By Saturday afternoon, Boston's lucky yellow jerseys had become a punch line, and an amazing surge of Yank fans had taken Fenway, like the Taliban in Kabul.
Best Yankee weekend since 2015 - last time we swept the Redsocks at home.
We overcame two Little Leaguer dropped flies and a bonehead decision by Aaron Boone to remove a pitcher who looked unhittable. Twice, we overtook them in the eighth. Twice, indie fave Tyler Wade blew a stolen base. Twice, Giancarlo Stanton silenced his contract critics. (Give that man a raise!) And twice, Aroldis Chapman, our nightly heart attack, held the lead.
So... the question:
Will the Yankees, as they have done all season, now give away the three games in Toronto?
Final week scenarios:
1. We stay hot and run the table, 6-0. This would mean a 12-game winning streak, but we've been there before. It would guarantee us home field advantage in the wild card, and the sense around baseball that we are the dark horse team to beat.
2. We go 5-1. We're in. To steal home field advantage, Boston would need to sweep their final six, and I think Baltimore is waiting to surprise them.
3. We go 4-2. This means we win at least one game in Toronto. Thus, we're in the wild card, maybe as host.
4. We go 3-3. Okay, now it's dicey. What's key is that we win at least one game in Toronto. If the Jays sweep us, yikes.
5. We go 2-4. Uh-oh. We'd really need at least a win in Toronto. If we go 2-4, we have to be saved by tomato cans.
6. We go 1-5. Let's hope that one win came against the Jays. We're probably dead.
7. We get swept 6-0. Loud boos in Yankee Stadium. The tabloids are furious. This sweep in Boston becomes the memory of a fart.
Listen: Any fan who has watched this 2021 Yankee roller coaster knows a full scale collapse is possible. It is what they have done all year: Get hot, then get cold.
So... savor this moment. We just ruined Boston's week, month... maybe their year.
On that note, Trivia Question: Who is the 2021 Triple A Home Run King?
Answer:
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And then there's the very dangerous other possibility: we go 6-0, extending the winning streak to 12, but then the scales of fate demand balance in the postseason, where we suddenly and mysteriously can't hit and our pitching implodes.
As an aside, I propose we rename the 2021 team the New York Streakies.
Aaron Boone speaking about Stanton:
"Obviously, he's locked in right now and playing so well and he's so focused. So I'm happy
for him and proud of him, and love the fact that he's in such a good place."
Boone will now give Stanton a rest because that's what ever hot hitter needs.
2-11. We went 2-11 after a 13 game winning streak. All this weekend shows is that Boston literally sucks.
First, as a constant critic of Stanton for years now, I gotta tip my hat and call him my daddy. Those feats in Fenway were Mantlerian.
Hell, they were also Dimaggian. In that immortal, June, 1949 series in Fenway, Joe D. flew up to Boston at the last minutes and drove in 9 runs as the Yanks swept the BoSox. Crucial to the boys finishing one game ahead of the Carmine Hose that season.
Stanton...drove in 10 runs this weekend. One more than Boston scored.
We give him his props.
As for predictions...I have none. At least, none that will prove any good.
Along with Winnie, I am determined not to get hurt again. This Yankees team still seems to me to lack the consistency necessary to steamroll the playoffs. We don't have a stud starter after Cole, and the bullpen is roll the dice every time out.
It was great to sweep the Sox. But Boston is a classic bottom-feeder, which has been playing above its head all year. Their pitching is finally starting to return to the mean.
That said, they could easily go 6-0 from hereon in, then beat us in a one-game playoff. PROVIDED we get there...
Since we're in the RailRider way back machine, here's one of my favorite trivia questions: Who is the only player ever to win the College World Series MVP, and The International League Governors Cup Series MVP? Rob Refsnyder (and if those 2 awards, taken together, don't say "AAAA player", nothing does).
...Toronto could easily sweep our Pinstripers up in the Rogets Thesaurus, and take away the whole postseason. TB could easily end our dreams just for the hell of it.
And if they do? Then it clearly wasn't meant to be, and we're better off skipping the postseason and getting on with the rest of the scintillating NYC sporting scene (That's joke, son.).
I know, I know, I'm going all que sera, sera on their ass. But seriously, what else can you do with this team?
Sure, a little part of me imagines them making Sevvy their new bullpen ace, and sweeping to a World Series triumph over the Dodgers. The more sensible parts of my brain thinks it's more likely we'll see another barrage of home runs from the Toronto Juniors.
But still...
More practically, did we ever get any explanation for anything last night?
Why Wade didn't slide.
Why Boone didn't appeal the call.
Why those pop-ups got away from DJ and No Wine Before Its Time.
Why Holmes was pulled.
Just wondering. Inquiring minds want to know!
(Tue) Jameson Taillon vs. Hyun Jin Ryu
(Wed) Gerrit Cole vs. José Berríos
(Thur) Corey Kluber vs. Robbie Ray
Hey Giancarlo, we're gonna need some more of those home runs...
They are mixing the paint for the MLB 2021 Playoff Graphic on the infield grass!
Brian wins again!
Members of this blog are drinking that sweet nectar of hope again!
If anyone gets hosed for us failing, it won't be Brian, it'll be Boonie!
It'll be Covid! BLAME IT ON COVID! It won't be Brian. He wins again!
Yes, I know that anything can happen in "the playoffs," but I still don't expect much.
In fact, I still maintain that our win total will be 86 on the season. Anything beyond that I expect to be nullified by the overlords on the committee when they rectify the records and balance the books.
Numbers are meaningless, anyway.
Going to go now and pray to Casey.
I did not get a chance to listen to the weekend games, but I did check in here afterwards. The Stanton home runs were pure ecstasy, truly nectar from the gods! What I am expecting from the Yankees going forward is to do just enough to provide cover for Cashman going forward, which unfortunately is the same as it ever was,,,
Zoom Meet Up?
Maybe Bitty could plan a Zoom session for the last game Sunday Oct 3rd, no matter what the status of the WC might be??? Then, if they somehow advance, we have a system in place going forward. Just a thought,,,,,
Do you need to tip your server during a zoom party? I just need to know the proper etiquette.
Finally! Ryan McBroom makes an appearance as a statement of sweeping fact, not as an object of hopes and dreams. How sweep it is!
The ESPN telecast is so lame and predictable, especially because Mr. Banal Cliche, A-Rod, is always talking. However ... the shots of the forlorn Beantown customers after Judge and Stanton got done in the 8th compensated for a lot of pain this year.
I want to have hope but I wouldn’t be surprised by 3-3 and lose the playoff game in Boston
There’s only one explanation for all of the sagacious wisdom emanating from the mind of Booooooone.
He’s a twat.
PS: if we meet on October 3, wear black. It’s best to be prepared to sit shiva for this team.
Beating the Sux was the whole season. The rest is forgettable.
Yeah, truly unbelievable that this Yankee team finally used the Red Sux as a doormat. I need to pinch myself and make sure I'm really awake. Now on to Toronto and another make or break series. We really need to win at least 2 of 3. And if we get swept again by the BJ, it's curtains.
The Hammer of God
All this does is guarantee that they'll get bounced in the WC or first round, thus everyone comes back for next year and the cycle of futility/mediocrity will continue.
The townies ditched their carnival colored underoos because the booties were chafing their hairy foot knuckles.
Just as a point of interest, living out here on the West Coast, I am taking great delight in the possibility that the Dodgers, having already won 100 games, may still have to play for the wildcard. Very satisfying.
They got a name for the winners in the world.
I want a name when I lose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iac-vLq6tnY&list=RDMM&index=18
Oooooohhh sweet bitty-isms for the soul!
And even better if the Dodgers LOSE that game!
Yes, Rufus: Three days, three different unis for the Fashionable Ladies of Beantown. They needed an off-day today because they no longer have a THING to wear!
And yes, Carl, you DO tip your server during a Zoom party. And the tip is...don't go in the park after dark.
I know, I know, I'm giddy...
And Vertigo and Vazquez are the ugliest bearded MFs this side of the Taliban. I bet even their mother's think they're ugly.
Rufus, their mother’s beards are even uglier
worst records since the Trade Deadline:
Nationals 16-36 (.308)
Orioles 13-40 (.245)
Boston is gonna be handed a WC spot on a silver platter
I have a zoom account that can host up to 100 people and last as long as we need it to. I may be away on 10/3, but could probably find a way to do it, even if I'm not home. Can someone please remind me in a few days?
Tempted to do a test run before then.
Bitty, I like your idea of doing a test run before, maybe Friday nite or Saturday afternoon's game?
Wow...a hundred people zoom chat! That's like seeing the opening credits of the Brady Bunch X 12.
Horace, understood. But I do hope that wearing shirts and pants are optional.
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