When you are chasing a division leader, the head-to-head series are just that much more important as you control your own destiny. The Yankees lost 2 of 3 and were in great position last night to win the series. So, what happened?
- Aroldis Chapman is no Mariano Rivera. Of course, no one is but at $85 million for 5 years, he is supposed to be better than 4 blown saves already this year. He barely hung on Friday night and was exposed again last night. A key takeway for SU this weekend is how many pitchers are throwing 100 mph these days. As in almost everyone. The batters are speeding up their swings to make the adjustment and you still need a second pitch that won’t allow them to sit on that pitch. Girardi will stick with him although SU predicts that tonight, if there is a save opportunity, it will be someone else to give Chapman “a night off.” Check your ego at the door and just cash your paycheck if you don’t like it.
- Speaking of paychecks, who’s contract will prove to be worse: Chapman’s or Ellsbury’s? Ellsbury has been given many chances of late to come through including last night. He continues to come up short and has settled in at .240 with no power. Embarrassing. Chapman is already proving to be mortal in only his 1st year. SU says you don’t throw big dollars at closers other than Mariano. They are too up and down and five years is a long time.
- The Red Sox don’t have the power hitters but they all put the ball in play. That is the difference with the Yankees who swing and miss a lot and have no clue when it comes to situational hitting. When you play a lot of close games, not getting in runners with a ground ball when the infield is back is a killer. Judge and Sanchez are front and center in that regard. But they are still young and will figure it out.
- They still play the Red Sox two more series and will face Sales again two more times for a total of 5 times this year. While he is great, wouldn’t you think that you would start to pick up a few things when you face the same pitcher that many times? Here is one thing: he starts almost every right-handed hitter with a slider on the outside corner. Maybe sit on that pitch and take it to right field? Just a thought.
Bottom line: this was not the year for the Yankees to make their move. SU says they are ahead of schedule and I will not get down. Many more games to go. But I will say this: NO HOME RUN DERBY IN 2018 for Judge. Say what you want but his slump began right after the All-Star Break and his swing has a bigger upper cut than it did before. It’s not a coincidence.
Interesting scene at the 18th green in yesterday’s PGA Championship. Several of the PGA TOUR’s 20-something stars (Spieth, Fowler) stuck around to cheer on their 24-year old friend, Thomas. That was pretty cool. They are competitors but friends as well. You do not see that much in professional sports.
Generation Next in tennis was on display up in Montreal this weekend. Sasha Zverev is 20 I believe and he won his 2nd tournament in a row easily beating Federer in the finals. There was an 18-year old Canadian, Denis Shapovalov, born in Israel and raised in Canada, who beat Nadal and made it to the semis. He is really good and will be part of the next generation of star players. It’s good for tennis as the Big Four start to break down. Zverev might be the favorite going into the US Open or at least right up there with Federer.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
If any of the top prospects from the trade for Sonny Gray and Todd Frazier/Robertson/Kahnle pan out, this season’s wild card berth will prove to be absolutely not worth it. However, some of this may be due to injuries. How many Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks at bats have they wish they had in these big games? Hicks is already making his mark this week in his return. When Cessa gets rocked tonight, you will remember it should have been Tanaka pitching.
While last night’s loss was a tough one, it somewhat evened out the two come from behind wins the Yankees have had against Boston this year (the 16 inning game and Friday night). If Boston loses a couple of games to Cleveland, the Yankees are right back in the hunt with next weekend’s series.
19 days until Michigan Football!
Good points, Ben. I agree that the Castro injury is especially bad. Torreyes has been great but it means they keep playing Todd Frazier every day. He had a good sac fly last night but please, his productivity at 3rd base is even worse than Chase Headley. When Bird returns, Headley should go back to 3rd base and Frazier to the bench. Gardner has cooled as expected and Hicks should get the lion share of the at bats in the outfield now. Long way to go and the Red Sox are not world beaters. Excited about Michigan football as well and college football in general.
I concur. Sale was impressive throwing 99 mph at pitch 112 or so, but the Yankees need to lay off the high cheese. But they have battled Sale tough this year. He has quite the arm & with that long reach, the ball is in on you in no time. IMHO the chemistry of this Yankee ball club was altered due to injuries and perhaps some ill advised moves & untimely cold streaks. But they’ll gain traction. Now the Mets. Like any NY Ranger – NY Islander games, you can throw out the records. These games take on a life of their own.
Thank you.
Chapman was running on fumes in the World Series last year (couldn’t crack 90 mph) and still pitched better than this. As with most closers when they struggle, something’s up in his head. I didn’t see last night but on Friday he refused to look his pitching coach in the eye after walking 3 straight. His body language was awful. I think I was saying the same thing last year at this time but I’ll say it again. Andrew Miller at $9 million for 2 more years was an absolute bargain. Yes, the trade brought Clint Frazier but the difference between Miller’s contract and what they were going to turn around and offer Chapman in free agency is just too great.
Still, the Ellsbury deal is worse. That was the contract that was supposed to show the value of restraint as in not offering 10 years to Cano. But they were so focused on years 8, 9 and 10 that they forgot to focus on the value of years 1 through 7. I thought they made the right move by letting Cano go. But I thought the consolation moves (Ellsbury and McCann) were just as bad.
The thing about this year’s moves at the trade deadline is that they weren’t giving up all their prospects for one shot. Some of these pickups are young with years under contract/control. They will have some of these guys for 2018.
Sure you would like to note that Tyler Clippard has been traded to the Astros- talk about last to first.
I watched the game on Monday and I still like how Judge will “go with the pitch” and not try to pull the ball every time.
Maybe if Chapman did not head out to the mound dressed for December weather he may be a little more effective.