Game 119. Didi wins game, 5-3.

He may be the most underrated SS in the majors right now. He is hitting .308-18-58, has played great defense and missed what, the first 3 weeks of the season? Give him those weeks, he’d have 20+ HR right now, a .300 average, and over 40 games to go.

Didi Gregorius took over for a legend and should be considered as the All-Star he has become. His two-run double in the seventh won tonight’s game over the Mets, 5-3.

The win puts the Yanks at 64-55, and keeps them 4 1/2 back of Red-hot Boston right now. They still control the top wild card spot.

The Mets struck for a run in the first. The Yanks tied it in the second when the Mets gifted the Yanks a run. Headley walked, went to 2nd on a WP, 3rd on a PB and scored on a groundout. Thanks, Mets.

The Yanks took the lead in the fourth. Aaron Judge hit a 457 ft. bomb into the third deck at Citi Field, HR #37, to put the Yanks up. He had his first multi-hit game since July 18, but did strike out once in the game, setting a MLB record for most consecutive games striking out.

The Mets tied it in the fifth on a HR.

The Yanks got a single by Judge and a couple of walks to load the bases in the top of the sixth. A SF by Headley put the Yanks up 3-2 but the Mets tied it in the bottom of the inning.

The decisive runs came in the top of the seventh. The igniter, the “Mighty Mite”, Ronald Torreyes, doubled. After Girardi correctly played littleball and Gardner (PH for pitcher) bunted him to third, Ellsbury and Hicks walked to load the bases. Judge popped up, AAARGH! but Didi picked him up with a two-run double that was the game-winning hit.

A friend asked me about my managerial strategy. I am glad Girardi listened. I said Warren forG two innings, and D-Rob to close. No Betances (needs a day off) and no Chapman (confidence? Needs to clear his head).

So I called it. LOL

Garcia 5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.52
Kahnle (BS, 5; W, 2-3, 2.27)  2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Warren (H, 10) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.73
Robertson (S, 14) 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.25

Some recent baseball passings & a retirement:

Paul Casanova: C, mostly known as the Washington Senators C in the late 1960s. In 1967, finished 21st in MVP voting and an All-Star with a .248-9-53 season. 162 g. average for his career? .225-9-48, OPS+ 65. As you can see, didn’t hit much. Washington 1965-1971, Atlanta 1972-1974.

Danny Walton, OF. Houston 1968. Seattle Pilots 1969 (only Pilots season before moving and becoming the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970). Milwaukee 1970-1971, Yankees (for only 5 games) 1971. Minnesota 1973, 1975. Dodgers 1976, Astros 1977. Rangers 1980. Only season 100 or more games: 1970 Brewers, .257-17-66, OPS+ 117. Good year. 162 G. average, .223-15-58, OPS+ 90.

Don Gross. LHP. Reds, 1955-1957. Pittsburgh 1958-1960.   20-22, 3.73 in his career, ERA+ 108. Average 162 G. season: 7-8, 3.73, 4 saves as a spot starter/long reliever.

Jered Weaver announced his retirement today. Weaver was 150-98 in his career, Angels 2006-2016 & 2017 Padres. A 3x All-Star, he was 5th for ROY in 2006, 5th for the CYA in 2010, runnerup for it in 2011, and 3rd for it in 2012. He finished 22nd for MVP in 2012.

2011: 18-8, 2.41, ERA+ 156.
2012: 20-5. 2.81 ERA+ 135.

He was 2-1, 2.60 in the postseason, 4 starts, 3 relief. He pitched in 3 games against the Yankees in the 2009 ALCS, 0-0, 4.26.

His 162 G. average was 15-10, 3.63, ERA+ 111. Solid starter. He led the AL in wins with 20 in 2012 and 18 in 2014.

 

 

 

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 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.”

 

Game 110. Ellsbury & Judge support Severino’s gem. Yanks win 8-1.

Boston’s Chris Sale is probably the front-runner for the AL CYA right now, but consideration must be given to Luis Severino.

Severino gave up a HR in the first inning, but only one more hit after that in dominating the Cleveland Indians today in the Yanks’ 8-1 win.

The win puts the Yanks at 59-51, and keeps them 3 back of Boston. They still hold the top wild card spot.

Down 1-0, the Yanks broke through in the sixth. Gardner singled and Clint Frazier doubled. After an out, Judge was intentionally walked. Chase Headley hit a SF to tie the game. Todd Frazier walked and Jacoby Ellsbury cleared the bases with a 3-run triple. Ronald Torreyes singled in Ellsbury to make it 5-1.

Aaron Judge hit a 3-run HR (35) in the seventh to make it 8-1.

Didi Gregorius 3 hits.
Judge struck out 3x, but did have that 3-run HR.
Ellsbury 2 hits, 3 RBI.
Torreyes 2 hits, rbi.

Matt Holliday was put on the DL. Garrett Cooper brought up. Jordan “the general” Montgomery was sent down to SWB. Not because he did anything wrong, but with six starters for five spots, and an innings limit approaching…

Severino (W, 9-4, 2.91) 6 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 9 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle    1/3 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.42
Warren 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W. 0 K. 1.93
Shreve 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.73

Game 108. Yanks lose 4th in a row, 7-2.

Jaime Garcia’s Yankees’ debut didn’t go well as the Yanks lost their fourth straight game, 7-2.

The loss puts the Yanks at 57-51 at the 2/3rd mark of the season, meaning they are on an 85/86 win pace.

They fell to 3 games behind Boston in the AL East. They still hold the top wild card spot.

The Yanks picked up a lot of pitching help at the trade deadline, but the bats have gone dead lately. Before the All Star Break, they averaged 5.4 runs per game. Since? 4.0.

Gary Sanchez needs to work a bit on his defense. One of the two runs Cleveland scored in the second inning came courtesy of Sanchez’ 12th passed ball of the season.

Sanchez’ passed ball was part of some sloppiness the Yanks have shown defensively over the past few games. Aaron Judge made an error in the third inning, an inning where Cleveland scored two more runs to make it 4-0. Both Garcia and Chad Green threw wild pitches in the game.

UPDATE: Joe Girardi called out Sanchez’ sloppy defense after the game.

Todd Frazier homered (18) in the fifth to put the Yanks on the board, but they left the bases loaded. Cleveland came back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-1.

Cleveland got a run in the eighth and Brett Gardner’s RBI single in the ninth for the Yanks accounted for the final score of 7-2.

Five different Yanks had two hits, but the Yanks were not bunching them at the right times. Rookie Clint Frazier is another who has cooled off lately. He isn’t alone.

Garcia (L, 5-8, 4.49) 4 2/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 H, 4 W, 4 K.
Green 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1.74. Green has been superb this year.
Kahnle 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.44

 

 

Game 106. Long miserable day of delays ends in a 2-0 Yankees’ loss.

The game started late because of a rain delay. It ended late because of a mid-game rain delay. At the end of a long day, the Yankees lost to Detroit 2-0 to fall 1 game behind Boston (whose game was rained out) in the AL East. The loss dropped the Yanks to 57-49.

Masahiro Tanaka pitched well, but got no run support as the Yanks blew a couple of scoring chances.

Tanaka gave up a run in the first and another in the fourth. The run in the fourth was unearned due to an error by Jacoby Ellsbury.

God forbid Joe Girardi ever call for a squeeze bunt. For example, in the sixth, down 2-0 and men on 2nd and 3rd, no out, Girardi can’t call on Didi to lay a squeeze down. Judge was on third and what catcher wants to see THAT big guy barrelling down the line on him? I know Didi has been hot with some HR lately. But Girardi never even SHOWS squeeze to even put the thought of it in other teams’ heads. It is one of the biggest criticisms I have of Girardi. He doesn’t play little ball when you need to play little ball.

Think outside the box (or binder) once in a while, Joe.

The Yankees’ hitters have been in a slump recently. Now you have to adjust and play little ball.

The Yanks were 0 for 9 with RISP today. They had their chances. They blew them.

Ellsbury had 2 hits, but made that big error.

In the eighth, Dellin Betances had the “immaculate inning.” 3 up, 3 down, all strikeouts on 9 pitches.

Tanaka (L, 8-10, 4.93) 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 w, 7 K.
Kahnle 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.28
Betances 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K. 2.48

Nice to see Tanaka get that ERA under 5.00 finally, but other than that ….

The Yanks head to Cleveland. Home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The bats have been slumping. Time to have those bats Rock and Roll.