N.Y. Yankees: Evil Empire Once Again Undone By Rebel Forces

From the desk of: THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Rays defeat Yankees; 3-2

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

III - TBR 8; NYY 4

IV - NYY 5; TBR 1

V - TBR 2; NYY 1

A.L. East Champion Tampa Bay Rays Eliminate Bronx Bummers

The Yankees lineup features a keen balance of young talent and veteran leadership, as well as this season's American League batting champion and home run leader.  Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are healthy and in the line-up together.  Kyle Igashioka is batting over .300 and providing a needed upgrade behind the plate in place of beleaguered catcher Gary Sanchez.  On the mound, New York's $300 million dollar man is on the mound while one of baseball's more formidable closers stands at the ready.

Entering Game Five the Yankees have everything perfectly set up.  All is going according to Brian Cashman's plan.

Pitching on only two days rest, Tampa "opener" Tyler Glasnow allows no runs and no hits in 2.1 innings pitched.  In the fourth inning Aaron Judge takes reliever Nick Anderson deep to right for a 1-0 Yankees lead.  Tampa ties the score in the bottom of the fifth when right fielder Austin Meadows connects against Gerrit Cole who is pitching on three days rest.  In the bottom of the sixth Brett Gardner reaches above the left field wall to intercept left fielder Randy Arozarena's potential home run.  Aaron Boone immediately makes a pitching change.  Enter Zach Britton who holds Tampa scoreless for 1.1 innings.  After which Aroldis Chapman is brought into the game with two outs in the seventh.  Rays reliever Peter Fairbanks contributes two scoreless innings and Diego Castillo holds the Yankees scoreless in the top of the eighth.  With one out in the bottom of the eighth Michael Brosseau deposits Aroldis Chapman's tenth offering of the at-bat into the left field seats for a 2-1 Rays lead.  Diego Castillo closes out the game with strikeouts of Giancarlo Stanton and Luke Voit and retiring Gio Urshela on a liner to third.  The A.L. East champs win the series three games against two and advance to the ALCS versus the waiting and defending World Series champion Houston Astros.  

#StayAngry

The Yankees fall short of their mission statement, again, forgoing an opportunity to avenge last year's ALCS loss against the Astros.  With no banging garbage cans anywhere to be heard the Yankees have no excuses.  No Luis Severino?  No, sorry, that's hardly a viable reason why the Yankees lost in five to Tampa.

They couldn't prompt the offensive machine at will when faced with superior post-season pitching.  Home run or nothing loses again.  The Yankees do not string together hits.  That's a difficult task with Aaron Judge batting second and Giancarlo Stanton hitting clean-up.  Despite a .316 average in the series, Stanton's six home runs are largely inconsequential.  Aaron Judge goes 4 for 30 (.133) with three home runs, five runs batted in and ten strikeouts.  Together, Stanton and Judge combine to hit .214 (12 for 56) with nine home runs, 18 runs batted in and 20 strikeouts.  The Yankees strikeout eleven times in Game Five and 18 times in Game Two (accounting for 66% of their allotted outs).  Yet, Yankee analytics say strikeouts be damn; it's better than grounding into a double play.  

Therefore ... the Sultans of So What!

Someone tried getting too cute and completely botched Game Two.  Without knowing who is largely responsible, both Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone are equally to blame.  They tried outsmarting the small market Rays and failed.  This is the organization Chaim Bloom left behind in favor of the Boston Red Sox position.  Cashman the general manager needs to reassess himself and this grand master plan of his.  Some on the outside looking in might say Cashman has done everything perfectly.  But the results do not agree.

Game Two essentially becomes a lesson in upper management meddling and analytical oversight.  You can not script games ... at least not like the Rays.  Aaron Boone was clearly left speechless.  But when Jordan Montgomery saved the Yankees from elimination, Game Two became less of an issue.  Now that the Yankees have bowed out of the playoffs Game Two again becomes a most glaring issue.

Brian Cashman has essentially recruited a bland band of narrowly focused stormtroopers.  Armed with analytics the Yankees have become robotic and stationary.  I'm sure everyone knows what bad shots stormtroopers are - these aren't the pitches you're looking for.  The Yankees ability to tap into the force at the flick of a switch is equally suspect.  Analytics may steer teams during the regular season when the law of averages rule the day.  The playoffs, however, require far more humanism in order to deal with the nuance of short series baseball.

Michael Brosseau avenges an Aroldis Chapman fastball aimed right at his head back in September.  

Tampa outclasses the mighty Bronx Bombers.

The Evil Empire is once again outdone by smaller rebel forces.

N.Y. Yankees: Jordan Montgomery to the Rescue

From the desk of: THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Series Tied; 2-2

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

III - TBR 8; NYY 4

IV - NYY 5; TBR 1

Yankees Hurlers Toss Three Hitter; Force Game Five

Many people should be thanking their lucky stars for Jordan Montgomery.  A Bronx sized blunder in Game Two is less of an issue now, but only if the Yankees win the series.  In the meantime, they've successfully forged a decisive Game Five against the Rays.  Gerrit Cole remains on course to fulfill his mission.

Making his first ever post-season start, southpaw Jordan Montgomery faces 17 batters, allowing one run on a fielder's choice in the third, three hits and three walks with five strikeouts through the game's first four innings.  In the second and third innings Tampa leaves five runners on base as Montgomery pitches through their threats.  Relievers Chad Green, Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman then slam the door shut on Tampa.  In a dominant display the trio allows no runs, no hits and just one walk with seven strikeouts over the final five innings.  The Rays are limited to one extra base hit and go hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position.

No Rays pitcher goes unscathed.  The Bombers score twice against Ryan Thompson in the second on Luke Voit's first home run of the playoffs and a sac-fly by D.J. LeMahieu.  Glayber Torres connects on a two run home run off Ryan Yarbrough in the sixth and Kyle Higashioka drives in the Yankees fifth run against Aaron Slegers in the eighth.

Aaron Judge goes 0 for 4, and is now 3 for 27 (.111) for the series with two home runs and four runs batted in.  

Still no sight of Gary Sanchez.  He surely will not be catching Gerrit Cole and the Yankees aren't going to insert him at DH over Giancarlo Stanton.  Higashioka is now 5 for 15 (.333) in four starts with a home run and two runs batted in and only one strikeout.  Sanchez has four strikeouts in eight at-bats.  His only hit of the post-season is a home run against Cleveland.

SHOWDOWN

In four starts this season against the Rays, Gerrit Cole has yielded twelve runs (4.88 ERA) on 18 hits and eight walks with 35 strikeouts through 22.1 innings pitched.  His Game Five opponent will be Tyler Glasnow who likewise has made four starts this season against the Yankees allowing ten runs (4.71 ERA) on twelve hits and ten walks with 32 strikeouts over 19.1 innings pitched.  Cole was the winner in Game One; Glasnow the winner in Game Two.  This will be their third head-to-head confrontation of the season.  On August 19, the Rays defeated the Yankees four against two.  Glasnow allowed two earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.  Cole also allowed two runs over 6.2 innings pitched.  On August 31, Tampa defeats the Yankees by a 5-3 final.  Glasnow allows no runs over six innings pitched.  Cole is roughed up for four runs in five innings pitched.  Gerrit Cole has surrendered seven home runs through four starts against Tampa.  Glasnow has yielded just four home runs to the Yankees in four starts but two came in Game Two.

N.Y. Yankees: Tampa Bay Rays Seek to Topple Evil Empire

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

DIVISION SERIES

New York Yankees

vs.

Tampa Bay Rays

FROM

BUBBLE BALLPARK

HEAD TO HEAD

Regular Season Results

AT THE PLATE

• Season Series - Rays 8 wins;  Yankees 2 wins
• Total Runs - Rays 47;  Yankees 34
• Team Average - Rays (69/312) .221;  Yankees (69/316) .218
• Extra Base Hits - Rays 34;  Yankees 22
• Home Runs - Rays 16;  Yankees 13

STARTING PITCHING

Tampa Bay

• Trevor Richards - two starts; 8.2 innings; 9 hits; 2 runs; 2 walks; 9 K; 2.19 ERA
• Tyler Glasnow - three starts; 14.1 innings; 9 hits; 6 runs; 7 walks; 22 K; 3.82 ERA
• Blake Snell - two starts; 8 innings; 4 hits; 3 runs; 4 walks; 8 K; 3.37 ERA
• Tampa bullpens three other games.
• Charlie Morton and Josh Fleming.

New York

• Masahiro Tanaka - three starts; 15 innings; 12 hits; 7 runs; 1 walk; 14 K; 4.20 ERA
• Gerrit Cole - three starts; 16.1 innings; 12 hits; 9 runs; 6 walks; 27 K; 5.03 ERA
• James Paxton - two starts; 11.1 innings; 5 hits; 6 runs; 5 walks; 19 K; 4.86 ERA
• Yankees bullpen two other games.
• J.A. Happ and Deivi Garcia.

BULLPEN

• Tampa Bay - 54 innings; 47 hits; 21 runs; 22 walks; 49 K; 3.50 ERA
• New York - 41 innings; 31 hits; 23 runs; 27 walks; 39 K; 5.04 ERA

"We don't like them; they don't like us." - Tampa center fielder Kevin Kiermaier

Tampa Bay is the reigning A.L. East champion.  They won the division by seven games over the Yankees.  Forty victories led the American League and were second in MLB behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.  This is the Rays sixth ever trip into the post-season.

When these teams last met Aroldis Chapman whizzed a 100mph fastball near the head of Tampa first baseman Mike Brosseau.  It was only the latest in a string of occurrences involving pitchers (Masahiro Tanaka) throwing with intent following incidents in August and September.  Although, this merely scratches the surface.  Lest we forget CC Sabathia was also involved in past incidences. 

Gerrit Cole is a New York Yankee for this very reason: to beat the Tampa Bay Rays and help lift the Yankees to another championship.  This is when he is supposed to earn his keep, or not.  He's been inclined to yield the long ball.  Against Cleveland in the first round Cole yielded two runs, one home run, on six hits and no walks with 13 strikeouts.   

N.Y. Yankees: Bombers Flirting With Historic Start

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

JUDGE PUNISHING 

OPPOSING PITCHERS

BRONX BOMBERS OFFERING NO QUARTER

Aaron Judge, like the Yankees, is off to a freakish start.  He is also demonstrating the benefits of the season commencing in July.  Had the season started on time in April, an injured Judge wold not have been in the Opening Day lineup.  Be that as it may, a fully healthy Aaron Judge is presently batting .314 through his first 35 at-bats.  Of his eleven hits, six have gone for home runs.  He is slugging over nine, for Pete's sake.  Meanwhile, the Yankees as a team lead the majors in (20) home runs, slugging, and OPS.

On the mound, off-season acquisition Gerrit Cole is likewise off to a fine 3-0 start with a 2.61 ERA, allowing ten hits and five walks, with sixteen strikeouts, through three starts and 17.2 innings pitched.  As I write, per SNY-TV, Cole is 19-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.81 WHiP, and a 13.3 K/9 average over his last 25 starts dating back to last season.

With Monday's victory over former manager Joe Girardi and the Philadelphia Phillies, the Bronx Bombers improve to 8-1.  For the moment no team has lost less games than the Yanks, none except the Marlins, that is, whom are frozen in quarantine with a 2-1 record.  This is the third time in Bomber history they have gotten off to an 8-1 start.  The first time comes in 1988, and the second time occurs to start the 2003 season.

It just so happens the Yankees in baseball history own three of the top five records through the first sixty games of a regular season.

• 1912 - New York Giants; 48-11-1
• 1939 - New York Yankees; 47-13
• 1953 - New York Yankees; 46-14
• 1998 - New York Yankees; 46-14
• 2001 - Seattle Mariners; 47-13

Nine games into the season, the Yankees are presently on course for 45 victories.

Make no mistake: the Evil Empire is once again fully armed and operational.  Just ask Aroldis Chapman, who has been cleared to return.  He should be rejoining the team shortly.

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Quietly Advance Into Off-Season

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

MINUTE MAID PARK

SEPTEMBER 2019

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Astros defeat Yankees; 4-2

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

GAME SIX

Yankees   4

Astros      6

FINAL

Like a Bottle Rocket in the Night the Bombers Season Goes Pop

ALL AROLDIS CHAPMAN COULD DO WAS GRIN, AND BEAR IT.  I believe it was more a curt expression than anything else.  Dismay manifests itself in many forms.  But the look on Chapman's face no doubt punctuates another confounding New York Yankee exit from post-season play.

• 2019 ALCS - BR

What a brilliant at-bat in the top of the ninth inning by D.J. LeMahieu.  He demonstrates great discipline in laying off a slider low and away for ball two.  With a 2-2 count he fouls off four straight pitches (five in all), which I felt was attributable to poor sequencing.  But when Roberto Osuna finally elevates an enticing eye level fastball, LeMahieu smartly takes it for ball three.  That forces Osuna into throwing a hitter's pitch.  His tenth offering of the sequence is just that.  LeMahieu deposits the ball over the right field wall just beyond the outstretched arm of a leaping George Springer tying the game at four.

With two outs in the last half of the ninth Aroldis Chapman walks George Springer.  That brings to the plate Jose Altuve who promptly ends the Yankees season by crushing Chapman's fourth offering, a slider, high and deep over the left field wall for a walk-off victory.

If you're wondering why Chad Green is starting game six of the ALCS, look no further than Brian Cashman.  Otherwise the decision to bullpen an elimination game is Aaron Boone's only recourse.  Although no stranger to starting games, Green nevertheless yields a double, a walk, and a three run home run by Yuri Gurriel for an 0-3 first inning deficit.

Gary Sanchez drives in a run in the second, and Gio Urshela's home run in the fourth closes the gap to one.  But Houston picks up an insurance run when Altuve scores on Alex Bregman's fielder's choice in the sixth.

And into the ninth inning they go ...


NUMBERS OF THE BEAST

Both sides utilize seven pitchers in GAME SIX:

• NYY: six earned runs on six hits and six walks with six strikeouts through 8.2 innings pitched.  They throw 170 pitches with only 101 (59%) going for strikes.
• HOU: four earned runs on ten hits and four walks with eleven strikeouts through nine innings pitched.  They throw 154 pitches with 101 (65%) going for strikes.

SWING AND A MISS

• Jose Altuve: .348/.444/.652; two home runs; three runs batted in; four walks; one strikeout!
• Carlos Correa; George Springer; Yuli Gurriel: five home runs; 13 runs batted in.

• Aaron Judge: .240/.321/.360; home run; two runs batted in; three walks; ten strikeouts!
• Gary Sanchez: .130/167/.261; home run; three runs batted in; one walk; twelve strikeouts!
• Edwin Encarnacion: .056/.227/.111; four walks; eleven strikeouts!
• Brett Gardner: .136/.208/.136; one run batted in; two walks; ten strikeouts!
• Giancarlo Stanton: 2 for 7, home run; three strikeouts.
• Thank goodness for Aaron Hicks?

• HOU: slash .179/.281/.318; eight home runs; 27 walks; 54 strikeouts; 24 runs scored.
• NYY: slash .214/.289/.383; ten home runs; 22 walks; 64 strikeouts; 21 runs scored.

THE REAL BRONX BOMBERS

• DJ LeMahieu: .346/.414/.615; two home runs; three runs batted in; three walks; two strikeouts.
• Gleyber Torres: .280/.333/.600; two home runs; six runs batted in; two walks; four strikeouts.
• Gio Urshela: two home runs; two runs batted in; two walks; .828 OPS; two strikeouts.

THE REAL BRONX BUMMER

• HOU Three Starters: ten earned runs in 31 innings for 2.90 ERA; 24 H; 10 W; 34 K.
• NYY Three Starters: seven earned runs in 23.2 innings for 2.71 ERA; 18 H; 12 W; 23 K.

• HOU Bullpen: ten earned runs; 21.1 innings; 4.26 ERA.
• NYY Bullpen: seven earned runs; 26.1 innings; 2.41 ERA.

• HOU hit eight home runs, only four are solo shots.  They leave 45 runners on base and bat (5/46) .108 w/ RiSP.  Team slash .179/.281/.318.
• NYY hit ten home runs, but seven are solo shots.  They leave 42 runners on base and bat (6/35) .171 w/ RiSP.  Team slash .214/.289/.383.

SO, WHAT THE F&@% JUST HAPPENED.!?

Game Two Loss:

• Starter James Paxton lasts just 2.1 innings; reliever J.A. Happ surrenders game winning home run in 11th inning.

Game Three Loss:

• Luis Severino is far from mid-season form.  He misses the entire season until returning to action in September.  He makes three appearances and pitches just twelve innings prior to the ALDS versus Minnesota.  Opposed by Houston's Gerrit Cole, Severino yields two earned runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts through 4.1 innings pitched.  Cole throws seven scoreless innings allowing just four hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.

Game Four Loss:

• Zack Greinke and Ryan Presley outperform Masahiro Tanaka and Chad Green.  Tanaka surrenders four runs (three earned) on four hits (George Springer home run) and two walks with just one strikeout through five innings pitched.  Chad Green yields a two-run home run in the sixth to Carlos Correa.  Greinke and Presley surrender just one run on three hits and five walks with seven strikeouts through five innings.

Game Six Loss:

• Chad Green serves as game opener.  He promptly surrenders a first inning three-run home run to Yuli Gurriel.  LeMahieu hits a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth.  Aroldis Chapman loses control of his fastball, Altuve crushes a slider in the bottom of the ninth, series over.

Brian Cashman's failure to land a viable starting pitcher at the trade deadline comes to pass.  The plan to bullpen game six backfires horribly.  No one could have predicted Domingo German's season ending in suspension.  Although with 30 home runs allowed and a 4.03 ERA through 143 innings pitched, I'm not quite sure German would have made a series altering difference.  However, waiting on Luis Severino proves a mistake.  C.C. Sabathia's physical condition and overall effectiveness was also a known factor.  Moreover, last season's money acquisition of J.A. Happ fails to pay dividends.  His ineffectiveness was likewise a known factor heading into the deadline.  Happ posted a regular season 4.91 ERA through 161.1 innings pitched.  Relegated to the bullpen for the playoffs, he makes just two appearances against the Astros, yielding a hit, a walk, and a run, through 2.2 innings pitched.  Otherwise game six "opener" Chad Green posts a 9.64 ERA through four appearances and 4.2 innings pitched.  Adam Ottavino is worse, allowing four runs on six hits through five appearances and 2.1 innings pitched for an 11.57 ERA.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Houston's outstanding defense; Houston's game saving defense, that is.  Meanwhile four Yankees errors in game four contribute to three unearned runs in an 8-3 loss.  Gary Sanchez once again proves a liability behind the plate.

Failure to improve rotation depth; a bullish bullpen; too many strikeouts; and lack of clutch or even situational hitting; make of it what you will.  At the end of the day, Houston's top star rises to the occasion and the Yankees top stars do not.


TRENDING

Once is an event; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.  The Yankees are eliminated from post-season play for a third consecutive year, twice at the hands of the Houston Astros.

2017 ALCS: Astros Defeat Yankees; 4-3

• HOU: slash .187/.271/.294; 20 runs; 40 hits; four home runs; 24 walks; 45 strikeouts.
• NYY: slash .205/.274/.347; 22 runs; 45 hits; six home runs; 19 walks; 70 strikeouts.

• HOU Four Starters: 13 runs on 32 hits through 46.1 innings for 2.54 ERA (6.2 innings per start).
• NYY Four Starters: 9 runs on 21 hits through 36 innings for 2.25 ERA (5.1 innings per start).

• HOU Bullpen: 9 runs on 13 hits through 12.2 innings for 6.64 ERA.
• NYY Bullpen: 11 runs on 19 hits through 23.1 innings for 4.28 ERA.

2018 ALDS: Red Sox Defeat Yankees; 3-1

• BOS: 27 runs; 39 hits; .279/.358/.429; 18 walks; 29 strikeouts.
• NYY: 14 runs; 28 hits; .214/.295/.321; 15 walks; 31 strikeouts.

• BOS Four Starters:  7 runs on 18 hits through 20.2 innings pitched for 3.12 ERA.
• NYY Four Starters: 15 runs on 19 hits through 13.0 innings pitched for 10.38 ERA.

Stick It With Your Analytics ~ Acquire Starting Pitching ~ Stop Striking Out So Damn Much ~ Stick It With Your Analytics ~ Acquire Starting Pitching ~ Stop Striking Out So Damn Much ~ Stick It With Your Analytics ~ Acquire Starting Pitching ~ Stop Striking Out So Damn Much ~ Stick It With Your Analytics ~ Acquire Starting Pitching ~ Stop Striking Out So Damn Much ~ Stick It With Your Analytics ~ Acquire Starting Pitching ~ Stop Striking Out So Damn Much.  Stick It ...

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.

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Continue Befuddling Boston

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Yankees lead series 3-0

I - NYY 4; BOS 2

II - NYY 9; BOS 2

III - NYY 6; BOS 4

SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

Boston Red Sox

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

South Bronx Grounds

You can forget what happened last weekend at Fenway.  Look what the Yankees did to the Red Sox ... again!  That's three straight; a double-header sweep on Saturday; with one more game to play in front of a national TV audience this Sunday evening - ESPN broadcast scrubs withstanding.

GAME ONE: The Boston Meltdown

Everything is fine through the first three innings.  The Yanks and Sox trade runs on solo dingers by DJ LaMahieu and Andrew Benintendi respectively.  Then comes Boston's fourth inning meltdown. Both Chris Sale and manager Alex Cora are ejected for arguing balls and strikes but not before Sale surrenders eight earned runs on nine hits - including LaMahieu's second home run of the game - with no walks and four strikeouts en rout to his eleventh loss of the season against just five victories.  All told the Yanks get four RBI from LaMahieu, two each from Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Gardner, and one from Breyvic Valera.  Domingo German yields just two earned runs on five hits (two home runs) with no walks and seven strikeouts through seven innings pitched.  He improves to 14-2 on the season with a staff leading 3.98 ERA.  Jonathan Holder pitches two scoreless innings in relief of German with three strikeouts.

GAME TWO: Boone's Bullpen and Gleyber Torres Dingers

Boston establishes two separate leads in the game and fail to protect either.  And therein lies the narrative of Red Sox Nation's disappointing season.  The Yankees complete a sweep of Saturday's twin bill at the Stadium.  Boston meanwhile are now losers of seven in a row.  Aaron Boone opts to bullpen game two, employing seven different pitchers whom join together in yielding four runs on eight hits and eight walks with ten strikeouts.  Starter Chad Green is limited to the first inning.  Tommy Kahnle earns the victory for his scoreless effort in the seventh.  Aroldis Chapman earns his 29th save of the season.  Gleyber Torres hits two home runs giving him three for the series.  Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman getting the start in right each drive in a pair of runs.  Rafael Devers connects on his 22nd home run of the season in the third off Nestor Cortes Jr. pitching in relief of Green.

• Chris Sale reveals to reporters in between games the Red Sox held a team meeting.  The Red Sox now trail the Yankees by 13.5 games.  But with a 59-54 record Boston is just five games back of the second Wild Card with 49 games left to play.  
• At 71-39 the Yankees are more than 30 games above .500 and are just one of three MLB teams to reach the 70 win mark to date.

N.Y. Yankees: Gleyber Torres is Grand Against The Red Sox

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

FRIDAY

Red Sox   2

Yankees   4

FINAL

GAME ONE

Bottom first: Aaron Hicks at the plate; 

one batter later Gleyber Torres hits grand slam home run to left.

Aaron Judge faces Eduardo Rodriguez

Boston opens the scoring right away in the first on J.D. Martinez' two run home run.  But as noted above, the Yankees load the bases in the bottom half of the frame.  With LeMahieu at third, Judge at second, and Encarnacion stationed first, Gleyber Torres deposits an Eduardo Rodriguez offering into the left field seats giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead and eventual margin of victory.  James Paxton performs like the pitcher Brian Cashman envisioned, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts through six innings pitched.  He faces 23 batters and throws 100 pitches on the nose with 60 going for strikes.  Tommy Kahnle pitches a scoreless seventh with a strikeout.  Zack Britton takes care of the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman closes out the ninth for his 28th save of the season.  The Yankees and Red Sox still are scheduled to play eight more games.

Mets vs. Yankees: 2019 Subway Series II

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Mets/Yankees Split Series 2-2

I - Rain Out

II - NYY 12; NYM 5

III - NYM 10; NYY 4

IV - NYM 4; NYY 2

V- NYY 5; NYM 1

SUBWAY SERIES

New York Yankees

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

41 SEAVER WAY

QUEENS

Welcome back to the second installment of Subway Series featuring the American League's best team taking on the National League's third worst team.  The Bombers are coming off a weekend wherein they score 29 runs on 32 hits through two games against the Red Sox at London Series.  On Sunday, the Mets won their first game in a week and are 3-7 over their last ten games.  With any luck the moribund Metropolitans face a flight fatigued jet lagged sleep deprived strung out Yankees squad when both teams meet Tuesday evening at Citi Field.  Better yet, maybe the entire Bombers line-up all pull their hamstrings considering they're just one day removed from another seven hour return flight back home.  The Mets need all the help they can get considering they're blowing more than half of their save opportunities.

Mets All-Stars:

• Jacob deGrom; selected.
• Jeff McNeil; selected.
• Pete Alonso; selected.

Yankees All-Stars:

• DJ LeMahieu; voted
• Gary Sanchez; voted
• Aroldis Chapman; selected.

AMAZIN'

• During an otherwise stellar ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 New York Mets Saturday at Citi Field, the organization incorrectly included two members of the '69 roster into their video tribute to those no longer with us whom are still very much alive.  The Mets front office apologized.  How does this happen?

HOLY COW!

• ICYMI: LONDON SERIES Recap and Pics.

GAME ONE

Yankees  2

Mets       4

FINAL

I do not buy into the notion Zack Wheeler was auditioning for the Yankees Tuesday evening at Citi Field.  The teams still strike me as very unlikely trade partners.  That said, Wheeler toes the rubber in game one of Subway Series II.  He throws 116 pitches with 75 (65%) going for strikes, yielding two earned runs on five hits and just one walk with eight strikeouts.  He leaves the game after 6.1 innings with the Mets trailing 2-1 through seven.  The Mets finally break through for three runs in the eighth on a two RBI double from Michael Conforto, and JD Davis's double scoring Pete Alonso to give the Mets a 4-2 lead.  Just as the rains begin falling down upon Citi Field, Edwin Diaz pitches a scoreless ninth and strikes out Brett Gardner to end the game.  Seth Lugo - the latest hard luck pitcher of note - earns his fourth victory.  Edwin Diaz records his 18th save of the season.  Mets pitching issues two walks all game.

Playing left field, JD Davis is 2 for 4 with a double and his ninth home run in the sixth.  Robinson Cano, finally moved out of the three spot and hitting fifth, goes 2 for 3 with a walk and run scored.  Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario also register multi-hit games.

Aaron Hicks strokes the Yankees lone extra base hit of the game.  Starter James Paxton yields just one run on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Adam Ottavino earns his third loss for his work in the eighth.

The Yankees record setting streak of hitting at least one home run in 31 consecutive games ends at Queens.

GAME TWO

Yankees  5

Mets       1

FINAL

Domingo German out-pitches Jason Vargas.  There's your game.

The Yankees starter yields one run on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts through six innings.  He improves his record to 10-2 with a 3.67 ERA.  Jason Vargas surrenders three runs on seven hits and two walks wit six strikeouts through 5.1 innings.  Steven Matz makes a relief appearance in the seventh.  The Yankees get home runs from Didi Gregorious and Gio Urshela.  Jeff McNeil's home run accounts for the Mets only run.

N.Y. Yankees: The Red Sox Are Coming

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

A.L. EAST

Red Sox      25-9

Yankees    24-10

SHOWDOWN-II

The two best teams in baseball convene again this week in the Bronx.

When the Yankees and Red Sox last met up in Boston, a fight broke out.

Imagine that ...

Tyler Austin didn't appreciate getting plunked in the ribs by Sox reliever Joe Kelly, and so he charged the mound, after which all hell broke loose.  Cooler heads eventually prevailed, but not before Red Sox manager Alex Cora shooed away Yankees coach Phil Nevin and effectively told him go back inside his (third base) box.

The Red Sox wound up taking two out of three.  I spent the weekend in Boston right after that series.
At some point, I listened as a pair of WEEI Radio personalities described the Yankees as being asleep, and Aaron Boone as lacking a pulse.  The show hosts were obviously feeling good about themselves this particular day.  And why not?  The Sox were in the midst of a spectacular 17-2 start.  However, they've gone just 8-7 since.

Not coincidentally, that series dropped the Yankees to 6-7 on the young season.  But now it is the Yankees looking to turn the tables.  They have gone 19-2 since these teams last met and have closed to within one game of the first place Red Sox.

Now it's the Bombers turn to host.

Game One

Yankees Strike First Blood

Red Sox  2

Yankees  3

FINAL

The two best teams in baseball are now tied for first place of the American League East.  Only difference being the Yankees have now won 16 of their last 17 games - a rate of success not achieved by a Yankees team since 1953 per announcer Michael Kay.  The Red Sox on the other hand are now 8-8 in their last 16 games.

But make no mistake, this game was the usual tightly contested affair.

Starting pitchers Luis Severino and Drew Pomeranz essentially cancelled each other out with respective six inning efforts in which each allowed a pair of earned runs.  Severino surrendered six hits, walked none and fanned eleven batters.  Pomeranz allowed just four hits and two walks, and struck out six.  Both pitchers walked off with no decisions.

Giancarlo Stanton staked Severino to a 2-0 lead with solo home runs off Pomeranz in the second and fourth innings.  Undeterred, Boston struck back with Andrew Benintendi's 2-out RBI hit in the fourth, and Mookie Betts 2-out RBI triple in the seventh.

Aaron Judge, who played an exceptional right field, then delivered what proved to be the game winning hit in the home seventh off newly reviled Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly (but the run and loss was charged to Heath Hembree).

Aroldis Chapman closed out the ninth inning, picking up his eighth save of the season.

N.Y. Yankees: Kicking Astros

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Showdown for first place looms ahead.

New York Yankees: Bombers Take Three of Four From Defending Champs; Closing In On Boston Red Sox.

In the immortal words of Rick Flair, if you want to be the man you have to beat the man.

Over the last four days the Bronx Bombers did just that.

Wooo!

In their first meeting since last year's ALCS, the Yankees went into Houston and took three out of four from the defending World Series champions.

After dropping Monday's series opener, six different Yankees pitchers outlasted a singularly brilliant performance by Astros starter Justin Verlander.  With two runners on base and one out in the top of the ninth, and the game locked in a scoreless tie, Gary Sanchez blasted a home run to straight away center off reliever Ken Giles giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead en route to a dramatic 4-0 final.

Luis Severino then provided the bullpen with a well deserved game off on Wednesday with a nine inning gem - an increasingly rare complete game shutout - in which he allowed just five hits and a walk, and fanned ten batters.  He averaged an economical 12 pitches per inning, while throwing 110 total pitches with 83 (75%) going for strikes.  With his fifth victory of the season, Severino remains tied for the American League lead.  Giancarlo Stanton went deep twice as the Yankees took their second straight game by an identical 4-0 final score.

Masahiro Tanaka was cruising along in Thursday's series finale.  But with the Yankees leading 3-0 Tanaka ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh when he surrendered consecutive hits and struck a batter to load the bases.  Aaron Boone then summoned reliever Chad Green.  An infield single, a base hit, a passed ball, and a fielder's choice later, and the Astros were now enjoying a 4-3 lead.  Carlos Correa's home run in the eighth then gave Houston a 5-3 lead.  However, the home town crowd's glee was short lived.  The Yankees promptly loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, then tied the game on Gleyber Torres' base hit to short left.  The go-ahead run scored when Aaron Judge reached safely on a fielder's choice.  In the home half of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman fanned the reigning American League MVP Jose Altuve to end the game.

Although the Astros are credited with snapping the Yankees nine game win streak, the Bombers have nevertheless gone 14-3 since enduring weather armageddon at Detroit, and have effectively negated Boston's 17-2 start.  The Red Sox have since stumbled of late with a 5-6 record.  They take the field Thursday night against the Texas Rangers with a mere 1.5 game lead over the surging Yankees.

The Bombers and Red Sox open a three game series at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday.

At the time of this post, the Yankees and Red Sox were tied for second behind Houston in team ERA and ranked second and third in strikeouts among American League clubs.  The Yankees were second in average against; the Sox fourth.  The Yankees were third in WHiP; the Red Sox fourth.

Offensively, the Yanks and Sox are one and two in runs scored.  The Yanks are tied for second in home runs; the Sox fifth.  And at the top of OPS chart are the Red Sox first, and the Yankees second.

N.Y. Yankees: The Ghosts Arrive In Time For Game Three

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Indians Lead Yankees 2-1

I - CLE 4; NYY 0

II - CLE 9; NYY 8

III - NYY 1; CLE 0

MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

Cleveland Indians

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

River Avenue Grounds

BRONX

New York Yankees: Redefine Complete Game Shutout in Game Three Victory Over Tribe.

Holy Cow!  There's still life in them young Bombers.

The new New York Yankees managed somehow to scrape themselves off the Ohio interstate after being splatted about the shoulder like road kill after games One and Two in Cleveland.

On the heels of their thrilling Wild Card victory over Minnesota, Aaron Judge and the Bomber bats were silenced in Game One at Cleveland.  They mustered just three hits in a 4-0 whitewashing against Tribe starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, former Yankees reliever Andrew Miller, and closer Cody Allen.

Matters worsened for Yankee fans when several of their worst nightmares began playing out in Game Two.  Staked to a commanding 8-3 lead, the incessantly beleaguered Joe Girardi came galloping into the sixth inning riding a pale horse.

There's no other way to put it ... Girardi got spooked when CC Sabathia issued a lead-off walk to Carlos Santana, then retired Jay Bruce on a sharp liner to short.  So, he yanked CC after just 77 pitches in favor of Chad Green, who promptly retired Austin Jackson, then surrendered a double to Yan Gomes.  Lonnie Chisenhall then stepped in as a pinch-hitter, and was ruled hit-by-pitch by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.

Catcher Gary Sanchez implored his manager to challenge the call, claiming the pitch hit the knob of Chisenhall's bat (not his hand).  But Girardi's video minions failed to come up with their own conclusive evidence to overturn the call.  Girardi thus failed to appeal the play within the required time limit.  That earned the ire of Yankees fans because the decision to challenge should have been a no-brainer, especially after television replay revealed the pitch indeed hit the bat, rendering the umpire's call incorrect.

Just do it, Joe!

With the bases now loaded, Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor crushed a Chad Green change-up, high up, and off the right field foul/fair pole, reducing the Yankees lead to one.

Of course, the Indians went on to tie Game Two in the bottom of the eighth, then won it in the 13th inning.  It's no great secret how Girardi is avoiding Dellin Betances.  Game Two demonstrated a huge reason why.  Dellin issued a lead-off walk to Austin Jackson, whom then stole second.  Yan Gomes followed with a single to left, Jackson scores.

Yankees lose.

Back home at Yankee Stadium, Bomber fans rained down Bronx Cheers upon Joe Girardi during pre-game introductions, in disapproval for utterly mismanaging Game Two.

But as they say - winning cures all.

The Yankees gained new life Sunday, and redefined what it means to achieve a complete game shutout victory.

What do I mean by that?

Game Three's win was a complete team effort.

They received a clutch start from Masahiro Tanaka; premium relief efforts from David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman; a huge defensive effort behind the plate from Gary Sanchez and a game saving catch by Aaron Judge in right; and lastly, a clutch game breaking home run off the bat of Greg Bird.

It was a masterful 1-0 victory over the defending American League champions.

Tanaka allowed just three hits and a walk, and fanned seven batters, over seven full innings of work for the victory.  With one out in the fourth, Jason Kipnis tripled to right, but was left stranded after Tanaka struck out the following two batters.

Gary Sanchez helped Tanaka along by blocking pitches in the dirt all game long.

A clutch home run by Greg Bird off former Yankee Andrew Miller in the seventh, and four strikeouts by Aroldis Chapman sealed the deal.

The Bombers can tie the series at two, and send it back to Cleveland, with a victory tonight in Game Four at Yankee Stadium.

N.Y. Yankees: Onward to Cleveland

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

YANKEES AT THE GATES!

Wild Card Final

TWINS        4

YANKEES   8

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

New York Yankees

vs.

Cleveland Indians

FROM

Progressive Field

OHIO

New York Yankees: October is Tax Season.

Tuesday's Wild Card game against Minnesota took a heavy toll on the Yankees bullpen that could have a potential negative affect on their readiness level entering tonight's ALDS series opener against the Indians in Cleveland, despite yesterday's day off.

Against the Twins, reliever Chad Green pitched two innings, David Robertson 3.1 innings, Tommy Kahnle tossed 2.1 innings, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth inning.

Let's just say with Sonny Gray starting Game One for the Yankees, there's every chance Joe Girardi will require length from his bullpen yet again.

Upon his acquisition from Oakland, Gray started 11 games down the stretch in which he posted a 4-7 record with a 3.72 ERA and 1.255 WHiP.  He issued 27 walks, fanned 59 batters, and allowed 55 hits (11 home runs) in 65.1 innings with the Yankees.

Sonny last pitched a week ago, Sept, 28, in a losing effort against Tampa, in which he allowed six earned runs on six hits (two home runs), six walks, and fanned two, in just 4.2 innings of work.  After which, Jonathan Holder, Chasen Shreve, Ben Heller, and Giovanny Gallegos, all appeared in relief of Gray.

On Sept. 29 against Toronto, David Robertson pitched one inning in relief of Masahiro Tanaka, Dellan Betances threw just eight pitches, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth.

On Sept. 30, the same foursome that appeared in Tuesday's Wild Card game against Minnesota, closed the door on a 2-1 victory over Toronto.  Chad Green threw 1.1 innings, Tommy Kahnle threw eight pitches, David Robertson threw an inning, and Aroldis Chapman made a second straight appearance.

On Oct. 1, the Yankees played their final game of the regular season, in which Adam Warren, Domingo German, and Ben Heller, pitched in relief of starter Jordan Montgomery.

The Yankees were off on Monday, then played the Twins on Tuesday.  The bullpen at least got a day's rest yesterday, and then here we are - Game One of the American League ALDS.

Point being, the Yankees bullpen may not be as taxed, at the moment, as some of the panic suggests.

However, what Joe Girardi and the Yankees can not afford, is a start mimicking, or even remotely resembling Luis Severino's against Minnesota.

Cleveland is sending Trevor Bauer to the bump in Game One.  He's no surety either.  His 17-9 regular season record simply means the Indians overcame his 4.19 ERA and 1.367 WHiP.  Bauer allowed more hits than innings pitched this season: 181 hits (25 home runs) in 176.1 innings of work.

So, there's that for the Yankees bats to look forward to.

Otherwise, conventional wisdom says all the pressure is on Cleveland to win; because of their 102 regular season victories they are burdened with expectations, particularly on the heels of last year's World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs.

About that ...

Terry Francona dissipates pressure perhaps better than any other manager in the game today.  The Tribe has unfinished business, and that's the way they'll be approaching this.

Meanwhile, the Wild Card Yankees are back in the post-season picture way ahead of schedule; the last remaining vestiges of their 2009 world series championship are CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner; and therefore are weighed down by little to no expectations.

I guess there's something to be said for youth, exuberance, and inexperience.  It just might work in their favor.  But, Joe Girardi is the pit bull terrier of baseball managers.  I'm sure the team understands the magnitude of the moment.  With one look at Girardi's face, how could they not?

Aaron Judge vs. Trevor Bauer 

coming to a bleacher section near you.

WILD:

Great job by veteran Brett Gardner.  The only Yankees position player with a ring went 2 for 4, with a huge second inning home run against the Twins.  Moreover, I feel he displayed exemplary leadership in Tuesday's game.

Didi Greorious continues to be such a phenomenal acquisition.


Play ball!

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.

N.Y. Yankees: Big Papi Foils Bombers Attempt at Sweep

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

David Ortiz hit his 29th and 30th career home runs

at Yankee Stadiums II and III.

New York Yankees: Big Papi Kicks Sand at Yankees' Attempt to Sweep Red Sox.

They put up good fight ... for two games at least.  And hell, the Yankees won the series, and even caused the Sawx to drop into second place of the A.L. East.

But the Bronx Bombers just couldn't pull off a weekend sweep over the Boston Red Sox with a still ineffective Luis Severino on the mound.

The ol' tag team of Dustin Pedroia and Big Papi weren't having it ... not from him, not from this inexperienced 22-year old youngster.  Despite Severino's 9 strikeouts, Pedroia's home run in the 1st, and Papi's home runs in the 4th and 7th innings ensured Severino's season ERA remained over six.

Xander Bogaerts landed the final TKO blow in the 8th inning off the Yankees bullpen.  The damage, however, had already been done.

Although the Yankees will finally realize the arrival of reliever Aroldis Chapman, they're clearly still waiting for the more promising 2015 rookie version of Luis Severiono to reappear - the one whom posted a 5-3 record with a 2.86 ERA, and 8.1 K/9 average over 11 starts.

This season, Severino is now 0-5, with a 6.12 ERA.  To date, he has surrendered 42 hits, and an alarming 7 home runs, with an unsightly 1.485 WHiP in only 32.1 innings pitched.

That still doesn't explain Boston starter Steven Wright's dominant performance over the Bombers.   He went the distance for his third victory (3-3, 1.52) of the season, and held the Bombers scoreless and limited them to just 2 hits through 8.2 innings, until finally surrendering Bret Gardner's 2-out solo home run in the 9th.

Series win or not, any way you season it, the Yankees will begin their series against the Kansas City Royals with a bitter taste in Joe Girardi their mouths, and they have Big Papi largely to thank ... again.

David Ortiz hit his 29th, and 30th career home runs at Yankee Stadiums II and III.