From Bryan Hoch:
The Yankees and Dodgers have met in 11 previous World Series, more than any other franchise pairing. With bold-faced names on each roster, the lights bright and every seat filled at Yankee Stadium, it was easy to envision this as a preview of what could be in store this autumn.
First things first. It took extra innings to decide the weekend’s first meeting between these powerhouses, with Teoscar Hernández lining a two-run double off Ian Hamilton in the 11th. Aaron Judge responded with a run-scoring hit in the home half, but the Yankees were turned aside in a 2-1 loss on Friday evening in the Bronx.
“Feeding off the crowd is what made it special,” Judge said. “They were on their feet tonight, from the very first pitch all the way into extra innings. Those are the games you want to play in. It was a fun one tonight — I just wish it would have ended a little differently.”
The Yankees absorbed their fourth extra-innings defeat of the year as Juan Soto remained on the bench, considered day to day with left forearm inflammation after undergoing an MRI earlier on Friday. Though Soto picked up a bat several times, lurking at the dugout’s top step as though he intended to pinch-hit, manager Aaron Boone admitted Soto did not take practice swings at any point on Friday.
“We have a plan of what we’re going to do throughout these days,” Soto said. “It was a tough moment. I tried to be right there for my teammates.”
In all seriousness, what does PRETENDING that Soto might pinch-hit accomplish? Other than get the fans’ hopes up for no reason. Dave Roberts even noted that he didn’t even give the slightest thought that Soto might hit in the game. It was just some dumb theater for no reason.
It’s funny, Yamamoto vs. Poteet, I think we all were very prepared for a loss, but the longer the game went on, the more painful the actual loss was. Verdugo swinging on a pitch AS Volpe steals second, thus negating the advantage of Volpe stealing second. Trent Grisham, one of the shittiest hitters around, being unable to bunt a runner over to third in the tenth. Trevino and Volpe not putting together good at-bats in the tenth. LeMahieu and Rizzo (especially Rizzo) looking absolutely washed. Stanton missing a meatball in the eleventh. Verdugo playing a go-ahead single by Teoscar Hernandez into a two-run double by virtue of him trying to be the hero and making a miracle catch he had no chance of actually making. The ump flipping a coin on all of the close pitches (and flipping the coin in the Dodgers’ favor three times as Hamilton walked Freddie Freeman after having him 0-2). And Rizzo with the weakest game-ending popup you’ll ever see (Rizzo is among the league leaders in pop ups this season). It was such a pathetic display. Why is Jahmai Jones on the team if they’ll never ever use him for anything but pinch-running? And Waldo could have pinch-run for LeMahieu just as well. So there really is NO need for Jones on this team. Can’t Cash pick up some veteran hitter who could actually, you know, HIT? Brendan Belt is still a free agent, for crying out loud! You’re telling me Brandon Belt wouldn’t be more useful coming off the bench to hit for Grisham in a tie game in the 10th? I don’t even hate Jones, but THEY NEVER PLAY HIM. What benefit are they getting out of this guy who they NEVER PLAY (except to pinch-run, but, again, Waldo can pinch run just as well).
In any event, Poteet, Tonkin, and Holmes were all outstanding, and Caleb Ferguson did a good job (and really, even Ian Hamilton did okay, he just got stretched out a bit too much. I don’t disagree that I’d sooner have him than Dennis Santana against Teoscar. It just didn’t work out, and he made a terrible pitch, and Verdugo made a terrible play in the outfield).
Oh shit, and I forgot to add, “Yankee Stadium feels like October,” yeah, because the offense was non-existent, one star player was missing from the lineup due to injury, and multiple other hitters sucked due to their slow recovery from their own injuries (see Matt Carpenter in the playoffs in 2022). Sounds like a Yankee playoff game for sure!
“Waldo could have pinch-run for LeMahieu”
Given that Jones never actually ran – indeed.
And there was zero reason to both (a) use Holmes, and (b) use him in tie game late for only 3 batters. Good likelihood the game, and those crucial at-bats, play out differently, and better, if they do that.
“Yankee Stadium feels like October” once meant “the Yankees winning the World Series.”
I assumed Yankee Stadium in October was filled with disappointment, so that tracks
And a lonely tear tumbled jerkily down his cheek and dropped unnoticed to its squelchy death far below.
Still no Soto. Same basic lineup as last night, only batting Grisham ninth.
Just tell us Soto is getting the weekend off, dudes! This whole, “He could play, but we’re just…not playing him for…reasons” is so stupid.
I hate when they play this silly game. And the same line up means that unless Judge hits a couple, 1 run.
I think there’s a chance he would have hit last night. Wasn’t there an inning where Grisham would have been up fourth if a man got on? He had his sweatshirt off and was holding a bat in anticipation. Now we can quibble about whether he should have PH in other situations too but I think Boone would have done it.
Although he really should have PH for Grisham in extras, so I dunno.
What is John Grisham even doing on a baseball team anyway
There weren’t enough obvious places where you HAD to bat Soto if you had him available? I can’t imagine situations that would have demanded him more than those they had.
He never even took practice at-bats. He wasn’t ever going to bat last night.
Boone said he wasn’t using Soto last night. I’ll be pissed if Soto’s out much longer and they don’t use El Marciano
I wouldn’t worry about that too much because they can just back-date it if he DOES go on the IL. And I assume they WOULD call up Dominguez at that point. I think we’re just going to have to come to terms with this being a lost series due to the Soto nonsense.
the Atlanta Braves have a pitcher named Hurston Waldrep, seems extremely unlikely
Bobby Valentine in Groucho glasses?
I want to remind us that without Soto and with that pitching matchup and against that team and with a bunch of stupid moves and bad plays… they still barely lost that game and could easily, easily have won it.
Rizzo decline
last 28 days 170/210/202 412
last 14 136/174/182 356
last 7 040/077/080 157
Can we get Chris Davis?
Really it’s tragic. Unspeakably awful.
The Scranton 1B is OPSing 756 which has to be better than Rizzo. Playing Waldo at 3b and DJ at 1b is weak but an upgrade.
You just can’t have Rizzo batting after the first 4.
Hard to argue. It has to be the concussion, that’s all. Which sucks.
I don’t see how it CAN’T be. He’s just a completely different hitter now. He hits like a normal guy out there now. And normal guys can’t fight off 100 MPH fastballs.
I said when he came back last season, I fear for what might happen if a pitcher losses control of a 95+ MPH fastball inside to Rizzo. His decline is almost Gehrig-like. Of course, Gehrig is an inner circle HoF, but still, it is scary to see this decline. Is no one in the Yankees organization (looking at you, Brian Cashman) concerned about Rizzo’s health? If George were still alive you can bet that he’d be having Rizzo tested again.
But how can Rizzo himself not see it?
This can’t be fun for him. And it’s not like last year, when he could argue he had no idea.
Why would he want to go through this?
Soto played through forearm inflammation. Carl Pavano pitched with a broken rib. These guys aren’t normal.
Not normal – as in immune to public embarrassment or humilation?
Apparently.
I don’t get why they don’t give Brandon Belt a shot, just as a guy who could pinch hit for Trevy, Grisham or Wells late in the game. He even has 75 starts in left field if need be.
Now Boone says ‘couple of days’ for Soto.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10124082-yankees-aaron-boone-juan-soto-likely-to-miss-a-couple-of-days-with-forearm-injury
Smoltz still crying. As if the guys playing in Atalanta before the Olympic Park wasn’t known as the launching pad. FFS
“Juan Soto is upset about missing this series. It’s three fewer games he has to aim at that short porch” – John Smoltz tonight
He’s so weird. I GUESS it’s just shtick by now, but it’s weird shtick.
Martian first AAA home run
https://x.com/mlbpipeline/status/1799568800049664018?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
This really feels like how Verdugo just had to miss the Orioles series. Just some awkward timing that they miss their best players for their two biggest series of the season. Ah well, let’s just hope Soto feels better.
Game thread?
Shouldn’t the game have started? Odd.
It’s up.