The New York Yankees are still sitting first place in the American League East. But at the same time, they’re dealing with more and more injuries that could slow them down. The latest setback happened Monday night in Seattle when third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera broke his left ankle while scoring the final run in the Yankees’ 11–5 win over the Mariners.

That said, DJ LeMahieu has returned from injury and is expected to help stabilize the infield. Marcus Stroman, who was signed to strengthen the starting rotation, is injured and struggling, yet his name is now circulating in trade rumors. Several other players, including Jonathan Loáisiga, Scott Effross, Luis Gil, and Giancarlo Stanton, are also working through injuries.

With all of this happening at once, the Yankees are being tested. Every move, injury update, and rehab assignment is starting to carry more weight as the season progresses.

Cabrera’s Emotional Exit After Scoring in Pain: “Did I Score?”

Oswaldo Cabrera’s injury happened late in the game on Monday night, May 12, at T-Mobile Park. In the top of the ninth inning, Cabrera raced home from third on a sacrifice fly from Aaron Judge. As he reached back to touch the plate, his left foot planted awkwardly, and he went down in clear pain. He stayed on the ground for several minutes and had to be stretchered off and taken from the field in a medical cart.

Despite the pain, Cabrera’s first question was whether he had scored. “Did I score?” he asked Judge as he was being taken off the field. The answer was yes, but the cost was high.

The next morning, the Yankees placed Cabrera on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left ankle. He was discharged from a hospital in Seattle and flew back to New York without a hard cast. It’s still unknown if there is ligament damage, though he will meet with Dr. Justin Greisberg, an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist, to determine if surgery is needed and what the recovery timeline will be.

Manager Aaron Boone didn’t commit to any timeline, saying, “I have no idea. We’ll see.” Boone visited Cabrera at the hospital on Monday night, along with many Yankees players. By Tuesday morning, Cabrera was seen smiling and talking in the hotel lobby. Boone added, “He was smiling, happy. He’s in good hands.”

Cabrera has been a regular in the lineup this season and is batting .243 with one home run and 11 RBIs. His energy and flexibility in the field made him a key part of the roster.

DJ LeMahieu Activated to Fill the Gap

Just as Cabrera went down, DJ LeMahieu was activated from the injured list. He had been recovering from a left calf strain and hip discomfort. During his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset, he went 6-for-10 with a home run and three RBIs in four games.

LeMahieu returned to the Yankees on Tuesday and is expected to take on a bigger role. While Oswald Peraza started at third base against Seattle, manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu, Pablo Reyes, and Jorbit Vivas will all be used depending on matchups. LeMahieu is expected to see more time at second base.

“It feels natural,” LeMahieu said about returning to second. “I played there for 12 years. I feel good over there.”

LeMahieu was flying to Seattle during Monday night’s game and learned of Cabrera’s injury when checking the score. “It’s one of the dark sides of the game,” he said. “He’s a great guy and a great player. Really unfortunate.”

Marcus Stroman Could Be Traded While Sidelined

While Cabrera’s injury was a sudden blow, Marcus Stroman’s situation has become more complicated. Stroman is on the injured list with a left knee issue. He’s started only three games this season, with a record of 0–1 and an 11.57 ERA in just 9.1 innings.

Still, his name is coming up in trade talks. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Stroman’s trade value is actually increasing because of a clause in his contract. If he reaches 140 innings this season, he triggers an $18 million player option for 2026. If he doesn’t reach that mark, because of injury or otherwise, teams could acquire him without committing to that option.

That clause had been a major reason teams stayed away in the offseason. But now, with Stroman likely to fall short of 140 innings, he could be seen as a short-term rental.

Stroman is an 11-year veteran with a career record of 87–86 and a 3.77 ERA. He made All-Star appearances with the Blue Jays in 2019 and the Cubs in 2023. He joined the Yankees last season and went 10–9, though he didn’t pitch in the playoffs.

The Yankees are currently using Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren, and Clarke Schmidt in the rotation. Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil remain out, leaving room for uncertainty. If Stroman is traded, the rotation will need further reinforcement.

Bullpen Sees Some Progress as Injured Pitchers Return

Even though the starting lineup and rotation are facing pressure, the Yankees’ bullpen is starting to show signs of recovery. Jonathan Loáisiga was activated from the IL on May 16. He had not pitched since last year due to a torn UCL and surgery. He last had a full season in 2021, when he posted a 2.17 ERA over 70.2 innings.

To make room for Loáisiga, the Yankees designated lefty Tyler Matzek for assignment. Clayton Beeter was also reinstated but optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Scott Effross is also making progress. He began the season on the IL with a hamstring strain and made one appearance in rookie ball before moving up to Double-A Somerset. Effross, acquired from the Cubs in 2022, has been limited by injuries since arriving. He missed all of 2023 and has made just three appearances in 2024. Nonetheless, he still holds a 2.89 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 77 career games.

Updates on Gil, Schmidt, and Stanton

Luis Gil is not expected back until later this summer. He’s recovering from a lat strain suffered in March. Boone said the team hopes Gil can begin throwing again soon, but the timeline for his return remains mid-to-late summer.

Clarke Schmidt is closer. He made a rehab start for Double-A Somerset and struck out seven batters in 3.1 scoreless innings. Boone said Schmidt will make one more start in the minors before returning to the rotation in mid-April.

Giancarlo Stanton is still not cleared to return. He’s dealing with tendinitis in both elbows and has not swung a bat in over a month. Boone said there is no set timeline for his return. Since joining the Yankees in 2018, Stanton has only played more than 130 games twice.

Every year in February, the Super Bowl brings people together across the country. It doesn’t matter if you’re a football fan or not, the Super Bowl has become a yearly national tradition that includes food, entertainment, commercials, and community. At this point, it’s practically part of American culture.

Super Bowl LIX was held on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, and it followed this pattern exactly. The game featured a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the same two teams that played in 2023. Once again, fans gathered in homes, restaurants, and public venues to take part in what has become a national celebration.

But how did we get here? To understand the importance of Super Bowl traditions, let’s look at how the event started and how it changed over time.

The Beginning of the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl started because of a merger between two football leagues: the NFL (National Football League) and the AFL (American Football League). In 1966, the two rival leagues agreed that their champions would face each other in a final game. This agreement created the first championship match, which was played on January 15, 1967, between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won the game 35–10.

At first, the game was not called the Super Bowl. It was simply known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. But Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL, suggested the name “Super Bowl” after seeing his children play with a toy called the “Super Ball.” The media started using the term, and it quickly became permanent.

In the early years, attendance was low, and television ratings weren’t strong. The stadium for the first game was not full, and many fans were not used to traveling to neutral cities. However, this changed over time. In 1978, the NFL decided to air the game during prime time, after 6 PM. This led to a large jump in viewership. By 2023, the Super Bowl had become the most-watched TV broadcast in U.S. history, with 115.1 million people tuning in.

The game’s timing also helped its popularity. The first Super Bowl happened during the Vietnam War, when the country was divided and facing morale issues. Football gave Americans something to rally around. Historians point out that this helped the Super Bowl become much more than a game. It became a shared experience during difficult times.

How Halftime Shows Became the Main Event for Many

In the first Super Bowl, the halftime show featured marching bands from the University of Arizona and Grambling State University, including pigeons and balloons. There were no celebrities or pop stars. It was simply a break from the game, not a show in itself.

That changed in 1993, when Michael Jackson performed at Super Bowl XXVII. His performance attracted more viewers than the game itself. After that, halftime shows became a major part of the event. They now include elaborate stage designs, global artists, and millions of viewers.

In 2023, Rihanna’s halftime show reached 118.7 million viewers, setting a new record. For Super Bowl LIX in 2025, Kendrick Lamar was the headliner. He became only the second hip-hop artist to perform solo during halftime. His show was praised not only for its performance quality but also for representing hip-hop’s growing place in American mainstream culture.

This is important because, for many years, halftime shows only featured pop or rock artists. Including hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar shows that the NFL is recognizing cultural shifts and opening its platform to different voices.

Super Bowl Food: Why We Eat So Much

Food is one of the most important Super Bowl traditions. It’s the second-biggest eating day in the United States after Thanksgiving. People plan menus, shop in advance, and prepare large amounts of snacks. One food stands out more than others: chicken wings.

During Super Bowl LIX, Americans ate about 1.4 billion chicken wings. The reason wings are so popular has to do with capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers. Sean O’Keefe, a food scientist, explains that capsaicin creates a burning feeling that makes spicy foods exciting to eat.

Popular dishes also included Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes, Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwiches, and Buffalo Chicken Dip. These foods are easy to make, full of flavor, and easy to share with a group.

At the same time, experts remind people to focus on food safety. Melissa Wright, a food safety specialist, recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds before preparing food, keeping raw and cooked food separate, and making sure chicken is cooked to at least 165°F. Food should not sit out for more than two hours, and leftovers should be eaten within four days.

With concerns about avian flu still present during the 2025 game, proper handling of poultry was especially important.

Why Super Bowl Commercials Matter So Much

Another tradition is watching commercials, since most of the time, people skip ads, but not during the Super Bowl. Advertisers pay huge sums of money because they know millions of people will be watching.

In 1984, Apple aired a now-famous ad for the Macintosh computer. It was directed by Ridley Scott and looked more like a short film than a typical commercial –– an ad changed how companies approached Super Bowl marketing.

In 2025, the cost of a 30-second commercial reached a new high of $8 million. Companies saw it as worth the cost because no other event can guarantee such a large, engaged audience.

This year, Doritos brought back its “Crash the Super Bowl” contest, inviting fans to submit their own ads. More than 2,000 entries were submitted. According to Dan Cohen from PepsiCo Foods North America, this kind of campaign builds brand loyalty by letting fans feel like part of the experience.

Taco Bell took a similar approach. Instead of hiring celebrities, they featured real customers in their ads using “Live Más Drive-Thru Cams.” Ronald Quintero, a company spokesperson, called the ad a “love letter” to Taco Bell’s customers.

Jennifer Freeman, an advertising expert at Temple University, says this shows a shift in strategy. Audiences today want real stories and real people. Super Bowl ads have become part of the entertainment, not just a break in the action.

Why the Super Bowl Keeps Bringing People Together

Some major cultural events, like the Oscars or the Olympics, have lost viewers. But the Super Bowl has only grown. One reason, according to Bryant Simon, a history professor at Temple University, is that football works well on TV — it’s one game, easy to follow, and comes with all the drama, tension, and high stakes you could wish for.

Another reason is the variety. Even people who don’t care about football can still enjoy the commercials, the food, or the halftime show. In 2025, pop star Taylor Swift attended the game in support of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce of the Chiefs. She had performed in Japan the night before but made it to Las Vegas in time. Her presence attracted more viewers and media attention.

Jennifer Freeman calls the Super Bowl a “cultural campfire” — a moment when people gather, share an experience, and feel part of something bigger. Even if people don’t watch football all year, they tune in for this event.