The Most Lugubrious Managerial Search in Mets History Presses Onward

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

I would have been very copacetic with Joe Girardi.  He was second on my list of managerial candidates.  Be that as it may he is now skipper of the Mets nearest rival, and the Philadelphia Phillies will be better for it.  Of that I'm sure.

THE ROJAS CHRONICLES: CASE CLOSED

Luis Rojas, ponderously not one of the finalists, is/was third on my list.  He would have earned the position the old fashioned way: by dutifully paying his dues.  His resume is classic, having served the last twelve seasons in the Mets minor league system as both a coach and manager.

• 2007 - coach; Dominican Summer League
• 2008 - coach; GCL Mets
• 2009 - coach; Savannah Sand Gnats

Still only 38-years old, I'm unsure if Luis Rojas classifies as a really young Gen-X'er, or a really old Millennial.  In any event, Rojas receives his first managerial assignment in 2011 with the GCL Mets.  In 2012 he takes over the reigns at Savannah where in 2013 the Sand Gnats win the South Atlantic League championship.  In 2015 Rojas is promoted to manage at Port St. Lucie.  In 2016 he leads PSL to their first playoff appearance in three years.  Rojas in 2017 is again promoted to manage Binghamton where the Rumble Ponies post a 149-130 record during their two seasons under Rojas.  Entering the 2019 season Luis Rojas is named the Flushing Mets quality control coach by incoming general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

If you're a regular rider of the Trolley, then you know I follow winter league baseball.  I do not think; rather I know there is valuable experience to be gained in the Caribbean, be it as a player; coach; manager; even an executive.  The most recent and notable example of someone parlaying his winter league experience is present Red Sox manager Alex Cora.  After retiring as a player, for a few years he initially manages then serves as general manager of the Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico's LBPRC.  Los Criollos win Puerto Rico's 2016-2017 championship.  As general manager Alex Cora then leads an enhanced Criollos team (representative of Puerto Rico) to the 2017 Caribbean Series championship.  As general manager he assembles Team Puerto Rico whom face Team USA in the championship game of the most recent World Baseball Classic.  Very shortly thereafter in April Cora begins his stint as bench coach for A.J. Hinch and the soon to be World Champion Astros.  The following October Cora manages the Boston Red Sox to victory in the 2018 World Series.  Point being, Luis Rojas has captured two Dominican LIDOM championships in 2015 and 2016 as manager of Los Leones de Escogido.  If nothing else it helps punctuate a well rounded resume that should serve him well in future years.

THE FINAL FOUR

The Mets continue marking time is what has become the most lugubrious managerial search in the history of baseball.  Latest reports list the four finalists as Carlos Beltran, Derek Shelton, Tim Bogar, and Eduardo Perez.  The 22nd manager in Mets history will then be named 2:30am (EST) on a random Sunday morning still to be determined.  Don't call them.  They'll call us.

Sam, Rich, and I, were joined on our most recent Metsian Podcast by Gotham Baseball's Mark C. Healey, and we all agreed albeit for varying reasons and with differing levels of trepidation that Carlos Beltran is sure to be named next manager of the Mets.  My reasoning is simply because the Mets continue doing the exact opposite of I want.  For reasons I'll get into shortly, I'm just not interested in Carlos Beltran managing the Mets.

Derek Shelton is a veritable unknown to me.  That alone is enough to dissuade me from hiring him.  Sure, he's been around the block where it concerns MLB level experience.  I can not deny him that.  However distinguishing oneself is another matter.  Being bench coach of the Twins does not a resume make.  Neither does working along side Eric Wedge which is as pedestrian as it gets.  Perhaps you consider him a branch off the Joe Maddon tree considering their time together at Tampa?  The better question is are you a fan of Joe Maddon?  Me .. not so much.  I find Tampa's success far more attributable to Chaim Bloom's oversight than anything else.

Tim Bogar owns ten years of MLB coaching experience.  However, his decade long impact is no more distinguishable than that of Shelton's.  Am I being made to believe by Mets brass that Bogar and Shelton can potentially be better field managers than Girardi ever was?  Not likely.

And then there's Eduardo Perez, the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez, slugging first baseman for the Big Red Machine.  I grew up watching Tony.  I recall the Reds trouncing the Yankees in the 1976 World Series like it was yesterday.  There's something to be said for being born of baseball blood.  Eduardo also has requisite MLB coaching experience, and likewise managed successfully in Puerto Rico's professional league.  There's no doubt he is media savvy.  He's one man that will not soon get caught short for words.  In fact, I find him the most intriguing of the lot.  But just because I'm intrigued doesn't mean he's right for the job.

Meanwhile, the bombshell candidate is yet to materialize ... as if.

LOOK WHO'S NUMBER ONE!

In case you're wondering my number one consideration is out.  In fact, he was never in.  I want Buck Showalter.  This guy checks all my boxes.  There is no questioning his acumen; he commands respect; and is quite adept at negotiating the New York media.  On that note, the Mets would have received little if any criticism had they elected to go that route.  To my dismay he hasn't received so much as a sniff from Brodie Van Wagenen.  Another time, under different circumstances, I would be more open towards hiring a second straight novice ... just not now.  In their present condition the Mets need nothing short of a swift kick in the Showalter.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROPOSITION

Game seven of the 2019 World Series is now a matter of history.  Why does it seem the longer the Mets managerial search drags on, the more we're being led to believe Brodie Van Wagenen is actually targeting A.J. Hinch?

METS FANS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Fred Wilpon is still part of the hiring process.

N.Y. Yankees: Brian Cashman Selects Aaron Boone To Lead New Generation

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Joe Girardi was last major vestige of the old Evil Empire

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone Named First Manager In Brian Cashman's New Bronx Order.

Aaron Boone Becomes 33rd Manager in History of the Yankees

Future baseball historians may look back on Joe Girardi's dismissal as the day the old Evil Empire exhausted its final breath.

Girardi was not oblivious to the transforming realities encircling him.  Game fundamentals and the science of baseball itself have been undergoing changes throughout this new millennium.  The former Yankees manager was living it, thinking he was up to speed, and that everything was just fine.

Why wouldn't he?

As the former catcher for a modern dynasty, who other than Girardi understood the pressures of having to meet the Boss' high expectations, or performing to Bronx Cheer for that matter?  Who among available candidates could match his wealth of first hand knowledge and practical experience?

After managing the Yankees through ten straight winning seasons, overseeing the organization's lone member of the 3,000 hit club, a Rookie of the Year winner, first ballot Hall of Famers, capturing the 2009 World Series championship, and most recently knocking off the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians, who among the pool of potentially available managerial candidates could possibly have been more qualified to replace Joe?

In more recent years, Girardi also believes he had sufficiently demonstrated an ability to not only evolve with the pace of baseball's changing trends with a willingness to embrace and apply front office metrics, but had also expressed his openness for continuing in the redefining of 21st century operational relationships between front office and field managing.

Ironically, as it relates to this off-season's turn of events, Joe also won Manager of the Year honors in 2006 for the way he guided Miami's young players.  It's no wonder, then, he ended the 2017 season under the impression that he'd been establishing positive relationships and communicating quite well with the Yankees younger players.

Joe Girardi's resume can otherwise be captured in three words: The perfect fit.

Only he wasn't; not here; not anymore.

In my opinion, Brian Cashman decided to move on two years ago.  The optic emanating from the dugout spoke volumes.  Girardi was suddenly a granite symbol of the old imperial system; a lingering relic of the old republic; an immovable triumphal arch smack in the middle of a modern dugout; and ultimately something very ancient and somewhat strange to an even newer generation of players whom no longer understood Latin.  Fairly or not, everything on Joe Girardi's resume screamed old school.

Generations have passed.  My parents were Baby Boomers, making me a Generation X'er.  I in turn brought a Millennial into the world.  While the new manager of the Yankees will be dealing with many of those, he more importantly will be inheriting Generation Z - teenagers, and those presently old enough to serve in the military, but still too young to legally drink.  These are the upcoming players Aaron Boone is specifically being asked to manage ... in a kinder, gentler way, that many of of old fools from the old school don't quite understand.

Funny ... like me, Girardi and Boone are both Gen-X'ers.  Boone is only nine years younger than Girardi.  I'm somewhere in the middle.  I know Aaron comes a lot cheaper than Girardi does.

Just saying ...

Baseball no doubt courses through Aaron Boone's veins.  His grandfather, father, and brother, all major league players - his pedigree is impeccable.  His coaching and/or managerial experience, however, is nonexistent.

So what's he gonna do, hand out cans of Dr. Pepper?

Six candidates interviewed for the Yankees post: Carlos Beltran, Eric Wedge, Bobby Thompson, Hensley Meulens, Chris Woodward, and Aaron Boone, whom apparently out-shined them all.  In fact, Boone's former colleagues at ESPN are only some of the many that have done nothing but rave about him.

In any event, Brian Cashman continues steering the organization into new uncharted territory.  But make no mistake, the energy of the old empire is not dead.  It is merely being transformed.

This is Brian Cashman's New Bronx Order.

It needn't to make sense to us.

N.Y. Yankees: Because Stone Cold Cashman Says So

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Sun Sets On Joe Girardi's Career With Yankees

New York Yankees: If There Were Any Lingering Questions Before, There's No Doubt Who Runs The Evil Empire Now.

David Lennon quotes Brian Cashman in Friday's Newsday saying, "Everything this organization does is with careful and thorough consideration, and we've decided to pursue alternatives for the managerial position."

Sharp words ... cut like a knife.

I just finished putting the Jets on blast for what I believe is their general manager's lack of conviction.  So it would be hypocritical of me to harangue Brian Cashman after parting ways with Joe Girardi.

There's no escaping, however, he did after all tell a man who owns a 910-710 (.562) record in ten seasons as manager of the Yankees; who never even had a losing season; who led them to six post-season appearances and a World Series title in 2009; and who this year piloted a new batch of young Bombers over the defending American League champions; that his services are no longer wanted by the organization.

First, let's play along and suppose this was a financial move.  What they say about baseball and life mimicking each other is true.  If a manager is being made to merely comply with front office metrics, then there's no reason to pay multi-millions for practical experience and length of service, when they can just as easily employ a younger person to serve the same purpose at a fraction of the cost.  That is the epitome of corporate America.  Lest we forget, Hal Steinbrenner is an accountant by trade.  He signed off on this.  Even though he grew up witnessing George's wanton spending up close; and is proving himself a good baseball man in his own right; this kind of negative cost/return must make the back of Hal's head tingle.

Brian Cashman has said on numerous occasions, be it in print or on radio, that he prefers a manager utilizing all the information provided by the organization.  Which essentially means he does not necessarily want a manager thinking for her/himself, regardless of their baseball experience or intellect.  That, however, was not Cashman's issue with Joe Girardi, who played by the book just as the front office wished.

Who knows?  Managing with limits could have been a point of contention for Joe Girardi, but we may be waiting until he writes a book before finding out.

Being as I went there ... Joe Girardi had one shot at relying on his instinct and better judgement, and still blew it.  Game Two of the ALDS against the Indians at Cleveland, when he failed to challenge a potential foul-tip/strikeout.  He needlessly waited on his scouts in the sky for a determination; that came too late; when he absolutely should have asked for a replay post haste, not because Gary Sanchez implored him to, rather, just because(!) the situation demanded it.

Perhaps a packed Yankee Stadium raining down boos upon Joe Girardi during Game Three's opening introductions somewhat served as confirmation in Brian Cashman's mind that it was indeed time to move on.

I've always felt Joe Girardi is wound too tightly.  Many Yankee fans do too.  Even on the heels of success, it winds up being his downfall in the Bronx.  He means well, and maintained the respect of his players and opponents alike throughout his ten year managerial run with the Yankees.  But let's face it, time marches on, and Girardi's dogged/nose in the dirt/no-nonsense/grinding style is better tailored for the Boss' era, when veteran stoicism still ruled the day.  In fact, it's still the Yankees legacy.

But take a look at the post-George atmosphere today.  His own children christened the Judge's Chambers in right field.  There's open camaraderie and levity in the dugout.  As a result, Joe Girardi suddenly became an overly rigid square peg straight out of the 1960s, trying to fit into a round, younger, more hipper scene, man.

In truth, Girardi has been on the major league level for 26 years now.  To help put this in perspective, that's a full generation.  In Girardi's defense, what if his vast experience, and intensity, are what actually kept a young team in line?  Were it not for Girardi's tight grip on matters, could youthful exuberance have gotten out of hand?

We'll find out next season, won't we?

Regardless, this is Cashman's Yankees now, built according to his own specifications and by his own device, and he saw little sense in moving forward with a manager of Joe Girardi's vintage.

Sure, Steinbrenner money was still good enough to by a championship in 2009, but that was eight years ago.  I believe Brian Cashman knew he was doing himself no favors by spending nearly another half-billion dollars in 2013 (with only Masahiro Tanaka to show for it today).  At the time, Hal Steinbrenner may have had no choice but to keep feeding the machine.  And I think both knew this flew in the face of the very bones Cashman originally picked with George.  He and Cashman had a falling out in the mid-2000's that made him consider accepting the general managerial position in Washington.  But once the two reconciled their differences, Cashman has been slowly separating the Yankees from past practices ever since.

This is Brian Cashman's new world order.

He dictated the end of Bernie Williams' career with the Yankees.  He coldly handled the team's separation from Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre with the greatest of ease.  Also recall how Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi acting in tandem offered no quarter to Yankee legends, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter, in the last years of their respective careers.

Is it any wonder, then, despite his winning three rings as a player with the Yankees, then a fourth as their manager, that Cashman should end Joe Girardi's Yankees career in similar fashion?

He decides these Yankees, and future pinstriped talents to come, will march to a different beat.  Cashman now wants someone more affable, who will negotiate the team through this new age with more simpatico.

Oh, the irony!

You have to give it to him, though.  Brian Cashman successfully flipped this team on the fly without ever dipping below the .500 mark.

Now it appears as if the young Yankees and the young Red Sox have the American League East to themselves again.  That's why there's more to this than just trying to establish better communication with players.  Competition is the real impetus here.  This rivalry has been about managers as much as players, featuring the likes of Joe Torre and Joe Girardi, Grady Little, Terry Francona, and the recently excused John Farrell.

The Red Sox were first to act, and have already replaced Farrell with a well respected graduate of the new age school of baseball.  I have no doubt this factored in Cashman's decision.  He knows he needs to counteract, and oppose, the hiring of Alex Cora in Boston.

And on a completely different level, this is Brian Cashman's attempt at seizing his own enduring Yankee legacy.

Hear him.

Believe it.

N.Y. Yankees: Congratulations, Nonetheless

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

A Season To Be Proud Of

91-71 (.562)

WILD CARD

WINNER ALDS

New York Yankees: Young Bombers May Have Come Up Short, But Fans Have An Awful Lot To Look Forward To.

The Yankees are coming!

Not only did the young Bombers arrive ahead of schedule, but they knocked off the defending American League champions to boot.

The regular season also demonstrated just how slim the margin of difference is between the Yankees and Red Sox.  It looks like the American League East is a two team division again.  Both teams are young, and still upcoming.  Their respective farm systems are also well stocked.  Meanwhile, the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Rays, are all trending downward; all three finished the regular season below par.  In any event, the rivalry between the Yanks and Sox appears back on, and with potential to last for many years to come.

That's good for baseball.  It's also fun to watch.

Losing, however, is never fun.  Saying the Yankees and their fans should be proud of themselves despite losing to the Astros is easier said than done.  I know.  I root for the Mets.  When you get that close to the prize, one wants to win badly as ever.

Congratulations, nonetheless.

The BTB Top Three Concerns:

I)  Joe Girardi's Contract 

With most of the top managerial candidates being quickly gobbled up, it's unlikely the Yankees would risk parting with Girardi at this juncture.  Teams would line up to hire Joe should he become    available.  I'm sure if Girardi, or the Yankees front office, had any intentions of parting ways, we would have already known.

However, I can certainly see Hal Steinbrenner insisting Girardi come at a reduced price.  That in turn may put Brian Cashman in a pickle if, and when, he negotiates a new pact with Girardi.

As a Mets fan, I'll throw this into the mix - what if the end of season exit interviews go horribly wrong?  We Mets fans were under the impression Collins was well liked in the clubhouse, partly because the media defended him all these years.  The same media then kicked Collins when he was already down and on the way out with a scathing expose rife with anonymous sources.

II)  Gary Sanchez is a Defensive Liability Behind the Plate

That was made painfully clear, if not confirmed, against the Houston Astros.  Three particular instances stand out when he was unable to cleanly receive a rely throw to the plate, thus allowing a potential out to score safely.  All three plays directly affected the outcome of three respective games.  Joe Girardi makes no secret of his displeasure with Gary's defense.

III)  Yankees Got All The Pitching in the Post-Season They Could Have Hoped For

Luis Severino posted a fine regular season, and may have simply tuckered out the playoffs.  Masahiro Tanaka is signed through 2019, but can opt out.  He is clearly a better pitcher with extended rest.  Starters make one appearance a week in Japan.  Here, pitchers start every fifth day.  It's a somewhat taxing situation, which makes his potential price somewhat prohibitive.  Jordan Montgomery is up and coming, and the acquisition of Sonny Gray helped, but to what extent remains to be seen.  He is arbitration eligible.  The Yankees may potentially need another replacement in the starting rotation.  CC Sabathia's contract is finally coming off the books.  Capt'n Crunch is now a free agent to be.  He is 37-years old, and just might be asked back on a one year deal with an option.

In other words, questions abound.

N.Y. Mets: All Eyes Are On Alex Cora

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Terry Collins Ends Mets Career With 551-583 Record; 

Second Most Wins By Mets Manager Behind Davey Johnson

New York Mets: Front Office Will Interview Highly Recommended Alex Cora For Vacant Managers Position.

With the Astros in town to face the Yankees in the ALCS, it's being reported Houston bench coach Alex Cora will interview on Tuesday to potentially fill the New York Mets managerial vacancy.

It's also being reported Alex Cora has already interviewed for the vacant Red Sox position.  The former infielder has strong ties with Boston as a member of the 2007 championship team.

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1996 draft, Cora spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians for the 2005 season, and was then traded to the Boston Red Sox midway through the season, where he continued playing through the 2008 season.

Like the Red Sox, Alex Cora is no stranger to the Mets.  He was a well respected, influential player in the Mets clubhouse during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and was already being touted in baseball circles as a future coach/manager in the making.

He played his 14th and final MLB season as a 35-year old in 2011 with the Washington Nationals.

Since Cora's retirement, his widely recognized baseball acumen had long been sought after by major league baseball clubs.  His main priority during the years immediately following his retirement, however, lay in being close to home and raising his daughter.

Alex still remained active in baseball as an analyst for ESPN, and as general manager of his home town Criollos de Caguas of Puerto Rico's Liga Profesional de Beisbol Roberto Clemente.  

While still active, Cora, an eminently proud native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, played in three straight Serie Final for los Criollos from 2009-10 through 2011-12, and helped lead them to a league championship in 2010-11.  After retiring later that year, he accepted the position of general manager upon the resignation of Frankie Higginbotham.  With Cora at the helm, Caguas went on to win another league title (2012-13) in a rematch series against los Indios de Mayaguez.

Last winter, los Criollos de Caguas won their second championship in the last five years under Cora.

Alex and los Criollos de Caguas moved on to Culiacan, Mexico, for the 2017 Serie del Caribe, or, the Winter Leagues World Series, if you will.  It marked his second attempt at winning a Caribbean title as general manager of Team Puerto Rico.  This time, Cora and Puerto Rico did emerge victorious to capture the Caribbean Leagues crown.

As general manager of Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Alex Cora's bid at the trifecta ended against Team USA.

He has nevertheless since continued riding a personal wave of success into the ALCS as bench coach of the Houston Astros.

Many believe working along side Astros manager AJ Hinch has added the finishing touch to Alex Cora's resume.  To quote a line from NJ.com, the Mets are looking for someone younger ... and willing to adapt to new technology.  

That's exactly the type of experience he's presently gaining with Houston.

Is he the right man for the Mets?

Yes, without a doubt.  For all the reasons being discussed throughout media and print.

His baseball journey has taken him from the innocent fields of his native Caguas, where him and his brother Joey Cora both played as kids, to the University of Miami, then through several of MLB's largest markets.  

After Los Angles, he went on to play under the glaring lights of New York City.  He understands the role media plays here, and how intense the scrutiny can be.  The same can be said regarding his experience in Boston.  The media there is just as relentless, ruthless, and combative; sometimes even more so.  He nevertheless earned the media's respect and was embraced by them in both towns as the voice of reason.

Cora is completely bilingual, which also eliminates any potential miscommunication with Latin players.  That being said, he is known to be a uniquely well spoken communicator with all players.

Above all else, he is the best, and most appealing available candidate in my opinion.

After Cora, Gardenhire is second on my list.  He has the most managerial experience among the field of candidates, and was fairly successful during his years with Minnesota.

Kevin Long, is said to be the only person to have interviewed for the job so far.  He is not a top consideration of mine.  Nor is Joe McEwing, or Mickey Callaway.  Manny Acta is a blast from the past that I might be agreeable to.

For whatever reason, there seems to no longer be interest in the services of Robin Ventura and Brad Ausmus.  In turn, I have zero interest in Bob Geren and Chip Hale, but will admit to having a mild curiosity with Sandy Alomar Jr.

Joe Girardi's contract with the Yankees expires after the post-season, but I do not think the Yankees and him will part ways.  I also personally think Joe is wound up just a bit too tightly, and that him crossing boroughs wouldn't go over very well.

Cora is the best man for the Mets, but seems to be a better fit in Boston.

I hope that's just the Mets pessimism in me speaking out loud.

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: The Ghosts Arrive In Time For Game Three

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Indians Lead Yankees 2-1

I - CLE 4; NYY 0

II - CLE 9; NYY 8

III - NYY 1; CLE 0

MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

Cleveland Indians

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

River Avenue Grounds

BRONX

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just do it, Joe!

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

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

Yankees lose.

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

But as they say - winning cures all.

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

What do I mean by that?

Game Three's win was a complete team effort.

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: Onward to Cleveland

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

YANKEES AT THE GATES!

Wild Card Final

TWINS        4

YANKEES   8

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

New York Yankees

vs.

Cleveland Indians

FROM

Progressive Field

OHIO

New York Yankees: October is Tax Season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About that ...

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

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

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

Aaron Judge vs. Trevor Bauer 

coming to a bleacher section near you.

WILD:

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

Didi Greorious continues to be such a phenomenal acquisition.


Play ball!

N.Y. Yankees: Girardi Whiffs Alex with Screwball

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox lead series 1-0

I - BOS 5; NYY 3

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

Fenway Park

New York Yankees: Actions speak louder than words...

Back during Alex Rodriguez' more "loosey-goosey days" when he first got outed for using PED's, he told a packed press room at Yankee Stadium and all the fans tuning in, "Judge me from this moment forward."

Remember that?

Then what happened...?

He was outed a second time with the discovery of his involvement with BioGenesis.

How did Alex handle this newest white hot controversy?

After playing the young and dumb card last time, he this time employed a full blown scorched earth policy.  Denials, lies, and false accusations at the ready, Alex threatened the Yankees, the team trainer and doctors, the Player's Association, and whoever else opposed him with lawsuits.

Only problem was that Alex could never follow through because he would then be made to testify, effectively causing him to out himself.  Knowing this, Alex had no choice but to drop the curtain on his absurd charade, and obediently serve his one year (2014) suspension from baseball -(conveniently during the same season Derek Jeter enjoyed his farewell tour - the very Derek Jeter Alex criticized in GQ magazine while en route to joining the Yankees during the 2014 off-season).

Alex returned from suspension last season to post very productive numbers through the first half of the schedule, but tailed off considerably after the all-star break.  This season has been no different.  

With the exception of May in which he only played six games, Alex Rodriguez was a starter on Opening Day and continued playing through July 31st, during which time he only slashed .205/.253/.358, with just six doubles, nine home runs, and 29 RBI though 215 at-bats.

As the non-waiver trade deadline loomed, Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner decided it was time to break from the Yankees traditional business model, and so together inaugurated a rebuilding process with haste, evidenced by their transactions during the days and hours leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline.

There's little debating the Yankees then decided they had no more use for Alex Rodriguez.

He has one at-bat for the month of August, when used as a pinch hitter on Aug. 2nd. Otherwise, ARod has yet to participate in any capacity.

Hal Steinbrenner said Alex would be free to play in his four remaining games as a uniformed player of the Yankees.  Joe Girardi echoed those same words.

It was with great anticipation Alex thought he was going to do just that, until he failed to read his name on Tuesday's line-up card.

Lets call that for what it is ... vindictive, passive or otherwise.  I'm not saying whether that was right or wrong of the Yankees (Girardi), justified, earned, etc.  Im just calling it like I see it.

The issue is clear in my eyes - the Yankees do not want Alex hitting his potential 700th career home run in their uniform.  Or, maybe they they're staunchly opposed to Alex going the same company as Babe Ruth.

You get the gist...

Meanwhile, during the latter innings of Tuesday's series opener between the Yanks and Red Sox in Boston, fans started chanting, "We want ARod! We want ARod!"

If you read my last article, there's every chance Boston fans genuinely wanted to acknowledge Alex in a respectful way.

The Yankees just aren't having it.  They let him have his fun for nine seasons previous to his suspension.  Now they're declaring his party officially over ... on their terms.

After all those hundreds of million dollars spent, the Yankees behavior is exacting a tax meant to humble Alex.

Outwardly, the Yankees appeared to let Alex bow out somewhat gracefully ... a noble effort considering they affixed their stamp upon his dishonorable discharge papers in hot wax back on July 31.

With regards to all parties involved, and particular emphasis on Girardi for not playing ARod Tuesday night, actions have always spoken louder than words.

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.

N.Y. Yankees: Blame for Beantown Beat Down Falls on Brian Cashman

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Merely passing each other by in the night while heading in opposite directions.

Red Sox sweep series 3-0

I - BOS 4; NYY 2

II - BOS 8; NYY 0

III - BOS 8; NYY 7

Look what Big Papi did to the Bronx Bombers ... again!

The Red Sox swept the weekend series at Fenway Park by a combined 20-9 score.  As has been his custom since joining the Red Sox, David Ortiz went 4 for 7 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI during the first two games.

Now in his 14th season with the Red Sox, David Ortiz has 778 career at-bats against the Bombers, in which he slashed .339/.424/.679, with 48 home runs, and 152 RBI.

In two classic back-to-back American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Red Sox during 2003-2004, Big Papi slashed a combined .328/.412/.640, with 5 home runs and 17 RBI in 14 games.

Ortiz combined to hit 30+ home runs and drive in 100+ runs nine times throughout his career.  He led the American League with 148 RBI in 2005, then led the circuit with both 54 home runs and 137 RBI in 2006.

David Ortiz
"Big Papi"
*

CAREER

Twins 1997 - 2002

Red Sox 2003 - present

508 HR

1,660 RBI

.285/.378/.548

New York Yankees: "Right now is a time when everyone wants to play the Yankees" - Ken Singleton during Saturday's telecast.

Let the table hit the floor...

Let the table hit the floor...

Let the table hit the floor...

Let the table hit the floor...

Arrrrrrrgh!

Joe Girardi always looks miserable, but he's looking especially grim these days.  As the Yankees enter the second month of the season, little is going his way.

Before Joe makes himself sick, someone please tell him this is all Brian Cashman's fault.

In the meantime, Sunday's result once again did little to remove the scowl from Girardi's jaw clenched face.

• The Red Sox moved into first place after a weekend sweep of the Yankees.  
• The Yankees have now lost five in a row, and six of their last seven games.
• Oh, and they're in last place with an 8-15 record, and must now face the second place Orioles.

Said another way, the Yankees are off to their worst start since 1991, back when the Law of Diminished Returns ill affected the Boss' Yankees of the late 1980s in eerie similar fashion.

Fast forward - upon his hiring, Joe Girardi was initially tasked with retiring a dynasty, then got locked into a rebuilding holding pen after Cashman signed another wave of prohibitive contracts.  Not unexpectedly, now Girardi is receiving distressing performances from the all team's most expensive players.  

Until the Yankees detach themselves from several of these largess contracts, they'll remain incapable of initiating a full blown youth insurgence (which requires its own conversation).  Brian Cashman has actually procured some good young talent, sure, but his greater claims of a youth injection are greatly exaggerated.  Instead, he's to be criticized for years of lacking timeliness and forethought.

In the meantime what's a Yankees manager to do?  Joe Girardi is nothing more than the interpreter of the Book of Cashman - a stooge, if you will, in the same manner many managers were under George Steinbrenner.  Under the old Old Boss, however, this never used to be a problem - he just ate the money and bought more players.  These days, that's just not the way Hal rolls.

There's the rub ... Brian Cashman began empowering himself during George's latter years, but has truly seized, and exerted, full authority under Hal.  This is not a criticism of Mr. Steinbrenner, but I'm not sure Hal is prepared to venture forward without Cashman ... yet.

The Bronx Bombers are presently nothing more than a myth.  Although there's been some tangible improvements made from within, these Yankees arrived at their own law of diminished returns years ago.

2016 American League Rank:

• 6th least home runs
• 5th worst team average
• 4th worst OBP
• 2nd most strikeouts
• Dead last in slugging

I watched Saturday's game, and agreed with David Cone and Ken Singleton when the two accurately described the Yankees overall effort as one worthy of a buffet flip.

After one particularly poor performance, Ken Singleton recalled how his manager Earl Weaver once flipped the food table while telling his team they didn't deserve to eat.  Singleton said Weaver then apologized, and told the team it was his own fault, because he picked them, and thought they could win!

Ouch...

There's no need discussing how George would have handled this, especially after getting swept in Boston.

Although David Cone was first to suggest flipping the buffet table, he got it right by calling that Old School tactics.  

Ah, the good ol' days!

This world is now far too PC for the Billy Martin's and Earl Weaver's of yore, but I digress...

Saturday's 8-0 whitewashing was the second of two pathetically played games against the Red Sox on consecutive nights at Fenway Park.  At least the Yanks showed some fight on Sunday.  But it was the manner in which they lost on Saturday that inspired Cone and Singleton to consider such a reactive measure - a message made all the more poignant because it came from two former players.

Monday is an off day for the Yankees, who will then open a series in Baltimore on Tuesday against the second place Orioles.

Circling back to Girardi, maybe the guys in the booth were right.  Perhaps Joe should have indeed flipped the buffet table and sent them back to the hotel room that night feeling hungry.

Maybe, if their malaise continues during their stopover in Baltimore, the ghost of Earl Weaver will inspire Joe Girardi to ignore protocol, and engage in said old school tactics.

Flip the table Joe!

Nothing else in Cashman's codex seems to be working for you.

Red Sox Counter Punch In Battle Of The Bronx, 11-1

From the desk of:   BLAME CARLOS MAY

 

Battle For The A.L. East

1) - Boston      34-23

2) - Yankees   31-24

 

Series Tied 1-1

I - NYY 4; BOS 1

II - BOS 11; NYY 1

 

 

GAME THREE

 

Boston Red Sox

vs.

New York Yankees

From

The House That George Built

161 Street & River Avenue

BRONX

NEW YORK YANKEES - Fans Want Their AAAA Players Back.


All seemed well in the universe.  You felt order had been restored since the Red Sox and Yankees began battling it out for first place again.  For the Sox, no Jacoby Ellsbury Saturday night.  For the home team - the Yanks were starting to feel better, weren't they?  CC Sabathia looked back in form  during Game One's victory.  Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis returned, and other than Granderson, Jeter and ARod, the Bombers were starting to resemble their old selves.  So what happened?


With the Bombers one game out of first place, the enigmatic Phil Hughes climbed the hill in Bronx County yesterday opposed by Boston's Felix Doubront.  Both pitchers posted zeroes through the first three innings.


Then things went kablooey for Hughes.  The Red Sox broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the fourth.  Playing in Ellsbury's place, Jackie Bradley Jr. led off by lining a pea over the head of Gardner in center for a double.  Right fielder Mike Carp drove him home with another double down the left field line.  After walking Big Papi to load the bases, Phil Hughes faced Mike Napoli with one out.  The Bosox first baseman then launched Hughes' sixth pitch into the right field seats, for an opposite field grand slam home run.  Napoli entered his at-bat ranked 6th in the A.L. in runs batted in.  To that point, it was Phil Hughes twelfth home run surrendered in fifty-eighth innings pitched this season.


Then what?  The roof of The House Where Sparky Once Spit caved in during the eighth and ninth innings.  Boston scored six more runs, and cranked out eighteen hits in all.  They Yankees were stymied by Boston starter Felix Doubront for six innings, who allowed six hits, one earned run, walked three, and struck out six.  The Yankees were then shut down by the Red Sox bullpen - three combined innings, no hits, no runs, and four strikeouts.


Boston hit four doubles and three home runs off Yankees pitching.  Joe Girardi left poor Adam Warren on the mound for the last three innings of the game to get pounded for six earned runs on eight hits.  Way to go Joe.


Break up the Red Sox.  With Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz serving-up quality games again, along with a refortified bullpen, and Big Papi wielding a peligroso Louisville - Mike Napoli, Dustin Pedroia, freakin' Daniel Nava, and the rest of the Sox and crushin'.  In the bullpen, Andrew Bailey and Koji Uehara are as responsible for the Sox turn around as anybody.




Mike.BTB

Subway Series ~ Roosevelt Avenue Showdown

From the desks of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

SUBWAY SERIES~ II

Roosevelt Avenue Showdown

Mets Lead Series 1-0

I  -  NYM 6; NYY 4

GAME TWO

New York Yankees

vs.

NEW YORK METS

From

CITI FIELD
Flushing, Queens

NEW YORK METS:  "It's Seven O'clock and I Wanna Rock; Get a Belly Full of Beer  -  Saturday Night is Alright For Fightin', Get A Little Action In."

What happened in the Bronx, stays in the Bronx.  But even then, Terry's Kids looked undaunted by the Yankees last series.  Since these teams last played, life has quite literally been a world of sweep, or be swept for the Mets.  In the process however, they've proven they can take a punch, and still continue forward with a good fight.  Teams find that quality disturbing about their opponents.  It raises the volume of the voices talking inside their heads.  Even the Yankees; and Joe Girardi.  There is no page in his Blue Binder to demystify how the Mets win games.

...And you did Joe.  Your team did hit three home runs, and still lost.  After yesterday's game, Joe Girardi wasn't intimating the Bombers needed another clutch home run...was he?  Is that what his binder says?

Yeah.., that's New York.  Never satisfied.  And so, he we go again.  But for the first time, in let's say June, the Mets finally seized upon a Game One.  Doesn't winning Game One change the whole complexion of a series, or at least our perceptions?  After failing to do so against the Phils, Nats, Yanks, and Reds, this win finally came against the Yankees in the rematch series.  Not that it matters.  The Mets are just trying to win games.  But if you're striving to be somebody at the trade deadline, then Jon Niese winning Game One, especially on a night Andy Pettitte faltered, should be viewed as important.  So, yes, this is about finally seizing the moment; about stepping up if you're Jon Niese, and delivering in a big moment.  His wasn't a exactly a superlative start, but it was a winning start; his fifth.  At this point, I'm more concerned with taking a sizable step forward.  Winning Game Ones will help that along.  And from Jon Niese, it's what we needed.

Mets fans.., we won that game on Karma; good Karma.  As alien as that sounds to us; believe it.  A stunt like calling the Yankees a bunch of "chickens" would have gone over like passing gas in a space suit a few years ago; which is to say not very well.  Additionally, the Media would have been pounding this team for being woefully streaky, or worse, inconsistent.  But they, the media, are not.  Instead, the Mets have their attention, and are now starting to get the benefit of the doubt.

Think about it, the Mets haven't been pelted by asteroids smashing into the front office and managers, and the cries of a disenchanted fan base calling for the owner's head have effectively been muted.  And Ike Davis hits a Nick Swisher assisted home run?  The credit goes directly Terry Collins, and his team for making us forget a great many things.  It's AMAZIN' what winning just a few more games than you lose can do.

Tonight, the Mets and Yankees will play Game Two in the Roosevelt Avenue stop on the Subway Series.  Chris Young will oppose Ivan Nova.  The Mets will be able to reload their line up with the usual assortment of lefty bats.  So, I'm feeling good about the Mets chances again tonight.

Let's Go Mets!

 

Mike.BTB