After the Weekend

This is one extremely fun team to watch!  Adding youth to a good team makes it even more exciting and both Torres and Andujar have contributed to the enjoyment.  Before I get into the previous 2 games, we saw another youngster get into the action today, as Domingo German followed up his excellent relief outing to pitch 6 innings of no-hit ball walking 2 and striking out 9!  He looked similar in that he mixed in a 94-95 MPH fastball with tailing movement, with an excellent changeup (also with a tail and sink) and a good curve.  It was the right move to take him out after 84 pitches even though he had a no-hitter going.  Betances did a decent job in the 7^th inning keeping the no-hitter going, but because the score was tied at 0, Boone left him in to pitch the 8^th.  I didn’t want Betances to pitch more than 1 inning, but it is possible that Robertson was not available and I understand the thought process as the Yankees offense only had 1 hit themselves.  Betances didn’t pitch poorly but he allowed 3 hits (mostly because of good hitting) before Jonathon Holder came in and allowed a hit.  Sanchez followed with a bad passed ball (his 7^th already that doesn’t include the wild pitches he didn’t save) which allowed a run and then a sac fly put us down 4-0 in the bottom of the 8^th against a pitcher we only had 1 hit off of.

After 2 walks, Gardner finally contributed offensively, with a line drive single which was followed by a double by Judge where he went with an outside and low fastball to plate Brett and make the game 4-3.  In the 9^th, Hicks led off with a double followed by a double by Walker to tie the game.  After intentionally walking Stanton (the right move), Torres hit a 3 run HR for a great walk-off HR.  After 7 innings of 1 hit and no runs, it was very surprising to see 11 runs scored in the final 2 innings…and being down 4-0 things looked bleak.

I mentioned Sanchez with some more poor defense, and it is even more alarming when you compare it to the ease with which our competition blocks tough pitches in the dirt and saves wild pitches.  He did make a tremendous throw to 3^rd base where he got rid of the ball lightning quick and threw a pea to 3^rd that was a catch and tag at the same time to get the runner stealing.    It was a big play that also underscores why you would like to have him catch, but he still needs work.  I think his stance with men on base is too low on one side and it limits his mobility.

Looks like Romine is the personal catcher for Sonny Gray now as the difference in his ERA between the 2 catchers is almost 4 runs a game.  Gray did pitch well winning 5-2 with Romine on Saturday.

Walker is starting to heat up.  While his overall numbers are still bad, he is 4 for his last 10 with 6 walks and a HBP!

Friday was an interesting game as the Yankees had a 5-0 and were cruising, only to see Cleveland put up a 5 spot to tie the game as Shreve had his worst outing of the year (he grooved too many pitches).  Honestly, this was a game where I thought Betances should have started the 8^th because he only threw 15 pitches and 12 were for strikes.  Shreve was bad and then Robertson allowed a 2 run HR and we were tied.  After Judge hit a HR it looked like we were in business until Chapman allowed a single and a HBP.  Then Chapman threw a high pitch for a Wild Pitch that was a high fastball and a tough one for Sanchez.  After a strikeout for the 2^nd out we were one out away before Chapman released another high fastball that Sanchez didn’t even get a glove on.  As weak as Sanchez has been, I think he was expecting a breaking ball but maybe he messed up his own signs  Regardless, Chapman was pissed as the game was tied up and he blew a save.  He struck out his 3^rd batter of the inning to give the Yanks a chance in the bottom of the 9^th.  Stanton led off with a double and with 2 outs Andujar delivered the game-winning hit

Baltimore is 17 games out of 1^st place already; the next "closest" is Cincinnati who is 12.5 out.

The two best records in baseball (Red Sox and the Yankees ) play Tuesday – Thursday this week; should be fun!