The Basement View

  For the first time in the Bronx in the new 2025 season, last night felt like a big game. Following the Yankee bullpen implosion the night before, both teams sent their Opening Day starters to the mound, and the two lineups were hot going into the contest, it felt like an extremely early test. And the Yankees barely failed that test. Last night was the full Carlos Rodon experience. Around baseball there are certain marks set by pitchers that have nicknames. Like a complete game where the pitcher throws under 100 pitches is called a “Maddux” after Greg Maddux. Nathan Eovaldi just did that earlier in the week against the Cincinnati Reds. Or a deGrom, named after Jacob deGrom, where a pitcher throws seven plus innings allows two or fewer runs and their team still loses the game. Hunter Greene had that happen to him the day after Eovaldi threw his “Maddux.” Well last night in the Bronx was a “Rodon.” A game where a pitcher throws six or more innings, gives up four plus runs, including...

  Aaron Boone gave Yankee fans their own special April Fool’s Day prank. It came in the form of his bullpen usage against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Look, I get it, the reason why the Yankee bullpen fell a part in the 8 th inning was because Tim Hill simply didn’t have it last night. That’s the reason why Mark Leiter Jr had to be a fireman against Arizona. And the reason why Tim Hill was ushered into action in the 8 th inning was because closer Devin Williams was placed on the paternity list yesterday afternoon and the Yankee bullpen was in such dire straits, they had to sign familiar face Adam Ottavino to fill out the 26-man roster. However, it is a questionable decision on Boone’s part as to why Luke Weaver wasn’t the second guy out of the pen after Hill or even the man to take care of the 8 th inning from the start. Going into the top of the 8 th Arizona was sending up their eight, nine, and one in their order. However, the Diamondbacks had an ace in the hole on the bench, Ra...