Saturday, September 15, 2018

It's gotta be Masahiro

Lately, there's been talk of J.A. Happ - or even the ghost of Luis Severino - starting the one-game season Wild Card. 

What. A. Crock. 

If the juju gods have learned us anything, it is that Masahiro Tanaka needs to pitch the big games. We might have hotter pitchers. But we have no one better. If Tanaka doesn't have it, we will empty the bullpen and hope for a slugfest. But the truth is, if Tanaka doesn't have it, we won't last long in the month of October. 

Check out these stats since the All-Star break:


Not much inspires hope, eh? (Maybe Chad Green's return to form does.) But there we have Tanaka, once again burnishing his reputation as a warrior of the home stretch. Last night, he blew away sad, hapless Toronto, which doesn't even want to subject its top prospects to such a disillusioned clubhouse. 

Trouble is, the rest of the weekend is Antiques Roadshow - CC Sabathia and Lance Lynn - both human bullpen hurricane warnings. (And for now, the Yankees haven't set their starters against Boston - with Eovaldi and Price going in the first two against us.) 

After 140 games, the Yankees are waterlogged with questions. We still don't know who closes, who bats second, who plays left field, or on which coast the game will take place. But dammit, we have our Wild Card starter. This is one call Boone better not blow.

10 comments:


  1. To be positive for a moment: Cessa threw 3 innings last night. TH was a day off. Robby and Britton were the only relievers used Weds.

    So if the next 2 games are going feature copious use of the bullpen, the NYYs are ready. And they have Chance Adams out there now, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tanaka is the only money pitcher we have at the moment. I could not agree more.

    My expectations are still at zero. It's safer that way. I am not one of those timid souls, shivering in fear at the bottom of the stairway. At the same time, I don't expect anything. Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

    blah blah blah

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are all not seeing the forest, for the trees.

    Sonny Gray, all the way.

    Sonny Gray, on the day.

    Sonny Gray, won't fade away.

    Sonny Gray, any day.

    My man for the one game play in.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wednesday, Oct. 3 (v. A's): TANAKA
    Friday, Oct. 5 (v. Boston): HAPP
    Saturday, Oct. 6 (v. Boston): SEVERINO
    Monday, Oct. 8 (v. Boston): TANAKA
    Tuesday, Oct. 9 (v. Boston): SABATHIA
    Thursday, Oct. 11 (v. Boston): HAPP

    With this, we actually have a chance (W, W, L, W, L, W).

    ReplyDelete
  5. The alternative is to, say, start Severino in the Bud Selig Wild Card Play-In game. That would save Tanaka for two games against Boston.

    If Sevvy cannot make a good showing—and that 2nd half, 6.35 ERA sure is scary—then we have absolutely zero chance to doing anything, anyway, and we might as well get it over.

    (In this same vein, Alphonso has the true alternative: throw Sonny Gray, save everybody. Hey, if we win that game then a miracle is surely aborning.)

    OR...would we be better off NOT putting up our best pitcher against Sale?

    That argues for starting Tanaka in the Wild Card, then going, say, Sevvy in Game 1, and trying to sweep the Sox in the next three: steal one at Fenway with Happ, get two at the Stadium from Tanaka and CC...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hoss, Hoss, Hoss, there is only one game: the game you play next. That must be won. All else is secondary.

    Who is this Sunny Grey of which you speak? Does such a creature still breathe and move come the Fall in October?

    ReplyDelete
  7. best thing about this season? the nicknames:

    Sasha Grey
    Loretta Lynn
    Johnny Lasagna
    Hap and Hapless (or just "Happy" if you're so inclined)
    the Bird's Infinite Potential variations

    I know there are others, but I"m too tired now.

    ReplyDelete

  8. I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
    God bless you
    I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.

    ReplyDelete

Members of the blog can comment. To receive an e-mailed invitation, write to johnandsuzyn@gmail.com. And check spam if it doesn't show up. (Google account required.)

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.