FOX announced the hire during its Super Bowl pregame coverage in Glendale.

Derek Jeter introduced to the Fox MLB team. pic.twitter.com/Xz7uAQybtS

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 12, 2023

Jeter received a hug from his longtime frenemy Alex Rodriguez, who he’ll join at FOX this season. Just imagine the two of them needling each other to no end during broadcasts, and then add David Ortiz to the mix. The baseball analysis will be hit or miss. The entertainment factor, on the other hand, could be off the charts.

In all seriousness, this is the perfect gig for Derek Jeter at this stage of his post-baseball life. Being a part owner of the Miami Marlins didn’t work out. Something with minimal day-to-day commitments is probably what he needs. There’s no cushier gig than being a former athlete who then earns millions of dollars just for going on TV once a week.

On the whole, this should be a good addition for FOX. Derek Jeter is a name, but isn’t a showman like A-Rod or Big Papi. He’s soft-spoken and yet commands a room. It’s almost as if his playing for two decades and winning five World Series rings is some guarded secret that must be kept quiet. His analysis should thus be thoughtful, insightful and, most important of all, sincere.

And if he can throw in some well-timed barbs at Rodriguez or Ortiz, all the better. The only real mystery is if former White Sox slugger and fellow Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is staying on or leaving the network. Either way, adding Derek Jeter is probably an improvement across the board.

Jeter’s Yankees open the season at home against the San Francisco Giants on Mar. 30. Even better, spring training starts at the end of this week.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Derek Jeter to join Fox MLB | Elite Sports NY

Mayea’s signing bonus is for $4.35 million and also includes a $100,000 “scholarship.”

Per Kirschner, Mayea is MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 prospect and Fangraphs’ No. 2. He has also trained in the Dominican Republic and seems built for speed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Of course, he’s obviously expected to bulk up and fill out some more.

What’s interesting is Mayea is considered a “lockdown center fielder” by Yankees international amateur scouting director Donny Rowland. This despite No. 2 prospect Jasson Dominguez also coming into his own at the position and expected to be MLB ready by 2024.

“You watch him in center field, and you know it’s really good,” Rowland says. “You watch him run, you know he can fly. Then you watch him hit and it’s like, wow, the bat might be the best of his tools. That’s what impressed me the most.”

And of course with every young prospect come ridiculous pro comparison. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez spoke to one evaluator who calls Mayea a “mini Gary Sheffield.”

One of Mayea’s trainers, Angelo Ramos, went a step further and compared him to Mookie Betts. Not bad company at all for a young five-tool player.

It’s still way too soon to determine just what Brandon Mayea will be for the Yankees. He’s looking at a minimum three years of minor league development to get stronger and fine tune his game accordingly. Remember, he’s still just 17 and too young to compare to Mike Trout, let alone Sheffield and Betts.

If anything, Mayea is more comparable to his fellow prospect Dominguez, who signed with the Yankees at 16 for $5.1 million in 2019. He’s young, full of potential, but nobody’s quite sure what kid of player he’ll be.

Thus, once Dominguez debuts in the next couple of years, perhaps he’ll be the Litmus test for Brandon Mayea.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees sign No. 9 international prospect Brandon Mayea | Elite Sports NY

Per Dan Martin and Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Montas is “8-10 weeks behind in his offseason training” and should be back by May. On Friday, Montas and the Yankees avoided arbitration and agreed on a $7.5 million salary for 2023.

The Yankees acquired Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the Oakland A’s at last year’s trade deadline. Oakland received top pitching prospects JP Sears and Ken Waldichuk in return, and we’ve already discussed the Yankees’ shocking and sudden lack of arms on the farm.

Montas’ shoulder injury also clearly affected him last season. He posted a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts with Oakland, but saw that number balloon to 6.35 in eight with New York. His control was never right and Montas did not pitch in the playoffs after hitting the injured list in September.

As to how the Yankees will address his absence, manager Aaron Boone has plenty of in-house options. Remember, despite being the A’s’ ace, Montas is the Yankees’ No. 5 starter. This is the chance for someone like Clarke Schmidt to prove he isn’t just a failed starter turned bullpen arm. Domingo German is also out of minor league options and literally fighting for a spot on the roster or otherwise a new team.

Let’s also not forget former top prospect Deivi Garcia, who hopes to put his control issues behind him. Young righty Jhony Brito (No. 22 prospect in NYY system) is also a dark horse to make the team out of camp. Maybe Boone will spin the wheel and make the fifth turn in the rotation a bullpen game for a month.

But at the end of the day, however the Yankees decide to utilize the No. 5 spot in April doesn’t matter. Whomever fills the hole will be a placeholder until Frankie Montas is healthy and ready to pitch.

More importantly, the random days off in April mean the Yankees have even more time to decide. Boone likely won’t need to use a fifth starter until April 13, and then probably not again until April 23. In the meantime, the Yankees will have a healthy foursome of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, and Nestor Cortes ready to roll.

Frankie Montas can join up again when he’s fully healthy.

Yankees pitchers and catchers have their first spring training workout on Feb. 16

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees’ Frankie Montas to miss first month of season with shoulder trouble | Elite Sports NY

We all love the completely made up holiday invented by the best Seinfeld/TV character ever, Frank Costanza. The holidays are stressful enough and commercialism is annoying. Why not have a holiday that’s the exact antithesis of that?

So how does Festivus apply to New York sports, specifically the Yankees yours truly watches so intently each season? Look at the traditions and it’s astonishing how much they match up.

For example, Aaron Judge and his MVP season alone is a great feat of strength:

Still, let’s be honest. Festivus is all about the complaints and grievances. It just takes 20 seconds of looking at #YankeesTwitter to know it’s what any Yankees-adjacent folks do best. New Yorkers complain and gripe about everything. It’s just what we do.

But even with the Yankees’ great offseason, it’s important to remember Festivus is about complaints and grievances from the previous year. And I know we all have lots of opinions there.

So, without further ado, let us begin Festivus 2022 with the airing of grievances. Yankees brass, listen closely. I’ve got a lot of problems with you people– especially you, Brian Cashman — so take notes.

First of all, why is Isiah Kiner-Falefa still on the team? Seriously, $6 million? You should be paying the fans $6 million apiece just to watch him make bad throws and pop out to second base. And no, we don’t care about the high walks and low strikeouts. Eat the money and let Oswald Peraza take over.

And while we’re at it? You owe us all an apology for Aaron Hicks too.

Get that uncomfortable look off your face, Hal Steinbrenner because, in the words of WCW legend Goldberg, YOU’RE NEXT! While we very much appreciate you being aggressive this offseason, why can’t you act like your father all the time? Do you really think he’d let Cashman and the analytics run the show this much? Maybe do more than just the obligatory midseason and end-of-season press conferences and be just a little more hands-on with your team, OK?

Last but not least, the Yankees squad themselves. Fellas, remember that bad August? That was Charles Barkley levels of not terrible, but turrible. 10-18 is unacceptable for any first place team, even with injuries. Never let it happen again or we’ll tell the boo-birds to show up with megaphones.

Oh, and worst of all? You know what’s really got us mad this year? Thanks to Santa Steve Cohen spreading his cash around, the Mets fans have no grievances to air this year!

Whew, anyway, that was a lot. Let us now enjoy our traditional Festivus spaghetti dinner and carb load for the feats of strength.

Alright, IKF. Get ready, because Festivus isn’t over until you pin ten angry fans.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees Festivus 2022: Airing grievances with Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner | Elite Sports NY

The Padres and Matt Carpenter have agreed to a deal for 2023 with a player option for the 2024 season, per a source. Carpenter will play something of a utility role in San Diego — some 1B, LF, RF, DH and potentially backup 2B and 3B as well.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) December 20, 2022

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic added Carpenter will earn $12 million in 2023, and his option plus incentives could up the deal’s value to $21 million. Not bad for someone who was almost entirely out of baseball a year ago, right?

Matt Carpenter had an almost movie-like rebirth with the Yankees last year. A simple change in his swing mechanics saw him bat .305 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI in just 154 plate appearances over 47 games. Carpenter also posted an astounding 1.138 OPS after batting a meager .203 the previous three years.

Unfortunately, his miraculous comeback was cut short when he fouled a ball off his foot and broke it. He returned for the ALCS, but clearly wasn’t healthy yet.

Now, Matt Carpenter will hope shifting to pure pull/power hitting follows him out of Yankee Stadium. San Diego’s Petco Park does not have the Bronx’s friendly short porch in right field, 382 feet compared to 314 feet. The hard contact and swing might be there, but it won’t be surprising to see what were home runs in New York become outs in California.

On the plus side, the Padres are ready to run it back and Matt Carpenter can help them. He not only played in the 2013 World Series with the Cardinals, but his St. Louis teams were regularly in the playoff race. On a young San Diego team featuring Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr., his veteran status should stabilize the clubhouse.

The downside is that the Yankees are losing that same leadership that almost channeled former fan favorite Brett Gardner. This is a significant loss. We even covered how re-signing Carpenter should be one of New York’s offseason priorities.

Yet, the Padres were willing to pay more to win now, even if Matt Carpenter is 37 and past his prime. The Yankees will just need to find another lefty bench bat to slug homers and rally the team together.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Matt Carpenter leaves Yankees, signs one-year deal with Padres | Elite Sports NY

It’s easy to forget the mega-agent still exists. With Alex Rodriguez retired, we hardly pay attention to who someone’s agent is anymore at all.

And yet, Scott Boras is a name all too familiar within Yankee Stadium’s hallowed halls. His client, Gerrit Cole, is the ace of the pitching staff and has a $324 million contract, and Boras is now trying to get the Yankees to sign another one of his prized pitching clients.

Enter free-agent lefty Carlos Rodon, who has a 2.67 ERA over the last two years. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports he wants a seven-year deal worth at or about $200 million. Rodon is rumored to prefer signing with the Yankees. Yet, as NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty reported Tuesday, the Twins and Cardinals are still factors.

FWIW, I'm told the Yankees are Carlos Rodon's preferred destination, but that the Twins and the Cardinals are believed to be seriously in play as of this afternoon.

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) December 13, 2022

That is, until now. Katie Woo of The Athletic noted Wednesday that St. Louis is “unlikely” to meet Rodon’s price. The Twins, meanwhile, seem more focused on landing shortstop Dansby Swanson. At this rate, it’s practically Yankees or bust for Rodon.

What is Boras waiting for? He knows the Yankees have the best offer on the table. If they didn’t, Rodon would have signed elsewhere already. Per usual, he’s milking a team to their absolute line even as his client’s market dries up in the process.

This is what Scott Boras is doing despite closing some of the following deals this offseason:

• Carlos Correa: 13 years, $350 million from the Giants
• Xander Bogaerts: 11 years, $280 million from the Padres
• Brandon Nimmo: 8 years, $126 million from the Mets
• Masataka Yoshida: 5 years, $90 million from the Red Sox

These four contracts alone add up to $846 million. In the whole offseason, Boras has closed over $1 billion worth of deals. What does he accomplish by nickel-and-diming the Yankees with Rodon? An extra $1 million to renovate his poolhouse?

We’ve covered Carlos Rodon and his fit with the Yankees. At this point, Cashman probably has a very fair (and lucrative) five-year offer on the table. Knowing Cashman, there’s likely some sort of option for a sixth year. And knowing Boras, he’s probably leveraging St. Louis, Minnesota, and others for one reason.

He wants that guaranteed sixth year for Rodon.

But here’s the problem, and even Scott Boras knows it. Brian Cashman is way too smart to bend that easily. He knows the market better than everyone, even baseball’s most notorious agent.

Cashman knows that at the end of the day, he’s going to get his man. Whether it’s Carlos Rodon or Nathan Eovaldi, he will fill the hole in the Yankees’ rotation.

And given that Eovaldi is an ACES client, Boras would be wise to stop playing chicken on the free agency railroad tracks.

Nobody’s buying his act this time. Not Cashman, not the Yankees, and certainly nobody here at ESNY.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Nobody is buying the Scott Boras act anymore | Elite Sports NY

Looking at his numbers, why wouldn’t they be? Rodon just turned in an excellent year for the San Francisco Giants. Not only did he post an impressive 2.88 ERA in 31 starts, but Rodon also struck out 237 hitters in just 178 innings. This led to him leading the majors with 12 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) and also a 2.25 FIP.

Sure enough, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports Rodon is seeking a seven-year contract. Cut to Jon Heyman at The Post, and the Yankees don’t seem willing to go more than four or five.

Fans may not realize it, but this healthy skepticism is exactly what general manager Brian Cashman should be exhibiting when it comes to Rodon. The big lefty still has plenty of question marks despite just having a career season. So many that if it’s seven years or bust, New York should bow out of negotiations.

The most obvious reason for not committing that many years to Rodon is simple. His sustained success is over a small sample size. From 2021-22, he posted a 2.67 ERA and 1.00 WHIP and even threw a no-hitter.

In his six preceding seasons, however, his ERA was a slightly sub-average 4.14 and with a lengthy injury history. Rodon had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and also has a history of shoulder trouble. He also really only throws three pitches, per Statcast. The idea of only one or none of them working in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium suddenly seems a bit more daunting.

So what happened that Rodon reversed his fortunes? Looking at FanGraphs, he’s adjusted to increase his average fastball velocity. It’s now around 95.5 mph after sitting around 93 for the first six years of his career. Greg Joyce of The Post noted a change in Rodon’s leg mechanics, and he’s also abandoned his changeup for a curveball.

This is the man who has been in the league for eight years, of which only two were really notable, and now wants a seven-year deal.

Mind you, none of this is to say the Yankees shouldn’t pursue Rodon. Just that there are enough concerns that a five-year deal makes more sense than seven years for him. Even with all of the concerns, Rodon is a good match for New York.

Let’s start with his 2.16 career ERA in Yankee Stadium. The Bronx isn’t an easy place to pitch, yet Rodon had ice water in his veins when pitching as a visitor. It also helps that he owns a respectable 3.69 ERA against the other four teams in the AL East. In particular, Rodon has a 2.70 ERA against the slugging upstart Blue Jays.

But most important of all, Rodon has the Astros’ number to the point of near-ownership. In seven starts against the defending champs, he’s 2-0 with a 1.55 ERA. Suddenly, facing a Justin Verlander-less Astros team in the playoffs seems less daunting.

Rodon has proven he deserves a lucrative free agent contract. He also just turned 30 over the weekend and is looking at his long-term future.

The Yankees should absolutely offer him a contract. Just not for seven years.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Why Yankees should be skeptical about adding Carlos Rodon | Elite Sports NY

Free-agent reliever Tommy Kahnle heading back to Yankees on two-year deal, source tells @TheAthletic.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2022

ESPN’s Jeff Passan added the deal is for $11.5 million.

This is a great move for the Yankees, as we’ve recently suggested.

Kahnle was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and other injuries for most of last year and played in just 13 games for the Dodgers. However, he posted a 2.84 ERA and struck out 14 in 12.2 innings while keeping his walks down.

Kahnle also spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Yankees before injuring his elbow in 2020. In a way, he signed with Los Angeles in 2021 to rehab, and now comes back to his home team. Remember, Kahnle grew up in the Albany area.

The Yankees are getting back a pitcher who, despite his injury, appears back in top form. Tommy Kahnle averaged 95.7 mph on his fastball last year, enough to put his velocity in the 92nd percentile. Fans will also remember his nasty changeup that dominated lefties.

So how will Kahnle factor into manager Aaron Boone’s rotation? It’s honestly hard to say. He gives them another changeup specialist alongside Ron Marinaccio and the crafty Wandy Peralta. Michael King and Jonathan Loaisiga also seem to have the setup roles locked down. Then again, with so many options, Boone can afford to get creative and mix and match so high-leverage arms get rested and don’t tire out early like last year.

More importantly, Tommy Kahnle returning to the Yankees means positive energy in the locker room. Kahnle’s goofy antics made him a fan favorite during his first run in The Bronx. If (baseball gods forbid) Aaron Judge leaves in free agency, having him to lighten the mood in the room could keep everyone motivated.

Above all else, the Yankees added veteran depth to an otherwise young bullpen. If Tommy Kahnle can stay healthy and have his pitches working, it’s a good deal.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Tommy Kahnle returning to Yankees on 2-year deal | Elite Sports NY

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, third baseman Josh Donaldson and outfielder Aaron Hicks are both on the trading block. Furthermore, the Yankees are ready to move both so much that they’d be willing to include money in a potential deal and maybe even take on another “inflated” contract.

For context, Hicks has three years and less than $30 million left on his contract and Donaldson has one year and $21 million on his, plus a $6 million option. Both players combined for a paltry 3.1 fWAR in 2022.

So what does this mean for the Yankees and Judge? In the immediate, probably nothing. New York’s rumored offer makes him the highest-paid position player in baseball independent of any trades. The Yankees are the Yankees and offering Judge more money doesn’t hinge entirely on Donaldson and/or Hicks trades.

Rather, this could mean the Yankees want to sign Judge and then make more moves to build around him. Maybe Brian Cashman can sign one of Carlos Correa or Dansby Swanson to play shortstop for a year before switching to third. Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida is also highly intriguing.

But above all else, the Yankees shopping Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks is Cashman admitting his mistakes. Hicks benefitted from juiced balls and parlayed that into a $70 million deal, and then was either living on the trainer’s table or otherwise terrible. Donaldson played great defense at third, but was anything but a former MVP at the plate.

New York now appears determined to get over the ALCS/Houston Astros hump and win that elusive 28th World Series. Aaron Judge’s future, while important, is almost secondary to Donaldson and Hicks being shopped.

Regardless of where the reigning AL MVP signs, it’s clear the Yankees’ offseason doesn’t start and end with him.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees offering 3B Josh Donaldson, OF Aaron Hicks in trades | Elite Sports NY

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees have significantly upped their offer from Opening Day. Rumor has it New York’s offer is “in the neighborhood” of eight years and $300 million. That would give Judge an average annual value of $37.5 million a year, well above Mike Trout’s $35.5 million AAV.

Furthermore, Passan adds the Yankees could increase their offer if the Giants up the ante. Judge, who’s originally from Linden, California, met with the Giants in San Francisco before Thanksgiving. All signs have pointed to him wanting to shore up a new contract sooner rather than later.

And given this latest offer from New York, Aaron Judge might officially be the Yankees’ to lose. Consider their Opening Day offer of seven years, $213.5 million. That certainly wasn’t terrible for someone on the verge of turning 30 who could also hit close to that many home runs every year.

An American League-record 62 home runs and an MVP trophy later, here we are. If Passan’s report is accurate, Brian Cashman and his front office have gone above and beyond to show Judge how much the Yankees appreciate him. Remember, he turns 31 on April 26 and had some injury issues up until the last two years.

One way or another, Aaron Judge is going to be playing baseball somewhere next season. The Giants have made clear how much they want him and now so have the Yankees. If he accepts New York’s offer, everyone breathes a sigh of relief and it’s business as usual over in the Bronx.

Now is probably a good time to quickly remind everyone. The Yankees start their season at home on March 30 against, you guessed it, the Giants.

This means that if Judge signs with San Francisco, he felt comfortable turning down $37.5 million a year to be immediately booed by his old team’s fans.

Hopefully, eight years and $300 million (and maybe a little bit more) proves to be enough.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Judge free agency: This is Yankees’ reported new offer | Elite Sports NY

 

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A post shared by Nestor Cortes Jr (@nestorcortes12)

USA Baseball also announced the addition of Cortes on their own page. Though born in Cuba, his family has lived in Hialeah, Florida since he was seven months old. How quickly we forget that before “Nasty Nestor,” he was simply “The Hialeah Kid.”

But now, Team USA is getting a crafty lefty who went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in his first full season as a starter. Cortes also posted a 0.92 WHIP, made the American League All-Star team, and finished eighth in Cy Young voting. This is someone who will not only help Team USA defend their championship, but throw in some entertaining pitching motions along the way.

Therein lies the real reason Nestor Cortes is on Team USA. In the grand scheme, the World Baseball Classic is a meaningless March tournament that happens every few years. If anything, it distracts fans between March Madness games and makes spring training go by a little quicker.

As in, it’s just as important for players to have fun and enjoy themselves in the WBC as it is to represent their respective countries well. On days he doesn’t pitch, Cortes will absolutely be bouncing around the dugout supporting his teammates, just like he did with the Yankees last year.

But will that be enough for the United States to clear a field that also includes former champions Japan and the Dominican Republic? We’ll soon find out.

The 2023 World Baseball Classic kicks off when Team Netherlands and Team Cuba play at Taiwan’s Taichung Stadium on March 8.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Nestor Cortes joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic | Elite Sports NY

Shorstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $6 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. There was thought Kiner-Falefa could get nontendered before the 8p ET deadline, but he's back in his last year before free agency.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 18, 2022

Passan is right that Kiner-Falefa was something of a non-tender candidate. Manager Aaron Boone famously benched him in the playoffs on account of his multiple fielding blunders at shortstop. Kiner-Falefa had a -4 outs above average (OAA) at the position, but a +10 defensive runs saved (DRS).

Isiah Kiner-Falefa wasn’t much of a hitter either, batting .261 with four home runs, 48 RBI, and a paltry .642 OPS.

And it now looks like he’ll be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop, but why? There’s plenty of free agency shortstops available, namely Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, and Dansby Swanson. The Yankees also have infield prospects Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe, not to mention the popular Oswaldo Cabrera.

This is where things get interesting. Owner Hal Steinbrenner recently sat down for an interview with the YES Network and said the “intention” is to have Peraza and Volpe man the middle infield. Earlier Friday, the Post’s Joel Sherman reported both Kiner-Falefa and Gleyber Torres were being shopped.

At the same time, Brian Cashman also spoke lavishly of the Yankees’ two top infield prospects. He called them “ahead of their time” with comparisons to Robinson Cano and Alfonso Soriano. This after Cashman staunchly defended Isiah Kiner-Falefa and his seemingly many flaws all season.

So where does that leave IKF? It’s hard to say. The contract might just be a means of putting a number on him for future trade talks. Remember, both Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez agreed to new deals with the Yankees before being shipped to Minnesota last spring for, ironically, Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Whatever the reason, IKF will almost certainly open the 2023 season wearing Yankee pinstripes. How long he does, however, is another story.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees re-sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa for one-year, $6 million | Elite Sports NY

2022 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner – Catcher – AL: Jose Trevino #RawlingsGoldGloveAwards pic.twitter.com/d9AKecVVQw

— Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) November 1, 2022

The Yankees acquired Trevino from the Rangers mere days before Opening Day. He quickly became a fan favorite with a knack for clutch hits, batting .248 with a career-best 11 home runs and 43 RBI.

Trevino also proved a star with his glove and saw his framing sit in Statcast’s 100th percentile all year long. He even led all catchers with +17 catcher framing runs and a strike rate of 53.9%. This was enough to earn him an All-Star selection too.

This is really just the beginning for Jose Trevino too. He earned $720,000 in 2022 and can expect a significant raise in his first arbitration year. A Gold Glove is also plenty to keep him around for a few more years, maybe even more. Remember, catching prospect Austin Wells isn’t a lock to remain a backstop and could change positions soon.

That means for the foreseeable future, Jose Trevino is the Yankees’ starting catcher. If he can build off of his breakout season, all the better.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: New York Yankees C Jose Trevino wins Gold Glove | Elite Sports NY

Luis Severino’s sole mistake, a three-run home run to Alex Bregman, was more than enough for Houston. They now head to the Bronx with a strong two-game advantage.

The Yankees have no choice but to get things right with the next three games at home. Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes are next and the series isn’t out of reach yet.

After Game 2, here’s what we learned:

Home runs are a bug-a-boo. Home runs are the name of the game against the Astros’ strong pitching staff and the Yankees just haven’t hit them when needed. Aaron Judge came within a literal foot of a go-ahead homer in Game 2, but the bats have otherwise been quiet. The lineup mustered just four hits against Framber Valdez.

This is the problem whenever the Yankees play the Astros. Instead of being aggressive and putting the ball in play, the team reverts to a home run-or-bust approach that sunk them in 2020 and ’21. 18 of the 24 runs New York has scored this postseason have come via the longball.

Where’s the team that moved the line at breakneck pace with contact, power, and speed in the first half of the season?

Houston is still beatable. It doesn’t help the Yankees that of the three times they’ve faced Houston in the ALCS, this is easily the worst team. Jose Altuve is still hitless in the postseason and Yordan Alvarez’s lone hit in the series is a meaningless single. Houston’s entire offense was off of one big swing in Game 2 and three solo home runs in Game 1. Martin Maldonado’s RBI double was just a bonus.

New York has the pitching to compete with Houston, but won’t win until the offense starts holding up its end of the bargain.

Let the kids play. It was refreshing to see the Yankees break convention in Game 2 and start rookie Oswald Peraza at shortstop. He and fellow rookie Oswaldo Cabrera bring some much-needed energy to the lineup. Peraza also made a dazzling play in the first inning and was part of a clutch double play later on.

Cabrera has a pair of clutch hits in the playoffs and Peraza’s bat is all potential. Down 2-0, what do the Yankees have to lose in keeping them both in the lineup?

All eyes on the aces. The crazy thing is despite being down 2-0, the Yankees aren’t out of the ALCS by any stretch. They’ve kept games close and have Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes lined up for Games 3 and 4 at home. Most teams can only dream of being down 2-0 in a series and having their best pitchers up next.

Cole and Cortes had big games in the ALDS. New York really needs them to show up against Houston.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: What we learned in Yankees-Astros ALCS Game 2 | Elite Sports NY

Game 1 was no different as the Astros won 4-2. They hit the timely home runs and rode Justin Verlander’s arm the rest of the way. The Yankees failed to capitalize on early opportunities and never really had a shot once Clarke Schmidt took over.

Game 2 is now a must-win with Luis Severino set to pitch. Here are some lessons the Yankees can hopefully take into tomorrow night:

Home runs will win the series. Let’s not get blinded by the Yankees beating the Guardians in the ALDS. They hit .185 as a team and only advanced because they hit nine home runs to Cleveland’s three. Harrison Bader’s solo home run set an early tone in Game 1 and Anthony Rizzo added one later, but New York couldn’t maintain a lead.

Rested Houston, on the other hand, stayed focused and waited for the tired Yankees to make their mistakes. Three solo home runs later, the Astros led 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Justin Verlander is still that guy. The Yankees took advantage of Justin Verlander struggling early and had the future Hall-of-Famer at 66 pitches through three innings. Unfortunately, nobody accounted for him finding control of his curveball and striking out eight of nine through three more innings.

Let this be a gentle reminder that Justin Verlander is 39 years old, missed last season with Tommy John surgery, and went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA this season. The Yankees are lucky he didn’t throw a complete game.

Ask questions about Clarke Schmidt. Clarke Schmidt was once a top Yankees prospect. Before the pandemic shut things down in 2020, I even suggested he get a chance in the starting rotation. Now, his future in New York looks cloudy.

Schmidt surrendered back-to-back home runs to Yuli Gurriel and Chas McCormick in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. This is after blowing the save in Game 3 of the ALDS too. His 3.12 ERA in the regular season is a non-factor. The October pressure is eating him alive.

Clarke Schmidt will still be a Yankee next season and should compete for the No. 5 slot in the rotation. Even so, if a team wants to trade for him, New York should absolutely listen to any and all offers.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees let ALCS Game 1 lead slip away vs. Astros | What we learned | Elite Sports NY

Our roster is set for the ALCS #RepBX pic.twitter.com/HDNb1nuLtK

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 19, 2022

The most significant addition is shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza. He had a career year at Triple-A and then hit .306 in 18 games at the big-league level. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is also on the roster, but one has to assume Boone will switch between Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera at shortstop. Does this mean Giancarlo Stanton and/or Matt Carpenter plays left field in Houston?

Even more surprising is having Frankie Montas and Greg Weissert on the pitching staff. Montas hasn’t pitched since suffering a shoulder strain in September and was streaky for New York after coming over in a trade with Oakland. Weissert only appeared in 12 games, but his biting slider could be a nice secret weapon out of the bullpen.

Now, for the absences. DJ LeMahieu and Ron Marinaccio were left off, kind of shocking since both expected to be available, particularly LeMahieu. His toe injury must still be affecting his swing just enough that it’s not worth having him on the roster just to hit singles. Marinaccio’s changeup does well against lefties, but Houston’s righty-dominant lineup means it makes more sense for him to keep rehabbing his shin.

Similarly, this is probably why the veteran Lucas Luetge was left off the ALCS roster after being available in the ALDS. Aaron Hicks is also out for the rest of the playoffs with a knee injury. In a surprising move that neither helps nor harms the Yankees, Marwin Gonzalez is not available this round.

It’d be nice to have LeMahieu available but otherwise, this is a solid ALCS roster for the Yankees. Managing the pitching staff will be tough, but having Montas and Weissert as fresh arms definitely helps. Oswald Peraza has a strong enough glove at shortstop that Isiah Kiner-Falefa shouldn’t raise anyone’s blood pressure. We also have to assume Oswaldo Cabrera will get some starts in the infield.

This is who Aaron Boone believes can get the Yankees past the AL-best Houston Astros. A tough matchup awaits but if these New York Yankees are anything at all, they’re gamers. They will be ready.

Game 1 of the ALCS begins at 7:37 p.m. ET on TBS.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees release ALCS roster: Oswald Peraza, Frankie Montas added | Elite Sports NY

New York shook off Cleveland’s Game 3 demons and were in full control of the Guardians from the start. Cole led the way with seven innings and allowed just two runs while striking out eight. Clay Holmes worked a flawless eighth before Wandy Peralta, in his third straight game, closed it out.

The decisive Game 5 is slated for Monday night at Yankee Stadium. Both teams will have bullpen games. Can the Yankees rally for another comeback like they did all of the regular season?

Here’s what we learned:

Small ball sets the tone. Even as the Yankees won 4-2, the first inning was proof that this team doesn’t need to rely on home runs. Gleyber Torres led off with a single, stole a base, and then scored on Anthony Rizzo’s RBI single. This approach is important against a contact-hitting, young pitching-fueled team like the Guardians.

New York still only managed six hits on the game, but that matched Cleveland’s total thanks to Cole. Some home cooking should hopefully wake up the bats some more.

Bader’s got a big bat. Harrison Bader’s October thus far shows just how valuable he’ll be for the Yankees in 2023. On top of being an elite centerfielder, he’s batting .286 with three home runs and four RBI in the ALDS.

Bader may be known for his defense but his work with the bat this series shows he’s well aware of his new home ballpark’s friendly dimensions. It doesn’t matter that two of the three homers have come on the road. Bader knows he must adjust his swing and thrives under the pressure of the postseason.

He practically was, dare we say it, born to be a New York Yankee.

Game 5 is anybody’s game. Monday’s Game 5 being a bullpen duel means anything can happen and chaos will reign. Cleveland will start No. 4 starter Aaron Civale as a likely opener, while the Yankees have announced Jameson Taillon will take the ball for them. Taillon had one ineffective relief appearance in Game 2, surrendering two runs in the tenth inning and now makes his first playoff start.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Cleveland has the bullpen advantage. Neither Emmanuel Clase nor James Karinchak have pitched since Game 2 and neither has Trevor Stephan. Perhaps Shane Bieber is available for an inning or two.

Yet, Yankee Stadium tends to attract drama and a series-deciding Game 5 sets the stage perfectly. One team advances to face the dangerous Houston Astros in the ALCS. And if the Yankees can summon one more rally, they’ll be one step closer to exorcising some playoff ghosts.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: What we learned in Yankees-Guardians ALDS Game 4 | Elite Sports NY

What far too few have the cojones to say is the obvious opposite: Brian Cashman’s time with the New York Yankees needs to end regardless of result. The Cleveland Guardians could end the ALDS tonight or New York could win the rest of the way to World Series No. 28. Even then, 25 years on the job will have been too long for the veteran Yankees general manager.

It’s just becoming too much. The obsession with analytics and value at the expense of signing clear needs from the free agency market. The brusque politicking during press conferences.

None of this is to say Brian Cashman has done a bad job building successful Yankees teams. When the Yankees had no choice but to land Gerrit Cole in free agency, he went and got him. Without Brian Cashman, there is no Nestor Cortes, no All-Star seasons from Jose Trevino and Clay Holmes.

This is the success Brian Cashman has had with the New York Yankees in the last decade. Not so much with winning championships, but with sneaky good acquisitions and player development. His system always seems to have the Yankees in contention year after year.

And yet, this writer is willing to risk all of that going down the tubes because of one key mistake from Saturday night. Let’s revisit:

The Yankees led the Guardians 5-3 with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 of the ALDS on Saturday. Wandy Peralta, in his second full inning of work, then allowed back-to-back singles to Myles Straw and Steven Kwan. Instead of handing the ball to All-Star closer Clay Holmes, manager Aaron Boone rolled with rookie Clarke Schmidt.

Schmidt did get Josh Naylor to strike out for out number two, but the damage was done. He loaded the bases first and then gave up a walk-off single to Oscar Gonzalez and the Guardians won 6-5.

First, there are so many things wrong with this from a baseball perspective. Keeping Peralta in the game was fine, but there should have at least been someone warming just in case. Since Schmidt is a starter who takes longer to get ready, he should have been throwing in the top of the ninth rather than warming up quickly once Peralta was already in trouble. His meltdown was practically inevitable.

Plus, where was Holmes? Boone said his All-Star closer was sore and only available in an emergency. Someone clearly didn’t tell Holmes, who made very clear he was available to pitch. Luis Severino, who started Game 3 and was in line for the win, was also shocked.

Now, at first glance, this looks like a glaring miscommunication from Boone. He easily could have been covering his own mistake by saying Holmes, who threw 16 pitches on Friday, was unavailable to do back-to-backs. This would be understandable, given his injuries this season and possibly being needed if Gerrit Cole wasn’t overly dominant in Game 4.

Except knowing Boone, that’s probably not the case. His players defend him to the death, even through the worst of times. Sure, he should have owned his mistake last night, but what if it wasn’t actually his?

What if losing Game 3 was due to exactly what all Yankees fans fear? As in, the longstanding rumor that Brian Cashman and his analytics team are always dugout adjacent during games and influence decision-making. There’s no confirmation of this, but there have been enough questionable decisions over time that it’s clear the numbers have influence over instinct.

Cashman’s reach doesn’t just extend to in-game decisions either. Jordan Montgomery was popular with fans and teammates, but was unceremoniously traded to the Cardinals when there was suddenly no further use for him. St. Louis then did what the Yankees never did and encouraged him to actually throw a fastball.

Naturally, Montgomery had some choice words on the matter too. For someone who dismissed his last manager for “connectivity and communication issues,” Brian Cashman doesn’t seem to be much better at it.

Was it Boone or Cashman’s mistake in Game 3? Perhaps we’ll never know, but this way of doing business is getting old and tired. Just like 55-year-old Brian Cashman.

It’s been the same cycle for years. Build a team with players and ride everyone out until the numbers deem them useless. Sure, it generally works, but should it be the end-all and be-all of whether the Yankees win or lose games? There’s definitely utility to analytics but a sport doesn’t last for over a century without instincts playing a role too.

Again, Brian Cashman has overall done a good job running the New York Yankees. Some might even say a great one. We know where he’s succeeded and where he’s failed.

But if the goal in New York is to win a World Series every year, then it’s time to move on. It’s been over ten years since winning a World Series and, as the Captain himself Derek Jeter said, “the fans boo because they want to cheer.”

When push comes to shove, Brian Cashman is a smart guy. He bit the bullet and let Joe Girardi go after 2017 despite the Yankees finishing just a win away from the AL Pennant. He knew that record aside, a new voice was needed.

It’s time for him to use that big, analytics-ridden brain of his and come to the same realization. Only this time, Cashman will have to accept a hard truth.

He and his philosophy are the problem, and more and more to the detriment of the New York Yankees. But hey, what’s another five-year contract if the system works just enough, right?

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Win or lose, Yankees’ Brian Cashman has to go | Elite Sports NY

In a heartbeat, the Yankees lost control of the series and now need Gerrit Cole to be lights-out near-perfect in Game 4. Home runs by Aaron Judge, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Harrison Bader were wasted. Forget Luis Severino barely escaping two innings before shifting to cruise control through 5.2 frames.

And all because Aaron Boone tried to squeeze some extra outs out of Wandy Peralta.

Here’s what we learned:

Advantage Cleveland. It’s not just that New York blew a winnable Game 3 and now trails the series 2-1. As we noted yesterday, a close game didn’t necessarily favor the Guardians. It favored them even less trailing 5-3 going into the ninth inning.

Except now, Cleveland can clinch with a win in Game 4 and now has a rested Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak. As for the Yankees? Well, they basically have no choice but to win via blowout on Sunday.

Bullpen goes bust. The Yankees’ bullpen was always tenuous heading into the playoffs and Game 3 was a prime example. Boone has to be careful with how he manages arms due to Thursday’s rainout and losing Game 2 in extra innings didn’t make his job easier.

But no matter how you slice it, leaving Wandy Peralta in to start the ninth was a bad decision. He was already at 17 pitches after throwing 15 on Friday. That’s a lot for a reliever being asked to go back out for a second full inning. Cut to rookie Clarke Schmidt, a trained starter, looking rough early and ultimately blowing the game.

And where was Clay Holmes? Out with “soreness,” according to Boone.

Homer happy. The sad truth is that the Yankees have once again become too reliant on the home run. All five of their runs came via the longball tonight, five runs on five hits.

Cleveland, meanwhile. fought and clawed to six runs on 15 hits. The Guardians have actually out-hit the Yankees this series by an eye-popping 30-16 margin. New York has hit more home runs, 6-3, but contact-hitting Cleveland is a win away from facing the Astros in the ALCS. In a rare departure from baseball today, the bloops have won out over the blasts.

And if the Yankees don’t find some bloops of their own soon? Well, let’s just say they may join the Mets on the golf course sooner rather than later.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: What we learned in Yankees-Guardians ALDS Game 3 | Elite Sports NY

Of course, the 28-year-old righty will never admit that. To Severino, it just means he has to beat the Cleveland Guardians on the road. New York couldn’t string hits together in Game 2, so it’s on Severino to shut Cleveland down in Game 3.

Yet, what nobody seems to realize is that Game 3 should be personal to Luis Severino. If he does his job and turns in an ace performance, then his redemption journey will have come full circle.

You see, back on Oct. 9, 2017, Severino took the ball in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Cleveland then-Indians. This too was a redemption game of sorts, after lasting a third of an inning against Minnesota in the AL Wild Card. It was a performance uncharacteristic of Severino, who posted a 2.98 ERA in the regular season and was the unquestioned Yankees ace.

But on that cool Bronx October night against MLB-best Cleveland, Severino was in ace form from the first pitch. He gave the Yankees seven strong innings with nine strikeouts and 113 pitches, 76 for strikes. New York won 7-3 and then won the decisive Game 5.

Since then, Luis Severino’s baseball career path has turned bumpy. He won 19 games in 2018, but started tipping his pitches in the second half and posted a 5.57 ERA then compared to a 2.31 before the All-Star Break. To add insult to injury, he tipped again in a now infamously bad game in the postseason, Game 3 of the ALDS against the Red Sox. Severino was tagged for six runs in three innings as Boston routed New York 16-1.

It all went downhill from there. Injuries limited Severino to just three starts in 2019 and he never looked comfortable in the playoffs. Tommy John surgery and other injuries kept him out for all of 2020 and all but four relief appearances the following year. Back in the rotation in 2022, there were some understandably serious questions about how much Luis Severino could give this season.

Taking his time getting healthy clearly helped Severino, who posted a 3.18 ERA in 2022. He tossed seven no-hit innings in his final start of the regular season. It was almost enough to forget he was on the injured list for over two months with shoulder tightness.

This is the Luis Severino the Yankees need in Game 3. He must pitch as deep into the game as possible and give New York’s bullpen a rest. Ideally, the Yankees lineup returns the favor and Gerrit Cole can win a potentially-clinching Game 4 on Sunday.

Moreover, Luis Severino may have some financial incentives riding on his Game 3 start. His contract has a $15 million club option for 2023 and the Yankees will almost certainly pick it up. A strong playoff start would only further motivate the front office to do so.

And so, it all comes to a vitally important Game 3, almost exactly five years after Severino first tamed Cleveland in the postseason. If he wins, his redemption story is complete and the Yankees know he’s once again a trustworthy arm. If he loses, he’s just another ace-level arm who struggles in October. Just ask his 5.23 career playoff ERA.

Luis Severino knows exactly what’s on the line in Game 3 of the ALDS and exactly what he must do against these tough Guardians. Let’s see him do it and change his story for the better.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees’ Luis Severino should take ALDS Game 3 personally | Elite Sports NY

Cleveland took advantage of bloop hits and untimely errors to take a 4-2 lead in the 10th inning and never looked back. The Yankees, meanwhile, wasted a first-inning home run from Giancarlo Stanton.

It was not the effort expected of the Yankees, especially with no days off until the end of the series. In the meantime, it’s now off to Cleveland to try and steal Game 3.

Some takeaways:

Where is Aaron Judge? The Yankees would really appreciate it if Aaron Judge and his MVP form showed up to the game. Judge, who hit .311 with 62 home runs and 132 RBI in the regular season, is 0 for 8 with seven strikeouts in the postseason.

This wouldn’t be a big problem, except Judge is still serving as New York’s leadoff hitter. Not an ideal position for someone who, entering today’s game, was a .225 career playoff hitter. That’s a hard number to accept for someone expected to set the tone at the top of the lineup. Whether it’s the long layoff or just another slump, Judge’s team needs him to show up.

The Guardians can pitch to victory. How quickly we forget that while the Yankees ranked third in MLB with a 3.30 team ERA, the Guardians also ranked sixth at 3.46. What’s more, is that Cleveland’s arms were ready to go in a must-win game in front of a hot Bronx crowd in Game 2.

For example, starter Shane Bieber (not to be confused with Justin) entered the game with a 5.74 ERA in three starts against New York. He allowed Stanton’s home run in the first inning and cruised the rest of the way, pitching into the sixth. The Guardians’ bullpen took over and struck out eight Yankees in 4.1 innings of one-hit ball.

Whatever the Yankees bring in Games 3 and on, it will take more than just one big swing to beat Cleveland.

Advantage Yankees? The series is tied 1-1, but fortune favors the Yankees on paper. Cleveland’s relievers worked hard in Game 2, including 33 pitches from star closer Emmanuel Clase. Now, both teams need big outings from Luis Severino and Triston McKenzie.

Even if Severino only lasts, say, five innings, New York is still in good shape. The Yankees used six relievers today, none of whom threw over 20 pitches. Meanwhile, Guardians manager Terry Francona probably won’t have Clase at his best until at least Game 4. But then, the Yankees have Gerrit Cole toeing the slab.

The first two games between New York and Cleveland were intense. Now, let’s see how the Yankees and Guardians run a literal gauntlet.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: What we learned in Yankees-Guardians ALDS Game 2 | Elite Sports NY

You could tell during Friday’s afternoon broadcast of the Yankees and Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS. Costas and former Mets pitcher Ron Darling are in the booth for TBS and in the sixth inning, the veteran broadcaster made a key mistake.

As Cleveland ace Shane Bieber squared off against Giancarlo Stanton, Costas referred to the right-hander by a different name: Justin Bieber.

Classic mixup

Bob Costas accidentally called @ShaneBieber19 Justin Bieber instead. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/eQmyJMSDZD

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2022

Okay, fine. It’s an easy mistake to make. Bieber’s an uncommon enough name that Canadian pop star/bad boy Justin Bieber had a monopoly on it for over a decade.

Except, Bob Costas has always been a sports broadcaster. Never has he had to do a Top 10 Countdown on MTV or VH1. I get it’s an honest mistake, but come on. That’s still a pretty bad slip.

Not to mention, the two could not be more different. Justin Bieber tortures our eardrums with sappy ballads like “Baby,” while Shane Bieber wows us with an elite pitch mix. Justin has two Grammys, but Shane won the AL Cy Young with a 1.63 ERA in 2020. It’s not just how Bob Costas made such a ridiculous mistake, but how dare he???

Call me a grumpy old man, but Justin Bieber and Shane Bieber don’t even belong in the same sentence despite a shared last name. In fact, that previous sentence is the last time we’ll ever do that. ESNY and all its associated partners apologize for committing such a travesty, and with apologies to all the Bieliebers.

As for Bob Costas? Well, let’s just hope that his monotone broadcast and slip of the tongue haven’t mushed the Yankees’ World Series hopes.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Bob Costas called Shane Bieber ‘Justin’ during Yankees-Guardians Game 2 | Elite Sports NY

We all know Cole at this point. The unquestioned ace after a strong performance in Game 1 of the ALDS. He set a new team record with 257 strikeouts and is, by all accounts, obsessed with pitching.

Nestor Cortes, meanwhile, is more of a cult hero. He doesn’t have ace status, but put up a 2.44 ERA compared to Cole’s 3.50 mark this year. Cortes also won fans over with his variety of pitching motions and is popular in the clubhouse too. His “Nasty Nestor Cafe” is where he and his teammates share Cuban coffee, what he called “the best coffee in the world” in a piece for The Players Tribune.

Whereas Cole is the mound warrior, the field general leading his troops, Cortes is different on the days he starts. As he says himself, he’ll do everything from chatting with teammates over coffee to messing with clubhouse attendants. It’s all about having fun and staying relaxed until an hour or so before game time when, as Cortes puts it, it’s “time to lock in”.

Now, none of this is to say Gerrit Cole is a robot of a person incapable of feeling joy. You don’t keep a sign you brought to Yankee Stadium as a child to your introductory press conference without having some semblance of a soul. The big righty is also a complete “Star Wars” nerd. But on days he pitches, it’s all about the game.

The differences even extend to the types of pitchers they are. The 6’5″ Cole loves his blazing fastball and complementary slider and curveball. On the mound, even as he gave up 33 home runs this year, he was and is methodical, almost to a fault.

Cortes is 5’11” on a good day, averages less than 92 mph on his fastball, and uses varying windups and arm slots much like another former Yankee favorite, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. He’s just a good, fun-loving dude. Just look at what he did pitching in the All-Star Game this year:

You watch Gerrit Cole on the mound and he’s all business. It’s about winning the game and little else. Nestor Cortes is very much the same, but it’s easy to see he’s also visibly enjoying himself.

To put it another way, is Gerrit Cole the Yankees’ Roy Kent? Well, then Nestor Cortes is their Sam Obisanya (And for those wondering, Oswaldo Cabrera is Dani Rojas), the fan favorite whose unbridled joy trickles down to the rest of his teammates and, more importantly, the fans. It was ever-present during Game 1, while Cole was locked into his start and Cortes kept everyone loose in the dugout.

These are the dynamics that shape winning teams. If you ask Cortes, he thinks the Yankees are “about to do something special over the next few weeks.”

The fans already love Nestor Cortes, but if he helps bring World Series title No. 28? Well, let’s hope Gerrit Cole has a firm grip on the ace’s throne.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Gerrit Cole is Yankees’ ace, but Nestor Cortes is everyone’s favorite | Elite Sports NY

Sure, Cole and his $324 million deal mean he’s the ace of the staff in name, but what about Nestor Cortes? He had a 2.44 ERA and isn’t as prone to giving up home runs as Cole. He’s been a tougher pitcher all year, so isn’t he the ace?

Cut to the Yankees beating the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 in Game 1, and Cole silenced all critics. He overcame a rough start after throwing 62 pitches in the first three innings to finish as strong as anyone could have hoped. In 6.1 innings, he allowed just four hits with one walk and four strikeouts and tossed a healthy 101 pitches.

His only blemish? A solo home run to Steven Kwan.

It’s also worth noting that at one point in the third inning, the Guardians had the bases loaded with just one out. Fans braced themselves for the worst. All year long, Cole’s otherwise strong outings were tainted by one bad inning. This season alone, his ERA across the fifth and sixth innings was an uncharacteristic 4.63.

Instead, Cole got Oscar Gonzalez to ground into a force at home, and Andres Gimenez struck out. A fine escape, but 62 pitches seemed high.

We can now forget last year’s AL Wild Card game. Yes, Cole choked against the hated Boston Red Sox. Surrendering three runs in the first two innings of a do-or-die game is not what an ace does. Except, in this case, Cole was pitching on one leg. Not to mention, that bad start raised his career playoff ERA…to 2.93.

And after tonight, it’s back down to 2.83.

Gerrit Cole did exactly what the New York Yankees needed him to do Tuesday night: take the mound in a sold-out Yankee Stadium in a playoff opener and bring home the win. It doesn’t matter that he labored early on. He never lost focus and was almost automatic once the Yankees scored.

Cool, calm, collected, and composed deep in the belly of the Bronx beast, just like a New York Yankees ace.

And no disrespect to Nestor Cortes, but it was never a contest.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Gerrit Cole is the unquestioned Yankees playoff ace | Elite Sports NY

The veteran righty was a reliable starter for New York all season, going 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts. Taillon also issued just 1.62 walks per nine innings (BB/9), yet will shift to the bullpen for the series with Cleveland. The schedule is such that Boone can roll with a trifecta of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, and Luis Severino with Taillon and Domingo German on the relief team.

Yet, the Yankees skipper sees Jameson Taillon in several roles.

“I think he could be anything from a long reliever to closing a game,” Boone said. “I think he’s in play for anything.”

Jameson Taillon, New York Yankees closer? What a concept! The man hasn’t made a single relief appearance in his MLB career. Whatever work he gets in the ALDS will be his first out of the bullpen as a professional. And yet, Boone wants to use him as a closer?

Apparently so, and this writer thinks it’s a fantastic idea.

First, it isn’t an unprecedented idea. We’ve seen starters close games in the postseason for the last few years at this point. Chris Sale pitched the last inning of the 2018 World Series for the Red Sox. Charlie Morton fired four relief innings in Game 7 of the 2017 series and Lance McCullers Jr. was untouchable out of the bullpen in Game 7 of that same year’s ALCS.

Additionally, once in a blue moon, a successful starting pitcher makes an even more successful transition to closing games. Dennis Eckersley notched 149 wins in 361 starts before he made 390 saves over his last 710 career appearances. Some years later, John Smoltz joined Eckersley as the only other player to have 150 wins and 150 saves.

Granted, this isn’t to say Taillon should automatically be New York’s closer in the playoffs. Boone still has enough healthy high-leverage arms, namely Clay Holmes and Wandy Peralta, that he can mix and match a bit. Holmes himself was an All-Star closer this year before back and shoulder injuries slowed him down late in the season.

But it’s also clear that Holmes is fatigued and thus hasn’t been as sharp. His second-half ERA was an inflated 4.84 compared to 1.31 pre-All-Star Break. Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga also have limited experience finishing games.

Why not Jameson Taillon who, unlike most relievers, throws multiple pitches and can keep hitters guessing?

Think about today’s modern MLB closer. In most circumstances, you’re looking at a pitcher who throws one or two pitches really well while (ideally) racking up the strikeouts. The downside is that of those two pitches, only one is usually working on a given night, which leads to high walks.

With Taillon, the Yankees wouldn’t have to worry about that at all. We’ve already discussed how efficient he is at limiting walks, but Baseball Savant also lists him as throwing six different pitches.

Here’s a breakdown:

• 4-seam fastball: 35.7%
• Slider: 18.9%
• Curveball: 14.8%
• Sinker: 11.1%
• Cutter: 11%
• Changeup: 8.5%

Taillon also knows how to utilize spin rate, with his fastball and curveball’s respective spins in the 85th and 83rd percentiles. His average fastball velocity is just a shade over 94 mph, but the spin makes it seem faster. He can also miss bats when he’s at his best and has a whiff rate in the 69th percentile.

Best of all is that at this point, Jameson Taillon has proven he can handle the pressures of New York. Yes, closing a game is arguably more difficult than starting one, but the Yankees might need to get creative this season. Under normal circumstances, Taillon would probably just be another support arm if Scott Effross didn’t suddenly need Tommy John surgery.

Is Jameson Taillon going to be the go-to closer for the Yankees in the playoffs? No, but Boone would be foolish not to at least consider it.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jameson Taillon, Yankees closer? It’s not as crazy as it sounds | Elite Sports NY

Your official New York Yankees #ALDS roster #RepBX pic.twitter.com/KNZk1RePWk

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 11, 2022

Not surprisingly, DJ LeMahieu and his injured toe won’t be playing. He hit .250 in his brief comeback at the end of the season but even manager Aaron Boone observed during workouts this week that LeMahieu was “still compromised.”

The news doesn’t get better. Jack Curry of the YES Network reported sidearming groundball machine Scott Effross needs Tommy John surgery. That knocks him out not just for the playoffs, but for all of next season. As MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch observed, this would have been Aroldis Chapman’s spot had he not skipped a workout.

The most glaring omission, however, belongs to infield prospect Oswald Peraza. He hit .306 with an .832 OPS in just 18 games. Yet, he was left off in favor of veteran utility player Marwin Gonzalez, who hit .185 in 85 games. It doesn’t matter that Oswaldo Cabrera is basically the same type player and posted a WAR twice Gonzalez’s in half as many games. Clearly, general manager Brian Cashman and his all-knowing Yankees analytics team like Marwin Gonzalez more than Peraza’s upside.

Some may also criticize the inclusion of Tim Locastro, but he’s only a pinch runner who otherwise won’t play significant innings. Similarly, Aaron Hicks has a strong enough arm that he can sub into left field late in close games, probably for Cabrera.

In case it wasn’t obvious, things just got a bit harder for the Yankees. The lineup learned how to hit and function without DJ LeMahieu, but the two-time batting champ is still a big loss. The bullpen, however, remains the biggest question mark.

Instead of Effross, the Yankees have Miguel Castro, who only just came back after months of shoulder trouble. Ron Marinaccio’s devastating changeup isn’t available. How will Jameson Taillon and Domingo German factor into the mix?

The strangest part is the Yankees are still in a solid position to beat the Guardians. It will take their lineup outperforming expectations, but it’s true. The AL Central is weak and Cleveland was streaky all year. Even with a clear bullpen advantage in star closer Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians are underdogs.

But be it Jameson Taillon, Domingo German, or even youngster Clarke Schmidt, the Yankees need a bullpen hero. Pitching wins championships and for the first time all year, it looks like a weakness for New York.

Game 1 of the ALDS begins at 7:37 p.m. ET on TBS.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees release ALDS roster: DJ LeMahieu, Scott Effross left off | Elite Sports NY

Per Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, Chapman didn’t show up to a team workout on Friday with what Boone called “not an acceptable excuse.”

Aroldis Chapman was left off the postseason roster. Didn't show up to Friday's workout with what Boone said was "not an acceptable excuse." #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) October 9, 2022

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com added the former star closer is not with the team, but at his house in Miami. General manager Brian Cashman noted that Chapman was fined for no-showing.

And with that, we can finally call a long overdue end to the relationship between Aroldis Chapman and the New York Yankees. No pitcher was more wholly unreliable this year than the once dominant lefty. Chapman posted a career-worst 4.46 ERA with just nine saves in 43 games.

Chapman, 34, also posted a career-low 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), another sign of his dwindling velocity. Clay Holmes eventually emerged as an All-Star closer, and the Yankees haven’t looked back since.

So what does this mean for the Yankees’ bullpen? Holmes has been injured, but said he expects to make the ALDS roster. New York also has Scott Effross back from shoulder trouble, and one of Lucas Luetge or Wandy Peralta could serve as lefty bullpen help.

The only possibility where this might be an issue comes from rookie Ron Marinaccio being out with a shin injury. He posted a 2.05 ERA in 40 games and lefties only hit .146 against him and his devastating changeup. Chapman, in turn, also dominated left-handed hitters and held them to a .162 batting average in the midst of his worst season.

But when push comes to shove, there’s no more trust between Aroldis Chapman and the New York Yankees organization. Cashman added there were “questions about whether (Chapman) was all in or not” all year long. That’s fair, especially considering he had ample opportunities to win back the closer’s job. Aside from that, Boone tried hard to find a bullpen role for Chapman, and he wasted his chances.

Six years in pinstripes and an expiring contract later, it’s best for both sides to move on.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aroldis Chapman misses workout, left off ALDS roster | Elite Sports NY

After missing two months with a broken foot, lefty power bat Matt Carpenter will be on the team’s ALDS roster.

Aaron Boone on Matt Carpenter: "I expect him to be on the roster" for the ALDS. Via @TMKSESPN on @ESPNNY98_7FM just now. #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) October 6, 2022

Carpenter hasn’t played since fouling a ball off of his foot in Seattle on Aug. 8. Prior to that, he was easily one of the best stories of both the Yankees and general MLB season. Carpenter opted out of a minor league deal with the Rangers and signed with New York in May.

The rest is something straight out of a fairy tale. Carpenter, who hit .203 for the Cardinals the previous three years, hit .305 with a 1.138 OPS. The 36-year-old also hit 15 home runs with 37 RBI in just 154 plate appearances across 47 games, for an eye-popping wRC+ of 217 Who knows what could have been if not for his injury?

And what is the secret to the rediscovered success of Matt Carpenter? He is simply hunting balls up in the strike zone and trying to pull them for a line drive or fly ball, per MLB.com’s Dylan Svoboda.

As for the playoffs, what will his role be? Carpenter isn’t much of a fielder anymore, so odds are Boone will use him as a left-handed pinch-hitter in close games. His 53.5% fly ball rate (FB%) will be most welcome then, as will his veteran leadership in the dugout. Carpenter also provides the Yankees with another lefty bat while Andrew Benintendi continues recovering from his broken hand.

This is the true value of Matt Carpenter. Even if he isn’t in the everyday lineup, he knows what’s expected of a team in the playoffs. He spent a decade with the Cardinals and hit .296 in the 2013 World Series. Furthermore, Carpenter has repeatedly said the 2022 Yankees have that “it factor” required to go far.

The Yankees kick off the ALDS in the Bronx on Oct. 11, so look for Matt Carpenter and his mustache power to start socking balls again then.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Matt Carpenter returning to the Yankees for ALDS? | Elite Sports NY

The host of The Ringer’s popular “New York, New York” podcast wasn’t alone in his opinion. Appearing on CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco’s “R2C2” podcast weeks earlier, outfielder Aaron Hicks said this year’s Yankees needed to “have some f*** you.”

An AL East crown, 99 wins, 62 Aaron Judge home runs, and a first-round playoff bye later, mission accomplished, right?

Wrong, dear readers. Sure, the 2022 New York Yankees certainly played with an edge not seen last year, but it’s not quite enough. The lineup, while talented, has been touch and go for a couple of months. The same goes for the bullpen. Clay Holmes is out with a shoulder strain and Aroldis Chapman’s intimidation is practically extinct.

Thus, the Yankees need a rallying cry while they prepare for their ALDS matchup with either the Guardians or the Rays. And where do they find it? Why, in Timmy Trumpet’s viral hit “Narco.”

Cue the record scratch. “JB, are you crazy or just plain dumb? That song belongs to the Mets and Edwin Diaz. What are the Yankees going to do with it?”

The answer is simple: Nothing. Well, nothing significant at least, but let me explain. The New York Yankees are never going to use “Narco” in a playoff game or any game. This won’t be used for crowd-hyping purposes.

Instead, think of all the time the Yankees have right now. They have home-field advantage and five days until Game 1 of their ALDS on Oct. 11. Until then, they’ll have team workouts and practices at Yankee Stadium, and what’s a good workout without some background music?

This is where Timmy Trumpet and “Narco” come into the mix. Remember how Giancarlo Stanton invited a DJ to batting practice back in May? Why not bring him back for a workout or two and he blasts the song once or twice?

Cue the Yankees’ social media team. Someone films a shot of the practice while “Narco” blasts and players take their swings. Suddenly, that’s posted to Instagram, Twitter, everywhere, and with no mention of the song at all. Just a shot of the Yankees working out at their home ballpark, with “Narco” on in the background.

We all know how the fans would respond. #YankeesTwitter would be half outrage, half laughing at this apparent flex on the Mets. #MetsTwitter would be mostly outraged — because how dare the Yankees co-opt a fun Mets trend — though some would probably laugh about it. What are the Yankees doing? Are they so desperate that they have to try to steal Edwin Diaz’s thunder before the playoffs?

Relax, kids. It’s just a song, and a pretty fun one at that. So what if the Yankees use it as background music for a workout once or twice? And then again? Maybe once soon after? And then one more time just for good measure?

You see what I’m getting at, fans. The Yankees need to have a workout to Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco” because why not? It’s a song that doesn’t belong to any team. And if Buck Showalter and the Mets take it personally? That’s on them. It’s nothing personal, and the Captain himself Derek Jeter sums it up best:

.@derekjeter never hated the Mets …

They were "just the Mets" pic.twitter.com/jmm78h2ns2

— ESPN (@espn) July 29, 2022

Seriously. We’re going to let the Mets have all the fun with this banger of a tune? The Yankees can enjoy “Narco” too, but just in a different way. It’s a song for everybody, not just Buck Showalter’s guys in Flushing.

Thus, someone tell Giancarlo Stanton to call up his DJ buddy again. For the next few days, the Bronx needs to be Trumpet Town!

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: How the Yankees can ride Timmy Trumpet to success | Elite Sports NY

He’s finally done it. The thing we never imagined would ever happen post-Steroid Era, even on the Yankees. As YES announcer Michael Kay once said about Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit, Wednesday’s 8-3 win over Toronto was history with an exclamation point.

In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m talking about Aaron Judge hitting his 61st home run of the season. Not just any season, though. After the last out of the World Series, the likely AL MVP, one Aaron James Judge, will be a free agent.

If you’re not sweating, you should be. That cookie-cutter $230 million deal you offered prior to Opening Day? Forget it. in fact, it’d be more profitable to make actual cookies with the offer and have a charity bake sale outside of Yankee Stadium. As of right now, you’re staring down the barrel of a $300 million offer. Minimum.

But don’t worry, Cash. This isn’t your first rodeo. You don’t spend 25 years in the general manager’s chair without getting your hands dirty in free agency talks. In fact, you almost seem to thrive on them.

Who can forget the 1998 offseason, fresh off a World Series and record-setting year? Bernie Williams won the AL batting title in his contract year and almost signed with the hated Red Sox! Yet, you and the late George Steinbrenner pulled through and upped the offer accordingly.

Or how about after the 2013 season? Fan favorite Robinson Cano wanted that 10-year deal, you held firm at seven with options. Cue the Seattle Mariners making a $240 million mistake. Sure, the fans were upset at first, but we got over it. It took us a couple of years to realize it, but you were right to let him go.

But what about now? Aaron Judge wants and deserves his money. It doesn’t matter if this historic season is a one-off. Judge is an elite player who deserves a significant contract. That doesn’t mean a record-breaking deal by any stretch, especially with him already 30 years old. Still, $230 million just won’t do.

Because here’s the thing, Brian. If Judge leaves in free agency, he won’t be the main villain in the story. No, sir. That would be you. Want to know why? Well, to be perfectly frank, the fans are getting a little tired of you and your “analytics” obsession.

Who spurns bigger names that fill an immediate need for value that works, but isn’t quite the same? That would be you. Who clings to minor league prospects that can be traded for a big fish, only to develop them to death and they don’t really leave their mark? You. Who faces questions from the media about some of his more questionable moves and doubles down again and again and again?

If you’re not seeing a pattern here, sir, then you’re missing the point.

Carlos Correa was probably the most exciting shortstop on the market last offseason and signed a short-term deal with the Twins. Even with some timely hits, is Isiah Kiner-Falefa really a better option?

On the minor league side, Estevan Florial and Clarke Schmidt were once top prospects. Now, Schmidt’s been streaky as a reliever/sometimes starter and Florial has no clear future with the team. Not to mention, the young outfielder hasn’t particularly impressed, hitting .185 in a handful of MLB appearances.

But it’s all OK, right? Because the great Brian Cashman and his analytics team have all the answers. If Aaron Judge leaves for another team, the numbers have a good reason and Cashman will not be challenged. Trust his vision, for he knows all, right?

WRONG.

Here’s a quick reminder, Brian. When Judge hits free agency this winter, there’s no guarantee you’ll be the one negotiating. Your contract is also up at the end of the year and, if we’re being honest, Hal Steinbrenner will probably keep you around. This season has been successful enough that you and the analytics team will live to fight on another five-year deal.

Except you know better than anyone that success does not equal security. Just ask Joe Girardi, who had the Yankees one win away from the AL Pennant in 2017 before not getting a new contract. Regardless of where the Yankees finish in the playoffs, Steinbrenner can easily do the same thing to you.

Which is why, right now, I’d like to remind you of your most infamous free agency negotiation yet. Remember when Derek Jeter, the Captain himself, hit the market after 2010? Yeah, those contract talks got real nasty, cutthroat even for you. Your relationship with him, the most legendary Yankee of the last 30 years, is still strained to this day.

And let’s not forget Jeter’s recent speech at Yankee Stadium. His saying the fans would see more of him has everyone speculating. He’s no longer a part-owner of the Miami Marlins. Though unlikely, it’s fun to think about the potential of, I don’t know, president of baseball operations Derek Jeter. He’d sooner move the Yankees to New Jersey than let Aaron Judge leave.

That puts you behind the eight-ball, Brian Cashman. If you get a new contract, it’s because Hal Steinbrenner trusts you to re-sign Aaron Judge and make him a Yankee for life. The Yankees can already outbid any team, will be in a decent position to up their original offer, and you know it.

The fans on #YankeesTwitter complain about you every time something goes south. This is your opportunity to get back in the fans’ good graces regardless of any other moves. Forget about the lack of World Series rings. Keeping Aaron Judge after a highly-anticipated free agency would make you a bona fide New York hero. Do not screw this up.

And if Judge walks? Well, you’d better have Juan Soto waiting in the wings down the road.

Your move, sir.

Sincerely,

Josh Benjamin (on behalf of all Yankees fans)

More on ESNY:
• Mets-Marlins series in review: Eduardo Escobar plays hero
• How can the Jets beat the Steelers? Run the ball
• Roger Maris Jr. is ready to crown Yankees’ Aaron Judge as legit HR king
• Yankees-Blue Jays takeaways: Aaron Judge makes history, Bombers clinch
• MLB postseason 2022: Mets introducing new concession items for October

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Pay Aaron Judge his money: An open letter to Yankees’ Brian Cashman | Elite Sports NY

Seven regular season games remain. Three at home with the Baltimore Orioles, then four on the road with the Texas Rangers. Seven very winnable games for a New York team getting hot again at the right time.

Even better is that if certain chips fall into place, the Yankees and Blue Jays may face off in the playoffs. That means playing in a rowdy Rogers Centre in October, deep in the belly of the beast that is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s house.

In this dry run, New York did exactly what it had to do in taking two of three: Prove it could win important games on the road.

Some takeaways:

The AL East is clinched, but now what? Now that the division is taken care of, manager Aaron Boone needs to start thinking about the playoffs. Specifically, his bullpen strategy needs to be strong. He also should be figuring out how to get super-utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera regular at-bats.

So what does that mean for the next seven games? The Yankees certainly won’t lie down for Baltimore or Texas, but Boone probably won’t play all of his starters at once. This will be more about seeing which fringe relievers, particularly Aroldis Chapman, have their best pitches working. On the hitting side, it will just be about keeping the whole team focused and taking clean swings.

It’s Trivino Time. Whatever Boone’s playoff bullpen strategy, Lou Trivino needs to be a big part of it. Hell, he might even need to be the closer. The veteran righty has a 1.74 ERA since arriving from Oakland at the trade deadline. His 6.47 mark with the A’s is all but a distant memory thanks to throwing his slider more often.

He got the save in Tuesday’s division-clinching win, including inducing a key double play on his first pitch. Trivino is exactly the pitcher New York needs in the playoffs. Expect him to get some high-leverage outs down the stretch, and maybe some more save opportunities, too.

Finishing strong = A deep playoff run. All of us have watched enough sports in our lifetimes to know it’s rarely ever the best team on paper that wins. Rather, it’s the hottest team who rides the momentum wave all the way to championship glory. With seven fairly soft games to close out the season, this is a chance on which the Bronx Bombers must pounce.

Consider this. New York ends the regular season in Texas on Oct. 5 and Game 1 of the ALDS isn’t until Oct. 11. That’s a long layoff even if the Yankees win all of their remaining games. Regardless of the result, this final handful of games needs to be about keeping the team’s foot on the gas and not straying from the end goal:

Bringing home No. 28.

More on ESNY:
• Buck Showalter on Mets’ postseason plans, winning World Series
• Brian Daboll: Giants’ Daniel Jones ‘competed his tail off’ vs. Cowboys
• Marlins trying to recruit Mets fans to fill up loanDepot park
• Nobody is more upset about the Giants’ Week 3 loss than this guy
• WATCH: Michael Kay roasts Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after Yankees’ clinching win

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees-Blue Jays takeaways: Aaron Judge makes history, Bombers clinch | Elite Sports NY

Directed by documentary veteran Fritz Weaver, the old Brooklyn-New York blood feud wasn’t just regional. The Dodgers lived in Brooklyn and were part of the borough’s blue-collar neighborhood culture. The Yankees, meanwhile, were the “upper class” who lived uptown and out of the city.

My, how things have changed. Through the lens of the self-indulgent 1970s, we learn how the Yankees’ bad-boy image matched the tumult in the Bronx at the time. On the West Coast, the Dodgers’ All-American/Hollywood image, led by Steve Garvey, wasn’t all it seemed, either. Somewhere in the middle, both teams played each other in the 1977 and 1978 World Series.

The quick-paced film is, at its core, a love letter to celebrity, showmanship, and self-love. It adds a dash of sports to the mix, too.

Some takeaways:

The Martin/Lasorda dichotomy. You can’t tell this story without Billy Martin and Tommy Lasorda, two of baseball history’s greatest literal characters. The fiery Martin openly feuded with star Reggie Jackson and owner George Steinbrenner as they courted the spotlight. He wasn’t at all afraid of managing his team and also criticizing them in the press.

The affable Lasorda, meanwhile, was intense but also the opposite. He cursed like a sailor and spoke his mind. Yet, he also showed a gentler side and sought to end slumps by having comedian Don Rickles show up in the clubhouse and just go to town.

One could almost say that Martin’s clenched-jaw style led to the tight ships of former Yankees skipper Joe Girardi. Fast forward to today, and has Aaron Boone drawn his more communicative and laid-back style from Lasorda?

The celebrity athlete. A big piece of “An Uncivil War” is Reggie Jackson signing a then-record contract with the Yankees in 1977. This was controversial not just for the money flowing into newly established free agency, but because Jackson was already outspoken. His “I’m the straw that stirs the drink” comment hurt the team dynamic no matter how anyone spins it.

On the Dodgers’ side, there was Steve “Mr. Clean” Garvey. Telegenic, articulate, and married to the pretty blonde, he embodied Hollywood and did more than his fair share of TV commercials. Not to be outdone, Jackson had his famous chocolate bar, the Reggie Bar.

Even more interesting is Martin and Lasorda’s place in this celebrity culture. Martin played in the shadow of Mickey Mantle and craved the spotlight while also kind of resenting it. Lasorda, on the other hand, was a career minor leaguer with a handful of MLB games who was just happy to be where he was.

It just goes to show that celebrity comes in various forms and does different things to people.

Will the rivalry live on? Starting next season, all MLB teams will play each other over the course of a season. This means that every year, we get the original Subway Series: Yankees vs. Dodgers. Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium. Maybe some vintage uniforms will make an appearance, too.

And yet, it just won’t be the same. Once the working class local team, the Dodgers have gone full Los Angeles. Their payroll has been among the highest in baseball for over a decade, much like the once-maligned “upper class” Yankees. The Mets have since filled the have-not void in New York and feud with their Bronx counterparts accordingly.

Will seeing the Dodgers annually bring back the old New York feud and, channeling Ace Frehley, get it back in a New York groove? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, “Yankees-Dodgers: An Uncivil War” is a joyful, entertaining reminder of a rivalry that once was, and what maybe still could someday be.

Follow ESNY on Twitter @elitesportsny.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: ESPN’s ‘Yankees-Dodgers: An Uncivil War’ is a love letter to the celebrity sportsman | Elite Sports NY

The Yankees’ main play-by-play voice has been on the job for almost 20 years and, if we’re being honest, isn’t the best. His style makes Wonder Bread look like a laser rock show and his humor is, well, kind of existent?

Not Tuesday night. Not after the Yankees beat the rival Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre 5-2 and clinched the AL East. New York also landed the No. 2 seed in the American League and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

As the Yankees made their way off the field, Michael Kay took the ultimate shot at Toronto star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

MICHAEL FROM THE TOP ROPE pic.twitter.com/GJaEi1wcuQ

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2022

For context, Guerrero won Monday’s game for Toronto with a walk-off single in the 10th inning. His reaction was, in a word, a lot.

pic.twitter.com/rEC9UwxMdP

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2022

A lot of good that peacocking did Vlady, right? He was 1 for 4 on Tuesday and his lone hit was bittersweet. He thought his line drive single would clear the wall in left field, then got thrown out at second base because he admired his work.

Great throw by Aaron Hicks to get Vlad Jr at 2nd for the final out of the inning! pic.twitter.com/IIcBKTyyJG

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2022

Great as Michael Kay was with the quip tonight, there are far better places for the Yankees to celebrate than the Rogers Centre. Maybe sharing a drink around the CN Tower would be fun? Or just walking down Spadina Avenue and through Chinatown has options aplenty.

But for now, the Yankees can celebrate in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s house. The champagne is flowing and the happiness is infectious. Hopefully, Aaron Judge and the guys can get some Molsons, LaBatts, and a healthy serving of late night poutine in them. They’ve certainly earned it.

As for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Well, it sure was nice of him to let the New York Yankees celebrate winning what’s also his division. And in his very own house too!.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: WATCH: Michael Kay roasts Vlad Guerrero Jr. following Yankees’ clinching win | Elite Sports NY

OSWALDO CABRERA!#YANKSonYES LIVE: https://t.co/aRu5PF6QsA pic.twitter.com/i26fElLxm8

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 21, 2022

Yankees super-utility man Oswaldo Cabrera gave New York an early lead with a first inning grand slam home run off of Roansy Contreras. It was the Yankees’ second grand slam in seven plate appearances, following Giancarlo Stanton’s walk-off blast on Tuesday.

The Yankees lead the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 as Aaron Judge continues his quest for his 61st home run of the year.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: WATCH: Oswaldo Cabrera slugs grand slam to give Yankees 4-0 lead | Elite Sports NY

However, Judge did more than just give New York (and Boston) something to remember on his march towards history. After tying the game 4-4 in the eighth inning with his second homer, Judge inadvertently high-fived a fan sitting by the Yankee dugout.

A high five from @TheJudge44 made her day. pic.twitter.com/5tHKU6hi3H

— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2022

Chad Jennings of The Athletic later identified the young fan as 19-year-old Cecilia Jacobs, a Brown University student from Manhattan. She was invited to the game last minute, and the rest is history. Of the event, she said she “was in disbelief.”

This is a baseball memory in its purest form. No piece of memorabilia trumps getting high-fived by the surefire American League MVP. An Aaron Judge high-five isn’t valuable. It’s priceless.

Think of the memories we make at baseball games. Maybe we witness a game that’s later remembered as a classic. Perhaps we catch a foul ball off the bat of our favorite player, or get their autograph. Catching a home run ball, throwing it back if someone from the other team hit it.

A high-five, though? Unheard of. The insane levels of security at a baseball game alone almost prevent that from happening. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get a handshake, fist bump, or even a high-five after a player signs an autograph.

But slapping five after watching Aaron Judge continue his march to history and knocking on Roger Maris’ door even louder is a special experience. It’s probably enough for Jacobs to say she’ll never wash that hand again (Please do, Cecilia).

Hopefully, Judge uses this special moment with a fan to keep his Yankees playing well for the rest of the season.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: WATCH: Aaron Judge high-fives fan by Yankees dugout | Elite Sports NY

On top of playing stellar defense in right field again, the switch-hitting rookie snapped a long hitless streak. In the 12th inning, after Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s RBI single tied the game, Cabrera worked his own magic with the bat. He drilled a walk-off RBI single to left field through Minnesota’s drawn-in infield.

osWaldo cabrera

The @Yankees take game 1 of the double-header with a walk-off single in the 12th

(via @Yankees) pic.twitter.com/gT26aGOkZD

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 7, 2022

The Yankees won the first game 5-4. Gerrit Cole will take the mound when they go for the sweep in the second.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: WATCH: Oswaldo Cabrera walks Yankees off in the 12th inning | Elite Sports NY

Manager Aaron Boone informed media during his pregame appearance that the former All-Star closer was going on the injured list. The reason? Chapman has an infected tattoo.

Chapman is going on the IL with an infection in his leg, Boone said. It stemmed from getting a tattoo.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) August 27, 2022

Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated added the Yankees wouldn’t make any corresponding moves. Clay Holmes should return from his own IL stint in a few days.

It’s certainly an interesting move on New York’s end, particularly since Chapman hasn’t pitched in a while. He last appeared in the Yankees’ 4-0 loss to Toronto on Aug. 19. Chapman faced four batters and, despite a recent string of strong outings, notably struggled with command.

Which is why we’re going to call this trip to the IL exactly what it is: an excuse. Perhaps the Yankees finally realized Chapman’s hot and cold nature isn’t worth it anymore. There’s just over a month left in the season and he hasn’t had a clear role since May. How and why should the Yankees trust him with getting outs in the playoffs?

Not to mention, think about why Aroldis Chapman is going on the injured list. Anyone who’s had at least one tattoo knows the importance of recovery and upkeep for the ensuing week. Clean it with warm water and odorless antibacterial soap, and Aquafor throughout the day to stave off infection.

In case you missed it, Aroldis Chapman has plenty of ink. Any Google search will show the extensive work he’s had done. There’s no way he’s unaware of this. Moreover, he’s truly an idiot if he’s ignored the recovery routine and gotten lucky for this long.

This is a long overdue ending to a dragged-out story. Barstool’s Eric Hubbs even wondered if Chapman would be designated for assignment after being on the shelf for over a week. He won’t be, but this convenient trip to the IL might as well be the same thing. Remember, Holmes’ back injury was probably just some rest, as is Nestor Cortes’ recent groin strain.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees send Aroldis Chapman to IL with infected leg | Elite Sports NY

Yankees starter Nestor Cortes is expected to go on the IL with a groin strain, sources tell The Athletic. Reliever Greg Weissert will be called up to join the team in Oakland. https://t.co/mptVpUuiFE

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) August 25, 2022

Cortes was one of the Yankees’ surprises of the year as he continued his breakout following last year. He is 9-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 23 starts and had recently rebounded after running into some fatigue issues. In a corresponding move, the Yankees called up reliever Greg Weissert, who has a 1.76 ERA and 13.1 K/9 at Triple-A Scranton.

Joel Sherman of the Post added that Cortes is not expected to be out long and should return for the stretch run in September. In the meantime, Clarke Schmidt is likely to take Cortes’ turn in the rotation.

This means that on the whole, the Yankees shouldn’t worry about losing Nestor Cortes. If this is even an injury at all, we had to figure the Yankees would try to cap his innings at some point. He’s already at a career-high 131 frames.

More importantly, it’s time to see just what Clarke Schmidt’s future with the Yankees holds. There’s going to be at least one opening in the starting rotation next year and he can easily fill it. Schmidt is 5-2 with a 2.18 ERA in 17 MLB appearances this year. He also owns a 3.55 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in eight starts at Scranton.

If he performs well in Nasty Nestor’s absence, he might have a job for next year. If not, he’s either bullpen-bound or traded. Plus, Luis Severino will be back soon and help offset losing Nestor Cortes even more.

Thus, the Yankees’ pitching staff is in pretty good shape as they head out on a 10-game road trip. Schmidt should see his first turn in the rotation during the four-game weekend tilt with the Oakland A’s.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees send Nestor Cortes to injured list with groin strain | Elite Sports NY

Neither win was pretty, but the Yankees toughed out each win almost with ease. They hold an eight-game lead in the AL East and proved they can keep up with this juggernaut Steve Cohen-sponsored Mets team.

Make no mistake, this very much could have been a World Series dress rehearsal. This time, however, the Mets weren’t the team that swept two games in Queens.

Some takeaways:

Court is back in session. Aaron Judge broke out of his nine-game power outage and slugged two home runs in the series, including a 453-foot bomb on Tuesday. Judge also had a clutch RBI single to extend his team’s lead, once again reminding everyone he’s the hands-down American League MVP.

Back to basics. When the Yankees faced Max Scherzer in Queens last month, it was clear the lineup was waiting for him to make a mistake. That didn’t work out so well as Mad Max shut the Bronx Bombers down for seven innings.

On Monday, however, the Yankees were more aggressive and took the fight to Scherzer early. They did the same to Taijuan Walker the following day and only drew five total walks in the two games. Clearly, hitting coach Dillon Lawson reminded the hitters that the focus should be on making hard contact, not waiting out for a big hit. With a soft set of games ahead, the Yankees need to take this approach to heart.

The Yankees pitching is back. #YankeesTwitter was up in arms when Jordan Montgomery tossed a one-hit shutout for the Cardinals, and on 99 pitches. They must have missed Domingo German basically shutting the Mets down. Frankie Montas also finally had a strong start in a Yankees uniform, feeding into the series’ October energy.

Luis Severino is also on track to return soon, so the Yankees have options. However Aaron Boone decides to set his rotation for this final stretch, he certainly is playing with house money.

It’s tuneup time. The Yankees have won three in a row for the first time in nearly a month. Now, it’s time to see if they can keep extending the streak. Their next seven games are on the road against the lowly Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels. Both teams were swept at Yankee Stadium in May and have since fallen far out of the playoff picture.

The Yankees also get Giancarlo Stanton back Thursday, and we all see how much the lineup has missed him. New York can easily right the ship and close out the season on a high note, so these very winnable games are fairly important.

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Manager Aaron Boone told media the former MVP still doesn’t have a return date. However, he has resumed some baseball activities.

Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles) has a “full baseball day” of activities planned at Yankee Stadium, Aaron Boone said. He has not yet run the bases.

Still no timetable on his return. Stanton may need to play in rehab games, Boone said.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 12, 2022

Stanton has been out with Achilles tendinitis for three weeks. He also missed time with a calf strain in the first half. He’s batting .228 with 24 home runs and 61 RBI on the year and was reportedly “exhausted” heading into the All-Star Break.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton was injury prone long before coming to New York in 2018. He’s only played in 140 or more games four times in 13 years. Brian Cashman knew exactly what he was getting when he took on the man and his enormous contract.

Speaking of which, Stanton has five years and $150 million left on the contract and he’s making $29 million this year. He’s averaged just over 83.5 games a year since putting on the pinstripes. New York has gone 5-10 in his recent absence and, despite being in first place, looks far from a championship team.

The schedule is tougher now, with the Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, and Mets scheduled for the next week-plus. Surely, the Yankees would love nothing more than for Stanton’s baseball activities to go well and he can soon run the bases again. It’d be even better if he could avoid a rehab assignment in the minors.

In the meantime, we just wait for Giancarlo Stanton to return at full force yet again. And maybe debate the size of that contract, too.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton still has no timetable for return | Elite Sports NY

Two hours later, it was hard to not feel at least a little bit underwhelmed since the show once again covered subjects most people, at least us Yankees folk, already knew. Yet, not all was lost as we finally saw a real piece of the legend’s own humanity.

For example, we all know Derek Jeter deserved to win the 2006 AL MVP trophy over Minnesota’s Justin Morneau. However, we now saw The Post’s Joel Sherman implied he voted for Morneau. Why? Because the Yankee captain didn’t put his arm around Alex Rodriguez and end the drama with his teammate once and for all.

Looking at how close the vote was, Sherman easily could have cost Jeter his last real chance at being an MVP.

#YankeesTwitter, of course, reacted accordingly:

Joel Sherman said Jeter didn’t win an MVP because he wasn’t ARod’s best friend

This dude is such trash man

— Barry (Aaron Judge enjoyer) (@YanksBar) August 5, 2022

Joel Sherman not voting for Derek Jeter for MVP in ‘06 because he didn’t embrace A-Rod enough Is incredible. How much of a loser can you be?

— Treyski (@WizzyWonka) August 5, 2022

Did Joel Sherman basically just admit to Jeter not getting AL MVP in 2006 because he didn’t protect A-Rod???

— yankees in 4 #RE2PECT (@re2pectallrise) August 5, 2022

But what we learned in the aftermath makes complete sense: Jeter let Rodriguez be because satisfying the press was just another distraction from winning.

This viewpoint applies to every Jeter tabloid story. The gift baskets were highly exaggerated. So much that Jeter claims a random fan approached him in a Starbucks to brag how the star shortstop inspired to send dates home with them.

Jeter’s response: “You’re an idiot.”

Because this was more than just bothering the notoriously private man in public. It was another thing for him to worry about that wasn’t helping the Yankees win. It makes one realize just how much Derek Jeter must have appreciated winning the 2009 World Series.

Speaking of, it was surprising to see how much of a footnote 2009 was in the grand scheme. Episode 5 begins with the terrible, awful, no-good, very bad 2004 ALCS. There’s more A-Rod drama. The Yankees aren’t really a team anymore because, as Gary Sheffield noted, some always felt like outsiders from the Core Four. Don’t forget the soap opera over Jeter potentially switching positions.

And yet, the perfect combination of free agency, trades, and a desire to win let the Core Four stand tall one more time in 2009.

All this to say, perhaps Derek Jeter is human after all. It took until well into the latter half of Episode 6, but fans now have an idea of Derek Jeter the man. Not just the Hall of Fame baseball player.

We can now understand how infuriating his free agency negotiations after 2010 were. No matter how Brian Cashman spins it, the Yankees have rarely treated their aging veterans well. Just ask Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada, both of whom were unceremoniously pushed out as they declined. Or Brett Gardner, who’s still waiting for a call.

The fact is despite his godlike status in baseball, Jeter is still human. He has emotions and feelings, some of which he kept to himself for the sake of not being a distraction. We saw the anger from free agency negotiations morph. The borderline depression while recovering from a broken ankle, as detailed by his wife Hannah.

Six episodes later, and “The Captain” finally seems to have delivered as advertised. We long knew about Jeter the baseball player. Now, after a two-hour collage of slices of life as opposed to a fluid story, we know a little bit more about Derek Jeter the man.

And next week, as the series closes with what will certainly be Jeter’s retirement tour, perhaps it will all come full circle.

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FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: ‘The Captain’ episodes 5-6 review: Derek Jeter is human after all | Elite Sports NY

Except these aren’t normal circumstances. New York continued its stretch of sloppy and inconsistent play, losing two of three to last-place Cincinnati. Between Clay Holmes’ improbable meltdown on Tuesday and Thursday’s extra-innings drama, one could even say the Reds stole their two wins in the series just as the rival Red Sox stole two in last weekend’s four-game set.

None of this means the Yankees are in rough shape. They still own a healthy 13-game lead over the second-place Rays in the AL East. Moreover, New York still has the best record in baseball, at 62 wins compared to just 27 losses.

But this series was absolutely a reality check for the Bronx Bombers. A gut punch. Getting a cold, hard slap across the face by a hand that’s just been soaking in ice water.

Guess what? The Yankees can be the best team in baseball and still have serious flaws all at once, even if we’re only seeing some first-half fatigue set in right now. Looking at the last few games, it’s clear the lineup is having a harder time finding base hits and relying instead on walks and home runs. Opposing teams have also started to figure out how to beat the Yankees’ still-elite pitching.

And even if this is just a blip on the radar, a microcosm in the grand scheme of the 162-game season, the timing of it is still just awful. The Red Sox visit Yankee Stadium this weekend to close out the first half and have Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Sale fresh off the injured list and ready to pitch. Forget the Rays just sweeping them over four games; Boston is still a good team.

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, they win this series. The non-All-Star Yankees then get three days off before coming back for:

• A Thursday doubleheader with the tough Astros

• A weekend series with the suddenly red-hot, over .500 (but still last place) Orioles

• The first two games of the Subway Series with the Mets.

This isn’t a weekend series and then the All-Star Break for the Yankees, who are 4-6 in their last ten games. This is running the gauntlet with a brief reprieve in between particular rounds.

Again, the Yankees aren’t in trouble (yet) and this likely isn’t the beginning of the end. No one expects perfection from this team. As we’ve discussed before, all that is expected is baseball and for it to be played to the high standard for which this team is known. They just need to be focused, strong, and most importantly, be the Yankees.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees get a wake-up call: They’re mortal after all | Elite Sports NY

Unlike the series with the Cubs last weekend, this sweep was hard-fought. Every game was low-scoring and neither team was particularly dominant at the plate. The Yankees just got the timely hits when they needed them.

Pitching was on full display. Not even losing Luis Severino to a last minute sickness derailed the Yankees. This was an important series and the team played like it knew it would win it the whole time.

Some takeaways:

Pitching is power. Another series gone, another series where the Yankees still finish with the best pitching in the league. New York’s arms own a 2.81 ERA and shined bright this series, with Gerrit Cole and his six shutout innings on Tuesday leading the way.

Nestor Cortes also rebounded from his clunker in Minnesota and still owns a sub-2 ERA. Best of all, Clarke Schmidt pitched three scoreless frames in an emergency start and Ryan Weber added 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen on Thursday. The Yankees’ pitching is otherworldly this year, and the Rays just learned this the hard way.

The Rays have no answers. To use a poker term, the Rays are fully on tilt. Gone is the focused, technically and tactically disciplined team that practically ran away with the division the last two years. Instead, Tampa Bay looks as though it’s trying to will itself into contention again.

The Rays made three errors in the series and are tied for being the fifth-worst-fielding team in baseball after being a top-10 team two of the last three years. They’re batting just .232 as a team and own the seventh-worst scoring offense in MLB. To add insult to injury, they now sit third in the AL East and 12 games behind the Yankees.

Toronto will be harder to beat. The Yankees were, hands down, the better team versus the Rays this week. Yet, next comes a key three-game series against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The Yankees have dominated Toronto all year, but only averaged four hits a game against the Rays.

That won’t be enough against a Jays team that ranks second in MLB in batting average and knows how to score runs in a hurry. New York’s strong pitching won’t be enough. The bats need be better about putting the ball in play and not letting Toronto run the table.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Yankees-Rays takeaways: Tampa Bay has no answers; pitching leads way | Elite Sports NY

From a handful of regular season classics to a full volume of playoff matchups, these two teams know each other well. Unfortunately for the Twins, the rivalry is very much one-sided. Since 2002, the Twins are 34-110 against the Yankees.

To add insult to injury, the Twins’ last playoff victory came at Yankee Stadium in Game 4 of the 2004 ALDS. Is it really even a rivalry anymore if Minnesota serves as the Yankees’ glorified punching bag?

The answer is a resounding yes. Because putting aside the Yankees’ dominance of them, the Twins often put out legit teams. Just look at Wednesday night’s game, when they beat New York 8-1 and made Nestor Cortes look mortal.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the most epic moments of the Yankees-Twins rivalry.

David Wells’ perfect game

Every Yankees fan remembers where they were on May 17, 1998. Some watched at home, some listened on the radio. Others, my then-12-year-old self included, were lucky to be in attendance. Wells, despite claiming to be hung over, carved up the Twins’ lineup in a 4-0 victory. Pat Meares popped out to Paul O’Neill, we all roared, and then went home with Yankees Beanie Babies as a rememberence.

Godzilla takes New York

Few remember just how big a deal it was when Hideki Matsui came to the Yankees from Japan. He was a .304 lifetime hitter with 332 home runs in ten years with the Yomiuri Giants, and now he had Yankee Stadium’s friendly confines at his disposal. The Twins were the Yankees’ Opening Day opponent and the man they called “Godzilla” took advantage. In the fifth inning, Joe Mays hung a curveball and paid accordingly.

A grand slam as his first MLB homer later, Hideki Matsui was officially a Yankee.

Jason Giambi walks it off

The Yankees landing Jason Giambi in 2002 was something of a free agency coup, but he got off to a streaky start in pinstripes. All was forgiven when the Twins came to visit the Bronx on May 17, 2002. It was a hard-fought game, with the Twins leading 12-9 in the 14th inning. Giambi came up to face Mike Trombley with the bases loaded and one out, and then hit a long grand slam into the rainy night.

“The Catch”

This game is barely three years old and is still a classic. Juiced balls were on full display that humid summer evening at Target Field, as the Yankees and Twins changed leads left and right. Aaron Hicks not only had a clutch home run in the game, but ended it with this glorious catch. The Twins left the bases loaded, and Hicks hasn’t really done much as a Yankee since.

Didi “Wild Card” Gregorius

The 2017 AL Wild Card Game was an emotional roller coaster for Yankees fans. The Twins marched into New York and tagged alleged ace Luis Severino for three runs in the first inning, knocking him out of the game. Fortunately for the Yankees, pitching wasn’t Minnesota’s strong point. Didi Gregorius’ timely three-run shot tied the game in the first inning, and the Yankees ultimately won 8-4.

The Metrodome says farewell

Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS was pretty cut and dry. The Yankees beat the Twins 4-1 to complete the three-game sweep and move on to the ALCS, but this game also marked the end of an era. It was the final baseball game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the Twins had called home for almost 30 years. The Yankees won the game, but the Twins certainly won the moment when closer Joe Nathan walked out to the mound and took some dirt as a keepsake.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Top moments of Yankees-Twins rivalry: Perfection, walk-offs, more | Elite Sports NY

“I could almost make it to Bern’s.” – Aaron Boone, on the #Yankees’ two-hour, 23-minute win @bernssteakhouse

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 28, 2022

Talk about expensive taste, right? Bern’s, according to its Twitter, is “a Tampa legend, 66 years in the making,” and James Beard gave the restaurant its “Outstanding Wine Award” in 2016.

Lucky for Boone, whomever runs Bern’s Twitter clearly doesn’t mind the Yankees just took two from the Rays.

@AaronBoone we are open until 11 #bernsway #raysup https://t.co/h5T96o1EAn

— Bern's Steak House (@bernssteakhouse) May 28, 2022

The bigger question, what does Aaron Boone order on a steak night? Looking at Bern’s menu, he’s got options aplenty. If he’s feeling extra fancy, as he should with a 6.5-game lead in the division, maybe oysters are in order. For a subtler evening, maybe the crab cake or a simple shrimp cocktail.

But what is Aaron Boone’s steak cut of choice? Does he like the richness of the filet mignon or a classic strip? Or does he throw everyone a curveball and roll with a Delmonico? Maybe the man goes full Ron Swanson and gets a porterhouse, and nobody would blame him if he did.

Here’s the million-dollar question: do known wine aficionados Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon join Boone at what sounds like an epic table for three? Taillon just tossed eight scoreless innings so if there’s anyone who deserves a great steak, it’s him.

Not to mention, every steak entree at Bern’s comes with french onion soup, a house salad with choice of dressing, a baked potato with the works, onion rings, and Bern’s “Vegetable of the Evening.”

Aaron Boone deserves this with how his team has performed, so hopefully he made it to Bern’s before 11.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch a flight to Tampa and see about a steak.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Aaron Boone deserved a Bern’s Steak after beating the Rays | Elite Sports NY

On top of a solo home run, Trevino also had game-tying and winning RBI singles.

Jose Trevino with his second of the year! Yankees stretch their lead to 2-0!

Watch on YES and stream it LIVE with the YES app: https://t.co/0cgHA8Q6LU pic.twitter.com/sGyu3pIHah

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 25, 2022

THE JOSE TREVINO GAME! WE'RE TIED! pic.twitter.com/ljfLGvznAz

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 25, 2022

It's Jose Trevino's world and we're just living in it!! The Yankees catcher walks it off in the 11th! pic.twitter.com/CPJRWtHydX

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 25, 2022

Trevino, who the Yankees acquired from Texas Rangers late in spring training, has been running hot. He’s safely hit in his last five games and is batting .444 through that stretch. Ironically, four of those five games have come against Baltimore.

Suddenly Kyle Higashioka and his seven spring training home runs are a distant memory. Gerrit Cole’s former personal catcher crashed back down to earth and is batting .154 with no home runs.

Trevino, on the other hand, is thriving. His hot streak has pumped his batting average up to .246. Even if his strong run of late is just that, he’s still more than making up for it with his defense. He’s in the 100th percentile when it comes to pitch framing and has an elite strike rate of 54.6%.

And yet, because hitting is king, #YankeesTwitter is rife with fans who’d love to trade for Cubs backstop Willson Contreras.

Granted, Contreras is batting .258 with five home runs and has more consistent pop in his bat. He’s more consistent at making hard contact and could prove a more effective version of Gary Sanchez. Unfortunately, his framing is in the 14th percentile and his strike rate is just 43.2%.

Sounds like why the Yankees traded Gary Sanchez for Josh Donaldson to begin with, right?

Trevino, meanwhile, has done exactly what the Yankees need of him: have competitive at-bats and provide elite defense. Unless Higashioka’s bat suddenly heats up, it’s clear who New York’s starting catcher should be.

To quote the great poet Eminem, Trevino has been given one shot, one opportunity to seize everything he’s ever wanted, and captured it. In the blink of an eye, he went from probably getting cut by the Rangers to regular playing time in New York.

And seeing as how prospect Austin Wells is probably at least two years away from being ready, there’s no reason to not keep Trevino around. The defense is elite, he works well with the pitching staff, and seems a genuinely well-liked teammate.

Trevino may not be the franchise catcher the Yankees deserve. However, he’s certainly the one they need right now.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Jose Trevino is catcher Yankees need right now | Elite Sports NY

Or, should I say, no-hit? The Mets did indeed throw a combined no-hitter against the Phillies, with Pete Alonso’s solo home run a guest star.

Tylor Megill carried the load for the Mets through five innings, walking three and striking out five. 88 pitches later, the bullpen took over. Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, Seth Lugo, and Edwin Diaz carried it the rest of the way and worked around some walks.

In the end, Diaz made it look easy when he fanned Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and JT Realmuto all in order.

The win puts the Mets at 15-6 on the year, the best record in MLB. Only the crosstown rival New York Yankees trail them.

The Yankees may own New York on history alone, but there’s no doubt that the Mets are the top story in the game this year. New owner Steve Cohen’s aggressive spending on Max Scherzer and Starling Marte has paid off. New old-school manager Buck Showalter has walked into the locker room, commanded respect, and the Mets are playing their best baseball in years.

And, just so everyone’s aware, two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom still hasn’t returned from his shoulder injury. Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, and Chris Bassitt have carried the rotation in his absence. His looming opt-out suddenly doesn’t seem so pressing, does it?

The season isn’t even a month old and anything can happen. But these New York Mets are different. They’re serious this time, focused, and ready for a race to the finish line.

Let’s hope the Yankees, in the midst of their own hot streak, are paying attention. New York baseball is back on the map, and we can all thank the New York Mets.

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: Mets throw combined no-hitter, beat Phillies 3-0 | Elite Sports NY

The team’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday was overshadowed quickly after Gleyber Torres laced a single to right. Cameras caught fans throwing garbage at Cleveland’s outfielders, so much that Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton left the celebration to put a stop to it.

YANKEES WALK IT OFF

A HUGE 9th inning, and Gleyber Torres shuts down the Guardians in the Bronx!

Postgame coming up next! pic.twitter.com/O1R8Kak8CK

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 23, 2022

What an ugly, ugly display of poor winning. For some added context, this was just a few minutes after the Guardians had an injury scare. Rookie outfielder Steven Kwan crashed into the left field wall after Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s double tied the game 4-4. He was clearly evaluated for a concussion but stayed in the game.

Granted, cameras also caught Myles Straw climbing the wall and chirping at some fans, but that’s not an excuse. That’s the first rule of going to any sporting event: don’t mess with the action on the field.

Myles Straw climbs up to have a word with a fan after Steven Kwan runs into the left field wall. #ForTheLand

pic.twitter.com/Qj52ooaW4L

— Grant (@bronkema_grant) April 23, 2022

As my cousin’s favorite insult goes, these fans are clown shoes. Seriously, there is no reason for this to happen at any baseball game under any circumstances. Should Myles Straw have been the bigger person and kept his mouth shut too? Probably, but he was protecting his teammate. If Kwan was catching crap for almost suffering a serious injury, maybe Straw needed to say something.

You know what hurts the most about this? This was a great game. Nestor Cortes had another ace-like outing. Josh Donaldson had his first Yankee Stadium home run. Kiner-Falefa continued his hot streak and raised his batting average to .298. Gleyber Torres’s perfect swing won the game.

But no, nobody will ever talk about that. We’ll remember how the Yankees won the game, fans threw beer at the Guardians outfield, and the whole team needed to sprint to the outfield to stop the fracas.

A shameful end indeed.

This is amazing audio. John Sterling calls the Yankees walk off win like it’s Game 7 of the World Series and then GOES OFF on the “hooligans” who threw stuff at Cleveland players. pic.twitter.com/ZNv9U5y6mZ

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 23, 2022

FOR FULL STORY ON STANDARD WEBSITE: ‘Hooligans!’ Yankees fans throw garbage, John Sterling goes ballistic | Elite Sports NY