Like a few others I have tried to stay off the board during games because I'm superstitious as all get out. But this is simply a vent/observation thread. Get it out here and leave it off the game thread.
Great pitching by Paxton, but why the heck does he have so much trouble in the 1st inning? Severino and he struggle so mightily in the 1st. But so have Verlander, Greinke, and Cole, TBH.
At the plate, I know comparing Sanchez and Romine is ludicrous, but I have a very strong feeling that Romine would not have 11 Ks in 20 ABs and I think everyone knows that. I am in no way calling for Gary to sit. Despite what gets reported, Gary is just better behind the plate despite his pass ball reputation, he is every bit as good as Romine with a much better arm. The Astro's plan for Gary is simple, get ahead in the count - throw a strike on 1st pitch - and follow with either a high FB or a slider low and away. He is simply flailing. And just as bad, he is missing his pitch when it arrives (and he has numerous balls in his wheelhouse.)
Aaron Judge - since late in the year, Judge has been looking at hittable pitches(and I mean right down the middle hittable) and swinging at balls. He must be guessing. He is far too good to be doing this. 2 RBIs in the series. He has to do better. OBP .303 / Slugging .381(!?) I don't know if his approach needs to change(usually very patient) and get aggressive early. But that does not look like Aaron Judge up there. Oh, and his defense has been outstanding, simply magnificent.
A case can be made for starting Maybin over Gardy...Giving up lots of defense, but Gardy has been dreadful at the plate.
Gary is not alone looking bad at the plate. Eddie is equally inept, which I would never have believed. Didi, Gardner, and Urshela are missing in action. At least Gardy works the count, but BFD he has been dreadful.
Now of course, the Astro's pitching has been excellent. They have identified the Yankees cold spots and are doing an excellent job hitting those spots.
Check out the attached sortable stats.
Flame away.
Yanks ALCS Stats - (
New Window )
I keep an eye on the game threads, some of those guys should be more like you, not post in the moment.
All your pts are solid , but as a non bias fan, my take is, these are two great teams, Houston s starting pitching gives them the edge, it it s still anyone’s series.
I felt that way after game 4. I believed if the Yankees found a way to beat an ace like Verlander at home, with a bullpen game coming up for the Astros, a game 7 was very likely, and I believe there will be one.
If I had to bet, I d bet on Cole in game 7 but unlike some of the fans, the Yankees didn’t give up, and are still in this series
I would sit Sanchez in a heartbeat for Romine right now. He has no feel for the strike zone. Before one of his strike outs last night he swung and fouled off a ball about a foot outside the strike zone.
If the Yankees did have a rock solid lead late in the game I would like to see Chapman plunk him right in the ass.
I think the perspective that the Yanks bats are having a tough week largely bc they’re facing the best starting pitchers in baseball applies.
Verlander is a hall of Fame lock, Grienke is probably a hall of famer too, and Cole is on his way if he pitchers long enough. Think about that.
Gary can look awful for 20 straight ABs, but he’s still a guy who can suddenly get a hold of a 2 run HR that could make all the difference.
Plus, I think benching him now could have a negative effect on the juju of the team.
Boone has had a steady hand all year. Now is not the time to start changing it up. IMHO
Last night was fun...DJ and Hicks pierced the Verlander armor (but man he dominated after that), and Paxton and the bullpen delivered with the pressure at its highest. Let’s go Yanks!
I'd go with...
DJ
Judge
Hicks
Torres
Stanton
Didi
Urshela
Sanchez
Gardy
I would love to somehow get through the order once with Chad Green, but realistically the Yanks have to figure out how to get the 12 outs between when Green and Britton pitch.
- Cessa
- Happ
- Otto
- Lasagna
Cessa was great the other day and will almost definitely be used, but I don't trust him or Happ to keep the ball in the park. Otto is going to have to pitch at some point and hopefully remove his head from his ass.
On one hand, it's probably safe to assume Romine may have had a few more competitive AB's over the course of this series.
Save from the one Josh James fastball he got a hold of, he's not really putting much of anything in play or working counts. He just looks completely lost.
But, on the other hand, a hot Gary Sanchez can carry the Yankees almost all by himself. Can we risk putting that on the bench at this point?
I think given where we're at, Boone has to just stick with Gary and hope he can get a hold of a couple more before this is all said and done.
I like the bats to do some work tonight. It feels like an enormous sigh of relief to finally get a break from Verlander, Cole, and even Greinke for a game here - but we've got to capitalize.
I'd just put Encarnacion back in the DH spot, honestly. Stanton can't run, his AB's were terrible yesterday. He's just not helping this team at all right now. Good on him to go to Boone and basically say "you gotta put me in there" - but he was a net negative yesterday. I'll take my chances with Eddie giving us better AB's even though he's struggle mightily since early on in the DS.
On one hand, it's probably safe to assume Romine may have had a few more competitive AB's over the course of this series.
Save from the one Josh James fastball he got a hold of, he's not really putting much of anything in play or working counts. He just looks completely lost.
But, on the other hand, a hot Gary Sanchez can carry the Yankees almost all by himself. Can we risk putting that on the bench at this point?
I think given where we're at, Boone has to just stick with Gary and hope he can get a hold of a couple more before this is all said and done.
I like the bats to do some work tonight. It feels like an enormous sigh of relief to finally get a break from Verlander, Cole, and even Greinke for a game here - but we've got to capitalize.
I'd just put Encarnacion back in the DH spot, honestly. Stanton can't run, his AB's were terrible yesterday. He's just not helping this team at all right now. Good on him to go to Boone and basically say "you gotta put me in there" - but he was a net negative yesterday. I'll take my chances with Eddie giving us better AB's even though he's struggle mightily since early on in the DS.
I don't think anyone would say Romine is better than Sanchez. And you play your best players. But with hindsight, many would agree with you that Romine would've had more competitive at bats, especially in situations with risp
Chirinos covered in Pine Tar - ( New Window )
You can go back to TK for multiple innings today as he threw only 8 pitches last night.
You can go back to TK for multiple innings today as he threw only 8 pitches last night.
Kahnle worries me. I did not like what I saw last night. A lot of these guys are going to have to pitch the innings of their lives tonight. Guys who we generally have little confidence in: Happ, Kahnle, Cessa, Johnny L., etc. Not to mention, Green has to be better as does Ottavino. There are 9 innings tonight and only 3 am I confident in: Britton and Chapman, who should both get more than an inning.
I think the perspective that the Yanks bats are having a tough week largely bc they’re facing the best starting pitchers in baseball applies.
Verlander is a hall of Fame lock, Grienke is probably a hall of famer too, and Cole is on his way if he pitchers long enough. Think about that.
Gary can look awful for 20 straight ABs, but he’s still a guy who can suddenly get a hold of a 2 run HR that could make all the difference.
Plus, I think benching him now could have a negative effect on the juju of the team.
Boone has had a steady hand all year. Now is not the time to start changing it up. IMHO
Last night was fun...DJ and Hicks pierced the Verlander armor (but man he dominated after that), and Paxton and the bullpen delivered with the pressure at its highest. Let’s go Yanks!
No, not at this point, he has been pathetic at the plate. And the past couple games, not very good behind the plate either. At least Romine will make contact, and maybe the ball won't get by him either. Actually, what a manager has to do, is make adjustments in a short series.
If you noticed on the other side, Reddick didn't even start until game 3 for the Astros.
And can we expect him to break out of this one against the likes of Gerrit Cole, assuming there is a Game 7, which is by no means certain?
And from MLB.com:
"In all best-of-seven postseason series, teams holding a 3-2 lead have gone on to win 72 of 103 times (70%). In series with the current 2-3-2 format, clubs holding a 3-2 lead and heading home for Games 6 and 7 have gone on to win 34 of 45 times (76%)."
If the Yankees did have a rock solid lead late in the game I would like to see Chapman plunk him right in the ass.
Could someone who is there confirm that the crowd had an obscene chant going at him? Naturally the commentators didn't comment.
And can we expect him to break out of this one against the likes of Gerrit Cole, assuming there is a Game 7, which is by no means certain?
And from MLB.com:
"In all best-of-seven postseason series, teams holding a 3-2 lead have gone on to win 72 of 103 times (70%). In series with the current 2-3-2 format, clubs holding a 3-2 lead and heading home for Games 6 and 7 have gone on to win 34 of 45 times (76%)."
His problem at the plate is, he gets in his own way.
Kinda reminds me of A-Rod in that respect ONLY, he use
to get in his own way. Every time Gary comes off the DL or IL these days, he doesn't simplify his approach,
and invariably he struggles for awhile. This is not a new
phenomenon with him though, I have been watching it since he came up with the Yanks. A hitting coach (Thames),
can only do so much, it's up to the player to listen and incorporate what he is hearing. What's that definition
of insanity again? Doing the same thing over and over,
and hoping for different results. Well, that's how he is.
Sure, he has great power, but he is infuriating to me
at times, because he has more talent in there, he has to be willing to change his approach moving forward.
He also has to stop being at times, lackadaisical behind the dish Just move your body, and get in front of the ball please.
As Smoltz even mentioned during the game last night, it's possible a couple years down the road,
he could wind up being a DH. That is entirely possible, not too far down the road. It's really up to Gary,
that's how I look at it, the talent is there.
Quote:
I have an irrational dislike to the f'n jockey on the Strohs.
If the Yankees did have a rock solid lead late in the game I would like to see Chapman plunk him right in the ass.
Could someone who is there confirm that the crowd had an obscene chant going at him? Naturally the commentators didn't comment.
I definitely heard it on tv. They were chanting “f*ck Altuve....”
I was reading the other day, while Greinke was warming up before the game,
they were riding him about his social anxiety disorder earlier in his career. If you don't know,
when he was with the Royals early in his career, he took a year off from the game to deal with it.
May I add at this point, Yankee fans have not exactly distinguished themselves in this series at the ballpark.
They have also throw debris on the field a couple of games as well, be better than that!
game 7. cole v sevy. if sevy finds his stuff from beginning of last year...that could be a 0-0 game going into the 7th. Get to game 7 and then all hands on deck to do whatever we have to do to win.
Its a shame we couldnt take one of the previous 2-3 games of series as going back to houston with a lead would have been insane as it would have been cole on short rest in game 6 or a bullpen game game 7. id like yanks chances in both so game 2 to me is still looming large.
As for the lineup, not as horrible idea to swap DJ and hicks. if hicks can get on, we have 3 legit chances behind him to cash in. Since majority of lineup is struggling, might be wise to try and increase the value of DJs hits. im good with this move as hicks also seeing the ball well and has the speed if able to get on out of leadoff spot.
One inning at a time, one game at a time. Yanks in 7 is VERY possible. a bullpen game tonight might help wake the yankee bats up just in time for game 7.
Keep it going!
Interesting. Chirinos touches the ball to his chest protector where the pine tar
We have to hope that our bats wake up against Peacock, Urquidy et al. because we are likely going to be trotting Happ out there for multiple innings.
Urshela has at least put in a few competitive ABs. Sanchez and Didi are flailing up there. We need them to sort their shit out for tonight. I believe.
Gardy can bunt, and I think Didi can too. Maybe even Gio can lay one down. I'm not saying do it over and over, but good Christ they're giving Gardy and Didi the whole left side of the infield.
We have to hope that our bats wake up against Peacock, Urquidy et al. because we are likely going to be trotting Happ out there for multiple innings.
Urshela has at least put in a few competitive ABs. Sanchez and Didi are flailing up there. We need them to sort their shit out for tonight. I believe.
RP, not for nothing, but good pitching beats good hitting. The Stros are having as hard a time hitting as the Yanks are. So to say the Yanks are lucky is bullshit. Because the Astros are lucky to get a few BS hits. Springer has,what 3 hits, 2 HRS and a double...
Quote:
we are lucky that the Astros seem to be going through the same de-juiced ball malaise.
We have to hope that our bats wake up against Peacock, Urquidy et al. because we are likely going to be trotting Happ out there for multiple innings.
Urshela has at least put in a few competitive ABs. Sanchez and Didi are flailing up there. We need them to sort their shit out for tonight. I believe.
RP, not for nothing, but good pitching beats good hitting. The Stros are having as hard a time hitting as the Yanks are. So to say the Yanks are lucky is bullshit. Because the Astros are lucky to get a few BS hits. Springer has,what 3 hits, 2 HRS and a double...
Exactly. Why aren’t people saying it the other way? The Astros are lucky the Yankees aren’t hitting? This idea that the Astros are completely dominating this series is not only inaccurate, it’s also ludicrous. The two games the Yankees have won the Astros have scored a grand total of one run. And one of the losses was in extra innings. It could VERY easily be 3-2 Yanks. Everyone seems to be glossing over how bad the Astros have hit. Against supposedly much weaker pitching than the Yanks have faced. But let’s all shake in our boots at the unbeatable machine!