My Guys Win Without Their Manager

"There are two kinds of people in the world. There's my guys, and there's not my guys. Now, if you wanna be one of my guys, we can have that conversation."
-- Lieutenant Gene Hunt, NYPD (Harvey Keitel), Life On Mars (episode took place in 1973 but aired in 2009)

I divide the world into 3 groups of people. There's my guys, there's guys who could become my guys, and then there's guys who are never going to be my guys.

Aaron Boone may not know I exist, but, for what he did at 12:16 AM on October 17, 2003, he will forever be one of my guys.

Several of the current Yankee players are already my guys. Edwin Encarnación, tonight's Yankee hero, could become one of my guys. Brennan Miller, who umpired this week's Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays series, will never be one of my guys.

Early in the opener of Thursday's rain-forced doubleheader with the Rays, Miller was umpiring behind the plate, and his strike zone was about as wide as the Major Deegan Expressway. Phone was calling him on it from the dugout, using "George Carlin words."

Finally, Miller yelled toward the dugout, "I hear you, Aaron!"

Good, that means your ears work fine. If only your eyes did.

That's what I would have said. That's not what Boone said, though. He said, "Bear the fuck down!" And Miller threw him out of the game.

Boone came out of the dugout, and defended his players in a way that we haven't seen from a Yankee manager for a long time. Not from Joe Girardi, perennially passive. Not from Joe Torre, who, as great as he was, was frequently too concerned with appearing "classy." Not from Buck Showalter, who didn't seem to find his courage until well after George Steinbrenner told him to take a hike.

The Yankees do strike out more than they should. But they also make contact a lot, sometimes fouling pitches off until they get one they like. Boone essentially told Miller, "If the pitch actually is a strike, my guys will swing at it."

It's not often that we get good audio on arguments without a prearranged mike-up with one if the participants, but let's give some DAP to the YES Network, because we got Boone's full tirade:

My guys are fucking savages in that box! And you're having a piece of shit start to this game! I feel bad for you, but fucking be better! That guy is a good pitcher, man, but our guys are fucking savages in that box! Our guys are savages in the fucking box! Tighten it up right now, OK? Tighten this shit up!

You'll notice that Boone was criticizing him, but not actually insulting him. He didn't say, "You're a bad umpire." He said, "You're having a bad game." Not that Miller was incompetent or corrupt by nature, just that he wasn't getting the job done today. Boone had already been thrown out, so we didn't have much left to lose, but he still could have been considerably less respectful.

The jokes already made the rounds on Twitter within a couple of innings. People posted designs for T-shirts saying "F*CKING SAVAGES," or some other way of obscuring letters so the message could be gotten across without kids seeing the word "fucking" in public. (As if they haven't become aware of it already.)

I made suggestion that Yankee Stadium II be nicknamed Savage Square Garden, and that led me to muse that maybe, if we make it to the World Series, the band Savage Garden be asked to sing the National Anthem.

But it occurred to me: Everyone is focusing on the wrong words here. The key words are not "fucking savages."

The key words here are "my guys."

Did you ever hear Girardi try to protect his players from an umpire by asserting that they were his players? Or Torre? Or Showalter?

The Yankees went on to win the game, and the nightcap. For his tirade, Boone got suspended for last night's opener of a 3-game home Interleague series with the Colorado Rockies. He chose not to appeal it, perhaps agreeing with me that it was totally worth it.

He had sent a message. He had sent it to his own players, saying, "You're my guys, and I will stand up for you, all the way." He sent it to the umpires, saying, "I will stand up for my guys, no matter what you do." And he had sent it to the Rays, saying, "We are the New York Yankees, and you are not, and you are not going to beat us."

It's about time a Yankee manager did that.

*

So the game was played last night. I haven't heard who did the actual managing for Yankees and I don't think it matters now.

As was the case in each game of the previous day's doubleheader, Yankees fell behind 2-0 early, and then came back forcefully. With 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd, former Rockie DJ LeMahieu singled, and then Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez drew walks. Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you. Edwin Encarnación came up, and hit a grand slam. 4-2 Yankees.

LeMahieu singled home another run in the 4th. In the 6th, he grounded into a fielder's choice that got another run home, and then came around to score on a home run by Judge.

J.A. Happ threw 90 pitches over the 1st 5 innings, but didn't allow any runs after the 1st inning. It was decided to take him out, and another former Rockie, Adam Ottavino, pitched a scoreless 6th, with a slider that Yankee Legend Paul O'Neill,  on the YES Network, called "absolutely disgusting." This, of course, was a play on the common saying for a slider. Cliché Alert: "That's not just filthy, that's nasty."

And to think, I thought Ottavino was an idiot, following his remarks about Babe Ruth in the off-season, before we acquired him.

Stephen Tarpley, who has struggled this season, was put in to protect the lead for the last 3 innings, and got the job done, allowing no runs. Yankees 8, Rockies 2. WP: Happ (8-5). SV: Tarpley (2). LP: Kyle Freeland (2-7).

The Rays lost last night, so they are now 9 games behind the Yankees in the American League Eastern Division. The Boston Red Sox also lost, so they are 11 games back.

The series continues this afternoon, with Masahiro Tanaka starting against Antonio Senzatela. Come on, my guys! Come on, Aaron Boone's guys! Come on you Yankees! Come on you Pinstripes! Come on you Bombers! Come on you Fucking Savages!

Yankees Sweep London Series With Sox

Song sung by Arsenal fans about their North London arch-rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic":

The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
And this is what he said: "Fuck off!"

Depending on what your "football club" is, there are variations: "The famous Man United went to Rome... "

This past week, the famous Boston Red Sox went to London, and scored 21 runs in 2 games, and won exactly none. And they didn't even get to see the Queen. Only her grandson (Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex) and his wife (Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex).

Having won the 1st-ever regular-season Major League Baseball game in Europe, beating the Red Sox 17-13 at the London Stadium the night before, the Yankees prepared to sweep the brief, but much-ballyhooed, 2-game MLB London Series. His initial choice to start this game, Chad Green, having pitched the night before, manager Aaron Boone decided not to risk him again, and started Stephen Tarpley, with the same idea: Pitch an inning or 2, and let the bullpen carry the team the rest of the way.

Tarpley had nothing. He gave up home runs to Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vazquez, and was pulled after 1 inning, with the Red Sox up 4-0. Boone brought in the much-maligned Luis Cessa, and he may have pitched his best game as a Yankee thus far, going 4 innings, allowing no runs on 4 hits and no walks. He kept the team in the game.

The Yankees had a big opportunity in the top of the 2nd, but did not make the most of it. Edwin Encarnación drew a leadoff walk. If I invoke my frequent "Cliché Alert," this leadoff walk didn't kill the Red Sox, but it did lead the way to their eventual execution.

Didi Gregorius reached on an infield single to shortstop, and Gleyber Torres drew a walk to load the bases. This should have led to a big inning. The Yankees would have a very big inning in this game, but this would not be it. Gio Urshela grounded to short, and the fielder's choice eliminated Torres but scored Encarnación. Brett Gardner hit an infield single that got Didi home. But no further runs scored.

Gary Sánchez drew a leadoff walk in the 3rd, but ended up stranded. Aaron Judge led off the 5th with a single to left, but was also stranded. It remained 4-2 Boston after 6, thanks to the pitching of Cessa and, in the 6th inning, Adam Ottavino.

Then came the top of the 7th. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, for the Yankees in London, this was their finest hour.

Sir Winston knows the Yankees

are headed for V for Victory.

DJ LeMahieu led off with a double. Judge walked. Aaron Hicks doubled home LeMahieu. Sánchez singled home Judge and Hicks. 5-4 New York.

Pitching change. No use. Encarnación walked. Gregorius struck out. Torres singled. Urshela singled home Sánchez and Encarnación. Another pitching change. No use. Gardner walked to load the bases. LeMahieu hit a ground rule double down the right-field line, scoring Torres and Urshela. Judge was intentionally walked. Hicks flew to right, the sacrifice fly scoring Gardner.

Sánchez hit a grounder to 1st, and Michael Chavis, the closest thing the Sox had to a hero the day before with 2 home runs, let it go through his legs. The late Bill Buckner came to everyone's mind. LeMahieu came to the plate and scored. Encarnación grounded into a fielder's choice to end it. But how many times did the Yankees score in the inning, Ed Rooney?

The Yankees' streak of 30 straight games with at least 1 home run was in jeopardy. Hopefully, nobody cared too much. But Gregorius hit one out in the top of the 8th, to make it 12-4 Bronx Bombers.

Then the Sox remembered that showing up was necessary. They chased highly-touted Yankee prospect Chance Adams with 4 runs, before Zack Britton had to come in and stop the bleeding. Aroldis Chapman managed to get through the 9th without making it too interesting, allowing a hit, but striking out the side.

Final score: Yankees 12, Red Sox 8. WP: Ottavino (3-2). No save, because, as with the night before, Chapman came in with a lead of 4 runs, not 3. LP: Marcus Walden (6-1).

That's 6 out of 7 against The Scum this season. As another English soccer song, to the tune of "Bread of Heaven," goes:

Can we play you
Can we play you
Can we play you every week?

Can we play you every week?

*

So, more than halfway through the season (numerically, anyway), the Yankees are 54-28, in 1st place in the American League Eastern Division, on a pace for 107 wins. They are 7 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (8 in the loss column), and 11 ahead of the Red Sox (12). If the current standings hold to the end of the season, they would have the top seed in the American League Playoffs, and are only 2 games (1 in the loss column) behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues.

LeMahieu and Sánchez were voted by the fans onto the American League All-Star Team. Chapman was selected as a reserve. The All-Star Game will be in Cleveland, a week from this coming Tuesday night.

Here's the injury situation, in increasing order of when the players in question are expected to return:

* Domingo Germán: This week. The Yankees are planning on starting him on Wednesday night.

* Luke Voit: Probably after the All-Star Break, so, around 2 weeks. The fear that he might be out for several weeks seems to be unfounded. He could return for the Mets series, but it would probably be best to not risk him until the Break ends.

* Dellin Betances: Possibly after the All-Star Break. This would be a big boost: While the bullpen has (mostly) gotten the job done, having a fresh arm to (literally, not just mound-wise) relieve our relievers could make a huge difference.

* Ben Heller: Possibly after the All-Star Break. He is pitching to hitters at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa.

* Jonathan Loaisiga: Possibly after the All-Star Break. He has resumed throwing, but not to hitters.

* Luis Severino: August. He had another setback, and Boone told reporters during the London Series that Severino is "90 percent healed," but he won't throw again until he is at 100 percent, which the Yankees hope would be in another week or so.

* Giancarlo Stanton: August. The Yankees' biggest trade acquisition since Alex Rodriguez, and yet they haven't needed him at all.

* Cameron Maybin: August. With his calf strain, "he is expected to miss several weeks."

* Greg Bird: August. He has reported to the Tampa complex, and "could begin on-field running soon."

* Jordan Montgomery: August. He is at the Tampa complex, but "he is not expected to resume throwing until at least July 4."

* Jake Barrett: Unknown, but I wouldn't count on him returning this season.

* Miguel Andújar: Next year's Spring Training. Boone has said that he could "resume baseball activities late this season."

* Jacoby Ellsbury: Not this season, and might never play for the Yankees, or anyone else, again.

* Troy Tulowitzki: Unknown. He has left the Tampa complex, and has gone home to Nevada to consider his future. He might never play for the Yankees, or anyone else, again.

*

The Yankees get only today off, then start a 2-game series with the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday night, with James Paxton scheduled to start against Jason Vargas. On Wednesday night, Germán
starts against Zack Wheeler. Then it's down to Tampa Bay for 4, before the All-Star Break.

Good Pitching Will Beat Good Hitting, Except When It Doesn't

This past Thursday, the Yankees began a home series against the Detroit Tigers. J.A. Happ started, but couldn't get out of the 5th inning. The 1st batter of the game was Jeimer Candelario, and Happ served him up a home run.

It was still 1-0 in the bottom of the 3rd, when Giancarlo Stanton tied the game with a home run. The teams traded homers in the 4th, Ronny Rodriguez for us, Gleyber Torres for them. But a Victor Martinez homer in the top of the 5th made it 5-4 Tigers, and Happ was done.

But a Detroit throwing error allowed the Yankees to tie the game in the bottom of the 5th, and a double by Stanton and a home run by Luke Voit, in the 7th, gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead.

Chad Green had gotten the Yankees through the 6th. Did Aaron Boone leave him in for the 7th? No, he brought David Robertson in. Robertson got through it 1-2-3. Did Boone leave him in for the 8th? No, he brought Zach Britton in. Britton pitched a scoreless inning. Did Boone leave him in for the 9th? No, he brought Dellin Betances in.

Three times, Boone had the chance to leave a pitcher who was pitching effectively in to continue pitching effectively. Three times, he pulled a stupid movie right out of Joe Girardi's binder. The 1st 2 times, it didn't hurt the Yankees.

The 3rd time, it did. Betances struck out the side, fanning Mikie Mahtook, Rodriguez and McCann. Unfortunately, between Mahtook and Rodriguez, he walked Nick Castellanos (Cliche Alert: Walks can kill you), and gave up home runs to Martinez and Niko Goodrum. The Yankees went down quietly in the bottom of the 9th.

Tigers 8, Yankees 7. WP: Alex Wilson (2-4). SV: Shane Greene (28). LP: Betances (4-4), although this one was clearly on Boone.

*

Again on Friday night, the Yankees scored 7 runs. This time, it was enough.

Luis Severino started, and struck out 10 batters and walked none in 6 innings. But he also allowed 3 runs on 6 hits. But the Yankees bailed him out in the bottom of the 6th, with 3 home runs, hit by Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Miguel Andujar. It was 4-3 Yankees.

But Jonathan Holder got in trouble in the 7th, and Britton allowed the tying run before getting out of it. Britton allowed another run in the 8th. 5-4 Tigers. Given the circumstances, Britton should not have gotten credit for the win if the Yankees were to come from behind to win.

Which they did, and he got credit for the win. Gardner led off the bottom of the 8th with a double. Stanton, in a clutch situation, struck out. Hicks drew a walk, but Andujar struck out. Voit drew a walk to keep it going. Torres singled Gardner and Hicks home. Neil Walker was walked intentionally, and Austin Romine singled Torres home.

Robertson got into a little trouble in the 9th, but didn't let the Tigers score. Yankees 7, Tigers 5. WP: Britton (2-0). SV: Robertson (5). LP: Joe Jimenez (4-4).

*

Sometimes, you score 7 (or more) runs, and it's not enough. Sometimes, you score 2 (or even 1), and it is. On Saturday afternoon, Masahiro Tanaka pitched brilliantly for 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 7 hits and 1 walk, with 6 strikeouts. Torres hit a home run, and Betances redeemed himself with a scoreless 9th. Yankees 2, Tigers 1. WP: Tanaka (10-5). SV: Betances (2). LP: Daniel Norris (0-3).

Like I said: Sometimes, you score 7 (or more) runs, and it's not enough. On Sunday afternoon, Lance Lynn had nothing. He didn't get out of the 4th inning, allowing 6 runs. Tommy Kahnle couldn't stop the bleeding, allowing a run.

Sonny Gray pitched decently in relief, allowing just 1 run in 4 innings. But Stephen Tarpley, a 25-year-old righthander from Los Angeles, wearing Number 71, made a mess of his major league debut, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in the 9th. The Yankees were already losing 8-5, but he put a comeback out of reach.

Hicks and Voit homered, and there was a comeback attempt in the 9th. But without good pitching, 7 runs wasn't nearly enough. Tigers 11, Yankees 7. WP: Matthew Boyd (9-12). No save. LP: Lynn (8-10).

Yogi Berra supposedly once said, "Good pitching will beat good hitting, and vice versa." The Yankees scored 7 runs 3 times in the series, and won only 1 of those games; but scored just 2 in the other, and won it. Good pitching beats good hitting, except when it doesn't.

Yogi also supposedly once said, "In baseball, you don't know nothin'."

So the Yankees got only a split. Next up: A Western trip. Not entirely a Pacific Coast trip: Oakland, then Seattle, then Minnesota.