To be fair, means is a solid pitcher, but we just did not swing the bats well. We took so many FB's down the middle of the plate it was surprising. It looked like we were waiting for a breaking ball that never came. We also complained on some pitches that were strikes. This ump was one of the better ones even if he had a strike zone that was a little tight. Surprisingly, neither team scored much, but the umps main misses were on pitches that were on the black which is fine by me. The ump rarely called a ball a strike.
I thought Boone had a smart game plan. This was the game where Baltimore was throwing their best pitcher and it was the first game of the series. It might have surprised some to see Louisiga come into the game in the 6th, but it made sense that he would man through the 7th and then Green and close with Chapman...assuming the Yankees could beat up on Baltimore's other pitching in the next two games. Keep in mind this is a team that has been awful. The logic was there, but the execution wasn't. Also, Boone and the team made a terrible decision to not walk Mountcastle in the 10th inning. Peralta got a huge out to get the leadoff guy and then Mountcastle came to the plate as their hottest hitter (1.208 OPS over the last 30 AB's and actually a 1.020 OPS over the last month. When you have a guy on 2nd and one out this makes sense. I don't know why you would pitch to their hottest hitter but he did and predictably he lined a single.
Another good game by Cortes (2.67 ERA) and he would have gotten the win if Sanchez (and Louisiga) didn't make a horrible pitch call for a changeup inside with 2 strikes on the batter. This HR was simply bad pitch selection (ok, not a great pitch either). A changeup to a righty inside should only be used to get a strike on the batter earlier in the count IMO. He threw it at 92 MPH and the only thing you can hope for is he pulls it foul which is why it was a bad pitch with 2 strikes. You want to try a change outside...maybe, but throw your 100 mph FB or your breaking ball with 2 strikes on a righty. Cone even called it a slider because I didn't think the change should have been even an option (he immediately corrected himself on review). BTW, I am not opposed to using a change righty on righty, but when and where is important.
I like Chapman standing up more. I thought he didn't look comfortable hunched over and said that to my wife a month ago (I probably was really talking to myself as she nodded politely). I hope it keeps him more consistent in his motion and I am glad to see him get the splitter back. Not sure why they went away from that?
I said we needed Stanton to get hot and he has been. He hits some absolute rockets. The walk-off single was 121.1 MPH and the hardest walk-off hit ever tracked (since 2015). I believe this is for all of baseball (not just the Yankees), but Stanton has hit 6 balls over 121 MPH since 2015 and only 2 other players have ever broken 121+ and those are Judge and Sanchez (who won't do it again if he stops using his leg kick). His OPS is now at .868 and while he is an easy target because of his salary and the fact he didn't play much the past 2 years, he is an excellent hitter. I think he may hit better when playing the field? The stats show this .837 as a DH and a 1.081 OPS as a fielder). He also has not faired well as a PH in his career. in his 40 Pinch hit appearances, he has an OPS of .344 (not even one XBH).
Boone just passed Buck Showalter for most wins as a Yankee manager (314) which is good for 9th all time on the Yankee list.
Sweep or bust!
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