First game goes to the Astros who beat the Yanks, 3-2 on Thursday night at the Stadium. Jacoby Ellsbury, the tying run, was thrown out at the plate to end the game. The Yanks were down, 3-1, runners at second and third, two out, when Gary Sanchez singled to left. It was the right move to send Ellsbury. It’s just that left field Jake Marisnick, a late-inning defensive replacement, charged the ball and then made a great throw to nail him. Nothing wrong with that. Onions all around. Yanks couldn’t get the big break.

More tonight.

It’s early April cold in New York.

Never mind the hot coco:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

So they don’t all turn out the way we want but even the outs were loud in the Yanks 5-3 loss to the Reds the other night (Gary Sanchez hit a smoking line drive into a double play to end the game).

Hey, our boy A-Aron Judge made the cover of SI this week. And in Stephanie Apstein’s entertaining profile he comes across as a great kid, adorable even, and saying all the right things:

“I have a very short window to play this game,” he says. “The last thing I want to do is waste it being out on the town. I want to get every ounce I can out of my body.”

…“You can’t just enjoy the positives,” he says. “You gotta enjoy the negatives. I don’t like going 0 for 7. I don’t like striking out—no one does—but you can’t have the good without the bad. The most important thing is when you have those bads, make sure you learn from them. Don’t come in here and slam your helmet and start cussing. Because the game’s not going to stop. Pause the game, Aaron’s upset, give him 15 minutes to calm down and we’ll replay it once he’s ready to go. If I wanted to bat a thousand and hit home runs every time I came to the plate, I’d go be a professional Little League player.”

…“The big thing for me this year is trying to have your moment for the game,” he says. “Every time I go up there to hit, I feel like that’s going to be my moment. Say I get out, O.K., I move on and I’m going to try to do something on defense. If nothing happens there, I come in here and cheer somebody on to go do their best. . . . I might go 0-for-4, but my impact might be helping out a teammate who’s down in the dumps.”

So what’s not to like about this kid again?

Astros in town for a four-game series. The best team in the league. Nice early test for the Yanks. This should be funski.

Never mind the chill that is linger in the air:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

C.C. looking to bounce backski as the Yanks conclude their two-game series in Cincy tonight.

Gonna be fun watching Judge hit.

Never mind the Chili:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Drawing by Walt Simonson] 

Sally Kempton on keeping up with Carmen Miranda. Short and Sweet.

Masahiro Tanaka was not sharp last night but he was “Gutty,” as they like to say. He battled. He was tough. All that. And his offense piled on the runs to give Tanaka his fifth win of the season. (Mike Axisa has the details, as usual.)

Final Score: Yanks 10, Reds 4.

Happy?

Picture by Bags

…When you go into Wrigley Field to face the defending World Champs and steal the first game after being a strike away from losing. Then you beat the stuffing out of the home team on Saturday Night in front of Joe Buck and everyone before outlasting the Cubs in 18 innings on Sunday night. And after Mr. Chapman blew a 3-run lead in the 9th.

Yeah, that’s how it rolls when you are hot. And right now, the Yanks are rolling.

Who knows how long it will last. I’m not buying the hype for the full-season yet, but in the meantime, this has been too much fun, right?

Our boys are in Cincy tonight—Chili!

Never mind the late night: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

There was more reason to smile on Wednesday when the Yanks came from behind to beat the Jays, 8-6. That man Judge did his thing again, collecting three hits, including a homer. And no, Stroman did not try to dust him off.

This weekend should be funski. Yanks out in Chicago for three games against the Cubbies at Wrigley. First up is a Friday afternoon matinee for all you goldbrickers out there.

Never mind Happy Hour:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

It wasn’t an enjoyable game as contests go but the Yanks romped (11-5) so how bad could it be?

Aaron Judge hit a pair and it got me thinking—when is a pitcher going to brush him back? I mean, the Sox have tried to hit Manny Machado five times now and have yet to succeed. Don Drysdale can roll over all he wants, throwing inside just isn’t done these days.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Marcus Stroman makes Judge skip tonight, something to make him a little uneasy. Because goddman, the man is comfortable right now. And my is it ever a pleasure to watch.

Never mind getaway day:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

N’ah, I just don’t dig dem Blue Jays. Never did.

They beat up on the Yanks last night, 7-1.

Back again this evening.

Never mind the rumpus:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Yanks got a taste of their own medicine yesterday. Yeah, they staged a late-inning comeback but they couldn’t bring home the winning run. Aaron Judge whiffed with the bases loaded in the 9th, the mighty Casey! He had another nice day but even he can’t win ‘em all.

7-4 was the final.

Buck Showalter’s red-faced conniption was worth the price of admission.

Those disagreeable blue birds are in town for three.

Never mind the set-back:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Austin Romine, man, he’s been so good while Gary Sanchez gets healthy. Romine was part of an offensive barrage yesterday at the Stadium—guy had 5 RBI’s. Brett Gardner hit a couple of homers and you know that man Judge went deep once again too (and on an inside-out Derek Jeter swing), this one to right center.

The final was 12-4.

Cooler today and overcast. See if the O’s can salvage a game.

Never mind the ego trip:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Here it is, Bam, and you say, “Goddamn, this is a dope jam.”

Special delivery, indeed. The Yanks were all but cooked last night, down 9-1, and then 11-4. But they came back, tied the game in the 9th and won it in the 10th. You know how sometimes it seems like they can never score a run? Late in the game it was as if every Yankee batter was going to go yard. Aaron Judge hit two Dave Winfield line drive specials, Jacoby Ellsbury hit his first career grand slam (incidentally also his 100th career homer), Starlin Castro pulled a one-knee Adrian Beltre job when he tied the game in the 9th, and Matt Holliday ended it in extra innings.

A memorable win.

More this afternoon on a uncomfortably humid day in the BX.

Never mind the moisture:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Well, that felt nice. Chris Sale was good, Masahiro Tanaka was better, to the tune of shutting the Sox out, 3-0.

Have I mentioned recently just how happy I am that David Ortiz is no longer playing major league baseball? That’s just the best.

Yanks host the O’s this weekend. Warm and a little muggy in the Bronx.

Go git ‘em, Fellas.

Never mind prosperity:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Lil’ Severino pitched like a grown man last night, Betances worked a clean 8th, and Chapman narrowly avoided disaster in the 9th, as the Yanks hung on to beat the Sox, 3-1. Aaron Judge hit a home run to right field that looked like a fly ball at first; later, he tumbled into the stands making a fine catch.

Aaron Judge is strong.

The game was memorable for how foggy it was at Fenway. It was spooky-looking and almost spectacular.

Tonight gives Boston’s new Ace, Chris Sale. Yanks have Tanaka on the bump, but let’s face it, it was nice to win last night knowing that Sale is going tonight. And if they manage to win again, well, it’s gravy, baby.

Never mind the filth:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Yanks and Sox for the first time this year. Three games in Boston and then they don’t see each other again until the second week of June in the Bronx (and they don’t play again after that until July 14th).

Should be fun.

Never mind the All-Stars:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

At least the ballpark looked great.

Our old pal, Ivan Nova led the Pirates to a 2-1 win on Sunday giving the series to the home team. And the Yanks had a chance in the 9th too because of some lousy fielding.

Drag.

Next up, Boston. That should be fun.

Friday night wasn’t so hot—but that’s okay, everyone is due to take one on the chin sometime—but yesterday was mo better. A come-from-behind win. Judge Dread went deep again, and yeah, it was another real blast—11-5 was the final.

This afternoon gives the series finale.

Never mind those fries on your sandwich:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Yeah, my bad on not recapping two nights ago, which featured an absolute bomb—his first true blast—by Aaron Judge. Even more encouraging was the 1-2 breaking ball he lined into right field.

Anyhow, it was more good things as the Yanks beat the White Sox, 9-1.

After a day off they are in Pittsburgh for the weekend. Old friends—Cervelli, Nova—await.

C.C. goes tonight.

Never mind the Gorgeous skyline view:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Kudos, props, and all that good stuff goes out to anybody at the Stadium tonight. It is a raw, spring night. Cold and a little wet. Courage, that’s what it takes, fortitude, to sitting in the stands tonight. Something I lack. But I’ll be watching the Yanks and White Sox back from the comforts of my living room.

Never mind catching cold:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

April has been far from cruel for the Yanks so far. They won again last night, this time beating the White Sox, 7-4. Jordan Montgomery was solid again, and a pair of 3-run home runs (Matt Holliday, Aaron Judge) did the trick.

Happy?