Game 95. Yanks fall, 5-2. Hit break 4 1/2 back.

The Yanks lost to Cleveland today (Sunday), 5-2, and because Boston won, the 62-33 Yanks hit the All-Star break 4 1/2 games behind Boston.

They next play on Friday at home against the Mets. The rotation after the break will be German, Gray, Tanaka vs the Mets, then Severino (Rays), then CC as Boone gives Severino and CC a little extra recovery time.

Clint Frazier was sent back down to SWB after the game.

The Yanks loaded the bases in the first inning but didn’t score.

In the third, Gardner singled and went to second on a WP. One out later, Didi singled but Gardner had to be held at third. After yet another out, Hicks singled in Gardner.

Neil Walker homered (3) in the fourth to put the Yanks up 2-0, but the offense couldn’t score after that.

Tanaka gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the fourth that tied the game. In fifteen starts this year, there have been only two in which Tanaka didn’t give up a HR.

In the eighth, Chad Green gave up 3 runs, including one on a HR, and the Yanks were sunk.

Stanton 2 hits
Walker solo HR.

Tanaka 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.  4.54
Green (L, 5-2, 2.74) 1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.

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Game 93. Yanks fall, 6-5.

So far this year, I think Aaron Boone has done a fine job, but this past week leads to some second guessings.

You don’t want to burn out your bullpen too early in the year, but in the past week, we’ve seen CC, Tanaka, and tonight German, be left in perhaps one inning too long.

That isn’t all on Boone, but it does accentuate the need for the Yanks to get another starter. It is becoming more and more apparent how much losing Jordan Montgomery (35 MLB starts, 11-7, 3.84, ERA+ 117—-17% ABOVE league average) hurt. 

The Yanks won’t be able to catch Boston with 2/5 of the rotation being Sonny Gray (6-7, 5.46, ERA+ 78) and Domingo German (2-5, 5.49, ERA+ around 77). 100 ERA+ means league average. Gray and German are over 20 percent worse than league average. The two combined are 8-12, ERA about 5.47. That won’t get it done.

They need to find another starter.

German, for whatever reason, struggles in the first inning. He gave up 1 run in the first and 3 more runs in the second.

The Yanks got 3 in the fifth on a double by Bird, walk to Andujar and double by Walker that plated one run. A second run scored on a WP. Later in the inning, Gardner’s SF plated a third run.

But right after the Yanks got back into the game by cutting it from 4-0 to 4-3 in the top of the fifth, German gave two runs right back.

The Yanks got a run in the eighth, but Boone made a bad decision this inning that could have cost the Yanks the game and opened himself up to a lot of second-guessing. Wade doubled, went to third on a PB and scored on a groundout. 6-4 Indians. Judge was HBP. But with Judge on first and one out, Hicks struck out and Judge was caught stealing. A strike him out, throw him out DP—with Stanton on deck.

Even if Judge makes it, Cleveland probably walks Stanton intentionally to set up a force at any base and pitches to Bird instead.

Now I am aggressive as anyone, but there, I keep Judge at first, don’t send him, and that way I keep Stanton as the tying run, in case he hits a HR… which he later did.

Of course, he did it with a different pitcher on the mound, and in a different situation. But Stanton homered (23) to lead off the ninth to make it 6-5. But that’s where it ended.

Boston FINALLY lost, so the Yanks (61-32) stay 3 1/2 back.

Gardner 2 rbi.
Stanton HR #23
Bird 2 hits
Wade 2 hits.

Wade has had a 2-hit and 3-hit game in the past week. Maybe the Yanks (until Torres returns) should play him more than Walker?

Walker seems to be this year’s version of Chris Carter. A guy the Yanks are holding on to far too long, far after it is apparent he isn’t doing anything for you, but a guy the Yanks don’t want to admit they made a mistake on.

So at 61-32, the Yanks are 45-18 with Torres, 16-14 without. Now Torres, although probably the favorite for Rookie of the Year so far (Ohtani and Andujar would be in the mix), won’t win the MVP, he should draw some MVP consideration based on those numbers.

German (L, 2-5, 5.49) 4 + IP, 6 R, 5 H, 4 W, 6 K.
Holder 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.  1.85
Shreve 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.  4.54.

German looks like he has good stuff. He can’t channel it or be consistent with it. He’s had chances. He hasn’t taken advantage of them. You wonder how many more chances he will have. He could have taken the bull by the horns. He hasn’t.

David Hale signed with a Korea team.

Aroldis Chapman will rest his aching knee and not pitch in the All Star Game.

 

Game 91. Orioles get slammed by the Bird. Wade hits first MLB HR.

The Yanks (60-31) shut out Baltimore 9-0 on Wednesday night to stay 3 1/2 back of Boston (65-29) in the AL East (Boston has won what, 9 in a row? Yanks getting no help).

This is the Sonny Gray we hope to see but can he do this against teams better than 26-67 Baltimore?

The Yanks got five runs in the third. With one out, Gardner walked, Judge singled him to third, and after a fielder’s choice out at home, Stanton singled in a run. A walk to Hicks loaded the bases and Bird hit a grand slam (7th HR) off the foul pole to make it 5-0.

Tyler Wade hit his first MLB HR in the sixth to make it 6-0.

Austin Romine’s HR in the seventh, (6), added to his career high total for most in a year. 7-0 Yanks.

To the eighth, and Didi doubled and went to third on a single by Stanton. An error made it 8-0.

To the ninth, and the Yanks made it 9-0. A single by Clint Frazier, walk to Hicks and single by Stanton made it 9-0.

Stanton 4 hits, 2 RBI.
Bird Grand Slam 4 RBI.
Romine 2 hits, solo HR.
Wade 3 hits, first MLB HR. Probably best game ever in the majors.

Gray (6-7, 5.46) 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 8 K. The Gray we want to see.
Cole 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.97 (But 0.48 as a Yankee!)
Shreve 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.    4.83

As I expected, Giancarlo Stanton did NOT win the final vote to get on the All-Star team.  Tough to do so when in the few games to do so, your team is on the road.

I won’t comment on any trade rumors. I will comment if and when a deal is done.

ICYMI: Hale, Ramsey

In case you missed it:

David Hale refused the DFA assignment by the Yanks and became a free agent…again.

Ex-Celtics’ star Frank Ramsey died just short of his 87th birthday. Ramsey, whose #23 is retired by the Celtics, played for Kentucky and helped them to the 1951 NCAA title.

6’3″ Ramsey played for the Celtics from 1954/1955 to 1963/1964, nine years, missing one year to military service, and was part of seven NBA title teams (1957, 1959-1964). A small forward/shooting guard, he was the first of the “sixth men.” He averaged 13.4 ppg.

 

 

Game 90. Yanks fall 3 1/2 back of Boston after 6-5 loss to lowly Baltimore.

You can’t catch Boston by losing games to teams FORTY games under .500. Disgraceful.

With the Yanks’ 6-5 loss to pathetic (26-66) Baltimore on Tuesday night, the Yanks fall 3 1/2 back of Boston, who won their seventh straight.

Besides the obvious, Sonny Gray and Neil Walker killing the Yanks, let’s look at other things.

Boston’s record against the AL East (their own division): 29-12

Boston’s record against the 3 worst teams in the AL (CHI, KC, BALT): 15-4.

Yankees’ record against the AL East (their own division) : 23-17, 5 1/2 g. worse than Boston.

Yankees’ record against the 3 worst teams in the AL: 6-6 (they haven’t played the White Sox yet), which is 5 1/2 games again, worse than Boston.

Boston vs. Baltimore this year: 9-1.
Yankees vs. Baltimore this year: 4-5.    4 1/2 games worse.

See a pattern?

The Yanks need to beat teams in their own division, and beat teams they SHOULD BE BEATING UP ON, including BALTIMORE.

Those differences you see above (as well as poor play by Gray & Walker) are why the Yanks (59-31) are 3 1/2 back of Boston right now.

Baltimore got two off of Tanaka in the fourth. 2-0.

The Yanks didn’t get a baserunner until the fifth, when with one out, Didi singled, Aguilar walked and Bird hit a 3-run HR (6).

Manny Machado tied it in the bottom of the fifth with a HR off Tanaka.

In the top of the seventh, with one out, Didi doubled, Andujar singled and Bird put the Yanks up 4-3 with a SF. A walk to Romine and single by Walker made it 5-3.

But in the bottom of the seventh, Machado hit his second HR of the game, a 2-run shot, to make it 5-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, Betances hit a batter, got an out, then gave up a double, fair by inches. Machado was intentionally walked, and Betances then got a strikeout, but Jonathan Schoop singled to win the game for the Orioles.

You shouldn’t lose 2 of 3 to the Orioles or be 4-5 against them this year. It’s like being 4-5 to the 1962 Mets.

And Sonny Gray goes tomorrow. Hoo-boy.

Gregorius 3 hits.
Bird 3-run HR, 4 RBI.

Tanaka 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.  4.68
Holder 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  1.95
Green 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.  2.23
Robertson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  3.27
Betances (L, 1-3, 2.75) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP.

After last night’s DH, Cessa (26th man) sent down, along with Drury (make room for Tanaka).

Game 86. Seve not sharp, but wins 14th.

Luis Severino only lasted 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on 2 HR, but it was enough to win his 14th game of the season as the Yanks beat Toronto 8-5 on Saturday.

The win keeps the 57-29 Yanks two games behind Boston.

Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back HRs to lead off the game. For Gardner, #6 and for Judge, #25. Later in that first inning, Brandon Drury hit a 2-run double.

Seve gave up a 2-run HR in the second, but Brett Gardner hit a 2-run triple in the third and then scored on a PB. 7-2 Yanks.

Severino gave up a HR in the fourth. 7-3.

Toronto got a run in the sixth, 7-4.

In the ninth, Miguel Andujar singled and Didi Gregorius singled him home. 8-4. Chasen Shreve gave up a HR in the ninth for the final of 8-5, Yanks.

Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman both had to leave the game with minor injuries. Both are probably out for Sunday but hopefully, it appears that neither is long-term.

Before the game, the Yanks DFA’d David Hale and brought up Clint Frazier. Frazier had to be used when Hicks had to be pulled.

Also, Jonathan Loiasiga appears to be DL-bound. Shoulder inflammation. He is seeing a doctor on Monday.

The Yanks drew 10 walks in the game.

Gardner 2 hits, HR, triple, 3 RBI.
Judge solo HR.
Drury 2 RBI
Severino (W, 14-2, 2.12) 5 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Holder 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.  2.04
Robertson (H, 14) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  3.43
Betances (H, 13) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.56
Chapman 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  1.42
Shreve 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  4.99   Gave up 1 HR.

Minor league report.

AAA: SWB (44-40) won 9-6. As expected, Tyler Wade was called up. 3 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI CF Clint Frazier. RF Shane Robinson 3 hits. 1B Billy McKinney 3 hits, 1 RBI. DH Zack Zehner 2 hits, 2 RBI. LF Mark Payton 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR C Wilkin Castillo.

Cortes (W, 3-3, 3.43) 6 IP, 1 R,  0 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Kahnle 2/3 IP,  3 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.   2.03
Coshow 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.  4.79
Carroll (S, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.70

AA: Trenton (49-36) won 8-2.  CF Trey Amburgey 2 hits, 3 RBI.  RF Devyn Bolasky 4 for 4, RBI.  SS Kyle Holder (just up from high A tampa)  2 hits, RBI.  3B Mandy Alvarez 3 hits.

Tate (W, 5-2, 3.38) 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 4 W, 5 K
Ort 2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K.  2.18
Reeves 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K.    2.31

High A: Tampa PPD.

Low A: Charleston (42-39) won 7-4. DH Pablo Olivares 2 hits, RBI.  2 hits, LF Carlos Vidal.

Orozco (W 1-1, 3.05) 6 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 7 K
DeCarr (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K   5.25
Zurak (S, 8) 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.  2.80