Another week, another set of games that make Yankee Fans think that their team may have turned the corner, but fail to fully convince them that the goal of Title 28 is within reach.
On Tuesday night, we had, if not the worst loss of the season, then, certainly, the most frustrating game. Luis Gil allowed 3 runs in 3 innings, and had to go on the Injured List. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back home runs in the 1st inning, and Anthony Volpe doubled home a run in the 4th. That made the score 3-3, and it held as such into the 12th inning.
I hate extra innings, and I hate the "ghost runner." Relievers Tim Mayza and Michael Tonkin allowed 5 runs in the top of the 12th, and the Yankees could only pull 2 back, on a Judge double. Guardians 9, Yankees 5. Had the Yankees hit better -- or, had they known Gil was hurt, and started somebody else -- it might never have gone to extra innings.
That game made me think: America is a country where you can spend $200 and one hour talking to your therapist about the baseball team on whom you spent $100 and four hours just to watch them lose a game they should have won.
The Wednesday night game was a nice bounce-back. Nestor Cortés pitched beautifully, 7 innings of 3-hit shutout ball. Mayza was trusted the rest of the way, and blew the shutout. But Judge hit 2 more homers, and Soto hit another. Between them, they had all the RBIs: Judge 5, Soto 3. Yankees 8, Guardians 1.
The Thursday game was a "getaway day" matinee, which turned out to be appropriate, because Gerrit Cole was lights out: 6 innings, no runs, 1 hit -- albeit 5 walks. But he had thrown 95 pitches, so, under orders from Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone went to the bullpen. Between them, Tim Hill, Luke Weaver and Tonkin allowed just 1 baserunner, a walk. How many Yankees does it take to pitch a one-hit shutout? Apparently, 4.
But that's okay, because Judge hit yet another homer, and Giancarlo Stanton added one. Yankees 6, Guardians 0. We took 2 out of 3 -- but the 1 we lost was awful.
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On Friday night, the Colorado Rockies, the team with the worst pitching in baseball (statistically speaking), came in for some Interleague action. Carlos Rodón provided the 3rd straight brilliant Yankee start, pitching 6 innings of 4-hit-1-walk shutout ball. Between them, Weaver, Jake Cousins and Clay Holmes allowed just 2 walks, no hits, no runs. Judge slaughtered another ball, and Stanton also homered again. Yankees 3, Rockies 0.
Saturday was Old-Timers Day. Times have changed. Players from the 2009 World Championship team, like Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia, were making their 1st OTD appearances. And with the 1960s guys now being dead or truly elderly -- Bobby Richardson is 91, and Tony Kubek is about to be and never comes, anyway -- the oldest of the Old-Timers are now my guys, from the 1970s: Roy White (the earliest, debuting in 1965), Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph and Bucky Dent. Reggie Jackson (now working with the Houston Astros, and thus unavailable), Chris Chambliss, Graig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, Ron Guidry and Goose Gossage did not show up.
The focus is now on the 1996-2001 dynasty, and some of those guys -- men of my generation -- are now starting to look old as hell. The last man introduced, always reserved for Joe DiMaggio and then, after he died, for Yogi Berra, was Derek Jeter. And there was no Old-Timers Game.
And then, as they so often do, the current Yankees embarrassed their forebears. With Clarke Schmidt (and Cody Poteet, originally intended as Schmidt's replacement) still injured, his slot in the rotation was given to Will Warren, and he does not belong in the major leagues. He went 3 innings and allowed 6 runs.
Online, fans have asked, "Who would you have started in his place?" The answer is obvious: Anybody else. Call somebody up from Class AAA Scranton, which is where Warren belongs. Functionally, results-wise, he couldn't be any worse.
Alex Verdugo snapped out of his long slump just long enough to hit a home run, but it was too little, too late: With Tonkin and Mark Leiter Jr. also pitching poorly, the Yankees lost, 9-2.
The Yankees needed a breakout game yesterday. They got it. Marcus Stroman allowed 3 runs in 5 innings. The bullpen was brilliant: Tommy Kahnle, Cousins, Weaver and Mayza went 4 innings, allowing just 2 walks and a hit.
Judge hit a home run in the 1st inning. In the 7th, Soto hit one out, then Judge, then Stanto: 3 straight home runs. Gleyber Torres added a homer in the 8th. The game ended with the Yankees beating the Rockies, 10-3; and with these home run totals for the season: Judge, 51; Soto, 37; Stanton, 23; Torres, 11. Again, we took 2 out of 3 -- but the 1 we lost was awful.
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So here's where we stand, going into a new week: The Yankees are 77-54, the Baltimore Orioles are a game and a half back in the American League Eastern Division, the Boston Red Sox 9, the Tampa Bay Rays 11 1/2, and the Toronto Blue Jays 14. In the all-important loss column, the O's trail by 2, the BoSox 8, the Rays 11, and the Jays 14.
Judge is hitting like we have rarely seen in baseball history -- without steroids, that is. He could well hit 62 home runs, like he did in 2022. The team's attack is, for the moment, not an issue.
The pitching is. There is still a hole in the rotation. And that's above and beyond the inconsistency of Cortés, Rodón and Stroman. The bullpen remains a massive question mark. Former Met Phil Bickford has been called up from Scranton. Tonkin, rightly, has been designated for assignment. Warren, Mayza and Leiter remain on the active roster.
Here's the key injuries, in the (apparent) order of when they might be available for the major league roster:
* Anthony Rizzo: He has begun a rehab assignment with Class AA Somerset. He could be back when rosters expand on September 1.
* Clarke Schmidt: He is also rehabbing at Somerset. He is expected to have 1 more start there, and could be called up in early September. If he pitches as well as he did before the injury, it could be a huge help.
* Cody Poteet: He is also rehabbing at Somerset, and could be back in early September, though, with Schmidt and then Gil returning, Poteet could be headed for the bullpen.
* Ian Hamilton: He is also rehabbing at Somerset. He could be back in early September, and would certainly be a better option from the right side than Tonkin or Leiter.
* Jon Berti: He is also rehabbing at Somerset, and could be back in early September. However, he is not nearly as needed as pitchers.
* Luis Gil: A lower back strain put him on the 15-Day IL. It doesn't sound that serious. He could be back in early, maybe mid-September.
* Lou Trivino: He is also rehabbing at Somerset. In his case, he is in the final stages of return from Tommy John surgery. He could be back in September, to help the bullpen.
* Jonathan Loáisiga: Recovering from Tommy John surgery. Appeared in just 1 game this season. He could have been a better option for closer than Clay Holmes, who has blown 10 saves, with the Yankees going on to lose 7 of those games. Even if the Yankees had gone 4-3 in those games, it would have made a big difference in how they look now. Loáisiga is expected to be ready by Opening Day of next season.
Overall, I'd rather be in the Yankees' position than that of anybody else in the AL East. But their recent Playoff record is not encouraging. And, with the Houston Astros surging to run away with the AL West, and looming as a possible Playoff opponent, the fact the Yankees have had good regular-season success against them the last 2 seasons is irrelevant: The Chicken Fried Cheats are still in the Yankees' heads.
The fun is back. But, regardless of how many home runs are hit, it is easy to remain unconvinced by the 2024 Yankees.
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