Answer: in a 5-game series that is tied 1-1, this is huuuuggggeeeeee. The winner is one game away from the series while the loser has to win 2 in a row. SU has said that a 5-game format gives a lesser team like the Yankees a better shot vs. the Red Sox than if they were playing a 7-game series. Some thoughts this morning:
- Alex Cora is either a genius or will go down in history as mis-managing his way through this series with his bullpen moves. SU asks why so many starters pitching in relief? You won 108 games – did you ever have to do that in the regular season?
- Did you see the stat that Tanaka has historically one of the lowest post-season ERAs in history? Sooo, why take him out after 5 innings in game 2? Sure, it worked out with Betances although he did give up one run. If Severino is lights out through 5, do we see this happen again tonight?
- SU believes that if hitters keep seeing the same pitchers game after game in relief, they will figure things out. There is a downside to keep rolling out all of the relievers. SU is concerned.
- And I continue to hate that Boone takes out Andujar after 5-6 innings for defense. He is a reliable hitter and these games are too close for the most part to remove him. Just a matter of time before that costs him.
- Severino is up and down vs. Boston but clearly better at home. Porcello is much better at Fenway vs. the Yankees. Tonight is really a toss-up.
- Finally: Chapman terrifies me. His ERA against Boston is 8.57 or something like that. Britten is no sure thing either. SU says no lead is safe here late – for either team.
Note I did not criticize Stanton. He continues to fly under the radar with his ineffectiveness. But ready to be proven wrong.
SU caught the 2nd half of the Giant game yesterday – that was great fun. I don’t think there was one punt – just touchdowns and interceptions. A guy making a 63-yard game winning field goal is similar to all of the pitchers today throwing 100 mph. The game has changed and kickers are stronger and more athletic (or the chemists in baseball and football continue to be a step ahead of the testers). Gano made that one with 10 yards to spare. Btw, it’s not healthy to watch a full Giant game – kills some portion of your brain cells after 3 hours.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
There will always be 2 strong arguments on why pitchers come out of the game even when they have thrown well. The same goes with the familiarity on seeing the same pitchers over time. I guess this is where those analytics kick in when moves are made where 10 years ago they would not have been made.
With Tanaka I’m guessing that a third time around the batting rotation coupled with Tanaka does give up the long ball told Boone lets make the move. Boston is quite capable of doing that and all of a sudden the game is tied or worse.
These teams were 1 and 2 in runs scored. There are reasons for that and showing a batter a different “look” just might be the only way of reducing the chances of the batter from being effective. Was Tanaka overdue in being tagged for a homer. I guess that’s what the analytics might have whispered to Boone.
OK… your point is well taken in terms of the familiarity both teams have by seeing the same pitchers over and over again. You might call it a wash except for one big factor….the Yankees bullpen is much better than the Red Sox bullpen. I have no problem with Boone doing what he did…. but on the other side I think Cora will go deeper with his Starter than he did in the first 2 games. If he doesn’t then the Yankees will win the series at home. Would it surprise you to see Sales in Game 4 if their Starter is very shaky and its a 1 run game WITH THE YANKS UP 2 GAMES TO 1.? I wouldn’t be surprised. I know you give him up probably for the most part in Game 5 but as they say in the Wizard of Oz…. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME…. I’ sure the Sox will take out the Bloody Sock and hang it by the dugout.
Sox going with Eovaldi tonight instead of Porcello- interesting call. Also, as Michael Kay always notes, when you go with five different relievers you are banking on the fact that one of them will not have a truly off night.
Notice that Boone has not pitched Holder. He got lit up by Boston in August and I don’t see how he brings him in for a close game this series.
Joe Torre always said he wanted his best starter in game 3 because of the pivotal nature of the game whether 1-1 (winner gets huge advantage), 0-2 (stave off elimination), 2-0 (put’em away), so Severino against Eovoldi is best we could have hoped for. While this is strictly business and I don’t want to make it personal, Alex Cora is a punk and would love nothing better than to have him be the reason the Sox loose to the Yankees. Would like him right up there with Grady Little in 2003 ALCS Pedro debacle.
Stanton has been up in a few big spots and not only hasn’t he looked great. He’s looked terrible. No matter what approach he takes (taking a couple pitches or going up hacking) he seems to get himself into an 0-2 count every time.He’s been unimpressive but he’s a nice guy and a lot of fans are invested in his jersey so his performance receives less criticism than you’d expect.
The Chapman concern is a real one. He doesn’t look right at all. If Boone uses Betances, Britten and Robertson, I’m very nervous sending Chapman in to close with nobody behind him if things go badly.
Late in the Giants game they reported that it was the first time Giants scored more than 30 points in their past 30-something games. How can that be? We’ve known their offense has been weak but with the way teams score points these days, you would think they would have stumbled their way to 30 points at least a couple times over the course of 2 seasons.