One of the Worst Performances In Yankee History

Game 5 of the 2024 World Series: Dodgers 7, Yankees 6. One of the worst performances in Yankee history, a set of 4 innings that were worse than the first 3 games combined, as bad as those were.

It started out so well. Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm hit back-to-back home runs in the 1st inning, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Alex Verdugo singled Anthony Volpe home in the 2nd, to make it 4-0. Giancarlo Stanton hit one out in the 3rd, making it 5-0. And through the 1st 4 innings, Gerrit Cole had allowed no runs, no hits, just 2 walks. He wasn't overpowering, but he was getting the job done beautifully.

And then came the top of the 5th inning. Yankee Fans who saw this inning will see it in their nightmares until they die:

* Kike Hernández singled to right.

* Tommy Edman hit a fly ball to center field, and Judge dropped it.

* Will Smith grounded to short, but Volpe can't make the double play. Bases loaded, nobody out.

* Cole struck Gavin Lux out.

* Cole struck Shohei Ohtani out. He got to within 1 strike of getting out of it with no runs.

* Mookie Betts grounded to 1st. But 1st baseman Anthony Rizzo was too far from the base to make the play. And so was Cole, so Rizzo couldn't throw to him. It was like Bill Buckner and Bob Stanley in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, except that, this time, the 1st baseman did get the grounder. Stanley often gets blamed for not covering 1st, but Cole wouldn't have made it in time, either. This was not bad defense, it was just bad luck, and good hitting by Betts. Kike scored. 5-1.

* Freddie Freeman, who seemed to be out-hitting not just the Yankees but his own teammates, singled to center, scoring Edman and Smith. 5-3.

* Teoscar Hernández doubled to center, scoring Betts and Freeman. 5-5.

* Max Muncy drew a walk.

* And Kike batted again, grounding to short, and Volpe stepped on 2nd base to force Teoscar out, and finally end the inning. That's 5 runs on 4 hits (1 of them an infield hit), 1 walk and 2 errors.

It would have been understandable if the Yankees were shellshocked by this. But they loaded the bases in the bottom of the 5th -- but couldn't score. Somehow, Cole survived all this, and pitched a 1-2-3 6th inning. He went 6 innings, allowing no earned runs -- 5 unearned.

In the bottom of the 6th, Juan Soto and Judge walked, Chisholm grounded into a force play that eliminated Judge and moved Soto to 3rd, and Stanton flew to center to sacrifice Soto home. Rizzo drew a walk, but Volpe grounded out to end the rally.

It was 6-5 Yankees, and there was hope again. But the shadow of that 5th inning was too large: It didn't feel like all we had to do was get 9 more outs.

Cole and Clay Holmes got through the 7th. But manager Aaron Boone did not leave Holmes in to pitch the 8th, and Tommy Kahnle allowed singles to Kike and Erdman, and walked Smith. Again, bases loaded and nobody out. Boone brought the closer in, Luke Weaver. Lux hit a sac fly to center, scoring Kike. Ohtani was awarded 1st base on a very dubious catcher's interference call. And Betts flew to center, scoring, Edman. 7-6 Dodgers.

Dodger fans have ripped their manager, Dave Roberts, for the Dodgers' shortfalls over the last few years, with their only World Series win being in the "COVID Bubble" year of 2020. But with this "bullpen game," he outmanaged Boone -- or, rather, Boone let Roberts outmanage him.

The Yankees had men on 1st & 2nd with 1 out in the 8th, but didn't score. And they went very quietly in the 9th, with Walker Buehler striking Verdugo out swinging for the final out. The Dodgers had won the World Series in 5 games, despite Clayton Kershaw being injured and unavailable for the postseason. Freeman, of course, was named the Series Most Valuable Player.

For the Dodgers, a glorious moment, an 8th World Series win, 7 if you properly do not count the 1955 title in Brooklyn. For Roberts, total redemption, and putting himself in the conversation for election to the Hall of Fame once he retires. For Ohtani, a title that cements him as a baseball legend, though his own World Series performance was awful. For Freeman, who had previously won the Series with the 2021 Atlanta Braves, and Betts, who had previously won it with the 2018 Boston Red Sox *, possibly raised to the status of future Hall-of-Famer. (They might have gone on to make it, anyway.)

For the Yankees, a season of big moments, including the 1st American League Pennant in 15 years. And yet, it cannot be termed anything other than a failure. They scored just 7 runs in the 1st 3 games, won Game 4, took a big lead in Game 5 to forge some hope of the greatest comeback in baseball history... and then had the nightmare inning. Once again, the fundamentals were bad. The Yankees took out the fun, and left "da mentals."

To find a worse inning in postseason play, you have to go back to the 1929 World Series, Game 4, bottom of the 7th. It began Chicago Cubs 8, Philadelphia Athletics 0. The inning and the game ended A's 10, Cubs 8, and the A's won the Series the next day.

Of the 28 Major League Baseball teams that didn't get this far, most if not all of them would be content with what the Yankees did this season. But those of us who are Yankee Fans cannot be content with this.

Yes, the umpiring was bad. It was also bad in the ALDS against Kansas City, and in the ALCS against Cleveland, and we won, anyway. It shouldn't have been an issue this time. The Yankees had their chances, and blew them.

What can you do, except hope that team management will make the necessary changes for next season. But they won't, will they?

Game 4: Yankees Finally Show Up

Well, look who finally decided to show up at the World Series: The Yankees.

After yet another home run by Freddie Freeman put them in a 2-0 hole before they could even come to bat, it looked like the Los Angeles Dodgers would complete the sweep last night. But a funny thing happened on the way to that happening: It didn't.

In the bottom of the 1st, Gleyber Torres hit a drive down the right-field line. Mookie Betts reached over the fence to catch it, and did -- but a fan reached over and pulled the ball out of his glove. And that fan was assisted by another. They were thrown out of the Stadium, and have been banned from attending Game 5. As of this writing, no decision had been announced covering them thereafter. The umpires ruled fan interference, and Torres was out, which he would have been, anyway.

That was an ugly moment. But the Yankees and their fans were hanging on another ugly moment: The only comeback from three games to none in a postseason baseball series, when the Boston Red Sox cheated their way to victory over the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. Despite the Yankees taking the 1st 3 games, winning 19-8 in Game 3, Kevin Millar told the media, "Don't let us win tonight." But the Red Sox did win that night. And the next. And the next. And the next.

The idea that the Yankees, who had scored 7 runs in the 1st 29 innings of the Series, could score enough runs to beat the Dodgers 4 times in a row was ridiculous. They got a run on a groundout in the bottom of the 2nd to make it 2-1 Los Angeles. But going into the bottom of the 3rd, it was still looking like a sweep, by a Dodger team who, aside from Freeman, wasn't hitting a whole lot better.

But the Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd, and Anthony Volpe, born in Manhattan, grew up in Watchung, Somerset County, New Jersey, graduated from The Delbarton School, a Catholic prep school in Morristown, New Jersey, and attendee of the 2009 World Championship parade at the age of 8, fulfilled part of the dream by hitting a grand slam home run. Yankees 5, Dodgers 2.

But in the 5th, Will Smith hit a home run, and Freeman had another RBI. The Dodgers were within 5-4. Was this part of a terrible one-game collapse? No: Austin Wells hit one out in the bottom of the 6th. In the 8th, Verdugo, as he had in the 2nd, brought a run home on a groundout. Then Torres hit a home run.

Aaron Judge had reached base 3 times -- without a hit: He drew 2 walks and was hit with a pitch. Finally, later in the 8th, he singled Juan Soto home. Final score: Yankees 11, Dodgers 4.

Luis Gil started, but allowed 4 runs in 4 innings. Tim Hill got 2 outs in the 5th, Clay Holmes got the last in the 5th and all of the 6th to end up as the winning pitcher, Mark Leiter Jr. got 2 outs in the 7th, Luke Weaver got the last in the 7th and all of the 8th, and Tim Mayza pitched the 9th. Between them, the bullpen went 5 innings, no runs, 1 hit (Hill), 1 walk (Leiter), and 7 strikeouts.

As for the offense: 7 runs in 29 innings, followed by 11 runs 7 innings. I've said it many times over the last few years, echoing the line from the TV game show To Tell the Truth: "Will the real New York Yankees please stand up?"

"Don't let us win tonight." Is this the start of the 1st genuine 3-0 postseason comeback? Game 5 is tonight, at 8:00. Gerrit Cole starts against Jack Flaherty. If Cole is on his game, and the Yankees get the runs again, we go to a Game 6 in Los Angeles on Friday night. Game 7 would be in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Impossible? No. Highly unlikely? The Yankees, especially in the postseason, have done many unlikely things. We shall see.

Game 3 Makes It Clear: This World Series Is Being Lost

Yankee Stadium II packed for its 1st World Series game in 15 years. The home crowd roaring. Derek Jeter throwing out the ceremonial first ball. It was all set for the Yankees to take over the Series and make the comeback.

And then Clarke Schmidt gives up a 2-run home run to Freddie Freeman. The air all goes out of the balloon. The game was essentially over before the Yankees even come to bat.

Schmidt didn't get out of the 3rd inning. Aaron Boone used 8 different pitchers. The Yankees didn't get a hit until the 4th inning. Just 3 hits and 5 walks in the 1st 8 innings. It didn't help that the umpires gave the Yankee hitters at strike zone the size of The Bronx, but that's not why we lost.

Aaron Judge went 0-for-3 with a walk. In this World Series, his batting average is .083, his on-base percentage is .154, and his slugging percentage is .063. In 3 games, he has 1 hit, no RBIs, and 7 strikeouts. For his career, in postseason play, his "slash line" is .196/.303/.430.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, Anthony Rizzo drew a walk, and advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch. With 2 out, Alex Verdugo hit a home run, so we wouldn't be shut out. Then Gleyber Torres, who had drawn 2 of the walks, grounded out. Dodgers 4, Yankees 2.

Two runs in the 1st 9 innings, 3 times. Only once in the entire World Series thus far have the Yankees put back-to-back hits together. This hitting is so pathetic, I can't even credit the Dodgers' pitching. The Yankee slash line is .186/.284/.294.

And the Dodgers' have not been that much better: .213/.296/.457. They've scored 14 runs, and Freeman has driven in 7 of them. Shohei Ohtani has been a bust, too, going .091/.286/.182. The Series has been there for the taking. The Yankees haven't taken it. This Series isn't being won, it's being lost.

The Yankees were so good in September and the first half of October. Now, it looks like they used up all their talent and luck just to get into the World Series.

Game 4 is tonight, at 8:00. Luis Gil starts for us. As of this writing, at 2:40 PM, the Dodgers had not announced their starting pitcher. I don't think it matters: The Yankees won't hit.

The season ends tonight. It ended with a Division title, 2 postseason series won, and a Pennant -- but also with one of the most pathetic World Series performances ever. Is that a success?

The Mets are no longer the New York team with the most recent Pennant. The Yankees are. And the Yankees are still the New York team with the most recent World Series win. But the Red Sox have won 2 World Series since the Yankees last won (and the Sox had to cheat to get them). Is that something with which we should still be concerned?

There's a chance we could lose both Juan Soto and Gerrit Cole to free agency. And if Hal Steinbrenner's commitment is to Soto 1st, he may not lift a finger to sign Cole 2nd.

And Judge may never get a better chance to win a World Series -- with this franchise.

It could be a long night. It will be a very long off-season.

Game 1 of the World Series: Great Game, Lousy Result

Game 1 of the World Series was played last night, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. I had 3 concerns going into this Series:

1. There would be at least 1 game where the Yankees just didn't hit.

2. There would be at least 1 start where Gerrit Cole would not pitch like an ace.

3. There would be at least 1 game where the bullpen would blow it.

The next question was, if and when any of those things happened, how many times would the Dodgers take advantage of it, and win? If it was 4, then they would win the Series.

Last night, #2 didn't happen: Cole was fine. But #1 and #3 happened. The Yankees needed baserunners, and didn't get enough of them. Juan Soto drew a walk in the 1st inning, and was stranded. Anthony Rizzo led off the 2nd with a single, got to 2nd base, but got no closer. Gleyber Torres singled to lead off the 3rd, but was erased on a double play. Alex Verdugo, who went on to make 2 great catches, singled in the 5th, but was stranded. 

With the Dodgers leading 1-0, Soto led off the top of the 6th with a single. Judge struck out -- his 3rd of the game, and his 2nd with Soto on 1st. Then Stanton hit a long drive down the left-field line. If it was fair, it was out, and I wasn't sure until it landed: It was out. 2-1 Yankees.

Jazz Chisholm singled. But Rizzo struck out. Anthony Volpe was intentionally walked, and Austin Wells singled. Bases loaded. This could have been where the Yankees broke the game wide open. But Verdugo struck out to end the inning.

At the age of 32, Judge finally got his 1st World Series hit, a single, with 2 out in the 7th. But Stanton, who has been doing in this season what we had hoped Judge would do, flipped the script, and stranded him by striking out.

The Dodgers tied the game in the 8th. With 2 out in the top of the 9th, Torres doubled, and Soto was intentionally walked to set up the force play. Walking somebody intentionally to pitch to Aaron Judge? In the postseason, it works: Judge popped up.

The game went to extra innings. Thank God, no "ghost runner" in the postseason. Stanton struck out. But Chisholm stole 2nd. Rizzo was intentionally walked. Chisholm stole 3rd. Volpe grounded to short, and Tommy Edman, the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series, couldn't make the throw to home plate, opting to go to 2nd base instead. Rizzo was out, but Chisholm scored, and Volpe was safe at 1st. Then Volpe stole 2nd. This could have been a big inning. Then Wells struck out.

If the top of the 10th felt like a return to the Joe Torre era, the bottom of the 10th was pure Brian Cashman "gutless wonder" baseball, with a bit of Aaron "Baboone" managing thrown in. After Luke Weaver got out of a jam in the 8th with only 1 run, and pitched a scoreless 9th, Boone brought Jake Cousins in to pitch the 10th. He got Will Smith to fly out, but walked Gavin Lux. (Sounds like the real name of a comic book villain.) Edman grounded to 2nd, and Oswaldo Cabrera, having replaced Torres, couldn't make a throw.

A 1-run lead, but men on 1st and 2nd, 1 out, and the next 3 batters are Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Career OPS+'s, respectively: 157, 138 and 142. Career home runs? Ohtani 225 at age 30, Betts 271 at 32, and Freeman 343 at 35. Barring further injury, all 3 of them are likely to finish with at least 400, and Ohtani may well top 500.

Boone could have brought in Tim Hill, who has been very effective in this postseason. Instead, he (apparently) looked at stats only for Yankee pitchers against Ohtani, and brought in Nestor Cortés, who, due to injury, hadn't pitched since September 18. The Yankees have a history of unlikely postseason heroes, but this move looked really unlikely.

Ohtani sliced one into the left-field corner. It looked like a sure double, to tie or even win the game. Instead, Verdugo ran over and made a great catch, then managed to throw back and hold the runners. If Cortés had managed to get 1 more out, and the Yankees ended up winning the Series, it would have been a play that lived forever.

It lived just 2 more plate appearances. Boone made the mistake of ordering Betts walked to load the bases, and set up the out at any base. The next batter was Freddie Freeman, who has already won a World Series with the 2021 Atlanta Braves, and has been key for the Dodgers ever since. He hit a no-doubt-about-it game-winning grand slam, landing in the right field pavilion, roughly where the ball that Kirk Gibson hit to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series landed, the 1st homer to be called a "walkoff." Dodgers 6, Yankees 3.

The Yankees were 1 out away from taking home-field advantage away from the Dodgers. But they lost this game because Boone made the wrong strategy choices, and because, in innings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 combined, they got only 5 singles and 2 walks, 1 of those intentional.

They needed to score 3 runs in the 1st 9 innings, and couldn't do it. Counting the postseason, the Yankees are 91-37 when they score at least 3 runs, and 8-34 when they don't.

So now, instead of needing to win 4 out of 7, the Yankees need to win 4 out of 6.

Great game, lousy result. But the last time I said that was after Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, and the Yankees won the next 2 to take the Pennant.

Do you know how many times the Yankees have lost Game 1, and still gone on to win the World Series? They did it in 1923, 1936, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1978, 1996 and 2009.

In other words, the Yankees have won the World Series despite losing Game 1 more times than any team except the St. Louis Cardinals have won the World Series. And 3 of those -- 1952, 1956 and 1978 -- were against the Dodgers. In other words, the Yankees have beaten the Dodgers in the World Series despite losing Game 1 more times than the Mets have won the World Series.

So there is hope.

Don't tell me the Red Sox have won 9. They have won 5. They cheated for their last 4

Don't tell me the A's have won 9. The Philadelphia Athletics (R.I.P., 1901-1954) won 5, the Oakland Athletics (R.I.P, 1968-2024) won 4, and the Sacramento Athletics, obviously, have won none.

Game 2 is tonight at 8:00. Carlos Rodón starts against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.