After Thursday’s game against the Astros ended with the Yankees celebrating a three out of four-game series win, people around baseball kept saying how much they enjoyed the series and how they hoped that if it were a playoff series preview, it would be just as exciting. Personally, I was relieved it was over and I needed a nap.
So now that the Yankees are back home and ready to take on the Indians, I thought it was time to rattle off some random thoughts.
- Chapman striking out Altuve on three pitches was so satisfying.
- I was a tad worried when he stepped up to the plate. You know, because he’s the reigning AL MVP and there were two men on base.
- But Chapman made him look silly and the Yankees won.
- The bottom of the seventh inning was nonsense.
- I haven’t been that mad watching an inning of baseball since Sonny Gray’s start against Boston.
- Also, Bregman was not hit by that pitch.
- The review crew in New York, once again, screwed the Yankees.
- The Yankees were lucky they won again (like they did against Toronto a couple of weeks ago) but there will be a time when the review crew screws them on a replay challenge and it will cost them a win.
- And that will be bad.
- It better not happen in the playoffs.
- Yo, Rob Manfred, come and get your boys.
- They’re bad at their jobs.
- So let’s discuss this series.
- In the first game, the Yankees seemed a bit sluggish and that could have been from getting into Houston late following the game in Anaheim on Sunday night.
- But then, they woke up.
- And the pitching? Wow.
- I know Sonny Gray took the loss on Monday but even he looked better.
- Two 4-0 games in a row?
- The Yankees made Houston look feeble. It was fantastic.
- And even yesterday, the only hard hit ball was Correa’s home run.
- The rest were BS hits.
- Some people are worried about the Yankees peaking too early.
- They’re not even at full strength yet.
- And they’re going to be scary when they’re at full strength.
- Yesterday’s win was exhilarating.
- And exhausting.
- I really needed a nap when the last out was recorded.
- I was so anxious and my body was so clenched and tight that I tired myself out.
- My back and neck are sore today.
- It felt like a playoff game.
- The 28 inning scoreless streak was good for two reasons: It showed people how good the Yankees pitching could be and it meant that horn wouldn’t go off for 28 whole innings!
- That’s another reason why the seventh inning was a nightmare.
- I LOATHE that horn.
- It was bad enough during the ALCS but then I had to cover the World Series for Baseball Prospectus and I covered Game Five which was a crazy game filled with home runs so the horn went off a lot.
- I heard that horn in my dreams.
- Ugh.
- So how about Luis Severino?
- What a game on Wednesday.
- And Giancarlo Stanton.
- He was the entire offense.
- He needed a game like that.
- I’m still worried about him.
- He’ll get going.
- Tanaka looked good yesterday and the seventh inning, again, was BS.
- Chad Green didn’t look good yesterday.
- That’s a bit worrisome.
- But, maybe he just needs to work on some stuff.
- And how about Gleyber Torres?
- That was a big hit in a big spot. It was good to see.
- It was also good to see the Yankees not back down and come back in the ninth inning.
- When they went down 5-3, I was a little downtrodden and then A.J. Hinch inexplicably removed Devenski and replaced him with Brad Peacock.
- Thanks, A.J.!
- That bullpen.
- Woof.
- Devenski shut down the Yankees and only threw 12 pitches.
- Why on earth would you not bring him out for the ninth inning?
- You know your bullpen is a dumpster fire.
- We know your bullpen is a dumpster fire.
- What the hell?
- Wow.
- Again, thanks, A.J.!
- So the Yankees just finished their ALCS rematch and this weekend will be their ALDS rematch.
- They will not be facing Corey Kluber.
- Anyway, let’s go Yanks!
- And May the 4th be with you.