In regard to Rufus' very valid complaint about the fact that MLB can't figure out how to play the sport's most important games in good weather, there is this consolation:
A Hollywood director I know who is well-connected, had a chance from someone to buy tickets for tonight's game. The price? $11,000—a ticket. My friend, who is a fanatical Yankees guy, declined.
Just saw that Boone said he benched Wells because he’s going through “a tough stretch offensively.” He’s hitting .098 for his last 11 games. So, to bump up that offense he turns to a guy who …. is hitting .098 for the last THREE MONTHS.
But remember, he’s a great manager. Jeff Passan says so.
That is incredible. Another example of stats that are ignored whenever they feel like it. I wouldn't be surprised if the excuse for getting swept has to do with going with the numbers, but things just didn't work out.
Desperation makes people do crazy things. In this case, knowing the Yankees will not be able to score, so taking a chance. Because it will likely be your only chance.
The Yankees we are seeing tonight is the team we saw for most of the year. It is a Fluke of the universe this team made the playoffs and won the AL pennant. The Dodgers organization clearly wants to win and the HAL could care less. And it shows.
This whole series has turned on the inability of Jake Cousins to pitch to Gavin Lux. I don't mean give up a big hit to Lux, which can happen with almost anyone. I mean, throw a strike to him.
Let’s play a game! The (fill in team name) plays fundamentally sound baseball & takes advantage of opponents’ mistakes. The (fill in other team’s name) don’t.
People everywhere are reaching out expressing their concern and condolences but I am numb. One friend said, “At least this finally means that Boone will be gone”. I replied likely not. Here’s a quick question for those of you still paying attention - WHEN EXACTLY WAS THE KAST TIME THE YANKEES WERE SWEPT IN A WORLD SERIES? Aarongeddon!
Yanks got perfect match-ups to make it to the Series, and they got to face a battered and shorthanded Dodgers team here. But it was still not enough...
...They had the luxury to make most of the season an extended spring-training camp, yet did not do basic things such as see if The Martian could become a player, come up with a replacement first baseman, make sure they had a real third baseman, etc.. They almost got lucky in how beat-up the Dodgers were, but they had a couple days off, and then Boone-Cousins-Judge did the rest...
So the Volpe at-bat was, gets to 3-1, the pitcher comes right over the plate...and he looks at it. Strike two. Then a long foul, then a strike out when he loses his bat. Not professional hitting.
I have to wonder if things would have been different for Volpe had he stayed in the minors for a year or two longer. Yes, I'm indulging in the favorite pastime of Yankee fans, second-guessing management as to when players should make The Show. But he's a career 83 OPS+ hitter, good glove player. I believe that a better organization would have broken him in as a utility player. But Hal saved money by bringing him up early as a starting shortstop. Well, trying to see a System within the Yankees org. is a fool's errand. Which is why I had to bring this up. Thankfully we won't have to look at a third of these players next year...
The umpire is an asshole, but Yanks bitching at him is just another sign of them losing it. Boone should either tell them to shut up or get out there and get in the guy's face himself. Pathetic.
Kevin, I think you hit the nail on the head in questioning whether there is any system here at all. In his latest hagiography, the one he got Andy Martino to write for him, the Yankees' system is depicted as being incredibly scientific and rational.
It's nothing of the sort. Players come up too early or too late, or they often shine at first, then quickly deteriorate for no obvious reason.
Every one of these games were winnable, but we'd miss it by 'about that much'. But it was the manager, the second baseman, the Big Guy, the right fielder who made me feel tense whenever a ball hit near him. Yeah a few breaks and we could be up 3-0. But even if we were, I'd believe that the fuckin Dodgers are the better team. A team of linchpins, backed up by quality players, both positional and the pitching staff. I was awakened from a nice dream only to realize how thin the roster really is, and how overpriced. I'm probably the only person here who thinks that paying for Soto is wise. He's not the best player in baseball, not even close. When he gets that huge contract he'll be playing first base by age thirty, and then...
Like Houston in 2022 ALCS. Dodgers management is smarter than the Yankees. They've attacked the poor hitters at the bottom of the lineup, exploited Judge's insecurities, and been very careful with Stanton and Soto. This series, like that one, was lost in the dugout and the office suites.
Manager AaRon Buffoon Boone is good at the follwoing: following analytics to a fault; being outmanaged; not getting the most out of his played: making moronic moves; serving up the BS, like: "Big G made a hell of a turn around third base."
Like in 2022 ALCS, evenly matched teams. The difference is in management. When sweeps or 4-1s happen between evenly matched teams, it's a management issue. Yankee management, as we've long known, is mediocre at best. Dodgers management, like Houston's, is industry leading.
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You just convicted and sentenced him to hit 4+ home runs to be served by the end of the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to Rufus' very valid complaint about the fact that MLB can't figure out how to play the sport's most important games in good weather, there is this consolation:
ReplyDeleteA Hollywood director I know who is well-connected, had a chance from someone to buy tickets for tonight's game. The price? $11,000—a ticket. My friend, who is a fanatical Yankees guy, declined.
Here in cow Hampshire, I'm grilling streaks at 38 F outside. Didn't get above 45 here today.
DeleteThis is insanity.
11K (shakes his head)
DeleteHate how they don't let you hear most of the real crowd reaction before the games.
ReplyDeleteSure. Flame on. Let's get this over with.
ReplyDeleteRibeyes on!
DeleteReally? A Fat Joe performance when everything's ready to go? WTF?
ReplyDeleteGaaaaaaaaaaack
DeleteThen another commercial break. The levels of greed here are beyond belief.
ReplyDeleteAccountants, ANALytics and Assholes, oh my!
DeleteThat’s the name of the game, Hoss…
DeleteSchmidt got an out. That’s good - now his ERA can’t be infinity.
ReplyDeleteWhoops
ReplyDeleteAlready with the bullshit.
ReplyDeleteClose to infinity.
ReplyDeleteSchmidt looks like he took speed just before heading out to the mound. Wound tighter than a drum and he’s missing high. Not good.
ReplyDeleteSo glad there’s an ad featuring Ohtani in the background.
ReplyDeletePro Tip - Walk Freddie from here on out. Thank you for your cooperation.
ReplyDeleteJudge fails again.
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to tune in yet (just jumped out of a meeting) but I would have to imagine the the fans booed that Judge strikeout)
ReplyDeleteNo, silence mostly…
DeleteJudge
ReplyDeleteNo I was wrong. Not infinity. A pedestrian 5.06 ERA.
ReplyDeleteInstead of walking Freeman, how about putting one in his ribs? What? Oh? We don't do that anymore? Too bad.
ReplyDeleteThere you go
DeleteVolpe is not a good major league hitter.
ReplyDeleteThat unstoppable Yankees offense…
ReplyDeletefor a month, I was worried that we were being set up to get destroyed in the World Series...at least it's not the Mets doing this to us.
ReplyDeleteThe master just said it's a slider, but they wanna call it a sweeper.😁😤
ReplyDeleteWe are all headed for a SWEEPING
ReplyDeleteWhy is Schmidt still in the game?
ReplyDeleteTuning to the curling channel...
ReplyDeleteI may leave you very soon.
ReplyDeleteLeiter?!
ReplyDeleteOf course, why manage any differently than the regular season?
DeleteThis is not a professional effort. But hey, Rufus: don't you feel for those people out there, having spent $11,000 to see this? Schadenfreude Nation!
ReplyDeleteI do, but I don't. I think you can understand.
DeleteThe whole goddam series comes down to this--and Leiter?!
ReplyDeleteNow it’s a bullpen game…
ReplyDeleteAll right, time to get the next pool together. What does everybody think the main excuse will be for the Yanks getting swept in this Series?
ReplyDeleteI got my money on the delay between the championship series and the World Series.
The fans were too critical & it was jut too much of an emotional distraction.
DeleteWell, I should just Leit-en up, I guess. Or not.
ReplyDeleteAll right, give Leiter Junior his props.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Schmidt a Number 1 draft pick for us?
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteDo we get a hit tonight? I'm thinking...maybe.
ReplyDeleteSchmidt spit bit.
ReplyDeleteWe need new catchers.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about the end of this Series? I will never have to watch Flopsie Vertigo in a Yankees uniform again.
ReplyDeleteThat is where you are mistaken
DeleteSoto our best chance for a hit.
ReplyDeleteNo hits yet. Yankees looking to be first team to get no-hit in back-to-back games.
ReplyDeleteJust saw that Boone said he benched Wells because he’s going through “a tough stretch offensively.” He’s hitting .098 for his last 11 games. So, to bump up that offense he turns to a guy who …. is hitting .098 for the last THREE MONTHS.
ReplyDeleteBut remember, he’s a great manager. Jeff Passan says so.
That is incredible. Another example of stats that are ignored whenever they feel like it. I wouldn't be surprised if the excuse for getting swept has to do with going with the numbers, but things just didn't work out.
DeleteOh, well.
ReplyDeleteVerdugo is such an asshole.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was classless when George apologized to NYC after the '81 series. Hal needs to start writing his...
ReplyDeleteNow that the series is over, I’m wondering how cashman will fuck up the post season roster overhaul.
ReplyDeleteNestor warming up because that's the key to the comeback.
ReplyDeleteSo Boone is just going to concede the game and the Series here?
ReplyDeleteAnd a big fuck-you to the announcers, hoping the call will be overturned.
ReplyDeleteAmen
DeleteNestor? NESTOR? Is Boone dissociating?
ReplyDeleteCortes? Cortes!!! NFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBUT HOSS… Nasty is our Ohtani killah ….
ReplyDeleteLadies and Gentlemen - what we are about to see is not safe for work
ReplyDeleteHow did we ever get out of that? Nestor trying desperately to walk Ohtani.
ReplyDeleteOhtani has a little bit of pain
DeleteNasty did a good job. Give the man a cookie
ReplyDeleteNow we just need Judge to get a walk.
ReplyDeleteAnything he can do to get on base. Even a Slapshot striptease would be acceptable to applicable
DeleteMakes the off-season TJ surgery he requires after snapping a ligament in the service of a losing cause.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to believe that the last two Houdini acts were some kind of turning point, but I can't
ReplyDeleteWell, better. I still think we can get a hit.
ReplyDeleteA hit!
ReplyDeleteStanton gets to second!
ReplyDeleteTime for Volpe to k
ReplyDeleteJazz is very funny. But not actually good.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteIgnominy averted
ReplyDeleteBut Stanton couldn’t get home….did something just explode in all of our brains?
ReplyDeleteNot sure sending Stanton on a single, hit directly to the left fielder, was all that clever.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn’t, but the near hitter would’ve just failed anyway
DeleteW.T.F. Who sends Lumbering G? Ever?
ReplyDeleteOnce again - horrible decision making
ReplyDeleteI yelled “What the fuck!!” at my TV as soon as I saw them waving Stanton in. He can barely run …. why the hell would they send him?
ReplyDeleteThis series is the Juju Gods just laughing at us.
Jazz IS NOT just NOT funny - or NOT good- he’s a liability.
ReplyDeleteChisolm belongs in the OF. When Soto signs with the Dodgers, Judge moves back to RF and Chisolm can play CF.
ReplyDeleteI think the Yankees actually build getting thrown out at home into their player development plan, & when they interview third base coaches.
ReplyDeleteThis team is like Ulcerative Colitis
ReplyDeleteAA, not as many runs.
ReplyDeleteYou win response of the game!
DeleteReally there was no choice when it came to sending Stanton. Who was going to drive him in?
ReplyDelete2003 vibe...
ReplyDeleteSuzyn and the Master:
ReplyDeleteTWO FUCKING HITS?
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
THEY SUCK!
Obviously, I may be paraphrasing...
DeleteI would LOVE to see Boone resign during the post game Pressure Presser
ReplyDeleteAs would all of us.
DeleteThey absolutely CANNOT run Boone back out there next year
ReplyDeleteYet, they will...
DeleteBoone will manage the Yankees for the next THOUSAND years
DeleteHe's earned a raise by "getting them this far" after the 15 year drought.
DeleteThis is pathetic.
To Quote Doctor Smith…..”The Pain!”
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have the stomach to root for this team anymore...
ReplyDeleteNo use letting them play Lucy with the football.
So, the Mets sign our coach, and he becomes a terrific manager. We sign their coach and he sends runners through to be thrown out.
ReplyDeleteDesperation makes people do crazy things. In this case, knowing the Yankees will not be able to score, so taking a chance. Because it will likely be your only chance.
DeleteBut you have a point, Kevin. And the answer is...no one.
ReplyDeleteAnd when they sign our right fielder he’ll get even better.
ReplyDeleteDodgers with 4 runs, 3 of those on guys who walked or were hit by a pitch.
ReplyDeleteHoss, this series shows the emperor has no clothes. The emperor being this team.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees we are seeing tonight is the team we saw for most of the year. It is a Fluke of the universe this team made the playoffs and won the AL pennant. The Dodgers organization clearly wants to win and the HAL could care less. And it shows.
ReplyDeleteThis whole series has turned on the inability of Jake Cousins to pitch to Gavin Lux. I don't mean give up a big hit to Lux, which can happen with almost anyone. I mean, throw a strike to him.
ReplyDeleteLet’s play a game! The (fill in team name) plays fundamentally sound baseball & takes advantage of opponents’ mistakes. The (fill in other team’s name) don’t.
ReplyDeleteSad that the Master is going out this way.
ReplyDeleteAlso very scary that next year will be worse, and without the dulcet tones of the Master.
People everywhere are reaching out expressing their concern and condolences but I am numb. One friend said, “At least this finally means that Boone will be gone”. I replied likely not. Here’s a quick question for those of you still paying attention - WHEN EXACTLY WAS THE KAST TIME THE YANKEES WERE SWEPT IN A WORLD SERIES? Aarongeddon!
ReplyDeleteYanks got perfect match-ups to make it to the Series, and they got to face a battered and shorthanded Dodgers team here. But it was still not enough...
ReplyDeleteAA - 1976.
ReplyDeleteThanks HH
Delete...They had the luxury to make most of the season an extended spring-training camp, yet did not do basic things such as see if The Martian could become a player, come up with a replacement first baseman, make sure they had a real third baseman, etc.. They almost got lucky in how beat-up the Dodgers were, but they had a couple days off, and then Boone-Cousins-Judge did the rest...
ReplyDeleteAlso, the idea that Volpe is our shortstop of the future is a joke.
ReplyDeleteThe reason? "Hey, we had a few tough breaks. It could have gone either way. Blah blah woof woof..."
ReplyDeleteSo the Volpe at-bat was, gets to 3-1, the pitcher comes right over the plate...and he looks at it. Strike two. Then a long foul, then a strike out when he loses his bat. Not professional hitting.
ReplyDeleteWells may have been screwed, but not by much.
Torres got shafted.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. But the pitch was way high. What was he offering at? Awful, awful at-bats.
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder if things would have been different for Volpe had he stayed in the minors for a year or two longer. Yes, I'm indulging in the favorite pastime of Yankee fans, second-guessing management as to when players should make The Show. But he's a career 83 OPS+ hitter, good glove player. I believe that a better organization would have broken him in as a utility player. But Hal saved money by bringing him up early as a starting shortstop. Well, trying to see a System within the Yankees org. is a fool's errand. Which is why I had to bring this up. Thankfully we won't have to look at a third of these players next year...
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder if Judge is damaged
ReplyDeleteJust psychically.
DeleteExactly
DeleteWe’re not getting a run tonight are we?
ReplyDeleteNo Jazz
ReplyDeleteNope.
ReplyDeleteThis is Brian's team from top to bottom.
ReplyDeleteThe umpire is an asshole, but Yanks bitching at him is just another sign of them losing it. Boone should either tell them to shut up or get out there and get in the guy's face himself. Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteThat was the last significant inning of the season.
ReplyDeleteNo chance - must go rework the haiku now
ReplyDeleteKevin, I think you hit the nail on the head in questioning whether there is any system here at all. In his latest hagiography, the one he got Andy Martino to write for him, the Yankees' system is depicted as being incredibly scientific and rational.
ReplyDeleteIt's nothing of the sort. Players come up too early or too late, or they often shine at first, then quickly deteriorate for no obvious reason.
o
ReplyDeleteCrazy of Dodgers to keep playing an obviously injured Ohtani.
ReplyDeleteWeaver?
ReplyDeleteWas Boone awake there?
ReplyDeleteIS THERE A RALLY IN THEIR BONEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ(snore) ?
ReplyDeleteCan you believe that Volpe struck out? Damn
ReplyDeleteWhere’d everyone go?
ReplyDeleteSorry, AA. Still here! That jerk behind the plate SOOOOO wanted to call that last one against Rizzo a strike. But no one here can hit tonight.
ReplyDeletePhew ( hahahahahaha)
DeleteIs it something BOONE said?
ReplyDeleteJust showed the last out in 2003. Boy, was that a disappointing game! Little did we know it was the future.
ReplyDeleteEven I wasn't around for Johnny Podres' shutout in 1955!
ReplyDeleteRizzO is faster than Stanton (just in case you’re wondering). Vertigo…..(blah)
ReplyDeleteHuh - Whuh - - - prolonging the pain with Gleyber
ReplyDeleteGleyber will dribble
ReplyDeleteWhat shall we call Verdugo standing at the plate there? Hubris run amok? Still, at least we scored!
ReplyDeleteHe’s just another Boone coddled man- child, Hoss. Glad your director bud didn’t drop 11k on this spew
DeleteOut
ReplyDeleteTomorrow night will be a mercy killing.
ReplyDeleteI was livid after Game 1. I was disappointed after Game 2. I’m just resigned after Game 3. I got nothing left for this team.
ReplyDeleteHorrible game. And yet, if we'd only pitched to Gavin Lux, we might have won.
ReplyDeleteEvery one of these games were winnable, but we'd miss it by 'about that much'. But it was the manager, the second baseman, the Big Guy, the right fielder who made me feel tense whenever a ball hit near him. Yeah a few breaks and we could be up 3-0. But even if we were, I'd believe that the fuckin Dodgers are the better team. A team of linchpins, backed up by quality players, both positional and the pitching staff. I was awakened from a nice dream only to realize how thin the roster really is, and how overpriced. I'm probably the only person here who thinks that paying for Soto is wise. He's not the best player in baseball, not even close. When he gets that huge contract he'll be playing first base by age thirty, and then...
DeleteOn the bright side, Boone can now break out highlights from the 2004 ALCS to inspire the team!
ReplyDeleteEnd it tomorrow. Please.
ReplyDeleteIt's like watching a small animal die, if you didn't care whether small animals lived or died.
ReplyDeleteAnd you were so flush with hope, Stang. What happened?
Delete(Sob!) The Yankees happened, AA.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLike Houston in 2022 ALCS. Dodgers management is smarter than the Yankees. They've attacked the poor hitters at the bottom of the lineup, exploited Judge's insecurities, and been very careful with Stanton and Soto. This series, like that one, was lost in the dugout and the office suites.
ReplyDeleteManager AaRon Buffoon Boone is good at the follwoing: following analytics to a fault; being outmanaged; not getting the most out of his played: making moronic moves; serving up the BS, like: "Big G made a hell of a turn around third base."
ReplyDeleteLike in 2022 ALCS, evenly matched teams. The difference is in management. When sweeps or 4-1s happen between evenly matched teams, it's a management issue. Yankee management, as we've long known, is mediocre at best. Dodgers management, like Houston's, is industry leading.
ReplyDeleteThese assholes are making me sad
ReplyDelete