They have won six of their last seven series.
They are now a game behind Oakland for the wild card.
They play tomato cans for the next two weeks.
Now or never, right? Today, they must sweep the lackluster, trade-depleted Marlins, right? That, or nothing has changed.
Latest delusions...
1. It's heartening to see Giancarlo play LF, even if he shows the instincts of Clint Frazier and the legs of Y.A. Tittle. The Yankees can no longer fear losing him. He simply isn't that productive. Of the seven DHs with qualifying at-bats, Stanton ranks sixth in OPS, fifth in average, sixth in HRs and seventh in RBIs. He might still get hot and salvage the season. And dolphins might rise from the sea to protest casino gambling. Let Giancarlo roam his pasture, before we have to put him out to pasture. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt. A .254 bat is replaceable. 
2. Just as Mariano once took over for John Wetteland, it's easy to imagine Jonathan Loaisiga as the Yankee closer. He's our best arm out of the larder. Surely, the Yankees must keep hyping El Chapo, our late-inning intimidator. And we'll keep our fingers crossed for Zack Britton, who right now is surviving on hard-hit balls mashed directly at infielders. But one of these days, in extreme pressure situations, Boone will need to call for his best, and that's Loaisiga.
3. Lately, the Yankee farm system resembles a California town burnt to the ground. A week ago, lineups crackled with breakout potential. Now, a few names still pop out - Volpe, Dominiquez, Wells - but the difference is compelling. It will take years to fully assess last week's trades. One incredible disappointment is Deivi Garcia, who has lost his command in Scranton. This weekend, he once again was hammered - his ERA is now 7.41. Last year, Garcia looked untouchable. Now, yeesh. Some say this is why you trade prospects. Some say this is why you horde them. Me? I dunno, anymore. What's done is done. But the Yankees have no youthful cavalry coming from Triple A. If the team stumbles in August, September will be a long and hopeless month.
4. Videos of Cub fans waiting outside Wrigley Field to bid farewell to Anthony Rizzo warms our hearts. Clearly, he is a special player. I hope there is a way for him to co-exist with Luke Voit, without a platoon (which I think would crush both). Of course, wait a week, and injuries can change everything, right?
Jordan Montgomery today. Could we possibly give him five runs?
A sweep? It would be very encouraging. So far this season it seems that every bright spot has been immediately followed up with dark clouds. We have seen a lot of false starts by this club so if the momentum of the first 103 games held true we would most definitely disappoint today.
ReplyDeleteCan we truly turn the corner and see the light? Fingers crossed!
No. No, they cannot.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of series this year where we were in position to sweep but didn't even show up in the last game. And if we do show up and play well for the first 8 innings, then we blow it in the 9th. There's got to be something to it. It can't just be coincidence. Believe it or not, our record in potential sweep games is the difference in the standings.
ReplyDeleteThe Hammer of God
The Marlins and Orioles should be sweeps. And we need at least 3 out of 4 against Seattle. And a sweep against the Royals.
ReplyDeleteIf we can get to the White Sox with a 65-49 record, with 48 left to play, we have a prayer.
It could get interesting, but we need to demolish tomato cans.
Five runs? No. No, we cannot.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom third of the lineup today is Gardner, Wade, and Montgomery.
Rizzo, the left-hander we so badly needed to hit between all our righties...is batting first.
The lineup in general looks as though it was picked out of a hat. And not a good hat.
Boone's devotion to Gardy has reached sociopathic levels.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, back at the ranch (Driven by Jeep), John Sterling is saying there's no reason the Yanks can't finish in first place.
Think of it. Giancarlo cannot even play three straight games in the ballpark where he holds the record—by better than 2-1—for most home runs.
ReplyDeleteHe won't even go to Boone and insist on playing, at least, the first six innings, say. After which, he could be taken out for Gardner (even sooner, if the Yanks are getting blown out).
This is what I despise most about The Millstone. In 2019, he said he was hurt early in the first game of the ALCS—a game in which he LATER hit a monster home run, AFTER the injury. But after the game, he announced he couldn't continue, coming back for only 1 more contest in that series.
And even as Hicks—say what you will about him—played with a serious injury and hit a game-winning home run for us.
How can you have so little desire? Especially when your financial future—and the financial future of generations of little Millstones yet to come—is absolutely guaranteed?
Stanton is not only a limited, mediocre player. He's also the Tin Man, devoid of heart.
Yeah, it's the Not Showing Up scenario today, judging by Monty's brilliant effort on that ball.
ReplyDeleteI'm switching to the Mets game. If they don't feel like playing, I don't feel like watching.
The Sox have lost three in a row and after playing Tampa tonight, they play at the Tigers (who lately have been playing with something to prove), then at Toronto, then they face Tampa again, before a series against the Orioles (who hate them the way Tampa hates us) and then two against the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteThe Bombers can make up a lot of ground over the next few weeks if we win the games we need to and if Tampa and the Sox beat up on each other. Tampa plays Seattle, Boston, Baltimore and Minny in that same time frame.
The time is now. As they say, shit or get off the pot. You have to hope the team feels motivated after getting two Lefty boppers, and especially getting the 1B upgrade we’ve been missing for years. Since Tex left it’s been a revolving door. Bird blew, there’s been stopgaps and now Voit can’t stay healthy. And if Gallo can add some offense from a corner OF position (aside from Judge) they have a chance.
I hate to say it, but this falls on Boone. The pieces are there, but there is absolutely NO REASON FOR GARDNER TO BE ON THIS ROSTER. Gallo in LF, Florial in CF, Judge in RF. At least Florial has upside, slightly better bat, way better speed and glove at this point, and unlike Gardy, he doesn’t have a wet noodle for an arm.
Allen over Florial. Hands down. Both over Gardy. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteAnyone over Boone. Hands down.
So German now on the 10 day. And who do they bring up? Yes. Abreu. The guy who should never see a major league roster.
What a dumbfuck organization.
I'm getting really fucking tired of Kay mispronouncing Odor. He keeps saying oh-door, and it's oh-dore.
ReplyDeleteWhy hasn't he been corrected after all this time?
ReplyDeleteYou have a typo in the main blog post here. You said something about "five runs."
I believe the 2nd word was spozed to be typed as "hits".....
please correct.
Dog shit in the bush
ReplyDeleteDog shit in the tree, dog shit
Far as I can see
Rizzo and Judge. Six outs to the sweep.
ReplyDeleteDid he really say what I thought he said? Did he really say Chad Jizzum?????
ReplyDeletemiami is the bad news bears
ReplyDeleteDuque', who did we trade from the minors who could have helped this year?
ReplyDeleteSorry Duque' wrong thread, or something....
ReplyDeleteBeau, I think so. Hard to be sure.
ReplyDeleteNice play by old man Gardy at the end. I'll take it.
So what. Big deal. Miami. We can beat Miami. That a BJ in a back alley gets you case of herpes. And HIV.
ReplyDeleteBoston and Tampa can beat Miami, too. The point is, we have to sweep the Miamis of the world to have any kind of shot.
ReplyDeleteWe also beat Tampa two out of three. That's good, too. We have to pile up the wins on the tomato cans like the teams in front of us do. And then take series from the better teams. Aside from Boston, we've been able to do that.
We ain't dead yet.
What's the old saying? Better lucky than good? Hey, I'll take it!
ReplyDeleteRizzo dazzling around the first sack today, despite an inexplicably bad call against him. Some very good pitching—didn't even know Joely Rodriguez was on the club, but welcome!—and I have to tip my hat and call Tyler Wade my daddy for the way he fielded today.
Even The Millstone managed to rouse himself long enough to pinch-hit, and...well, again: better lucky than good.
Can this team make a push? No idea. But at least they got the sweep!
You are all such hopeful souls.
ReplyDeleteI think that it bares passing along: A few nights ago while watching the Yankees v. Rays on the TB tellie feed, one of announcers mentioned that they had TEN PITCHERS on the DL!!!!!! With Glasnow on the runway for TJS. I believe that they are running on smoke and mirrors. Suddenly the idea of winning the division is not so crazy.
ReplyDeleteGood to see Joey Vino get a hit...
ReplyDeleteWrested three close games from a bad team. Don't pop the champagne corks yet.
ReplyDeleteBitty is a person of vision. Listen to the sage words of 13bit. These Yankees suck.
ReplyDeleteMcBroom's face gives me nightmares. Maybe it has to do with the stat that the Yankees are 2-1896 every time he's summoned.
ReplyDeleteThis Rizzo could play on any version of the Yankees of old. That is my highest compliment. The last 3 games have been exciting baseball. I plan to watch the Birds games tonight. So that means we will go back to Sucktitude. Sorry for the Black Swan boys.
ReplyDeleteThe Archangel
A bad team, Miami—but with good pitching. I honestly thought we would get swept.
ReplyDelete