Rough Ending Going Into The ASG

I will get into the last two very close games, but I want to first point out why we don’t want our players playing in the All Star Game.  Playing the team in 2^nd place right before what should be three full days off, we rest Torres and LeMahieu and don’t start Sanchez behind the plate???  I find this absurd!   Regardless of whether we have guys going, I would not rest our players in a game against our closest competition, or the Red Sox for that matter.  I could care less about the ASG.  I think it was a mistake to rest our guys.

This was my reaction before Sunday’s game and the fact we swung the bats so poorly confirmed it.

Saturday's game.  

The first inning had me going as DJ got a leadoff single and Snell was paying so much attention to DJ that I took a mental note questioning why Snell was throwing over so often and keeping such close tabs on DJ?  DJ may be a leadoff guy, but he has attempted a SB on only 5% of the times he is on 1B.  After Judge took two very hittable pitches for strikes, he swung at a ball outside of the strike zone (this was the story of the Yankees for the last two games).  Hicks was up next, but DJ got picked off trying to steal 2^nd base!  This was shocking to me as Snell was paying so much attention to DJ (more than I have ever seen him get and more than Gardner gets) and then he tries to steal in that spot when there were so many other opportunities all year to steal?  It was a very odd decision.

We got what appeared to be a huge break by the ump, who was generous with his strike zone, in the 2^nd inning as it was 1^st and 3^rd with 1 out when Adames should have walked but was called out on a clear ball.  Unfortunately, the big break didn’t help (much) as TB singled in the run from 3^rd anyway.

Big moment in the 5^th inning as Judge was up with bases loaded and one out.  The first pitch was a hanging curve that judge took for a strike and then later got a fastball mistake that he fouled off and then another fastball mistake centered and flew weakly to RF and while the throw home was awful, holding Torres at 3^rd was the correct original decision.  Unfortunately, Hicks grounded out.

Chaz Roe had his slurve working great against the Yankees and Sanchez almost fell over with his knees buckling on a breaking ball that broke back into the strike zone.

BTW, Sanchez must have swung through almost 10 pitches.  While many were on the on the upper part of the strike zone as well as above the strike zone, he just kept missing. 

EE came up with the bases loaded and 2 outs and while he has been struggling, this seemed like an opportunity for him to get a huge hit for the Yankees.  Unfortunately, he had an excellent pitch to swing at, but got it slightly off the end of the bat and lined somewhat softly to LF.

The 9^th had drama as Hicks came to the plate trailing 3-2 with 2 outs and had an 0-2 count that he worked to 2-2.  He then lifted a game-tying HR that looked like the Yankees would do it again late.  However, Green came on and after getting the first two outs easily, he grooved a fastball that was hit into RF for a game-winning HR.

Sunday’s Game:

Now after that tough loss, we end up starting a guy at 2^nd base who most have never heard of and resting DH and Torres (back to my original rant).

Morton has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball this year and his stuff was electric again.  However, he left a lot of pitches right over the plate that we didn’t take advantage of.  A lot of that has to do with the speed and movement of his pitches, but when you are swinging well you take advantage of the mistakes and only Gardner was able to do this.

BTW, Brett has 15 HR’s!  That is shocking if you think that the most HR’s he has ever had was 21 (followed by 17) and that was done in 594 AB’s and his 15 HR’s has been done in 285 AB’s in what many thought may be his last year.  Brett has slowed in the field as we have seen him just miss a few he would have caught, but his defense is still really good in LF (mediocre in CF) and his OPS is .798 (the 2^nd highest mark of his career)

Not hitting the mistakes was our theme as our team only got 3 singles outside of Gardner and while we did rest some guys, there were a lot of very hittable pitches we missed in this game, especially from the bullpen. 

We had one real chance and that was in the 3^rd inning.  We had 1^st and 3^rd with nobody out and Hicks swung at 2 breaking balls that were balls and then they threw him a 3^rd breaking ball that was right down the middle and Hicks missed it.  Judge then had two fastballs to hit and fouled them both off before working the count full and taking ball 4 low; unfortunately, the ump called him out and this was a bad break and could have been the game changer.  Judge argued about as much as you will see and Boone could be seen cursing as well.  Terrible call that hurt as Didi flew out to end the threat.

The great stuff caused a lot but we missed strikes and swung at so many 3-2 pitches in the dirt; this is why we only scored 1 run!

Very tough way to go into the AS break, with an opportunity to get Tampa 10.5 games behind us, we end up only 6.5 ahead, but overall, we are doing great and I will get some stats out over the break.

Extra Innings Again

It seems like we can't win a game unless the other team gets the tying run to the plate.

Starting this blog with the 11th inning:

Stanek came on to pitch the 11th for Tampa and Judge met his first pitch which was a 98 MPH fastball directly for a bullet line drive HR to CF/RC.  I knew it was hit hard and I went online this morning to find the exit velocity and it was 116.3 MPH which is the 4th hardest/fastest hit HR this year.  Just so you don't lose a bet, that is on a HR, because the hardest balls hit this year were singles (Stanton had a 120.6 single).  In fact, Stanton holds a lot of the hardest hit balls over the years.  Last year, out of the top 12 balls hit the hardest, Stanton hit 10 of the 12 and the other two were Sanchez 121.1 and Judge at 119.9.  Stanton holds the record at 122.2 and the 2nd fastest at 121.7 and then Stanton is tied with Sanchez and Judge for the 3rd at 121.1.

Back to our one-run lead in teh 11th.  After, 2 outs, Torres singled and then Urshela hit a line drive double off the wall.  Gardner stepped to the plate and it was obvious the Yankees were looking for the fastball by Stanek as all 3 hits were fastballs.  After a mound visit, Stanek threw two splitters for balls and then came in with a fastball (which surprised me with an open base) and Gardner was ready and hit one of his farther HR's as he hit it out to RC (closer to CF).  That 3 run HR was huge as the Yankees made it interesting once again in the bottom of the 11th.

Hale started his 3rd inning of relief and had been pretty good getting us through the 9th and 10th without too much issue.  After getting a strikeout he allowed 2 singles and Boone went with Chapman.  Chapman struck out the first batter but then walked the next to bring the tying run to the plate again.  Chapman was really struggling throwing only about 97 with a high of 98 and his breaking ball wasn't as sharp.  After going 3-0 on Pham it was getting uncomfortable.  Chapman threw a 96 MPH fastball down the middle for the first strike and on a 3-1 count we were lucky that Pham hit a line drive right at DJ at 1B to end the game.

Once again, the game was much closer than the score.

Judge hit another HR in the 1st inning and what was interesting was the pitch was almost on teh back inside and Judge pulled his hands in and inside-outed the HR to RF and it wasn't a cheap Yankee Stadium HR.  His left elbow was behind him when he hit it and his right elbow was right on his body.  Conversely, on his HR bullet in the 11th, he extended his arms (left elbow just in front of his body and his right arm almost fully extended.  He is a special player who is very locked in right now!

Hicks had a huge HR in the 8th inning as he pinch hit for Tauchman and tied the game!

Tanaka did pretty well for 6 allowing 2 solo HR's in 6 innings.  It was questionable if he starts the 7th but I didn't have any issue with it.  He got the first out before allowing a double and then a 3-2 walk.  Boone went to Cortes Jr (I thought correctly as Tanaka had 101 pitches) and a lefty was up.  Unfortunately, after being up 1-2 and then 2-2 in the count, Cortes hit meadows to load up the bases. After a big strikeout, the weak-hitting Kiermaier stepped up and with the count 1-2 with sliders and curves, I was pretty sure, we would see another one, but for some reaosn, they gave him a fastball and he hit a sharp groundball through the infield for a huge 2 run single.  Not sure why they wouldn't stick with the slider there and it almost cost us the game (This was a key play in the game) 

Encarnacion (EE), is now hitting .140 for us and a .620 OPS.  We need him now with Stanton and Voit out.  There is absolutely no reason why he won't get it going, but this is one of the worst slumps of his career.  I believe he will be fine, but would like it to be better soon!

Let's get at least one of these next 2, but sweeping would be great!

July 4th Late Game Fireworks!

The Yankees win 8-4, seems like a solid win!

However, while it was ticketed as such going into the 9th, it was not solid.

Happ struggled with good pitches in the first inning but only allowed one run.  After that, he was pretty good but walked 3 guys.  I don't want to dismiss walks, but his feel was good yesterday and the end stat line was only that one run in 5.1 innings and 3 hits. 

Ottavino came in with one out and walked his first batter, but then got the next 2 guys.  Kahnle got himself going after a few rough outings and pitched an excellent 7th.  Britton allowed a double but left him there and that set up the 9th inning with a 3-1 lead and Chapman coming in with good rest.

Here is where I got aggravated.  I have said this to people I have watched the game with and I might not have written it, but I think Chapman needs to throw more in the bullpen so he comes in sweating and ready.  It appears he gets himself in trouble and then usually pitches his way out of it.  To be fair, he seems to lose it and then get it back quickly; perhaps he is just wildly inconsistent but has electric stuff (probable).

Anyway, he comes in and with a 2 run lead against the team closest to you and walks the first batter.  Not only that, but a lefty batter, and he walks him on 4 pitches.  How can you come into a game and walk the first guy you face on 4 straight pitches to now put the tying run to the plate without them doing anything???

Further, he was throwing 96-97 with his fastball, which is another reason he needs to work up a lather before he gets to the mound so that he can throw 99+

After a strikeout, Chapman allows a double and for some inexplicable reason, Tampa send the runner from 1st home and it is a close play but the runner did beat the throw, however, I am not sure he ever touched the plate with his hand.  It was very close and no replay could make it definitive, but in what was a worthwhile challenge they upheld the safe call (if he were called out for not touching home I don't think you could overturn that either as they never zoomed in enough to see if he caught a piece of the corner.  If anyone else saw that differently, please post a note or send it to me as I was watching from an outdoor TV and didn't have the greatest view.

Now it is 3-2 with the tying run on 2nd base and one out.

Chapman is now in trouble and starts to reach back and throw 99-100 and gets the 2nd out on a fly out.  The next pitch misses Sanchez badly to move the runner to 3rd base with one out (ugh).  Now a sac fly ties the game, but Sanchez makes sure that doesn't matter as he extremely poorly misplays a low fastball into a wild pitch.  I thought this was a passed ball, even if it was 100 MPH.  With the score tied and 2 outs Chapman allowed a broken bat bloop single and then a ground ball single.  Chapman makes us even less comfortable as he walks the next batter on 4 pitches to load the bases and increase the likelihood that a wild pitch, PB, walk, HBP or anything, not an out, loses the game for us.

Chapman struck out Meadows on 6 pitches to give us a chance.

We took advantage of it as Urshela walked on a 3-2 count (those dreaded inning starting walks).  Judge was brought in to pinch hit and had a tremendous 10 pitch AB where he ended up walking as well.  With 1st and 2nd nobody out the play was clearly to bunt Gardner and after fouling one off put down a good bunt in between teh pitcher and 3rd and neither went after it hard so we had a huge break and were in business with the bases juiced and nobody out.  With the bases loaded Tampa had the infield in and DJ was able to ground a ball past the drawn-in infield for two runs.  Gardner went to 3rd and was safe on a close play, but I liked the play because Judge for some reason had a slow start at 2nd base and while he probably would be safe, Gardner drawing the throw as well as probably being safe was not a bad play (usually making the 1st out at 3rd base would be a bad play).  He was safe and we were still in business.  Hicks struck out and then Sanchez absolutely crushed a low and in slider for what they said was a 461-foot shot, but it seems closer to 500 than 461 to me.

Courtesy of MLB; you can judge yourself

https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

So with a 5 run lead, we should be good and Chapman gets a win for his terrible outing. 

That was the outcome, but Cessa got two outs in between 2 singles and 2 walks to allow the tying run to come to the plate.  Hale was brought in and came through getting a ground out to end the game (and get his 2nd save).  Hale has been effective for us!

I hope everyone enjoyed the amazing day (at least in NJ)

Split With The Mets

Some of the least important games were sandwiched in between the most important games (Tampa up next for us).

We split against a weaker team because our bats didn't take advantage of many poor pitches in game 1.  I see why Wheeler is very interesting to teams and why his ERA is higher than it should be (4.42) with his stuff.  He throws hard and with some movement and has good secondary pitches, but he has many pitches that are right down the middle.  The Yankees didn't take advantage of those.  The bullpen blew the 2-1 lead in the 8th as Ottavino couldn't get the job done and Britton came on with the score tied and the bases loaded and allowed a double on his first pitch.  The Mets seem  (I don't have stats to back me up on this)  to jump on the first pitch a lot.

The 2nd game saw some outstanding defense mostly by Urshela but also by Torres at 2nd base.  Torres made a great effort on one play but the runner beat the throw, but also made another nice play.  Urshela was the star, making two excellent backhanded plays with quick and accurate throws (one nice scooped by LeMahieu) and the cherry on top which was a diving stop to his left that he used his momentum to turn fully around from the ground and throw a strike to first to easily get the runner.  See the videos, including his HR, courtesy of MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-mets/2019/07/03/566029#game_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=566029

Outside of how great our infield is defensively with Urshela, Didi, Torres and DJ at 1B, the most important outcome of yesterday was German coming back to the rotation.  After allowing a HR on his first pitch back, German only allowed 4 hits, no walks and registered 6 K's in 6 innings.  He did struggle in the first inning as his curve just didn't bite, but then he got into a groove and looked good. 

Just to reiterate my position about pitching.  Severino getting pushed back is very concerning, but the Yankees say they still feel like he will be back.  Of course, I would say that if I was trying to create a trade for a pitcher as I wouldn't want to seem desperate.  However, as I wrote before, who would you remove from the rotation if you got someone?  And is that someone really better?

Let's assume the worst case scenario and that Severino can't help us this year.

The rotation is:

German
Paxton
Tanaka
Haap
CC

with Louisiga, Montgomery and Severino as possible help.  Betances will also help the bullpen a lot.

Do you want to give up some future for a pitcher that may be better?  As I wrote prior, unless it is a guy like a Luis Castillo, I ensure we remain a top team for many years and don't give away talent for a marginal possible increase.  If we can upgrade and trade away one of our guys then that is an option, but unless a young what appears to be a stud like Castillo, I would be OK sitting tight and running with what we have.  I would always listen to what is out there though.  Just getting our guys back reasonably healthy and we are as good as anyone.

Urshela felt some tightness in his glute on his HR and looked like he was coming out of the game, but he stayed in, hopefully, he is OK?

We now go into a 4 game series against the Rays.  The goal is to extend our lead 2 games!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

Here is the Declaration of Independence (which was not actually signed on the 4th of July)  https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/read-the-declaration/

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

Action of Second Continental Congress,
July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pre-tended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Successful Trip!

Kind of surprising there were so many runs scored, it was almost as if they used juiced balls.  The park itself is not small, in fact, the foul territory is so large that I believe it is more than the Yankees and Red Sox home parks combined (not confirmed).  Having such an expansive foul territory should keep the scoring down (think Oakland).  Some have guessed that the lack of wind impacts the break on pitches?  I am not sure, but the offense was on full display as the Red Sox jumped on Tarpley for 3 HR’s and 4 runs in the first inning.  It is hard to say that Tarpley was sharp, but I actually thought he made some good pitches and the Red Sox hit balls that were on the black and even off the plate hard.  He might have been tipping his pitches and one could argue the wrong pitch was called, but you have to give credit when it is due.

Regardless, the combined 50 runs were a two-game record for runs scored between the two teams (previous high was 46).

The Yankees scored 9 runs in the 7^th inning and caught a break on an error through the legs of Chavis at 1B.  I bring this up because the ball trickled away from him but if Chavis threw to the covering pitcher, Sanchez would have been out.  Sanchez probably didn’t run right away (maybe he was tired as it was his 2^nd AB of the inning J), but those are the little things that can be annoying because it might have mattered.  Britton did have to get out of another bases-loaded jam as Boston came back and put the tying run at the plate again in the 8^th.  Of course, Britton did allow a walk and a single before.

It was a rough night for Chavis as he went 0-5 with 3 k’s after hitting two 3-run HR’s the night before.

Other Notes:

The Yankees have averaged just over 8 runs a game in our last 14 games and we have gone 13-1 (I guess getting our key guys back has not disrupted the team)

Didi extended our team HR record to 31 games.

Chapman was added to the ASG so we have 3 guys going, unfortunately.

The Red Sox are 11 games back now.  The Yankees are 6-1 against the Sox and if you think about it, if it was reversed and the RedSox were 6-1 against us, the Red Sox would be only one game behind us!