October is my favorite month. Even late September can be hot in Central Jersey. But, in October, things cool off. This leads people to dress better. The leaves change, and the landscape bursts with color. And it's the only month when all 5 major North American sports are played at the same time. Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer move into their postseason; the National Football League, college football and high school football start to feel right, and ancient rivalries are replayed (although many more of them in November); the same is true of English and European soccer; while the National Hockey League and, later, the National Basketball Association get their new seasons underway.
However, once again, I won't be doing long anniversary lists for the period from September 28 (the earliest date on which a World Series game has been played, except for the shortened 1918 season) to November 8 (the latest date on which a Presidential election has been held in the modern era). I will, however, mention major milestones.
Last night, the Yankees closed September, and began their last home series of the regular season, losing to the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1. Aaron Judge went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, helping himself in his bid for the Triple Crown, but remaining at 61 home runs.
Domingo Germán started and lost (2-4), getting into the 6th inning, and looked worse than his numbers would suggest: 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, with 6 strikeouts. He was also helped by some fine fielding, including to 2 great catches in center field by Harrison Bader.
But the Yankees couldn't do much with Oriole pitcher Jordan Lyles (WP, 12-11), or relievers Félix Bautista and DL Hall (SV: 1, and, yes, like CC Sabathia he spells his initials without periods). Oswaldo Cabrera led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a home run, and that was the only run the Yankees would get. They stranded a runner on 2nd base in the 3rd inning, wasted a leadoff walk by Judge in the 6th (that one didn't "kill" anybody), and blew a chance with men on 1st and 2nd with 1 out in the 8th.
In addition, reliever Clay Holmes was announced as out with an injury, although he could return in time for the Division Series. And reliever Zack Britton, for the 2nd time in as many appearances since coming off the Injured List, was shaky. He came back too soon. If the Yankees don't have a reliable bullpen for the Playoffs, forget it.
The series continues this afternoon, weather permitting: Shortly before I began typing this, we had a rainstorm, possibly the northern edge of Hurricane Ian, which is now pounding the Carolinas after shredding Florida, especially the Tampa Bay and Fort Myers area. Presuming the game goes ahead as planned, the starting pitchers have been announced as Nestor Cortés for us, and Austin Voth for them.
The Yankees should consider having German closing for the postseason like what the Cards did with then rookie Wainwright in 2006. Whether it'll work out won't matter since there may not be much choice at this point, especially since the games in the postseason are more likely to be low scoring top begin with.
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