From Bryan Hoch:
Aaron Judge remembers childhood afternoons spent in the seats of what is now known as Oracle Park, where he’d seek autographs from players like infielder Rich Aurilia, whom he identifies as his favorite Giant of that time period. His big league dreams were painted in orange and black, frequently imagining what it would be like to round those beautiful bases.
It wasn’t until the Yankees’ series opener in San Francisco on Friday, as Judge played his first career game in China Basin, that he got to live out that early fantasy — twice. Judge hit a three-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the sixth off San Francisco right-hander Jordan Hicks, putting the finishing touches on a monster May in a 6-2 Yankees victory.
“You dream about it in the backyard, playing around a little bit,” Judge said. “Rounding the bases, I looked out to left field, being in those bleachers a couple of times. It just brought back some memories. This is a special place. I grew up a Giants fan and loved coming to games out here. It’s pretty cool, being on the opposite side of the field.”
Man, the dude started off cold as shit, and he has fucking TWENTY GODDAMN HOME RUNS!!! How insane is that? What a month of May for the Captain. I had to give him the featured image, even though Marcus Stroman battled through seven plus innings masterfully. He clearly didn’t have his best stuff, but it’s like I mentioned about Stroman earlier in the season when Gil and Schmidt were being headcases (they’ve luckily turned that shit around), which is that Stroman shows the value of a guy who just knows how to pitch. Cole is what you get when you have a guy who has amazing stuff AND “just knows how to pitch.”
I loved the use of Weaver for an inning and two thirds.
Just a good game overall, but Judge, holy shit, man.
free Ben rice! also I take exception to the notion that gil didn’t have his shit together all season
He had 14 walks in his first three games.
A month in, he had 19 walks and a 4.01 ERA and didn’t get past the fifth inning in any start. Totally fine for a #4 starter, of course, but it was almost all due to his lack of concentration. This last month, it’s like night and day. 12 walks in 6 games (versus 19 in five) and hasn’t gone LESS than six innings in any game this month. It’s been amazing. Matt Blake should run for President, or maybe Pope.
Truly amazing. I can’t remember a coach who’s had this kind of impact. I mean, literally – not one. Anywhere, ever.
I recall a few guys over the years who were highly touted, the Yankees just could never get them to come here. They tried with Don Cooper, but he would never leave Chicago. And they tried with Leo Mazzone, but he didn’t want to come to New York (he signed with Baltimore instead, hated it, and was fired after a year, and just retired). Obviously, with both of those guys, they only had shots at them when they were old. So having Blake before he’s even 40 is so awesome.
Johnny Sain had a good rep.
Blake must be doing a bunch for Gil, the way he’s done for the whole staff; but Gil himself seems to credit Cole. Called him “professor”.
(Quick, someone tell the Provost that for the University to remain competitive, faculty should be getting $36M a year.)
Gil’s given a lot of credit to Cole.
let them eat cake, eh Cronin?
The Martian and Mr Jones also had a double steal.
That absolutely HAS to be the name of a 1950s TV show.
Double Steel, a buddy cop movie
That’s what I was thinking, more 70s, a sequel to Alias Smith and Jones.
Imagining… say some weird mix of Greenacres and My Favorite Martian. I suppose that’s not quite the 50’s, either. But in the 50’s!
Looks like the MLB is fucking with the balls again
https://x.com/BallparkPal/status/1796882885397352764
Probably good for the Yankees, right? They have the perfect offense for a relatively dead ball.
Maybe?
It does help explain why their pitching has been so good – they have a bunch of flyball pitchers and fly balls aren’t going for HRs as often.
The flip side, is that if the MLB switches back to a livelier ball, they could really struggle at that point.
correlate
Two run triple for Spencer Jones
I’m impressed by excalibur
Martian 1/2 with a HR, 4th in 5 games, 343/1064, Rice 2/2, Jones 1/3 with a triple. As the song about the Martian goes “how you gonna keep ‘em’ down on the farm after they’ve seen Yankee Stadium.”
https://x.com/riveraveblues/status/1797055314606330176?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
Shouldn’t MLB mandate games with an East Coast team visiting a West Coast team start at 6:30 by the latest?
especially on a weekend!
i’m getting too old for this shit
Total of 4 RBIs for Spencer Jones.