Game 90. Depleted Yanks get shut-out, 4-0.

Major problems. And these could sink the Yankees’ season.

The Yanks were already without Jonathan Loaisiga (Covid list). Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar were on the IL, not to mention others like Corey Kluber, Aaron Hicks and Darren O’Day.

Now add to the Covid List Wandy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, Jr. Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka and Gio Urshela. Add Luke Voit (knee) to the IL.

As a result, a bunch of guys had to be brought up from SWB. Hoy Jun Park and Trey Amburgey each made their MLB debuts last night. Rob Brantly had to be brought up. Chris Gittens, just off the IL himself, had to come up. Zack Britton was activated off of the IL. Am I missing anyone?

The depleted Yanks lost to Boston 4-0, getting just three hits. They are 0-7 vs. Boston this year, and are now 9 back and in fourth place with a 46-44 record. They play Boston six more times between now and June 25. They have Tampa Bay June 27-29. (In between there are two games with the Phillies).

Those guys out will be out for a while, leaving it up to the scrubs. This could get ugly.

So what did we see last night? The Yanks had a #3 hitter hitting .219, a cleanup hitter hitting .215, A #5 hitter at .237, a #6 hitter at .190. The #7 hitter is 2 for 22 in his MLB career. The #8 hitter was making his MLB debut. The #9 hitter is at .180 and was pinch-hit for by another guy making his MLB debut. Hoo boy. Is it any wonder why the Yanks got shut out?

Poor Jordan Montgomery. No run support. Montgomery had just one bad inning, the second, when he gave up a walk, double, RBI groundout, and a 2-run HR for 3 runs. That was more than enough for Boston. The second straight game he lost 4-0. In his last five starts, Montgomery has lost four of them. In those five games, the Yankees have scored a total of seven runs.

Later, Justin Wilson, who has been absolutely brutal this season, gave up a solo HR for the last run of the game. 4-0, Boston.

Montgomery (L, 3-5) 6 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. One bad inning. 4.18
German 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.72
Wilson 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 8.62 Gave up 1 HR.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.40

Game 60. Yanks get swept by Boston. Need to reassess.

It was a lost weekend. Boston beat the Yanks, 6-5 in ten innings, to sweep the weekend series. In the important seven-game homestand against Tampa Bay and Boston, the Yanks went 2-5.

As a result, the Yanks (31-29) are barely above .500, are in fourth place in the AL East, and have dropped 6 1/2 games out. They are 8-17 against the three teams above them in the division.

Today is an off day, and one in which the Yanks need to do a serious reassessment of their team.

I like one thing Alex Rodriguez mentioned during ESPN’s broadcast last night. No surprise as to why the Yankees lead the majors in GIDP. The preponderance of righty bats. It takes righty batters a couple of more steps to get to first base than lefty hitters. It’s why when you look at who has hit into the most DPs all-time, you see names like Albert Pujols, Henry Aaron and Jim Rice.

Now when you look at a Yankees lineup that has very few lefty bats, you get those DPs. The Yankees have traditionally been built on lefty bats (inc. switch hitters like Mantle, Williams, White, Tresh) and lefty pitching. But before we get into the game recap, let’s look at how the roster is out of whack, and how lefty bats have been hurting the Yanks this year.

You may want to avert your eyes. Here are batting averages, and OPS+ of the lefty hitters/switch hitters:

Odor .180, OPS+ 71 (100 is league average)
Gardner .190, 60
Wade .270, 80
Hicks .194, 78, out for season,
Bruce .118, 33, retired
Ford .133, 60, sent back down
Tauchman .214, 57 was traded to SF.
Florial .333, 174 just one game, 1-3, not hitting at AAA.

Ok. SERIOUS problem. A lot under .200, with OPS+ way below the league average of 100.

There needs to be a serious roster reconstruction made here.

UPDATE: Counting last year’s 60 games, and this year’s 60, in their last 120 games, the Yanks are 64-56. Not that much above .500. That’s an 86-76 pace, which most of the time doesn’t get you into the playoffs.

Boston got a HR by the second batter of the game. Up 1-0. Domingo German settle down after that and pitched well.

The Yanks got two back in the bottom of the first, but their inability to tack on more cost them the game. With one out, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela all singled to load the bases. Gary Sanchez doubled in two runs, putting runners on second and third. But then Chris Gittens (second MLB game) and Clint Frazier both struck out.

With one out in the fourth, Miguel Andujar single, and Brett Gardner and D.J. LeMahieu both walked to load the bases. Judge grounded into an RBI forceout, and the Yanks were up, 3-1.

Lucas Luetge gave up a 2-run HR in the seventh that tied the game. Boston went up 4-3 in the eighth, getting a run off Wandy Peralta.

The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Judge walked and Torres doubled him home. After another out, then a walk to set up a force at any base, Rougned Odor struck out on an atrocious call by the home plate umpire. Two Yankees coaches (Nevin and Mendoza) were ejected for arguing the call. Hope the ump saw the replay. It was a horrendous call.

So the tenth begins with that silly ghost runner, and Luis Cessa walks the first batter. A sac bunt puts runners at second and third, one out. A groundout forces the runners to hold. Can Cessa get out of it? No. A 2-run single puts Boston up 6-4.

The Yanks did get a run in the bottom of the tenth. They had the ghost runner, and the leadoff hitter, Clint Frazier, was HBP. But then, you guessed it, a GIDP by Andujar. Tyler Wade singled in a run, and went to second on an error, but D.J. LeMahieu grounded out to end the game.


Judge 2 hits, RBI
Torres 2 hits, RBI
Urshela 2 hits
Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI


German 5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.12
Luetge (BS, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR. 1 WP. 3.03
Peralta 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.74 (Combined SF/NYY ERA)
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.39
Cessa (L, 1-1) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.09

Because of some expensive (and some of those are really bad) contracts, some changes can’t be made. But changes MUST be made.

Quick minor league update: Luis Severino started rehab games. He pitched for Low A Tampa yesterday, velocity up, and gave up 1 run in 2 2/3 IP in his first rehab start. Ken Waldichuk at High-A Hudson Valley still has an ERA of 0.00 after over 24 IP this year. The lefty starter has put up impressive minor league numbers so far.

Game 46. Yanks’ dominant pitching continues with 7-0 shutout.

The Yankees (27-19, 3rd, 1 1/2 back) won their fifth straight game on Saturday, 7-0, defeating the Chicago White Sox.

In their last four games, the Yankees’ pitchers have given up 0, 0, 1 and 0 runs. The only run given up came off of reliever Jonathan Loaisiga. Yankees’ starters have thrown 30 scoreless innings in those four games.

Today, Jameson Taillon, who has struggled (1-3, 5.73) tries to keep it going.

The Yankees got three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when with one out, Aaron Judge singled and Gio Urshela walked. Gleyber Torres, who is heating up, doubled in both runs, then Torres scored on a double by Rougned Odor.

They scored two more in the fifth. Luke Voit and Brett Gardner singled, and after Judge struck out, Urshela walked to load the bases for Torres, who singled in two runs. 5-0 Yankees.

Mike Ford hit a 447-ft. HR (3) leading off the sixth to make it 6-0.

The final run of the game scored in the seventh when Torres singled and one out later, Miguel Andujar doubled him home.

Gerrit Cole wasn’t as dominating as he usually is (uncharacterisically, three walks) but still was shutting out Chicago.

7-0 final.

Gardner 2 hits
Judge 2 hits (.307)
Torres 3 hits, 4 RBI
Ford solo HR (3)


Cole (W 6-2) 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 3 W, 7 K. 1.81
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 5.40
Cessa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00

No minor league report until I recover more from my recent surgery but one note: Deivi Garcia (5.17 ERA at SWB) did not do well last night.

Aaron Hicks needs surgery on a torn tendon sheath in his wrist. He’s done for the year.

Game 39. Yanks beat O’s, 8-2.

A few notes before the game recap. Today will be my last reports for a while. I have to go in for surgery tomorrow.

After the game, it was announced that Aaron Hicks will go on the I.L. I thought they were going to bring up Greg Allen, but it’s not Allen coming up, but Ryan LaMarre.

LaMarre, 32, bats right, throws left, and has played in 119 MLB games for the Reds, Red Sox, A’s, Twins, and White Sox. He’s hit .236-4-21 in 225 at bats, OPS+ 70. He’s even pitched in mop up roles, giving up 1 R in 1 2/3 IP. He was 9 for 33 (.273) for SWB this season.

Now to the game.

This is what we thought the Yankees’ (22-17) offense would be this year, not the one that has struggled. Eight runs, 13 hits, Four guys with two hits or more, including three from an unexpected source (Tyler Wade). An Aaron Judge HR.

An 8-2 win over Baltimore.

In the first inning, the Yanks got three runs. D.J. LeMahieu walked, Luke Voit singled, and Aaron Judge walked to load the bases. After Gio Urshela struck out, a passed ball moved up all runners and allowed LeMahieu to score. Gary Sanchez then followed with a 2-run single.

Judge hit a 2-run HR (11) in the second inning to make it 5-0.

In the top of the sixth, Brett Gardner singled, and after an out, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade both singled to load the bases. A balk moved up the runners and enabled Gardner to score, then after LeMahieu struck out, Luke Voit singled to make the score 8-0.

Baltimore got a run in the sixth, another in the ninth, and the final was 8-2.

Voit, 2 hits, 2 RBI
Judge 2 hits, a 2-run HR (11)
Urshela 2 hits
Sanchez 2 RBI
Wade 3 hits.

German (W, 3-2) 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 6 K. 3.62
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K 3.10
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.91
Cessa 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.25

Game 38. Pinch me for luck! Gio’s PH HR gives Yanks 5-4 win.

Gio Urshela hit a pinch-hit, 3-run HR in the top of the seventh to erase a 4-2 Orioles’ lead and to give the Yankees (21-17) a 5-4 win Friday night.

Aaron Judge hit two homers, and his first of the night came in the top of the first to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead.

The Yanks got a bit lucky in the bottom of the first. One of two plays that also helped the Yanks win the game. Cedrick Mullins led off the bottom of the first with a single, but was caught stealing second. Catcher Kyle Higashioka’s nab of Mullins was huge, because Austin Hays then homered for Baltimore, tying the game at one instead of putting the O’s up 2-1. Huge in a game the Yanks won by one run.

Judge’s second HR (10) of the game put the Yanks up 2-1 in the fourth inning.

The Orioles scored three runs off starter and winner Corey Kluber in the bottom of the fifth, but once again, the O’s took another run off the scoreboard for themselves, once again helping to cost them the game. A double by D.J. Stewart, an out, then another double by Pedro Severino to tie the game at two. A single by Pat Valaka to put the O’s up 3-2, an out. A SB by Valaka, then a walk to Hays. First and second, two out, then a double by Trey Mancini that scored Valaka to make it 4-2, but Hays was out by plenty at the plate Judge to LeMahieu to Higashioka, to prevent another run from scoring. Once again huge in a game the Yanks won 5-4.

In the top of the seventh, with one out, Miguel Andujar singled for his first hit of the season. Higashioka walked, then Urshela pinch-hit for Tyler Wade. Urshela fought off several pitches, fouling them off to stay alive before hitting a 3-run HR (5) to put the Yanks up 5-4, and that it how it stayed.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Judge 2 hits, both solo HR (10), 2 RBI
Urshela pinch-hit 3-run HR (5)


Kluber (W, 3-2) 6 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 2 W, 6 K. 3.48 Gave up 1 HR.
Green (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.21 1 WP
Peralta (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.55 (Combined SF/NYY; 0.00 as NYY)
Loaisiga (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.49

Aaron Hicks was put on the injured list with a torn tendon sheath in his wrist that may require surgery. Time will tell. On meds, hope no surgery needed, but….

Game 36. Yanks edge Rays 1-0 behind Cole and Chapman.

Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hit shutout as the Yanks (20-16) defeated Tampa Bay 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Cole was dominant in going to 5-1 on the season with an ERA of just 1.37. He struck out 12. Chapman still has not given up an earned run this season while having nine saves.

Cole has struck out 78 batters this season while walking only three.

Since starting out 6-11, the Yanks have now won 14 of their last 19 games. This win was their fourth in a row and they are 8-2 this month.

It has been the pitching doing it, as the bats are still cold.

The Yanks got the only run of the game in the seventh inning. Aaron Judge led off the inning with a single, then Gio Urshela doubled. After a non-productive out, Aaron Hicks hit a sac fly.

Of the Yanks’ six hits, five were by Judge and Urshela.

Judge 3 hits
Urshela 2 hits

Cole (W, 5-1) 8 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 W, 12 K. 1.37
Chapman (S, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00

Clint Frazier was ejected for arguing a called third strike.

During the game, Cole became the second fastest pitcher to 1500 K.

With the win, the Yanks are in second place, one game behind Boston (22-16). They are even in the loss column. Boston has played (and won) two more games.

Game 34. Yanks win in bottom of 9th, 3-2.

The Yankees (18-16) won 3-2 by scoring in the bottom of the ninth today.

The Yanks scored first in the bottom of the third inning. Brett Gardner walked, and after an out, Giancarlo Stanton walked. Aaron Hicks singled to make it 1-0.

Gleyber Torres finally hit his first HR of the season in the bottom of the sixth to make it 2-0 Yankees.

Kyle Schwarber hit a 2-run HR for Washington in the top of the seventh to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees (18-16) got a leadoff walk from Tyler Wade. Aaron Judge (PH) then walked. After a force that made it 1st and 3rd, one out, Giancarlo Stanton singled to win the game.

Gary Sanchez 0 for 3, 3 K. .174
Mike Ford 0 for 2, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, .103. Surprised Andujar going down with Voit Callup, not Ford.


German 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.02
King 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0.00
Peralta 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.86 (Comb. SF/NYY)
Chapman (W 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K 0.00

Game 31. Yanks’ bullpen falters in 7-4 loss.

Gerrit Cole left after 7 innings with a 3-2 lead, but the Yanks’ (16-15) bullpen, a strength so far this season, faltered in a 7-4 loss to Houston Thursday afternoon.

The Yanks struck first when the red-hot Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo HR (9). He has a 12 game hitting streak.

Cole gave up a HR in the top of the fourth to Yordan Alvarez, who would torment the Yanks all game.

A 2-run HR (3) by Clint Frazier in the bottom of the fourth put the Yanks’ up 3-1.

Cole gave up another HR to Alvarez in the seventh. 3-2.

In the top of the eighth, the wheels fell off. Chad Green gave up a 3-run HR to Jose Altuve and Houston went up 5-3.

On a strange play in the bottom of the eighth, Gleyber Torres scored all the way from first on an infield single by Aaron HIcks to cut Houston’s lead to 5-4.

But Justin Wilson gave up a 2-run HR in the top of the ninth, final Houston 7-4. The Yanks’ bullpen disappointed today.

Gio Urshela had to leave the game. MRI today.

Can’t wait to get Luke Voit back. Jay Bruce retired after hitting just .118. Mike Ford is 3 for 31 (.091).

Stanton solo HR (9)
Urshela 2 hits.
Hicks 3 for 3, walk, RBI.
Frazier 2 run HR (3)

Cole 7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1.61 Gave up 2 HR.
Green (L, 0-3; BS, 1) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.50 Gave up HR.
Luetge 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.63
Wilson 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 7.04 Gave up 1 HR.

Missing Zack Britton too. Wilson hasn’t filled his shoes.

Two sidenotes about three of the greatest players in MLB history.

One, Happy 90th birthday to Willie Mays.
Two. Albert Pujols released by Angels. 3253 hits, 667 HR.
Three. Miguel Cabrera last I saw hitting about .105. Needs something like 128 hits for 3000, 11 HR for 500, but ugh. Something like 6 for 57 so far.

Minor league report tomorrow morning.

Game 30. Yanks win 5th in a row, beat Astros 6-3.

Giancarlo Stanton is hot right now. He hit in his 11th straight game, got 3 hits, including a HR, and drove in 4 runs in the Yankees’ 6-3 win Wednesday night over the Astros. It was the Yanks’ (16-14) fifth win in a row.

In the bottom of the third inning, with two out, D.J. LeMahieu was HBP, then Stanton hit his 2-run HR (8).

Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery gave up three runs in the top of the fourth, and another runner was cut down at the plate, Brett Gardner to Gio Urshela to Gary Sanchez (7-5-2).

The Yankees tied it up in the fifth. With two out, Gardner singled and LeMahieu walked. Stanton doubled to tie the game.

The Yanks got three in the bottom of the eighth to win it. Gleyber Torres led off the inning with a single, then PH Clint Frazier walked. Tyler Wade PR for Frazier. Aaron HIcks blooped a single to make it 4-3, Yankees. Sanchez was HBP to load the bases, then Gardner hit a SF to make it 5-3. After a force-out, Stanton singled for the final tally of 6-3.

Stanton 3 hits, 4 RBI, inc. a 2-run HR (8)
Hicks 2 hits, RBI

Awful night for Aaron Judge. 0 for 5, struck out all 5x.

Montgomery 6 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 0 W, 4 K. 4.41
Cessa 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1.35
Peralta 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. (combined SF/NYY 4.22) 1 WP
Loaisiga (W, 3-1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K 0.98
Chapman (S, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.00

Before the game, Rougned Odor went on the 10-day IL (sprained knee) and P Albert Abreu was brought up.

Game 26. Yanks tame Tigers 10-0 behind Cole and 5 HR.

The bats are starting to come around.

This is more like we expected. The Yanks (12-14) clobbered five home runs, and Gerrit Cole was at the top of his game as the Yankees clobbered Detroit, 10-0, on Friday night.

I don’t know what ailment (lower back) bothered Aaron Judge that it kept him out of the starting lineup for two straight games, but you’d never have know it last night. Judge hit two homers, one a grand slam, and drove in five of the Yankees’ ten runs.

The Yanks scored in each of the first five innings, and cruised the rest of the way. In the first inning, with one out, Giancarlo Stanton doubled. He went to third on a WP and scored when Gio Urshela delivered a two-out single.

Clint Frazier made it 2-0 in the second inning with a solo HR (2).

The Yanks got two runs in the third inning. Judge led off the inning with a monstrous HR to CF. Two outs later, Aaron HIcks homered (4) to make it 4-0.

The Yanks broke open the game with five runs in the fourth inning. Kyle HIgashioka led off the inning with a walk, and after a forceout, D.J. LeMahieu singled. Stanton singled to load the bases, then Judge unloaded his grand slam, his seventh HR of the season, to make it 8-0. After an out, Gleyber Torres walked, then Hicks doubled Torres home to make it 9-0.

Rougned Odor closed out the scoring by hitting a solo HR (4) in the fifth to make it 10-0.

The Yanks close April at 12-14, tied for 4th in the AL East, 4 1/2 back.

I remember when Ron Guidry struck out 18 Angels in 1978. The Yanks struck out 18 Tigers in this game, but used four pitchers to do so. With such a big lead, no need to extend Cole further.

Stanton 3 hits
Judge 2 hits, both HR (7), one a grand slam. 5 RBI
Urshela 2 hits, RBI
Hicks 2 hits, 2 RBI Solo HR (4)
Frazier solo HR (2)
Odor solo HR (4)

Cole (W, 4-1) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 W, 12 K. 1.43
Cessa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.42
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.82 (combined ERA SF/Yankees; YANKEES DEBUT)
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.02