From Bryan Hoch:
Aaron Judge knew about the comments — of course he did.
Not much happens at the corner of 161st and River without crossing the Yankees captain’s radar. So when a 25-year-old Red Sox rookie named Hunter Dobbins remarked that he’d rather “retire” than wear pinstripes, Judge took note.
“I’ve only heard Ken Griffey Jr. say that, so I was a little surprised,” Judge said after the Yankees’ 11-7 loss to Boston on Sunday evening at Yankee Stadium.
Dobbins made the comments in a pre-start interview with the Boston Herald, saying that he’d had his Bronx debut circled on the calendar for a long time, while adding: “If the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire.”
Judge’s memory is correct: Griffey did say that, part of a decades-old grudge against longtime principal owner George M. Steinbrenner, who supposedly once chased a young Griffey from the dugout while his dad was an active player.
Dobbins? His dad was a Red Sox fan, which should automatically endear the 25-year-old hurler to the population of greater New England. It didn’t win him many friends in the right-field bleachers, though, where Judge took him for the first of his two homers on Sunday.
Judge cracked Dobbins’ sixth pitch over the Bombers’ bullpen for a two-run homer, then added a two-run blast in the ninth. He’s now tied with the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani for second in the Majors with 23 home runs, trailing the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh (26).
At the end of the day, the Yankees’ pitchers all sucked (besides Devin Williams) for three straight games. What more can you do when your pitchers all sucked? Carlos Rodon was having a nice night, until he walked the #8 hitter in the fifth, and I noted that that wasn’t the end of the world, but it was concerning, and sure enough, that was the sign that headcase Rodon was back, and he allowed a home run to tie the game at 2-2, and then opened the sixth inning with a HBP and a walk, and he was clearly struggling. But he SHOULD have been able to work through it, so I have NO problem with Boone keeping him in the game. He then gave up a home run, and then Fernando Cruz ALSO chose to suck (I worry that Cruz’s injury has affected him somewhat), but even as Cruz sucked, he still go two Ks and had two outs when Boone went to Tim Hill. I get bringing in Tim Hill with the bases loaded and no or one out. You’re hoping for the groundball double play. But when there’s TWO OUTS, there’s SO many better options than Tim Hill.
And it didn’t work out, and suddenly it was 7-3. Jonathan Loaisiga had a good inning, so, of course, Boone pushed him for a second inning, and he sucked, giving up the third and fourth home runs that he’s allowed since he’s returned in just ten innings pitched.
Then Brent Headrick sucked, as well, to make it 11-5.
And due to the vagaries of the schedule, the Yankees are right back in Boston next weekend, and Yarbrough and Rodon will get to face these guys AGAIN. Rodon has been DOGSHIT against Boston as a Yankee, and it really pisses me off that just when you start to think that MAYBE Rodon isn’t an irredeemable headcase, he has a game like this.
The offense was fine. You’d have preferred them to score more runs, but, well, fuck, 7 runs is a lot of fucking runs, ya know?
The featured image is the umpire’s view of Narvaez’s go-ahead home run off of Rodon.
Ghosts of Sid Fernandez, who would so often shut everyone down and then crumble in the 5th or 6th. Rodon, Warren – too often over the past week. The staff has to be able to help them with that.
Anyone see anything Rodon changed, something he can learn from?
Rodon has been so good, just seems like yesterday was one of those things. Cole always has a few during the year. I don’t know how long we can count on Yarbrough and Gil had a side session recently but will need to go through a handful of them still before he faces live batters. Boone categorized it as “touch-and-feel” Similar report on Stroman.
The pen looks very vulnerable with Weaver gone and Lo and Cruz having bad outings.
I don’t know if any of a rehabbing Brubaker, Schlittler or Winans who is 29 but is dominating AAA are options to start. Beeter or Colten Brewer might be useful in the pen.
Boone on last night “they put together some really good at bats against ‘good’ pitching. Seriously Aaron, good pitching?
Thirty seven runs in 4 games for the townies.
And a 2-2 record!
Go look at two catches by Denzel Clarke (featured on mlb.com).
So often you hear announcers going crazy when an outfielder gets to the wall and brings back the ball… with a little hop.
Not these. THAT is bringing back a home run!
That catch yesterday was insane. Video game level.
probably the best robbery i’ve seen
Like, we’ve all seen players go all out after a foul ball, make the catch, and end up in the stands or the dugout. I’ve never seen someone make the catch with more than half his body over the wall and still the forward momentum, and yet pull himself back. Let alone do it in fair territory to rob a home run. I’ve seen Bo Jackson run up a wall, I’ve seen Rodney McCray run through a wall, I’ve seen* Willie Mays turn on a dime and throw, but I’ve never seen this.
*Wasn’t alive in 1954, but I believe the video.
Edmonds’ catch is still the apex – I rewatch it and laugh out loud – but this is the first catch I’ve seen that you could really argue for even over that.
And definitely the best robbery. Really, how can that not be the best over-the-fencer ever?
…
VJ, I’d almost forgotten Rodney McRay. After that he ended up with all of 14 MLB at bats and just 3 hits.
“McCray was drafted not once or twice but four times, twice while at Santa Monica College and twice at West Los Angeles College. One time he didn’t sign because he broke both hands in separate injuries, one sliding to steal a base, the other when pitcher Randy Johnson (then with USC) hit him in the hand with a pitch. And he opted not to sign with the hometown Dodgers because he thought he would get buried on their outfield depth chart.
McCray finally signed with the Padres, who selected him in the ninth round of the 1984 January draft.”
not sure if it’s small sample size or subjective bias but under boone the yankees fare poorly under bright lights.
the boston and la series this year, mets last year, the one run games, field of dreams, and of course the world series.
is it just me? i don’t mean to make so much about a series in june when they’re up a bunch of games but what are we doing?
I think it’s mostly just coincidence. Max Fried won a World Series clinching game, I doubt he was dazzled by the Dodgers’ aura. He just sucked, plain and simple.
Same with Rodon. He just had a stinker. He had some really good playoff starts, and some off games there, as well.
From Brian’s keyboard to God’s social media feed!
God blocked me 🙁
Stanton to start a rehab assignment.
I had completely forgotten about him. They better get Rice more reps at 3B/1B/C.
How awesome would it be if Rice could handle 3B?
But that’s not really an option, is it? If it is, they should have been doing it long ago!
Yeah, Boone already said it is not an option.
Thanks, I never saw anything other than that they were going to work him out there
Judge, May AL player of the month; the fourth straight May he has won the award.
A Judge 2-run bomb. The last time he hit a 2-run HR in the first inning, they lost. Be prepared.