From Bryan Hoch:
The Yankees heard all winter that they were “running it back,” as though that constituted a flaw. They preferred to view it as a strength. After all, this lineup led the Majors in runs scored last year, with real reasons to believe their starting pitching is primed to improve.
Cast in a starring role for Major League Baseball’s streaming opener, the Yankees looked every bit ready for prime time. Their offense came at the Giants in waves, building an early lead that allowed Max Fried to cruise in a 7-0 victory on Opening Night at Oracle Park.
Trent Grisham’s two-run triple highlighted a five-run second inning as the Yankees pounced on right-hander Logan Webb. Ryan McMahon added a two-run single in the frame as the Bombers secured their fifth consecutive Opening Day win.
José Caballero, Giancarlo Stanton and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also drove in runs facing Webb, who surrendered seven runs (six earned) over five innings.
I thought that the hot dog cart bit was silly, but at the same time, we’re hopefully going to be having a whole season of header images of Max Fried having good games, so I figured I might as well mix up the header images by having Fried get a celebratory hot dog.
Anyhow, great win, and that’s WITH Aaron Judge going 0-5 with FOUR strikeouts!
Max Fried looked a bit rusty to start, but then very quickly got into a rhythm. He’s clearly one of those dudes who pitches to the guys in front of him. By which I mean that he pitches certain guys carefully, and then really goes after other dudes, and so once he had a five-run lead, he got SUPER aggressive, and he just dominated from that point forward. Great stuff.
The bullpen were pitching in a 7-0 game, so you can’t take too much from it. Camilo Doval was oddly used in a 7-0 game, but to be fair, with an off day on Thursday, he wouldn’t have pitched for five days by Friday, so I guess it makes some sense.
Anyhow, great way to start the season!
About the Author
That sneaked up on me. Early for opening day, isn’t it?
I still can’t quite understand what Brian meant by “Stanton scoring from second on that line drive.” Clearly something there I’m not understanding.
Weird way to win – mainly little ball, largely in just one inning.
But nice to see them win!
Also, why does Fried have to start with the “pitch super-carefully to a bunch of guys” when the rest of the game shows how much better going right after them works?
Re: Stanton scoring from second, I sort of expect him to run station-to-station to avoid a hamstring injury.
Yeah, exactly. A sharp line drive with Stanton on second base is very much not something that would automatically score Stanton in years past.
I presume it’s just a psychological thing. When one run can lead to a loss, he nibbles more. When he can safely give up a couple of runs, he gets more aggressive. I don’t know that you can turn your brain off. But Fried at least only does that to the really good hitters. Schmidt, Gil, and Warren sometimes pitch like that to EVERYbody (nibble nibble nibble).
The Netflix broadcast sucked, but the game was good. The only guy who didn’t have success is the one guy I have zero concerns about.
I’m reenergized for baseball this year (especially since I have my doubts about it happening next year)!
I’m not energized because Boone is still the manager.
The broadcast was goofy as hell. Grisham looked like he wanted to die before letting Jameis Winston make him eat a hot dog.
Jazz was delightful though
IBS challenge system
too many runs allowed
:slow clap:
mutts unstoppable, Skenes couldn’t get out of the first.
Curse of the WBC.
He threw 37 pitches and was done.
Skenes was off his game, but he could probably have made it at least a couple of innings if Oneil Cruz could play center field.
Opening Day: The 2025 AL MVP, 0-5 with 4 K’s, the 2025 NL Cy Young winner knocked out in the first inning.
Annoyingly, the future AL Cy Young winner was dominant.
And Trevor Rogers being another Cy candidate to see 8 times this year is annoying.
Yeah, but at least the Orioles’ other starters aren’t impressive. The Red Sox have some other good guys.
Thank Mann for the expanded Wild Card games.
https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-rally-with-8-run-6th-inning-on-opening-day
“The Boston Beaneaters and Brooklyn Bridegrooms did so on April 19, 1890.”
They couldn’t have said something more about THAT game?
The rule book was different in 1890. Bats were allowed to have a flat side until 1893, and I’m pretty sure teams were also granted six runs for a touchdown.
Alliteration was mandatory then.
Martian, Spencer, and Waldo go down in order. Hess with the start.
I haven’t listened to Effectively Wild in years. Are Meg and Ben still doing the Eeyore bit
Martian, Spence, Waldo all 1-2. Spence double. Yanquiel home run.
Beck thru 3 0r 1h 7k
People are freaking out about Rice sitting today. It’s Robbie Ray. He is a particularly tough lefty. It says nothing bad about Rice to sit him against Ray.
It just isn’t The San Francisco Treat without Rice.
Though if you really want a San Francisco treat, try the Garlic Noodles at Thanh Long.
yeah, let him get at bats against some lefties that don’t get cy young votes.
nbd at all
very excited for cam. i’d just like to see 4 solid innings. this guy could be absolutely unreal.
The lefty killers
P Goldschmidt (R) 1B
A Judge (R) RF
C Bellinger (L) CF
G Stanton (R) DH
A Rosario (R) 3B
J Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
J Caballero (R) SS
R Grichuk (R) LF
A Wells (L) C
Hess 5ip 0r 1h 9k