Over the last month, the Yankees have regularly interspersed short winning streaks with a loss - and sometimes a full-scale, Grade F, pungently ripened clunker. You know a Yankee clunker: Our opponent takes an early lead. We load the bases several times without scoring. Our bullpen implodes. We go three innings without a hit. They shut the door. In the ninth, we bring the tying run to the plate. He strikes out. Clunkerola.
So the question is, based on what has happened thus far, what will the One Game Season - aka the Wild Card - serve up?
Since September 1, here is the Girardi Sequence:
Loss. Win. Blowout. Blowout. Loss. Win. CLUNKER. Win. Blowout. Blowout. Loss. Win. Blowout. Blowout. Blowout. Blowout. Loss. Win. Win. Blowout. Loss. Win...
Under the sequence, here is how the rest of the season, beginning today in Toronto, will unfold.
Blowout. Blowout. Loss. Win. Blowout. CLUNKER. Win. Blowout.
Wild Card game... Blowout!
Yes, as you see, we currently hold a proper trajectory entering the Nine Inning Season. But here's the rub: A loss today or tomorrow would dramatically alter the sequence, perhaps sending us into the "Selig Series" at the tail end of a mini-streak - ripe for a loss.
The real key will be losing a clunker - I mean, an all-out shit show - to Toronto on the final weekend. We need to get the clunker out of our system. And regardless of how good it feels, we must NOT go into the Wild Card on a little mini-winning streak. We need to win the final game, but not the final three.
Next up: How long will the GOP go before the next try at health care?
CAN WE PLEASE STOP BENCHING GREG BIRD?
ReplyDelete.....JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
I appreciate the deep mathematic analysis that deciphered the Girardi Sequence. I worry, though, that it may be extrapolated to our ongoing streaks against specific teams. Specifically the Twins, who we beat like Buck Showalter's bullpen last time we saw them and for most of this century. Overdue for a clunker against the Twinkies? I hope not.
ReplyDeleteI just saw an omen. Chocolate cake twinkles appeared in our local grocery store.
ReplyDeleteA spice of life I first saw ( and consumed ) in Syracuse. The test markets must have gone well.
My dilemma; is this discovery a good omen or a bad one?
If I eat the entire box in one sitting is that good for the Yankees?
I need help from a twinkie.
Alphonso,
ReplyDeleteEat the whole box and see what happens.
If we win, eat a box every day until we lose.
If we lose, eat a whole box of something else tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGarcia's performances each time through the order argue that he is not actually a starter, but a two or three inning middle reliever. But we continue to use him as a starter. That can't be a good idea in the long haul.
Completely off topic: Jaime Garcia looks like Corey Feldman and is a mediocre at best pitcher.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but it had to be said.
Alphonso - I don't know if I like the idea of "eating" our opponents. It's kind of like the Sin Eater from the pilot for The Night Gallery perhaps by "eating" the sugary or salty snack of the team we play we might absorb their sins.
ReplyDeleteSo eating the Twinkie might give us Phil Hughes' long ball problem. Eating the Lays chemically infused and fake BBQ chips of the Astros might turns us collectively into Republicans. And, of course eating the Clam Chowdah of death would make us all total Massholes.
We need to go with our quintessential NY strengthening consumption. Eat a box of Entenmenn's Chocolate Donuts. Eat a half dozen Sabrett's Hot Dogs. Eat a Better Breakfast Every Day. Help your self at work or play.
The bottom line is, we CAN make a difference. After all, only YOU can prevent forest fires. We just need to choose carefully. Therefore choose life. (Sorry still doing the high holidays)
Doug K.
Garcia threw 60 pitches, 27 were strikes. Whereas Monty and Gray will throw a bunch of balls with strikes, I don't think I've ever seen Garcia throw strikes consistently at any point in a game. Who'd they trade for this bum?
ReplyDelete"We're still trying to win the division" - proceeds to start Garcia and have Mitchell come in to sink them further.
ReplyDeleteTwo young pitchers, one of them tearing up A-ball (a lefty, too), Leinstery.
ReplyDeleteDoug K: nice theory, but it doesn't work I can assure you: Lay's (at least, their kettle chips) does NOT turn one into a Republican - - far, far, from it; Snow's excellent NE Clam Chowder does not turn one into a beanhead bum; just like Entenmann's cherry cheese danish - - even a whole box of them - - does not turn one into a Yankee fan (especially if you already ARE one) - - and oh, for some nice, fresh NY Deli pastrami...God, I'm torturing myself! Stop, stop... OUT, Damned Spot!!
Anyway, we have 1 inning left at this point, to avoid wasting Judge's 47th AND 48th bombs. Out, out, damned sequence!!
...and, the Re-Thugs are already trying to make another attempt to repeal Obamacare: they asked Rand Baby what it would take to get his vote; he replied, "take the block-grants out of the bill" - - which, of course, would wreck their whole, damn sceme to destroy Medicaid, and give the money to the rich. They ask Murkowski daily, too - - believe me, they'll make any change they think will work - - for the next five days. LB (No J)
You watch, Garcia on the postseason roster, Bird not on the postseason roster. Jeez.
ReplyDeleteAnd, once again Garcia falls juuuuuust short on his self-described quest to "go eight or nine" every time out.
ReplyDeleteI understand. I have also failed on my quest to win the lottery every day. Though I think I had a better chance.
The guys we gave up for him were the mysterious Dietrich Enns, and Zack Littell, who went 20-1 in the minors this year.
No, that's not a misprint. He went 20-1. But, you know,he doesn't throw hard or something, or he has a bad pick-off move to third base.
But we still have Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder and someone named Gallegos.
ReplyDeleteThose are the talented prospects Cashman didn't give up to get that rat dog from the Twins.
Which team, by the way, will not only defeat us in the one game, play-in, but laugh at us for taking Garcia and giving up more than a twinkie to get him,.
A lot more.
You see; incompetence is forgiven everywhere at the senior levels : Cashman is killing the Yankees, and Jerry Reese is like bubonic plague for the football Giants.
Yet, nothing happens to them, despite obvious, consistent failure.
Mediocrity prevails and continues forever.
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