Sunday, June 19, 2022

For all their bluster, the Yankees have not beaten a team with a superior record since April 12

It's one thing to cuff around runner-up walking roach motels like Toronto and Tampa, but when will the Yankees start whacking teams with better records? 

They haven't beaten a team above them in the standings since game five - April 12, 2022 - when we topped the BJs, who were 3-1 on the season. 

At the risk of riling the juju gods - the sad, immortal deities who have been relegated to an eternity of fixing scores and tweaking gonads - here are some more hubris-laden cluckings from the Yankiverse:

1. The windsock calculating wonk-site, FiveThirtyEight, now projects the Yankees with a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs, a 95 percent shot of winning the division, and 23 percent at taking the world series. 

Dr. Oz would have already declared victory. 

Here's one for the empiricists: If this team somehow blows the AL East, there is a 99 percent chance I will shoot my TV. 

2. For those of you scoring at home, the Yankees' magic number for winning the division is...  91. For taking the last wild card slot, it is... 69. 

Could we clinch a post-season birth (edited, see comments) berth before the Aug. 1 trade deadline?

3. The Yankees are on pace to win 122 games, six higher than the previous all-time record. They would enter the playoffs carrying on their backs the largest bullseye in history. 

4. If the Yankees go .500 the rest of the season (which would enrage us, of course), they would finish with 97 wins. Last year, only Tampa (100) won more.

5. The Yankees now have a 10-page lead in the NYC tabloids back-cover race. 

Happy Fathers' Day, everybody. Game time is 1:37 p.m. 

Now, let's see if the Yankees can avoid disappointing their dads.

46 comments:

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


I can't criticize you for typing while under the influence, but I think in the line itemized as #2, you meant . . . berth.

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


Notes on the Saturday game (cribbed from the espn.com "story") --

Holmes made his 29th consecutive scoreless relief appearance, breaking Mariano Rivera’s 1999 team record.

The Yankees threw their 11th shutout of the season

Manoah lost for the first time in 16 career home starts

When Judge’s bat broke on an infield grounder in the fourth, the barrel sailed out of the infield and landed in shallow left

Saturday marked the 45th anniversary of the 1977 Fenway Park clash between late Yankees manager Billy Martin and star right fielder Reggie Jackson


...and as you no doubt would expect...

For Hicks, it was his first extra-base hit in a bases-loaded situation in more than five years

el duque said...

Joe,

Good catch, but I was actually thinking that The Master might sire another set of triplets before October. That's how optimistic this streak has made me.

Mildred Lopez said...


Happy Father's Day to my fellow fathers. Most important job we'll ever have.

TheWinWarblist said...

Happy Father's Day to nearly all the Commentariat

TheWinWarblist said...

El Duque, I see what you did there!

AboveAverage said...

Judge may never again hit a HR this season. Also, did any one catch what his broken bat's exit velocity was as it sailed into left field?

Ken of Brooklyn said...

Happy Father's Day folks,,,,, this has been a phenomenal ride so far, WHOOP WHOOP!

Carl J. Weitz said...

Does anyone think Hal ever said "Happy Father's Day" to George? Not I.

ranger_lp said...

Which Cole do we get today? Cy Young Cole or Batting Machine Cole?

AboveAverage said...

Sevy-Cole is who we gets todayz

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Happy father's day to all that celebrate.

JM said...

Happy Father's Day to all who took that incredible step in their lives. This is a day I miss my own father, who had his last FD in 1999 before passing on Pearl Harbor Day--very appropriate for a proud WWII vet and Yankees fan.

Hicks is still having a terrible year and one bag-clearing double doesn't change that. But good for him that he finally did something notable in the Knoblauch stage of his career. At least he doesn't have the Yips defensively.

Watched about half of the final season of Peaky Blinders last night. Still one of the most entertaining and well-produced shows ever on TV.

BTR999 said...

Happy Father’s Day!

Enjoy the game today, and remember it’s OK to smile…once in a while, anyway…

Mildred Lopez said...


Carl J...

I think Hank probably wrote George a check. Not a big one either

Mildred Lopez said...


Carl J (cont.)...

Hal? Nothing

TheWinWarblist said...

I will make note that the Blue Jays are sending a lefty with an ERA of 4.80 to the mound today. Against these Our 2022 Yankees.

I have nothing additional to add.

Fuck.

JM said...

Sevvy sucking.

Local Bargain Jerk said...


Severino is not looking dominant. These balls are well hit.

JM said...

Gleyber Day!

JM said...

Piling up the strikeouts now.

Pretty amazing stat about runs allowed. Fewest for this many games since the DH started.

AboveAverage said...

SON of DONALD comes through! Happy Father's Day !

Joe of AZ said...

Damn Donaldson..they see you

TheWinWarblist said...

Say his fucking name.

Platoni said...

Happy Father's Day. Love you all

TheWinWarblist said...

Aaron Judge is good at baseball.

ranger_lp said...

Higgy!!!

ranger_lp said...

Marwin!!!

Back to back a belly to belly!!!

JM said...

Gonzales????

JM said...

Who'd a thunk it.

ranger_lp said...

We don't have a Sterling call for Gonzalez....smh...

Rufus T. Firefly said...

I keep expecting the kid on with Suzyn to say: "Stay tuned! We have more stacks of wax to play, coming to you live from Cousin Earl's record shop. It's 5 before the top of the hour. A big shout out to Squiggy in Tonawanda, who's out with his main squeeze tonight at the drive in!"

JM said...

Castro is worthless.

JM said...

Jesus, Boone, take him out already.

Carl J. Weitz said...

That's why the Mets got rid of Castro. When others come back, he needs to go.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

That was really exciting.

In a bad way.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

ERA Last 7 Days

7.71

That was BEFORE today.

Joe of AZ said...

Castro....we can do without him

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Ok, this has turned into a shit show.

AboveAverage said...

Peralta looked nervous as hell - couldn't even draw in a breath out there

JM said...

We do have some weakness when it comes to middle relief.

Joe of AZ said...

Got some Bargain Bin Arms in there...Gotta get that shored up

ranger_lp said...

We’re not winning today are we?

ranger_lp said...

Rizzo!!!

Hinkey Haines said...

The long-anticipated swoon begins.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Damn. Well, you can't win them all. For reasons I never understood.