N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Rain Destruction at Progressive Field

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE

WILD CARD ROUND

GAME ONE

Yankees   12

Indians      3

FINAL

GERRIT COLE JOINS ELITE COMPANY

New York announces their presence with authority.  

With mission in hand they open the bomb bay doors dropping four high kiloton dingers upon Progressive Field.  

Aaron Judge zeroes in right away when he blasts Shane Bieber's fourth pitch of the game over the right/center field wall for a prompt 2-0 lead.  Gleyber Torres also hits a two run home run off Bieber in the fifth.  Reliever Cameron Hill yields yet another two run home run off the bat of Bret Gardner in the seventh and Giancarlo Stanton closes out the Bronx Bombers barrage with a solo home run in the ninth.

The bottom portion of the lineup proves particularly devastating.  Number seven batter Gleyber Torres is a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk, three runs scored and three runs batted in and batting eighth  Brett Gardner goes 3 for 5 with two runs scored and three runs batted in.  The Yankees hit a combined 15 for 41 (.365), with five extra base hits, three walks and ten strikeouts.

American League Cy Young candidate Shane Bieber does not make it through the fifth.  It's easily his worst outing of the season.  Despite seven strikeouts he yields seven runs on nine hits and two walks through 4.2 innings pitched.

Otherwise, this is why Gerrit Cole gets paid the big bucks.  He joins Tom Seaver as the only two pitchers with 13 strikeouts and no walks in a post-season game, according to @MLBStats.  He surrenders just two runs on six hits through 7.0 innings pitched.  He throws 105 pitches with 73 (69%) going for strikes.

Gerrit Cole or not, the Indians can not play catch-up ball against the Yankees.  They go 8 for 35 with eight hits, three for extra bases, one walk and 14 strikeouts.  Left fielder Josh Naylor is the only disruptive bat of the lot, going 4 for 4 with a double, home run and two runs scored.

The Yankees play a clean game in the field after leading the circuit with 48 errors.

Masahiro Tanaka goes in game two.  This is his fifth post-season with the Yankees over which he's nothing but brilliant.  Through eight appearances dating back from 2015 Tanaka owns a 5-3 record with a 2.13 ERA and a stellar 0.90 WHiP.  He has walked just 11 batters and fanned 37 while yielding just 25 hits through 46.0 innings pitched.  In ten regular season starts Tanaka posted a 3-3 record with a 3.56 ERA and 1.17 WHiP.  He has allowed 48 hits in 48.0 innings pitched with eight walks and 44 strikeouts.

Cleveland is counting on 33-year old right-hander Carlos Carrasco to help stave off elimination.  He went 3-4 in twelve starts with a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHiP, and struck out a robust 82 batters in 68.0 innings pitched.

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.

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: Competition Getting High and Tight

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox lead series 2-0

I - BOS 15; NYY 7

II - BOS 4; NYY 1

GAME THREE

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

FENWAY PARK

New York Yankees: Look What the Boston Red Sox Did to the Bombers, Again.

If not for Miguel Andujar's lead-off home run in the top of the fifth, Boston starter Rick Porcello throws a no-hitter.  No chance of pitching a perfect game, though, as Porcello plunks the very first batter of the game, coming in high and tight to Brett Gardner whom absorbs an errant 0-2 fastball in the arm.  Gardner glares at Porcello as he begins a deliberately slow stroll towards first base.

The rest of the Yankees seemingly do not take this lightly.

Or do they?

In the bottom half of the frame, Luis Severino with his very first pitch comes in high and tight to Red Sox lead-off batter Mookie Betts.  For a few fleeting seconds things move right along, that is, until neophyte home plate umpire Adam Hamari issues delayed warnings to both clubs.  Alex Cora comes darting out of the Red Sox dugout fuming at Hamari, whom immediately tosses Boston's irate manager from the game.  All the while, Aaron Boone remains docile in the Yankees dugout.

And so begins Game Two at Fenway Park.

When play resumes Andrew Benintendi's double to right brings up Steve Pearce who continues decimating Yankees pitching, this time launching a Severino offering high over the Green Monster for his fourth home run in his last six at-bats.  With two outs, Severino then issues a base on balls to Ian Kinsler.  The Red Sox continue running like thieves in the night, as Kinsler swipes Boston's fifth base of the series.  Eduardo Nunez singles Kinsler home giving the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead.

Miguel Andujar leads-off the third with a home run.  It turns out being the Yankees lone run and only hit of the game.  Rick Porcello retires the next 21 batters in order for a complete game one-hit victory over the American League's top slugging team.  Porcello pounds the strike zone, facing 28 batters; one over the minimum; throwing an incredibly economical 86 pitches with 68 (80%) going for strikes, including an unforgiving 23 first pitch strikes.  He issues no walks and strikes out nine Yankees en route to his fourteenth victory of the season against just four losses.

The Red Sox are presently having their way, not just against the Yankees, but with every team in baseball.  Now with two victories over the Yankees, they seem to have effectively sidestepped Chris Sale's missed start.  As I've eluded to twice over the last two games, perhaps the Yankees are presently too docile, too complacent, and third base coach Phil Nevins sensed this heading into Boston.  With Alex Cora banished to his office Friday evening, cooler heads did prevail.  But perhaps Aaron Boone is being too cool.  It's worth noting that at no time during the entirety of game one or two did the Yankees ever attempt to unsettle Steve Pearce at the plate with a purposeful pitch.

Boone's crew now enters Saturday's game trailing the Red Sox by 7.5 games.  Getting out of Boston with a split might have just turned into a matter of A.L. East survival.  With 54 games left in the regular season, the Yankees have time to recover.  Plus, they still have two more games left to play in this series, and six more games against the Red Sox still to come.  However, they are leaving themselves little margin for error.  The calendar reads dog days of summer, which means that time and wins are of the essence.

They are tasked today with slamming the brakes on a three game skid, and preventing any further damage to their widening second place standing.  Of course, easier said than done.  With Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez missing from the line-up, Giancarlo Stanton is presently a one-man gang.  The rest of the line-up has gone missing.  The Yankees have been doubled up through their last three games by a 13-26 margin against the stripped down Orioles and Red Sox.

They're also facing a sudden lack of pitching, if only for a day, or so the Yankees hope.  Called up from Scranton, Chance Adams will make his major league debut in the heat of a pennant race against the Red Sox.  Between Sunny Gray's ineffectiveness, J.A. Happ landing on the disabled list, Lance Lynn being pressed into action during Friday's debacle, and the overall tax being extracted from the bullpen, the Yankees face little choice.  Adams will oppose veteran Nathan Eovaldi, Boston's trade deadline acquisition from Minnesota.

N.Y. Yankees: Losing Ground and Their Bearing

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME TWO

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

FENWAY PARK

New York Yankees: Everything That Could Go Wrong Went Completely Awry.

After that Game One debacle at Fenway Park, one thing is very clear: Phil Nevins issued a premature evisceration.  You can't read players the riot act twice in the same week without completely diminishing its affect. That said, he should have waited till after Thursday's game because the Yankees were just plain bad in every conceivable way.  Perhaps Phil Nevin saw this coming, i.e., a team mentally unprepared heading into Fenway.  But that in turn makes me wonder why in the name of Casey Stengel is a third base coach doing the manager's dirty work?  And sure enough, Aaron Boone indirectly answered that very question.  During Friday's pre-game, Boone reiterates that he's not inclined to get emotional.  Instead, he will temper the game's highs and lows, and aims to be a model of managerial consistency for his players.

Okay ...

The fact remains, Aaron Boone was completely out-managed by Alex Cora in this particular game, while his team was utterly embarrassed on the field.

Then came the opening act of Game Two ...

Boston's Rick Porcello hit the very first batter of the game, when he came high and tight to lead-off batter Bret Gardner.  In the bottom half of the frame, Luis Serverino came in high and tight to Red Sox lead-batter Mookie Betts.  Both sides shouted their opinions from the dugout.  Only then did the home plate umpire issue a warning.  That's when Red Sox manager Alex Cora let him have it, and subsequently got ejected.

Aaron Boone remained silent the whole time.

Before the inning was through, the Red Sox propped up Rick Porcello with a 2-0 lead on Steve Pearce's fourth home run in his last six at-bats against the Yankees.

Strategy and proper implementation of the brush back pitch is a lost art ....

Stay tuned.

N.Y. Yankees: Look Who's Number One

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Yankees lead series 2-0

I - NYY 3; BOS 2

II - NYY 9; BOS 6

GAME THREE 

TONIGHT

New York Yankees: Bronx Bombers Go Boom.

The Yankees have taken the first two games against the Red Sox.  Having arresting first place away from their A.L. East rivals, they now seek to complete a series sweep tonight in Bronx County.

A.L. EAST

1) New York Yankees   26-10

2) Boston Red Sox        25-11

Brett Gardner led the way Wednesday evening going 3 for 5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBI, and three runs scored.  Aaron Judge went 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored.  And Giancarlo Stanton added a double and three RBI.

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: 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: 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.

N.Y. Yankees: Evolving Rivalry Against Red Sox Resumes Tonight

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

TONIGHT

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

Fenway Park

American League East

First) Yankees   46-39

Last) Red Sox    41-45 

New York Yankees:  Winds of change blowing from the Bronx through Boston; First place Bombers take on last place Red Sox.

Don't look now, but Boston is the hottest team in the A.L. East.

The Red Sox have put the division in a tourniquet, and have been squeezing with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games.  That has made the invading Yankees' lead over their long time rival a precarious one.  To the Bomber's credit, they've won 5 of their last 7 games.

The three teams that separate them in the standings; Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays; seem in no rush to distinguish themselves.  Otherwise, the Sox should have been dead and buried long ago.  But, this is baseball - it's a long season, and this is what happens when you fail to put teams away.

The Red Sox will host the Yankees in a first half finale prior to the All-Star break.  Fenway Park should rock this weekend, with a retro feel of just a decade ago.  Together, they'll prove this rivalry is far from dormant, and that the A.L. East crown is up for grabs.

Or, the Sox will get swept, and that will be the end of that.

Unfortunately, Dustin Pedroia is likely to miss the series.  On the other side, the most recent traitor, Jacoby Ellsbury returns from his knee injury just in time to face his former team.

Fenway fans are sure to intensify their raucousness each and every time Alex Rodriguez steps to the plate.  Who can ever forget the time they wore those little blonde girl masks?  Alex in Boston has always meant good times!

If nothing else, we'll get to watch Old-Rod and Big GrandPapi share the Fenway stage for one of the last few times in their careers.

This could be a decisive series for the Red Sox, and for GM Ben Cherington in particular.   Continuing to play well in July will place the pressure of all New Englanders squarely on the shoulders of Boston's GM to make a deadline move.

After Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox have no reliable pitching to speak of, and they've gotten very little out of Mike Napoli and especially Fung-Fu Panda at the plate.  In fact, the Sox may have too many needs that can not be addressed in one deadline.

At 46-39, the Yankees are the best of the rest.  On Thursday, Masahiro Tanaka gave the Yanks 7.2 innings of pure optimism over the A's.  This weekend, they intend to subdue the Red Sox with Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova, and Nathan Eovaldi.  Lately, all three have been pitching like they're in dire need of an All-Star break.

Accompanying Mark Teixeira to the All-Star Game will be Brett Gardner - well deserved.



Mike

BASEBALL ~ Meandering Around The Bases

New York Mets
New York Yankees
Atlantic League
Brooklyn Cyclones



NEW YORK METS ~ I didn't see the game tonight because I was in Yankee Stadium paying $9.50 for a bottle-o-brew, $6.00 for an ice cream, $12.00 for two sodas, $35.00 on a program and Yearbook, and $4.50 for a bag of nuts! 

A bag of NUTS I said! 

That's nothing.  My son bought a $7.00 bag of pop-corn and a $30.00 teddy bear for his girl.  Ugh! 
Whatever, ....it's his life.

But after winning six games in a row, there's not much I would have wanted to say about tonight's loss to the Nationals anyway.  And besides, Livan Hernandez was pitching.  That means we had no shot.  When ever he faces us he turns into Greg "freakin" Maddux.  I haven't seen anyone be more successful dealing junk since Sanford and Son was on TV.  He pitched eight innings; walked only one while striking-out five.  That's just another day in La Officina for Senor Hernandez when he pitches against us.  It's Amazin'.

But put the Nationals in the rear-view mirror now like I try and do with my son's girl.  Because we're headed to Philly for a weekend series.  Although he's finally coming off an impressive win his last time out, Mike Pelfrey hasn't been feeling at all well lately, but he said he's fine and ready for tomorrow's series opener.  He'll be followed by Jon Niese and Chris Young this series.  Jon Niese is still looking to find a groove.  But he and I are square.  Chris Young however, who is coming back from a passing arm situation, has looked quite good in his starts.  I'll definitely give him that.  But, I'll be honest with you.  I'm still indifferent to him.  He'll grow on me.

The Mets' win streak might be over, but it doesn't mean their hot-streak needs to take a hit along with it.  They've recovered nicely from a miserable start to the month and regained a large degree of respectability by the way they've rebounded when faced with rapidly mounting adversity.  Terry Collins is another individual who still needs to grow on me.  But just before they went on this latest streak, it looks now, like Panic Mode was just what the Doctor ordered.  Then stir in some wily early-April moves by Sandy Alderson and some late month clutch hitting along the way and.....

......Well, maybe now they can go into Philly and end this month on a most positive note.  They can't achieve a .500 record this month (11-14 with two games left in April), but they can change a lot of opinions about them with a strong showing against the Phillies.




NEW YORK YANKEES ~ As I mentioned, I was at the Stadium tonight for the final game of the Yankees/White Sox series.  It was Cousin's night out.  My cousin and I with our two sons made for a hilarious night.  Trust me on that one.  I was sporting a White Sox jersey.

The Yankees took the last two games of the series after dropping the first two.  Aside from the fun I had, tonight's game also turned into a laugher for the Yankees.  Ozzie Guillen didn't get tossed out this time but I'm sure he wanted to be somewhere else during a 12-3 Yankee undressing.

C.C. Sabathia (2-1) gave up three runs, all in the seventh inning, but non of them earned.  Before that, C.C. shut the ChiSox down over the first six innings he worked.  He only issued one walk and struck out six.  He did however commit a balk.

Brett Gardner hit his second homerun of the series and third of the season.  Nick Swisher also added a shot into the second deck in right.  Derek Jeter had the night off and Jorge Posada still can't hit.  Jorge was 0-4 tonight is now batting .130 for the season. 

Here's the nice part of that; I didn't hear not one person BOO Jorge.  That's a Good Job.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE BASEBALL ~ Friday is Opening Night for the fourteenth season of Atlantic League Baseball:

Road Warriors @ Lancaster Barnstormers
Camden River Sharks @ York Revolution
Somerset Patriots @ South Maryland Blue Crabs
Long Island Ducks @ Bridgeport Bluefish

After work tomorrow, I'll be Jumpin' the Trolley and heading up to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take in Game One of the season.  The Bridgeport Bluefish will host the Long Island Ducks in the first Atlantic League ballpark ever built; Harbor Yards.



Lover Boy Pookie Bear might tag along because his girl gotta work.  That's fine, just don't hold me up.  When I say it' time to Trolley-up, I'm out.  I have zero problem going by myself; do it all the time.  I just make friends there for the night.

Play Ball!

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

CYCLONES 2011 TICKETS GO ON SALE SUNDAY MORNING!

Mike.BTB

2010 ALCS ~ N.Y.Yankees vs TEX Rangers

2010 American League Championship Series

GAME ONE

NEW YORK YANKEES  vs  TEXAS RANGERS

October 15, 2010

The Ball Park at Arlington

FINAL SCORE:

Yankees 6

Rangers 5

N.Y. Yankees:
Jeter ~ 2 for 5, 2 doubles, run, rbi
Swisher ~ 0 for 4, run, walk
Teixeira ~ 0 for 4, run, walk
Rodriguez ~ 1 for 5, run, 2 rbi, 2 k
CANO ~ 3 for 4, Home Run, run, 2 rbi
THAMES ~ 2 for 4, Game Winning RBI in 8th inning
Posada ~ 0 for 4, k
Granderson ~ 1 for 3, walk
Gardner ~ 1 for 3, run, walk



CC SABATHIA
4 innings pitched
6 hits
5 earned runs
4 walks
3 strikeouts
1 home run


How about D.MOSELEY !!
2 innings pitched
0 hits
0 runs
0 walks
4 strikeouts


MARIANO RIVERA ~ SAVE
1 inning pitched
0 hits
0 runs
0 walks
1 strikeout





MARCUS THAMES; Another in a long line of role players coming up huge for the Yankees.

Do I really want to get into a Texas sized melt-down; bad managing, their bullpen's walks, belt high fastballs and brain cramps?  No.  Instead I'll do this:


The YANKEES do not win championships with-out unlikely heroes and roll players the likes of Chicken Stanley, Brian Doyle, Bucky Dent, Luis Sojo and Jose Vizciano.  They do not win championships with-out a bench featuring David Justice, Darryl Strawberry, Oscar Gamble or Jim Spencer.  Yankee fans, you know all the names.

Add Brett Gardner to that list, who got the winning rally started by getting on base; diving into first in the 8th inning.

In big letters, add Marcus Thames to that list.  This isn't the first time I've lauded him for taking advantage of just about every opportunity he's received, it seems, this season.  Marcus Thames has been flat out incredible for the Yankees coming through with clutch hit after clutch hit after clutch hit...time and time again.

He's been tremendously pivotal to the Yankees' success during his short time here and he will not stop being so.  Yankee championships were predicated on starting pitching; Yes.  But Yankee Championships were complimented by strong benches.  Marcus Thames is as strong a bench/role player as the Yankees have ever had.  He's already done that much.

But I'm going to tell you what really got me started thinking about Yankee heroes of the more recent past.  I could have sworn I was watching the '98 Yanks, or the '99 Yanks tonight.  That's not to compare this team to those.  I'm not.

But tonight the Yankees hung around and hung around, struggling against Texas' starter C. WILSON.  The first 7 innings didn't go the Yankees' way with the bats.  But they outlasted the starter and when they got to the bullpen, Texas was toast, reminiscent of the way those late 90's teams beat you.

Unbelievable is the word I'd use to describe tonight's loss by Texas.  Yes, I said the loss by Texas.  When you are winning a game after 7 innings by a score of 5-0, and 5-1, and do not come out victorious, you literally LOST a game; as in ~ Where did it go?

For the Yankees however, crisis narrowly averted.  C.C. Sabathia was not good tonight but the Yankees managed to win the game started by their ACE, like they so desperately wanted (think AJ Burnett or the added pressure on Hughes to do well).

Tonight, the Yanks roughed it out.  Remember how Jason Giambi kept the Yanks loitering around  in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS with two solo home runs?  That's what Robinson Cano did tonight.  He kept the Yankees in the game (by their standards).  Cano wrapped a home run around the right field flag pole in the 7th inning to make it 5-1 giving the Yankees bench something to clap about..  Then it was just a matter of time before the rest of the Bronx Bombers started feeding off the Texas bullpen.

Also, if you remember that Game 7 back in 2003...It was Posada's dinky dunk hit that proved most harmful of all, after Grady Little left Pedro in the game.  Tonight, Marcus Thames, like many Yankee late inning hits they manage to dink and dunk, broke his bat pushing a single into left field to plate the go-ahead run.

What an unbelievable loss if you're the Texas Rangers.

If you're a Yankees fan, "Holy Cow" or "See Ya!" ~  I could have sworn I was watching a game from Yankee Championship Teams of yore.



Mike.BTB

Brian Cashman Hints There'$ Nothing Left..

I heard Brian Cashman on the radio saying the Yankees were not actively, and have no intention of signing a high priced solution for left field.

Really..?

Is Brett Gardner the left fielder now?  It's apparent the Yankees want nothing to do with Johnny Damon under the terms Scott Boras is seeking to secure for his client.  However the Yankees freely admit Damon was and still could be their perfect #2 hitter in the line-up.  With Melkey shipped out, Damon unsigned and Xavier Nady being an even bigger question mark, you would think their plan is to go with Gardner.  And the Yanks have given indications they are prepared to start the season with him in left.  I heard Brian Cashman say with certainty the Yankees will not entertain an expensive option for left field.  Sounds noble.

The Yankees have an offensive philosophy, No Holes In The Line-Up, they operate by.  That sounds outstanding if you can afford it.  No?  Remember how they addressed right field when Gary Sheffield was DL'd?  They traded for Bobby Abreu.  Remember Kenny Lofton?  Remember last year when they told everyone they were through spending money, then went and signed Mark Teixeira?  Remember how the Yankees told us they were prepared to start the 2006 season with Bubba Crosby in center field?  Remember they signed Johnny Damon because they didn't want to start the 2006 season with Bubba Crosby?  ...Damon, Melkey and Gardner for two outfield spots?  Last year they said they were cool with that.  This winter they went and acquired Curtis Granderson and Gardner is the lone man standing of the forementioned three.  When the Yankees say they are prepared to go with somebody, Yankee speak translated, that means until we get someone better.  After all we're the Yankees.  We can afford it.

Cashman said he's committed to maintaining a payroll under $200 million.  He says they are not entertaining expensive ideas concerning left.

I'll believe it when I see it.   And if I were Brett Gardner I wouldn't Twitter anyone saying he's the starting left fielder for the New York Yankees.  With Swisher in right not being the steadiest fielder, my Spidey-sense tells me the Yankees aren't through dealing.  They just re-acquired Nick Johnson to replace Matsui.  Nick Johnson could also be the #2 hitter.  He fits.  Johnny Damon is loosing bargaining power fast.  The Yanks took away what leverage he had.  If Gardner can fight off visions of grandeur, he'd be better off for it.

Cashman talks a good game.  I am calling his bluff.

(Photo - N.Y. Post)