A Little Unlucky and Lazy

There is a lot to write about this game, but I am going to focus on a few things.  While I still hate the extra-inning rule, think it is artificial and most importantly a little unfair that a broken-bat single can score a winning run, it does put pressure on stopping a run, well, immediate.  But then again why not start every inning with bases loaded?  Something I wasn't sure of, it looks like the pitchers get a run allowed to their record but it is not an earned run for allowing that fake runner.  Now the stats are a little off, including a few more RBI's.

To the game.  We were unlucky to have 13 hits to the 4 of Baltimore (walks were 2 for each) and we hit a lot of hard balls at people.  We were a little unlucky that the umps strike zone which widened later in the game impacted us a little more than Baltimore's at some key times (Overall, it was not a big deal as we got the advantage as well, but when Hicks walk turned into a K that was a big difference in the 7th inning.  We were a little lazy because twice Sanchez didn't hustle and once it stopped him from possibly getting a double (while he watched his bullet hit almost get caught) and a second time where he was on 1st base and on a single he trotted toward second before having to speed up at the end to barely get in on time.  The other time was another 5 step throw from Torres who literally cost us the game.  Once again with no sense of urgency, he threw the ball into the ground and Bruce was not able to make the play (it wasn't that hard of a play, but Bruce did make a good play on a bad throw by Green on a bunt).  I have been saying it before it became a thing, but Torres is not a reliable defensive SS and it was the main issue I had with signing Lemahieu as Torres's position is 2nd or 3rd base.  This is also why Odor doesn't help.  

All that said, the most exciting moment of the year happened when Tauchman (pinch-running for Sanchez in the bottom of the 8th after a 2 out single) came around to score on a double by Urshela to tie the score.  That got me out of my seat!  It was also exciting to tie the score in the 10th when Wade scored on a single by Higgy (in because of PR for Sanchez).  Even getting thrown out at home plate to end the game was a good way for a game to end.  

Notes:

• Tallion pitched OK.  His stuff is decent, but he missed a lot of spots and left pitches over the heart of the plate too often and two of his 3 hits he allowed here homers (in 4.2 innings).  However, not walking anyone was good.  Baltimore's offense does not walk much though.
• Urshela is still opening up and breaking stuff away will get him out until he adjusts.  Fortunately, in the 8th they left the ball inside.  hH can hit a fastball the other way with extension but the slow stuff will get him out.
• Hicks hit fastballs hard in his first 2 AB's, but didn't hit any of the slow pitches after they made the adjustment...even if he should have walked in extra innings.
• Nelson has a good fastball and a good change, he just needs to command them better but he has some promise
• They brought in a lefty to face Gardner and the first pitch was 98, then 99 and then 100 and Gardner went back to the bench.
• The above illustrates how filthy Chapman looked yesterday.  He hit 102 and threw a nasty splitter and also his slider.  While he could walk 3 guys in a row, he was nasty yesterday and struck out all 3 batters he faced.
• Bruce dropped a popup down the 1st base line that was not easy but he was there and as a real OF'r should have caught it
• Stanton has been swinging at pitches very inside and even some low and in, but when he has been swinging at strikes he has been lining them up very well (some bullets)
• Baltimore was pitching a guy who threw an 85 MPH sinker and a 77MPH change every pitch and the Yankees weren't adjusting.  The worst was Frazier.  After seeing him the inning before, Frazier had a 2-0 count on him and then a 85 MPH sinker he fouled off by being out in front of it, then swung at a changeup and was way out in front of that and tipped it off the end of his bat, then another change in the dirt before striking out being way out in front of another changeup.  MAKE ADJUSTMENTS!
• Higgy was calling for 3-2 breaking balls when he came in and both ended up being walks.  Neither was one of those times where I felt a breaking ball was that more beneficial or that the breaking ball would be controlled better than the fastball
• The Torres situation IS an issue