Lots of hate for Aaron Boone on Twitter last night and this morning for the handling of the bullpen in game 3. SU did not see the last 3 innings of the game but was following on line. I get all of the analytics and wanting your best relievers to face the heart of the order in the 7th and 8th innings. But the 9th inning is still the 9th inning and you need your top guys to pitch that inning.

Now, the Yankees’ bullpen is vastly depleted as SU has pointed out for the last few months. No Green, no King (huge), no Chapman (MIA) and Holmes is banged up. The Yankees need big leads to win these games. But… you have to save your top guys for the 8th and 9th innings. You also have to note that if the series goes 5 games, you are playing 4 days in a row. You cannot pitch everyone every game. The bottom line last night is that Boone put Clark Schmidt in for the biggest outs of the season and he did not come through. Holmes said in the post-game interviews that he was available and ready but Boone said he was only an emergency option. Interesting miscommunication there.

The Guardians continue to get a lot of bloop hits “but that’s baseball, Suzyn.” The bigger issue, of course, is that the Yankees don’t hit other than home runs. SU does not like this team – just too many hitters who go up to the plate mindlessly guessing on pitches and not considering where the fielders are or the situation. Do you ever watch Josh Donaldson hit? And so many right-handed hitters who look over matched by the right – handed pitchers on the Guardians. They hit 3 home runs last night and in most games, probably enough to win. But what about tonight? Can they manufacture runs?

Long-time subscriber, J. Levine, wants to see Carpenter in the line up tonight as DH and Stanton in the outfield. And Cabrera at shortstop in place of IKF who has been pretty bad in the field. SU agrees with the moves. SU says roll the dice – and put your better hitters in there. Then you can bring in Hicks in the late innings for defense although truth be told, he has been terrible out there all year.

SU notes this. The Guardians are winning putting the ball in plan and they have had a bunch of bloop hits. The Baseball gods do not let you do that too many games in a row. SU believes this series will go 5 games although not necessarily feeling the Yankees will win it. Boone has run through his top relievers and that is going to cost him as the starters can’t go more than 6 innings. Even Cole throws way too many pitches early and he needs to go 7 innings and 125 pitches tonight for sure.

Long-time subscriber, J. Winston, has told SU that I am not giving the Philadelphia teams enough credit and he is clearly right. The Phillies are a great story after beating the mighty Braves. SU likes manager Rob Thomson and also hitting coach Kevin Long who apparently is in the mix for several managerial openings this off season and good for him. And how about the Eagles? Philadelphia – city of champions??

San Diego took out the Dodgers last night so Met fans can feel a little better about losing to the Padres. Both the Braves and Dodgers out and soon the Yankees may join them. Good for baseball if not World Series ratings.

Is Aaron Boone managing his final game for the Yankees tonight? 2 innings for Loaisiga? Not going to matter as they are blown out by a feisty Guardian team? Thoughts?