They said he was too small. They said he couldn’t make it. But Rudy didn’t quit—and in the end, he rose above every doubt. Every obstacle, every doubt, every ‘you can’t’—Rudy faced them all and still kept moving forward. That’s how you turn the impossible into victory. The world stacked against him, the odds never in his favor—but Rudy refused to quit. His perseverance became his triumph.
First and foremost, I see many people trying to paint the picture that Kyle Tucker is a lesser superior defender than Bellinger, and I honestly just don’t buy it. I do think that Tucker has been a bit inconsistent in that department, and Cody is the more versatile defender. However, I will argue here that he is not the best long-term fit, in my humble opinion. I don’t put too much stock into Tucker’s defensive numbers this year — he was injured, and he’s usually a solid defender. Bellinger is the better glove, but when you factor in offense, the gap is closer than many might think. Tucker isn’t a perfect fit either, but he’s two years younger and likely would’ve produced better offensive numbers than Bellinger if he had stayed healthy this year.
But the Yankees have a real decision to make here, and in my opinion, it’s not as easy as some people make it out to be. It’s not as simple as just giving Bellinger the contract he’s looking for and assuming everything will be fine — that he’ll stay healthy and productive for the entirety of a potential six- or seven-year deal.
The risk with Bellinger isn’t just about performance; it’s about durability. Over the past few years, he’s dealt with a dislocated shoulder that required surgery, a fractured fibula, hamstring issues, rib injuries, and most recently a fractured finger. These weren’t fluke incidents either — they’ve come at different times and in different ways, which makes it hard to trust that his body can consistently hold up over the long haul.
If you’re the Yankees, committing that kind of money and years to a player with that injury history — even one as talented as Bellinger — carries serious risk. You’re not just betting on his talent; you’re betting on his health, and that’s far from a guarantee.
Bellinger had a stronger season than he did with the Cubs, but Yankee Stadium likely played a significant role in his production. His Statcast numbers have been inconsistent over the past few years, which raises questions about whether he can maintain this level of performance without consistently hitting the ball hard.
The bigger question is whether the Yankees are willing to commit over $200 million to Bellinger if it comes to that. Like Tucker, he carries some injury risk. The market for both players could swing dramatically, and both come with uncertainties when it comes to long-term contracts.
One major red flag for both is their 2025 postseason performance. Bellinger went 6-for-28 (.214) with one home run, four RBIs, and an OPS of 651 in seven games. Tucker wasn’t much better, going 7-for-27 (.259) with one home run, one RBI, and an OPS of 745 in eight games. Bellinger’s low on-base and slugging numbers in the postseason suggest he struggles against elite pitching, while Tucker’s plate discipline is better, but his overall impact was still limited. Postseason performance is a crucial consideration when evaluating players for a team designed to compete at the highest level.
That said, Tucker is younger, more durable, and offers a higher on-base percentage along with more consistent offensive output. If the Yankees are looking for a player to build around as Judge eventually declines, Tucker seems like the safer, long-term option.
In conclusion, both players come with risks and have their strengths and weaknesses. While my bet would be on Bellinger returning, largely based on how this front office tends to operate, that doesn’t necessarily make him the better long-term fit.
Career comparison
CODY BELLINGER vs. KYLE TUCKER (Career through 2025)
The first Constantine movie was reviewed very harshly, but even review outlets like Rotten Tomatoes now are somewhat admitting that they were far too harsh with the movie. They now call Constantine one of the better movie adaptations of a comic book.
Brent Nongbri, an expert in early Christianity, has raised important points regarding the dating of P52. He expressed disagreement with Wes Huff’s remarks about P52, as Huff adhered to the traditional dating of the fragment. What, then, is the prevailing consensus regarding P52? Is Wes Huff incorrect to continue referencing the conventional dating perspectives for this fragment? Based on the views of other scholars, there remains a strong justification for maintaining the traditional dating of P52.
With that said, this is not me saying that you should side with the majority here and not listen to what Professor Brent has to say, but this is just simply me showing that there is more support for the traditional dating for P52 than what others who are not exposed to New Testament studies think. So now that we got that out of the way, who are these scholars who still hold to the traditional dating for P52?
Scholarly Perspectives on P52
Bart D. Erhman from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill still holds to the conventional dating for P52, which is 125-150 CE, and bases this partly on paleographic analysis. Erhman may be a scholar who challenges views about the New Testament, but it is important to still listen to what other scholars have to say about the fragment, even if they don’t hold the same views as others.
Born: Feb 9, 1914, Died: Feb 13, 2007 Bruce Metzger– A well-known and well-respected textual critic who taught at Princeton Theological University still held that P52 could be dated to the early second century. He stated in The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration, “One of the earliest fragments of New Testament that has come to light is a small scrap of a codex containing parts of John 18:31-33, 37-38. Acquired in 1920 in Egypt, it is now in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, England. Usually designated as P52, this fragment has been dated on palaeographical grounds to the first half of the second century (perhaps about A.D. 125).”
Eldon Jay Epp
Another well-respected scholar in the field of the New Testament, Eldon Jay Epp, supports the traditional dating of P52 (125–150 CE) but also stressed the importance of comparing it to other early papyri.
Daniel B Wallace– has argued that pushing P52 closer to a later date minimizes early assessments of P52 too much.
Pasquale Orsini and Willy Clarysse proposed a date for P52 between 125 and 150 but then updated their remarks and said a date range of 125 to 175 is more likely. They believe this date range is appropriate because the handwriting and script style align best with it. Their revised remarks on the fragment are based on further study of manuscripts, and paleography and other comparisons of contemporary texts from antiquity.
Larry Hurtado
While now deceased, another well-respected textual critic, Larry Hurtado, defended the second-century date for P52 right before his death. He noted that while paleographic dating can be an imprecise method at times, the fragment still probably dates to 125-150. He is also open to 150-200 but still supports the idea that P52 belongs in the second century. He bases this on his comparison of P52 with other early writings.
Peter Head– who interacted with Nongbri’s work, does not find a compelling reason to reject the second-century date for P52. However, agrees with Nongbri that a date range for P52 could be broader than what scholars like Bruce Megzter and CH Roberts thought. While he agrees with Nongbri cautious approach on a date range he does not agree that P52 does date to the third century. Nongbri B. Palaeography, Precision and Publicity: Further Thoughts on P.Ryl.iii.457 (P52). New Testament Studies. 2020;66(4):471-499. doi:10.1017/S0028688520000089
Michael J. Kruger– notes that “Nongbri rightly reminds us that paleographic dating is imprecise and that we should avoid being overly dogmatic about narrow date ranges. However, his conclusion that P52 could be from the third century does not follow from this general caution. The comparanda used by C.H. Roberts remain valid, and the handwriting of P52 is still best placed in the second century.”
— Michael J. Kruger, “P.Oxy. 5575: The Oldest Manuscript of the Four Gospels?”
P52 remains one of the most important fragments of the New Testament. Although some scholars still widely cite the traditional date range of 125 to 150, a broader date range of 125 to 250 has been proposed. Additionally, recent research suggests a narrower range of 125 to 200, though this is still debated. The dating of P52 remains a complex issue, partly due to the challenges associated with paleo graphic dating, which can be imprecise.
That said, paleographic analysis can still provide a reasonably accurate range when combined with other forms of evidence. While the traditional date range of P52 continues to be widely accepted, it remains a topic of ongoing scholarly discussion.
Some scholars argue that Nongbri’s criticism of the traditional dating of P52 is an important contribution to the ongoing debate within the academic community. However, they also contend that the evidence supporting a second-century date range still offers a more compelling case. Do you think the evidence still supports a 2nd century date for P52, or do you find the broader date range more convincing?
“Rylands Greek P 457, The St John Fragment, On display in the Rylands Gallery at John Rylands Library in Manchester, England.” Captions/photo courtesy of wikipedia.org.” “A reasonable date range for this fragment is AD 100- 200, and a few scholars even extend this range into the 200s. ” (Elijah Hixson, Myths and Mistakes in New Testament, textural criticism page 109 key takeaways. )
“There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition.”
Blaise Pascal
Some scholars, such as John Dominic Crossan, argue that Jesus was not afforded a proper burial, suggesting instead that he was likely discarded to be consumed by dogs after his crucifixion. This article will demonstrate that this interpretation is a significant oversimplification. The evidence supporting the notion of a proper burial for Jesus is robust, bolstered by archaeological findings and written sources that remain available to us. I will reference several sources that are not exclusively related to the gospels. These will include archaeological evidence and materials outside the New Testament. Notably, John Dominic Crossan is not alone in his perspective; Bart Ehrman has similarly adopted it.
Evidence #1 Written Sources
In the publication titled Jesus The Final Days, co-authored with N.T. Wright, Professor Craig A. Evans presents a scholarly examination of the Temple Scroll, which provides compelling insights regarding the treatment of deceased individuals, even those convicted of crimes. Evans articulates, “If an individual is deemed a traitor to his community and conspires with a foreign nation, thereby committing an act of treachery against his people, one is to execute him by hanging on a tree until death. Following the testimony of two or three witnesses, he shall face capital punishment, and these witnesses will be responsible for his execution. Furthermore, should an individual be found guilty of a capital offense and subsequently flee to foreign lands, cursing his people and the children of Israel, he is also to be hung on a tree until death. It is essential that the bodies are buried on the same day they are removed from the tree; they should not be left overnight. Anyone who is hanged on a tree is regarded as cursed by both God and humanity. However, it is important not to desecrate the land that is meant to be inherited. [Deut. 21:22-23]. (11QT 64:7-13a = 4Q524 frag. 14, lines 2-4, emphasis added
“Damaged fragments of the Temple Scroll are pieced together with surgical delicacy by Joseph “Dodo” Shenhav and Ruth Yekutieli of the Israel Museum. These fragments were part of a “wad,” a few pieces that had been separated recently from the main scroll.”Photo courtesy/captions by Yigael Yadin
Josephus/Talmud on burial in the ancient world
Professor Craig A. Evans emphasizes that Josephus lends credibility to the practice of proper burial. He notes, “Josephus’s perspective aligns with that articulated in Tobit. In outlining Jewish ethical obligations, Josephus asserts, ‘We must furnish fire, water, and food to all who ask for them, guide those who seek directions, and ensure that no corpse remains unburied [ataphon]; we should extend consideration even to declared enemies.’ (Against Apion 2.211; cf. 2.205). These written sources affirm the importance of proper burial in the ancient world, indicating that even criminals were accorded this respect. The Torah also underscores this duty, calling for prompt burial even for those condemned. As stated, ‘you shall surely bury him on that day’ (Devarim 21:23). This evidence reinforces the New Testament’s account regarding ancient burial customs, providing corroboration from outside its texts.
Evidence for proper burial found in the Archaeological World
We possess not only written sources that confirm a proper burial but also archaeological evidence to support this. Biblical archaeologist Vassilios Tzaferis notes, “The practice of crucifixion in antiquity was vividly illuminated when the heel bones of a young man named Yehohanan were discovered in a Jerusalem tomb, pierced by an iron nail. This finding provided new insights into Roman crucifixion methods and began to reshape our understanding of crucifixion in ancient times.”
Yehohanan Ossuary courtesy of Bibical Archaeology Staff.
Captions /Evans added emphasis on this
Vassilios Tzaferis elaborates further on the burial of Yehohanan, noting that approximately a year after Yehohanan’s crucifixion, his family reinterred his bones in a stone box and meticulously inscribed his name multiple times on the surface. One of the two inscriptions found on the long side of the ossuary reads “Yhwhnn bn howl,” translating to “Yehohanan, son of HGQWL.” While a definitive translation of Yehohanan’s father’s name remains elusive, it may be a variation of the name Ezekiel.
Evans provides additional context regarding this significant discovery. He notes that “the crucial find in 1968 of an ossuary (ossuary no. 4 in Tomb I at Giv’at ha-Mivtar) belonging to a Jewish man named Yehohanan, who had clearly been crucified, offers archaeological evidence and insight into the manner in which Jesus himself may have been crucified. The ossuary and its contents date to the late 20s AD, during the administration of Pilate, the very Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to the cross.”
In addition to this, Evan states, “The remains of an iron spike (11.5 cm in length) are seen still encrusted in the right heel bone (or calcaneum). Those who took down the body of Yehohanan were unable to remove the spike, with the result that a piece of wood (from an olive tree) remained affixed to the spike. Later, the skeletal remains of the body-spike, fragment of wood, and all-were placed in the ossuary. Forensic examination of the rest of the skeletal remains supports the view that Yehohanan was crucified with arms apart, hung from a horizontal beam or tree branch.
However, there is no evidence that his arms, or wrists, were nailed to this crossbeam. Additionally, Evans shares more insight on outside writings about crucifixion outside the the New Testament when he states “The lack of nails or spikes in the hands or wrists of Yehohanan is consistent with a reference in Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), who refers to rope being used in crucifixion (cf. Nat. Hist. 28.4). Nevertheless, it is recorded by others that many victims of crucifixion did have their hands or wrists nailed to the beam. Writing in the second century BC, Plautus refers to the crucifixion victim with “his arms and legs … double-nailed” (Mostellaria 359-61).” (Ps. Manetho, Apotelesmatica 4. 198-200). “One Latin inscription found in Pompeii reads, may you be nailed to the cross!”
Craig suggests that we may have uncovered the remains of Matthias, son of Judah. Specifically, on pages 121 and 122 of his book Jesus and the Remains of His Day, he references J. M. Grintz’s discussion of this discovery in the Israel Exploration Journal. According to Evans, Grintz concluded that “the inscription referred to none other than Antigonus, son of Aristobulus II, whose Hebrew name was Mattathias son of Judah.” Antigonus was the last Hasmonean ruler, defeated by Herod the Great in 37 BC. Grintz’s interpretation received further support from Nicu Haas later that same year, who characterized the skeletal remains as belonging to a tall man in his mid-twenties, which would have aligned with the age of Antigonus at his death. A recent study by Yoel Elitzur has further confirmed Grintz and Haas’s conclusions. It is likely that the ossuary and skeletal remains of the last Hasmonean prince have indeed been discovered.
This shows that we have more than one archaeological discovery that shows people were given a proper burial around that time. If one wants to question the ancient papyrus we have today, one must come forth with a more impressive hypothesis that is much better than the archaeological evidence we have today.
For further study, check out the Israel Exploration Journal (Volume 63), or you can read Mr. Craig Evan’s outline of it in his book Jesus and the Remains of his day. In addition, Evans notes what Has said about the remains of Antigonus, whose skeletal remains were still intact. Has states: “He was nailed to a cross (three nails, still bearing traces of human calcium, were recovered from the ossuary)40 and then (after passing out?) was beheaded, either with a sword or a very sharp ax.4)”
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
For further study on opposing views to Crossan and Erhman’s views, I recommend William Lang Craigs’s response to Professor Bart Erhman about burial practices in the ancient world. He offers a balanced discussion on this and shows not all were thrown to the dogs, and more people were given a proper burial, as shown in the archaeological evidence and written sources that have survived.
Should TikTok be banned? Many people believe TikTok is the main culprit of misinformation, but TikTok is a social media app where content creators can share videos with others and build communities while empowering the youth to stay fit. TikTok also helps businesses grow. Not only does banning TikTok hurt the communities who use it, but a TikTok ban would also create problems with trying to police the world when there is not enough security. For these reasons, TikTok should not be banned.
For example, Activist Evan Greer outlines a fundamental problem with banning TikTok: he thinks the United States government can not thoroughly monitor everyone watching TikTok videos or sharing videos with their friends any more than they can stop other people engaging in content like the TikTok platform. Secondly, a TikTok ban would harm companies that market their products on TikTok and companies who depend on TikTok as a large part of their revenues would be in total jeopardy. As evidenced by athletes like Jon Seaton who is signed to companies like EA and Fortnight. Seaton on these platforms earn money by engaging followers and turning them into fans. TikTok is important to Seaton because he has earned an estimated 250,000 off the platform, and as DJs on the platform like Madisen Beaty would say, TikTok is their most preferred platform. Content creators are even more afraid they will lose the audience they accumulated over the years.
Not only does TikTok help content creators grow their businesses, but it also helps build communities and empowers the youth to stay healthy. For example, many content creators enable people to seek out outdoor activities and eat healthily. Many TikTok creators offer meal plans and ways to avoid overeating, like fasting and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables that are not high in fat and calories. In addition to this, they provide information about how to reach your daily calorie intake consistently.
By doing this, people will not be too hungry and overeat and only eat the calories they need a day, providing them with the necessary energy for the whole day. In fact, Harvard Health mentions that you shouldn’t neglect the necessary calories you need for daily energy. TikTok is different from other platforms because most young people they target are more on TikTok than any other platform. TikTok also strongly emphasizes video content, which has higher engagement, while most platforms try to focus on both audio & videos. This is important because according to britishpodcastawards.uk the average listener today prefers to enjoy a podcast in video format than just listening to one.
However, what about the claim that TikTok should be banned because of the misinformation other users spread and does this tell the whole truth about the community? And is everyone trying to spread a false message through TikTok? It is clear we are only looking at one side of the argument and cherry-picking only a part of the community. For instance, if we can look past the negative things that some of the bad apples of the community do, we can see another part of the community that promotes a positive message. For instance, many content creators like Inspiring Philosophy promote a positive message and put an emphasis on correcting misinformation on TikTok by appealing to sound philosophy and giving reasons why the misinformation is wrong.
Still, proponents of the ban state that 19.4 % of peoples videos on TikTok contain misinformation. They claim TikTok is a significant threat to stealing and selling your data too. For these reasons, proponents are convinced they will be vindicated if TikTok gets banned. Furthermore, while others say that 19.4% of people’s videos on TikTok contain misinformation, banning TikTok violates the First Amendment, and just because something is unpopular with a large demographic does not mean we should ban it. As Rand Paul would say, “Do we want to emulate Chinese speech bans? We don’t ban things that are unpopular in this country.“ If America was founded on the principle that we have freedom of speech and expression, then the government should not enforce sanctions on things content creators enjoy.
On the other hand, proponents still want to ban TikTok because they think the app steals and sells your data, so what about the supposed claim that TikTok is a significant threat when it comes to your security? According to The Washington Post and Pellaeon Lin, a researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, TikTok does not steal more data from you than any other social media site. Nevertheless, they concluded that Twitter and Google collect even more user data. Also, Twitter security has been so lackadaisical that an Ex-employee of Twitter has been exposed for taking data from Saudi protesters.
Without a doubt, the government should stop focusing on TikTok as a problem when it comes to leaked information and try to find ways to fix this issue on all platforms. In conclusion, like every social media platform, TikTok has some form of strengths and weaknesses, but is a growing platform where communities can empower one another, and business owners can make a living off of it.
There is an interesting dialogue among the scholarly community on how Jesus could speak Greek. While delving into my studies, a question of profound significance captivated my attention: If Jesus’s household language was indeed Aramaic, could we confidently say he knew Greek? Indeed, If we accept that Jesus is God, there is no reason to think twice about it. However, what about those seeking tangible evidence, & what do scholarly studies reveal? Peter W. Van Der Horst, in his research on this topic, presents a compelling argument: “The Greek language and Greek culture had permeated all the Jewish communities of the Greek East. Rosén and Lifshitz are probably, by and large, right. Still, their statements should be qualified by adding that this does not imply that a majority, or even a large minority, of Jews were monolingual Greek speakers. For most, or at least many, Jews in Palestine, Greek probably remained a second language outside the urban areas. We may tentatively conclude that Roman Palestine was a largely bilingual, or even trilingual, society alongside the vernacular Aramaic (and, to a much lesser extent, Hebrew), Greek was widely used and understood—but we have to add that the degree of use and understanding of the Greek language probably varied strongly according to locality and period, social status, and educational. Background, occasion, and mobility. As far as we can see, however, opinions will remain divided over this issue.” “Hellenism in the Land of Israel (Greek Influence in Jewish Palestine as Revealed by Jewish Epigraphy).”
Porter Criteria Of Authenticity
Peter Bolt references Stanley Porter’s work in his article “Did Jesus Speak Greek ?” which can be read in the Routledge Encyclopedia of The Historical Jesus written by Craig A Evans. Bolt cites Stanley Porter’s research and states that on some occasions in the gospels, it suggests Jesus speaking Greek. When Porter establishes his criteria of authenticity, Bolt asserts “that Jesus most likely could have spoken Greek in Mark 7:24-30, John 12:20-28, and Matthew 8:5-13- Luke 7:2-10.”
Bolt also points out, “Given the evidence that some (if not many) were using Greek in first-century Palestine, would Jesus have been among that number? Bolt then says, “Several kinds of general arguments that have been used to suggest this likelihood: Greek being the lingua franca of the Roman world and evidence for its presence in Palestine; Galilee was highly influenced by Greek culture; Nazareth was near Sepphoris and the Decapolis, where Hellenization was strong; he was involved in a trade which brought him into contact with Greek speakers, as would this itinerant ministry; some of his disciples had Greek names and so could have been Greek speaker’s.”
However, Bolt cautions that these reasons must be more precise, as some argue without careful study of dating things and the provenance of the evidence they access. Nevertheless, I see no reason not to engage with the above hypothesis if thorough research is done accurately. At the same time, Bolt or the people he quoted think that Jesus could speak Greek, but he believes there are better reasons why Jesus could speak Greek, like the evidence Porter outlines. For these reasons, Bolt is convinced that Jesus and his disciples could have spoken Greek. It is most likely probable that Jesus could speak in common Greek. Also, YouTuber Gateway Center for Israel points out that to do business or trade in the ancient world in that area, you must know Koine Greek. He also notes that Koine Greek was a common language of the Mediterranean world.
More Porter Remarks
In addition to this, Bolt highlights Stanley Porter’s findings that Jesus could have spoken Greek in his conversation at Caesarea Philippi; Bolt also outlines Porter’s argument and states that It is likely, if not probable, that Matthew 16:13-20 records the Greek words of Jesus in his trial before Pilate. In addition to this, Bolt summarizes Porter’s points when he states:
”Although it is unreasonable to think that Pilate spoke Aramaic, or that he and Jesus conducted a conversation in Latin, and when Porter applies his criteria, he concludes that, although the exchange is not lengthy, it probably preserves the actual words (ipsissima verba) of Jesus.” This shows that we may indeed have the very words of Jesus preserved in Greek. Therefore, it is very likely that Jesus had his exchange with Pilate in Greek.
Summing it up
In addition to Porter’s points, Peter J Williams of Cambridge University also talks about how Jesus could have spoken Greek. In his book Can We Trust the Gospels? On page 108, he states, “The first four Beatitudes begin with the alliteration of pi (the Greek letter p), while the famous expressions ‘poor in spirit’ (5:3), ‘thirst for righteousness’ (5:6), ‘pure in heart’ (5:8), and persecuted for righteousness’ (5:10) all involve alliteration and assonance, which seem to suggest that Matthew portrays Jesus as teaching (on this occasion) in Greek.”
Lastly, Porter also outlines another argument for Jesus being able to speak Greek when he states, “Jesus thus says, ‘You are mépo, (a name for an individual male and a single stone) and upon this nép (firm foundation of stone) I intend to build my church.’ This accounts well for the alternation in Greek words, unnecessary if it merely translates the same Aramaic word and accommodates general Greek usage of the two words as well.”
More can be said about this; there is more evidence for Jesus speaking Greek, but Jesus most likely spoke multiple languages for these reasons. That is, he probably spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Jesus probably could have spoken Aramaic and Hebrew at a level of proficiency. He most likely could have conducted himself in scholarly debates in Hebrew and Aramaic and held his own quite well.
Porter, S. E. (2004). Criteria for Authenticity in Historical-Jesus Research. United Kingdom:
Bloomsbury Academic. 147-163
Are The New Testament Autographs Lost?
Some argue that the New Testament autographs have been lost and all we have is copies of copies, as Bart Ehrman says, but is this true? How long did biblical manuscripts circulate in antiquity? Professor Craig A Evans addresses this in his book, Jesus And The Manuscripts. He outlines a study done by George W. Houston who is professor emeritus of classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Houston shows how long classical works would be in circulation in the ancient world, and he explains that some original works would be in circulation for about a couple of hundred years before these autographs would be retired. Evans states that “when talking about the gospel of Matthew, it is plausible to think that a copy of the original would be in circulation for a long time.” For example, Evans states, “This means further that second-generation copies of Matthew could have been produced as late as the end of the second century and the beginning of the third.” This shows that if we accept Houston’s work on how long papyrus documents would circulate, the notion that the autographs are lost is incorrect. We may have the originals in museums because those copies, written 100 years later, were still influenced by the originals and circulated much longer.
Secondly, Craig states that in Houston’s comprehensive study, he shows that “some manuscripts were in use anywhere from 75 to 500 years, with an average of about 150 years!” At the very end of his study of Roman libraries, under the title of The Life Span of a Book Roll, Houston states: “The identification of such collections, and the manuscripts within them, provides new evidence on an old question: how long did a papyrus roll last?”
“The evidence from our collections indicates that a usable lifetime of about 100 to 125 years was common and can reasonably be considered the norm; a small but significant number of manuscripts were still usable some 300 years after they were first created; and on rare occasions, a manuscript might last, it seems, for half a millennium.”
Captions from Jesus And The Manuscripts by Craig A Evans:
Figure 10.3: “Apocryphal exorcism text. POxy. 5072 contains an exorcism story on the recto side that appears to blend elements of the exorcism of the man in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28) and the demonized man called “Legion” (Matt 8:28-33; Mark 5:1-20). The verso side appears to contain sayings of Jesus on being his disciple. Courtesy of the Egypt Exploration Society and the University of Oxford Imaging Papyri Project.”
Captions from Wikapedia “Portrait of Terentius Neo and his wife, from Pompeii, dated to AD 50.”
Caption: Larry Hurtado The Staurogram Earliest Depiction of Jesus’ Crucifixion
FOUNDATION MARTIN BODMER “The staurogram, a combination of the Greek letters tau and rho, looks like a human figure hanging on a cross and stands in for parts of the Greek words for “cross” (stauros) and “crucify” (stauroō) in Bodmer papyrus P66, a copy of the Gospel of John (200 C.E.). The staurogram is the earliest visual reference to Jesus’ crucifixion.”
As the 2023 season wrapped up, I can summarize the season as a big disappointment. It was a bumpy ride for the Yankees, who went 82-80, but how did they fall so hard? Injuries decimated the Yankees. First, Rizzo battled a concussion, and Carlos Rodon battled a bad back. Luis Severino was one of the worst starters in the league last year after pitching so well for the Yankees down the stretch in the previous year.
More injuries Not Again
Then, Aaron Judge crashed into a wall at Dodgers stadium while playing right field. Aaron Judge, before this, was following up his MVP year with another historic season and putting up similar numbers to his previous season. With that said, should we be worried about Judge going forward? I believe Judge will be fine and may have a better season because he finished the year so strong. For example, right after the injury, Judge batted 429 in July and still saw the ball well, as evidenced by a 492 on-base percentage. He also finished the month of August strong.
Aaron Judge’s numbers may not look as good as the year when he dethroned Ohtani for the American League MVP, but did you know Judge hit the ball significantly harder last year? For example, Judge had a 64.2 hard-hit percentage last year and was tenth in max exit velocity. To summarize, Judge is still an outstanding hitter despite the injury.
Now that we got out of the way, how can the Yankees return to being a good ball club in 2024? Well, it all starts with health. Half of the the Yankees rotation was decimated by injuries so much that the Yankees had to convert reliever Michael King to a starter.
With that said, Rodon has to get back to the pitcher he was with the Giants, where he contended for a Cy Young and was among the league leaders in strikeout numbers. Rodon is an elite starter if he is healthy, as evidenced in his 2022 year, where he struck out 237 batters and had a respectable 2.88 ERA. He needs to be good again. A rotation with a healthy Rodon and Cole is as good as anything the Jays or Orioles can throw at you. With all those things said, the rotation has some question marks.
Will Nestor bounce back after being hurt for most of the season last year? Will Schmidt continue to emerge as a decent back-end innings eater? And will newly acquired starter Stroman be consistent for a season, or will he have an excellent first half as he did with the Cubs and then fade a little because of injuries? The rotation could be better with just one more move, but when the Yankees won the World Series in 2009, they had a Hall of Fame caliber pitcher in CC, an inconsistent AJ Burnett, and an almost 40-year-old Andy Pettite. If healthy, Cole is just as good as CC, and Rodon is better than Burnett. Also, if healthy, Nestor can be better than any back-end starter they had that year.
You may call me Yankee fan boy now, but there are plenty of logical reasons to think that last season does not accurately represent who they are as a ball club. Stanton, for example, is only three years removed from being a 271 hitter with just about 30 homeruns. Stanton is only 34 years old and not far removed from being a good hitter. Stanton, this off-season, is also in one of the best shapes of his career.
Rizzo also started the year on fire without the shift and hit 327 with a 382 on base in the first half of May and then got hurt at the end of the month. If anything can be said about Rizzo, he still has something left in the tank, as he showed before the injury.
Soto, the on-base king
Also, during the winter meetings, Cashman acquired Juan Soto for pitching prospects Drew Thorpe, Johnny Brito, Randy Vazquez, and Major League-ready pitcher Michael King. King, in the second half, dazzled Yankee fans with his numbers. King finished the year with 104 innings pitched and had a 2.75 ERA with 127 punch outs in just 104 innings pitched! I expect King to give the Padres some depth in the rotation and compare favorably to guys like Chris Bassitt. The only question with King is durability and whether he will hold up as a starter.
After all, he dealt with some injuries the year before last year. There is no question the Padres got a bevy of pitching depth from the Yankees, but the Yankees had to make this deal.
The Yankees were a -25 in run deferential. Juan Soto is a game-changing bat, and last season, he had the highest hard-hit percentage of his career and finished the year relatively strong. Soto is such a mature talent that you would think he is a little older, but he is younger than Adley Rutschman. He won a World Series ring at just 20 years old when most players lace it up in the minors. Soto, at just 22, compared well to Ted Williams, and before you call me crazy, listen to this: according to sports writer Jayson Stark, “Through their age-21 seasons, they have almost the same number of big-league plate appearances (1,349 for Soto, 1,338 for Williams). They’re two of only 37 hitters in history who have made it to the plate at least 1,300 times through their age-21 season. “
In addition to this, Stark adds to the overwhelming evidence that Soto is that special of talent at such a young age: “You can find Hall of Famers and All-Stars all over that list. Who sits at the top of that group? For 80 years, Ted Williams ranked No. 1 in walk rate. Now, however, those rankings look like this:”
Walk percentage through age 21
Juan Soto 16.9%
Ted Williams 15.2%
Mel Ott 13.7%
Jimmie Foxx 13.7%
Stark also brought up that he compares well to Williams in homerun percentage at this age, too :
Juan Soto 23.1%
Ted Williams 20.0%
Mel Ott 18.6%
Mike Trout 17.4%
In addition to this, Stark added that through age 21 years old Juan Soto is only a little behind Ted Willaims when it comes to WRC + a stat that the MLB glossary defines as “calculating run creation and normalizing it, so we can compare players who play in different ballparks and even different eras.” Soto is that good! And he may be in for an even bigger year since it’s his contract year! In the end, to answer the question, what kind of off-season did the Yankees have? They had a very good one.
They didn’t get another ace, but half of the American League has no starters like Gerrit Cole except for maybe Baltimore, but Cole was still better than Burnes last year. Also, Bradish is hurt now, and Grayson Rodriguez has to take the next step. John Means is okay, but he is a back-end starter like Schmidt. No, I am not discounting Baltimore after winning 100 games. However, there is good reason to believe the Yankees can hang with Baltimore because they did before they got all banged up and now enter the season with a better roster. As Yogi Berra would say, “Baseball is 90% mental… the other half is physical.” Simply put, the Yanks have to overcome the physical side of the game and stay healthy and rested.
Additional key factors for the Yankees this Year
1.) Gleyber Torres has to follow up his solid 2023 season with another good year. Gleyber brings more balance to the Yankees lineup because he can hit for average and power and typically isn’t as bad as fielder as he was last
season.
2.) Anthony Volpe has to improve on his rookie campaign. While he hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases while also winning the gold glove, he only hit 209 this past year.
3.) Verdugo has to give the Yankees better production in left field since they had guy like Franchy Cordero and Billy McKinney playing there last year.
4.) Lastly, Dominguez by the middle of the summer has to show the Yankees that he is the same player he was before the UCL tear.
Baseball is ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical.” -Yogi Berra.
Yogi Berra stood just 5’7 and 180 pounds, and even Yankee legends like Joe Diamigio didn’t think Berra looked the part. Joe DiMaggio and others would tease Berra, but he rose to the occasion when it mattered the most, making Dimaggio and other skeptics a believer. Berra showed his peers that regardless of your appearance, you should never give up and follow your dreams.
Yogi Berra was a World Series MVP and one of the better-hitting catchers for the New York Yankees. Yogi was known for his clutch hitting in the playoffs and the World Series. For example, Berra batted 274 with 71 hits, 12 homers, 39 RBIs, and 41 runs scored in 75 gamesin the World Series. In addition to this, one thing that made Yogi Berra so special is he barely struck out. In today’s game, strikeouts are not a rare thing. However, had Yogi played today, he would be a total anomaly. In fact, in 1950, Yogi played 150 games and batted 322 with only 12 strikeouts. Today, most catchers don’t hit for average, either. Yogi is also among the league leaders for the most MVPS as a catcher. Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, and Mickey Cochrane are right there with him with 10 MVPS.
Not only was Berra known for the stuff he did on the field, but Berra also had a way with his words. Berra would articulate himself so well that you would think he was a philosopher himself. The sayings Berra would come up with would be birthed out of everyday life experiences. For instance, the opening quote resonates with me; it captures how the sport of baseball affects a player mentally because a slump or overthinking can get inside a ball player’s mind.
He also talks about how baseball is physical because the game can also take a toll on your body, and the physicality of the game can also impact a player. The amount of games players play, the injuries they endure, and just the physical demands that baseball has on a player can make baseball a demanding game, physically and mentally. It is also not an easy game, but Yogi’s point is to have fun and not let a bad game get into your head.
Yogi Berra, at just 18, had enlisted in the army and had to serve his country too. Can you imagine at 18 trying to make a living as an athlete and then being called to war at such a young age? That is why life is “ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical.” Yogi Berra encapsulates what it is to be a true American. Even though most people doubted him because of how short and skinny he was, he faced adversaries most teenagers don’t have to and will forever be remembered as one of the best players ever and someone who should be in the conversation when talking about baseball’s Mount Rushmore.
If you are stuck between having nothing to say and just not wanting to write something for your blog or anything like that, try writing without thinking. It is the most creative way to get your words out without thinking too hard about it. No longer will you think too hard about what you are writing about. It will just flow naturally. Words are powerful, and it is more important to get down a few words than no words at all.
So, if you are stuck just writing some words, they do not have to be perfect or planned write any words; in the movie Finding Forester, William Forrester said, “No thinking – that comes later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think!”
This might sound crazy, right? But this is precisely the advice he gives because when we have too much time to think about what we want to write, we can get stuck. Then that can turn into procrastination, and then that will eventually turn into perfectionism, and that is something we need to tackle when we are stuck and in a slump with writing. My best advice is to keep writing until you cannot, and the less you think about the words you want to say, the better they will flow!
Have you ever been told that too much social media can lead to not focusing on the things you love and lead to procrastination? Let me explain; it is so easy to lose yourself in others. In other words, self-care is very neglected in our society, and when we need it, we often put it on the back burner and feed ourselves on endless social media to feel better.
Without self-care, we become burned-out and emotionless zombies. I remember during the pandemic, I felt like this and a bit burned out from everything. However, instead of taking a break, I worked myself into the ground and became more anxious and frustrated.
If I had taken some time to rest and take some time off, I could have reset myself and come back stronger and refreshed. Ultimately, I did this, and I could pass the exam that was stressing me out before.
What also helped was staying away from comparisons in this kind of situation when it comes to social media. I realized that the people who care about me would want me to succeed and are cheering me on the way. In short, always prioritize a logically sound mindset in times like this.
How often have you gone on social media to compare your life to others when you’re overwhelmed and down for the count, only to feel worse than you previously did? This is one of the most frequent things we do in situations like this, but there are better ways to feel more accomplished in life and make the situation less scary than it actually is. For one, instead of comparing yourself to others, ask yourself, is there anything I am not doing that is keeping me from accomplishing my goals?
Most people who are honest with themselves will admit that they might not do enough of something or need some confidence to go after what they want to accomplish in life. Most people also are afraid of asking for help too because of their own pride. Sometimes all it takes is somebody else encouraging you or teaching you something in a way that is more relatable to you.
Sometimes all it takes is one small idea to start something bigger in life. John F Kennedy once said, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” Sometimes, all it takes is an idea to accomplish big things too.
In contrast to that, it is also good to start slow and map out a plan on what you want to achieve first. First, start with one goal each day. Then, slowly taper off social media until the necessary work is finished. In closing, when is the perfect time to take a break from social media? When it overcomes you with negativity and makes you feel inadequate when you compare yourself to others.
“Archaeologists seek to understand the past by studying human material remains through the process of excavation and publication, as described earlier. For this reason, professional archaeologists do not search for objects or treasures such as Noah’s Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, or the holy grail.”
“Usually, these expeditions are led by amateurs non, specialists, or academics who are not archaeologists. Therefore, I have no good answer to the question, “What ‘Is the best thing you’ve ever found?” because there Is no single thing. Archaeology ‘Is a process, a journey of discovery. “
~Jodi Magness
This article examines the role of archaeology in deepening our understanding of the New Testament world, arguing that while archaeological findings have their limitations, they offer valuable historical insights that help illuminate aspects of the ancient context that were once thought to be lost.
Magness beautifully describes how archaeology can shed light on the past but can’t tell us everything & usually, the ones looking for sensationalistic artifacts are not well-trained archaeologists. Below, I will outline a discovery from Egypt by an archaeologist, but this is an excellent example of how archaeology can’t tell us everything about the past. I will break the discoveries up into two parts. One will talk about artifacts from the ancient world with some concern over how we can’t know with 100 certainty that some artifacts should be associated with this biblical figure. Then, we will go into detail about what we can be more confident about.
Photo courtesy of WWW.HOLYLANDPHOTOS.ORG Captions Jodi Magnes: “Tombs in ancient Jerusalem were a family affair mainly for the city’s well-to-do. Iron Age tombs were hewn in the bedrock around the city and consisted of several chambers containing rock-cut benches upon which the bodies of the deceased were placed. After the bodies had decomposed, the bones would be removed from the benches and placed in a pit or repository to make way for new burials. In the photo, student excavators with their heads in the stone headrests demonstrate how the bodies were laid out in the First Temple period.”
Archaeologists can verify some figures from the New Testament. However, we must be careful about associating artifacts so easily with past figures. Archaeologists must take their time to interpret the data and develop a hypothesis about the discoveries. In contrast to this, I always wanted to learn if archaeology is considered a science, so I outlined a quote from Jodi Magness that helps us address this question. That said, archaeology might be regarded as science, but it has limitations about what it can tell about some historical events.
Is Archaeology a science?
As Jodi Magness would say “Archaeology is a science, albeit not an exact science. Whereas in the exact sciences the goal is to replicate the experiment, in archaeology the experiment cannot be replicated because the process of excavation destroys the remains (data). This is why it is important to record and publish fully all work done in the field. Like other sciences, archaeology is equipped to answer some questions but cannot answer others. So, it is a matter of asking the right questions. For example, archaeology confirms Josephus’ account of the Roman siege of Masada, but it is not equipped to answer the question of whether or not the Jewish rebels holding out on the mountain committed mass suicide (or homicide). Also, like in other sciences, archaeology is not objective as it involves a process of interpretation.”
The Magician cup
This cup was discovered in 2008. The providence of this cup is considered to be from a harbor in Egypt.
According to New Testament professor Craig A Evans, the inscription reads, “The chanter {speaks acts} through Christ.” This cup is dated to the first century AD. Also, professor Evans states “the cup probably does state by Christ or {through} Christ,” in reference to Jesus well known for his healing and exorcistic prowess.”
Dr. Evans also mentioned a spelling variant that has caused some to think it might be something else, but he believes the reading is by through Christ. Evans explains his reasoning in his book Jesus And The Manuscripts; “Is this a spelling variant for ὁ γοητής? It could be ΟΓΟΙΣΤΑΙΣ, or Ogoistais, in reference to the followers of the god Ogoa, mentioned by Pausanius: the sanctuary of the god (i.e., Zeus), called in the native tongue Osogoa [Ὀσογῶα]” (Descr. 8.10.3); and Strabo: “The Mylasians have two temples of Zeus, Zeus Osogo, as he is called [τοῦ τε Ὀσογῶ καλουμένου], and Zeus Labrandenus” (Geogr. 14.2.23). “
“But in what sense would followers of the god Ogoa, or Osogoa, do anything “through Christ,” or through someone called Chrestos? Besides, there is no evidence that followers of Ogoa were known for magic. The best option, at least for now, is the proposed reading, “The magician [speaks/has his power] through Christ.” This matter has not been settled on regarding how we should interpret this.
I added Craig’s conclusions because he brought up plenty of good points. However, one must decide whether it references Jesus or something else.For example, Frank Goddio of the Oxford Center of Maritime Archaeology thinks it could be, but Bert Smith and Berlin-Brandenburg & Greek expert Klaus Hallof suggest otherwise.
Uncertainty over the Cup
Although we may never know with certainty, Evans outlines his argument for referencing Jesus well. Whether it’s a reference to Jesus, we may never know with 100 percent certainty. Still, we must consider archaeologist Jodi Magness’s words when she said, “Archaeology is not equipped to answer every kind of question we have about the past.”
Courtesy of Frank Goddio/Hilti Foundation
The James Brother of Jesus Ossuary
In 2002, an ossuary was discovered with the name James Son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. This sparked a debate among scholars. According to Professor Craig A Evans, “some dismissed the ossuary all together and claimed that it was not authentic, “but the authorities according to Ancient Origins and BAR came to the conclusion it was authentic.”
James 1:12. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
More Remarks on this ossuary
While the ossuary is not a fake, and the patina and inscription are not forged, some archeologists caution against associating this with the Apostle James. Nevertheless, Jodi Magness has her doubts when trying to connect it with the Apostle James because as Jodi Magness would say:
“The evidence that James was buried in a pit grave or trench grave renders moot the controversy surrounding the James ossuary. Even if the inscription is authentic, it could not refer to James the Just, the brother of Jesus. Ossuaries were introduced into rock-cut tombs to collect the remains removed from loculi.”
“They are not associated with pit graves or trench graves, as there was no reason to exhume the remains and place them in an ossuary to make space for new burials.”
“Instead, new graves were dug as the need arose. In other words, if the inscription on the “James ossuary” is authentic and ancient, it must refer to another indi-vidual, not James the Just, the brother of Jesus. This is possible as the names James (Hebrew Yaakov/Jacob), Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua/Joshua), and Joseph (Hebrew Yosef or Yose) were common among the Jewish population of the late Second Temple period. In fact, it has been estimated that at least twenty different individuals in first-century CE Jerusalem could have had this combination of names.”
Photo of James ossuary Courtesy of André Lemaire
The Egerton Papyrus
“P. Egerton 2. The Egerton Papyrus, according to Professor Evans, “is made up of fragments of what may have been a gospel harmony.” “The papyrus dates to the middle of the second century.” ~Craig A. Evans Jesus and The Manuscripts
Summing it up
Archaeology is the study of past remains, and most trained archaeologists caution against sensationalistic artifacts and excavations. Archaeologists are equipped to understand better the New Testament world and how everyday people lived. As Jodi Magness would say, “Archaeology does not include the study of remains that predate humans (such as dinosaurs), the physical remains of humans (skeletons), or floral and faunal remains (animals and plants). These types of remains are studied by specialists in allied disciplines such as paleontology, physical or biological anthropology, zoo archaeology, paleobotany, and so on. Of course, archaeologists often include information from these disciplines when studying the remains of human material culture.”
Archaeological Evidence for Historical Figures: From Pontius Pilate to King Herod?
When talking about tangible artifacts & bedrock archaeological evidence for historical people, we have that with some wealthy elite, such as Pontus Pilate and the Pilate slab and the ossuary of the High Priest Caiaphas. In addition to this, there is a bevy of archaeological evidence for King Herod. Archaeological excavations that started in 2014 revealed a palace fortress that King Herod began construction on.
The Shroud of Turin: Evidence, Uncertainty, and the Debate Over Its Authenticity”
However, when speaking about some artifacts like the Shroud of Turin, there may be good reasons to doubt the old carbon 40 testing, but how do you prove that this was the burial cloth of Jesus? There is no burial certificate on the shroud. While the shroud does appear to be of a crucified man, we must further investigate it and do the proper testing on the material that is much older on the shroud and not the material that was reworked on the shroud after a fire. Suppose we could push the shroud back to the time of Jesus. What would that mean?
In that case, there might be evidence that the scientist who conducted those radiocarbon dates was wrong but I remain uncertain if it belonged to Jesus. Still, it does make for a meaningful discussion. I lean towards the more unsure side, but I don’t dismiss it as a modern forgery yet. Also, this is not the first shroud that was found either.
Shroud of Turin – Courtesy of Wikipedia
For example, Shimon Gibson found one in Jerusalem in a tomb and details the findings in his book The Final Days Of Jesus. Gibson outlines the remains of a man he found and how this person’s remains showed signs of leprosy. Shimon Gibson is not a Christian who’s trying to prove the gospel accounts but Shimon does utilize the Gospel accounts in his book. For a more balanced discussion of the Turin Shroud for its authenticity, see Is The Shroud of Turin Authentic? by Barrie Schwortz on YouTube.
Verisimilitude & the Gospels
Nevertheless, the gospel accounts record real people from real places. Thanks to Archaeology, we have a better understanding of burial customs & how people might have lived. Indeed, Craig A Evans said it best when he said: “All archaeologists in Israel and Palestine make use of the New Testament Gospels. They do this because the Gospels exhibit verisimilitude. In short, the Gospels help archaeologists know where to dig and they help archaeologists understand what they unearth. In contrast the 2nd-century Gospels and Gospel-like writings rarely exhibit verisimilitude, so archaeologists rarely appeal to them.”
Archaeology and the Gospels: Evidence That Supports the Historical Accuracy of Key Figures”
In conclusion, archaeology offers valuable insights into the world of early Christianity and Judaism, shedding light on key historical events and figures. While there are limitations to what archaeology can reveal, it provides crucial evidence that can strengthen our understanding of the past. For instance, the inscription found on the Pilate slab is a significant discovery because it not only confirms the existence of Pontius Pilate but also supports the accuracy of the Gospel accounts. This finding suggests that the Gospels portray Pilate more accurately than some Roman historians, like Tacitus, and aligns with the Apostle Luke’s account, which identifies Pilate as the governor of Judea.
Courtesy of Logos Bible Software Caption & photo from Shimon Gibson’s book The Final Days Of Jesus: A Roman Mosaic Floor from Sepphoris depicting a banqueting scene. Caption Megan Sauter; “The Nabatean city of Petra, in modern Jordan, is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Carved into a sandstone cliff, this structure is called Al-Khazneh, “the Treasury.” Many scholars now presume it was the tomb of the Nabatean king Aretas IV. Photo: Antoine Taveneaux/CC by-SA 3. “
King Aretas IV might have been somebody who tried to arrest the Apostle Paul according to Megan Sauter.
Sauter references Ben Witherington’s study & he believes that Paul came here to preach the gospel, but the king wanted him arrested for preaching not a Nabatean religion.
“The best bet is that Paul had tried out his gospel in Arabia Petrea, and the king wanted to arrest him for promulgating a non-Nabatean religion in his territory without permission.” ~Ben Witherington III
For more on Witherington study see Biblical Profile: Paul of Arabia? The Apostle’s Early Adventures By Ben Witherington III” has to be remembered.”
Captions Robin Ngo “Archaeologists excavating at Herodium have uncovered a monumental entryway to King Herod’s hilltop palace-fortress. Photo: The Herodium Expedition at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.”
Captions: Biblical Archaeology Society staff “this Roman theater played an important role in the riot at Ephesus against Paul and the early Christians, according to Luke’s account in Acts 19. Photo: Jordan Pickett.”
Like many of you, I like to write when I have free time away from work or school. However, recently I have had a hard time figuring out what I want to put out for content for you, but it should be effortless and not forced. Your creativity is something you should protect with your life. For example, too many people don’t have creativity and like to steal it from others or emulate their favorite celebrity.
In high school, I was a big fan of Hank Moody from Californication, and I always wanted to be like him in the sense that I wanted to be a famous writer. So, at times I would emulate Frank Moody around my friends, but as I got older, I realized something important, and it is just being yourself. Being yourself involves admitting you aren’t perfect, but you will get there someday.
It involves setting aside small practical goals and being persistent about who you want to become. If you need clarification about who you want to become in life and you are getting overwhelmed by it, take things slow and maybe do something less demanding, and eventually, that creative fire you once had will come back! There is one quote from Frank Moody that has always stuck with me. He said, “Whatever you do, don’t be another brick in the wall.”
I always loved Californication as a kid because it was this fascinating story about a man who was a struggling writer who lived in California and was going through writer’s block. It was a story about how Frank Moody tried to fight for his life to win back his family, but the flaws he had got in his way, and he never got the chance to thrive as a writer and a family man, but he had so much potential and creativity.
So with that said, writer’s block can come with having creativity, but everything you want to accomplish in life takes time. You will have to work hard to succeed with the stuff you are passionate about, but sometimes that comes with figuring out your strengths and weaknesses. Also, in the show Californication Frank Moody had things that most guys dream about.
The problem was Hank was never happy with his life because he repeatedly kept making the same mistakes, and he refused to change his lifestyle even to combat his writer’s block. Instead, please do not make the same mistake he did. You can learn from your mistakes and failures and still come out on top with a level head on your shoulders.
You have to be persistent and take things slow, and the things you think are going unseen will be on full display to the right people. One thing that helped me during this writer’s block was writing down topics I was interested in and writing one sentence about that topic each day. Also, playing some Jazz music helps relax me after a long day. As a result, it helps me ease my mind.
So I’m more in a relaxed state of mind, so I can organize my thoughts better before tackling the next topic I want to write about, so good luck to you if you have writer’s block, and I hope this was informative to someone and helps them make a breakthrough through their creative stagnation.
I was pondering on the recent loss of a dear friend who was a mentor for me in my own life. I thought about how this school semester has been challenging, long, and frustrating. However, my friend would tell me to grit out and give me a scholarly biblical example about how I should keep going. You see, we all go through seasons and have years that do not seem like they will ever end. We are only human, so we will have seasons that feel stagnant or even frustrating, but you can’t give up. I was listening to this song entitled Van Gogh written by solo artist Mandi Mapes. In the song, she talks about falling but getting back up after falling and realizing you are capable of much more.
She says in the song, “You’re a Van Gogh, you’re a rare find, a genuine one of a kind. You don’t see it with your own eyes. I wish I could make you realize. When you fall, it’s tough. Come on, get back up You have to get back up. You think you’ve had enough; come on, get back up.
When we grasp this concept of the song Van Gogh, we can handle anything that comes our way. At times, we might lose sight of our potential, but we must grit it out and remind ourselves of how far we have come and get back up and keep fighting. CS Lewis once said “. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.“— C. S. Lewis. In addition to this, we can do the things we are scared of because beginning failures might lead to a beautiful ending. The song Van Gogh reminds us that we all have great potential and we must not quit and keep going when we are facing adversaries. We must keep trying and keep getting back up. This song was beautifully composed. This song also inspires many to pursue their dreams and open up their hearts to their true potential. I highly recommend listening to the album Leeves by Mandi Mapes. In closing, like a painting, there might be some imperfections in how the painter stroked their paint, but with more practice and grit, you can be one of Van Gogh’s most beautiful paintings to the world and an inspiration to others.
“Don’t give up, is something we hear about all the time. Sometimes it feels like such an ad nauseam thing to even talk about it, but we must not let failure shape our lives. Remember, you have friends and the place you might be in now is not an everlasting resting harbor for you; there is a better place where you belong. You’re not the only one treading water in life, and looking at the penalties of your failures will not help you overcome them, and it will most certainly not help you envision better things either. I came across an unknown quote once that resonated with me; I will rephrase it here ” a mindset that has a defeatist mentality will only visualize the penalties of their failures but people who do not let failure shape their mindset, will always visualize the rewards of success. ”
We all have been knees deep in stress, and we think that because we fail at something, we still can’t try again because failure humiliates us too much. However, we must not let failure put us in everlasting chains. We must break through the chains of failure and keep improving on our weaknesses. Once we overcome our fears and keep trying, we will be rewarded. It may not be easy, and you may face times when you don’t think you can make it through this but don’t give up. I firmly believe that anyone who refuses to give up will be rewarded; be proud of how far you have come and even if you don’t think anyone is proud of you, please know that plenty of people are proud of how far you have come.
Don’t give up ’cause you have friends Don’t give up you’re not the only one Don’t give up now I’m proud of who you are Don’t give up you know it’s never been easy Don’t give up ’cause I believe that there’s a place I believe that there’s a place There’s a place where we belong
There is no better way to start my morning than going to my favorite coffee shop and getting a decent cup of hot coffee. I love watching other people make my coffee; it’s so relaxing to watch. When I started my coffee journey, I always thought the job of a barista or baristo must be tedious and not worth it. I would often say to myself why go through all that trouble? It’s just coffee. I watched countless baristas and baristos grind their beans and prep their portafilter in preparation for the perfect shot of espresso. However, the problem is there is no perfect shot in espresso & the best way to taste coffee at its full potential is to dial in the coffee to where you like it.
What Does It Mean To Dial In The Coffee To Where You Like It?
To keep things consistent, I recommend purchasing an inexpensive scale on Amazon. Scales on Amazon range from 10- 60 dollars, and more premium scales are much more expensive than that. For example, the Acai Luna is typically $234- $254 but an inexpensive scale should last a long time if you take care of it. A scale should be able to do two things: one, it should measure 0.1 of a gram and have a built-in timer too. If you don’t have a scale, you will have to rely on the machine’s volumetrics, which is not the most precise way of doing things. The most expensive home machines have very good volumetric controls, but if you’re on a budget, this will not likely be an option for you. The Breville line of machines has some form of volumetrics, but a scale will always be more consistent.
How To Use A Scale/ Startup Guide To Making Good Espresso At Home
First tare your scale to zero, measure 18 grams of beans and put the beans in your grinder hopper. Next, grind the beans straight into your portafilter. Next, I suggest investing in a dosing funnel that will go around your portafilter and prevent the coffee beans from overflowing and going all over your kitchen counter. I also recommend giving the grinds in your portafilter a slight tap down to settle any grinds in your portafilter so you can tamp down the beans nice and even.
The Basics of Tamping
Tamping can be very intimidating to new home baristas. If you want a consistent level tamp every time, check out Chris Baca’s video on tamping, and Seattle Coffee Gear has pretty good videos on how to tamp well too. You want to tamp as level as possible. One thing that can help you achieve this is a spring-level tamp or a palm tamper. There are also very premium tampers if you want to spend the money, and they do all the guesswork for you. The Bose Tamper is an automatic tamper that tamps the grinds automatically for you at the proper pressure every time. However, cheaper options are just as good as the Bose Tamper. For example, Normcore has very good inexpensive spring-loaded tampers. Whatever you do, find a tamper you are comfortable holding and practice with that one. Don’t be concerned with how hard your tamp is but how level you’re tamping is.
Ratio/ Dose
In the espresso world, many baristas will give you a starting ratio; if you are just starting out, this will not be simple. Still, a ratio of 1:2 is a good starting point. Essentially that is, 18 grams of espresso in your portafilter and you are looking to get 36 grams of liquid espresso in your cup in about 25-35 seconds. In the end, this is just a starting point to get your feet in the door. How the coffee taste is what matters more!
David Cone was a right-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees and New York Mets. He also pitched for the Kansas City Royals and had a short stint with the Blue Jays. You may ask why I am bringing up David Cone right now, but I have always thought that David Cone was an underrated pitcher and that he never got enough love from the Hall Of Fame writers. For one, Andy Pettitte could easily make the Hall Of Fame and has worse stats than Cone in the playoffs and the regular season. Cone’s peak years also blow Pettite’s best years out of the water.
Comparison between Cone & Pettitte
David Cone’s regular-season ERA is 3.45
David Cones’s WAR is 62.3
David Cone in 5 ALCS posted a 3.23 ERA and pitched to a 2.12 ERA in the World Series.
Pettitte regular season ERA is 3.85
Pettitte WAR is 60.2
Pettitte in 9 ALCS, pitched to a 3.56 ERA and had a lifetime World Series ERA of 4.06.
The bottom line is that Cone was a much better regular-season pitcher than Pettitte and outperformed Pettitte on the mound in the big moment. To keep things fair, I will not talk about wins because Andy Pettitte spent most of his career on the superteams that Gene Micheal and Steinbrenner, and others helped build up in the 1990s, whereas Cone started his career on some non-contenders, and you could argue that cost him some wins. I think if the baseball writers are going to put in guys like Pettite, who are connected to PEDS and who have borderline stats if you are not talking about wins, then Cone should be reconsidered for the Hall Of Fame!
Have you ever been told you have ADHD? Or maybe someone has labeled you with a particular mental illness; you then took medication for that illness, and it didn’t work, so the doctors tried other drugs, but nothing seems to fix your issues. So what should you do? First and foremost, I am not a medical doctor, but identifying negative emotions or words can be a step in the right direction. Be open and honest with yourself. Instead of trying to escape from these temporal emotions, be open and honest and say yes! I feel this way, but it will be okay, and eventually, I will feel normal again. Also, you may not even have ADHD, but you might suffer from not having the right help in a classroom, and with the right help and moral support, you can achieve great things.
The Unfortunate Truth About Our Mental Health System
Unfortunately, our mental health system is flawed, and there are other alternatives to these medications. However, in our society, we rather sedate the problem rather than converse about it. I once watched a video that Dr. Peter Breggin was in, and he made a statement that stood out to me. He said that when people complain about mental illness, pharmaceutical companies treat human beings like animals at the zoo by sedating them and not addressing the real problem. Since these medications add more problems than help these individuals, these people become caged off from real answers.
Breggin Was Right about Guilt and Shame
In his book Guilt Shame and Anxiety, Peter Breggin said, “Guilt, shame, and anxiety do not motivate positive reform. At best, they exhaust us; at worst, they drive us toward negative feelings and actions that harm and alienate other people. Reason, sound ethics, and love motivate actions that genuinely improve our own lives and the lives of others.” I think Mr. Breggin hit it on the nail, and I would like to add to what he said by saying If you want to see positive changes in your life, look deep within and challenge these negative emotions with sound logic and sound ethics!
Many people will ask the question what if I don’t make it? This question can be asked when we are not fully ready to conquer our fears because we are already worrying about failing at something we haven’t tried yet. We think about failure and conceptualize this idea of how things work. In other words, we put ourselves in a box we don’t fit in and let our fears dictate how we approach our dreams. We believe that my goal of becoming a doctor is too far out of reach because I “can’t” afford medical school. Or maybe you think you can’t do it because you’re not smart enough. Instead of feeding your negativity with these words, have confidence in the unknown. Practice saying things like I will save up for the medical school I want to attend, and someday I will be able to afford it, or I will work hard for a scholarship. Or maybe, you want to start your own business, and it seems far out of reach because your friends and family put that into your head. However, it is not far away if you give it some time, and the right people will help you.
If you are doubting your dreams today, you will never experience your peak self; you will continue to live in fear and isolate yourself from greatness hidden by your low self-esteem. If you need reassurance about something:
Ask for it. If you need help starting that business, the first step is just doing research on it, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but with hard work, it could.
If you want to do something new and want to start over, go for it and don’t look back.
Look at it like this; you can overcome your fear and low self-esteem with one little step into the unknown.
If you are like the millions of people in this world, you will come to a point in this life where you will need a break. Avoid the inevitable burn-out that comes with too much work and school, and take a break when you are off work and school and don’t feel guilty. If you need a break, do not feel the need to apologize for taking some time off. Sometimes rest leads to more knowledge, which can be a good thing. School can be a restless thing because if you go four times a week and do something on the side, you may only have a few days off. So, enjoy your days off, and don’t beat yourself up about whether you’re doing enough or should you do more.
You Are Doing The Best You Can
Remember that showing up to class four times a week shows that you want to be a better you, and you are putting in the work to do that! Even if it means talking to your teachers about less homework, that can help reduce a total burn-out period in that moment of your life. Just simply explain to your teachers that you will continue to work hard and look over things on the weekend but that you need a couple of mental health off days on the weekend with less homework. The less workload will give you some much-needed rest, and if somehow your teachers don’t understand, maybe look into getting a note from your doctor/therapist to help them understand.
The Problem With Too Much Homework During A Burnout Period In Your Life
While unproven and debated by many in some sense, homework can help you memorize things and lead to better grades. However, remember that you only know yourself the most, and you are not at your best academically when you are being run into the ground by the idea that you are not doing enough.
Wrapping Things up
In an article entitled Startling Remote Work Burnout Statistics (2022), the author states that “employee burnout is a global concern. In a survey of over 1000 respondents by Deloitte, 77% say they have experienced burnout at their current job.91% say that unmanageable stress or frustration impacts the quality of their work, and 83% say burnout can negatively impact personal relationships. Even those passionate about their jobs are still stressed at work, with 64% saying they are frequently stressed at work. The bottom line is that a couple of days off is never a bad thing, and it will be beneficial to you in the long run for your relationships and your mental health.
I was thinking about God’s faithfulness. Our society has a propensity to rebel against God when something bad happens in their life, but I try to hold onto God’s faithfulness because I know he has a plan. Instead of cursing God, I pray for clarity and peace, but what does God’s faithfulness look like when it comes to a scripture sense? Psalms 91:4-6reads, “He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
Another bible verse that hits home with me is “Isaiah 25:1” Lord; you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” God has planned wonderful things for us, things he had planned long before we were aware of them. If we trusted God when everything was going well, we wouldn’t be able to handle struggle or deal with pain. Many people treat God like a genie, coming to God only when things are going well, which is exactly the opposite of what God wants. God has a plan for me and you even when things are not always good. God’s plan for your life may not be clear to you at the moment, but he is faithful and will remold your life according to his perfect will. There will no doubt be obstacles, but as Mr. Lewis pointed out, he is building a palace, not a small beach house!
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and comment which led me to your page where i found the truth I’ve been searching for. “God’s plan for your life may not be clear to you at the moment, but he is faithful and will remold your life according to his perfect will.” Thank you for sharing this truth. Keep up the great work you have been doing already!
George Herman Ruth famously said, “I hear the cheers and the jeers as they roar and echo.” “Never let the fear of striking out hold you back.” However, what do we know about this baseball legend? As a child, he grew up in Baltimore’s working harbor district, where he was born on February 6, 1895. He had a strong bond with the sons of the longshoremen during his early years spent on the streets.
Ruth’s primary work was on the docks. As Ruth struggled to attend school, he went to St. Mary’s industry school for boys. It was a school for orphans, troubled kids, or not-so-wealthy kids. During Ruth’s early career, he was sold by the Baltimore Orioles due to a federal league team known as the Terrapins, which forced the team to sell Ruth and many other top prospects.
The Dead Ball Era
Before Ruth became one of baseball’s most prolific power hitters, the game was very different. It was common for players to use their speed to get on base during the 1900s and 1920s when players with high batting averages dominated the league. Defensive skills were also heavily emphasized. During this era, the most home runs a hitter hit was 24. Therefore, we call this era the dead ball era. In addition to this, pitchers used various substances and doctoring the baseball was a common practice around this time too.
Ruth’s Early Years as a Pitcher
Most people know Ruth was one of baseball’s most fearsome power hitters, but he also dominated the game on the mound. For example, he won 95 games as a left-handed starter before becoming one of the game’s most beloved hitters. Ruth also pitched to a 0.83 ERA in the world series with the Red Sox for two seasons from 1916-1918. Because of this, many assumed that Ruth was a full-time two-way player for a long time. However, our evidence about him does not support this assumption because he only was a two-player for two years.
The Curse Of The Bambino/ Ruth’s Legacy On The Game
In 1919, Ruth became a full-time hitter with the Red Sox, and he slashed 29 home runs and had more home runs than most teams that year. Though people still argue it was a different era then, and pitchers threw with less velocity, Ruth’s home-run numbers were still impressive. After spending six seasons with the Red Sox, Boston owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees in 1919 for $125,000.
Ruth would spend 15 years more with the New York Yankees, hitting 659 home runs. Over his Yankee tenure, Ruth finished with a 349 batting average and a 1.195 OPS. Ruth also finished with a lifetime war of 183.1.
In addition to these statistics, Ruth won 7 world series rings with the Yankees. It is fair to say that Ruth was clutch offensively for the Yankees, and Ruth will forever be baseball’s most iconic hitter. Undoubtedly, Ruth will go down as one most memorable people in baseball, and the era Ruth played in shows us how much the game has changed.
Did He Really Call His Own Shot?
Initially, I was intrigued about Ruth and his historic home run in game 3 of the 1932 World Series. People of this day claimed that he signaled to hit a home run, and right after this, he hit one. However, I was unsure if this was historically accurate. So, I researched it and found some interesting things in a book. Harvey Frommer said in his book that the people of Ruth’s day were not sure Ruth was calling to hit a home run that day.
Some claim that the gesture was him taunting the Cubs players back because they did not get along. On the other hand, some of Ruth’s teammates thought he did like Lou Gehrig. Whether or not some people believe he did; that year Ruth at the age of 37, hit for a 341 batting average while also hitting an impressive 41 homers. Ruth also drove in 137 runs, and the Yankees won the World Series that year.
(Original Caption) “Babe Ruth, New York Yankees outfielder, poses with African American fans somewhere in the southeast during the trip north from spring training before the start of the 1925 season. “ (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)(Oringal caption) Circa 1945: “American baseball player Babe Ruth (1895 – 1948), outfielder for the New York Yankees, autographs a baseball for two young fans.” (Photo by American Stock/Getty Images)(Original Caption) “Washington, DC.: Babe Ruth Cheers up Children in the Hospital. Sickly and crippled children in the Wards of the Childrens Hospital of the capitol brightened and laughed when the King of Home Run Hitters, Babe Ruth, recently visited them. The Bambino is shown above with little Louise Meade, who received an autographed baseball from Ruth. Miss Mattie Gibson, hospital superintendent, is also shown in the photo.”
As summer winds down and winter approaches again, we tend to focus on negative things. Have you ever said, “I don’t want to go back to work” or “I don’t want to go back to school”? We forget that we’re on a journey to improve ourselves, and doing things for the better may not always lead to what we want to do. At the end of the day, those things we don’t want to do make us stronger and help us realize that hard work is not always the worst thing. Throughout history, many people have struggled to achieve their goals.
Spielberg, for instance, was rejected twice by universities and suffered from dyslexia in school, making his academic years challenging. However, did Steven Spielberg quit because he was dealing with some problems? He didn’t, as he won 11 Emmys, three Oscars, and seven Golden Globes. It is important to think of struggles as the storm before the calm. You would not know your true potential if you didn’t go through anything hard. When you are alone and thinking negatively about your life, take a deep breath and tell yourself that nothing but your insecurities can stop you, and the day you put those insecurities to rest is when you find your calling. Sometimes we need hardships to remind us how strong we are as individuals. Ultimately, we need something to stimulate our low self-esteem into confidence in our dreams.
As the 2022 trade deadline comes to an end and Juan Soto and pitchers Frankie Montas and Luis Castillo join different teams, we see teams like the Yankees and Mariners trying to find upgrades over what they already have in their starting rotation. The Yankees sent a haul of pitching prospects to the Athletics for Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino. Lou Trivino, up until this point, has had an inflated ERA. However, with two teams this year, he has a 53.1 ground ball rate and still a decent k/9. Trivino joins a staff that is headlined by pitching guru Matt Blake who has led the Yankees to post a third-best team ERA. As for Montas, he owns a 3.18 ERA this year and keeps the ball on the ground, as illustrated with his very decent 46.1 groundball %, and Montas has a pretty decent 9.0 strikeout to 9. It is fair to say that the Yankees kept their focus on pitching this trade deadline acquiring very good reliever Scott Efrros from the Cubs too. However, did the Yankees do a good enough job?
” The Yankee General Manager Bob Watson shakes hands with the New General manager Brian Cashman at the press conference after Bob Watson announced his resignation. Photo William Perlman 2-3-98 SL”
To answer this question, we must not ignore the moves the Yankees have made when it comes to their offense. The Yankees sent Gallo to the Dodgers in exchange for Clayton Beeter, a hard-throwing high strikeout rate minor league pitcher. Beeter had a high ERA this past year, but the Yankees must like the strikeout numbers he has put up this year, and they probably think they can maybe fix him. This move sounds like they were trying to get a decent arm back for losing an arm like Luis Medina, who Beeter compares to. Right before the Yankees traded Gallo, they acquired all-star outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Royals. Benintendi, at the time, was fourth in the league in hitting, and the Yankees got a bat that should give them better production up at the plate than Gallo did. Benintendi is also a good postseason hitter, as shown in his 333 batting average in the World Series with the Red Sox in 2018. Benintendi also gets on base at an elite rate, but was it smart to trade Jordan Montgomery for Bader? In my opinion, it’s too early to tell. The Bader move is more of a move from which the Yankees could reap some benefits from in 2023. While Bader has his eyes on the 2022 season, he has somewhat under-performed in the field and has also not replicated his 2021 season with the bat. Cashman noted that Bader grades out as an elite 70 grade defender and he could return from his injury in September.
Overall, I give the Yankees a B+. It appears that their outfield situation has improved, and their lineup should be more consistent without Gallo and Benintendi getting consistent at-bats now. Despite his poor start, I think you should give Benintendi some time. The Yankees have improved their bullpen with getting Effros, and Trivino can still miss bats, and his metrics say he has been a bit unlucky this year. In addition to that, adding Montas creates a starting three consisting of Cole, Severino, and Montas. While Bader will not be available until September, and Montgeremy has performed well so far as the Yankees’ third starter, I cannot criticize Cashman’s overall deals. In spite of this, I would have preferred a trade for Lopez or Rodon after the Monty trade.
Brian Cashman says there is optimism Harrison Bader can return from his injury in September.
“Harrison Bader is one of the elite center field defenders in the game and so he provides a lot of lanes for us and our manager when he’s healthy… He can impact our team in many ways.”
When I think of standardized testing, the very word gets me nervous because I have severe test-taking anxiety. As a kid, if I ever had to take a test, I would set myself up for failure because that is how the test made me feel. No standardized test can adequately show if a person fully understands something. For example, if their test-taking anxiety is so severe that they second guess everything, how can they answer every question promptly or even show any form of comprehension of the material if they are not entirely themselves?
Christina Simpson of Harvard Graduate school wrote an interesting piece on the effects of standardized testing on students’ well-being. She quoted a school teacher who said, “The prepping for the test takes a lot of time. Instead of possibly doing projects or more hands-on learning, we focused on the testing format and preparing our students to be comfortable taking the test. The prepping starts at the beginning of the year and ends in April.”
In addition to that, what is even more interesting was the information she presented about students being so stressed in school. Christina Simpson estimated that teens are reporting high-stress levels. According to the (APA) also known as the American Psychological Association, “students ages from 13-17 are experiencing stress levels higher than what they view as healthy.” Her study also confirmed that the stress levels of the children were higher than the stress levels of the adults.
In summary, standardized testing causes more stress, and teachers also feel that standardized testing is not the only thing available to grasp if a person firmly understands something. We can do better than just standardized testing; there are better group activities that we can give to students to help them understand the material. Furthermore, no standardized testing should ever bully a student into thinking they are stupid!
Before the 2022 season started, Gleyber Torres had big aspirations to get back to being the hitter he was in the first two seasons of his young baseball career. Gleyber this year has not been consistent in his last 30 games; he has only hit for a 212 batting average and has a 263 on-base percentage, and is only slugging 363. Is there anything we can be optimistic about when it comes to Gleyber Torres? While Torres is not off to a good start, his hard-hit percentage is right around league average. Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs have him at around 41.9, which is pretty good. Torres is also pulling the ball less this early into the year, but what is going on with Torres this year?
My Observation In my opinion, I think Torres is just missing on fastballs thrown at him. For example, Torres is batting only 172 off fastballs but 292 off breaking balls. In my opinion, Torres will need to adjust to getting thrown so many fastballs because he is too of a good hitter to be just missing on fastballs thrown to him. If he makes this adjustment, he and DJ LeMahieu can provide more contact hitting to a lineup that needs more contact and less swing and miss. Torres is also just 25 years old and was the talk of the town three years ago. Also, as a prospect, Baseball America once posed the question, who are you higher on, Eloy Jimenez or Gleyber Torres?
Negative thoughts are normal in everyday life. As we progress through life, we will have thoughts of giving up and just living a life full of comfort in our complacency. This is nothing new for many successful and future successful people in the future. However, we must not forget to put things in a more reasonable perspective. Lifes obstacles might be hard to get through, but these obstacles are not impossible to overcome; if you keep thinking more positively and put in the work. For example, a mathematician did not know how to solve complex algebra problems on his first day in school. He had to learn how to solve and figure out what was x. We need to do the same with stuff we don’t know yet.
Never Say You Can’t
People use the phrase “I can’t” as a crutch not to do something they’re afraid of failing at. As a result, when we resort to this kind of thinking, we make up excuses for things we know we can do with some practice, but we don’t want to do the hard work to accomplish the things we want to become in life, and we become stagnant in negativity. Therefore we must realize that the phrase I can’t is a self-defeating phrase that only results in you settling for less than what you deserve. Surely there comes a time for rest, but try to practice more positive affirmations, and instead of saying the phrase, I can’t practice these three mantras below.
“Three mantras you should never say: (1) I don’t know. (2) I’m not ready.” (3) I can’t do it.
A small start is all you need to reach your goals. If you are going through a drought, taking a step into the unknown can help you. Don’t be afraid to do what makes you uncomfortable, and become bold in what you consider too risky to even try. Finding what you are missing is usually accompanied by a long run ahead. Find the things that make you happy and do them more regularly during the day. You may have to wait a little longer to achieve your goals but just know that it takes time for even a champion to earn their gold. Even though the road ahead might be long, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible, and you should set your focus on God, for he sustains you through every trial. A wise man once said that the sun rises on all darkness, and so does God if you call upon him.
CS Lewis once said, “the sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal, or two friends talking over a pint of beer, or a man alone reading a book that interests him.” The time is now. It doesn’t matter where you have been or where you are now, and you still have enough time to do it. The key to overcoming the fear of failure is believing in yourself and challenging yourself. By not trying, you will always think of failure.
Final Thoughts It is only a thought that can cripple you into unnecessary procrastination. Please do not ostracize yourself into your own silence. Think about it this way: if you didn’t have any fear at all, you would simply get things all too easily and would never learn how to deal with challenges when they arise.
The other day, I listened to a song that resonated with me. Stop The World is a song by Matthew West from the album Something to Say. Matthew West was undergoing throat surgery at this time. The song’s opening line is “The T.V. is talking.”. The phone is ringing, the lights are on, and the radio is blaring.A million distractions are stealing my heart from you. How true is this saying? Sometimes I can get completely engrossed in the negative aspects of life, and there are so many distractions in life that pull me away from what really matters. Matthew West talks about escaping to have quiet time with God and wanting a glimpse of heaven for a moment.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed with life, I listen to this song to put things into perspective. Everybody needs a moment of quiet time with God or themselves. When you feel overwhelmed, take some quiet time for yourself. In some cases, as West states, before we can hear a sign from God, we must listen for his voice above all this senseless noise. Don’t let daily distractions distract you or overtake your time. During the week, practice breathing exercises. Consider taking 30 minutes a week to sit in silence and listen to your favorite relaxing sounds. Get your body moving and listen to relaxing sounds. Whatever you decide to do, find some time away from the crowd and invest time in yourself. This is not to say that helping others is not important, but sometimes we must help ourselves before we help others.
Today I was watching a documentary entitled Medicating Normal. It details the struggle that some people have had with Benzodiazepines. Many of my friends don’t know this about me, but I used to take a Benzodiazepine to sleep. I also had terrible anxiety at night because I had very bad night terrors when I was a kid, so my doctor prescribed me Clonazepam. I took Clonazepam from about 2007-to 2015. While on Clonazepam, I remember being in a tranquilized state the first couple of weeks. I felt nothing, and my social life consisted of me dreading the day of hanging out with others because I did not want a social life.
I also had some side effects that I do not wish to detail to you because I want to explain something more important in this blog post. Please know that when a person is going through Benzodiazepine withdrawal, it does not make them a drug addict trying to recover from taking this medication. Not everybody abuses these medications. In most cases, people are prescribed these medications without being educated on them and not knowing they cannot take them long-term. So in closing, if you are somebody who is simply trying to get off of being on Benzodiazepines long term because somebody did not educate you on the problems of taking these medications long term, then that means you are not a drug addict! But a survivor and a victim of somebody else’s miss education about Benzodiazepines.
The statements of public figures can shake our faith or make us feel as if there is no evidence for the new testament. No, we don’t have Jesus’ hair, no we don’t have a photograph of Jesus, no we don’t have a video of Jesus and his disciples, but does this mean he didn’t exist, or does this mean there is no evidence for the gospels? Personally, I don’t think it means that. The new testament is the best-attested book in almost the entire ancient world, and it’s amazing that we have this many documents when it comes to the gospels.
If we don’t treat historical information about Julius Ceasar this way like most colleges don’t, why do so many people treat the historical Jesus of Nazareth this way? In my opinion, when it comes to Jesus, we should treat him with the same respect we have for other famous historical figures from the past. You may be wondering what kind of evidence we have, and while I have not shared everything that I would like to share with you, I have put together a list of artifacts that I thought were interesting regarding the New Testament gospels.
After all, some people on YouTube claim Jesus did not exist. This movement is called the Jesus mythicism movement. Their beliefs are rejected by most mainstream scholars, which includes biblical scholars and scholars who are atheists or agnostic too.
If we can’t establish that Jesus even existed. Then how can we even talk about other historical figures with less evidence regarding their ancient writings? Scottish biblical scholar FF Bruce said it best “The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.” https://cqod.blogspot.com/2018/04/bruce-new-testament-documents.html
The Pilate Stone Slab
This stone slab presents Pilate as the Roman prefect of Judea. It was discovered in 1961, and it is dated to the first century. It was found in the ancient theater at Caesarea Maritima.
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Bridgeman Images “The PILATE STONE presents Pontius Pilate as the Roman prefect of Judea. His dedication of a structure in honor of Tiberius fits with the picture of Pilate as a proponent of the Roman imperial cult in Judea. It may also demonstrate the governor’s personal reverence for the emperor, putting in a new light the words shouted at Pilate during Jesus’ trial: “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor” (John 19:12).”
The Real Pool of Siloam?
In 2004, the authentic Pool of Siloam was uncovered. Two steps were found during a sewer repair and were dated to the second temple period. There were also coins found from the first Jewish Revolt, ad 66-70. Jesus cured a blind man here.
Photo credit: Hershel Shanks “Three sets of stairs, each with five steps, have been uncovered at the New Testament-era Pool of Siloam. The excavators have exposed an area 225 feet long on one side of the pool and have reached both corners of that side. The corners are somewhat greater than 90 degrees, indicating that the pool was not a square but a trapezoid.”
Leprosy in the first century?
The discovery of a shroud tomb in Akeldama is important because it shows that leprosy was an actual illness at that time. So, it is not unreasonable to believe that it was around in the time of Jesus. The remains of a man show us that he probably died from tuberculosis affliction like archaeologist Shimon Gibson thinks. DNA testing also showed that this man had Leprosy disease, and the remains of this man date from the first century.
Caption/photo courtesy of Jesus & The Final Days by Shimon Gibson
Did we find the Ossurary of the High Priest Caiaphas?
In November 1990, archaeologists uncovered an ossurary with the inscription that reads Yehosef bar Qafa (Joseph, son of Caiaphas) As Ronny Reich would put it “The inscription on the simpler of two ossuaries containing the name Caiaphas was incised on its narrow side and consists of only three Hebrew letters:apq = Qafa’.”
Ronny Reich summarizes it nicely when he said “A person named Joseph with the nickname Caiaphas was the high priest in Jerusalem between 18 and 36 C.E. The New Testament provides only his nickname in the Greek form: Kaiavfa~ (Caiaphas, see Matthew 26:3, 57; Luke 3:2; John 11:49, 18:13, 14, 24, 28; Acts 4:6). Josephus, however, gives his proper name as well: Joseph Caiaphas, or elsewhere, “Joseph who was called Caiaphas of the high priesthood.”In short, we are explicitly told by Josephus that Caiaphas was indeed a nickname. Incidentally, Josephus reflects the same variation in the spelling of the name Caiaphas as we find in our ossuaries, although in Greek rather than Aramaic. Both the New Testament and Josephus preserve only the Greek form of the name. Our inscription provides us with the original Semitic form of the name.”
Photo credit: Garo Nalbandian “Fit for a high priest. The most intricately carved ossuary in the burial chamber lay undisturbed in niche IV (as seen in this photo). Decorated with two circles each containing five whorl rosettes surrounding a center rosette, the ossuary twice bears, with a slight variation in spelling, the name “Yehosef bar Qafa”’ (Joseph, son of Caiaphas). Inside the ossuary were the remains of six people: two infants, a child between the ages of two and five, a youth aged 13 to 18, an adult female and a man about 60 years old. Given the name inscribed on the ossuary, together with the extravagance of its decoration, the excavators wondered whether the remains of the 60-year-old man might well be those of the high priest described in the New Testament as interrogating Jesus and then delivering him to the Roman authorities.”
Skeptical scholars used to deny that synagogues existed in Jesus’ time and it must have been invented, or if they did exist, they are no longer extant. A find in 1960 provided evidence that synagogues did exist in Jesus’ time. Although the synagogue interior at Capernaum is dated to the fourth century, James F Strange and Hershal writes about finding earlier evidence under the foundation of the synagogue from the fourth century.
James F Strange and Hershal Shank explain the story of the earlier foundation of the synagogue quite well. “Excavators slowly chipped away at the foot of the mortar. Below the mortar was a thin layer of limestone chips. These were the cuttings or debris left by the workers who cut the blocks for the limestone synagogue’s walls. Beneath this thin layer was a fill more than three feet deep consisting of hammer-dressed basalt boulders mixed with dirt. “This was the fill set in place by the builders of the limestone synagogue to create the platform on which the limestone synagogue was erected. “
“Nearly four feet below the surface, under the fill, the excavators hit a patch of rude cobbled pavement of black basalt. This patch was only ten feet long. On the patch of cobbled pavement were potsherds from the first to the fourth centuries A.D. The first-century pottery fixes the earliest date when the patch of cobbled pavement under the potsherds could have been laid.At a point more than four feet below the nave of the limestone synagogue, the excavators found a pavement of basalt cobbles that extended throughout the entire length of the trench. Obviously, here was the floor of an earlier building.” “The pottery found in and under this cobbled floor dates to the first century A.D. or earlier. Loffreda published this pottery in extensive groups, and it clearly establishes a first-century A.D. date for the cobbled basalt floor.”
Adapted from Studia Hierosolymitana III (Virgilio Corbo) “Trench 24: (1) eastern stylobate (4th–5th century synagogue); (2) pavement (4th 5th century synagogue); (3) basalt wall (MB) (1st century synagogue); (4) basalt pavement (1st century synagogue).”“Adapted from Studia Hierosolymitana III (Virgilio Corbo) Plan and reconstruction of first-century A.D. synagogue at Capernaum.”
What is the oldest text that we have of the book of John?
P52 is the earliest known fragment of the new testament. It dates probably between the time of 100-150 ad, and some scholars even dated it to the first century in the time of Ch Roberts days. Ch Roberts was one of the first scholars actually to write about this fragment. You can read about the discovery free the book by Roberts is free to read in PDF, I believe.
Recent research has dated this fragment closer to 200 CE, while respected textual critics like Larry Hurtado have placed this fragment at around 150 to 200.
The Church of the Holy Spechular
Archaeologist Dan Bahat believes an inscription found at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher shows a Christian pilgrim returning to this site to venerate the spot. According to early church tradition, Jesus was buried here before Jesus’ resurrection. Dan Bahat said in an interview, “If we accept this as a Christian inscription and if we accept it as a second-century inscription, it means that the early Christian community venerated the place and worshiped it, so it closes the gap between the events of Jesus in the first century and Constantine the Great in the fourth-century ad. The inscription reads below the drawing “Domine Ivimus, Lord, we went.”
Photo credit: Avinoam Glick
Did Pilate Wear This Ring?
A ring that was unearthed at Herodium was discovered at an archaeological excavation in 1968-1969. This ring had an inscription on it, but it was not until a few years ago that someone was able to decipher what was on the inscription. The inscription is in Greek, and it reads Pilato, which is translated as Pontius Pilate in English. This inscription begged the question of could this ring be a ring that Pilate wore? Robert Cargill and the original people who wrote the excavation report “do not think Pilate would wear a ring made like this: that is a copper alloy ring.” However, they instead believe “that some administrator pushing documents for Pilate at a southern administrative center could have worn a ring like this. This ring gives us further evidence that the Pilate from the gospels actually existed, and this is a piece of evidence for Pilate’s existence outside the new testament too. “
” Views and cross section of the ring discovered at Herodium. Drawing: J. Rodman; photo: C. Amit, IAA Photographic Department.”
All photos used here come from the Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS); they're a nonprofit organization dedicated to information about archaeology in the Bible lands. I used their captions for the photos to describe some of the images I used in this article, so all credit goes to them for their amazing pictures and wealth of information.
Closing remarks about the new walls at the Synagogue by James F Strange and Hershal Shanks
“At the end of the trench, the cobbled pavement ran up to black basalt walls that, Corbo immediately recognized, were identical to the black basalt walls he had found earlier.The new basalt walls also appeared beneath the limestone synagogue’s stylobates. A stylobate is a special support wall for a row of columns necessitated by the additional load the columns bear. In the limestone synagogue there are rows of columns on three sides of the nave, creating two side aisles and a back aisle. Each row of columns has its own stylobate. The newly discovered basalt walls that the cobbled floor abutted were under the stylobates for the columns that created the side aisles in the limestone synagogue. These basalt walls served as foundation walls for the limestone stylobates. Originally, however, they were part of an earlier building.The Italian excavators then opened another trench (trench 25) in the nave beside the eastern, limestone stylobate, extending for the stylobate’s entire length. The same stratigraphy (or layers) was found in this trench. “
“The archaeologists found that the basalt wall ran almost the entire length of the eastern stylobate, serving as its foundation. This wall matched traces of the basalt wall found beneath the western stylobate. It is now clear that the basalt walls beneath the limestone synagogue walls are the walls of an earlier building. True, they now serve as foundation walls for the stylobates and walls of the limestone synagogue. But they were not built as foundations. They were built as walls and stylobates of an earlier building and then reused as foundation walls by the builders of the limestone synagogue. This is the explanation for the fact that one of the basalt walls, as we pointed out earlier, is not in proper alignment with the limestone wall above it. The consistent structure of the basalt walls (hammer-dressed boulders of uniform size, without mortar) in all the various places they have been found confirms that they all belonged to an earlier building.”
Jason Wade of the band Life-house once wrote a song called Broken. The song is about his friend who is waiting for a kidney transplant. In the song he says I am falling apart I am barely breathing with a broken heart that is still beating in the pain there is healing in your name there is meaning. My takeaway of these lyrics is Jason Wade is crying out to God and this is his response to what his friend is going through. Jason Wade is holding onto to his faith in God while not knowing what will happen to his friend. This is a very touching and heartfelt song and although it was played all over the radio, it is one of Life house’s best songs. I think we all come to a point in our lives where we go through a tough time and we all at times cry out to God. However, in tough times I am reminded of a quote from Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis in which he says, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
When we realize God is there for us in our times of struggle, we can get through anything. It will not be easy, but God will send the right kind of community to be there for you. God will give you the words to speak life into the broken and give you encouragement to stay on track. Lewis also said once that “God lets us experience low points in life to teach us a lesson, we would not learn any other way.” This is not to say anything related to what I was saying about Jason Wade and the song broken. However, if you have failed a test or you are feeling discouraged always know that God has not deserted you. He is right there with you through the pain of failing a test and through it all he will teach you a lesson.
For Example, think of it this way: at-least you tried and attempted the test and now you know what you need to work on. Your failure to not pass the test is no failure in God’s eyes because he wants you to teach to someone else that it is okay not to be able to pass the test on your first try. Also, maybe there is a person who you tried to strike up a conversation with, but they were just not interested in you on a dating app. Do not take that rejection as something like you are too ugly or God never sends you the right person. Take it as God is keeping you away from the wrong person, so you can meet the right person. Or maybe there is something in a college class that you just do not get now, and you think God is not trying to help you. However, think of it this way God is sending you the right kind of help, but you might just not be putting in enough work at home. There is always room for improvement with everything we do so keep trying and in the words of C.S. Lewis “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Always know that like Jason Wade you will find meaning through the pain, and through prayer and holding on God will give you healing and a purpose to get through any hard time.
Evidence for benzodiazepines being harmful long-term
Many people think benzodiazepines are harmless and taking the medication will not result in any harm. I for years have taken them, and nothing has happened to me. People will often reiterate this many times. However, I have a problem with this kind of thinking. For one, we need to understand how benzodiazepines work and why they are not a good idea for someone long-term. MD Peter Breggin explains in his book Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, “Although very freely prescribed by a wide range of practitioners, all drugs that are effective for short term control of anxiety and insomnia carry very high risks including tolerance, abuse, and addiction; behavioral abnormalities including disinhibition with violence and suicide and cognitive deficits, most obviously memory impairment. The long-term use of benzodiazepines causes severe cognitive and neurological impairments, atrophy of the brain, and dementia. The newer sleep aids should be considered a potential but unproven risk in that regard. In long term use, all of these drugs lose their effectiveness and probably do more harm than good.”
Can I heal from benzodiazepine withdrawal?
According to Professor Heather Ashton, who dedicated her life to helping others withdrawal from benzodiazepines, she thinks in most cases, you can recover from benzodiazepine withdrawal. Still, it could take months or even years.
What can we do to educate others who might think this medication is okay to take long-term?
My advice would be to keep planting tiny seeds every time you talk to that person. Show them love, but give them some of the concerns you have about the drug long-term. Some people can become very combative, so be careful how you get your point across. If they have an open heart, they will listen, and one lost soul saved is a thousand gained in God’s sight. Please also direct the person to seek medical advice from a doctor who is educated on benzodiazepines.
Try to find a day to relax and not think about anything that doesn’t bring you peace. Take one day out of your week to sit in silence. Maybe read a book and drink some espresso or tea while you read something that sparks your interest. For once, turn off the news and enjoy life without the need to keep yourself entertained with the latest technology. You will find to your surprise, that life can be fun without video games, without TV shows, without politics. There is such a sense of freedom when you are not holding on to the latest technology or media sensationalism. All you need in life is a purpose, and that purpose in life is to live a life of meaning.
Your life has a meaning and a purpose. It is up to you to find the courage to overcome that fear you might have so you can discover the endless possibilities of life and do things in life you didn’t know you could do. Stop putting yourself in a box you don’t fit in; stop putting yourself in shackles that God has broken off you. When you find out that there is still time for you to achieve your goals and you are no longer afraid to fail, the chances of achieving your goals are much better than you being stagnant about anything. Today I learned about a fixed and growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset are more concerned with grades and how others see them than improving something they need a little work in to overcome something they’re not good at yet. People with a fixed mindset also pretend to understand things they don’t yet understand because they are people pleasers rather than open to learning something new. Quite often, you will see people who have a fixed mindset give up very quickly. It’s because you’re either intelligent or dumb, and there’s no in-between, and you could never improve in something you work hard at, and this mindset sets many people up to become pretty cynical about life.
A growth mindset is much different because people who have a growth mindset have a childlike learning mindset. They don’t give up quickly, and instead of giving up early, they get back up when they are first learning to walk. Imagine if we had the same mindset as a baby? Imagine what we could achieve? Don’t give up on life! Keep fighting through whatever is stopping you from achieving your goals. Is your mindset stopping you from achieving your dreams? And if so, ask yourself why and start challenging your fixed mindset. Frequently, you will find that your problem is you’re not challenging your fixed mindset enough, and all it takes to achieve your dreams is to have a childlike mindset when it comes to life.
A couple of weeks ago, I was playing basketball at the park, and there was a woman with an older man who had Alzheimer’s disease. I had my Sony earphones on with noise cancellation when she began to ask for my help. So at the time, I couldn’t hear her voice. She finally came closer to me and waved her hands in my direction, and explained that she was a trained CNA working for the older gentleman. This poor man’s health was getting worse and worse, and he could barely stand up. I sat alongside the woman, trying to figure out how to get the older man off the ground as he was lying there on the ground.
We finally got him to cooperate after many unsuccessful attempts, and we both helped the man back up and directed him back to his car. As she was getting ready to leave, she told me I will never forget you. My memory of that day will last a lifetime. Before the illness, she told me the older man was supposedly a very smart businessman. I enjoyed hearing about the older man’s career.
In closing, I have to say that age has no prejudice in life. Live like a young person and enjoy life while you’re young. There is no point in gossiping about others or spending excessive time with people we don’t like. While young, we have the good fortune of living a good life. In the end, I learned that God brings people together in mysterious ways and that we don’t have much time here on earth. As long as we remain healthy, we should cherish the time we have with our loved ones, and not become so self-absorbed as not to help anyone who might need assistance. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living out of what we get, but we make a life out of what we give.”
There’s a growing sense that the Yankees may be reluctant to engage in a long-term negotiation with Scott Boras over Cody Bellinger. After the Juan Soto talks, some within the organization reportedly felt uneasy about Boras’ tactics, and Bellinger’s underlying metrics — particularly his hard-hit rate — don’t align with the Yankees’ typical offensive profile.…
With the world telling him he couldn’t, Rudy faced every doubt stacked against him—his size, his critics, even his own fears. But he refused to quit. Guided by unexpected encouragement and an unbreakable spirit, he pushed forward, proving that determination can turn the impossible into triumph.
Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker both bring talent and risk, but with postseason struggles and long-term concerns, who makes the smarter fit for the Yankees? I break down their skills and 2025 playoff performance, and what each could mean for the team’s future.
As a starting point, I would look into trading Frazier. A team might still be able to harness Frazier’s potential, but I think it’s a mechanical issue, as he often appears off-balance in the batter’s box. If Miggy isn’t as valuable an outfielder as you would like, maybe you can also consider trading him, but he is rebounding nicely with the bat. Frazier probably won’t be traded immediately since Gardner and Miggy would be the only options in the outfield. So, maybe they’ll send Frazier to the minors to resurrect his value.
I think they should look into another outfielder, but the good ones like Marte and Winker will be pretty pricey in terms of prospects at the deadline. They also need another starter. Monty and German are not bad back-end guys. However, you can’t depend on guys like Kluber and Taillon at the top of your rotation. I liked the Kluber signing, and he did start to bounce back from past injuries for a short stint, but he is not really reliable anymore. Severino could help this rotation, but it’s pretty much the same situation you have with Taillon, and Kluber just hasn’t been fully healthy in a long time.
The Yankees would benefit from working with Gleyber, too. He is hitting the ball into the ground way too much. Something is off in his mechanics, but I think he is too young to give up on. I suppose you could put him back at second, but I don’t know if we have the payroll to bring in a SS like Seager or Story, so they will probably hold onto guys like Peraza and Volpe. If they want to bring in an impactful bat, they will have to trade Chapman or Britton. I don’t think the bullpen will be that bad if you keep Chad Green around and make Loisagia the closer. Then, you could call up Adam Warren, and O’Day should be back soon. You also could bring in a guy like Archie Bradley and then develop pitching prospects like Gil and Medina. You also have some electric young arms, like Abreu and Gil in the minors, and finding relievers is kind of a crapshoot look at how the Red Sox got Garret Whitlock.
So, let me finish by asking you guys: how does one fix the Yankees? My answer is pretty simplistic: the Yankees need to trade some of their players they don’t see as long-term fits. If the Yankees don’t see Judge as a long-term player for them because of the injuries, why is it out of the question to trade him? They could restock a farm system that has taken a beating over the years and add even more impactful players to the young nucleus they already have. The Yankees still have some pretty good prospects. Such as Dominguez and their SS prospects and pitching prospects such as Medina and Gil are not bad prospects to hold onto, so it’s not a situation where the Yankees have a farm system like the Baltimore Orioles. The Red sox, after all, traded Betts and now are still a first-place team. Now I realize the Yankees do not have the same core of players as the Boston Red Sox, but there lies the problem: this core is not working out! So, why not break it up and retool as Boston did? I think a good start would be to bring in a guy like Stroman and find a way to cut some salary so you can bring in another impactful hitter.
“But do not let it trouble your mind that we see the unrighteous possessing wealth while the servants of God experience hardships. Let us have faith, brothers and sisters! We are competing in the same contest of a living God and are being trained by the present life in order that we may be crowned in the life to come. “~Clement of Rome
As the holidays approach us, it is only natural to have some holiday stress come creeping in. However, do not let that stress ruin your winter break or Christmas. This is a time to have some quiet time with yourself and rest your body. This past year has been challenging for everybody, but try not to focus on what you don’t have. You know, what Clement of Rome wrote resonates with me because it’s so easy to get jealous over people who have more things than you do, and you feel like you have more to offer the world than they do. At the end of the day, you have to take a step back and admire the things you do have. For instance, think of a time where you felt like quitting but didn’t, and you were rewarded for that. Or think of a time you were happy that something good happened to a person other than yourself, and then later something good happened to you.
The holidays should be about memories spent with the people who have the same mindset as you, and that is being happy for others who do good things and spreading love and sharing God’s love with the people who don’t have it. This unprecedented time should not ruin your Christmas but bring your family closer and help you learn more about gratitude. Also, make sure that when the new year comes and this whole pandemic is over, your spending time with the people who do not waste your time! Time is so precious, and the more you spend time with the people who are not happy for you, the more you put on a mask, and the right people for you see right through you. Life is short, so don’t feel guilty spending time with the people who love you over the people who laugh at you and are jealous of you. Success comes to those who spend quality time with like-minded people like you who see something in you that you don’t. You should never feel bad about having time to yourself or not wanting to waste your time on people who merely want you to fail because they are not doing well. Please try not to be so hard on yourself this holiday, and remember that the right people for you are cheering for you.
First and foremost, making coffee taste good is not as easy as some people make it out to be. Of course, drip coffee is the easiest way to make coffee, and it does taste good, but you will need the right brewer at home to have a decent cup of coffee using this method. Many people at home want a good clean cup of coffee without the nagging stress that comes with it. One way to get a good cup of coffee at home is by trying the pour-over method. There are many types of ways to brew your coffee using the pour-over method. One is the Chemex. Peter Schlumbohm invented it in the 1940s. The Chemex is a great brewer because it gives you a good clean cup of coffee without the bitterness, and it’s super easy to use.
Another way to make pour-over coffee is with a V-60. The V-60 is a fantastic brewer, and many specialty coffee shops have them, and many baristas have won tournaments when using them. From my understanding and from the articles I have read, the V-60 was designed with thermal conductivity in mind. This leads to a better extraction due to better heat retention. If you are interested in the V60, check out the article entitled Hario V-60, The History & Brewing Guide.
Another way to make better coffee at home is by investing in a better grinder. Many people make the mistake of buying a blade grinder, and the problem with those grinders is they do not grind the beans well enough to get a good clean cup of coffee. Many people have noted that the blade grinders lead to an uneven grind and a bad extraction. Investing in a good bur grinder is a good starting point to making better coffee at home, but why are bur grinders better? Well, I think James Hoffmann summarized it very well. When he said, ”a bur grinder will cut beans into evenly sized pieces and can be adjusted to various grind sizes. They are an ideal investment for making a great brew at home.”
If you are a coffee connoisseur, you might want to invest in an espresso machine. There are some really good espresso machines made by a company called Sage, and their espresso machines, for the most part, are easy to use. If you want something that is a step up from the Sage machines, you might want to check out machines like the Lelit Bianca. It’s a dual boiler machine that has a built-in (PID) and has a flow control paddle. At first glance, I didn’t know too much about flow control because I have an entry-level machine, but the website explains it like this “Rotating the paddle you gradually vary the water flow inside the group until the highest pressure is reached. This way, you can manually control every single phase of the coffee extraction to obtain the best possible result in the cup with every type of coffee blend.” (Usually, you find these types of features on the more high-end machines. The Lelit Bianca retails for $2,800.00. ) However, a good cup of coffee will always be possible with a good grinder rather than an expensive machine. What you will get with a more high end espresso machine is more features, and that makes it easier on the workflow of things if you have a large gathering of friends over.
There’s a growing sense that the Yankees may be reluctant to engage in a long-term negotiation with Scott Boras over Cody Bellinger. After the Juan Soto talks, some within the organization reportedly felt uneasy about Boras’ tactics, and Bellinger’s underlying metrics — particularly his hard-hit rate — don’t align with the Yankees’ typical offensive profile. While they were willing to take on his contract last season because the acquisition cost was minimal, committing over $30 million per year is an entirely different discussion. A reunion isn’t impossible, but the front office may prefer to explore more sustainable, long-term options.
With the world telling him he couldn’t, Rudy faced every doubt stacked against him—his size, his critics, even his own fears. But he refused to quit. Guided by unexpected encouragement and an unbreakable spirit, he pushed forward, proving that determination can turn the impossible into triumph.
Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker both bring talent and risk, but with postseason struggles and long-term concerns, who makes the smarter fit for the Yankees? I break down their skills and 2025 playoff performance, and what each could mean for the team’s future.
Honestly, I still don’t get the narrative that Jasson Domínguez got benched because of defense. People kept hearing that it was all about his glove — but when you actually look at the numbers, the guy who replaced him, Trent Grisham, wasn’t exactly a defensive wizard either. Domínguez (2025) – His Outs Above Average (OAA)Continue reading “Benched for the Wrong Reason: The Truth Behind Jasson Domínguez’s Playing Time”
Today I would like to talk about something I have been somewhat stagnant to talk about, and that is Benzodiazepine awareness. At a young age, probably at 16 years old or younger, I got prescribed a Benzodiazepine called Klonopin. My experience with this Benzodiazepine at first was not too bad. Well, that is what I thought at first. My psychiatrist wanted to help me sleep because I was still in High School during this time, and I needed my sleep to further my studies. During my high school years, I had trouble being social with other students and meeting new friends because while on the Benzodiazepine, I would sleep most of my days away. I remember thinking, what is wrong with me? Why am I sleeping the whole day away? I also struggled to keep up with good school attendance because although the prescription drug is said to treat anxiety, it works more like a tranquilizer than anything else.
Benzodiazepines also hampered my ability to have any healthy relationships. I remember being 16 and wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Why do I have anxiety? And why can’t I be normal like the other kids? And one day, I met a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with anxiety and first introduced me to Klonopin. I didn’t know Klonopin was addictive and that I wasn’t supposed to take it for as long as I did because the psychiatrist did not educate me on this matter. So, I went through the years, thinking it was normal to take this medication every day. I remember if I didn’t take the medication, I would break out in sweats and get horrible shakes throughout my body, and if I went a very long time without it, I would vomit.
The Turning Point For Me
I went through life thinking if I have to go through hell to not be on this stuff, it’s not worth it! So, I stayed on Klonopin until I was 27 years old. A turning point for me was when I told my mom that this stuff was not healthy for my body; I couldn’t go on living an artificial life. The next day I found out I had to switch insurances, and I had to get a new doctor. I went to see my doctor, and I informed him about what was going on with me. He surprisingly educated me on Benzodiazepines and advised me to do a slow taper with them. As I did the taper, it was hard because I vomited so much from the withdrawals, and my weight was all over the place. I also lost some motor skills, and I could barely walk because of the crippling fears I experienced while going through withdrawal. However, in a few years or so, things started to get much better for me. I joined a support group for Benzodiazepine withdrawal, and I met some amazing people who helped me through some pretty dark times. At the moment, I am a student right now and working hard to get a degree in psychology. I could never even fathom going back to school while being on Klonopin, but healing will come, and there is hope at the end of the tunnel.
There Is Still Hope For You
Psychopharmacologist Heather Ashton once said, ” No matter how hard it seems at first, grit your teeth and persevere. Benzo withdrawal symptoms do diminish in time but only get worse if you stay on the drug. It is important to realize that no permanent damage has been done. All sorts of neurological tests in cases like yours have shown that things are normal. Symptoms are worsened by anxiety and fear. You can return to normal health. You must keep a positive attitude and be courageous. Allow time for your nervous system to recover. It will.”
As you go through life, people will have a negative and positive impact on your life. The people who try to belittle you are not beneficial to your well being. In this life, there will always be that one know it all who thinks he knows everything about every little thing in this world, and you’re just not as smart as them. However, God has made us all differently, and what I’m good at you might struggle with, and you might have talents that I do not possess.
Over the years, I have accumulated a bunch of knowledge. I have learned that we are not all the same, we all have God-given talents, and just because some people are good at algebra and you’re not doesn’t make you unintelligent. John F Kennedy was one of the most famous and youngest presidents and prevented nuclear war from happening, but some people less famous than him made an impact on this world that should not be ignored. Less famous people like Detrick Bonhoeffer, who went up against the nazis and was put to death for his strong opposition against national socialism and his willingness to speak out against Hitler, should not be forgotten. Dietrick still prayed to God from prison and was one of the most influential people in a time of great uncertainty. So, while J.F.K might have had all the tabloids, Dietrick had a fearless heart and was not afraid to die for something he felt was unjust. Also, Bonhoeffer felt that even if he did die, that was not the end paradise existed for God-loving heroes like him.
Please remember that if you are trying to reach your goals in life, there will always be one person trying to one-up you, but they do not matter. Know that some of the most influential people in this world, like David Ruettiger, had to go through many struggles before he came out on top. People will doubt you, and they will also try to make everything into a competition, but it is not the person who wins the race first in front of millions of people. Its the person who leaves the most everlasting impression that wins the race.
When we see the word struggle, we attribute it with something negative, like no good can come from it. However, is this the right attitude to have? Did Jackie Robinson turn away from his struggle when he broke the color barrier in baseball? No, he went through endless racism and the pain and suffering that came with that to bring justice to the game of baseball. Did Michael Jordan just quit basketball for forever after his father died? No, he came out of retirement and scored 26.9 ppg at the age of 31 after missing an entire year. Did David Cone after he needed surgery to remove an aneurysm say I quit this is just too much for me to come back and pitch? No, and he might have had some doubts about coming back too quickly. However, Cone came back from his aneurysm surgery to pitch five no-hit innings. Then, later as a Yankee at the age of 36, he threw the first perfect game of his career. It was an accomplishment he did not think he would achieve at this age.
The point that I’m trying to make is when we pull back this massive facade, that struggle is never a good thing; we finally see that we would have never experienced the greatness we have achieved or can achieve today without that struggle we experienced. In other words, pain exists to teach us how to cope with the real world. It’s as simple as that. God uses people throughout history to give us stories about Kings and queens and how they dealt with pain so we can be prepared to teach our children how to rise above it and thus instill in us a future scholar and teach us how to conquer it!
Mr. Lewis put it perfectly when he said, “I did not find the front-line trenches or the C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station] more full than any other place of hatred, selfishness, rebellion, and dishonesty. I have seen great beauty of spirit in some who were greater sufferers. For the most part, I have seen men grow better, not worse with advancing years, and I have seen the last illness produce treasures of fortitude and meekness from most unpromising subjects.”
I am not saying that this is an easy concept to grasp, but when we learn how to light a candle during any darkness we experience, we learn how to shine our light on any dark time and show the rest of the world that they are not alone. I hope you have enjoyed my blog posts, and I hope you are doing well today. Please be kind to yourself, take time alone just to bask in the sun and get some vitamin d, maybe read a book or listen to something. Try to stay busy, and never give up my friends!
Not many people can leave behind the legacy of a Michael Jordan or even Babe Ruth. However, Lou Gehrig was the Yankees’ first baseman from 1923 to 1939. He was born in New York. His parents were poor immigrants. That didn’t stop Gehrig’s father from helping his son train harder for the MLB. Later in his career, he would become one of the Yankee’s best players, and up until 1995, Gehrig played an MLB record of 2,130-games. Cal Ripken would then shatter that record in 1995 as an Oriole at the age of 34.
Before Gehrig became one of the Yankee’s most prolific power-hitting first baseman, did you know he was first a left-handed pitcher? At an early age, Gehrig only earned 5 dollars for every game he played. As Gehrig transitioned over to being a hitter, he played a game at Wrigley Field, where he hit a game-winning home run against Chicago’s most well-known high school team. Shortly after high school, he was offered a scholarship to play football, but he tried out for the Giants and then got demoted. Shortly after this, Gehrig would return to playing ball again, where he batted 444 and finally was signed to a deal by scout Paul Kitchell.
Gehrig would go on to win a triple crown with the Yankees, and he won an MVP too. We cannot forget that Lou Gehrig was just as important to the Yankees sweep in 1928 as Babe Ruth was. Gehrig, in the 1928 world series, batted 545 with four homers. However, even with all those accomplishments, Gehrig struggled with staying healthy, and during his streak, Gehrig battled many complications he played through back pain, broken fingers, and sore muscles. When Gehrig’s body could no longer take the abuse of a long baseball season, and he began to decline, Gehrig was then diagnosed with a fatal disease called ALS. Also known today as( Lou Gehrig’s Disease) most people’s life span, when diagnosed with this disease, is only about 4-5 years. Before Gehrig would die in 1941, he delivered one of the most iconic farewell speeches at Yankees stadium, where he said, ” Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.”
“Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.” So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”
“When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift – that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies – that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter – that’s something. ”When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body – it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed – that’s the finest I know.”
(Original Caption) 7/4/39-New York: Lou Gehrig, the “Iron Horse” of baseball, who was forced to the bency by amyotrophic lateral scherosis after playing 2,130 consecutive games, is touched by fans demonstration as he is acclaimed in a manner unrivaled in baseball history. Upwards of 75,000 jammed Yankee Stadium to honor Lou. He is shown here–handkerchief to his face, deeply moved by the ovation they gave him.
This post was inspired by a short bio I read: if you ever wanted to learn more about Lou Gehrig, I strongly recommend this Lou Gehrig Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 19, Gale, 1999. Gale In Context: Biography.
Do you ever stop and think I wish I could move far away without a care in the world? Maybe start all over again where nobody knows you, and there is no stupid drama. I have felt this way for a long time. Massachusetts is not my cup of tea. It is not because it’s not a safe place to live, but because there is nothing left here for me. I am by no means saying that if I decide to move, everything will be perfect because it won’t. I think every place has its pros and cons.
Times like this can make us all feel negative, but truthfully I have felt this way before the pandemic. Moving somewhere does not fix everything, but I need a fresh start somewhere else. It’s not because I have a bad reputation here, I don’t. I need to put myself in the best spot to live out my full potential as a person. Some of the greatest men did not get where they are at in the record books just being stagnant in their aspirations.
I need to stop being afraid even if I fail in a new place or new work environment I will be okay. C.S. Lewis once said, “Failures, repeated are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success. ” I think we get so comfortable in stuff that we do for money or because we have been there for so long we feel we can’t do something new or something that will make us happier because we are afraid of change. We can’t let fear be the motivator here. We have to step outside our comfort zones and truly trust the process repetition kills, but it is the only way to get something right.
Also, I want to thank anyone who takes the time out of their busy days to read my blog posts. I also want to apologize for the long wait concerning my new Yogi Bera write up. I have been so distracted and will eventually have that finished at some point. Be safe, my friends, and I am praying for you all as we go through this tough time.
Lewis Armstrong once wrote: “I see trees of green Red roses too I see them bloom For me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”
What a Wonderful World became one of Armstrongs’ most popular hits. However, Lewis Armstrong’s path to stardom was not an easy one; he did not have the easiest of lives. When he was just an infant, his father abandoned him, and his mother left Armstrong with his grandmother. Armstrong also got into trouble with the law once. One night he had a loaded pistol with blanks and while he was outside, he then fired the pistol at a boy. Armstrong would then be taken in by the police. Instead of serving real jail time, Armstrong was then brought to a place called a waif home. Waif homes were a type of school that was strict, kind of like a military school.
These types of schools were run by African Americans who took in youngsters who strayed away from the narrow path. While at the waif home, Armstrong did not let their strict guidelines get to him because he had decently cooked meals and clothes. Armstrong would later on, be introduced to a band while at the waif home. He began playing the tambourine and then started playing the cornet.
By the time Armstrong was released, he was a self-taught jazz musician, and he could play songs on his own. Armstrong’s real dream was to become a professional musician, but at times he had to work unpleasant jobs to get by. Armstrong at night, would roam the streets and listen to other bands.
Armstrong’s luck changed when his friend gave him 10 dollars to purchase a cornet, and then he began to try to work at making his sound even better than it was. Armstrong also learned under some of the best such as legendary performers like King Oliver and Kid Ory. After playing with King Oliver and the Creole Jazz band, Armstrong had aspirations of creating his own band. He began adding some singing and dancing and even some funny stuff to his performances. Fans began to love the sound of his raspy and yet different take on performing jazz music.
However, Armstrongs struggles began to follow him again. First, he faced many financial problems. He dealt with many tough times where he was mistreated and taken advantage of by his manager, who helped him break into the industry in the early 1930s. Tommy Rockwell was his name, and he helped Armstrong find some stardom. At this time, he began to be seen in movies and even did some radio shows too.
Armstrong would later on fire Rockwell and meet a man named Joe Glasser, who would help Armstrong with his financial struggles. Armstrong would go on to become the first African American to get his own promoted radio show. Armstrong’s long-time fans didn’t like this and thought he was going too mainstream.
In the 1960s, Armstrong would get the recognition he deserved when his rendition of Hello Dolly overtook the Beetles number one spot on the billboard chart. He would go on to record 2000 songs; some came from the 1920s- 1930s. Many of these songs from these eras are still played by many today. Louis Armstrong left behind an untarnished legacy in the Jazz community. He overcame coming from a broken home, and betrayal and hate. In the end, all these things did not stop Armstrong from becoming a Jazz legend.
I do believe that my whole success goes back to that time I was arrested as a wayward boy at the age of thirteen. Because then I had to quit running around and began to learn something. Most of all, I began to learn music.
As the Yankees approach another pivotal offseason, a lot of the ideas being thrown around by fans and media simply don’t make sense. From re-signing Cody Bellinger at any cost to trading Carlos Rodón for salary relief, too many of these proposals ignore the team’s most pressing need: stability in the starting rotation.
The Reality of the Bellinger Situation
Let’s start with Bellinger. I like Cody — he’s a talented player, solid defensively, and has proven he can hit in a big market. But there’s a clear risk with Bellinger, especially considering his injury history, which I’ve already detailed in a previous piece. Those concerns still factor heavily into any contract discussion. Realistically, I only see him coming back if it’s on a deal the Yankees front office feels comfortable offering. That said, I wouldn’t mind letting Cody walk because he wasn’t very good in the postseason, and the Yankees have a lot of hitters that just don’t perform well in the postseason, and he just adds to that problem. The Yankees have to stop treating this like it’s some sort of crapshoot. They have players who can’t perform in the postseason, and they need to fix that. The playoffs are not a crapshoot. You need to perform on the big stage.
Even Michael Kay has mentioned that the Yankees have a specific number in mind for Bellinger and don’t plan to go beyond it. Reports have suggested that range is somewhere around $125–145 million. If Cody truly wants to return to New York, it could happen, but I can’t see the team getting into a bidding war if another club goes much higher than these numbers, which is possible for Bellinger, who is a Scott Boras client. The Yankees under Brian Cashman have shown they’ll draw a line on contract value — and Bellinger shouldn’t be the exception.
It might be a false inclination on my part, but something tells me there’s a bit of bad blood between Scott Boras and the Yankees after the Juan Soto negotiations. My hunch is that the Yankees won’t give in to Boras’ usual tactics or overextend themselves for Cody Bellinger on a long-term deal — especially considering Bellinger is 30 and has had his share of injuries over the years.
There was also been talk within the organization that the Yankees were not in love with Bellinger’s advanced metrics, particularly his hard-hit rate and some of his underlying contact numbers before the trade went down, which don’t quite fit what the Yankees typically value in their hitters.
Things stabilized a bit this past season, and the Yankees were willing to take on Bellinger’s contract largely because the cost in return — giving up only Cody Poteet — which was a minimal return. In other words, the Yankees were comfortable absorbing the money because they didn’t have to part with significant assets.
But now we’re talking about Bellinger as a $30 million-per-year player, and their tone might not be the same this time around. That has to be taken into consideration. I’m not saying it’s impossible for Bellinger to return to New York, but it’s also not something you can bank on — especially if Boras is expecting a bidding war that stretches beyond the Yankees’ comfort zone.
The Alcantara Trade Idea Doesn’t Add Up
Then there’s the idea of trading for Sandy Alcantara. On paper, sure — it sounds exciting. He’s got ace-level stuff, and maybe Matt Blake could help him regain form. But this has Michael Pineda 2.0 written all over it. Alcantara hasn’t been good for a while now, and he’s far from a sure thing coming off injury.
At a time when the Yankees need reliable innings and stability, giving up assets for a reclamation project just doesn’t make sense.
Why Trading Rodón Would Be a Major Mistake
The most puzzling suggestion of all, though, is the push from some fans to trade Carlos Rodón. I get it — his contract is hefty, and he’s currently working his way back from injury. But if you trade him, who exactly are you relying on in the rotation?
The Yankees already have several arms recovering or unproven. Even if Rodón starts the year on the IL, at least you know what you’re getting once he’s back: a high-end lefty who’s capable of giving you quality innings and competing at a top-tier level.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Yankees rotation workload so far:
Max Fried – 195.1 IP Cam Schlittler – 73.0 IP Will Warren – 162.1 IP Luis Gil – 57.0 IP Clarke Schmidt – 78.2 IP
Now, I like Fried a lot — but let’s be honest, he hasn’t consistently been a high-innings pitcher throughout his career. This season was a career high, but his track record doesn’t show that kind of durability year after year.
Outside of Fried, the rest of the group is still developing or unproven when it comes to handling a full-season workload. Schlittler and Gil are young and still building up, and Warren is only in his second season. Even with Gerrit Cole and Schmidt expected back at some point, both are returning from Tommy John surgery, and it’s unrealistic to expect either to carry 180+ innings right away.
The Risk of Trading Down
It’s also risky to trade down in the rotation. Even though Rodón will start the year on the IL, the replacements that most people suggest just aren’t enough. Guys like Dylan Cease or other mid-rotation arms like Valdez are solid but not frontline starters — they can’t carry the rotation. And even if you’re willing to give up top prospects for someone like Sandy Alcantara, the move is still questionable. The last time Alcantara was truly effective was years ago, and his underlying numbers haven’t been promising. Essentially, you’d be trading a proven, high-end starter for a mix of stopgaps and a reclamation project — a risk that doesn’t seem worth it.
The Yankees Can’t Afford to Trade Stability
When healthy, Carlos Rodón has been one of the Yankees’ most dependable and competitive starters. Over the past few seasons, he’s been an innings-eater and a legitimate front-line arm — something the Yankees can’t afford to lose while half their rotation remains a question mark.
Trading him purely to offset salary would be short-sighted and could set the staff back significantly. This rotation already lacks consistency — removing one of the few reliable arms only deepens that problem. At the end of the day, the Yankees don’t need another offseason full of risky moves. They don’t need another reclamation project or another expensive gamble. What they need is reliability, health, and structure in their rotation.
If they hold onto Rodón, stay disciplined with Bellinger, and focus on building depth rather than chasing headlines, they’ll be in a much better position come October.
Potential Pivot
If the Yankees pivot toward Kyle Tucker, they’d be adding a proven, long-term offensive talent who could make an immediate impact. Tucker’s ability to hit for power and get on base consistently makes him a much better offensive player in the long run.
However, if the team isn’t willing to pay Tucker in free agency, there are legitimate internal options worth considering. Spencer Jones emerged in 2025 as one of the more intriguing high-upside prospects in the minors. He finished the season with a 274 batting average, 362 on-base percentage, and 571 slugging percentage, totaling 35 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases. His strikeout rate was high at 35–36%, which is a concern, but unlike pure power hitters like Joey Gallo, Jones combines power with a respectable batting average. Even with high strikeout rates, players can still succeed in the majors—Aaron Judge, for example, had a relatively high strikeout rate in the minors, which contributed to the Yankees taking their time developing him. While the Yankees continue to explore high-strikeout options such as Murakami from Japan, Jones stands out as a prospect who offers balanced hitting potential, making him a player worth watching despite K-rate concerns.
Jason Domínguez, meanwhile, already looks like a polished hitter. The main area he needs to improve is his defense, which he can focus on during Winter League play. As for his splits against lefties, that’s not a major concern — he simply hasn’t had enough opportunities yet, just as he hasn’t been given much of a leash in the outfield. These are all areas that can develop with time, and at just 22 years old, there’s still plenty of room for growth.
Ultimately, while it carries some risk to rely on Jones and Domínguez, both have the offensive upside to become core contributors if the Yankees choose to bet on their own talent rather than overextend financially for only one free agent like Tucker or Bellinger. If you also go with the two young outfielders, you’ll still have plenty of things that you can explore via trade market, and there’ll be other free agents to fill out the roster with, to me. This isn’t an off-season where it’s a Cody Bellinger bust type of off-season. I think there’ll be more players on the market that will be available to the Yankees, and the Yankees have plenty of pieces to move if they go that route.
Final Thoughts
A few names that could be available to the Yankees this offseason include Ketel Marte, who the Diamondbacks might be open to moving as he gets older, while the likes of Geraldo Perdomo may be more difficult to pry away. Marte represents a realistic and impactful option for New York. The Yankees could also explore trade possibilities with the Guardians, potentially putting together a package for Steven Kwan or even José Ramírez, who was reportedly on the trade block at one point. Despite public perception, Kwan was actually discussed in trade talks with the Dodgers before those negotiations fell apart. If the Yankees get creative, they have a chance to build a more balanced, contact-driven lineup that’s less dependent on home runs this offseason.
While Cody Bellinger is a strong regular-season performer, a closer look at his career numbers suggests he’s more comparable to a hitter like Brandon Nimmo than to a true superstar on a consistent basis.
In the movie Patch Adams, Arthur Mendelson shares a thought that deeply resonated with me. He said, “You’re focusing on the problem. If you focus on the problem, you can’t see the solution. Never focus on the problem!” This advice is crucial as we look for ways to improve the Yankees. The more we dwell on what’s wrong with the 2025 Yankees or what they might need, the more complicated the situation becomes. We often fixate on which players should be let go. Instead, we should focus on finding constructive solutions.
While it’s essential to assess the areas where the team struggled for improvement, we should also consider a vital question: What steps do the Yankees need to take to reclaim their former greatness? For this reason, rather than outlining the individuals I would release—which can be discussed later—I will focus on a plan to rejuvenate the Yankees.
Geraldo Perdomo- why he makes sense ( and why he’s unlikely)
Why he is a fit: (2025) Perdomo is an elite hitting SS that brings above-average power and much-needed contact to the New York Yankees lineup. This past year, he hit 290 with 20 homers, 100 RBI’s, and a 389 on-base percentage, and, like when DJ LeMahieu came over, he is a hits machine, as evidenced by his 173 hits. Additionally, his advanced metrics are also strong. His WOBA is around 370, and his XWOBA sat right around 361 while posting a WRC+ of 138, which is well above league average. Statcast shows a above average contact rate, as well as a EV of 87.6 MPH, and a Barrel % of 6.2. While this might not be on the level of say a Stanton or Judge, While this might not be on the same level as Stanton or Judge, it’s definitely something you can build on.
Take Bellinger, for instance; he did not have elite statcast numbers, but he had a pretty good idea of the strike-zone, and he is one of those pesky hitters who know how to string together key hits, even though some of his stat-cast data are not elite.
Why he’s unlikely: Perdomo would be an ideal fit for the Yankees if they could acquire him, as he offers significantly above-average offensive production at shortstop. However, his defensive metrics are mixed. For instance, Statcast rates him above average, with a +4 in Out Above Average (OAA) for 2025. In contrast, his Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) varies by sources; FanGraphs rates him at -1 DRS, while Baseball Reference assigns him a +4 DRS.
In addition to this, the Yankees don’t typically trade for players like Perdomo in recent years, but when they traded for Didi, he was slightly below average in his hard-hit rate, sitting around 27-29%, and his average exit velocity hovered around 86 MPH. Scouts noted at the time that they liked his fast left-handed swing, but there wasn’t much consistent power or barrel rate yet. The comparison between Perdomo and Didi is not entirely fair because Perdomo is further along in his development than Didi was. Still, I only bring Didi up to highlight how Didi and Perdomo have some expected metrics (not all) that fall in the mid-range.
Still, it shouldn’t deter the Yankees from acquiring him because Perdomo already is a more complete hitter, as evidenced by his healthy above-average walk rate (13-14), above-average expected on-base outcomes (XWOBA-360), and he has one of the better chase rate profiles among SSs in baseball. So, while the Yankees might worry about how the power might be at Yankee Stadium, the plate discipline and contact are far more ahead than the other projects they took chances on before.
Why it is a Long Shot for the D-backs To Move- Geraldo Perdomo has approximately 4 years of club control with the D-backs as of February. He signed a contract extension with them that begins in 2026. That covers his two arbitration years, too, and at least the first two years of free agency. The deal also includes a club option for 2030, according to sources such as ESPN. In 2025, Perdomo is only making 2.55 million, which is excellent for a player of his caliber.
The way the contract is structured makes him appealing not only to the Dbacks but also to other organizations, but it comes with a slight caveat: the Dbacks do not need to trade him. For one, he provides them with payroll flexibility and something to build around. Given Perdomo’s affordable contract and team control, trading him would require a pool of prospects that the Yankees may not be comfortable giving up. However, this is a trade I could see that could make sense for the Yankees.
Strategic Fit for the Yankees: While acquiring Perdomo would be challenging, it provides the Yankees with a contact bat they desperately need and a player who can bat at the top of their lineup. The Yankees already have enough power with players like Judge, Stanton, and Rice. This lineup needs more contact and fewer strikeouts, and Perdomo gives them a pesky contact hitter who is reminiscent of some of the hitters the Blue Jays have had this year.
Honestly, I still don’t get the narrative that Jasson Domínguez got benched because of defense. People kept hearing that it was all about his glove — but when you actually look at the numbers, the guy who replaced him, Trent Grisham, wasn’t exactly a defensive wizard either.
Domínguez (2025) – His Outs Above Average (OAA) was negative, around –10 in left field according to Baseball Savant. That’s not great, sure. But the tools are real: sprint speed of 28.7 ft/sec (top-tier in MLB), elite athleticism, and a strong arm. On offense, he hits the ball hard — average exit velocity 90.6 mph, max exit velocity 112 mph, and a solid barrel rate. He clearly has the foundation to be a very good defender if he can refine routes, reads, and consistency. Early in the season, he seemed to be making those adjustments, but inconsistent playing time probably disrupted his rhythm.
Grisham (2025) – His OAA was –1 in center field, slightly better than Domínguez, but still below average. His sprint speed was 26.7 ft/sec, limiting his range, and overall defensive metrics were just slightly negative — definitely not elite or “major upgrade” level.
So yes, Domínguez didn’t have a perfect defensive year, but metrics suggest Grisham wasn’t drastically better — it was “less bad,” not night-and-day. Meanwhile, Domínguez brings speed, athleticism, and a strong arm, plus offensive tools that make him a more complete player long-term.
The bigger picture: the Yankees’ reasoning in the media — “we need defense” — doesn’t hold up. If it were truly about defense, Grisham wouldn’t have been the clear replacement, because he didn’t provide a meaningful upgrade. What it really comes down to is they wanted power production, and they didn’t see it from Domínguez fast enough, and leaned on the type of player they’re comfortable with: high OBP and some home runs. But the narrative that it was all about defense? That’s misleading. Domínguez has the tools, potential, and athleticism to be a dynamic contributor — he just needs consistent reps and the opportunity to prove it.
There’s been a lot of chatter this offseason about how the 2025 Yankees were a more well-rounded team than the squad that took the field in 2024. But when you dig into the numbers and the competition, that narrative starts to unravel.
Offense: The 2025 Yankees scored 849 runs with a 251 batting average. That’s respectable, but hardly a quantum leap over the 2024 team. The lineup was productive, yet it didn’t suddenly become elite.
Pitching: Here’s where the story gets interesting. The team ERA for 2025 was 3.91 — slightly better than 2024’s 3.96. But that hides a key detail: the starting rotation actually regressed in the playoffs, while the bullpen struggled with a 4.55 ERA in the regular season. The incremental improvement in overall ERA masks a real weakness in critical situations.
Competition: Context matters. In 2024, the Yankees contended with a strong Orioles team, whose win total was comparable to the Blue Jays in 2025, and still won the division. While Boston was weaker in 2024, the 2025 Red Sox didn’t strike fear into anyone either. At the end of the day, the level of competition in both seasons was remarkably similar.
Postseason: The playoff outcomes mirror that comparison. In 2024, the Yankees faced the Guardians (division winners) and the Royals, a Wild Card team that had proven in the past they couldn’t be counted out. In 2025, they went up against the Red Sox (Wild Card) and the Blue Jays, tied with them for the division lead. Both seasons ended in frustration, with early losses and defensive lapses sealing their fate. If anything, the 2024 team put up a stiffer fight against the Dodgers than the 2025 team did against the Blue Jays.
Bottom Line: When you account for hitting, pitching (starters and bullpen), and the quality of opposition, the difference between the 2024 and 2025 Yankees is far smaller than popular narratives suggest. The “more well-rounded” label for the 2025 team is convenient, but the reality, as the numbers show, is far more nuanced. In conclusion, the Yankees could’ve had a worse pivot plan than what they did, but they stayed relatively the same after Soto’s departure.
First and foremost, although I occasionally write about sports, I have shifted my content to a more film-oriented podcast and will no longer be covering sports as part of my podcast content. I also want to make clear that I am no longer doing a podcast so if you were interested in joining me as a podcast host or anything like that, I am no longer doing it consistently and only wish to do it occasionally if you ask me to come on as a guest or something like that, but even then, my time is very very limited .
So that out of the way, let’s talk about last night’s Yankees–Red Sox game. It was the perfect example of why this matchup feels so frustrating — and why the two teams play such different styles of baseball.
The Yankees might have similar numbers to last year, but Aaron Boone left 55 home runs on the bench last night — and this team lives and dies by the long ball. The Red Sox play a totally different game. They don’t even need Roman Anthony or Devers to win; they just put the ball in play, run the bases, and manufacture runs. Look at Yoshida coming off the bench with that clutch hit the other night.
The Yankees had their chances too — you can’t load the bases with no outs and walk away with nothing.
But last year, it felt different in clutch spots. They ranked 6th in the AL for wOBA and 5th for wRC+ in high-leverage situations, showing they could get it done when it mattered most. That clutch play carried into the postseason too — they went 3-1 over the Royals in the ALDS, and Anthony Volpe’s Game 4 World Series grand slam was a perfect example of their resilience.
This year? Not so much. It just doesn’t feel like the same team. The bullpen and the offense have both let us down, and it showed in games like last night. And if we’re being real, the record doesn’t tell the whole story either — a big part of why they even matched last year’s win total is because they got to beat up on weaker teams like the Orioles and White Sox down the stretch.
I also really don’t like the decision to play Goldschmidt over Ben Rice. Sure, Goldy had a couple of hits yesterday, but his numbers against lefties this year aren’t great, and they’re not good enough to force a platoon here. The Yankees are just clinging to older numbers that favored Goldy against lefties, but lately he’s struggled. In the last 10 games against left-handed pitchers, Paul Goldschmidt is just 1-for-10, hitting only .100 with no extra-base hits.
The only argument I can see is that Goldy is a better defender at first base. But even then, you could’ve let Ben Rice get the majority of the at-bats — he’s one of the hottest hitters in baseball — and then brought in Goldy later in the game. That would have made so much more sense.
I’m not even arguing that Boone should’ve played Ben Rice at catcher — I get why they’re hesitant there. But I would’ve much rather seen Rice at first base and had Goldy come in later. Yeah, it “worked out” in the box score for Goldschmidt last night, but to me those hits meant nothing since the rest of the lineup didn’t do its job. That’s not a knock on Goldy, but the fact is Ben Rice has been one of the hottest hitters in the league, and you need that bat in the lineup from the start.
In the film Pitcher and the Pin-Up, there’s a moment of rare honesty when Melissa apologizes to her childhood friend, Danny Foster, for denying herself the chance to be with him. She admits she ran from love — from something real — and that she was scared to face it. That takes vulnerability. That takes strength. And more than anything, it takes love.
To me, romantic isn’t just about flowers, grand gestures, or perfect timing.
It’s about being brave enough to feel something deeply, to fight for it, and to tell someone the truth — even when it’s hard.
Romance is courage.
Romance is showing up — again — when you could have walked away.
That’s what makes Melissa’s apology so powerful. It’s not about being smooth or saying the right thing. It’s about choosing love when it’s easier not to.
For those who haven’t seen it, Pitcher and the Pin-Up follows Danny, a small-town baseball prospect chasing his dream, and Melissa, a childhood friend-turned-model trying to make sense of her new life. They drift apart, as life, fear, and pride get in the way. But love keeps them tethered — even when they don’t realize it.
Melissa’s moment of clarity is romantic in the truest sense. She doesn’t just say “I’m sorry” — she says, I still believe in us.
It takes courage to admit you ran from love. Melissa finally stops running. 🎞️ Pitcher and the Pin-Up Directed by Drew Johnson
Motivational Blogger.23 
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