Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Yankees.com: Yanks bash 3 HRs, delay Sox’s clinch party
Tyler Austin’s late home run delayed a potential Red Sox celebration while keeping his club alive in the playoff chase for at least one more evening, as the rookie’s two-run shot lifted the Yankees to a 6-4 victory on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
Austin helped snap Boston’s 11-game winning streak with an opposite-field blast in the seventh inning off David Price, who surrendered six runs and once again continued to have difficulty with the Bombers’ batting order.
“He’s an unbelievable pitcher, and I happened to put a good swing on a ball tonight. Not taking anything else away than that,” Austin said.
I like that they don’t even list the scenario where the Yankees could still make the playoffs, as it would literally involve, like, three other teams losing every game while the Yankees won all of their games.
Anyhow, the Yankees now clinched that they will at least finish the season without a losing record. One more win in their final five games and they will have a winning record for their 24th consecutive season, which is astonishing, even more so considering that they traded away two of their three All-Stars this season, as well as their dominant closer, Aroldis Chapman (plus a decent enough starting pitcher in Ivan Nova). So good for them.
Gary Sanchez continued his awesome rookie season with his twentieth home run. Didi Gregorious ALSO hit his 20th home run. Gregorius and Starlin Castro are the only two Yankee middle infielders to ever hit 20 home runs or more in the same season. That’‘s impressive.
And, of course, I can’t forget to mention the excellent day that Tyler Austin had at the plate, 3-3 including a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning off of David Price (It is always fun when the Yankees hit David Price well).
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Yankees.com: With 5-run 9th, Yankees stun Jays
In a game marred by two early benches-clearing incidents, the Yankees scored five runs in the ninth inning—three coming on homers by Mark Teixeira and Aaron Hicks—and defeated the Blue Jays, 7-5, on Monday night at Rogers Centre to win the finale of the four-game series.
The loss cut the Blue Jays’ lead for the first American League Wild Card to one game over the idle Orioles, who begin a crucial three-game series Tuesday in Toronto. The Blue Jays are in a solid position with six games left, as they are three games up for a Wild Card spot.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are five games behind the O’s for the second Wild Card spot, with an elimination number of two.
One more win and they at least don’t have a losing season. That’s something.
Anyhow, what a cool win, if just to see Teix shouting “Blown save!” at Jason Grilli after tying the game in the ninth inning with a home run.
Also, how good has Tommy Layne been for the Yankees? I love that the Red Sox dumped him for seemingly no good reason. He’s been excellent. And it wasn’t like he was bad in Boston, either!
Monday, September 26, 2016
Yankees.com: Betances, Clippard can’t seal deal vs. Jays
ven when things look like they’re about to go right for the Yankees, they haven’t been ending that way.
New York lost for the fourth consecutive time on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre, 4-3, with its reliable duo of Dellin Betances and Tyler Clippard unable to hang onto a late one-run lead.
The outing cost the Yankees more than just the game, as New York’s Wild Card elimination number dropped to two as it sits 5 1/2 games back of the Orioles for the second American League Wild Card with seven games remaining.
If they actually had a shot, that loss would have been brutal. As it was, it was more annoying than anything.
I’m really doubting whether they can pull out even two wins in these last seven games of the season to just get to 81 wins, let alone the three wins they need to get to a winning record this season.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Yankees.com: No support for CC; Yanks miss WC opportunity
Jose Bautista has rediscovered his power stroke, and the Blue Jays will hope to ride it all the way into the postseason.
Bautista came through in a big moment yet again on Saturday with a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give Toronto a 3-0 victory over the Yankees. It was Bautista’s second home run in his last three games, after he also hit a tying ninth-inning home run vs. Seattle on Wednesday.
It’s really seeming like a winning season might be at risk. They don’t exactly have any easy wins coming up and Tanaka’s out and WOE is about as WOEful as it has been in years, so things are looking bad.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Yankees.com: Lost chances at Trop stunt Yanks’ progress
Blake Snell hurled five effective innings and Corey Dickerson homered, helping the Rays put another dent in the Yankees’ postseason hopes with a 2-0 victory on Thursday night at Tropicana Field.
Brad Miller drove in the game’s first run to help Tampa Bay take the finale of this three-game series with New York, which fell to three games back—with four teams to jump—in the chase for the second American League Wild Card berth. That spot is now held by the Tigers, who won both ends of a doubleheader at Minnesota on Thursday.
Snell struck out six while scattering five hits against a Yankees club that went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. It was Snell’s fourth career start against the Yankees, having made his Major League debut against them on April 23 in New York.
Obviously it’s not over until it’s officially over, but it’s about as close to being officially over as you can get. The Yankees are three out with ten to play. They pretty much have to go 8-2 or better to have a chance. That’s unlikely to happen.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Yankees (79-72) @ Rays (64-87), Thursday, 9/22/2016, 7:10pm
Lineups
Yankees
1. Brett Gardner (L) LF (.258/.348/.360, 3.0 bWAR)
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF (.262/.320/.379, 2.5 bWAR)
3. Gary Sanchez (R) C (.337/.410/.747, 3.0 bWAR)
4. Billy Butler (R) DH (.285/.337/.426, 0.3 bWAR)
5. Mark Teixeira (S) 1B (.199/.289/.346, -0.8 bWAR)
6. Chase Headley (S) 3B (.257/.333/.394, 2.4 bWAR)
7. Didi Gregorius (L) SS (.278/.306/.449, 1.8 bWAR)
8. Aaron Hicks (S) RF (.214/.275/.329, -0.3 bWAR)
9. Donovan Solano (R) 2B (.308/.308/.615, 0.0 bWAR)
Lineup Total: (.257/.322/.406, 11.9 bWAR)
Rays
1. Logan Forsythe (R) 2B (.277/.347/.466, 3.7 bWAR)
2. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF (.243/.329/.417, 4.8 bWAR)
3. Evan Longoria (R) DH (.280/.325/.537, 4.0 bWAR)
4. Brad Miller (L) SS (.249/.306/.497, 1.4 bWAR)
5. Corey Dickerson (L) LF (.243/.287/.469, 1.4 bWAR)
6. Curt Casali (R) C (.161/.248/.302, 0.3 bWAR)
7. Juniel Querecuto (S) 3B
8. Richie Shaffer (R) 1B (.161/.235/.323, -0.1 bWAR)
9. Mikie Mahtook (R) RF (.177/.223/.231, -1.0 bWAR)
Lineup Total: (.247/.307/.456, 14.5 bWAR)
I miss Tyler Austin.
NYDN: Gary Sanchez hits two more home runs as Yankees top Rays, 11-5
ST. PETERBURG, Fla. – As long as teams continue to pitch to Gary Sanchez, the Yankees should have a shot to get to the postseason.
Sanchez put the Yankees on his back once again Wednesday night, homering twice to lead them to an 11-5 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
The 23-year-old rookie homered for the fourth straight game, driving in five runs as he continued his assault on American League pitching.
“It’s hard to believe what this young man has done in a short period up here,” Joe Girardi said. “You just watch him and he continues to come up with big hit after big hit. It’s hard to believe. I haven’t seen anything like it.”
I’m starting to think this kid Sanchez has a chance to carve out a major league career.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Yankees (78-72) @ Rays (64-86), Wednesday, 9/21/2016, 7:10pm
Lineups
Yankees
1. Brett Gardner (L) LF (.257/.348/.361, 2.8 bWAR)
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF (.265/.321/.382, 2.5 bWAR)
3. Gary Sanchez (R) C (.327/.399/.710, 2.7 bWAR)
4. Brian McCann (L) DH (.234/.328/.409, 0.9 bWAR)
5. Mark Teixeira (S) 1B (.198/.288/.344, -0.8 bWAR)
6. Didi Gregorius (L) SS (.278/.307/.450, 1.9 bWAR)
7. Ronald Torreyes (R) 3B (.276/.326/.402, 0.6 bWAR)
8. Mason Williams (L) RF (.385/.385/.462, 0.2 bWAR)
9. Donovan Solano (R) 2B (.125/.125/.125, -0.2 bWAR)
Lineup Total: (.257/.325/.411, 10.6 bWAR
Rays
1. Logan Forsythe (R) 2B (.279/.350/.470, 3.7 bWAR)
2. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF (.243/.330/.419, 4.8 bWAR)
3. Evan Longoria (R) 3B (.281/.325/.534, 3.9 bWAR)
4. Brad Miller (L) 1B (.247/.305/.485, 1.3 bWAR)
5. Corey Dickerson (L) LF (.241/.285/.460, 1.1 bWAR)
6. Alexei Ramirez (R) SS (.240/.277/.335, -2.3 bWAR)
7. Jaff Decker (L) RF (.133/.212/.133, -0.2 bWAR)
8. Richie Shaffer (R) DH (.185/.267/.370, 0.0 bWAR)
9. Bobby Wilson (R) C (.237/.273/.351, -0.3 bWAR)
Lineup Total: (.253/.308/.446, 12.0 bWAR
Yankees.com: Go-ahead Gary: Rookie powers Yanks vs. TB
Gary Sanchez’s increasingly convincing candidacy for the American League Rookie of the Year Award kept the Yankees’ postseason dream alive for another day.
Sanchez slugged a three-run homer off Brad Boxberger in the seventh inning, lifting the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field. Mark Teixeira also homered and Brett Gardner drove home a run for the Yankees, who won for just the second time in their past nine games.
I don’t believe that there is enough time to change the voters’ minds, but I’ve been convinced. I’d go with Sanchez for Rookie of the Year, but I’m an easy mark, as I’ve always been a “if it is close, give it to the guy who looks like he’ll be the bigger star,” which is why I think Manny Ramirez, Hideki Matsui and Kenny Lofton should have won Rookies of the Year.