From Zach Sweet:
The Yankees scored two runs Friday. They scored two more Saturday. Then, on Sunday, they did it again.
This time, Gerrit Cole and the pitching staff allowed those two runs to hold up.
Cole worked through 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, Brent Headrick escaped a bases-loaded jam and the bullpen protected a one-run lead the rest of the way as the Yankees edged the Cubs, 2-1, at Wrigley Field.
It completed a series in which New York scored exactly two runs in all three games yet managed to win twice, a fitting conclusion to a road trip increasingly defined by the pitching staff’s ability to turn almost every contest into a game of inches.
“Phenomenal, really,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously, the pitching’s been outstanding, but also in a lot of those games, doing some big things — whether it’s bases, defense, enough with the bat, whatever. It’s about winning games.”
A recurring theme that we have talked about a LOT is the idea that the Yankees can’t keep doing this shit where, if the bullpen isn’t PERFECT, they don’t win. You can’t keep asking Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar to just bail the team out of trouble in crazy situations where a single run turns a win into a likely loss, but, well, that’s precisely how they won two out of three in Chicago, by Headrick, Blackburn, and Bednar being nails.
Of course, in the middle of that, they also had a game here Cruz and Headrick both sucked, and the Yankees LOST that game after leading 2-1, just like the first and third games. But hey, as Jim Steinem once wrote, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
Cashman’s wheeling and dealing has begun, with the addition of Luis Garcia Jr., a terrible defensive second baseman who was literally leading the ENTIRE National League in slugging percentage, and who is signed through next year. He’ll obviously be a big addition to the team, but he is yet ANOTHER lefty slugger, and one who doesn’t get on base much (and who sucks against lefties). I legit don’t know where he will play, besides I guess platooning at first with Goldy (as Goldy can’t hit righties at ALL anymore). Maybe they try to teach him to play second again, and move Jazz temporarily to the outfield? I guess it all depends on who they acquire on Monday.
It’s not a bad start. Two intriguing backend pitching prospects, one fungible reliever (who they signed as a minor league free agent, so basically like found money) and one terrible reliever – that’s essentially nothing. That’s the Cash game plan. Give up garbage, and hope the guy you acquire is good, and if he sucks, well, at least you gave up garbage to get him. Cash will trade top notch guys when he has to, but only when he’s getting a STUD in return, and we shall see if there is a stud out there to be gotten (Adley Rutschman would be the best possible target for them right now).
An amusing thing about Rutschman is that, if they DID acquire him, it would mean that Ali Sanchez would still get one more week on the team, as Rutschman is on the IL right now, and is JUST about to start rehab games, so he’s probably a week away from returning. So I was so happy about not having to see Sanchez again, and yet he’ll probably be here another WEEK if they do, in fact, acquire Rutschman (which is, of course, not nearly a done deal).
Featured image is Wells congratulating Headrick for getting out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth. Wells is wearing special gear in honor of Thurman Munson on the 47th anniversary of Munson’s tragic death. Speaking of the game within the game, Headrick was down 3-0 in the count with the bases loaded and got a strike called that I think MIGHT have missed the plate, but Niko Hoerner didn’t challenge. He then flew out on the next pitch to end the inning. A game of inches, people!
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With the Angels and Arias, nice to see that other teams don’t do that kind of thing EXCLUSIVELY to the Yankees.
Also wondering about the announcement that the Padres rejected an offer of Warren. Did the Padres make that announcement? Does that generate good will and a desire to enter negotiations with them?
Serious question – did the tigers ask for both Cam and Rice for Skubal a few months ago? And instead got what????
Cashman is really past his prime.
The Tigers were not willing to trade Skubal before the season, hence them asking for outrageous returns if you wanted to change their minds. Once their season fell apart, they were very much GOING to trade him, for just two months and a postseason, so obviously the prices were going to be lower. I’m sure the Yankees looked into him, but the Tigers got two Top 100 prospects from the Dodgers, they weren’t going to get that from the Yankees (and I assume no one wants the Yankees to have traded Lombard for two months of Skubal, right?).
Fascinating. The Blue Jays traded for Jose Soriano. I imagine that’s more for NEXT year (as their rotation is a bit of a mess for next year right now).