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 ...
