From Bryan Hoch:
As the Yankees advanced into October, one hand-wringing concern was that if Aaron Judge remained unable to shake his playoff struggles, an offense that centered so heavily upon one of the finest regular seasons put forth by a right-handed hitter would be unable to make up the difference.
Through his club’s first five postseason games, Judge still hadn’t contributed much at the plate, but his supporting cast proved that it indeed could carry the load. Now, if the captain is on board, their path to the World Series looks even more clear.
Judge connected for a two-run homer in the seventh inning, breaking open the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Guardians in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. The win gives the Yankees a commanding 2-0 series lead as they aim to advance to their first Fall Classic since 2009.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather be the team up 2-0 in the series, but is a 2-0 lead in a Best of 7 series truly a “commanding” lead? 3-0, definitely, but 2-0? I don’t think so, personally.
In any event, another great win, even as the Yankees made so many terrible plays, and Gerrit Cole, a game after Carlos Rodon yammered on about how Gerrit Cole taught him how to NOT be a headcase, was a total headcase himself! Cole had excellent stuff still (not as excellent as his last start against Kansas City, but still excellent stuff), but just could NOT locate it. It was so frustrating. He’s so good that he was able to work out of trouble through the first four innings, but letting baserunners on in every inning was finally too much for him, and Aaron Boone was forced to go to the bullpen in the fifth inning. Here’s the weird thing, though. Boone gave Cole SO MANY opportunities to remain in the game, and you would think that one of the main reasons is that Boone didn’t want to overtask his bullpen, asking them to get too many outs. But when he finally brought Clay Holmes in with the bases loaded, one out and a run in, Holmes worked out of the rest of the inning allowing just a single run on a groundball (hit JUST too softly for a double play) and a strikeout on ten pitches and Boone…PULLED HIM FROM THE GAME!! If you were worried about leaning on your bullpen too much, why would you pull Holmes after two outs on ten pitches?!
The Yankees increased their lead to 4-2 on a RBI double by Rizzo after Jazz Chisholm was picked off of second base…and then Rizzo was ALSO picked off of second to end the inning! Boone gave the most idiotic defense of Chisholm, basically arguing that had Chisholm stole third, we would have been happy. But dude, the options weren’t “Steal third or get picked off of second.” That made no sense. Boone also defended Rizzo, and, I’ll be honest, that one WAS a lot trickier, as I’ve seen plenty of guys get hung up on a ball that rolled away from the catcher, but not TOO far. So fair enough, but really, it was still bad. Even Sterling was saying that the Yankees run the bases like they’re drunks.
Judge, though, finally hit a home run this postseason, following an excellent piece of hitting by Gleyber Torres, who had three hits tonight and has been excellent this postseason. Big relief seeing Judge hitting a home run. He gets the featured image.
The bullpen was great, although Luke Weaver showed he was human by allowing a home run to Jose Ramirez in the ninth with a four-run lead. Luckily, Weaver then set the next two guys down easily, so it didn’t seem to rattle him. And, of course, you know how closers are when it is not a save situation. It’s like they take their foot off of the gas, so I can understand the homer there.
2-0 is not a commanding lead, but it’s still a very nice lead to have. Hopefully the Yankees can win two more games in this series before the Guardians win four.
Yes, absolutely. 2-0 for the home team in a 7-game series is usually considered “on serve,” home teams being held to have an advantage. (That may be a bit overblown, especially with a team like the Yankees, which was better on the road – so maybe that is an additional advantage for them.)
Also, Cole, after looking like Cole last time out, with more than TWICE as many baserunners as inning pitched – not what you want (or expect) out of him.
And facing a lineup that isn’t unusually imposing.
EXCELLENT breakdown of Chisholm getting picked off in the first video HERE:
https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-yankees-trade-mistakes-in-alcs-game-2
Win yay…but if just proves to Boone how brilliant his insane moves are. Like batting the worst hitter on the team 4th and using his closer every single game. The more the Indians see him the more likely they are to eventually get to him. (Rivera vs the Red Sox…)
The yanks have had a 2-0 lead in 4 previous ALCS. They win 3. (The 4th being..,oh you know.)
“just proves to Boone how brilliant his insane moves are.”
But it’s a classic sunk cost. In other words – yes, you’re absolutely right, but it’s only a problem if you thought he was going to suddenly wake up and realize how bat-shit insane almost every move he makes really is.
But I’m betting you don’t think anything of the sort.
That was never going to happen, anyway. So either you want them to lose until he’s fired (apparently also almost impossible), or you want them to win despite him.
And one more thing, a pretty big thing – Rizzo looks transformed, doesn’t he? Aware, sharp, unconfused – fully recovered? You really have to hope so, that was awful. And right before the concussion, he was having a great season. On the basic level of human suffering, that would be unbelievable. And beyond that, it could be huge, huge for the team. He’s been a pretty big factor already.
I’m amazed by the quality of his ABs
Updated series prices at FanDuel:
NYY -850 (87.7% implied win probability after removing the vig.)
CLE +600
My fair price on NYY: -494 (83.2%)
WS prices at FD:
NYY -105
LAD +175
NYM 440
CLE 1600
simp
NYM -220
There’s a thin line between genius and insanity. Boone has erased that line.
Love, love that quote.
But if Boone’s erased any line here, it’s between stupidity and insanity.
Thinking about it – even 3-1 can be reasonably called a “commanding” lead. You’d have to blow three consecutive chances to win a single game to lose.
But no, not 2-0.
Going 2-0 does guarantee the Yankees get a chance to lose at home. So that’s a plus.
True!
Disappointed that no one has pointed out that Volpe translates to “El Zorro” in spanish. The critical analysis here has fallen off.
Also, the lack of references to Rizzo as “Ratso” is especially concerning.
That’s his home run nom de plume
I guess I need to find a gamethread where he does actually hit one.
He *is* Ratso.
I mean… I didn’t know he had another name!
Pin, how’s the mushrooming out there?
Was up at 4,000′ level and a bunch of white chantarelles, but they were pretty dried out by the time we got to them. We need a bit of rain to get things sprouting reliably.
“So either you want them to lose until he’s fired (apparently also almost impossible), or you want them to win despite him.”
I’ll admit that during the season I sort of wanted them to lose hoping he’d eventually get fired so we can get a manager that will allow us to win. But once we are 6 wins away from a WS championship, I obviously am rooting for them to win. Even though I would have to eat my hat due to a bet I made that they will never win with this idiot as a manager.
Let’s go yanks.
You’d need a different GM to hire more than a puppet manager.
That was another Judge really high HR that an OF initially thought he might have a chance at catching. Heck, the Whatevers CF jumped at the fence, LOL.
“You’d need a different GM to hire more than a puppet manager”
True. But even a puppet might not make stupid in game decisions. I can’t believe cashman is that involved. Taking out a relief pitcher after 10 pitches? Sheesh
Cortes might return for the World Series.
WS? WS?? What WS???
The Dodgers are starting a pitcher in game 3 who went 1-6 with a 5.38 era, a 1.55 WHIP after 16 starts in 2024. In his one post season start this year he gave up 7 runs in 5 innings. Thats got to be one of the worst records of any CS starters in many years.
‘
That would be a successful strategy against the Yankees, but against another playoff team it is questionable.
ESPN.com with a write up on tonight’s game but “Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.”
Don’t know what those things are, but your point is that they’re providing articles not written by humans?
Yeah ai written. Sad.
AI is pretty much just least common denominator across other people’s work (including other AI) so it becomes a sophisticated echo chamber devoid of real insight.
Advanced algorithms do exist for certain analytics, and AI does draw on those. But it (so far) isn’t coming up with those on its own.
In my (professional) opinion and experience.
Good sevi is so much fun to watch
Whole lotta pitches thrown in half a game, 185+
Sabrina Ionescu long 3 with 1 second left. Ruocco with the call.
Ohtani delivers a death blow to the Mets in this game.
Go Ex Pats, if we go to the series I’d rather lose to the Boys of Summer.
I thought that’s baseball players in general.
Caught a minute of Sportscenter, is this right Ohtani 7/9 men on, 0/22 bases empty. He would not fit in here.
He’s just stealing all the Yankees RISP hits.
I was coming to post that Ohtani’s real place in God’s plan is to mock these Yankees.
true place and only purpose
Total of 351 pitches. Ugly game, as the Dodgers pitching dominates again.
In his 8 starts this year Boyd has been very good and he’s been death on lefties 143/583. For his career he has a split of a little over 100 OPS. Does Boone do anything different? I guess he’ll have to move Wells down in the lineup assuming Trevi is not a thing. Our two switch hitters are much worse from the right side. That leaves Berti. Does he stick him in at 1B, 3B or LF? He’s played the OF 95 games and Verdugo is hitting 228/592 against LHP for the season.
I think the only change will be Stanton hitting cleanup.
“Stanton hitting cleanup”
_
And there was partying thoughout all the lands, and there was pork in the treetops!
berti sighting!
Berti at first, Trevi catching, Stanton cleanup. I would’ve preferred sitting Verdugo.
https://x.com/riveraveblues/status/1846969538547429750?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
So the only way to get Stanton to cleanup is to actually bench Wells.
That’s the Boone I know.
You guys pretend to be neutral observers but I can tell you’re secretly rooting for the Yankees
No rooting in the pressbox. Of which this institution is a vital part.
Trevino catching.