Talking Yanks with Action Bronson, Desus Nice, The Kid Mero

Of all the stars at the celebrity softball game, few love the game of baseball more than Action Bronson, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, a trio of New Yorkers who are diehard Yankees fans. With a weekend dedicated to baseball, MLB.com’s Justice delos Santos asked the three about the state of the Bronx Bombers, as well as who they enjoy watching and who sits on their Yankees Mt. Rushmore.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

What do you think about the state of the Yankees?

Bronson: They’re looking good. They’re the best team in the league. They’re on a little bit of a skid, but it’s not that bad. This always happens around this time. Everyone’s tired. It’s a little hot. Come back with a vengeance after the break.

Desus: I love it. I love it. The Yankees are doing great. They’re No. 1. The problem is when the Yankees are this hot this early on, you have the fear that they’re going to get cold right before the playoffs start and just have this bad streak because we’ve seen it so many times where the Yankees are just killing it, and then they have a bad week and the whole season falls apart. So, I’m actually a little nervous. They’re doing too good, too early. But being a New Yorker, that’s how we think. We’re not allowed to have good thoughts. We’re not allowed to get too cocky and be like, “We’re going to the World Series,” because if we did that, that would make us Mets fans.

Mero: As of this very moment, I feel like the Yankees are kind of in a little bit of a slump. But that’s the thing. As Yankee fans, we got to relax and realize that we’re Yankee fans. We’re doing that thing that Yankee fans do where they’ll have a couple of off weeks — in particular, Aaron Judge has a couple of bad at-bats. “Oh! Nah! The sky is falling!” Guys, relax. It’s July. We’re good. We’ll be playing baseball when it’s cold out. I promise you. The Kid Mero said it: Book it.

What do you think the Yankees should do at the Deadline?

Bronson: You always have to add an arm. You always add arms because that helps down the stretch in September and October baseball. You need arms. I don’t know who’s out there right now, but I’m sure they’ll pick somebody up.

Desus: Again, I worry about my Yankees. I always feel like you have to do something at the Deadline, unlike my Knicks — I know that’s a different sport. But it’s always frustrating when you see other teams, they’re making trades or they’re picking up arms or picking up a bat, and your team just sits there. In the past, the Yankees have been doing that, but right now, the Yankees are kind of in a good place, but an extra bat wouldn’t hurt. You can never have too much hitting.

Mero: We are a starting pitcher away. A solid starting pitcher and we’re good. … A closer and a starter. Boom.

Which players do you enjoy watching?

Bronson: I love (Hideki) Matsui. Matsui was always my favorite guy. I always loved old-school players. I loved Andres Galarraga. I love The Big Cat. I love that era. That era of baseball, big … slams. Just beautiful hitting. Tony Gwynn, too. Just love hitting.

Desus: I love Aaron Judge. It’s frustrating to watch because he doesn’t get the right strike calls, but it’s amazing just to see someone that big with the way he moves and how he can catch the ball. Is Juan Soto playing?

(Rejecting the extension) is so sexy to me. Not even being funny. He just knows his worth, and for him to be like, “Yo, I’m worth more than $440 million,” we should all be like that one day.

Mero: Among active guys, Juan Soto. I always have to rep for my Domis (Dominicans). Besides Juan, obviously my boy Aaron Judge. Yo, can we please call up Miguel Andújar, please? Can we call up Andújar? Somebody, please. Miguel! I’m out here campaigning on your behalf bro. Call up Andújar. Let’s get this right. In no particular order, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr.

Who’s on your Yankees Mount Rushmore?

Bronson: It’s got to be Derek Jeter, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Hideki Matsui. And El Duque (Orlando Hernandez).

Desus: Robinson Canó, for his sweet swing when he was on the Yankees. Joba Chamberlain, when he first came up. Mariano (Rivera), of course. Mariano, I used to love when he came in because the game was over. Jorge Posada … For my final Yankee, my favorite Dominican, Babe Ruth.

Mero: Derek Jeter. Dave Winfield. Bernie Williams is my personal favorite. Robinson Canó. It’s a beautiful swing and extremely disciplined at the plate. He will make a pitcher throw 38 pitches in one at-bat.

Extra innings: Who are some guys you’ve yet to reference that you want to eventually reference?

Bronson: Andre Dawson. That’s the first one. Larry Walker. Andruw Jones because he hit a … blast off me at CC Sabathia’s celebrity softball game in Yankee Stadium. There’s still so many players. Shohei (Ohtani) — Shohei’s a good thing to rhyme with.