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

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

MINUTE MAID PARK

SEPTEMBER 2019

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Astros defeat Yankees; 4-2

I - NYY 7; HOU 0

II - HOU 3; NYY 2

III - HOU 4; NYY 1

IV - HOU 8; NYY 3

V - NYY 4; HOU 1

GAME SIX

Yankees   4

Astros      6

FINAL

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

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

• 2019 ALCS - BR

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

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

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

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

And into the ninth inning they go ...


NUMBERS OF THE BEAST

Both sides utilize seven pitchers in GAME SIX:

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

SWING AND A MISS

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

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

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

THE REAL BRONX BOMBERS

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

THE REAL BRONX BUMMER

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

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

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

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

Game Two Loss:

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

Game Three Loss:

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

Game Four Loss:

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

Game Six Loss:

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

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

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

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


TRENDING

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

2017 ALCS: Astros Defeat Yankees; 4-3

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

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

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

2018 ALDS: Red Sox Defeat Yankees; 3-1

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: Mother Nature Throws Aaron Boone a Change-Up

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME CALLED

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME FOUR

Houston Astros

vs.

New York Yankees

Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone, and Mother Nature walk into a bar ...

Aaron Boone's (potential) plan to bullpen his way through game four knowing Thursday would be a travel day is compromised by Mother Nature.  Wednesday's rain-out means the remainder of the ALCS must be played out on consecutive days.  While Aaron Boone gets to pitch his starters on normal rest, he now must act with far more prudence when giving them the hook.  With only four chances to win three games, the spotlight is fixed on Aaron Boone and how efficiently and effectively he utilizes his bullpen going forward.

After six games the bullpen already has more innings pitched than Yankees starters.  Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and Luis Severino, have each made two post-season starts.  They've collectively yielded seven runs through 26.1 innings pitched for a 2.41 ERA, but only average 4.1 innings per start.  Even if you take away Paxton's 2.1 inning effort in game two, the Yankees top three still only average five innings at best.  To date, only Masahiro Tanaka has pitched into the sixth.  Meanwhile the bullpen boasts a 2.23 ERA through 28.2 innings pitched.

Adam Ottavino has appeared in all six playoff games; Zack Britton and Tommy Kahnle are next in with five appearances each.  Meanwhile J.A. Happ has been nothing short of a liability.  It's no wonder Aaron Boone has only called his name twice through six games.  Makes me wonder which left-hander Boone will trust more in a big situation: C.C. Sabathia or J.A. Happ.

On a related front, Brian Cashman's failure to land a pitcher at the trade deadline was just about coming to pass when the rains hit early Wednesday afternoon.  Had Wednesday's game been played and the Yankees lost, Cashman would surely have been brought to task.  He escapes that criticism, for now, with help from Mother Nature.

But, boy, she really did stick it to Aaron Boone.

N.Y. Yankees: Astros Pitching Short Circuiting Bomber Bats

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

ASTROS LEAD YANKEES; 2-1

I - NYY 7; HOU 0

II - HOU 3; NYY 2

III - HOU 4; NYY 1

GAME FOUR

Houston Astros

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

BRONX COUNTY

Having now faced Houston's big three, the Yankees trail the ALCS (1-2) with two games left to play at Yankee Stadium.  Baring a pinstriped implosion this series is heading back to Houston where the Yankees in game one score seven runs on 13 hits against Zack Greinke.  However, New York's momentum at the plate only carries them as far as the next game's opposing pitcher.  In game two Justin Verlander and five Astros relievers join in limiting the Yankees to six hits and a pair of runs.  On Tuesday Gerrit Cole and a trio of relievers yield just one run on five hits.  That's three runs on eleven hits for the Yankees over their last two games.  Not very Bomber like, save for Gleyber Torres.

• Gary Sanchez: 1 for 13 (.077); six strikeouts; and presently a defensive liability.

Game four strikes me as a coin flip.  Each manager has limited pitching options and none seem terribly promising.  The tentative plan is to bring Tanaka back on short rest.  Plan B would be to bullpen the game.  There's always C.C. Sabathia.  Or just pray for rain.

For what it's worth, Paxton would be on his bullpen day three days after being yanked from game two after allowing an earned run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in just 2.1 innings pitched.

Meanwhile the Astros appear only slightly more well off handing the ball to Wade Miley.  This all remains to be determined.  But it sure looks like game four is building up to be a hitter's game.

Famous last words ...

Which ever team wins game four I believe seizes the advantage.  Houston, obviously, because they'll have three opportunities to win one game.  But if the Yankees should take game four, Masahiro Tanaka is in line for game five.  Tanaka pitches brilliantly against the Twins, and more so in game one at Houston in which he allows the Astros just one hit and one walk, with four strikeouts through six scoreless innings pitched.

Rewind back to the final weeks and days of June.  Brian Cashman turns his back on what he believes to be a rigged trade market, electing instead to hold his ground.  Luis Severino perhaps plays a part in Cashman's decision.  But we just witnessed the consequences of his decisions in game three and now leading into game four.  It's clear Severino is nowhere near mid-season form, much less ALCS ready.  But in lieu of pitching upgrades, this is precisely why Brian Cashman acquires Edwin Encarnacion ...

... to win game four.

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.

N.Y. Yankees: The Curse of Bucky F. Dent

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox win ALDS 3-1

I - BOS 5; NYY 4

II - NYY 6; BOS 2

III - BOS 16; NYY 1

IV - BOS 4; NYY 3

New York Yankees: The Curse of Bucky Effin Dent?

• Date: Monday, Oct. 2, 1978.
• Setting: Late afternoon, Fenway Park, Boston.
• Condition: Yankees and Red Sox finish the season tied necessitating regular season game #163 in order to decide the A.L. East title.  The winner moves on to the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals.

The Red Sox take an early lead on Carl Yastrzemski's second inning home off Ron Guidry.  Jim Rice drives home a run with a hit in the sixth giving Boston a 2-0 lead.  Mike Torrez pitches six scoreless innings, but with two outs in the seventh, he surrenders consecutive base hits to Chris Chambliss and Roy White.  Into the batter's box steps shortstop Bucky Dent.  He is 0 for 2 on the day with a fly to right and a pop-up to short.  Dent takes Torrez' first offering for a ball, then fouls the second pitch off his left foot.  The game is delayed as Dent receives attention from trainer Gene Monahan.  Dent also switches bats, then finally steps back in.  With the count at one ball and one strike, Mike Torrez delivers a fastball square over the plate ...

Here is Yankees WPIX announcer Bill White's call:

"Deep to left ... Yastrzemski will not get - It's a home run!  A three run home run for Bucky Dent!  And the Yankees now lead it 3-2!  Bucky Dent has just hit his fifth home run of the year, into the screen!  And look at that Yankees bench, led by Bob Lemon."

Catcher Thurman Munson shortly thereafter doubles home the Yankees fourth run of the inning.  However, it is Reggie Jackson's eighth inning home run to straight away center field which proves most pivotal, as Yastrzemski and Fred Lynn help the Red Sox rally for two runs off Goose Gossage in the bottom half of the frame, but no more.  Gossage closes out Boston in the ninth, and the Yankees clinch the A.L. East title.  They go on to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, then for a second successive World Series defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That historic one-game playoff takes place forty years ago.  Twenty-six years later the Yankees invite Bucky Dent to throw a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium during the 2004 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox.  We all know what happens next.  The Curse of the Bambino if finally and forever broken.  Fourteen years later, the Yankees again invite Bucky Dent to throw out the first pitch prior to the start of Game Four of this year's ALDS. 

I have a saying: Once is an occurrence; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

Just saying ...

Now for the ALDS that was.

Dave Dombrowski is a highly regarded executive.  He develops a reputation towards the latter part of his tenure with Detroit for spending like a drunken sailor and receives criticism for leaving the Tigers in a state of financial crisis.  When in truth he operates according to the mission statement handed him by Mike Illich during the late great owner's latter years of life.  But there's also a case to be made for Dombrowski's continuing fiscal folly with the Red Sox.  Releasing Edgar Renteria ($$$) is merely one example that hardly scratches the surface.  However, owner John Henry appears copacetic with the state of his economy, and his team.

Once the Red Sox are eliminated by the Astros in last season's ALDS, Dombrowski fires manager John Farrell with haste and immediately requests permission to speak with and ultimately interview Houston's bench coach Alex Cora while the Astros are still in the midst of their post-season run.

With regards to modern analytics, the Red Sox recognize its value and embrace baseball's newest evolutionary mutation with three arms.  Like most managers these days, Alex Cora is handed reams of information.  Dombrowski, however, leaves its application in Cora's hands to manage as he sees fit, or deems necessary.

Unlike Dombrowski who very early set his sights on Alex Cora, Brian Cashman informs Joe Girardi his contract will not be renewed, but then remains strangely idle.  Meanwhile, other available, and (to varying degrees) desirable candidates begin finding employment elsewhere.  Aaron Boone's name is presented to Brian Cashman as a late, unexpected, and obviously inexperienced candidate.  But the two are far from being strangers.  According to most reports Boone overwhelms the Yankees general manager and is hired on the spot.  I would argue, though, Aaron Boone isn't signed until December - two months after the World Series ends - when the market for managers had already thinned considerably.

Unlike Alex Cora, Aaron Boone is beholden to a far more restrictive operating procedure.  Brian Cashman is addicted to analytics, and has on numerous occasions appeared on sports radio making no bones about it: he wants his manager(s) adhering with strict compliance to information provided by the front office's expansive analytics department.  For both Joe Girardi and Aaron Boone, deviation was/is not an option.

Despite a most disappointing outcome I still believe this is one of general manager Brian Cashman's finest seasons on record, if not his best.  He put one dynasty to bed, and is in the process of potentially building another.  He's done everything a fan base could ask for: revitalizing the farm system; graduating new major league talent and legitimate stars; making subtle and well received transactions; following through with off-season maneuvering; and procuring reinforcements by the trade-deadline.  Then there are his boss' requirements.  Cashman not only satisfies Hal Steinbrenner's desire for being under the salary tax threshold, but has the Yankees supremely positioned to spend big money again on free agency.

All that being said, the manner in which this team sets their on field priorities and go about the game of baseball - losing this year's ALDS included - fall on the general manager for what I believe is his flawed application of analytics driven baseball.  Additionally, by parting ways with Joe Girardi and his ilk, Cashman shifts away (IMO) from demanding player accountability.

Cashman once mandated that Joe Girardi follow a script set forth by his Ivy League info squad, and presently demands Aaron Boone follows suit.  Outside of Boone being more affable with players and the media, there is no philosophical difference to speak of from one manager to the next.  There's no change with regard to in-game approach.  In fact, what's new is actually old.  I would argue Yankee analytics are just a 21st century cover of Earl Weaver's school of thought: reliance on strong pitching and three run home runs.  Problem is, the Yankees in the ALDS got neither.  Thus, in this results driven business Aaron Boone fails to elevate last year's band of overachievers to the next level.  Despite a 100-win season, they effectively take one step backwards.

Aside from Masahiro Tanaka, the trio of J.A. Happ, Luis Severino, and C.C. Sabathia all struggle mightily.  Boone, however, appears unprepared to negotiate three early exits.  Thus his failure to act in a timely manner ultimately contributes rather considerably in all three Yankees losses.  There's something to be said for all-hands-on-deck.  In Monday's Game Three at Yankees Stadium, Mookie Betts hit Luis Severino's very first offering of the game 405 feet to straight away center.  The bullpen should have began stirring right then.  After all, the Yankees main strength in both quality and depth is their bullpen.  Instead, Boone plays right into Alex Cora's hands.

Otherwise, a general lack of execution should be blamed on players.  After all, Aaron Boone is just doing what he's told.

Alex Cora brings his bench coaching experience and a share of Houston's World Series winning sensibilities to Boston where one of his first acts is to let his new team know just how bad they've been, and exactly what they're going to do in order to change it.  He inaugurates sweeping changes to the extent both Houston and Boston rank top two in most key statistical categories.  Under Cora, the Red Sox win a franchise record 108 games.  He stresses throughout each and every game to play aggressively.  The ALDS proves no less differently.  Many of his positional moves are in conflict with analytical directives.  Not to mention he twice gambles with Rick Porcello and Chris Sale in relief.  And there's the rub.  Alex Cora abandons the book and goes for the kill.  If Chris Sale blows Game Four, he loses him for a decisive Game Five.  Rick Pocello is scheduled to pitch Game Three.  Instead, he becomes one of the heroes of Game One.  His relief appearance necessitates Nathan Eovaldi pitching Game Three, who winds up tossing a gem.  And that's how Alex Cora circumvents his precarious bullpen bridge to Craig Kimbrel.

From bench coach and friends to being opponents and adversaries, Alex Cora now faces A.J.Hinch; Grasshopper versus Sensei.

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bummer Leave Bombers on Brink

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox lead series 2-1

I - BOS 5; NYY 4

II - NYY 6; BOS 2

III - BOS 16; NYY 1

GAME THREE

RED SOX   16

YANKEES    1

FINAL

Boston Red Sox Hand Bronx Bombers Worst Defeat in Franchise Post-Season History.

Featured prominently across the front of Boston's warm-up jersey reads their post-season mantra: Do Damage.  Monday at Yankee Stadium the Red Sox do just that, handing the Bronx Bombers their worst post-season defeat in their 115-year history, and pushing them to the brink of elimination.

Already lost upon Bomber fans' collective memory is Gary Sanchez becoming the first Yankee catcher to hit multiple home runs in one playoff game, or that Aaron Judge becomes the first Yankee since Reggie Jackson to homer in three consecutive playoff games.  With one more loss in this ALDS, all fans will remember is a 100-win regular season spiraling counter-clockwise down the toilet; rookie manager Aaron Boone's failure to get out of the first round a year after Joe Girardi leads them within one game of the World Series; and something a little closer to their heart, getting eliminated yet again by the rival Red Sox in their own yard.  Nothing short of two straight victories changes that narrative now.

This much, however, for the moment remains true as ever: the Yankees live and die by the home run.  Through two Yankees losses, they total just one home run - an Aaron Judge blast in the ninth inning of Game One.  In their Game Two victory, Judge hit his second of the series, and Gary Sanchez adds two.  From a Red Sox perspective, they trade home runs in Game One, and win; get out homered in Game Two and lose; then hit one home run versus zero for the Yankees in Game Three, and win.

Boston had already scored 14 runs on 17 hits before Brock Holt's two-run jolt in the ninth.  As an aside, he becomes MLB's first player to hit for the cycle in a post-season game.  Cycling back, the Yankees have hit four home runs versus Boston's three, but the Red Sox have now out-hit the Yankees 31-23, and outscored them 23-11, through three games of the ALDS.

Luis Severino's very first offering of the game clocked in at 95-mph.  Leading off for Boston, Mookie Betts hits said pitch 405 feet away to the base of the center field wall for a very long out.  After which, the route is on.  Severino faces 18 batters through three innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and two walks, with two strikeouts.  The Yankees bullpen (Austin Romine aside) allows eight more runs on ten hits and five walks, with just two strikeouts.

In a tale of two acquisitions, the Yankees acquire J.A. Happ, who through his career has pitched very effectively against the Red Sox.  In Game One, Boston knocks him out of the box after just two innings upon allowing five earned runs on four hits and a walk.  In turn, the Red Sox acquire Nathan Eovaldi, a one-time Yankee, whom likewise has a reputation for pitching well against his former club.  In Game Three at Yankee Stadium, Eovaldi pitches a gem, allowing just one earned run on five hits, no walks, with five strikeouts, through seven full innings pitched.  In the seventh he pops the radar gun at 100-mph.

With another victory on Tuesday, the Red Sox clinch a trip to the ALCS, but not before making a complete mess of the visiting locker room at Yankee Stadium for a second time this season.  If you're the Yankees, there's all the motivation you need.

Game Four features C.C. Sabathia versus Rick Porcello.

Sabathia last pitched twelve days ago against Tampa, in which he pitches five scoreless innings of one hit ball, with no walks and five strikeouts before being ejected.  Sabathia is afforded a similar break coming out of the all-star break, when he goes two full weeks between starts.  Upon his return, he allows two earned runs on six hits and two walks, with eight strikeouts against Kansas City.  Over his last five starts, however, C.C. has allowed 13 earned runs over 21.2 innings pitched for a 5.51 ERA.

In Rick Porcello's last start against the Yankees on Aug. 3, he tosses a one-hit complete game victory at Yankee Stadium.  Porcello's last appearance against the Yankees comes in relief, when he records two game critical outs on 15 pitches in the eighth inning of Game One at Fenway.

Should the Yankees win, another match-up between J.A. Happ and Chris Sale awaits in Game Five.

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: Where The Wild Teams Are

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Road to Boston Goes Through Bronx

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD

Oakland Athletics

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

Bronx County Grounds

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone Juices Up His Battery.

You can't get fired for doing what you're told.  At least that's what Joe Girardi thought.

Can it be that Aaron Boone - manager of the team with the most expansive analytics department in all of baseball - is betting the Yankees entire 100-win season on a gut feeling?

I heard the same stupid stats as you - about the A's team batting average against pitches above/below 95-mph, etc.  I don't buy it - not in a one game scenario.  Go ahead and throw the A's a 97-mph fastball over the middle of the plate, and see what happens.  However, I do say Boone is starting Severino because he's the known element here; Happ is Boone's unknown.  So if Boone is indeed acting on a hunch, he is taking an awfully big risk.

Brian Cashman makes no bones about it: he wants his manager utilizing every last bit of information his staff provides.  That's how Joe Girardi earned the moniker Joey Notebook.  I'd argue Girardi's famous blue binder was only somewhat different than George dialing-up Billy Martin on the dugout phone, in the sense that Girardi actually listened.  Billy, not so much.

Be that as it may, Aaron Boone is placing the Yankees hopes of a continuing post-season run on the right arm of Luis Severino and his demonstrated ability to win at home.

In the days leading up to Wednesday evening's showdown against the Oakland A's, strong arguments have been made favoring J.A. Happ starting the Wild Card game.  He's been the better pitcher since his acquisition from Toronto, and traditional wisdom says you want a southpaw pitching at Yankee Stadium.

Happ, 35-years old, is 7-0 since joining the Yankees with a 2.69 ERA, and 1.052 WHiP through eleven starts, and edges Severino with a 7.2 H/9 average.  For the season, Happ is 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.131 WHiP.

I'm sure Boone is aware of Luis Severino's start in last year's Wild Card game against Minnesota, when he faced just six batters, allowed three earned runs on four hits (two home runs) and a walk, and failed to complete the first inning.  Undeterred, Boone is nevertheless trusting his so-called ace.  Severino started 32 games this season, posting a 19-8 record with a 3.39 ERA and 1.145 WHiP.  He allowed 173 hits through 191.1 innings, with a 2.2 W/9 and 10.3 K/9 average, with 220 strikeouts.

Boone is also overlooking Gary Sanchez's inefficiencies behind the plate in the hopes he impacts the game at the plate.  However, that does not negate the numerous disagreements which took place this season between Severino and Sanchez in the dugout for all to see.  Only hindsight at this point will determine whether Boone should have gone with Austin Romine - the better defensive receiver - behind the plate.

Perhaps someone from MLB ought to test Boone for backbone growth hormones or management enhancing drugs.  If you're familiar with how the Yankees general manager operates, might as well test Boone for other street doping agents, as well.

All eyes are on him.

That said, Boone's mind appears set.  Either Severino and Sanchez perform like Energizer bunnies, or Boone and the Yankees fall victim to a dead battery.

N.Y. Yankees: Competition Getting High and Tight

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox lead series 2-0

I - BOS 15; NYY 7

II - BOS 4; NYY 1

GAME THREE

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

FENWAY PARK

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

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

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

Or do they?

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

And so begins Game Two at Fenway Park.

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: Losing Ground and Their Bearing

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME TWO

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

FENWAY PARK

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

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

Okay ...

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

Then came the opening act of Game Two ...

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

Aaron Boone remained silent the whole time.

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

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

Stay tuned.

N.Y. Yankees: 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: Gary Sanchez Is, As Gary Sanchez Does

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Look what Tampa did to the Yankees, again.

New York Yankees Fall Six Games Behind Red Sox.

If you want to know why the Yankees find themselves six games back of the Boston Red Sox, look no further than Monday's respective opponents.  The Yankees were in Tampa playing the ever gamely Rays, while the Red Sox were in Baltimore playing the moribund Orioles.

With Monday night's 6-7 loss at Tampa, the Yankees fall to 5-5 against the Rays this season.  The Red Sox are 9-4 against the Tampa Rays.  With Monday's 5-3 victory at Baltimore, the Red Sox improve 10-2 against the Orioles.  Meanwhile, the Yankees are just 5-5 against the Birds.  Add it up, and the Red Sox are 19-5 against Tampa/Baltimore, while the Yankees are just 10-10 against them.

GARY SANCHEZ: LACK OF HUSTLE, NO SENSE OF URGENCY COSTS YANKEES.

The Yankees catcher is, as the Yankees catcher does ... or not.  If asked to single-out one player, I'd say Gary Sanchez is perhaps most responsible for influencing Brian Cashman's decision to move on from former manager Joe Girardi, who would have reprimanded Sanchez for Monday's performance, or lack thereof.  Instead, Cashman wants someone to coddle his young players and therefore settles on Aaron Boone, who doesn't appear too keen on putting his catcher's feet to the fire.

Two plays in particular bookend Monday's Yankee loss.  His lackadaisical retrieval of a passed ball in the opening frame directly leads to Tampa's first run of the game.  In the ninth, his gross lack of hustle running out a ground ball surely cost the Yankees an opportunity at tying the game.  Throw in an unsightly dugout discussion between him and Luis Severino, and the Yankees officially have a situation.

I understand Sanchez is feeling a little tender.  But someone needs to remind that young man he is in the midst of a pennant race, and that his present thought process is unacceptable.  He cost the Yankees a game at a time when they can least afford to lose.  Joe Girardi would have addressed this post-haste, and did so as manager of the Yankees.  But he's not here anymore.  And so Sanchez plods along unchecked.

After the game, Aaron Boone implemented non-committal damage control with the media.

Subway Series: The Best and Worst City Has to Offer

From the desks of:

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Heading in Opposite Directions

SUBWAY SERIES

New York Metropolitans

vs.

New York Highlanders

FROM

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT

BRONX

With a 39-55 record, playing meaningful games in September is out of the question.  Instead, the Mets head into the second-half tied with the Miami Marlins for last place in the N.L. East.  On a macro level, they need to go 42-26 over the final 68 games of the season just to break even.  On a micro level, anything short of playing .500 baseball from here on out will guarantee them a second straight 90-loss season.  Meanwhile, the non-waiver trade deadline is fast approaching and the Mets have no general manager to speak of.  I suspect John Ricco is merely playing the role of front man, and that Jeff Wilpon is firmly in charge with Omar Minaya mentoring him.  As such, I'm also inclined to believe J.P. Ricciardi, as someone brought into the fold by Sandy Alderson, will not be sticking around beyond this season and already has one foot out the door.  Said another way, the Mets organizational situation is dire, their condition is critical.

At least they catch a break this weekend ...

The Mets will not be facing C.C. Sabathia nor Luis Severino whom pitched in the All-Star Game.  Giving Sabathia an extended vacation is a smart move by the Yankees.  With 18 starts to date, Sabathia is 7-6 with a very respectable 3.51 ERA, and 1.27 WHiP.  He has allowed 98 hits and fanned 77 batters in exactly 100 innings pitched.  He is the Yankees stopper; his forte is preventing losing streaks.  General manager Brian Cashman is under pressure to add another starting pitcher by the deadline, which is exactly why keeping C.C. fresh and in functioning order is in the Yankees best interest.

Otherwise, the Bronx Bombers are living up to their moniker leading the American League in home runs and team slugging en route to a stellar 62-33 record.  Yet, despite their best efforts they remain in second place 4.5 games back of the relentless Boston Red Sox who lead the circuit in total bases, team average, and runs scored.  There has never been a regular season in which both the Yankees and Red Sox each won 100 games.  After 115 years in the circuit together, this might finally be the one.  It's no wonder, then, why minions of the Evil Empire are up in arms faced with potentially having to play a one-game Wild Card playoff.

N.Y. Yankees: The Red Sox Are Coming

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

A.L. EAST

Red Sox      25-9

Yankees    24-10

SHOWDOWN-II

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

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

Imagine that ...

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

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

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

Now it's the Bombers turn to host.

Game One

Yankees Strike First Blood

Red Sox  2

Yankees  3

FINAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.Y. Yankees: Kicking Astros

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Showdown for first place looms ahead.

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

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

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

Wooo!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yankees and Red Sox in Beantown Brawl

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Series tied 1-1

I- BOS 14; NYY 1

II - NYY 10; BOS 6

GAME THREE

New York Yankees

vs.

Boston Red Sox

FROM

Fenway Park

THE CENTURY OLD RIVALRY IS ALIVE AND WELL

ICYMI: Rivalry Has Two New Managers 

GAME ONE against Boston devolved into your typical blowout - nothing more; nothing less.  Both teams through the decades have taken turns being on each side of those.  No big deal, for the Yankees it was merely their turn.  It just so happened to come during this season's series opener at Fenway Park.

An otherwise great day for Boston locals, the Red Sox unleashed a 14-1 shellacking upon the invading Yankees, highlighted by a nine run barrage in the sixth inning.  They cranked out eleven hits off New York pitchers, eight against starter Luis Severino whom allowed five earned runs through five innings in a losing effort.  Sox starter Chris Sale allowed a run on eight hits and fanned eight through six innings for the win.  Although the Yankees nearly matched the Red Sox with ten hits, they came up an insurmountable thirteen runs short.  Aaron Judge accounted for the only Yankees offense of the night with a long home run to straight-away center field (his third of the season).  However, Mookie Betts was the big man on campus going 4 for 5, with a walk, home run, four RBI, and five runs scored.

GAME TWO The Yankees held on for a 10-6 victory over the Red Sox, but not before a pair of bench clearing incidents defined the night.  The first alarm occurred in the third inning when Yankees Tyler Austin came sliding into second base spikes high and clearly clipped second baseman Joe Kelly in the the right calf whom took immediate exception.  The two closed in on each other while exchanging words.  By then opposing team mates were on scene separating bodies and playing peacemakers.  The seventh inning - not so much.  Boston exacted their revenge in the seventh inning when pitcher Joe Kelly embedded a 98-mph fastball into Tyler Austin's left side.  Austin naturally charged the mound and the royal rumble ensued.  Once the punches stopped flying, manager Alex Cora appeared rather dismissive of his counterpart Aaron Boone and Yankees coach Phil Nevin in particular whom remain on the field engaged in heated exchanges with the various umpires.


GAME THREE  Boston Red Sox take rubber game for series win.

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.