Game 100. Yanks edge Rays in 10, 3-1. Finalizing deal for Gallo.

Well, I can’t copy my posts to Facebook for a while, since I’m in Facebook Jail for a while. For something I posted MONTHS ago. They really must be stopped. (Badge of honor?). But thanks for reading, and fight to protect our First Amendment rights.

The Yanks are finalizing a dealing for Joey Gallo. Since all deals, particulars are NOT final, nothing more on that for now. It appears as if 5 minor leaguers of the Yanks top 30 are going to Texas, none of the top 13.

The Yanks (53-47, 3rd, 8 1/2 back) nipped Tampa Bay 3-1 last night in ten innings.

Tampa got a run off of Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes in the fourth inning.

The Yanks tied it in the fifth when Gio Urshela reached on an error, went to third on a Greg Allen double and scored on a SF by D.J. LeMahieu.

In the tenth, the Yanks had that “ghost” runner on second. Greg Allen was HBP, and Aaron Judge singled in a run with Allen going to third. A WP brought in Allen.

With a couple of runners on in the bottom of the tenth, LeMahieu had to make a circus catch to end the game. I don’t know if the ball was lost in the roof, hit one of those dumb catwalks or what, but a scary moment.

With Wilson and Cessa traded, Florial and Abreu back.

Cortes 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 1.93
Luetge 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.06
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 6.75
Green (W, 4-5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.29
Chapman (S, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP. 3.93

Game 99. Yanks sting Rays, 4-3; trade Cessa and Wilson.

The Yanks (52-27, 3rd, 9 GB; 2 1/2 out of playoff spot) beat Tampa Bay 4-3 Tuesday night, then made another trade that makes you wonder if something bigger is forthcoming.

First, the game. Jordan Montgomery was in and out of trouble, but pitched five scoreless innings, throwing 102 pitches in doing so.

The Yanks for whatever reason, haven’t been giving Montgomery much run support, and after missing out on a couple of early opportunities, finally got a run in the fifth. Greg Allen led off the inning with a double, and D.J. LeMahieu singled him home.

The Yanks got two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0. Gleyber Torres singled to lead off the inning, and Rougned Odor then singled. Gio Urshela doubled both runners home.

Chad Green gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the sixth and Tampa Bay cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-2.

Ryan LaMarre homered (2) for the Yankees in the top of the eighth to put the Yanks up 4-2, but Tampa Bay got a run off of Zack Britton in the bottom of the eighth to cut it to 4-3. Britton got a DP with runners on first and third to end the inning.

The Yanks got the first two batters on in the ninth but could get any insurance runs. In the bottom of the ninth, after getting the first two hitters, Aroldis Chapman gave up a walk before striking out Nelson Cruz to end the game.

Before the game, Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka came off the Covid-IL. Estevan Florial and Albert Abreu were sent down. I feel bad for Abreu, who has pitched well. Michael King was moved to the 60 day IL. Just acquired Clay Holmes was added to the active roster. Minor leaguer Yoendrys Gomez went on the Covid-IL list.

LeMahieu 2 hits, RBI
Torres 2 hits,
Urshela 2 hits, 2 RBI
LaMarre solo HR (2)

Montgomery (W, 4-5) 5 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 3 W, 5 K. 3.78 1 WP, 1 Balk.
Green (H, 14) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. 3.35 Gave up 1 HR.
Loaisiga (H, 13) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.76
Britton (H, 4) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 7.56 1 WP
Chapman (S, 19) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.04

The Yanks traded Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson to the Reds for a player to be named later.

Cessa was 3-1, 2.82 (ERA+ 154) this year for the Yanks. He’s 10-13, 4.19 (ERA+ 105) in his MLB career, all with the Yankees (2016- present).

Wilson was in his second stint with the Yankees, and this year was 1-1, 7.50, ERA+ 58. He is 33-23, 3.44 (ERA+ 118) in his career, in which (2012-present) he has pitched for the Pirates, Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, Mets and Yankees again.

So Cessa and Wilson are gone, and Clay Holmes is in. Holmes was acquired for two minor leaguers, Diego Castillo and Hoy Jun Park the other day. Park was hitting .327 for SWB. Holmes was 3-2, 4.93 (ERA+ 85) for Pittsburgh this year and is 5-7, 5.57 (ERA+ 76) for his career.

The trade deadline is Friday at 4 PM. All I can say is that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something is up.

Game 96. Yanks fall, 6-2.

The Yankees lost to Boston Friday night, 6-2, as Rafael Devers of Boston hit 2 HR and drove in 5 runs.

The loss puts the Yankees (50-46, 3rd in AL East) 9 games back of Boston.

The Yanks scored first when in the second inning, Gary Sanchez (who later left the game with back spasms) led off with a walk, Gleyber Torres singled, and Brett Gardner doubled in Sanchez.

Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez left the game then due to a migraine, and although bad for him, it turned out good for Boston. His reliever, Phillips Valdez, shut the Yankees down. He got a strikeout, hit Ryan LaMarre with a pitch to load the bases, then got two more strikeouts. The Yanks only got one run and wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning.

Gerrit Cole pitched four scoreless innings, but threw a lot of pitches to do so and ran out of gas in the fifth, giving up 3 runs, 2 on a HR by Devers. In five innings, Cole threw 104 pitches.

Devers hit a 3-run HR off of Nestor Cortes, Jr. in the seventh to make it 6-1 Boston.

The Yanks scored in the ninth when with two out, Giancarlo Stanton singled and Rougned Odor doubled him home.

Cole (L, 10-5) 5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.74
Cortes 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K Gave 1 HR 1.95
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 7.50

Loasiga and Cortes back from Covid IL, and sent down were Kriske and Nelson.

Game 94. Yanks walk-off Phils in 10, 6-5.

The Yanks moved into sole possession of third place in the AL East with a 6-5, 10-inning walk-off win over the Phils last night. The Yanks are 50-44, 7 GB.

The game featured both teams using spot, emergency starters. Both starters did surprisingly well, considering.

Asher Wojciechowski started for the Yanks, and things looked like they would be bleak when he gave up a HR to Jean Segura of the Phils on his first pitch of the game. But he settled in to just give up 2 runs in 4 IP. Hoy Jun Park was sent down to make room for Wojciechowski on the roster.

After the Phils made it 2-0 in the third inning, the Yanks came back to tie the game in the fourth. With two out, Gleyber Torres homered (6). Brett Gardner singled, and then Greg Allen, who has really given the Yankees a jolt, doubled in Gardner to tie the score.

The Yanks got three runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 5-2. With one out, rookie Estevan Florial singled, then stole second. After another out, Giancarlo Stanton singled in Florial, then Rougned Odor hit a 2-run HR (11).

The Yanks’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, as Zack Britton and Nick Nelson combined to give up three runs in the top of the eighth to allow the Phils to tie the game.

The Yanks had a chance to walk it off in the ninth, but couldn’t get the run in, so to extra innings it went.

Gary Sanchez was the “ghost” runner in the tenth, a rule that (thankfully) seems like it will be going away and back to the minors. Gleyber Torres sacrifice bunted Sanchez to third, and PH Ryan LaMarre singled in Sanchez with the winning run.

Brooks Kriske got his first MLB win.

The Yanks were fortunate. They won despite issuing 11 walks. The Phils were 1 for 14 w/RISP.

The Yanks now head to Boston for a big 4-game series.

Odor 2-run HR (11)
Torres solo HR (6)
LaMarre PH GW RBI single


Wojciechowski 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50
Abreu 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1.88
Wilson 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 7.94
Britton (H, 3) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 8.53
Nelson (BS, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 9.45
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.28
Kriske (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 10.50 FIRST MLB WIN.

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 86. Yanks bats silent in 4-0 loss.

You can’t win if you don’t score, and usually you don’t score if you don’t hit. The Yankees (44-42) didn’t do either in losing to Seattle Thursday afternoon, 4-0.

UPDATE: After all games were played on Thursday, the Yanks were in 4th, 9 GB.

The Yankees only got one hit in the game, a second-inning double by Giancarlo Stanton.

Jordan Montgomery gave up a solo HR in the first inning, and a two-run HR in the second. He settled down after that, but with the Yanks doing nothing offensively, that was enough damage against him for Seattle to win.

Wandy Peralta gave up a HR in the 8th for the final score of 4-0.

Montgomery (L, 3-4) 6 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 W, 9 K. 1 WP. Gave up 2 HR. 4.16
Wilson 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 8.59
Peralta 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.26 (combined ERA SF/NYY)

I know Wilson has been bad this year, but why pull him after one batter, when he got that batter out?

Game 81. Yanks lose to Mets, 8-3. Season half over.

Things aren’t good. The Yankees lost to the Mets Saturday, 8-3, and in the process they only got three hits.

It was game 81. The season is now half over, and the Yankees are barely above .500 at 41-40, in 4th place in their 5-team division, and 9 1/2 games out of first place. Heck, they are 5 games out of any wild card spot.

Jordan Montgomery started and got out of jams in the first and third innings. Not so the fifth. He gave up a run and left with one out and the bases loaded. Lucas Luetge came in, gave up a hit for a run, and a WP brought in another and the Mets were up 3-0.

When Zack Britton comes off the injured list (again), then in order for the Yanks to make room for him, they should consider DFAing Justin Wilson (someone has to go). Wilson came in to pitch the sixth, and he let the game get out of hand, giving up five runs without recording an out. Granted some balls weren’t barreled up, but Wilson now has an ERA of 8.79, making him a very serious DFA candidate. So after five and half innings, the Mets had an 8-0 lead.

More embarrassing for the Yankees? At that time, they still didn’t have a hit. Aaron Judge finally got the Yankees first hit with one out in the bottom of the sixth with his 19th HR. With two out, Giancarlo Stanton singled, Luke Voit was hit by a pitch, and Gleyber Torres walked to load the bases. Gio Urshela singled in two runs, but that was the Yankees’ third and last hit of the game and ended all scoring. 8-3, Mets.

Michael King came in and did well, striking out 9 in four scoreless innings of relief. As I have mentioned, King is a better long reliever than a starter.

Nestor Cortes, Jr. will start one of the DH games today. Gerrit Cole the other. Cortes starting accentuates the need for the Yanks to find a starter while both Corey Kluber and Luis Severino are out, and that applies no matter what Cortes does today.

This past week has been a complete bummer for the Yankees and their fans.

Judge solo HR (19)
Urshela 2 RBI


Montgomery (L, 3-3) 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 W, 6 K. 4.17
Luetge 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 WP 3.10
Wilson 0 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 1 W, 0 K. 8.79. Let’s face it. He’s been horrible this season.
King 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 9 K. 3.72 Better as a reliever than as a starter.

Game 80. Yanks score 7 in 1st, but give up 7 in 9th, lose 11-8. Brutal.

There were two rain delays totaling about an hour and 40 minutes. By the time the second rain delay was over, the game resumed around 11:30 PM and ended after 1 AM.

I’m glad I didn’t see the ending. My blood pressure would have caused another PE or a heart attack.

After last night, stick a fork in the Yankees. They are done. Sure, comebacks (think 1978) happen. But do any of you think it will happen with this team? They are now 41-39, 4th in the AL East, and 8 1/2 back.

And last night’s loss? Just excruciating. The Yanks scored 7 runs in the first inning, just one the rest of the game, took an 8-4 lead into the ninth, and gave up 7 runs in the top of the ninth to blow it and lose 11-8. Pathetic.

Before the game, controversy. The Yanks get swept in Boston last weekend. Their GM says “They suck.” The manager says that “the season is on the line.” But in a game with Ohtani on the mound, both Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela are out of the lineup. Where is the urgency? This “looking at the big picture stuff” as far as resting players right now is BS. What big picture? The playoffs (Cue Jim Mora here) that you won’t qualify for the way you are playing right now? What are you saving them for? Manager Boone says they are banged up. A lot of us remember a crippled, banged up Mickey Mantle playing through hellish injuries. Same with a banged up Thurman Munson. What crap. You should have heard the Michael Kay show on the YES network yesterday. Boy were they criticizing the Yanks over this.

Before the game, Justin Wilson up off of rehab, Albert Abreu sent down.


A slumping Domingo German gave up a 2-run HR in the top of the first inning to Phil Gosselin, and the Yanks were down 2-0 right away. I don’t know what it is with Yankees’ starters that they can’t make it out of the first inning unscathed. The homer came with two out and two strikes on Gosselin. Of course it did.

Shockingly, Angels’ star Shohei Ohtani had nothing as his control was off. The Yankees knocked him and his bat (the Angels forgoed the DH what with Ohtani and his 28 HR starting) out of the game after just 2/3 of an inning.

D.J. LeMahieu walked. Luke Voit walked. A passed ball. Gary Sanchez walked to load the bases. Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run, Gleyber Torres singled in another. After Rougned Odor struck out, Miguel Andujar made it 3-2 with an RBI groundout. Clint Frazier was HBP to reload the bases. Brett Gardner walked to force in a run, force Ohtani from the game, and make it 4-2. LeMahieu doubled to clear the bases. 7-2. Yankees’ fans were feeling good, not knowing what was to come later. What was to come later was just one more run, and a shocking defeat.

German gave up a run in the second. He was pulled after the first rain delay. Jared Walsh (we will hear from him later) homered in the fifth off of Luis Cessa to make it 7-4.

Brett Gardner homered in the eighth (3) to make it 8-4 Yankees. Game in the bag, right? Wrong.

In his first 23 games this season, Aroldis Chapman gave up just 1 earned run for an ERA of 0.39. That is through June 9. Starting on June 10 (when he gave up two 2-run HRs in the bottom of the ninth to blow a game), Chapman has given up 12 runs, 11 earned, in just 5 2/3 innings. It would be worse than that except for a triple play that saved his bacon. That ERA has gone from 0.39 to 3.77.

He walked the bases loaded, then gave up a game-tying grand slam to Walsh. Lucas Luetge came in and gave up three runs to complete the implosion. Ugh.

There aren’t any words. Well, yes, there are, but none you would use around children.

LeMahieu 3 RBI
Stanton 2 hits, RBI
Gardner 2 for 2, 2 walks, scored 2x, 2 RBI. Solo HR (3)

German 3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.65
Cessa 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.31
O’Day (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.70
Loaisiga (H, 10) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.32
Chapman 1/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K. Gave up Game-tying grand slam. 3.77
Luetge (L, 2-1) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.15

Minor league report. SWB destroys LV.

AAA: SWB (32-13) absolutely destroyed Lehigh Valley, 19-1. They got 10 runs in the third inning, bashed out 23 hits, and only gave up 2 hits. SWB used eight pitchers. Pitching highlights were the rehab guys. Darren O’Day 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. Justin Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. Adam Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Now for the hitting highlights. This could take a while.

Florial CF 3 hits, 2 RBI
Park SS 4 hits, solo HR. 2 RBI. Hitting .360 at AAA. Wish he would replace Odor. (Park also plays 2B)
Gittens 1B 4 hits, 8 RBI. 2 HR, double. Solo shot and a grand slam.
Amburgey LF 3 hits, all doubles. 2 RBI. Hitting .356. Wish he’d be replacing Frazier.
LaMarre RF 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR.
Allen CF 4 hits, RBI
McDowell C 2 hits, RBI

AA: Somerset (31-16) lost 5-1. CF Tom Milone 2 hits

High A: Hudson Valley (30-17) lost 14-8. SS Josh Smith 4 hits. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits. C Saul Torres 2 hits. LF Pablo Olivares 2 hits. 3B Chad Bell 3-run HR. 1B Kyle MacDonald 2 hits, 2 RBI. CF Isaiah Pasteur 3 hits, RBI.

Low A: Tampa (32-15) won in a rout, 15-2.

SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, RBI
2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 3 RBI
RF Jake Sanford 3 hits, 2 RBI
3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR
C Carlos Narvaez 3 hits
1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR
CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI. Solo HR.

Game 52. Yanks’ offense feeble in 6-1 loss.

The Tigers are a bad team. The Yanks should be crushing them.

Instead, the Yankees (29-23, 3rd, 3 1/2 out) are making a bunch of pitchers look like Cy Young Award candidates.

The Yanks lost 6-1 to the Tigers, and only got three hits in the game.

Heck, there wasn’t even an RBI. The Yanks loaded the bases with no one out in the second inning and the only run they scored was on a DP ball.

Meanwhile, young Deivi Garcia was spotty, giving up five runs, four earned. He wasn’t helped when Rougned Odor made an error. But the way the Yankees offense has been, it’s like every starter has the pressure of “I better throw a shutout” on his shoulders. Heck, out of the nine Yankees batters in the lineup, FIVE are under .200. They are becoming increasingly boring and difficult to watch. And that being written from a Yankees’ fanatic since 1967.

1967. Hmmm. The team batting average is reminding me of those weak offensive teams from 1965-1969 (when the team batting averages were .235, 235, 225, 214, .235 and a fading Mantle was still the best or one of the best options they had). Things started to pick up in 1970—Thurman Munson’s Rookie of the Year season.

This can’t continue. I am waiting for changes to be made, but wonder what changes they would be.

Here is the problem. The Yanks are near the bottom of the league in runs scored (11th). But they can’t MANUFACTURE runs. They rely on homers that aren’t coming (8th in league). They don’t hit and run. They don’t steal bases (last in the league with 12). They don’t bunt runners over (2 sac bunts, one by Gardner, other by Tauchman, who was traded to SF). So if you aren’t hitting homers, and not getting on base often (.229 team batting average, 11th in league; only their ability to draw walks (2nd in league) is saving them) and when you DO get on base, you aren’t stealing, bunting, hit and running, then things get worse.

I’m wondering if this team needs a re-do. A breakdown. Some contracts won’t let that happen, though.

Garcia (L, 0-2) 4 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. 6.48
Abreu 3 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.08 Gave up 1 HR. Nice job by Abreu saving the bullpen for another day.

There isn’t much more to say. You keep waiting for an offensive explosion that hasn’t and isn’t coming.

Before the game, Justin Wilson, so disappointing so far this season, was placed on the IL (hamstring).