N.Y. Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton TKO's Rays in Game One

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Yankees lead Rays; 1-0

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

Bronx Bombers Pick Up Where They Leave Off

Seven times during the regular season the Rays hit multiple home runs against the Yankees.  They do it again in Game One.  After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Aaron Hicks' sac-fly, left fielder Randy Arozarena homers off Gerrit Cole tying the score at one.  Clint Frazier gives the Yanks a 2-1 lead with a home run in the third.  One inning later Ji-Man Choi gives the Rays a 3-2 lead with a two run home run to center.  But that's where the Rays power surge stops and that of the Yankees begins.  Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge each hit a solo home run in the fifth.  Aaron Hicks drives home two more runs in the ninth with a single and Giancarlo Stanton caps off the Yankees scoring with a grand slam against reliever Chad Curtiss.  Overall, the lineup cranks out 15 hits in 39 at-bats (.384) and the bullpen tosses three scoreless innings.  Although still prone to the long ball, Gerrit Cole yields three runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts through six innings for the win.

In four starts against the Rays Cole has yielded twelve runs on 18 hits and eight walks with 35 strikeouts through 22.1 innings pitched for a 4.88 earned run average. 

The Yankees now have 38 hits through three playoff games.  Eleven have gone for home runs.  Giancarlo Stanton now leads the pack with three and Aaron Judge has two.  However, Stanton and Judge have no other hits, just five home runs.  Just five home runs, imagine that.  Stanton's grand slam is the Yankees second of the playoffs.  Luke Voit has yet to go long in three playoff games, but leads the team with three doubles.

With a game one victory Aaron Boone is afforded an opportunity to start rookie Deivi Garcia who has just six games of MLB experience.  This sets up Masahiro Tanaka to either clinch the series or steer the Yankees clear of a two game skid.  Garcia last started on 9/26 against the Marlins in which he surrenders four runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.  In six starts Garcia has allowed 19 runs (4.98 ERA) on 35 hits and six walks with 33 strikeouts.

N.Y. Yankees: The Empire Strikes Back

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

Astros lead Yankees; 3-2

I - NYY 7; HOU 0

II - HOU 3; NYY 2

III - HOU 4; NYY 1

IV - HOU 8; NYY 3

V - NYY 4; HOU 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GAME SIX

New York Yankees 

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

JUICE BOX PARK

James Paxton Out-Duels Justin Verlander; Yankees Stave Off Elimination; Series Shifts Back to Houston.

Baseball wisdom says in order to achieve success against the game's best pitchers you need to get at them early before they settle in.  On Friday, the Yankees do just that.  D.J. LeMahieu homers on Justin Verlander's second offering of the game.  Four batters later Aaron Hicks' three run home run off the right field foul pole stakes the Yankees to 4-1 first inning lead and final margin of victory.  After which Verlander retires 20 of his next 21 batters faced.  Through the next six innings he allows no runs, no walks, and just one hit with seven strikeouts (nine overall) albeit in a losing effort.

Meanwhile James Paxton's night doesn't start well.  He unleashes a first inning wild pitch permitting George Springer to score from third with the game's opening run.  But after throwing 52 pitches through the first two innings, Paxton settles down to provide the Yankees with much needed length and effectiveness.  He strikeouts out the side in the second, fans two in the fourth, and two more in the fifth, while throwing a more economical 60 pitches over his final four innings.  Overall Paxton allows just one earned run on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts through six innings full.

• Per YES Channel post-game, Paxson's 112 pitches were the most this season by a Yankees starter.

Making his seventh appearance in seven post-season games Tommy Kahnle yields a hit and a walk while throwing just eight pitches in the seventh.  Otherwise Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman are perfect over the final 2.2 innings with three strikeouts.

The Yankees generate just five hits, draw no walks, and strikeout ten times.  Aaron Hicks who is limited to just 59 appearances this season with an elbow injury strikes the major blow of the night.  That's not as promising as it sounds as the Yankees still must win two in a row at Houston.  Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, join forces on 1 for 10 with seven strikeouts.

Yankees and Red Sox Rivalry Invades London

THE RIVALRY

LONDON SERIES

Yankees win series 2-0

BOSTON RED SOX

vs.

NEW YORK YANKEES

FROM

Across the Pond

LONDON

A year ago today the Yankees and Red Sox open a three game series at Bronx County.  First place Boston arrives in town with a 55-27 (.671) record.  Their second place hosts own a 52-26 (.667) record.  The Bombers wind up winning two of three and take over first place by percentage points over the Red Sox.  But whereas Boston stays the course with a 53-27 (.662) record over their final 80 games the Yankees fail to keep pace posting a 48-36 (.571) record over their final 84 games.  The Red Sox clinch the A.L. East at Yankee Stadium and go on to register an MLB best 108-54 (.667) regular season record.  Despite hitting the century mark in wins (100-62) the Yankees must settle for one of two Wild Card berths.  Their one game playoff victory over the Oakland A's at Yankee Stadium sets the stage for an ALDS showdown against the Red Sox.  Boston goes on to befuddle the Yankees in four games, and for a second time within three weeks pop off champagne celebrations in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.  The Red Sox roll on, defeating the defending world champion Houston Astros for the American League pennant then taking out the Los Angeles Dodgers in five to clinch Boston's ninth championship in franchise history.

The Yankees enter this year's London Series in first place of the A.L. East with a 52-28 (.650) record, the same number of wins as last season but with two more losses.  Remarkably they've not only withstood a season long spate of injuries but have thrived to the extent of achieving a tie with the Minnesota Twins for most wins in the American League.  Miguel Andujar has not been apart of the season; they most recently lost Giancarlo Stanton again this time to a knee injury; and still remain without Luis Severino.  Aaron Judge only recently rejoined the line-up.  In the meantime, acquisitions DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit are becoming stars before out very eyes.  Gleyber Torres is another.  The 22-year old has 19 home runs with 47 RBI in only his second season in the bigs.  This past Tuesday DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees break and set the MLB record for hitting a home run in the their 28th straight game.  With center field at London's facility reportedly only 385' away from home late (Olympic standards), there's a good chance this series devolves into a gas house gorillas skit.

The defending world champion Boston Red Sox enter London Series with a 44-38 (.537) record and in third place of the A.L. East, a distant nine games behind the Yankees.  This season, it appears the Red Sox will be the one sweating out a Wild Card berth while the Yankees run away with the division.  In that regard they must contend with the Tampa Rays, Cleveland Indians, and damn near the entire A.L. West save for Seattle.  Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox Achilles heel has been their bullpen.  Out of 33 save opportunities, they've converted only 17 for a 51% rate of blown saves.  The Yankees on the other hand are saving 71% of their games.  And therein lies your difference from one season to the next.

True Story: I visited London back in 1989.  A waitress says to me, "Oh, you're from the colonies, are you?  I wanted to respond with something innocuous, but what came out of my mouth was far from that, "If by that you mean New Amsterdam, then, yes, I am."  To my fellow Americans crossing the pond, please behave won't ya!

NO ROUNDERS!

PLAY BALL!!

SATURDAY

Red Sox  13

Yankees  17

FINAL

In a game more resembling Batting Practice With the Stars, the Yankees outlast the Red Sox by an unsightly 17-13 final score requiring nearly five hours to decide.  Each team takes turns scoring six runs in the game's first inning alone.  With a total of 37 hits and 30 runs scored, Saturday's respective pitching performances leave much to be desired.  Parties of both sides are guilty as charged.  The feature match-up pitting Masahiro Tanaka against Rick Porcello never makes it out of the first as each are given the hook prior to recording a third out.  Perhaps we owe #UK fans an apology for treating them to such a poor exhibition of pitching.

The Yankees get home runs from Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, and Aaron Judge.  Boston matches them with one home run from Jackie Bradley Jr., and two off the bat of Michael Chavis.  DJ LeMahieu goes 4 for 6 with five runs batted in.  Didi Gregorius is 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI.  Yanks bat 9 for 18 with runners in scoring position.  Yankees are now 9-2 in their last ten trips.

With a 44-39 record Boston now trails the Yankees by ten games.

SCENES FROM LONDON STADIUM

Courtesy my cousin who made the trip.

SUNDAY

Yankees   12

Red Sox    8

FINAL

So what did we learn?  That pitchers need more time recovering from overseas flights?  It's my understanding when flying the body suffers dehydration.  Did pitchers need to better hydrate?  Is that it?  So much for Boston's $500,000 charter flight with all the fixings.  Let's face it, just about every pitcher from both the Yankees and Red Sox whom toed the rubber sucked.  The Yankees outscore the Red Sox by a 29-21 margin.  However Boston out-hits the Yankees 33-32 and hits six home runs to the Yankees four.  The common denominator is the roughly seven hour flight to London.  

Otherwise I have no idea ...

Congratulations London, England, and greater UK on your first ever major league baseball games.  Although the series lacked somewhat the more artistic aspects of pitching, sometimes a good old slug fest works just as well.  Thing about baseball is you never know what you're going to get.

Entering Monday night's action, the first place Yankees own a seven game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, and an 11 game lead over the defending champion Red Sox.  The Yankees 54-28 record presently tops the American League.  The Los Angeles Dodgers lead baseball with a 57-29 record.

N.Y. Yankees: Brian Cashman Reclaims The High Ground

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

I Think We Need A Bigger Park

New York Yankees: Brian Cashman acquires outfield slugger Giancarlo Stanton along with $30 million dollars from Derek Jeter Miami Marlins in exchange for Starlin Castro, prospects, and a complimentary bag of NYC bagels.

I left off in my previous post saying ... 

Make no mistake.  The energy of the old Evil Empire is not dead.  

It is merely being transformed.  This is Brian Cashman's New Bronx Order.

😲

When you think about it, the Death Star Bronx County is indeed the logical landing spot, but only because Sith Lord Brian Cashman made it so.

Cashman had already started whittling down payroll since before Derek Jeter's retirement.  And as luck would have it, the Empire Yankees wound up being the lone team presently capable of absorbing Giancarlo's mega contract in which he is still owed $295 million dollars.

Derek Jeter's options were clearly limited due to Stanton's full no-trade clause, making it no wonder Jeter also kicked in $30 million as part of the trade agreement.

Even more amazing is the fact the Yankees are able to accommodate the balance of their $265 million obligation, and still satisfy Emperor Hal Steinbrenner's desire for being under the luxury tax.

Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 National League MVP, batted .281 with a .376 OBP.  He led all of baseball with 59 home runs and 132 RBI, and led the National League with a .631 slugging average.

Aaron Judge, the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year, slashed .284/.422/.627, and led the A.L. with 52 home runs, 128 runs scored, 127 walks, drove in 114 runs, and finished second in voting for American League MVP.

Combined, they hit 111 home runs and posted 246 RBI in 2017 (with 371 strikeouts in 1,139 regular season at-bats for a rate of 32.5 percent.., just saying).

With a line-up also featuring Didi Gregorious, Gary Sanchez, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, et al, you can forget about Mos Isley Cantina Coors Field, as Yankee Stadium suddenly becomes the nation's wretched hive of scum and villainy largest pinball machine.

Perhaps the Yankees should consider installing overhead netting in order to protect the Judge's Chamber and Bleacher Creatures, or at the very least make them all wear Storm Trooper helmets.

There's no denying Christmas arrived early for Yankee droids fans.  What an absolutely stunning off-season this has been for Yankees brass as well, between the hiring of new Imperial Guard field manager Aaron Boone, and now this.

But wait, there's more.  As Brian Cashman continues expressing his desire to rule the galaxy sign a starting pitcher, be it resigning C.C. Sabathia, or otherwise.

In fact, he foresees it.

Upon the conclusion of a whirlwind week in December, Brian Cashman has no doubt seized the attention of every member of the Senate general manager in baseball.  Every front office, field manager, Jedi, and player, from Los Angeles to Houston, Anaheim to Chicago, from Boston, and closer to home in Tatooine Queens, realize the Sith Yankees have once more altered the landscape of baseball.

R2 says the chances of A.L. East survival are 3,720 ... to one.

Here we go again.

N.Y. Yankees: Swing And A Miss

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE BIG WHIFF

*

Astros Lead Yankees 1-0

I - HOU 2; NYY 1

II - SATURDAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game Two

New York Yankees

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

!HOUSTON STRONG!

TX

New York Yankees: Dare I Say It's Time For Joe Girardi To Manage Again, and Reconfigure His Lineup?

One could conclude after watching Game One that the Yankees missed it by that much.

Perhaps Game One goes into extra innings if Greg Bird is a half-step faster to the plate.  Then again, who knows, because we're talking about an unpredictable change in events.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, however, "that much" makes a huge difference against the Astros, particularly when contrasting Houston's ability to manufacture runs versus the Yankees predilection for hitting home runs.

Starter Masahiro Tanaka and reliever Chad Green did exactly what was required of them.  The two joined in limiting the Astros to a pair of runs on just six hits, and one walk, through eight innings of work, with five strikeouts.

Only problem is, Houston effectively strung together three of their four hits off Tanaka in the fourth inning.  With one out, it's important pointing out how Jose Altuve's speed is what allowed him to reach safely for an infield hit struck sharply back through the box.  With Carlos Correa at the plate, Altuve put himself in gear again and swiped second base.  Correa then promptly singled home Altuve.  With two outs, first baseman Yuli Gurriel singled Correa home from second, for a 2-0 Houston lead they'd never surrender.

Although the Yankees closed the gap in the eighth inning, Game One invariably proved the Yankees still live and die by the home run.  That's how they catapulted themselves into the post-season, past the Minnesota Twins, and through the former defending A.L. champion Cleveland Indians.

These Bronx Bombers, however, leave themselves no margin for error, be it from the players, third base coach, manager, or otherwise.

Let's take the Yankees fifth inning at-bat.  Aaron Judge singles.  Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez fields the ball and nails Greg Bird at home plate with an accurate, low trajectory, one-hop throw to former Yankees catcher Brian McCann, whom lets Bird slide into his waiting mitt.

Greg Bird was hobbled all summer by a bone bruise which ultimately required surgery to remove a bone in his ankle.  He did not return to action until the end of August.  If fans know Greg Bird is slow to begin with, the Yankees third base coach should as well.  Right?  In any event, Joe Espada waived Bird homeward.

Should Espada have been that aggressive at that stage of the game?  Sure, why not, particularly against Dallas Keuchel (who pitched seven innings of lights-out baseball), and considering it took a perfect throw to get Bird at home.  But aggressiveness sometimes comes with unfortunate consequences as demonstrated in Game One.

When asked after the game whether Bird should have gotten a better jump off second base, Joe Girardi jumped all over it (in my opinion), seemingly joining the media in critiquing Bird's lack of speed.

Really, Joe?

I say Joe Girardi is skirting the real issue facing his club.

The Yankees struck out 14 times in Game One.  Dallas Keuchel turned them away ten times, and Ken Giles closed things out with four strikeouts over the final 1.2 innings, earning the save.

The Astros have so far hit eight home runs through five post-season games, but did not go deep against the Yankees in Game One.  Instead, Houston manufactured their runs.  Moreover, they only struck out five times all game.  In fact, they only struck out 17% of the time all season - the fewest rate in all of baseball.

The Yankees, meanwhile have hit 11 homers through seven post-season games, and did indeed go yard in the eighth inning against Houston courtesy of "slow-poke" Greg Bird.  Unfortunately for Joe Girardi, Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks both fanned leading-off the ninth inning ahead of Bird, and Jacoby Ellsbury struck out following Bird to end the game.

I understand Joe Girardi wanting Aaron Judge batting second in the order for sake of getting him more fastballs, and generally better pitches to hit.  But despite Judge going 1 for 3 in Game One with a hit off Keuchel, his inclination, nevertheless, is to strike out.  No Astros hitter in the post-season has yet reached double-digit strikeouts.  The Yankees have three players in double-digits, with Aaron Judge's 17 strikeouts in 27 at-bats leading the way.

I'm not picking on Judge.  I just feel batting him second in the order at this juncture is an in-season move.  I know, that Joe knows, in the playoffs time is of the essence.  He therefore needs to manage and act upon that heading into Game Two, and drop Aaron Judge in the order.  Simply put, the second slot in the batting order needs more contact.

Houston's three and four hitters, went 4 for 8 in Game One with two runs scored, one RBI, and just one strikeout.  The Yankees two, three, and four hitters (Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorious) went 1 for 10, with six strikeouts.

Gary Sanchez is only 6 for 30 (.200) with 13 strikeouts through seven post-season games.

Meanwhile, Didi had only fanned four times in six games previous to Game One in Houston, but fanned twice hitting behind Judge and Sanchez, and with Stalin Castro protecting him in the fifth spot.

Joe Giradi might want to break up all those potential strikeouts, and reconfigure his lineup if the Yankees are to overcome their over-reliance on the home run.

Just saying ...

N.Y. Yankees: Wild Card Preview

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE

WILD CARD PLAYOFF

TUESDAY

Minnesota Twins

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

The Ballpark Along River Avenue

BRONX, N.Y.

New York Yankees: Cashman's Kids Reach Post-Season Ahead of Schedule.

Dare I say, this is Brian Cashman's team? And dare I say, finally?  

And to his credit, this is seemingly only the beginning of something much bigger and better to come?

Maybe not by this Tuesday, but most certainly in the seasons which lay ahead.

As (former) general manager of the Yankees, Bob Watson was working for a somewhat subdued George Steinbrenner in the aftermath of being suspended by then commissioner Fay Vincent.  A confident man, Watson nevertheless interacted with the Boss smartly.  He helped assemble the organization's first World Series champion since 1978.  

However, I'd be remiss for not acknowledging Gene "Stick" Michael as being the man most responsible for setting the foundation upon which the Yankees would build a modern day dynasty -  just not before suffering a crushing defeat against the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 ALCS.

After which, the role of general manager was transferred from Bob Watson to Brian Cashman in February 1998.  By that time, however, the groundwork for long-term success was already believed to have been laid.  In fact, Cashman critics and his supporters argued over just that, and at the end of the day agreed that he was being charged with not screwing things up.

As we know, after winning three consecutive championships (1998-2000), the Yankees lost the 2001 World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in heart-wrenching fashion.  George was obviously affected by that loss, because ever since the final out of Game Seven, through about the 2007 season, the old classic Boss was in full effect again.

And for this reason Brian Cashman was long and widely minimized and criticized throughout fan circles as being George's Yes Man.  In those days, the perception was Cashman served two roles: sign players the Boss wanted, and give said players more money than other teams could or would.

Despite winning another championship in 2009, Cashman did himself no favors by committing a half-billion dollars in order to get it done.  He lucked out when Mark Teixeira retired.  But he's still paying CC Sabathia, and Jacoby Ellsbury.  Those are strictly on Cashman, not George.

Today, there's no denying replenishment of the farm system, an effective and expedient rebuilding effort, and clinching a post-season berth at least two years ahead of schedule are all Brian Cashman's doing.

• From the New York Penn League up through the International League, all Bronx affiliates qualified for their respective minor league post-seasons this year.  
• The production provided by Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks (when healthy), and the prodigious season had by Aaron Judge, all speak for themselves. 
• Meanwhile, I feel two of Brian Cashman's greatest moments came when he acquired shortstop Didi Gregorious, and second baseman Starlin Castro.
• Throw in free agent re-acquisition Aroldis Chapman, and the Yankees young bullpen is among the best in baseball.

Yes, the Yankees still have the second highest payroll in baseball.  These days, however, typical big market spending shouldn't be held against them.  Hal Steinbrenner has been trying to get the Yankees under the luxury cap ever since taking over for his father.  This doesn't necessarily mean the Boss' old business model is dead (pardon the pun).  It just means the Yankees are allowing a few more big money deals to expire before delving back into the market for Type-A free agents.

Win or lose Tuesday, Brian Cashman's ongoing transformation of the Yankees has been quite commendable.


Anything Can Happen In One Game: Unlike Previous Post-Season Meetings Between These Teams, Yanks Better Not Take These Twins Lightly.

Yankees vs. Twins

2003 ALDS - NYY 3; MIN 1

2004 ALDS - NYY 3; MIN 1

2009 ALDS - NYY 3; MIN 0

2010 ALDS - NYY 3; MIN 0

The Yankees were one of only four teams in the American League to win 90 games or more.  The Minnesota Twins, who qualified for the second Wild Card with an 85-77 record, were obviously the best of the rest.

These Twins, however, should not be taken lightly.  

First, they are led by third year manager Paul Molitor.  The Twins finished second in the Central with an 83-79 record during his first season at the helm.  Then after piloting the Twins to a dreadful 59-103 record last year, he has them playing in the post-season just one year later.  The match-up between Molitor and the Yankees Joe Girardi is one I will be watching very closely.

At the plate, Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier hit 34 home runs and led the team with 93 RBI.  Third baseman Miguel Sano hit 28 homers, and left fielder Eddie Rosario hit 27 home runs.  The Twins have three more players with at least 15 home runs this season.  They hit 206 home runs as a team versus the Yankees 241 home runs.

The disparity between runs scored is not as wide as you may think either.  The Yankees finished second in the American League with 858 runs scored, while the Twins registered 815 runs.  Ditto with regards to team slugging.  The Yanks finished with a .447 mark, while the Twins were only slightly behind with a .434 slugging average.  The spread in team average is even closer.  The Yankees posted a .262 team batting average, while the Twins finished with a .260 team average.

With the Yankees holding only a slight offensive statistical advantage over the Twins, Tuesday's one game Wild Card may invariably boil down to pitching.

The Twins are handing the ball to right-hander Ervin Santana.  He posted a 16-8 record in 33 starts this season, with a 3.28 ERA and 167 strikeouts through 211.1 innings pitched.  He surrendered 177 hits and walked 61 batters for a 1.13 WHiP, while opposing hitters batted .225 against him.

The Yankees are going with their top right-hander Luis Severino.  He went 14-6 in 31 starts this season with a nifty 2.98 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 193.1 innings pitched.  He allowed 150 hits and walked 51 batters for a 1.04 WHiP, while opposing hitters batted just .208 against him.

The bullpen is where the Yankees own a noticeably distinctive advantage, which could very likely make the difference in Tuesday night's game.