NEW YORK – The Saturday game was a do-or-die situation for the Yankees and they had to win it. But it was crazy to see them limping to win with their luck. New York turned victorious but they looked like bar fighters. However, they succeeded in sending a message to the Rays that the Yankees could still hurt their rivals.
Those of you who are still angry about that 15.5-game lead, please stop. The Yankees got over how embarrassed they were and moved on. From here on out, each day counts until the playoffs. And the Rays getting beat 10–3 was a big deal.
Let’s make a list.
First, the Yankees moved up in the standings and gave themselves some room to breathe. They have a lead of 4.5 games over the Rays. That’s important. And having three losses in a row is even worse.
The weekend could have been a total washout, but Jameson Taillon‘s great performance over 7.2 innings. It also became a testimony to how Corey Kluber struggle to get out of the first inning temporarily calmed this last-minute crisis. The Yankees want to run out the clock on the rest of the division more than anything else.
They don’t have much room for error, but with only 22 games left, the Yankees have more time on their side than the Rays or the Jays.
Giancarlo Stanton’s full-speed return to the lineup, which included his first home run since July 13, is another good sign.
Christian Betancourt, a catcher-turned-pitcher, hit a 94-mph fastball in garbage time, but he also threw 46-mph eephus pitches that belonged in a high-arc softball league.
Stanton ate one of those watermelons and hit a tomahawk off the foul pole in left field. No, the slugger didn’t think it was a cheap hit. “They all count,” he said with a smile. But Stanton’s return could change the lineup in a big way, no matter how it’s categorized.
Also, Anthony Rizzo no longer has headaches, so he might be back by the end of the week. And by the next homestand, Luis Severino will probably make his first start in two months.
Overall, the afternoon in the Bronx wasn’t too bad. We don’t know if it was the start of a real comeback for the Yankees or just a one-day market correction. Today, when, you guessed it, another monster game is coming up, we’ll find out more.
Among the other things happening behind the scenes:
Aaron Judge’s home run chase.
The giant outfielder went 3-for-4 with an RBI, raising his average to.307, but his home drought is now four games.
This drought is unusual. It’s a misnomer. If Judge wants to break Maris’ record, he must find his HR swing soon.
Judge has 55 HRs, six short of the American League single-season record. Opponents are avoiding Judge, and he’s missing the few mashable strikes he sees.
Boone failed to see the strategy of Rays manager Kevin Cash, who sent Bethancourt to mop up in the eighth.
The manager had already recalled Judge. He instead fielded Tim Locastro on the right in the eighth inning.
Judge would’ve had one more at-bat and likely seen a Bethancourt lob. I would’ve bet on Judge’s 56th HR without a breath.
The playoff rotation
In the best-of-five Division Series, Boone only needs three starters. Nestor Cortes will start Game 2 after Gerrit Cole. That leaves Taillon, Severino, and Frankie Montas to start Game 3.
Severino has more postseason experience than Montas and Taillon combined. Boone’s last choice for Game 3 is Taillon, who has never pitched in the playoffs.
The right-hander dominated Saturday’s October-like game. Taillon allowed three earned runs and struck out eight against Tampa Bay.
Boone won’t commit. Managers don’t. He must determine if Severino can be fully ready after three regular-season appearances.
Montas? He’s been good sometimes, great once (against the Angels last week), and bad early. Overall the right-hander has been a disappointment since being acquired from the A’s.
Taillon could play a bigger role in the Division Series than anyone thinks.
The Aaron Hicks dilemma
It’s not often that a major league player gets so upset that his manager has to take him out of the game. By now, everyone knows that Aaron Hicks melted down and broke down in the left field on Friday and that Boone had to come to his rescue after the fourth inning.
Boone said after the game, “I felt like I had to get (Hicks) out of there.” The manager planned to talk to Hicks the next day, hoping to rebuild his broken confidence. But he won’t be around much in the last few games, especially at home.
Harrison Bader, acquired in the Jordan Montgomery trade, is a week away from recovering from plantar fasciitis. Bader will be a regular once he laces up.
Bronx fans are done with Hicks, taunting him on Friday with “Joey Gallo” chants. They were unaware of what Bader had for the Yankees.
The front office likes Hicks but no longer trusts him.
When I watch (Hicks) on (post-game interviews on YES), it sometimes looks like he’s about to cry, said one member of the organization. That’s a kiss of death, too.
Are you happy with the performance of the Yankees? Who is to blame for this?
