Ortiz only player elected by writers into the HOF.

I had the feeling that the only person to be elected to the Hall of Fame by the writers would be David Ortiz, and I also had the feeling that if he made it on the first ballot, that it would not be by much.

Correct on both counts. The Red Sox legend got 307 votes where he needed 296 out of 394 to get in. Needing 75%, Ortiz got 77.9%.

Many notables dropped off the ballot, as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Curt Schilling were in their last year of eligibility. They now go to the Veterans’ Committee. For Bonds, Clemens and Sosa, steroid allegations cost them the Hall. For Schilling, his political viewpoints and some controversial statements.

Others remaining on the ballot, but who have been associated with PEDs found themselves far from the 75% threshold. That included Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez.

Ortiz also has a questionable past with that. Supposedly his name came up on a list that came up positive in 2003, however he has denied it, and there have been false positives associated with the list. Also, there was no list of banned vs. ok substances. So something picked up legitimately at a GNC could cause a positive. To his credit, Ortiz never came up positive after rules were enforced later on.

Ortiz, mostly a DH, was a 10x All-star, 3x WS champ (get to that in a moment), 7x Silver Slugger, a WS MVP, and an ALCS MVP, who played for the Twins (1997-2002) and Red Sox (2003-2016). While ok with the Twins (OPS+ 108), he blossomed into a superstar with Boston (OPS+ 148). He was probably the most influential and most important player in helping the Red Sox end “the Curse of the Bambino” by helping Boston to its first WS title in 86 years in 2004, then he added two more titles onto that.

Ortiz wound up hitting 541 HR, and getting MVP consideration 8x. While never winning the MVP award, he finished in the top 10 7x, and finished 5-4-2-3-4 from 2003-2007. His final season was probably the greatest final season of any player in baseball history, and he finished 6th in MVP voting that year. In his last year, Ortiz, 40, hit .315-38-127, leading the AL in RBI, the majors in doubles (48), the majors in slugging and OPS, and the AL in intentional walks. He hit .286 for his career with an OPS+ of 141 (100 is average). His 162 game average was .286-36-119. He led the league in HR once (54 in 2006), RBI 3x, doubles once, walks 2x, OBP, slugging, total bases and OPS once each, and intentional walks 3x.

In 85 postseason games, he hit .289, with 17 HR and 61 RBI. He won both games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS for Boston, leading them back from a 0-3 deficit to win the AL pennant and eventually the WS, breaking the 86 year old “Curse of the Bambino.” He was ALCS MVP in 2004 (12 for 31, 3 HR, 11 RBI) and WS MVP in 2013 (11 for 16, 2 HR, 6 RBI).

One thing I was and still am critical about is pitchers not coming inside to dust him off of the plate. Can you believe in his whole career, Ortiz was HBP only TWICE? (By comparison, Mantle 13x, Mays 45x, Aaron 32x, Ruth 43x). I’m not for headhunting, but back the guy off the plate?

Ortiz only played 278 games at 1B. 2028 were as a DH.

Here is the ballot, with some notes.

David Ortiz	307	77.9	1
Barry Bonds	260	66.0	10
Roger Clemens	257	65.2	10
Scott Rolen	249	63.2	5
Curt Schilling	231	58.6	10
Todd Helton	205	52.0	4
Billy Wagner	201	51.0	7
Andruw Jones	163	41.1	5
Gary Sheffield	160	40.6	8
Alex Rodriguez	135	34.3	1
Jeff Kent	129	32.7	9
Manny Ramirez	114	28.9	6
Omar Vizquel	94	23.9	5
Sammy Sosa	73	18.5	10
Andy Pettitte	42	10.7	4
Jimmy Rollins	37	9.4	1
Bobby Abreu	34	8.6	3
Mark Buehrle	23	5.8	2
Torii Hunter	21	5.3	2
Joe Nathan	17	4.3	1
Tim Hudson	12	3.0	2
Tim Lincecum	9	2.3	1
Ryan Howard	8	2.0	1
Mark Teixeira	6	1.5	1
Justin Morneau	5	1.3	1
Jonathan Papelbon	5	1.3	1
Prince Fielder	2	0.5	1
A.J. Pierzynski	2	0.5	1
Carl Crawford	0	0	1
Jake Peavy	0	0	1

Bonds, Clemens, Schilling, Sosa drop off. So does anyone not getting 5%, which includes Ryan Howard (MVP , 6 top-10 MVP finishes, and 382 HR), Tim Lincecum (Back-to-Back CYA), Justin Morneau (MVP), Joe Nathan (6x all-star) and Mark Teixeira (409 HR) to name a few.

It really looks good for Scott Rolen to maybe get in next year. A-Rod and Manny Ramirez stand no chance due to steroids and suspensions. Omar Vizquel dropped considerably because of domestic violence and sexual harassment allegations. Andy Pettitte stays on, but HGH admissions hurt him.

Next year will be Jeff Kent’s last year on the ballot. (377 HR, MVP).

The biggest name coming onto the ballot next year is Carlos Beltran (.279, 435 HR, 312 SB). While I think Beltran eventually makes the HOF, I don’t think it will be on the first ballot. The only other one that can get considerable consideration among next year’s newcomers is Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod had 437 saves, 62 in 2008.

Game 101. Offense and Bullpen Bail out Happ. Yanks win, 10-7.

Some news before the game report.

Gary Sanchez to the IL. Kyle Higashioka brought up.

Nestor Cortes back up (like he is riding an elevator). Jonathan Holder back down.

Cortes would figure in the game.

Sad news about some former Yankees:

Dwight Gooden was busted twice recently. Once for DUI and coke possession about a month ago, now a DUI in the last week.

According to the NY Post, former Yankees pitcher John Wetteland will return to court in March to face trial for alleged aggravated sexual assault of a child, court records show.

Now to the game.

J.A. Happ had nothing, but the bullpen and the offense bailed him out as the Yanks (66-35) won another slugfest from the Twins, 10-7.

As David Cone said on WPIX, this turn around in the rotation wasn’t good. The starters all were knocked out early.

In the first inning, Happ got the first two hitters out, but then gave up a single and a 2-run HR.

The Yanks came right back with 4 in the top of the second. Edwin Encarnacion and Didi Gregorius hit back-to-back doubles for one run. Gleyber Torres walked. After a fly-out by Gio Urshela that moved both runners up, the red-hot Mike Tauchman tripled in two runs to give the Yanks the lead, 3-2. Austin Romine’s SF scored Tauchman to make it 4-2.

Happ gave a run right back in the bottom of the second, 4-3.

The Yanks got two in the top of the third when Aaron Hicks led off the inning with his 12th HR of the season, and after the next two batters struck out, Gleyber Torres hit his 20th HR of the year. 6-3.

The Yanks got three in the fourth to go up 9-3. Romine singled, and after a forceout by D.J. LeMahieu, Aaron Judge singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Hicks singled to score LeMahieu and send Judge to second. 7-3. After a line-out by Encarnacion, Gregorius tripled in two runs to make it 9-3. He, like Tauchman, is hot lately.

But staked to a 9-3 lead, Happ couldn’t even go five innings to get a decision. He was then knocked out of the game in the bottom of the fourth. A walk and HR made it 9-5. Then two singles and a ground-out put runners at second and third with one out and Happ was then out of the game, replaced by Nestor Cortes, Jr.

Cortes gave up a SF that made it 9-6, then got a strikeout to get out of the inning. He gave up a HR in the fifth to Nelson Cruz, Jr. that made it 9-7. It was Cruz’ 382nd career HR.

The scoring then stopped until the ninth, when Edwin Encarnacion’s 30th HR of the season made it 10-7 Yanks, which was the final score. Encarnacion’s HR was #410 of his career, passing Mark Teixeira on the all-time list.

With Tampa Bay’s win over Boston yesterday, the Yanks lead the Rays by 10 games, and the Red Sox by 11. They lead both by 12 in the loss column. The Yanks now go to Boston, where they could really end any hopes the Red Sox have of winning the division just by splitting the four games. Getting more than a split would be great. Just don’t get swept and let Boston get back in it at 7 back.

Judge 2 hits (.311)
Hicks 2 hits, 2 RBI, HR (12)
Encarnacion 2 hits, HR (30)
Gregorius 3 hits, 3 RBI
Torres HR (20)
Tauchman 2 hits, 2 RBI

Happ 3 1/3 IP, 6 R, 6 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 2 HR.  5.23
Cortes (W, 4-0, 4.20) 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K.  Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle (H, 19) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.  2.66
Chapman (S, 26) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  2.50

 

Game 93. Yanks get six in 8th to defeat Rays, 8-3.

The Rays were about to cut the Yanks’ lead in the AL East down to four games. They were four outs away from doing so.

But a 2-run HR by Aaron Judge and a grand slam by Didi Gregorius turned a possible 3-2 Yankees’ loss into an 8-3 Yankees’ win and enabled the Yankees (60-33) to stretch their lead over Tampa Bay to six games. The Yankees are 10 up on Boston.

The Rays took an early lead when CC Sabathia gave up a HR to Austin Meadows in the top of the second inning.

The Yanks came right back in the bottom of the second when Edwin Encarnacion hit a 435 ft. HR (28) to tie the game. Encarnacion’s 28th HR of the season (Seattle and NY) was #408 of his career, passing Duke Snider on the all-time list, and putting him one behind Mark Teixeira.

In the fourth, CC gave up a HR to Yandy Diaz to make it 3-1 Rays. He almost gave up back-to-back HR, but Brett Gardner robbed Avisail Garcia of a HR.

In the bottom of the fifth, Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres both made bad base-running decisions on the same play, and Tampa Bay got a DP to end that half-inning.

Diaz got an RBI double in the top of the sixth to put the Rays up 3-1.

D.J. LeMahieu homered in the bottom of the sixth (13) to cut the Rays’ lead to 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Nestor Cortes, Jr. came in for CC but loaded the bases with one out, David Hale relieved Cortes, and got a DP to get out of the inning and keep the game within reach for the Yankees.

In the bottom of the eighth, Gleyber Torres walked. Two outs later, Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR (10) to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead, but then they got insurance runs when Luke Voit singled, Gary Sanchez doubled, Encarnacion was intentionally walked, and Didi Gregorius hit his fifth HR of the season, this one a grand slam, to put the Yankees up 8-3.

Hale got into a jam in the top of the ninth, but Zack Britton finished off the Rays.

Yankees’ radio announcer John Sterling missed the game. He’s missed a couple lately as he (81 years old) is battling a health issue.

LeMahieu solo HR (13)  .331
Judge 2 hits, 2 RBI, GW 2-run HR (10)  .304
Encarnacion 2 hits, solo HR (28)
Gregorius 4 RBI; Grand Slam HR (5)

Sabathia 6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR.  4.06
Cortes, Jr. 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.  4.50
Hale (W, 3-0, 2.45) 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.  2.45
Britton 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.31
–

Game 162. Yanks’ season, Teix’s career, end with 5-2 loss.

The Yanks lost their season finale, 5-2, to Baltimore and finished the season 84-78.

It matches the 2014 season as their worst since 1992.

With the loss, Mark Teixeira’s career comes to an end. He went 0 for 3 in his final game and retires with 409 HR.

The Yanks finished 9 games out of first place, in fourth place in the AL East, and missed getting a wild card spot by 5 games.

They gave up more runs than they scored. Their Pythagorean record was 79-83, so they won 5 more games than they probably should have.

The adjusted OPS was 91, which means the offense was 9% below league average.

The adjusted ERA was 105, which means 5% above league average.

Masahiro Tanaka was their best player.

As for the game, Luis Cessa gave up a run in the third on a SF. Matt Wieters hit a 2-run HR off Cessa in the fourth.

Brian McCann hit his 20th HR in the bottom of the fourth to cut it to 3-1.

Wieters hit his second 2-run HR of the game in the sixth, this one off of Tommy Layne, to put the Orioles up 5-1.

Singles by Sanchez, McCann and Gregorius in the eighth scored Sanchez with the Yanks’ final run of the year.

Cessa (L, 4-4, 4.35) 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 0 walks, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Layne 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 3.63 (Bos/NYY) Gave up 1 HR.
Parker 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 1 K. 4.67 (Sea/NYY)
Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 4.68 (Cubs/NYY)
Bleier 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 1.96

Now for an interesting offseason. What moves do the Yankees make?

The postseason is set.
AL: Texas #1 seed, Cleveland #2, Boston #3. Toronto hosts Baltimore in the WC game.

NL: Cubs #1 seed, Washington #2, Dodgers #3. Mets host SF in the wild card game.

In this decade, The Giants have won the WS in 2010, 2012 and 2014. They snuck into this year’s playoffs with 87 wins, the same as the Mets and 1 game better than St. Louis. Giants’ fans hope the even-year thing continues.

Two broadcasting legends called their final games Sunday. Vin Scully and Dick Enberg.

Game 161. Yanks rally for 7-3 win.

Today is the final game of the season for the Yankees. They are 84-77 after yesterday’s come-from-behind, 7-3 win over Baltimore.

There are three playoff spots still to be decided, and five teams fighting for those spots, so  the possibility of a 163rd game is very real.

Unfortunately the Yanks have already been eliminated, so today is it for this year.

Eventually, the Yanks have to figure out what to do with Luis Severino. It is in their best interest that he develop into a good starter, but his splits this year make you wonder.

As a starter: 0-8, 8.50
As a reliever: 3-0, 0.39

He started yesterday, and gave up 3 runs in just 3 2/3 IP.

After the Orioles scored two off Severino in the third, and another in the fourth on Manny Machado’s 37th HR, the Yanks went to work, scoring one run in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, and putting the game away with four in the eighth.

In the fifth, Mark Teixeira (whose last game will be today) singled, Chase Headley walked, and Austin Romine grounded into a forceout at third. Tyler Austin singled in a run to make it 3-1.

In the sixth, with two out, Billy Butler and Rob Refsnyder singled, and Headley doubled in a run.

In the seventh, Austin tied the game with his fifth HR of the year. All of his homers have been at home, and all by going the other way to right field.

In the eighth, Jacoby Ellsbury walked with one out. Headley doubled and Romine singled in two runs. After Austin struck out, Ronald Torreyes walked. Brett Gardner doubled in two runs.

Severino 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 walks, 3 K. 5.83
Holder 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 5.40
Bleier 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 2.05
Yates 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 5.23
Clippard (w, 4-6, 3.57 AZ/NYY) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K.
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 3 K. 3.08

I’ve seen reports that at the trade deadline, the Yanks were looking at Joe Panik from the Giants as compensation. It didn’t happen, and you wonder what the Yanks would have done with Castro if it did. Move him to 3B? What then with Headley?

As far as WAR (wins above replacement) this year, the Yanks’ best player in 2016 has been Masahiro Tanaka.

Game 158. Teix slams Boston, 5-3.

If this was the last HR of Mark Teixiera’s career, what a way to go out…with a walk-off grand  slam.

The 5-3 win over Boston puts the Yanks at 82-76 and assures them a winning season. Their last losing season was in 1992.

The game was scoreless until the eighth, when Boston loaded the bases with one out. Mookie Betts doubled in two runs and another run scored on a passed ball. The inning started on an error by Castro.

The Yanks only had one hit in the game going into the bottom of the ninth.

Gardner (who got the only hit up to that point) singled. He moved up on defensive indifference, but Ellsbury walked anyway. A WP moved the runners up, and Sanchez walked to load the bases. He was pinch-run for.

Brian McCann walked to force in a run. 3-1 Boston. McCann was PR for.

Castro struck out and Didi popped up, setting the stage for Teixeira and his GW HR.

It was #15 of the season for Teix, #409 of his career.

Bryan Mitchell had a great start.

It was the first MLB victory for James Pazos.

The Yanks tragic # is 1. Just one Orioles win or Yankees loss will eliminate the Yanks from the postseason.

Mitchell 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 5 walks, 2 K. 3.24.
Warren 1/3 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 walks, 0 K. 4.76 (Cubs/NYY)
Layne 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.45 (Bos/NYY)
Holder 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 6.43
Pazos (w, 1-0, 6.75) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K.

Game 156. Yanks rally with 5 in 9th to win “brawl” game.

The Yankees scored 5 times in the top of the ninth and won 7-5 over Toronto in a game that saw a brushback battle, and Luis Severino, Joe Girardi, Rob Thompson and Larry Rothschild all ejected.

The Yanks go to 80-76 and close the season with six games at home. They are all but officially eliminated, being 5 out of a playoff spot with six games to go. The most wins the Yanks can have is 86. Toronto already has that and Baltimore has 85. Not only that, there are three teams between the Yanks and Baltimore.

In the first, Gardner got on on a bunt single (where was that all year) and went to third on a 2-base throwing error on the play. He scored on an RBI groundout by Sanchez.

In the bottom of the first, with one out, Severino hit Josh Donaldson with a pitch. A single and two walks later, the game was tied at 1. Severino got out of the inning giving up just that one run.

In the top of the second, Headley was HBP and the benches cleared. Girardi was tossed. In the bottom of the second, Toronto’s Josh Smoak was drilled, benches emptied and more ejections were made.

Toronto got two in the third to go up 3-1.

The Yanks got one back in the eighth. Gardner, who doubled,  scored on an RBI single by Ellsbury.

In the ninth, Teixeira homered with one out (14) to tie the game. #408 of his career passed Duke Snider on the all-time list. Gregorius singled, and Hicks homered (8) to put the Yanks up 5-3. Solano doubled, Gardner walked, and Ellsbury singled in a run to make it 6-3. Sanchez got a SF to make it 7-3.

Betances came in and needed help. He once again looked completely out of gas and couldn’t field his position. Layne came in to save it.

Gardner had 3 hits and scored 3 runs. Ellsbury had 2 hits and 2 RBI. 2 RBI for Sanchez. Big 2-run HR for Hicks.

Severino 1+ IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 walks, 1 K. 2 HBP. Ejected. 5.75
Holder 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 walks, 0 K. 7.11
Pazos 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 0 K, 7.71
Yates 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 walks, 3 K. 5.36
Bleier 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.33
Warren (w, 7-4, 4.64 Cubs/NYY) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Betances 0 IP,  2 R, 1 earned, 0 H, 2 walks, 0 K.  Made an error. 3.13. Faced 3 batters, all reached. 2 walks and an error.
Layne (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.14.

James Kaprielian, who was dominant in spring training and in three games for High-A Tampa this year before being shut down with a flexor strain, is now OK and will be making up time in the Arizona Fall League this offseason. Good news.

Game 150. Sanchez does it again! Yanks win 5-3.

Forgive me for a moment as I play devil’s advocate.

If you are the manager of another team, and the score is tied, and the other team has runners on 2nd and 3rd with two out…

and the HOTTEST hitter in baseball is up at the plate…

do you pitch to him? Or walk him to load the bases for the next hitter, hoping for a force at any base?

And if you are the owner of a manager who decides to pitch to him anyway, only to see that batter hit a 3-run homer that wins the game, do you fire that manager?

For that is exactly what happened in the Yankees’ 5-3 win over Tampa Bay Tuesday night.

Of the 16 outs Michael Pineda recorded for the Yanks tonight, 11 were by strikeout. He gave up a two-run triple in the third to put the Yanks in a 2-0 hole.

Mark Teixeira hit a HR in the fourth to cut it to 2-1. Teix’s 13th HR of the year was #407 of his career, tying him with Duke Snider on the all-time HR list.

In the seventh, Ronald Torreyes and Mason Williams each singled. 1st and 3rd, one out. As I mentioned before, I think the Yanks should look at dealing Gardner for a decent starting pitcher and look into giving the LF job to Williams in 2017. He might platoon with Frazier (Williams vs. RHP,  Frazier or Hicks vs. Lefties).

Gardner singled to tie the game, Williams going to third. Gardner stole 2nd while Hicks (just off the DL) stuck out.

So 2 out. Men on 2nd and 3rd, tie game. Sanchez up and 1st base open. Would you pitch to the hottest hitter in baseball or walk him?

Fortunately for us Yankees fans, Tampa Bay manager pitched to Sanchez. He should be fired for his decision. Sanchez hit a 3-run HR (17) to the delight of us Yankees fans.

Was he kidding? Pitching to Sanchez right now?

Thank you very much, Kevin Cash.

In the 8th, a triple and WP let the Rays score a run.

Pineda 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 walk, 11 K. 4.89
Layne 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 3.24 (Bos/NYY).
Once again, Girardi uses Layne for just 1 batter. AAAARGH! At least THIS time, it didn’t burn him.

Severino (w, 3-8, 5.88) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Clippard (H, 23)  1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 3.22 (AZ/NYY)
Betances (S, 12) 1 P, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.79.

Anthony Swarzak was called back to the Yanks, the other day.

The win puts the Yanks at 78-72 with 12 games left.

 

Game 140. Teix slams Rays, 7-5.

Remember Arte Johnson on Laugh-In? (Yes, I’m dating myself). He had a character that would say “VERRRRRRRRRRRRY INTERESTING!”. For that is what the AL East and the wild card spots are right now, and the Yankees, surprisingly after the trade deadline selloffs, are in the thick of it.

Gary Sanchez homered, and Mark Teixeira hit a grand slam, as the Yanks beat the Rays 7-5 on Friday night in a game that featured three rain delays. With the win, the Yanks’ sixth in a row, the Yanks are now 75-65.

So here is a look at how the AL East stands right now. Tampa Bay of course, is WAY back.

Boston
Toronto -2
Baltimore -3
YANKEES -4

As for the wild card, here you go:

Toronto (as of now, has Wild Card #1)  +1
Detroit and Baltimore are tied for Wild Card #2, one game back of Toronto —-
Yankees -1 (need to jump two teams, Detroit and Baltimore)
Houston -2 1/2
Seattle – 3 1/2
KC -4.

Very interesting, indeed. The Yanks have won 12 of their last 16 games. Ever since A-Rod and Teix announced their retirements, they have taken off.

The Yanks scored immediately in the bottom of the first when Ellsbury singled and Refsnyder doubled him home. After Sanchez struck out, Castro singled but Refsnyder was thrown out at the plate.

The Yanks got two in the third to go up 3-0. Sanchez homered (12), and after Castro struck out, Teixeira doubled. Didi moved Teix up with a groundout, and that was huge because Teix was then able to score on a WP.

Michael Pineda gave up back-to-back HR to Logan Morrison and Stephen Souza (Souza is killing us this series) in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2.

But in the bottom of the fourth, with two out, Refsnyder and Sanchez singled, Castro walked, and Teix hit a grand slam to make it 7-2. Teix’s HR was #12 of the season and #406 of his career, putting him one behind Duke Snider on the all-time list.

The Yanks then held on, giving up two in the sixth and one in the ninth, to win 7-5.

One thing that worries me a bit: Betances has been struggling lately.

One thing about Sanchez. It’s not just the HR. It’s the defense as well. He picked a runner off of second in the game with that cannon of an arm he has.

Nice patience: The Yanks drew 11 walks in the game.

Once again, Girardi was Captain Hook, pulling a starter before the starter could go the necessary five for the win. At this point in the season, with extra pitchers available because of the extended rosters, and needing to play catch up in the standings, he is playing matchup more than usual. It’s all about getting the win, no matter who gets it.

Pineda 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 walks, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR. 5.07.
Shreve 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 5.23
Warren (w, 5-3, 4.88, Cubs/NYY) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 1 K.
Layne (H, 9) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 3.49 (Bos/NYY)
Clippard (H, 21) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.13 (AZ/NYY)
Betances (S, 10) 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 2.41.

One final note: Sometimes I get asked to be friends on Facebook. If I refuse or ignore it, please don’t be offended. I do make a distinction between friends and acquaintances. For example, I am opinionated, as you sometimes see in this blog. I don’t only write about the Yankees, but on other things as well, and in this election season, my viewpoints may or may not be to your liking. My friends know me. They see me. They’ve known me for a long time. They understand me. So if you only know me through this blog, don’t be offended if I don’t take you up on a friend request. As I mentioned, the distinction between friend and acquaintance. I hope you understand.

Game 136. Ellsbury & Austin lead Yanks to 5-3 win.

Jacoby Ellsbury homered, had three hits and drove in three runs, and Tyler Austin had two hits (both doubles) and 2 RBI as the Yanks beat Toronto 5-3 on Labor Day afternoon.

The win puts the Yanks at 71-65, 5 1/2 out of first in the AL East, still in 4th place, and keeps them 3 1/2 out of the second wild card spot. They still need to jump teams and probably have to go 18-8 against a tough schedule to make the playoffs.

But they aren’t going down without a fight.

Masahiro Tanaka, the Yanks’ best player this year (according to WAR on baseballreference.com) didn’t have his best stuff, giving up 10 base runners in 6 1/3 IP, but he gave up just two runs in improving to 12-4.

Because of some no-decisions early in the season due to the Yanks’ lack of hitting, Tanaka doesn’t have as many decisions as you’d think. He probably should be something like 17-6 or so. If he were that, he’d probably get CYA consideration. Maybe he still will. He has had an excellent season.

Tanaka gave up a run in the first, but the Yanks got two in the bottom of the inning on Ellsbury’s 2-run HR (7).

In the third, Austin doubled and scored on Ellsbury’s single to make it 3-1.

Austin doubled in two in the fourth to make it 5-1. Toronto made it close with two in the seventh.

Aaron Judge is still striking out too often, as he was 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts today and has some 35 strikeouts in 65 at bats. He didn’t take his offensive frustrations out to the field however, as he saved two runs defensively. His diving catch saved one run, and he robbed another of a home run. At 6’7 1/2″, he hardly had to jump to bring back a potential home run ball from clearing the 8′ high fence.

Tanaka (w, 12-4, 3.11) 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 3 walks,  4 K.
Holder 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 walks, 0 K. 6.75
Heller 0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 6.00. Faced one batter, gave up a hit for 2 runs, one charged to Tanaka, the other to Holder.
Layne (H, 8) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 3.32 (Bos/NYY)
Clippard (H, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 3.25 (AZ/NYY)
Betances (S, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 2.05

We are still awaiting word on Wednesday’s starter, now that Green is out.

BTW, have you noticed how little Teixeira and McCann are being used during these important games?