From Bryan Hoch:
For decades, the Yankees’ all-time home run leaderboard has read like a roll call of legends: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.
Now, that exclusive company has a modern addition. Aaron Judge launched his 358th career home run in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss on Sunday afternoon at Rate Field, matching Berra for fifth place in franchise history.
“The way Yogi played the game, what he meant to the pinstripes – you know how much it meant, being a New York Yankee, to him,” Judge said. “I feel the same way. I’m honored to wear this jersey. So it’s pretty cool to be on that list.”
Former Yankee Mike Tauchman robbed Giancarlo Stanton of what would have been a two-run homer with a leaping third-inning grab, and Tim Hill surrendered an eighth-inning Lenyn Sosa home run that represented the deciding run, snapping New York’s seven-game winning streak.
Those victories came against a pair of last-place clubs, the Nationals and White Sox, and convincingly so. Over their past eight games, the Yankees have outscored opponents 60-22, with their starting pitchers posting a 1.57 ERA (eight earned runs in 46 innings).
I really don’t think the Tauchman home run robbery was given enough attention. Dude went over the fence to take a Stanton drive back. It makes Stanton’s day look so much worse when you know that he came about two inches from hitting a two-run home run, ya know?
Beyond that, Luis Gil wasn’t great, but he was fine. Fernando Cruz was outstanding. Boone made a weird decision to NOT use his top three relievers in a tie game, and he got burned for it when Tim Hill gave up the go-ahead home run.
Also, Austin Wells came into the game in the eighth, but NOT to hit for Goldy against a righty. Don’t like that idea.
In any event, bad loss, but they still won 7 out of 8. Can’t complain too much about that. Now we get the gauntlet. They play literally THE first place team in all three of the American League divisions over their next nine games, at which point they then go to Fenway for three more against the Red Sox. So, well, that’s a lot of good teams in a row, so how they handle these games will really tell us everything about this team.
Featured image is the Tauchman robbery.
Tauchman’s robbery was incredible on so many levels. Get him all the regular incredible props for an amazing catch in the third inning of a very close game. Yes. Outrageous timing. Classic Tauchman.
But also, it was so very very Mike Tauchman. Subltle, slow to develop, suprising, but not really up on review, and also so incredibly economical. Everything Tauchman does successfully, it seems like he’s half asleep in the process, or maybe better said, if he used one ounce less of effort or had slightly less perfect timing, it wouldn’t work at all.
Then he leads off the next inning reaching on a strikeout, because to hit a stinging single might have gotten him noticed.
I’m not pining for Tauchman 2.0, and I’m glad he had most of his career away from here, except for 2019 he was a second division type player. Though he does seem to have learned some things about hitting in Korea.
The other thing about that catch was that it was the literal difference in scoring in the game. He misses that catch, and everything else stays the same, it’s a Yankee win. Mike Tauchman.
He gets to spend the early part of his thirties playing baseball for the two teams in the city he grew up near. This guy was great for Yankees fans in a way that exceeded any reasonable expectations. It’s wonderful to see the game being so good to him.
I need to find something to do today.
Great post, slick. Eat yourself some hot dogs to celebrate.
I assume Yarbrough comes up tomorrow. Escarra or Slater for the other spot?
Gotta be Slater.
The Yankees are off on labor day??? I mean every union worker deserves a holiday but come on
Tues: Framber Valdez vs. Max Fried
Wed: Jason Alexander vs. Will Warren
Thurs: Cristian Javier vs. Carlos Rodón
If we pitched Fried in game 2 we might just be able to avoid the sweep.
I don’t know, I like their chances against Constanza on Wednesday. He can’t be very effective at this point in his life.
Now that he’s given up sex his focus is strong.
Escarra up on a temporary basis. Slater to come back in a few days. Yarbrough also due back.
The Series of Doom.
Red Sox leading Cleveland. They’ll probably be tied with Boston heading into the Series of Doom.
Only Probably?