RAB Thoughts

RAB’s Midseason Grades for the 2025 Yankees

At 53-43, the Yankees entered the All-Star break two games behind the Blue Jays in the loss column and four games up on a Wild Card spot. They have baseb...

July 11th, 2025: Mariners Series, Infield, Schlittler, Bullpen, 2025 Draft, Mailbag

UPDATE: Carlos Rodón is heading to the All-Star Game. He was added to the roster to replace Max Fried, who I guess won't be available to pitch Tuesday after starting tomorrow afternoon's game. Too bad. Fried pitching in (maybe ev...

Quick thoughts after the Yankees DFA DJ LeMahieu

In a move that had to happen, the Yankees DFAed DJ LeMahieu this afternoon. Sounds like Jorbit Vivas will come up to fill the roster spot. The Yankees mo...

July 8th, 2025: Bellinger, Bullpen, Schlittler, Candelario

Max Fried and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will join Aaron Judge at the All-Star Game next week. Fried was a lock. I figured missing a month would take Jazz out of the running, but there are like 2.5 good infielders in the AL right now, so he made it. Fried ...

Quick thoughts as Clarke Schmidt likely needs Tommy John surgery

UPDATE: 2025-07-05 18:31:18 +0000 UTC View Post

July 4th, 2025: Blue Jays Series, Judge, Schmidt, Mailbag

Heads up: It will likely be a short post Tuesday. It’s Fourth of July weekend, plus the week after next will be very busy between midseason grades, the draft, and whatever else. Then the trade deadline is two weeks after that. I’m gonna take i...

July 1st, 2025: Blue Jays, Schmidt, Gil, Grisham, Cruz

The “should the Yankees demote Jasson Domínguez?” poll is closed and two-thirds of you responded no. I’m among the no votes. There’s just no ...

2025 Yankees’ Trade Deadline Primer: Needs, Trade Chips, Possible Targets

The trade deadline is 6pm ET on Thursday, July 31st, so four weeks and three days away. The Yankees have a home getaway day against the Rays that afterno...

June 27th, 2025: Offense, Chisholm, Mailbag

UPDATE: Our recent run of excellently timed nuggets and mailbag questions continues: Andy Martino reports Spencer Jones is being promoted ...

June 24th, 2025: Schmidt, Warren, Chisholm, Yarbrough, Winans

On this date in 1962, the Yankees played the longest game in franchise history, a 9-7 win over the Tigers in 22 innings. Here’s the box score...

Poll: Should the Yankees send Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A?

The outfield logjam has not taken care of itself. In a miracle of miracles, the Yankees have stayed healthy on the position player side other than poor O...

June 20th, 2025: Angels Series, Stanton, Rice, Bullpen, Mailbag

Earlier this week the Lakers were sold to Mark Walter, lead owner of the...

June 17th, 2025: Devers Trade, All-Star Festivities

UPDATE: Good timing today. MLB just announced that Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and Joe Torre will be on Aaron Boone's All-Star Game coaching staff. Torre has spent more time around the Yankees in Spring Training in recent years...

June 16th, 2025: Red Sox Series

Twenty years ago yesterday George Steinbrenner and the Yankees officially announced plans for the new Yankee Stadium. The financing, the site, all that was finalized. The wheels were put into motion. I definitely miss parks of the old ballpark. Th...

June 13th, 2025: Royals Series, Stanton, Mailbag

The Old Timers’ Game will return this year. Bob Klapisch says it will be a softball game, ...

June 10th, 2025: Red Sox Series, Chisholm, Bullpen, Prospects

UPDATE: The Yankees announced Giancarlo Stanton is starting a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset today. That's a nice surprise. I'm not sure how many rehab games he'll need, but he's been taking live at-bats in Tampa for over...

June 6th, 2025: Chisholm, Rodón, Goldschmidt, Mailbag

Aaron Judge is 2-for-2 in AL Player of the Months this year. He won it for April, and earlier this week, it was announced he won it for May as well. I thought the May award would go to Cal Raleigh, but Judge it is. The captain hit .364/.453/.798 (...

June 3rd, 2025: Dodgers Series, Chisholm, Cruz, Domínguez, Weaver, Pitching Staff, Homers, Volpe

On this date in 2003, George Steinbrenner named Derek Jeter the 11th captain in Yankees’ history, and the first since Don Mattingly. The timing was odd. It wasn’t just that it happened in the middle of the season, it happened with the Yankees ...

May 30th, 2025: Angels Series, Yarbrough, Bullpen, Mailbag

The Yankees played their 54th game of the season Tuesday night, so the season is officially one-third plus one game complete. I give them an "A" for the season to date. They’re not perfect, no team is, but the Yankees are damn good, and I think ...

May 26th, 2025: Rockies Series, Domínguez, Hill, Quarter-Century Team

Nothing official yet, but it looks like the 2027 All-Star Game will go to Wrigley Field. The Cubs last hosted the All-S...

May 23rd, 2025: Domínguez, Warren, Pitching Staff, Mailbag

Four years and two days ago, the Yankees turned a ninth inning 5-4-3 triple play against the White Sox. It was the first of three triple plays in a month’s time (vid...

May 19th, 2025: Subway Series, Bellinger, Loáisiga, LeMahieu, Prospects

It feels like Name That Yankee is almost hostile toward viewers now. Like the YES Network folks heard people complaining, didn’t like it, and made it even harder. It was Kevin Elster (17 games as a Yankee) on Friday and Stan Jefferson (10 games ...

May 16th, 2025: Cabrera, Rice, Extra Innings, Grisham, Mailbag

I did not need another reason to detest Rob Manfred, but he gave me one ...

May 12th, 2025: Domínguez, Warren, Bullpen, Goldschmidt, Yarbrough, Judge, Carrasco

Nestor Cortes, Wandy Peralta, and Luis Severino are three of my favorite Yankees’ pitchers of the Aaron Judge era, and they’ve combined to give up 22 runs in 6.2 innings against the Yankees this season. Good looking out, guys. The Yankees are ...

May 9th, 2025: Padres Series, Carrasco, Bellinger, Grisham, Mailbag

16 years and one day ago, Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup following his March hip surgery, and hit a home run on his first pitch of the season. Here’s the vide...

May 6th, 2025: Judge, Boone, Chisholm, Vivas, Volpe, Fried, Rodón, Domínguez, 2025 Draft, Lombard

Sorry today's post is late, I accidentally scheduled it for 6pm ET instead of 6am ET. My bad.

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The Yankees debuted an Austin Wells inspired breakfast burrito over the weekend (2025-05-06 11:12:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Two tickets available for tonight's game

I never do this, but I have two tickets I can't use for tonight's game. They're in Section 405, which is the upper deck in right field. Literally the last section at the end. If you want them, they're yours, no charge. Email me at RABmailb...