Game 122. Austin powers Yanks, 4-3.

Tyler Austin’s 3-run HR was the key blow as the Yanks beat Boston and Chris Sale on Saturday night, 4-3.

Sale usually owns the Yanks.

CC Sabathia came off the DL and was, to my surprise, effective. The last time we saw CC on the mound, he was in pain with that right knee and we were not sure what to think. Season over? Career over? But there was no structural damage and he missed just one start. The knee didn’t seem to bother him last night.

Austin’s second-inning HR (2) put the Yanks up 3-0. Boston got two in the fifth off of CC.

Todd Frazier hit a solo HR (21) in the sixth to make it 4-2 Yanks, but Adam Warren gave up a HR in the seventh.

Before the game, it was announced that Aroldis Chapman has lost his closer’s job for now. There is still four years left on Chapman’s contract at $17MM per. The Yanks will need to straighten him out.

Sabathia (W, 10-5, 3.99) 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K.
Warren (H, 11) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.88
Robertson (H, 3) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.19
Betances (S, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.11

Aaron Judge set a record for most consecutive games striking out.

Brett Gardner had 2 hits. Didi Gregorius had 3. Austin had 2 and was robbed of a third.

The win puts the Yanks at 66-56, four back of Boston. They hold the top wild card spot by 3 1/2 games.

One bullpen failure and the domino effect.

Pyrrhic Victory: A Pyrrhic victory is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Someone who wins a Pyrrhic victory has been victorious in some way. However, the heavy toll negates any sense of achievement or profit. Another term for this would be “hollow victory”.

Now I don’t know about the long term, or devastating toll, but it could be said that the victory over the Mets on Thursday, and how it ended, was a contributing factor to the Yankees’ loss to Boston last night.

The Yanks had a 7-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth Thursday night when Bryan Mitchell was brought in to mop up. Instead, he got the gas and started a fire. He got no one out, gave up a grand slam and it was 7-5.

….and in came Dellin Betances to close out the game. In so doing, Betances was not available against Boston last night while the Yankees’ bullpen was bleeding runs.

So what if Mitchell would have done his job? Even if he gave up a run or two but got all three outs while keeping Betances from having to enter the game?

Maybe the Yanks win last night if they could have used Betances as a tourniquet. Maybe not.

But we won’t know, because of Mitchell’s failure on Thursday night. It had a domino effect.

Team. One person can affect things greatly, and it can have a trickle down domino effect, as shown here.

Game 120. Sweep the Mets, Sweep the Mets, step right up and Sweep the Mets!

I hope I don’t have to pay copyright infringement on the Mets’ theme song. LOL.

The Yanks swept the Subway Series from the Mets, 7-5 tonight, to improve to 65-55. 4 back of Boston in the AL East, still in control of the top wild card spot.

They face Boston in Fenway this weekend.

Gary Sanchez drove in 5 runs.

In the first, he hit a 3-run HR. (22)

In the fourth, Tyler Austin (just called up b/c Garrett Cooper was put on the DL w/a hamstring problem) singled. Austin was 2 for 4 tonight. Torreyes singled and Severino was called upon to bunt. Even though he popped up the bunt, it was missed, and Severino got his first MLB hit to load the bases with no one out. Gardner doubled in two. Hicks grounded out softly, no advance. Judge was HBP to reload the bases and Sanchez singled in two to put the Yanks up 7-0.

The Mets got an unearned run in the seventh on a two-base error by Judge, WP by Severino (brilliant tonight) and RBI single.

So the Yanks took a 7-1 lead into the ninth. Garbage time for Bryan Mitchell, who was garbage, getting no one out. Double, Single, Walk loads the bases and Ex-Yankee Curtis Granderson hits a grand slam to make it 7-5 and send Mitchell out, Betances in, and Betances finishes off the sweep of the Metropolitans.

Severino 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, unearned, 4 H, 3 W, 9 K. (W, 10-5, 3.18)
Shreve 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.70
Mitchell 0 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.67 Gave up a grand slam.
Betances (S, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W 0 K 2.15.

Imagine how scary Aaron Judge (3 K tonight) could be if he cut his strikeouts by 25-30%????

Gardner 2 RBI
Sanchez 2 hits, HR (22), 5 RBI
Gregorius 2 hits, .311
Austin 2 hits.

 

 

Game 118. Gray seals it, but Chapman almost unseals it in a 5-4 Yanks’ win.

Pardons to Elton John for the headline.

The Yanks have a problem on their hands. That problem is Aroldis Chapman and a second problem may be Joe Girardi’s stubbornness right now.

Sonny Gray pitched well, six shutout innings before yielding a 2-run HR in the seventh. Still, the Yanks took a 5-2 lead into the ninth, when Chapman gave up a 2-run HR to make things shaky before the Yanks finished off the Mets 5-4.

Chapman is a problem right now. As I wrote a few days ago, the Yanks have three closers. They can go with the hot hand, something Girardi mentioned sarcastically a few days ago in saying “Chapman is my closer. What am I supposed to do, go with the hot hand?”

Yes, Joe, that is exactly what we want you to do. We also want you to leave relievers performing well in for more than one inning. For you almost blew another game tonight. 

The Yanks scored first, getting a run in the third on a Torreyes double, Gardner sac bunt and Hicks single. Good. Nice to see some littleball with the bunt there.

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a 2-run HR (6) in the fourth to make it 3-0.

Gary Sanchez homered in the sixth (21) to make it 4-0. Gray gave up a 2-run HR in the seventh,  but the Yanks made it 5-2 in the eighth on a SF by Sanchez.

Then in came Chapman who almost blew the game. Why not leave Betances throw a second inning. Why not use Warren (Robertson could use the day off). But no, the “he’s my closer” stubbornness mentality almost cost the Yanks a ballgame.

You just knew when Chapman came in tonight that this wasn’t going to go smoothly.

Aaron Judge struck out for the 32nd straight game, tying a MLB record, but he did have a key double and then scored that fifth run.

Gray (W, 7-7, 3.37) 6+ IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle (H, 11) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.30. Threw just 10 pitches. What, he can’t go two?
Betances (H, 17) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.20. Threw 19 pitches. He couldn’t go two?
Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.89. That save rule is a joke.

Happy the Yanks won. Unhappy Girardi is so inflexible with his thinking.

UPDATE: Chapman was pretty down after the game. Not as confident as previously. It could be getting to him. On the final play, he appeared to tweak his hammy a bit.

Cessa went on the DL. Smith back up.

Game 117. The Aaron’s (Hicks & Judge) and the Kraken power Yanks, 4-2.

Home runs by the Aaron’s (no, not Henry or Tommy) Hicks and Judge and another by Gary (the Kraken) Sanchez powered the Yanks to a 4-2 subway series win over the Mets Monday night.

I was worried about Luis Cessa starting. He pitched half decently tonight but didn’t provide length (see below…injury). There are times I and others wondered “why Cessa again? Why not bring up Chance Adams?” Cessa does appear better suited for middle relief than a starting role. His numbers seem to back that up.

Now to bring up Adams, the Yanks would have to put him on the 40-man and take someone off. Girardi thinks Adams, despite his fine record in the minors (13-3, 1.96 AA/AAA this year), isn’t ready yet. He may or may not have to be ready now, because Cessa got hurt tonight. I know I, and a lot of the fan base, would like to see the kid. And see him over Cessa, no offense to Cessa. With Cessa’s injury, do we now see Adams?

Cessa left the game in the fifth inning with an apparent back injury. Meanwhile, CC Sabathia apparently tried pitching today and may or may not be ready on Saturday. So he’d fit right back in line if he was ready.

Cessa gave up HRs in the third to both ex-Yankee Curtis Granderson and to Yoenis Cespedes to put the Mets up 2-0.

In the fourth, Sanchez hit a SF to cut the lead to 2-1.

Aaron Judge tied the game with HR #36 in the sixth. The strikeouts did continue, but maybe this HR gets him going again.

With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth, the Yanks got HRs from Aaron Hicks (12) and Gary Sanchez (20) to put the game away, 4-2.

For all three, it was their 40th career HR. All three got it in the same game.

Cessa 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.75
Green 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1.95. Been great all year.
Robertson (W, 6-2, 2.30) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Betances (S, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.25

Some further notes. The Yanks may want to bring up someone like Donovan Solano and send Tyler Wade down? Castro will be starting rehab soon and should be back soon, and they need him. Wade, 22, has done well at SWB but is down to .120 and really looks overmatched so far in the majors.

The slump of Judge and the slump of Holliday, combined with the DL stints for Holliday and Castro have really hurt the lineup. 3 homers today helped win the game, but the Yanks will have to be good at playing littleball until some players come back, be it Bird, Holliday and/or Castro.

The win, puts the Yanks at 62-55. With Boston losing, they are now 4 1/2 out in the AL East. They retain the top wild card spot.

 

Game 116. “By the book” Girardi blows game, 3-2 in 10.

I know what I write here won’t be absorbed easily by many people, and may be controversial, but I truly believe Joe Girardi blew another Yankees game by his overmanaging and by the book style.

I also think it’s time for Joe to go.

The Yanks needed Jordan Montgomery to match Chris Sale. Sale is expected to win this year’s CYA so it was a tough task, made even more difficult after Montgomery got nailed in the head yesterday by a BP liner to the head.

He was up to the task. But Joe Girardi went by the book again (Please, Joe, Think outside the box once in a while?) and after Robertson went 1 2/3 (yes, time to pull him) and Betances went one inning (leave him in!) Girardi went to Chapman, who on Friday night didn’t justify anyone’s faith in him, and who got bailed out by Hicks. Sunday night Chapman gave up a HR in the top of the ninth that tied the game at 2.

Girardi and Cashman’s contracts are up at the end of the year. Personally, keep Cash, dump Girardi.

Joe. You have 3 closers. Stop solely using Chapman in the ninth, and GO WITH THE HOT HAND. Guy doing well, LEAVE HIM IN. This isn’t brain surgery. It’s quite simple. Start taking my advice. Chapman sucked the other night so you bring him in again in the ninth because “he’s the closer”? Really?

There was NO REASON to pull Betances after 12 pitches and a 1-2-3 inning. NONE. And especially for someone who was so awful two nights ago. None except by going by the book and going formula.

Joe, THINK FOR YOURSELF. Stop going formula and use your damned brain and shove that binder up your you know what.

Boston got a run in the fifth and the Yanks got it right back on an RBI triple by Austin Romine of all people. Good backup defensive catcher, can’t hit a lick. .220. The Yanks caught a break. Mookie Betts should have caught that ball.

Aaron Hicks made two great defensive plays in the game. Great plays.

Todd Frazier’s SF in the eighth made it 2-1 Yanks before Chapman gave up a HR in the ninth to blow the save.

In the tenth, Chapman blows the game. How? Wild like Friday night. HBP and a walk. Kahnle comes in, walk, base hit for a run.

This is all on Girardi. The Yanks’ real record is eight games below what it SHOULD be based on runs scored/runs allowed. The reason for that? Girardi’s overmanaging. 13-21 in one-run games. Pulling guys when they did well the previous inning. Going “by the book” instead of using his damned brain.

Simple concept. Guy pitches well, low pitch count? Leave him in.

Go with the hot hand.

I am not alone. Many other Yankees’ fans I know are tired of this bullshit.

Montgomery 5 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 W, 4 K. 3.94. Great job.
Robertson 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.35
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.30. Only 12 pitches. Why pull him?
Chapman (BS, 4; L, 4-2, 3.48) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 HBP, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR 3.48.
Guess who has the highest ERA of the three? Robertson, Betances and Chapman?

I rest my case.

Kahnle 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.35.

 

Game 112. Yanks beat Toronto 11-5 behind Cooper, Todd Frazier.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox aren’t losing (they have won 8 in a row) so the Yanks could not make up ground, but the Yanks did win, so they continue to maintain or increase the advantage they have for the top wild card spot. There is a big series at home against Boston this weekend.

With tonight’s 11-5 win over Toronto, the Yanks record improves to 60-52. Fifty games left. Four back of Boston.

Before the game, Clint Frazier was a late scratch with an oblique problem. He has been slumping badly lately. Aaron Hicks was expected back Friday. That may be bumped up with this problem.

The Yanks struck first, scoring twice in the second on back to back HR by Gary Sanchez (18) and Todd Frazier (19).

Tanaka gave a run right back. 2-1 Yanks after two.

Didi Gregorius homered (18) in the third to make it 3-1 Yanks. Toronto scored in the bottom half of the frame off a stuggling Tanaka to make it 3-2.

In the fifth, with one out, Judge walked. Gregorius doubled Judge to third. After Sanchez struck out for the second out, Todd Frazier doubled in two runs. Ellsbury doubled in Frazier. 6-2 Yanks.

Jose Bautista homered off Tanaka in the bottom of the fifth, and chased him. 6-3.

Toronto got two in the fifth before the Yanks’ bullpen was able to slam the door. 6-5.

The Yanks put the game away in the last two innings. In the eighth, Garrett Cooper’s third hit of the night put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Ronald Torreyes singled in two runs.

In the ninth, with the bases loaded and no one out, a ground out by Ellsbury drove in a run. Cooper singled (his fourth hit) in two more.  11-5.

Gregorius (.311) 3 hits, HR, RBI.
Sanchez 2 hits, HR, RBI.
Todd Frazier 3 hits, HR, 3 RBI.
Ellsbury 2 RBI.
Cooper 4 hits, 2 RBI.
Torreyes 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Tanaka 4 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 5 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.92. Uncharacteristically wild.
Green (W, 2-0, 2.06) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Kahnle (H, 10) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.38
Robertson (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.44
Betances (H, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.36
Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.89

With Tanaka not going the requisite five innings, it falls to the official scorer. Personally, I would not have given the W to Green (2 runs in 1 1/3?) but probably to Robertson instead. Too many official scorers are lazy, however, and go “by the book.”