N.Y. Yankees: A Twin Killing

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

YANKEES AT THE GATES

Yankees defeat Twins; 3-0

I - NYY 10; MIN 4

II - NYY 8; MIN 2

III - NYY 5; MIN 1

With a three game sweep of the A.L. Central champion Minnesota Twins, the New York Yankees are heading to their 17th ever American League Championship Series.

What's old is new again ...

Minnesota never stood a chance.  After jumping ahead 2-0 in the top half of the third inning of game one at Yankee Stadium, the Twins never again mount a lead at any point in the series.  In fact they are outscored more than threefold by 23-7 margin.  The Twins generate 22 hits and four solo home runs; the Yankees generate 29 hits, four solo home runs, and one grand slam off the bat of Didi Gregorious.

The Bombers of game three more resemble the Bronx teams of seasons past: one walk, nine strikeouts, four extra-base hits, and at least two home runs.  I say that partly in jest because through games one and two the Yankees bat .297 with seven extra-base hits, 16 walks, and 18 strikeouts.  Of their 19 hits, only three go for home runs which suggests they were exercising discipline at the plate and stringing together hits.  Through three games the Yankees bat (11 for 34) .323 with runners in scoring position.

Now they must wait patiently for a winner to emerge between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays.  While those clubs continue taxing their pitching, Aaron Boone gets to rest and refresh the bullpen and align the starting rotation to his liking for the upcoming championship series.

N.Y. Yankees: Bombers at the Gates

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Just when you thought the coast was clear, 

here come the Red Sox.

New York Yankees: Bombers Season Starts Now

April of last year I was road tripping in Boston the weekend following the Yankees/Red Sox series - the one featuring the rather un-cordial exchange of pleasantries between Alex Cora and third base coach Phil Nevin.  While there I listened to a pair of WEEI-radio guys say among other things that Aaron Boone had no pulse.  Their comment stuck with me all summer, then into Fall.  After what transpired in the post-season I continued pondering this throughout the off-season still not sure of its merits. 

Now when I compare Aaron Boone's demeanor so far this season versus all of last season, I would agree the Bean Town talkies may have been on point.  But only insofar as last season.  One year later Boone seems far more comfortable in his pinstriped skin.  He's blown his top a few times and received some well deserved ejections.  Call it window dressing, but at least it demonstrates a confidence of character.  At the same time it instills either by design or otherwise a sense urgency into a young group.

In any event, Adversity and Defeatism since day one have been sitting in the Yanks dugout spitting out seeds with hardly a glance from the skipper.  As we know this year's 25-man roster has been decimated by injury after ruinous injury.  To borrow a phrase: it was getting late really early in the season.  Or so everyone imagined when the Yankees opened the season minus Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks; or after March 31 when both Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar went down; or after April 3 when Troy Tulowitzki followed suit; or after April 13 when Greg Bird joined them; or after April 20 when even Aaron Judge got overruled; etc., etc. 

Yet, thanks to their baby Bomber reinforcements, the Yanks own a 14-6 (.700) record since Judge went down 20 games ago.  Moreover, with Sunday's victory over the Rays they closed out the week eight games above .500 and are now within one-half game of first place.  So, yeah, Aaron Boone has a pulse.  In fact, he's very much alive and doing quite well - calm, cool, and delightfully less collected than ever.

But for how long?

The baby Bombers are doing things well, like limiting their strikeouts to sixth least in the American League, rating fourth in average, and sixth in OPS.  But what's going to happen when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are reunited in the middle of the lineup with Gary Sanchez?  We're speaking of anywhere from 550 to 600 strikeouts a season between the three.  If you do not believe this poses a potential negative affect to the present dynamic, I'll agree to disagree.

On May 12, 2018, the Yankees owned a 27-12 record.  One year later, they enter Monday's action with a 24-16 record.  It's been a remarkable story to date replete with kids, comebacks, and competitiveness.  There's a case to be made this season is now New York's to lose.  That said, Aaron Boone knows somewhere out there lurks an undetected iceberg ready to slice a huge gash into all this smooth sailing.

Just don't look now because here come the Red Sox whom seem to be over their World Series hangover.  After sleepwalking through a 7-13 start, the Sox have since gone 14-6, improving to 22-19 and creeping back into the mix just three games back of the division lead.  Not until May 8 did they reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.

And by no means are the Rays to be overlooked.  They won 90 games last season.  Make no mistake.  They're a good team and presently in first place for a reason.  They'll continue proving a troublesome Yankee foe just as they've done throughout their existence.  After their upcoming three game against the Orioles, the Yankees host the Rays next weekend.

The Red Sox are due to arrive in town at the end of the month.

Steady as she goes.

N.Y. Yankees: Chris Sale Silences Bombers and Critics

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

YANKEES   4

RED SOX    5

FINAL

New York Yankees: Move to bring in Rick Porcello saves the day.

Chris Sale is arm weary; Chris Sale is fading; Chris Sale is just not a good second-half pitcher.  All these maladies are based in truth.  Sale's history as a starter says so.  He indeed suffered shoulder inflammation this season.  To what extent, we don't know.  But his regular season speaks for itself.  After making 18 starts from March/April through June, he is limited to just nine starts from July through September.  His velocity goes from upwards of 98-mph in the first half, down to the low 90's by September.

However, Alex Cora continually downplays Sale's condition throughout the second-half.  As I wrote yesterday, no one person understands his own team better than Cora - Dave Dombrowski included. He put both the Red Sox and Yankees through a comprehensive audit last season while serving as bench coach with the Houston Astros.  Last year's post-season experience makes him a veritable treasure trove of information with unique insight into his own club, the Yankees, and the defending champion Astros.

For as long as the Red Sox maintain a somewhat commanding regular season lead over the Yankees, Cora is afforded an opportunity to utilize Chris Sale sparingly, and massage him back into the post-season rotation.  Friday against the Yankees, Aaron Sale is charged with two earned runs on five hits through 5.1 innings pitched, with eight strikeouts for the victory.  He tops out at 96-mph.

The Red Sox lead the Yankees 5-0 through the fifth.  With two on and one out in the sixth, Cora removes Sale.  That's when the fun stops.  Boston's bullpen goes on to surrender four earned runs (two charged to Sale) on five hits and three walks.  Despite their overall inefficiencies, Cora's move to bring in Rick Porcello proves brilliant.  Utilizing him on his throw day, Cora gets fifteen pitches and two important outs from his Game Three starter.

Aaron Judge's home run off Craig Kimbrel leading off the ninth cuts the Red Sox lead down to one.  But Kimbrel regroups to strike out the next three Yankee batters and complete a four out save.

So much for J.A. Happ's career success against the Red Sox - the very reason why Brian Cashman acquired him in the first place.  Happ surrenders a three-run home run to J.D. Martinez in the first inning, and is removed before recording an out in the third.  For the record, Happ allows five runs on four hits and a walk over two innings pitched for the loss.

Giancarlo Stanton goes 1 for 5 with four strikeouts.  The bottom four of the line-up (Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, Gary Sanchez, Glayber Torres) go 2 for 13 with four strikeouts.  Yankee batters total 13 strikeouts for the game; the Red Sox fan seven times (three by Ian Kinsler).  On that note, the Yankees leave ten runners on base, and go just 1 for 7 with RiSP.  The Red Sox are 3 for 6 with RiSP, and leave just six runners on base.

Yet, the Yankees out-hit the Red Sox by a 10-8 margin, and more importantly make Boston pitchers throw 182 pitches, versus just 127 pitches thrown by the Yankees.  They were able to piece together three runs before Aaron Judge's blast in the ninth, which is important for a team that generally lives and dies with the long ball.  Meanwhile, Judge appears healthy as ever, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored.

The Yankees bullpen throws six scoreless innings of four-hit ball, issuing just two walks and fanning five.  Although called upon to pitch more innings than anticipated, Sunday is an off day as the series shifts to Bronx.  For the moment, Aaron Boone should be able to absorb the tax.

Overall, the margin of difference in this game proves very slim.

The move bringing in Rick Porcello to pitch the eighth saves the day.

But make no mistake, the Yankees can easily escape Boston with a split.  Masahiro Tanaka faces off against Yankees pinata David Price in Game Two, Saturday night at Fenway Park.

N.Y. Yankees: Stanton Continues Wielding Potent Gavel In Judge's Absence

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Stanton Keeps Yankees Heading in Right Direction

New York Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton Successfully Leads Bombers Through Dog Days of Summer.

A running joke entering the regular season, and for much of Spring, was that each successive game Giancarlo Stanton plays as a New York Yankee would be his most important game ever played in his entire career.  Considering his near decade spent with the Miami Marlins, it wasn't that outlandish to say.  Despite 1,120 major league games played, to date, Stanton has yet to participate in the post-season, not even a remotely meaningful pennant race.

In the same vein, his 2017 National League MVP meant little in the Bronx.  The reality of the situation was that he was coming to Aaron Judge's team - a young dynamic Yankees team lead by a new age hero which came within one game of reaching last year's World Series; which gained invaluable experience, and now grasps the magnitude of meaningful baseball games.

Stanton himself engineered his trade to the Yankees by invoking his no-trade clause.  He took on this challenge knowing full well the potential perils and pitfalls faced by previous mega buck carpetbaggers attempting to endear themselves to the New York crowd and its media saturated city.

When Aaron Judge sustained a fractured wrist on July 26, the Yankees owned a 65-36 record.  Since then, Giancarlo has carried them to a 19-14 record, for an 84-50 record overall.  He is slashing .274/.376/.593/.969 in the month of August, with ten home runs and 22 RBI since Judge went down, all while playing with a sore hamstring.

Only through Giancarlo Stanton's continued availability did the Yankees withstand the loss of Judge, and Gary Sanchez, and Didi Gregorius, while also negotiating numerous pitching inconsistencies and injuries, and still achieve the second best record in baseball.  They do not stay within striking distance of Boston (8.5 games back) without him.  Those six late September games against the Red Sox still remain relevant because Stanton is making it so.

No one is laughing now.  His naysayers are nowhere in sight minus those few inventing issue with a 3.8 WAR because they either don't like him, cling blindly to contrived statistical misinformation, or just aren't watching, or all the above.

But I digress ...

My main point is how Giancarlo Stanton almost single-handed guided the Yankees through the dog days of summer.

September morn awaits.

N.Y. Yankees: Much Machado About Nothing

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

"He's a bluffin' bluffer ... Bluff!" - Ed Norton

New Yor Yankees: Why is Brian Cashman even remotely interested in acquiring Manny Machado?

... And why are the Red Sox seemingly expressing interest, for that matter?  At least Manny is a somewhat better fit with Boston than here in Bronx.  The Red Sox are unlikely to intrude on Xander Bogeart's space.  But depending on your opinion regarding Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez manning third base, acquiring Manny Machado might be worth investigating - for them.

But if you're an older Yankees fan, this may wreak of the 1980s all over again.  For the moment, though, this appears to be nothing more than scuttlebutt.  Otherwise, I just can't see the Yankees being serious about acquiring Manny Machado when they have Didi Gregoreous, Gleyber Torrez, Miguel Andujar, and a seeming glut of young emerging talent already in hand.

What the Yankees need is a starting pitcher.  Everyone knows that.

But this is just a theory: Brian Cashman is sly like a fox, and knowing how Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowsky ran the Tigers and the mess he left behind at Detroit, perhaps Cashman is merely driving up Machado's price in the hopes Boston Sox both depletes their farm system, then fail in retaining the looming free agent.

Then again, the Yankees trail the Boston Red Sox by 4.5 games heading into the All-Star break.  And neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox want the end the season hinging on a one game Wild Card playoff.

No wonder Yankee fans sound as if they're in a panic ...

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Go Boom

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Greg Bird Rounds Bases After Hitting Fourth Inning Home Run

GAME ONE FINAL

Red Sox    1

Yankees     8

New York Yankees: Bombers Earn Slim Percentage Points First Place Lead Over Red Sox.

I was in attendance for Friday night's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Bronx Bombers, and can testify to the high voltage coursing through Yankee Stadium's veins.

Starter C.C. Sabathia set the tone early by retiring the Red Sox in order to start the game.

In the bottom of the second, the young Yanks inflicted early damage against Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez.  Batting fifth, second baseman Gleyber Torres led-off with a triple off the center field wall.  Next up, third baseman Miguel Andujar blooped a hit where they aint, driving home Torres with the game's first run.

The Yankees then flexed their muscle in the fourth.  After Giancarlo Stanton drew a lead-off walk, Didi Gregorious struck a double to deep center.  Stanton would soon score on a sac-fly by Gleyber Torres.  After which, Miguel Andujar deposited a Eduardo Rodriguez offering into the left field seats for a two-run home run.  Greg Bird made it back-to-back home runs with an opposite field launch to left giving the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

With one out and Greg Bird on first base in the bottom of the seventh, Aaron Judge hit his 21st home run of the season.  And in the eighth, Greg Bird capped off the scoring with his second home run of the game, giving the Yankees an 8-1 final margin of victory.

C.C. Sabathia pitched very well in earning his fifth victory of the season.  He threw 97 pitches through seven full innings pitched, with 62 (64%) going for strikes.  He limited the Red Sox to just one run on six hits and a walk, while fanning five.

Relievers Chad Green and Chasen Shreve each contributed an inning of no hit scoreless ball, with three strikeouts.

GAME TWO MATCH-UP

Chris Sale

vs.

Sonny Gray

C.C. Sabathia deals in second inning.

YANKEES MUSEUM

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: Damn Yankees Heading Back To Texas

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa Flame Out at Yankee Stadium;

Astros Glad to Get Out of Town.

Yankees Lead Series 3-2

I - HOU 2; NYY 1

II - HOU 2; NYY 1

III - NYY 8; HOU 1

IV - NYY 6; HOU 4

V - NYY 5; HOU 0

New York Yankees: Tanaka Pitches a Gem; Bombers Gain Series Lead With Sweep at Stadium.

Holy Cow!

With Wednesday's 5-0 whitewashing of the Astros, the Yankees are now just one victory away from clinching the American League pennant, and advancing to the World Series.

After losing the first two games of the ALCS in Houston, the Yankees have stormed back to sweep three at Yankee Stadium.  And just like that ... the favored Astros find themselves heading back home under do or die circumstances.

Masahiro Tanaka delivered a gem in Game Five at Yankee Stadium, limiting Houston to just three hits and a walk, and fanning eight, through seven innings pitched for the victory.  He now owns a 1.83 ERA in two starts against the Astros, surrendering just two earned runs on seven hits and two walks, with 11 strikeouts, in 13 innings pitched.

After five games, the Yankees four starting pitchers collectively own a 1.28 ERA against the Astros.  They've joined to give the Yankees 28 innings, in which they've limited the Astros to just four runs, on 13 hits and ten walks, for an 0.821 WHiP, with 30 strikeouts.

Luis Severino is on deck for Game Six, and CC Sabathia is poised to pitch Game Seven, if necessary.

The Empire also struck back against Astros starter Dallas Kuechel, who struck out 10 Yankees over seven innings in Game One.  This time, the Bombers knocked him out of the box after just 4.2 innings pitched, but not before roughing him up for four earned runs on seven hits.

Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorious, and Greg Bird, all drove in runs.  Gary Sanchez homered in the seventh to ice it.

The Yankees will face Justin Verlander in Game Six at Houston.  He shut out the Yankees for eight innings until they touched him for one run in the ninth inning of Game Two.  Otherwise, Verlander surrendered just five hits, walked one, and fanned 13 Yankees, for a complete game victory.

The home team has yet to lose in this series.  And apparently, home is where the hits have been for both teams as well.

Yankee fans now have to wonder which lineup will show up for Game Six.  The one which previously batted just .158 (63 at-bats) at Houston, with only four walks, three doubles, one home run, and 27 strikeouts?  Or the lineup which batted .269 (93 at-bats) in three games at Yankee Stadium, with 11 walks, six doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 22 strikeouts?

While Yankees production spiked sharply at Yankee Stadium, the Astros lineup has remained somewhat more consistently unproductive.  They batted just .190 (58 at bats) in Houston, with four walks, two doubles, one home run, and nine strikeouts.  Then dipped even further to .119 (92 at-bats) in three games at the Stadium, with 12 walks, five doubles, no home runs, and 25 strikeouts.

The eyes of Texas will again be on Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa as the series shifts back to Houston.  Without them, the Astros do not win games One and Two.  After starting the series a combined 8 for 15 in the first two games, Houston's dynamic due has since gone just 2 for 22 in three games at Yankee Stadium.

Recall how the Astros barely outscored the Yankees in games One and Two by a 4-2 aggregate in Houston.  The Bronx Bombers, on the other hand, outscored the Astros by an aggregate 19-5 margin through three games at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees have two chances to win one game, whereas the Astros must win Game Six in order to force a Game Seven.

Fun!

N.Y. Yankees: Another Swing And A Whiff

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Back in the Bronx

GAME THREE

Houston Astros

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

161 Street and River Ave.

New York Yankees: Fine Pitching Efforts Being Wasted Due to Lack of Contact at the Plate, Lack of Base Runners, and Non-Productive Outs

Just like that ... the Yankees are back home in Bronx County down 0-2 for a second straight series against a favored post-season opponent.

And for a second straight game against the Houston Astros, a play at home plate is being singled out as the primary reason why the Yankees find themselves having to climb out of a deepening hole.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, and the score tied at one, Jose Altuve singled off Aroldis Chapman.  Altuve then scampered from first all the way home on Carlos Correa's double to the right/center field gap.  With Altuve rounding third, Gary Sanchez was unable to cleanly pick Didi Gregorious' relay throw, which arrived in sufficient time, but on a short-hop, allowing Altuve to slide home safely for the win.

As a former catcher himself, Joe Girardi has never kept secret his displeasure with Gary Sanchez' defensive shortcomings behind the plate.  Game Two perhaps further demonstrates why Sanchez might ultimately be transferred to first base within the next few seasons.

For the moment, that's neither here nor there ...

If you missed it, I stand by my previous post, suggesting strikeouts will be the Yankees downfall - not Greg Bird being a half-step slow, or Gary Sanchez mishandling a rely throw (although both could genuinely be considered decisive plays).

Game One: Swing and a Miss

First of all, the Yankees are failing to stop Jose Altuve.  They can't even hope to contain him.  The Astros second baseman and MVP candidate is turning the Yankees away in the field with his glove, he's punishing them at the plate, and absolutely torching them on the base paths with speed.

That needed to be said.

But here's the real skinny ...

Too Many Strikeouts!

As a team, the New Yankees are hitting .159 (10 for 63) through two games, with just four walks, and two runs scored.  But, Houston is only hitting marginally better, batting .189 (11 for 58), with four walks, and four runs scored.

In other words, the Yankees are so far getting all the pitching they could have hoped for.  They also have almost as many hits as the Astros, but their prodigious rate of strikeouts at the plate is proving prohibitive.  They just aren't putting enough balls in play.  More specifically, I think they need more reliable contact out of the two spot, which means dropping Aaron Judge down in the order.

By keeping Judge in the second hole, I feel Joe Girardi is completely compromising and minimizing the affects of Brett Gardner hitting ahead of him, as well as affecting the at-bats of Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks later as the line-up progresses.

The Astros rarely strikeout, and are adept at manufacturing runs.  Jose Altuve went steaming from first all the way home because someone (Carlos Correa) put the ball in play.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are doing less living and doing more dying lately, as Joe Girardi continues looking through the preponderance of strikeouts in search of the team's next three-run home run.

In Game One, Joe Girardi batted Judge second, Sanchez third, and Didi clean-up.  The three combined to go 1 for 10, with no runs scored, no home runs, no RBI, one walk, and fanned six times.  Worth noting, Gregorious had only fanned four times in six playoff games prior to Game One in Houston, but fanned twice hitting behind Judge and Sanchez, and with Stalin Castro protecting him in the fifth spot.  Then in Game Two, Girardi batted Gregorious third, and Sanchez fourth.  With Judge, the three went 1 for 12, with no runs scored, no home runs, no RBI, no walks, and struck out another four times.

Added up, the Yankees two/three/four slots through the first two games against the Astros went 2 for 22 (.090), with no runs scored, no home runs, no RBI, one walk, and struck out ten times.  Houston's three and four hitters, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, have joined to go 8 for 15 (.533), with four runs scored, three RBI, one walk, and have struck out just once.

As a team, the Yankees have outpaced the Astros strikeouts at the plate by a rate of three to one.  Yankees batters have now struck out 27 times in 63 at-bats, fanning 14 times in Game One, and another 13 times in Game Two against Justin Verlander.  Meanwhile, the Astros have only fanned nine times in 58 total at-bats.

Said another way, Yankees batters are striking out 42.8 percent of the time.  The Astros are only fanning at a rate of 15.5 percent, which, not coincidentally, is below their MLB leading mark of 17 percent during the regular season.

Why stop there?

The Yankees have struck out 96 times through eight post-season games.  Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez account for 35% of those strikeouts.  In fact, Judge and Sanchez have combined to strikeout 34 times in eight playoff games, while the entire Astros team has only fanned 39 times though six playoff games.

In turn, the Astros feature a .358 OBP through six post-season games, while the Yankees lag behind with an inadequate .281 OBP through eight post-season games.

That's your real problem, Joe.

Lack of base runners, lack of making contact, unproductive outs/too many strikeouts, and too many strikeouts bunched together in the two through five spots in the lineup.

Then again ... what do I know?

N.Y. Yankees: Swing And A Miss

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE BIG WHIFF

*

Astros Lead Yankees 1-0

I - HOU 2; NYY 1

II - SATURDAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game Two

New York Yankees

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

!HOUSTON STRONG!

TX

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Really, Joe?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just saying ...

N.Y. Yankees: Is Didi Gregorious New Meneer Oktober?

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game One

New York Yankees

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

( ( (( ! ! !! HOUSTON STRONG !! ! ! )) ) )

TEXAS

New York Yankees: Wild Card Hero; ALDS Hero; What's Next For Didi Gregorious?

Meneer Oktober/Dutch/Mr. October

All hail Shane Greene!

Remember him?

He was the relief pitcher Brian Cashman traded, as part of a three team trade, to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for shortstop Didi Gregorious from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

I felt then as I feel now, acquiring Didi may have been one of Cashman's best ever transactions since being appointed general manager of the Yankees twenty years ago.

Gregorious originally won me over during the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and soon thereafter as a 23-year old rookie for Arizona.  The Diamondbacks, however, didn't see things my way, and made Didi start the 2014 season at triple-A.  He was recalled by June, and went on to hit just .226 in 270 at-bats, with a .290 OBP.

There's little wondering, then, why Arizona (mistakenly) seemed willing to part ways.  After all, the Diamondbacks did well in acquiring starting pitcher Robbie Ray (and a minor league prospect), as part of the deal, from Detroit.

Didi's first season with the Yankees was his first full season in the majors.  He posted modest personal gains in most every offensive category, slashing a then career best .265/.318/.370 in 525 official at-bats, with 35 extra base hits, and 56 RBI.

He confirmed my suspicions about him the following season, slashing .276/.304/.447, with 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 70 RBI.

I was once again astounded with his performance for Team Netherlands earlier this year during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.  Albeit, the WBC is an exhibition which still fails to draw the world's best players together in one competition.

However, his 2017 regular season effectively eliminated any lingering fret with respect to replacing a Yankee legend.

Rather, Didi is in the midst of writing his own chapter in Yankee lure.

While establishing new career highs in batting, slugging, homers, and RBI, his 25 regular season home runs set a new Yankees record by a shortstop.

Yankee Stadium was aglow with frenetic energy in anticipation of Luis Severino's opening pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card game.  Four batters and two home runs later, however, the Twins were staked to an immediate 3-0 lead.

Enter Didi Gregorious.  With two on and one out in the bottom of the first, Didi worked a full count against Twins starter Ervin Santana, then yanked his payoff pitch into the outfield stands just left of the right field foul pole.  Game tied - Yankees go on to win by an 8-4 final.

Didi went just 1 for 13 against Cleveland pitchers through the first four games of the ALDS.  But he still managed to get on base, drawing six walks in 19 plate appearances.

Then in Game Five, Didi demonstrated he was merely saving his best for last.  He went 3 for 5 in the decisive game, with a pair of home runs, and three RBI, off Cleveland's ace.  His first inning home run off Corey Kluber gave the Yankees an instant 1-0 lead, and better yet, it silenced the Cleveland crowd.  Two innings later, Didi connected on his second home run off Kluber, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead, and marking the beginning of the end of Cleveland's now former remarkable season.

Didi Gregorious will turn 28-years old in February, but will not be free agent eligible until 2020, which means he will be under Yankees control during (traditionally speaking) prime years of his career.

What a great trade...

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: BoSox Visit Bronx Aiming to Rub Salt in Bombers' Wounds

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Attention passengers. this train is presently being held up in the station due to sick Yankees fans.  Please be patient through this wait for help to arrive.  We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.  If and when Hal Steinbrenner hires a qualified baseball person needed for searching out a new general manager for the team, we'll let you know.  

Otherwise, thank you for your patronage.  

That is all.

New York Yankees: Joe Girardi didn't flip the buffet table last week in Boston, opting instead for getting ejected from Thursday's latest lack-luster episode in Baltimore.

"Hey Joe, think about where you're going with that book in your hand.."

Sing to the music of Jimmy Hendrix ~ Hit it!

I'm not advocating Joe Girardi quit (because I do not think Brian Cashman would fire him), but if Hal does not start exerting greater power within his organization, i.e., over Brian Cashman, then  maybe Joe should con$ider an e$cape plan out of thi$ old Hou$e of continued idol wor$hip.

Just a though ... but obviously not practical.  The media would never let him live down quitting the Yankees before his contract expires after 2017 ~ key word being, Before!

*         *         *         *         *         *         *         *         *

Losing in extra innings is never pleasant, especially on the road and losing series after series against their division leading rivals (Orioles and Red Sox) in their ballparks - much less being firmly anchored in last place of the A.L. East.

Thursday night, the Yankees managed just 4 hits in 10 innings.  Their lead-off batter went 0 for 4 with no walks and a strikeout.  Their 3-4-5 hitters combined to go 1 for 11, with 3 strikeouts.  We all know who they are.  And lower down the batting order, the Yankees continue getting rarely seen hits from the once highly thought of Didi Gregorius.

Most teams (maybe even 29 other MLB member clubs) can usually shake off such an extra inning loss in May and just move on ... unless you're Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees, that is, where cost vs. production levels have never been more divergent over the previous two decades of Bronx County baseball than right now.

Last week, the on-field condition called for reactive measures as prescribed by David Cone and Ken Singleton during last Saturday's telecast against the Red Sox.  Problem is they wanted Joe Girardi to flip the buffet table.  That's fine, but in truth, Girardi is an innocent party to this all.  He is provided players of the general manager's choosing, then simply follows said general manager's bidding to the letter, as written in the Brian Cashman Binder of Baseball (bullpen maneuvering aside, because Joe is good at that).

After the Red Sox completed their series sweep of the Bombers last Sunday at Fenway, Dr. Frankenstein Brian Cashman rightfully took it upon himself to address the media with full intent of expressing his great displeasure regarding his team's monstrously poor play throughout the start to this season, and threatening them with potential changes if they do not get things turned around, and soon.

Shudder to think....

After Boston, the Yankees then moved on to Baltimore where they lost 2 of 3 games to the Orioles, and wound up placing both Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list for a pulled hamstring, and more recently C.C. Sabathia for a groin.  It's worth noting A-Rod wielded the lone productive bat against the Red Sox, with actual, genuine, meaningful home runs, while C.C. threw 7 strong innings against the Orioles.

Circling back ... if the Yankees performance was problematic last week, then what's this week's appropriate level of escalation.., dire?

Beaten and battered, the Bombers are back in the Bronx where, this time, they'll host the first place Boston Red Sox.  If you remember, it was Boston's sweep of the Yankees last weekend that propelled the Sawx into first place to begin with, then ensured the A.L East remains a tight race by bowing out in Baltimore.

Friday night, this vicious cycle potentially starts all over again.  Some might call that spiraling out of control.  I don't know...

But, all things are as they were then, only tonight Yankee fans get to see it in person.