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

From the desk of: THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Rays defeat Yankees; 3-2

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

III - TBR 8; NYY 4

IV - NYY 5; TBR 1

V - TBR 2; NYY 1

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

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

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

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

#StayAngry

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

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

Therefore ... the Sultans of So What!

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

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

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

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

Tampa outclasses the mighty Bronx Bombers.

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

N.Y. Yankees: Rays Victory Pushes Bombers to Brink

From the desk of: THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
Rays lead Yankees; 2-1

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

III - TBR 8; NYY 4

How Does Analytics Department Propose The Yankees Get Out Of This Mess?

After Game Two's analytical misfire with Deivi Garcia and J.A. Happ, Boone in order to prevent a two game skid and being faced with elimination in Game Four needed an effective performance from Masahiro Tanaka.

To Boone's continuing dismay, he gets nothing of the kind.  Tanaka continues trending negatively.  After yielding six runs on five hits in four innings against the Indians, Tanaka surrenders five earned runs on eight hits in a second straight four inning playoff appearance.  He surrenders a three run home run by Kevin Kiermairer and a solo shot by Randy Arozarena, and exits on the losing side of a 5-1 game with no outs in the fifth.  

In four starts this season against the Rays, Tanaka has now yielded 12 runs (5.68 ERA) on 20 hits and two walks with 18 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.  Boone is now forced into handing the ball in Game Four to Jordan Montgomery and a fully exposed bullpen.  Montgomery made ten regular season starts, allowing 25 runs (5.11 ERA) on 48 hits and nine walks (1.30 WHiP) with 47 strikeouts though 44.0 innings pitched.  He has no playoff experience.

Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning hits his sixth home run in three games, a two run blast reducing the Yankees deficit to four.  But the Bombers would manage no more.  Rays starter Charlie Morton yields just two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings pitched.  

Both teams have now scored 18 runs apiece through four games.  The Yankees are 27 for 106 (.254) with seven home runs; Tampa is 27 for 105 (.257) with nine home runs.  

The Rays have already committed to bullpening Game Four.  They will open with rookie Ryan Thompson.  However, they still have starters Trevor Richards and Josh Fleming at their disposal as potential long men.

As it stands the Yankees are ever so slightly being out-slugged, out-pitched, out-managed, analytically out-strategized and organizationally outperformed by the Tampa Bay Rays.

N.Y. Yankees: Game Two Loss Features Many Questions and Loads of Strikeouts

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Yankees and Rays tied; 1-1

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

THE CASHMAN REPORT: FRONT OFFICE FOLLY OR FIELD MANAGER F*@K UP

Aaron Boone tries taking a page out of the Rays playbook.  Three times during their regular season meetings Tampa bullpens the game with regular starter Charlie Morton serving as opener and three times Tampa Bay comes away with victories.

With a win in Game One, Aaron Boone withholds Masahiro Tanaka for Game Three, electing instead to start rookie Deivi Garcia in Game Two.  It appears he is tasked with pitching the first inning.  Or was Boone expecting him to go longer?  Garcia faces six batters, surrenders a two out home run and hits a batter.  Boone then hands off to J.A. Happ.  The Rays jump him for four runs on five hits and three walks in 2.2 innings pitched.  At this point Boone is surely expecting a little more length from Happ, who yields home runs to Manuel Margot and Mike Zunino.  Relievers Adam Ottavino and Jonathan Loaisiga each surrender a run as well.  Jonathan Holder and Nick Nelson each throw a scoreless inning.

Tyler Glasnow makes his fourth start this season against the Yankees.  He allows four runs through 5.0 innings on three hits and three walks with ten strikeouts.  All told, he has allowed ten runs (4.71 ERA) on 13 hits and ten walks with 32 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched against the Bombers.  

Tampa then puts a precarious three run lead in the hands of their bullpen.  Diego Castillo and Nick Anderson join for three scoreless innings.  

In the ninth inning Tampa's 7-4 lead is placed in the trust of Peter Fairbanks.  After walking the first two batters, Fairbanks fans Clint Frazier for the first out.  Pinch hitting, Gary Sanchez strikes out swinging.  With two outs D.J. LeMahieu singles back through the middle scoring Gio Urshela.  With runners on the corners Aaron Judge grounds out third to first and the Rays win.

The Rays win...! 

Did Aaron Boone blow Game Two or did Brian Cashman's Bureau of Internal Calculations mastermind this?  As previously noted, the Rays implemented this very plan with success.  The Yankees, not so much.  Someone perhaps over thought this?  

But what of the ineffectiveness of Happ, Ottavino and Loaisiga?

Boone who says he can bring back Deivi Garcia on short rest now hands off to Masahiro Tanaka in a pivotal Game Three.  In his only start of the post-season so far, Tanaka was routed by the Indians, allowing six earned runs on five hits and three walks in only four innings pitched.  He made three regular season starts against the Rays, allowing seven runs (4.20 ERA) on twelve hits and just one walk with 14 strikeouts over 15.0 innings.  In ten regular season starts he posted a 3.56 ERA and a 1.17 WHiP over 48 innings pitched.

THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT!!

The Yankees strikeout 18 times and generate just five hits.  Two of those hits were home runs by Giancarlo Stanton.  Through four playoff games Stanton is now 5 for 15 (.333) with eleven runs batted in.  All five of his hits have been home runs.  He easily leads the team in both categories.  Aaron Judge is now 2 for 19 (.105) with three runs batted in.  Like Stanton, his only two hits have gone for home runs.  Stanton and Judge together are 7 for 34 (.205) with seven home runs, 14 runs batted in and 13 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay answers four home runs in Game One by the Yankees with five home runs of their own in Game Two ... which brings us back to Aaron Boone and his loss for words after Tuesday night's game.

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

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Yankees lead Rays; 1-0

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

Bronx Bombers Pick Up Where They Leave Off

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: 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: Streaky Bombers Open Playoffs Against Cleveland Indians

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

ROAD TRIP!

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

WILD CARD ROUND

New York Yankees

vs.

Cleveland Indians

FROM

Not League Park

The rollercoaster ride which has been the 2020 New York Yankees regular season is about to take another two-G turn around the bend.  

Next Stop: Cleveland, Ohio, for the Wild Card round against the Indians.

This was clearly not the season the Yankees anticipated.  After jumping out to a 16-6 start, they go 5-15 over their next twenty games to flatten out at 21-21, then go on a decisive ten game win streak before stumbling into the post-season winners of just two of their final eight games.  Bronx finishes second in the A.L. East behind the Tampa Bay Rays and enter the playoffs as the five seed with a slightly lower winning percentage than the Indians.  All games if the series goes three will be at Progressive Field.

New York owns the advantage at the plate:

• AVG - Yankees #6 (.247); Indians #12 (.228)
• OPS - Yankees #1 (.789); Indians #13 (.689)
• RUNS - Yankees #1 (315); Indians #13 (248)

Cleveland owns the advantage in pitching:

• ERA - Indians #1 (3.29); Yankees #8 (4.35)
• WHiP - Indians #1 (1.11); Yankees #5 (1.24)

The offensive disparity is notable.  Cleveland struggled enough to be overlooked.  But they're obviously better than the numbers indicate.  If the Indians play with a lead, they'll own the advantage.  However, trouble awaits them if forced to play catch-up.  After all, the Yankees were one of three A.L. teams to eclipse 90 home runs.  They are better equipped for comeback baseball.  Cleveland's lineup just isn't as lengthy as that of the Yankees, who one through nine can instantly change the outcome of a game.  Plus, with Gary Sanchez in semi-benched status that cluster of strikeouts packed into the middle of the lineup also featuring Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton is somewhat lessened.  Otherwise, the disparity in pitching is less discernible.  Advantage: Yankees.

Game one will feature an extraordinary match-up pitting Gerrit Cole against Shane Bieber.  Cole posted a 7-3 record with a 2.84 ERA over twelve starts and 73.0 innings pitched.  Cy Young candidate Shane Bieber was 8-1 with a stellar 1.63 ERA through twelve starts and 77.1 innings pitched.

Masahiro Tanaka is penciled in for game two and will be opposed by Carlos Carrasco.  Tanaka was 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA in ten starts.  Carrasco posts a similar 3-4 record in twelve starts but with a 2.91 ERA.

If this series requires a decisive game three ... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Game Called: COVID-19 Whitewashes Yankees vs. Mets at Citi Field

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  &   BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME CALLED
COVID-19
SNY NEWS YouTube Channel

One player and one organizational member of the New York Mets tested positive for COVID-19.

I bid them and their families, and the Mets organization health, calm and peace of mind.

*

Just a reminder: I am on record as being opposed to the playing of the 2020 regular season.  But if players chose to play, earn a potion of their salaries, and in tun allow owners to recoup lost revenue through an expanded playoff, more power to them.  I wish them well.  However, as we see there are ramifications and repercussions to their decisions and actions.

Thursday's Mets/Marlins game in addition to Friday's Yankees/Mets game at Citi Field were postponed.  The Mets are now the tenth team to experience COVID related postponements.  That's ten out of thirty teams - you do the math.  The Yankees previously had a series against the Phillies postponed.  Both instances were related to trace contact with the Miami Marlins who earlier in this process experienced an outbreak of 18 players and team personnel.  Miami has so far been limited to just 18 games and to some extent their roster is unrecognizable.  BUGS BUNNY had the right idea when he hand-sawed Florida away from the continental United States.  On a personal note, my sister and some cousins live in Florida which keeps forever pensive.  Their state clown governor is a governor clown.  The Marlins are due in New York next week.  I say let them land at LaGuardia Airport, give them time for refueling, turn them right around and send that plane right back to South Beach.  The local Tri-State are did a superb job flattening the curve particularly here in New York City.  Last thing we need is a school of infected Fish swimming about in Flushing Bay.  Of course I speak somewhat in jest, but on a more serious note is appears Yoenis Cespedes and Marcus Stroman are owed apologies by all of those whom chastised them for opting out under the perceived pretense of self-centeredness and selfishness.  In fact Stroman himself expressed his anxiety over the upcoming road trip into Miami.

There's a lesson to be learned: temper yourselves.

ICYMI:

• N.Y. Yankees: Jury Still Out on Aaron Judge
• N.Y. Mets: Monster Matz is a National League Smash

The New York Mets presently own a 12-14 (.461) record, with 123 runs for and 130 runs against.  Between the starting rotation being in shambles and the ongoing issue of hitting w/risp, the Mets have more problems than a math book.  Things may look great for the Yankees.  The second place Bronx Bombers own a 16-9 (.640) record, one-half game behind the Rays, with 135 runs for and 107 against.  But they've already sustained injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, Zack Britton, Gleyber Torres, James Paxton, Luis Avilan, Aaron Judge, and now DJ LeMmahieu.

N.Y. Yankees: The Empire Strikes Back

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

Astros lead Yankees; 3-2

I - NYY 7; HOU 0

II - HOU 3; NYY 2

III - HOU 4; NYY 1

IV - HOU 8; NYY 3

V - NYY 4; HOU 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
GAME SIX

New York Yankees 

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

JUICE BOX PARK

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: Bombers Offer Twins No Quarter

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

OFF TO MINNESOTA

Yankees lead Twins; 2-0

I - NYY 10; MIN 4

II - NYY 8; MIN 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME THREE

New York Yankees

vs.

Minnesota Twins

FROM

TARGET FIELD

Look what the Yankees did to the Twins, again.  They say it's not a series until the home team loses.  By then it may be too late for the Twins as the series shifts to Minnesota for game three on Monday.  Up two games with two chances to win one at Target Field, if the Yankees return to Bronx County for a decisive game five it's because something went terribly wrong.

In the meantime the Yankees have been a bunch of savages in the batter's box, outscoring the Twins by an 18-6 margin.  They're batting .297 with seven extra-base hits, 16 walks, and 18 strikeouts.  Of their 19 total hits, only three have gone for home runs.  That means they're stringing together hits.  They're additionally batting (8 for 24) .333 with runners in scoring position.

IF IT'S HIGH, LET IT FLY; IF IT'S LOW, LET IT GO

• Aaron Judge: 4 walks; no strikeouts!
• Giancarlo Stanton: 4 walks; one strikeout!

CALL TO ARMS

Masahiro Tanaka pitches brilliantly on Saturday, yielding just one earned run on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through five innings.  In game one James Paxton allows three runs on five hits (two home runs) and one walk with eight strikeouts through 4.2 innings.  Through two games the bullpen has allowed two runs on five hits and five walks with twelve strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched.


Minnesota's last playoff victory over the Yankees occurred on back on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, in game one of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium.  Johan Santana and Mike Mussina duel for seven innings.  Twins relievers Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan complete the 2-0 whitewashing of the Yankees.

N.Y. Yankees: Minnesota Twins Pose More Trouble Than Meets The Eye

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

Minnesota Twins

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

161 Street at River Avenue

This marks the seventh meeting in post-season play since 2003 between the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins.  Suffice it to say things have not gone well for the Minneapolis/St.Paul Nine.  The Yankees own a 16-2 record in post-season games against the Twins.

• 2003: NYY def. MIN; 3-1
• 2004: NYY def. MIN; 3-1
• 2006: NYY def. MIN; 3-0
• 2009: NYY def. MIN; 3-0
• 2010: NYY def. MIN; 3-0
• 2017: NYY def. MIN; WC

The Twins averaged a 91-71 regular season record during the six aforementioned seasons.  This year Minnesota will offer the Bronx Bombers no quarter.  They come into these playoffs with a 101-61 regular season record.  The Yankees finish 103-59, while the Houston Astros finish with an American League best 107-55 mark.  New York won the regular season series versus Minnesota four games against two, outscoring them by a 43-38 margin.

STRENGTH OF DIVISION

• A.L. EAST: Tampa; Boston; Toronto; and Baltimore; post a combined a 301-347 (.464) record.
• A.L. CENTRAL: Cleveland; Chicago; Kansas City, Detroit, post a combined 271-375 (.419) record.

AMERICAN LEAGUE RANK
Link: STATS/New York Yankees

I - PLATE

• RUNS SCORED: NYY #1 (943); MIN #2 (939)
• HOME RUNS: MIN #1 (307); NYY #2 (306)
• TOT BASES: MIN #1 (2,832); NYY #3 (2,735)
• TEAM AVG: MIN #2 (.274); NYY #4 (.267)
• TEAM OBP: NYY #3 (.339); MIN #4 (.338)
• TEAM SLG: MIN #2 (.495); NYY #3 (.490)

II - MOUND

• TEAM ERA: MIN #5 (4.18); NYY #6 (4.31)
• TEAM WHiP: NYY #t5 (1.30); MIN #t5 (1.30)
• AVG AGAINST: NYY #5 (.248); MIN #8 (.257)
• STRIKEOUTS: NYY #4 (1,534); MIN #6 (1,463)
• SAVES: NYY #t1 (50); MIN #t1 (50)
• * BLOWN SAVES: NYY 28; MIN 22

In a short five game series with a travel break after game two, there's every chance Aaron Boone limits his starters to no more than four innings of work.  Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and James Paxton average under six innings per start to begin with.  J.A. Happ owns a 4.91 ERA through 161.0 innings pitched.  Tanaka this season pitches the second most innings of his career but also posts the second highest ERA (4.45) of his six year career with the Yankees.  Of the three, only James Paxton posts a season ERA (3.82) below four.  The biggest unknown is Luis Severino.  He has appeared in three games since returning from a season long absence, yielding just two earned runs on six hits with six walks and 17 strikeouts through twelve innings pitched.

The Yankees struck out 1,437 times this season which ranks seventh most in the American League.  That's a vast improvement over previous years. Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Gary Sanchez, have missed considerable time with various injuries.  But just in time the band is back together.  Out since Sept. 12, Gary Sanchez is back from a groin injury.  He played two games against the Texas Rangers going 1 for 6 with four strikeouts.  In 396 at-bats this season he has struck out 125 times.  Giancarlo Stanton returned to action on Sept. 18, and has since struck out eleven times in 28 at-bats.  For the season Stanton has fanned 24 times in just 59 at-bats.  Then there's Aaron Judge with his 141 strikeouts through 378 at-bats.  That's 552 strikeouts in 833 at-bats!  The Minnesota Twins struck out the fourth least times this season.

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: 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: The Wild Things Are Heading To Boston

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Leaving On That Midnight Train To Boston

WILD CARD

Athletics  2

Yankees   7

FINAL

New York Yankees: Money Ball Goes Belly-Up in the Bronx.

Every so often the Oakland A's write a nice story.  But we've literally read their book before, and it always ends the same.  Their inability to get over the top has everything to do with ownership's fiscal deprivation.  Blame it on their ballpark situation if you must.  I say they're bottom five in MLB attendance because they will it.  If you're an A's fan, thank goodness Billy Beane has the cashless wherewithal to cyclically build contenders.  Otherwise, there's a case for Oakland not deserving to win Wednesday's Wild card game.  As Cyndi Lauper once said, "Money changes everything."  Oakland's ownership knows this too well as they finish the 2018 season with the second lowest payroll in baseball.

I realize the game is changing.  And, yes, in light of their respective stadium situations Tampa and Oakland have been models in achieving more with less.  But this pig has lipstick all over it.  Why not just give the Wild Card game away.  Wednesday night proves positive Oakland's particular manner of operation is pure folly.  Isn't it rather embarrassing that a club should resort to starting a relief pitcher in a playoff game due to nothing more than negligence disguised as strategy?  I mean no disrespect towards Liam Hendriks, but when you place the post-season hopes of a city (being abandoned by its other sports teams) in the hands of someone who has been claimed off waivers three times, traded twice, and sports a career 4.72 ERA, well ... you reap what you "throw."

Just nine pitches into Liam Hendriks' effort, Aaron Judge renders his decision.  Andrew McCutchen leads-off the Yankees first at-bat with a walk.  On a 2-1 pitch, Judge rejects Liam's 96-mph fastball, outright, and deposits it into the left field stands.  The game essentially ends there.

Oakland's plan to ensure no Yankee batter would face the same pitcher twice failed miserably.

Analytics be damned ...

"We Want Boston!" becomes the anthem of the night.

Yankees starter Luis Severino struggles with command, but does not allow a hit until the fifth.  Down 6-0 in the eighth, Khris Davis's two run run homer off Zach Britton proves too little, and way too late.  In the bottom half of the frame, Giancarlo Stanton answers right back with a jolt of his own - his first ever postseason home run in his first ever post-season game.

N.Y. Yankees: Brian Cashman Trades a Dozen Prospects in Last Twelve Months

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

What more can he do?

New York Yankees: If Bronx Bombers Fall Short, It Won't Be Brian Cashman's Fault.

I've said this before ...

Regardless of what happens moving forward, Brian Cashman is having his greatest season as general manager of the Yankees, which also speaks to a successful rebuild and various acquisitions leading up to this year.

The Yankees might still be a starting pitcher short, and there's only so much you can do about injuries.  But his youth is serving him well, in more ways that one.  Cashman has packaged a platoon sized element of minor league prospects in order to keep the Yankees in a highly competitive state.

If you go back to last year's trade deadline, Cashman trades James Kaprielian, Dustin Fowler, and Jorge Mateo in order to secure Sunny Gray from Oakland.  During the off-season, he sends Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers (and Starlin Castro) to Miami in exchange for Giancarlo Stanton. 

Leading up to this season's non-waiver trade deadline, Cashman acquires pitcher J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays for Brandon Drury and Bill McKinney, and also picks up Zach Britton from Baltimore in return for Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers, and Cody Carroll.  But Cashman still isn't through.  He now acquires Andrew McCutchen (who clears waivers) from the Giants in time for him to qualify for the postseason roster.  The Giants receive Abiatal Avelino and Juan DePaulina.  And in his most recent transaction, Cashman picks up shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria for a PTBNL or cash considerations.

All told, Brian Cashman has transacted twelve minor league prospects over the course of one full calendar year in order to built, maintain, and refortify a team presently playing 35 games over the .500 mark.

And as promised he's keeping Hal Steinbrenner under the luxury tax threshold, to boot.

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: 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: Bombers Invade Boston for Pivotal Series Against Sox

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

Fenway Park

New York Yankees: You Talkin' To Me?

If you're a regular rider of the Trolley, perhaps you're familiar with one of my sayings: once is an event; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

Phil Nevin, third base coach of the Yankees, if you remember, calls out Red Sox manager Alex Cora during the first series between them and the Yankees back in April.  This past Wednesday, Nevin rips into select members of his own team which Aaron Boone is made to address during the post-game.

Entering this weekend's four game series, what are the chances Phil Nevin blows his top again over something or at someone?  I'm curious to see just how much power Phil Nevin thinks he wields.  Not before last night did I harbor any conspiracy theories.  But being as Boone is the calm, cool, collected one, I wonder if he and Nevin are employing the old good cop/bad cop routine upon young impressionable players?

I'm not so sure that's a good idea.  Brian Cashman let Joe Girardi go partly because he was too hard on Gary Sanchez, but generally because of his no nonsense, clenched jaw manner.  I have to question whether Brian Cashman agrees with Phil Nevin's tact.  I'm more inclined to think that if Nevin keeps this up, Cashman will suggest Boone seek out an alternative third base coach.

The Rivalry: No Chris Sale; No Xander Bogaerts; No Dustin Pedroia; No Aaron Judge; No Gary Sanchez; No J.A. Happ; No Problem ...

Here we go again.  The two best teams in baseball clash this weekend at Fenway Park.  Despite being thirty games over .500, the Yankees trail the first place Red Sox by 5.5 games.  The Bombers have a more favorable schedule ahead than do the Red Sox, but not if they keep giving away games to the moribund Baltimore Orioles.  The Red Sox, on the other hand, enter this series with the best record in baseball, 41 games above the .500 mark.  Even after their franchise record 17-2 start, the Sox still own a 58-32 record since then.

However, neither team is lacking in compromising issues.  The Yankees enter this series minus the services of Gary Sanchez, Aaron Boone, and newly acquired J.A. Happ.  The Red Sox are without their ace, Chris Sale.  Xander Bogaerts will not play Thursday, and is questionable beyond that.  Meanwhile, Dustin Pedrioa will likely continue missing the rest of the season.

Losing Sale (for any stretch of games) is a particularly painful blow to Boston.  After 22 starts, Sale is 11-4 with a league leading 2.04 ERA.  With only 90 hits allowed in 141 innings pitched, he likewise leads the league with an 0.87 WHiP.  He also leads with 207 strikeouts and a 13.2 K/9 average.

Luis Severino leads the league with 14 wins against just four losses, and owns a 2.94 ERA.  Rick Porcello is right behind him with 13 victories.

Boston features two of the league's top three hitters.  Mookie Betts leads the A.L. with a .338 average, J.D. Martinez is third with a .323 mark, and is tied for the lead with 32 home runs, and leads with 89 RBI.  Mookie Betts is third with a 6.5 WAR.

When the Bombers are at bat, I discussed the other day how all eyes will be on Giancarlo Stanton.

If the Yankees are to make headway, they need to win three games.  Of course, a split doesn't hurt.  But to lose three of four, or worse, is putting themselves in a big pickle.  Starting with Thursday night's game at Fenway, the Yankees and Red Sox have nine games remaining.

N.Y. Yankees: The Reeducation of Giancarlo Stanton

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Last year's N.L. MVP poised to play in most 

meaningful games of his baseball career.

New York Yankees: Oh, the story Giancarlo Stanton can write!

Giancarlo Stanton's arrival in the Bronx is not a matter of baseball subjugation.  By invoking his no-trade clause he essentially engineers his own reality by forcing the Marlins to deal with Brian Cashman and the Yankees - whom rather passively emerge as a lone remaining suitor capable of absorbing his otherwise prohibitive contract.

One could argue Stanton never before has participated in a regular season nearly as meaningful as this one, or that Mar. 29, 2018 at Toronto was the first ever meaningful regular season game of his career, or that his first hundred games with the Yankees have been far more meaningful than any of his 986 games played as a Miami Marlin.  But after four full months on the job he is experiencing well that winning a National League MVP for the second division Miami Marlins is one thing, and that being traded to New York and playing for a team which came within one game of last year's World Series is another.

He hit two home runs and drove in four runs in his Yankee debut, but after 28 games would finish April slashing just .230/.313/.425, with five home runs and 15 RBI, and not without having at least two terse exchanges with the media.  In May, he slashes .264/.330/.516, with six home runs and 14 RBI, then slashes .298/.373/.577, with eight home runs and 17 RBI in June.

Now one hundred games deep into the season, Stanton so far in July is slashing .349/.387/.542, with four home runs and 15 RBI, bringing his grand totals up to .281/.348/.512, with 23 home runs and 61 RBI.  He leads the Yankees with 110 base hits; is tied with Aaron Judge for most RBI; is second behind Judge in home runs; and is third behind Judge and Gleyber Torres in slugging.

This past Thursday, Aaron Judge suffered a fractured wrist during the Yankees 7-2 victory over the Royals at the stadium.  He is expected to miss the next three weeks to a month.  With that, the weight of the Yankees Universe falls on the shoulders of Giancarlo Stanton, who is now expected to carry what is effectively Aaron Judge's team. 

More conclusive proof that in New York City the spotlight finds you, and not the other way around. As such, Giancarlo Stanton is about to gain an entirely new understanding into what the dog days of summer truly entail.  Friday's rain-out makes Saturday's game against the Royals at the stadium the first the Bombers will play without Judge.  Tasked with performing under new conditions, Stanton will have all eyes focused squarely on him.

Stand or fall, he is once again in charge of his own narrative.  The game's biggest stage lies before him.  If Stanton helps the Yankees overcome their five game deficit behind the Red Sox before Aaron Judge returns, oh the story he will write.