that isn't shocking, but he shares it with the guy who played in a Yankees uniform for 20 years. Just goes to show you how special Jeter was. I will be sure to remind my husband of this fact as well.

So next up, to beat the tie with Jeter he will need 16 home runs to pass Jorge Posada. That will be another interesting milestone to watch. Suddenly, I am getting all of these flashbacks of my childhood and realizing now that I really am getting old.... yikes.

You are on a very impressive list, Judge. Now get a World Series championship as you work your way up the list and that makes it even sweeter. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj