When the season began, Ivan Nova had been sequestered in the bullpen for the first time in his life. A shaky first year back from Tommy John surgery had fostered a lack of trust in him. Spring Training saw the beginning of a battle between him and CC Sabathia for the fifth spot in the […]
Author: Nicolas Stellini
Game 36: Another series win, another sliver of hope
There is no clock in baseball, except for the clock between innings and the new clock that times mound visits. And there is no time limit on the baseball itself. There is no 90-minute time period with a break at the 45th, no 15-minute quarters or three 20-minute periods. There is only the slow and […]
Gary Sanchez called up to join Yankees
It’s been a long road for Gary Sanchez. His earliest entry in the BP annals dates all the way back to 2011, when he was ranked the 29th best prospect in the game. Between then and now, Sanchez fell in and out of favor many times over. The right-handed power never wavered, but concerns about […]
Game 29 Recap: The Wright stuff ain’t right
Two batters into the game, the Yankees were losing 2-0. Luis Severino had walked Mookie Betts on four low and away pitches, and then Dustin Pedroia hit a ball into the right field porch. Severino proceeded to retire ten batters in a row. Seven of them were sat down by way of the strikeout. Then, David […]
Game 23 Recap: Swept
INT YANKEES FRONT OFFICE – NIGHT CASHMAN sits in his dimly lit office, the only light coming from a desk lamp and the glow of a muted television mounted on his wall. A lit cigar fills the room with smoke, a glass of single malt scotch in his hand. There is an empty expression on […]
This, too, shall pass
Panic and anger are reactions that have become almost second nature in the arena of sports. They’re fueled by radio hosts who spout and scream, or solemnly declare that things just aren’t the way they used to be. They’re ingrained into our collective sporting psyche by talking heads on television and in newspaper columns telling us that […]
Game 17 Recap: *Loud Explosion Noises*
The more optimistic people in the world often try to seek out silver linings in even the most ghastly of tragedies. For instance, one could point to the fact that Michael Pineda struck out nine batters in just five innings. One could note that Pineda only walked one batter. However, one could also note that […]
Carlos Beltran: still good at hitting baseballs
The saying goes that the hardest thing to do in sports is to hit a baseball. A pitcher will throw the small ball towards the plate at extremely high velocities, and it is the hitter’s job to square up the ball on the barrel of his wooden club and hit it somewhere within a 90 […]
Game 7 Recap: Ivan goes Supernova
Excellent bullpens are fun. It’s always a good time to watch a parade of excellent relievers lay waste to opposing lineups. The problem is that excellent bullpens can’t be deployed every single day. They break if that happens. Because Michael Pineda’s start against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night was only the second start of […]
Carlos Correa’s interference, and why baseball needs to make a change
It was the turning point of Tuesday’s game. In the eighth inning, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa hit a dribbler on the first base side of the mound. Dellin Betances had to scramble down to get the ball. When he turned to throw it to first base, he chucked it over everyone and into right field. […]