Why I’ll Always Root for Anthony Volpe
- Mike Scozzari
- Aug 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 3
Someone recently went on a rant about Anthony Volpe, calling him unwatchable, saying he’s the “fourth-best shortstop on the team,” and even claiming it’s “easy to hate him.” I get the frustration — Yankees fans aren’t exactly known for their patience — but to me, that perspective misses the bigger picture. In fact, it makes me double down on why Volpe is exactly the kind of player I’ll always root for.
And honestly, those comments set me off. They really got me thinking — not just about Volpe, but about the way we look at people in general. How quick we are to throw someone away, to label them a failure, to say “he’s not good enough.” After everything I’ve been through these last two years, that hits me differently now. I see the world through a different lens, and it’s why I can’t just pile on Volpe the way others do.
The Baseball Case
Let’s start with the numbers. Volpe is 24 years old and in his 3rd season playing shortstop for the New York Yankees. That alone is more pressure than most players will ever experience. In his rookie season, he hit 21 home runs, stole 24 bases, had 60 RBIs, scored 62 runs, and won a Gold Glove at shortstop. That’s not some scrub. That’s history. He became the first Yankee rookie to ever go 20/20, and he did it while learning the hardest defensive position on the field.
Does he have flaws? Of course. I would never say he's perfect, because he's not, and honestly, he'd be the first person to agree. He strikes a lot and his batting average isn’t what anyone hopes for, but he has the tools and the time to grow — and his defense alone makes him a net positive player.
When people bring up Derek Jeter, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Oswald Peraza, or some other former Yankee that has/could have played shortstop, they’re missing the point. It's completely unfair to compare him to Jeter because if we use that logic, then every Patriots QB from now on should be compared to Tom Brady, and every point guard for the Chicago Bulls should be compared to Michael Jordan. The Yankees chose Volpe because his ceiling is higher and they’re playing the long game — and if you’re being honest, that’s the only game that matters.
The Personal Connection
Here’s the real reason I see Volpe differently: I connect with him on a level that goes way beyond stats.
The last two years have wrecked me. I was abandoned by people I trusted most — colleagues, friends, even family. I know what it feels like to be picked apart, written off, told you’re not enough. It's exhausting, both emotionally and physically, and after talking to folks about how these extended layoffs feel, it's a miracle that more people aren't ending up with their names in the Obituary section. Imagine being told over and over and over that you're not good enough, need to be better, or in my case, just hearing nothing at all. Those that experience this need to continue to find ways to just keep showing up, even when feeling broken down. It's a nearly impossible task for some, but those with the mental ability to do so will always end up on top. Anthony Volpe is one of those people.
And that’s exactly what I see in Volpe. Everyone wants to jump on his flaws, but he doesn’t run away. He doesn’t hide. He keeps showing up in New York, night after night, in the toughest city in the sport. That’s not weakness. That’s resilience. He has the support of the organization and most importantly, I think, Aaron Judge. If Aaron Judge can look at him and continue to see the positive things he brings to the team, then that, to me, should be enough for everyone else to stop complaining and follow the instincts of the captain.
The Problem With “Easy to Hate”
I was told it’s “easy to hate him.” To me, that’s such a small view of the world. Hate is heavy. Hate is cheap. It’s easy to throw it around, but it never builds anything. We have enough hate in the world and this country.
After what I’ve been through, I can tell you — hate and abandonment cut deeper than people realize. I’ve lived through a lot of people forgetting about me, deciding I wasn’t worth their time or some implying that I've acted as though I'm the first person to lose their job... That's not even close to my point with my writing. My entire view of the world has changed over these last 22 months and there are folks who have not even checked in once see if I was okay. That kind of isolation changes you forever. The other day, I saw someone and they asked if I was working. When I started to explain that I was pouring my energy into Falcon Design Studios, but basically answered their question with a no, then started to explain this business to them, their response? "That sucks." Not, "I'm sorry," or even a, "Wow. Are you okay?"... Just, "that sucks".
So no, I don’t look at Anthony Volpe and think, “he’s easy to hate.” I look at him and see a 24-year-old kid living his lifelong dream and also going through a nightmare at the exact same time. Think about that... Imagine getting to do or experience the one thing you've wanted to do your whole life, then it turning out to be a nightmare with how you're treated. I can't even imagine how he feels, truly, behind closed doors. He's a kid trying to survive while the whole world tells him he’s not good enough. That takes guts most people can’t even fathom.
There's simply no reason to boo him in the third inning of a game where the Yankees scored 9 runs. That's beyond awful. He grew up in the area, is a life-long Yankees fan, and came up trough the system. It's moments like that where I, as a diehard Yankees fan, can truly see why people absolutely hate the Yankees. Moments like that disgust me.
Why I Root for Him
You might look at him and see mistakes but I look at him and see perseverance. You might see a “tough watch.” I see survival.
Rooting for Anthony isn’t about pretending he’s perfect — it’s about recognizing what it means to keep showing up, even when everyone’s telling you that you don’t belong. And after the last two years, I can’t help but respect that on the deepest level.
Because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that survival is victory. And Anthony Volpe is surviving in New York — and one day, I believe, he’ll be thriving. If I'm wrong, that's okay, but he won't go out by giving anything else than his all.
My Anthony Volpe Products
If you'd like to show your support for Anthony and my business, here are a few of my favorite Volpe Products that I've hand-selected and designed. I'm not going to lie... I own them all. :)
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