Down the stretch, indeed. I’m not sure how, but the end of the season has really snuck up on me. Friday night’s game in Baltimore is the first of nine remaining games, and while this team was limping just three weeks ago, they suddenly seem ready for the playoffs. Can’t wait!
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.]
Sometimes I think the umpires are actively campaigning for Robo-Umps.
With Toronto down big, it would be really nice to come back and get this win.
[2] Not with that kind of defense by Jazz.
The Yankees aren’t the worst defensive team in the league, but they do their best to make you think they are.
I don’t think I’ve seen a player try to snap a ball out of the glove the way Jazz did there. There’s no way he could’ve had any idea where that ball was going.
This game sucks.
All orange uniforms. Ok.
Orioles wearing pajamas tonight. Interesting.
Joe Gerardi has quickly become my favorite of all the YES analysts.
Here’s the list:
1. Girardi
2. Cone
3. Flaherty
4. O’Neill
5. Nelson
Stanton with a Weaver special!
Good list, Hank.
Regardless of how this season ends, Stanton’s resurgence has to be one of the biggest stories.
I realize most good teams can make a statement like this, but still. Can you imagine if Cole were healthy? If the Yankees were heading into the playoffs with Cole, Fried, and Rodon, I would feel really, really good.
Rodón has looked so good.
A healthy Cole this season? The mind boggles.
Two games back with seven to go. Let’s see if they can do this.
Totally possible.
Looks like a pitching duel today.
Ballgame.
Tied up, only mostly over
This isn’t good
Phew
Overturned, safe.
The Yankees have left a lot of runs out there today. Hope it doesn't come back to bite them. I know I said this yesterday, but I really love listening to Girardi talk about the game. He's just so good.
Extra innings on the road, hopefully.
Free baseball
Ben Rice!
Rice cooked a salami!
Man, that brought me out of my seat!
Dayum, nearly to Eutaw street
I’m starting to like the Yankees chances here.
Um . . .
Well, phew
I hate having to root for the Red Sox to win, but if that gives the Yankees a chance to win the division. . .
Playoffs baby. Now let’s catch Toronto.
I was about to type "Grisham should know to strike out if you are going to hit into a DP."
That was a crazy finish started by Volpe and Wells!
Man if the Tigers miss the playoffs that would be something. I saw Cleveland has a negative run differential.
That was a really good game, last night -- which is a weird thing to say when the Yankees beat a bad team by one run. But there you have it.
Hank, I like Girardi, but I'd still put him well below Cone.
I could not root for the Sox last night. Just couldn't do it. After both games were over, I did think, 'well, the Red Sox did us a favor,' but I could take no joy in their winningness during the game.'
[39] If only both Boston and Houston could miss the playoffs. Unfortunately one of them has to make it.
Did Michael just say that Judge has reached safely in 44 of his last 58 plate appearances???
Jeez.
That's kinda hard to believe. Not a single run out of that.
These things have a way of working themselves out.
I love it when a plan comes together.
If current scores hold, we’re gonna be tied with the Jays (minus the tiebreaker), and Detroit will be one game back of Cleveland. Pretty wild.
[41] Lots and lots and lots of walks!
Well... HOLY SHIT!
Not to jinx things... but if our BP can keep from shitting the bed, after tonight, we will be tied for the division, with a definite advantage of opponents over the next 5 games: White Sox and Baltimore for us; Red Sox and Tampa Bay for Toronto.
We should really win the Division... yes?
Area 51!
I’ve got lots of family who are Tigers fans. I don’t envy them. There’s a VERY real chance they miss the playoffs. And weren’t they once up by 15 1/2?
Judge almost a hundred points ahead of Raleigh in slugging, almost 200 ahead in OPS, and the battle title seems locked up. Kind of ridiculous.
[49] So who gets MVP?
[46] My bad on the Division. Toronto is up on the head to head series, so the Yanks need to Lead/Win by a 1 game.
[50] Judge may be the only person to not win MVP because he has both has too many homers (2017) and not enough homers (2025).
Some writers might be swayed by sixty home runs, but Judge leads in everything but home runs and RBIs. It would be one thing if he had finished poorly, but Judge has been as good as ever this week.
Four players with 4 50 HR seasons. Ruth, McGuire, Sosa, and Judge. Two are problematic, so I’ll only consider Ruth and Judge.
The pitch clock saved 20 minutes or so per game. This pitch replay system is going to add those 20 minutes back and then some.
Oh man that was cathartic.
The Stanton double. God how I love bases-loaded doubles.
[54] Agreed.
Judge, and Ruth, and two roid guys.
(No, autocorrect, not road guys.)
If Judge/Rice/G/Grishall head into the playoffs hot or semi-hot, that will go a long way.
[58] My prediction is that Rice has an eye-popping post-season.
I could see that.
My dream would be Stanton being as clit h as he’s been in last years, Judge getting hot, and one of Grisham/Rice being consistent with a key hit in a key spot.
Clutch. Not clit h. But some Yankee fans would applaud that as well I guess.
Also, Knuckles, occasional contributions from the bottom of the order!
Please take advantage of this balk.
Agreed RI. But things click a little better when 1-5 or so is relentless and scary.
This is our lineup from exactly 26 years ago today
Knoblauch
Jeter
Paulie
Bernie
Tino
Straw
Jorge (7!)
Ledee
Brosius
Very few to no holes.
That was a mildly harrowing Devin appearance. It started off great, then it was gathering downhill momentum... but he got out of it, so, good.
Guys, I'm spending far too much time worrying about the MVP race. I don't like that it's bothering me, but it is.
Huh!
Yeah it doesn't bother me a lot.
Hank, fifty years from now, everyone will know and remember that Judge had four 50-HR seasons. (Well, unless they remember that he had six, but you know what I mean.)
Nobody, absolutely nobody, is going to remember how many MVP awards he won.
[66] I use to watch PTI on the $#$# for a long time. Now I hardly ever watch. Tonight I did. The first segment was all about Raleigh vs. Judge and the MVP race. They both overdid it rooting for Raleigh because he is a catcher. Lame.
Two of three just might be enough this weekend...
CB Bucknor is the new Angel Hernandez.
Sigh.
It's post-season Giancarlo!
Remember him?
He's really good at hitting!
Ugh.
The really unforgivable thing was walking Holliday.
I think Warren can pitch some spot relief in the p-s.
Judge!
Postseason Giancarlo.
Giancarlo: “Hold my beer.”
[72] Fortunately Rogers is returning the favor before each HR.
[76] True. But nobody will bat against Rogers in the postseason.
Is anybody worried that we are going to go down to the wire, neck and neck with the Jays, and Fried will pitch on Sunday, and then we won't overtake the Jays and Fried won't be able to pitch for five days?
I'm a little worried about that.
I don’t think Fried will pitch Sunday, even the Yankees are up by a game and need the win. They’d have to commit to pitching on short rest possibly two starts in a row. Sunday, and then maybe game three of the wildcard on Thursday. Not gonna happen.
Maybe leave Mark Leiter jr behind too? But we do have to carry some bad relievers, I guess. Ugh.
Oh man.
I guess walking the #9 hitter isn't that bad with two out and first base empty? Is it?
Contribution from the bottom of the order.
Oh good. A tricky play. I love tricky plays so much.
Still don’t like how this team gives away outs batting and fielding.
Fucking bollocks! Picked off at 3rd. Yeesh.
It's going to cost them a game or more in the playoffs. Fundamentally ugly.
Whew.
Wow that takes me back to the heyday of Bronx Banter.
Uh oh, bases loaded with nobody out... we're not good at this.
Although I guess Postseason Giancarlo was yesterday.
Yeah they coulda had Goldy at home. Interesting.
Okay, we're bringing Doval to the ps.
Huh, Bednar. Seems like a waste!
AGAIN walking Holliday. Cripes.
gg.
All rise
Bullshit strikes, blue
Ruh roh, hope Jazz is ok
Postseason Stanton.
I mean, I hope. I hope he isn't Late September Stanton instead this year.
Schlittler for the #3 spot
Nice win
But, not looking so good in Toronto. Darn it.
Rats, Toronto won. 1 more game.
Cal Raleigh started at Catcher for 119 games, and started 155 games altogether. Considering his numbers, that's pretty amazing for his position. While Judge has significantly better numbers, MVP definitely recognizes 'positional adjustment', so I think Cal leads the MVP race.
[102] I am curious. Seems like on Twitter there seems to be more pro-Judge than before. Maybe if Judge has another homer that will swing some voters. The batting average differences are very large and OPS differences. If Cal was hitting .260-.270 I think he wins it, but I am not sure about under .250.
Benny!!
So the Rays are sitting three starters today. Just another reason to hate them.
Jays are up 5-1, yuck.
Screw the rays. They need to rest up for another shite season for next year.
Ugh.
So do we want the Tigers or Red Sox? I don't think it matters. If you're going to win it all, beat who is in front of you.
I just don’t like the idea of facing the Red Sox and then the Blue Jays, two teams the Yankees struggled with this season. But I think the other question is this — do you want to face Skubal or Crochet in Game 1 of the wild card?
Shit
Rays are climbing back in it…
Tied up. RISP hit. Keep them coming
Gausman has thrown 85 pitches with two outs in the fourth in Toronto. Bodes well. Oh — actually they’re taking him out.
Rays leave the bases loaded in the fourth.
Get him over, Grish!
[115] They should have some good pinch hitters.
Damn, out
Great. Another out on the basepaths.
[119] Get it out of their system before the playoffs. Pretty please!
Phew, out.
8-4 in Toronto. Sigh. Gotta give it to the Jays. After that little swoon, they finished the season strong.
I'm taking the Jays game off of PIP and assuming we've got a game to watch on Tuesday night.
8-4 Toronto
Rice!
Alas, 10-4 Toronto
Tigers lose Boston, so the Red Sox are coming to the Bronx. Oy.
11-4
Whelp. To move past the wild card round the Yanks will have to stay sharp whilst the jays gather some dust. Go Yankees!
13-4, WC it is.
I'm not sad that Soto and the Mets will be watching the postseason from home.
A win
[133] Same here.
That was a very good season we had.
Nobody in the AL had a better record than the Yankees... and yet we're relegated to the Wild Card. I bet that's never happened before.
Nuts.
We ended up in exact,y the spot I’d have expected on April 1, bonus I guess that we have home field for the wild card round.
But for one or two games of sloppiness along the way, we’d be resting for a few days awaiting the second round.
I use the royal we, obviously.