Exactly one year ago - April 11, 2017, a day when Bashar al-Assad was found to have used Sarin gas on its own people - here were the standings in the American League.
As you can see, early April's superpower was the LA California Angels of Anaheim, who would finish 2017 two below .500. The three eventual division champs - Boston, Houston, Cleveland - were sitting on the toilet, and the Yankees were exactly as they are today, one below .500.
Despite last night's horror show - a truly offensive performance by a team that has disappointed in every phase - the Yanks are doing what they often do in April: Crapping the bed. While injuries could certainly kill us, the AL East has only two real contenders, NY and Boston, with the loser likely playing in the one-game wild card. That's the reality of 2018.
It's also where our blood pressure should start to rise.
If Boonie's Boners get swept in Boston, they will not only be in a free-fall, but they will sit seven games behind a defending champion that looks vastly improved. That's a fucking bad deal. It's legitimately stupid to go nuts over a game in April, but if we lose the next two - a mini-Boston massacre in reverse - the ramifications will be serious. (For starters, Cashman might launch a trade war, accumulating more veterans - always the worst-case scenario.)
Last night, Boston outclassed us in every phase except one: We tied them in HRs - one apiece. A question though: Isn't hitting a solo home run in a 14-0 debacle somewhat of an embarrassment unto itself? It was 5-0 in the sixth, with nobody on base... so why was Aaron Judge swinging for the fences? The answer is simple: He cannot adjust his swing to game situations. We have a lineup filled with just such hitters. This, comrades, is a cause to worry.
Boston looks real. They have added JD Martinez, and the return of David Price would power a rotation far superior than ours. Last night, Mookie Betts outshone our so-called superstars, and the whupping was so substantial that we were left this morning wondering if Luis Severino is tipping pitches, or whether Tyler Wade can hit into an defensive over-shift. (An over-shift... for Tyler Wade? Jeez.)
Let's no go crazy... yet. Boil the Yankees in water, not oil. But if Boston puts up a 10-game lead in April, we'll spend the summer watching Wild Card standings. This isn't a team of Thurman and Catfish, (unless you think of the modern version of "Catfish," a person masquerading online.) It's way too early to get hysterical. But we damn well better win one this week at Fenway. New York is no place to be an embarrassment, and if you think the comments on this site are fevered now... come back in a week if we're 5-11.
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4 comments:
"It is never too early to get hysterical."
—Neville Chamberlain
The sure sign of a team of chokers: they reel off hit after hit after the game is over.
I know, I know: Judge's home run had an exit velocity of 116.93 mph!
Why is it that I know home run exit velocity is a statistic I will come to loath before we reach May?
Beyond its vastly overrated talent, this is a team without gonads. Though of course, the Yanks' meltdown and the prospect of a Mets-Sox World Series meant that the Times couldn't resist a big, gloating analysis piece.
Despite Rory Smith's gallant, ongoing chronicle of the collapse of Man City, we took the world's game, 2-1, today. That makes it Soccer 56, Yankees 52 on the year.
We're looking at a different team than what we thought. While the position players may eventually go back to normal the bullpen is truly a matter of concern.
Here was the lineup last night.
1B - Austin not Bird
2B - Walker not Torres
SS - Didi
3B - Andujar (I'm good with this) he will adjust.
RF - Judge
CF - Some guy. Not Gardner or Hicks.
LF - Stanton. learning a new position. A new league. New Stadiums. New
Pitchers. He'll be fine as well.
C - Romaine - Not Sanchez (I know Sanchez was DH but even Sanchez is not
Sanchez.)
The bull pen is another matter. I don't know where or how that works itself out. Also when you use several guys in a game they all have to be perfect. What are the odds of that? I'm at a loss. And so are the Yankees. A lot of losses.
Doug K.
We stink
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