-
New York Yankees Final 2022 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 57th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
Now that the Yankees have held their annual “Let’s Disappoint Our Fans” showcase in the ALCS, it’s time for Jacob Schoeneberger to look back on the season and figure out how they can actually win the big one in 2023. Big congrats to the ‘Stros and Phils for getting to what should be a thoroughly entertaining Fall Classic, the baseball world will definitely enjoy this fun matchup.
With that in mind, here are some thoughts in random order on the Yankees’ 2022 season and what comes next from Jacob Schoeneberger:
As a fan, I first want to say I like Aaron Boone. He’s been around the game of baseball all his life, seems like a great all-around guy, and was a great player who had an all-time classic Yankee moment with his walk-off HR in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. He very much deserves to be on a baseball field coaching. The question is in what capacity at this point?
Jacob Schoeneberger doesn’t think he should keep his job as manager of the Yanks, for several reasons. When Cashman fired Girardi after he took a young team to Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, a year before they were scheduled to arrive as a real title threat, he claimed it was because Girardi was old-school and didn’t have the makeup to connect with the young players. I found that claim odd since he motivated them all the way to Game 7, but I went along with it. I think it had a lot more to do with how Girardi didn’t like one player in particular, Gary Sanchez, and how the organization insisted for years that Gary was the catcher to lead us to multiple championships. Yeah, we all saw how that turned out. (Though, in fairness, Girardi didn’t work out in Philly either and Rob Thomson came in and guided them to the Series. Huge congrats to Thomson, the guy is a class act and so deserves this.)
But the decision was made and in came Boone. Unfortunately, I don’t see how Boone in 5 years as the manager has connected with the players any better than Girardi had previously. The Yanks haven’t won 3 games of an ALCS since. The closest Boone came was bowing out in Game 6 of the ALCS in 2019. Close but no cigar. So if you fired a guy after making Game 7 of the ALCS, and you haven’t even gotten as close to a World Series as a 7th game of the ALCS since, you can’t call that move a success. And I would argue that Boone has had better rosters than Girardi had in his last few years as manager. Plus, Girardi did prove he could take a team all the way, so he had that going for him.
My second reason for thinking it’s time to move on from Boone is that dismal mid-summer collapse we all witnessed this year. After having by far the best record in baseball up to the All-Star Break, the team well and truly collapsed and played absolutely terrible baseball after. It was no exaggeration to say their performance for 6 full weeks was among the worst in baseball.
They had built a big enough lead in the division to still hold onto it, but it got hairy for a while there and Boone seemed to have no answers. He was snapping at reporters, clearly frustrated and grasping at straws to motivate his team. He had no idea why they were floundering, and it was a really bad look. Sure, there were a few injuries, but even if they had played .500 ball everything would have been fine. But they had an absolutely awful, unforgivable stretch. They finished with 99 wins, but it could have been so much better. And they had no real momentum heading into the playoffs.
They barely beat the upstart Guardians in the ALDS. I don’t want to take anything away from that Cleveland team, they played good, tough baseball. But Boone didn’t exactly have his team fired up and gunning in that series. It took everything they had just to squeak by. And then they were tired, defeated, and just plain weak when it came time for the ALCS. That sweep was thoroughly embarrassing.
I won’t criticize his on-field decisions. I know a lot of people do, but to me it’s more about the overall inability to inspire the team. He seemed to resort to arguing balls and strikes and constantly bickering and jawing at the umps. If that’s the best you’ve got to motivate your team it wears thin after a while. And that look definitely wore thin for me.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: A manager is more than just an on-field decision-maker; he’s the glue that holds the team together. It just seemed to me that there was no glue holding this team together way too often the second half of this season. I think it’s time to move on from Boone.
On Brian Cashman
To be perfectly clear, I think it’s time for the Yanks to move on from Brian Cashman as well. But I don’t think it will happen because of the lingering Judge negotiations and that decision about Boone. I think Hal will keep Cashman, but I wish the team could move on.
I don’t want to knock Cashman’s achievements, I really don’t. But I do think his accomplishments need to be considered in a realistic and truthful light. He was technically GM for the 98, 99, and 2000 championships. But let’s be real here, that team was already built, and he inherited it. Those championships were about just maintaining a juggernaut more than building one. And he didn’t exactly hold it together all that well in the early 2000’s. It might not be fun to think about, but remember all those heartbreaks and near-misses? Some of those could have been avoided with a few key decisions (letting Pettitte walk to Houston among them).
To his credit, he then built a champion in 2009 when he went out and got the big free agents that could make it happen. Since then he hasn’t really pulled the trigger on getting the guys that can take us all the way, and we’ve watched how Houston, Boston, and LA have created champions while the Yanks have just been also-rans.
For years, I’ve wondered how much of this mediocrity was fueled by Hal’s unwillingness to take those next steps. It seems to me that Hal is happy building a profitable team that can have a winning season but not necessarily win the title. And Cashman does a solid job of maintaining that profitability and delivering a winning season every time. Just enough to keep the fans engaged without breaking the bank. That fees like Hal’s motivation to me.
So knowing that, it’s probable he’ll keep Cashman as his GM. But year after year we see it’s the little decisions that haunt this team. Always willing to get so close but not get the guy that will take us over the hump. The Yankees’ streak of winning seasons is to be applauded, but the fans are tiring of all the near misses.
In fact, we’re starting to close in on some real milestones for this organization. It’s now been 13 years since the Yanks won a title. We know about their storied history and all, but the longest droughts they’ve endured have been the 14 years between 1962 and 1976, and the 17 years between 1978 and 1996. Make no mistake, these 13 years mean a lot to Yankee fans. Yes, we’re spoiled, that’s for sure. But baseball is a sport that is uneven in its fairness and a team that spends as much as the Yankees do will have fans that expect to win a title at least once a decade. That’s the nature of the beast here.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Your GM needs to have his finger on the pulse of the entire organization, top to bottom, and the league in general. Has this league passed Cashman by? Have the analytics he’s invested so much in paid off for him? Do the fans truly believe there isn’t a vast chasm of difference in the quality of this team vs. the Astros?
I don’t believe Cashman will be replaced, but I do think it’s time. Hopefully he can successfully navigate negotiations with one guy in particular.
On Aaron Judge
The Yankees would have been a lousy team in 2022 without Aaron Judge. The guy had an absolutely stellar year. He was the heart and soul of the franchise, and he fueled their success. He bet big on himself and he delivered big. Now it’s time for his payday.
He absolutely will be the highest paid player in the league in 2023. The only questions that remain are how long will his contract be and where will he sign? I think Hal will keep Cashman specifically for this negotiation. I doubt he really wants to bring a new GM in to handle this monumental deal.
And I think Cashman will essentially say to Judge go get your best offer and we’ll beat it. That was the old George Steinbrenner way. So it really should come down to where Judge wants to be. Does he want to be a career Yankee and get all the fanfare and history that surrounds that? Does he want to be the next Yankee captain and join that long list? Does he want to win a title in NY and become an immortal part of the franchise history? Does he want his own banner hanging in the Hall of Legends?
These things mean a lot to some guys and to others they really don’t. He’s already accomplished enough with the franchise to be considered a great, but the fans won’t forgive him walking out now. His record-breaking accomplishment will be sullied in the eyes of the fans, and his inability to bring home a crown will as well. Yankee fans are willing to forgive lifers like Mattingly for not getting a title, but you can’t walk and get the same regard. I mean, Judge carried the team to the playoffs, and for that he deserves a great deal of respect. But take a look at what Harper has done in these playoffs and you realize that performing in the postseason is how you truly become a legend.
This team needs Aaron Judge. They need a leader, they need a captain, they need what he brings to the table. They would have a lot of work to do to create a winner if he’s not in pinstripes next year.
But if he really does want to go home and play for his favorite team growing up you have to respect that. He grew up in the Bay Area and was a Giants fan. I’m sure the Giants will put up a huge offer for him. I expect LA will also because they’re in Cali and maybe they can lure him west. He’ll probably get several other offers as well. But I truly believe the Yanks will trump all other offers from a money standpoint to keep him. I think they have to.
The choice is really up to Judge where he wants to be. I sincerely hope the antics of the clowns who booed him don’t sway his decision. He really is beloved in NY and the fans want nothing more than to see him here for his entire career, lifting a few championship trophies in the process.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Great players don’t come around often, you have to fight to keep them and appreciate them when you have them. The Yankees need to give Aaron Judge unprecedented love. How often does a guy come within a couple hundredths of average points of winning a Triple Crown for your franchise? Do whatever it takes to keep him a Yankee. The fans are literally begging you.
About the Rest of the Team
What does it matter? You first have to get Judge then you can start considering other areas to improve. Whether you get Judge or not completely influences all other team decisions to be made.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Loving a baseball team is a year-long affair. I’m looking forward to what should be a fun Fall Classic, but once it’s over my thoughts will immediately go to the Yankees and what will transpire. Jacob Schoeneberger hopes Judge lands quickly and hopes it’s in pinstripes. Then we’ll think about what else can be done to become the last team standing next year.
-
New York Yankees ALCS Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 56th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After topping the Guardians in a hard-fought, 5-game ALDS, the Yanks headed to Houston to begin the ALCS against the Astros. The ‘Stros had the best record in the AL, they’ve bounced the Yanks from the playoffs 3 times in the past 7 years, and they’re looking to end another Yankee season with heartache.
With that in mind, here are some thoughts in random order on the ALCS from Jacob Schoeneberger:
Taillon has been announced as the Game 1 starter for the Yanks. He’ll face off against the Great Verlander in Houston. Taillon was scheduled to start the deciding Game 5 but got held off in favor of Nestor with the rainout. Jacob Schoeneberger actually loves that Taillon is getting this start to begin the ALCS. I think he’s ready, I think he’s earned it, and I think he has the potential to go out there and just relax and enjoy the experience.
While it hasn’t been announced, you have to assume Sevy will get the Game 2 start. And herein lies my first fear going into this series. Because the Yanks took 5 games to beat the Guardians, they wound up pitching Cole and Nestor twice. They don’t have their ideal pitching rotation set up for this series. It’s really going to take the lineup waking up and putting up some runs in order to take this series. I don’t think the Yankees can rely on winning games where they only score a couple runs.
My other big worry is home field advantage. You could say that these teams match up pretty evenly on paper, but that X-Factor is having home field advantage. The Astros have to feel pretty good knowing that if this series goes deep, those later games will be in their house.
When the roster was announced, there were a couple surprises. Peraza is now on the squad, as are Montas and Weissert. DJ did not make the team because he’s still hurting. But I was surprised to see Luetge not on the list. That one is interesting. And unfortunately, Marinaccio didn’t make it either as he’s been hampered by his injury. And it was officially announced that Sevy will start Game 2, no surprise there.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Champions find a way. Nothing really matters in the long run other than a team’s will to win. The team that will ultimately win the championship will be the one that overcomes adversity, believes in itself more than the opposition, and just goes out there and does its job. It doesn’t matter where the games are played, or who’s pitching, or who’s in the batter’s box, the team that wins it all rises above and gets it done with no excuses. Time to put up or shut up, ALCS time.
Game 1 – ‘Stros Strike First Blood
In what felt like a foregone conclusion, the Astros claimed the 1st game of the series 4-2. The bottom line, Houston just pitched better than New York. Taillon started for the Yanks and went 4.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits. He left with the game tied 1-1 and that’s not a bad outing from your 4th starter.
Verlander went 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits. The only run he allowed was a homer in the 2nd inning from Bader, who continues to perform really well in the postseason. When the game went to the bullpens, it was Houston’s pen that won the day. Schmidt allowed 2 homers in the 6th inning to put the Astros up 3-1, and Montas allowed another dinger in the 7th to round out Houston’s scoring and put them up 4-1. Rizzo connected on a solo shot in the 8th but that was all the Yanks would get. I mentioned earlier that the Yanks cannot win games in this series only scoring a couple runs. They need the lineup to put up some crooked numbers.
In fact, the Yankees struck out 17 times in the game, while the Astros struck out just twice. That’s the biggest K differential in MLB postseason history. Uhh yeah, that needs to end. We know the team was tired, but they need to string together better at-bats. And a big congrats to the Great Verlander who, with his 11 K’s on the night, now holds the MLB record for strikeouts in the postseason. The guy is a beast, much respect to him.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Winning the 1st game of a series is great, but it doesn’t end the series. Houston has to feel confident right now, but the Yanks are still dangerous. Sevy will start Game 2, and we have to assume Cole will go in Game 3 and Nestor in Game 4 (though it hasn’t been officially announced yet). The way I see it, the Yanks will need to win 2 of the next 3 games in order to have a chance to take this series. We’ll see how it plays out.
Game 2 – Two Runs Ain’t Gonna Cut It
Again, Jacob Schoeneberger mentioned before this series started that scoring 2 or fewer runs will only lead to a quick end. The Yanks plated just 2 runs again in Game 2 as they lost again 3-2. The pitching is doing its job, the lineup is not.
Sevy started and went 5.1 innings. He made one big mistake pitch, allowing a 3-run homer to Bregman in the 3rd inning. Otherwise, he was solid and kept the team in the game. Loaisiga followed and kept Houston scoreless for 2 innings, and Peralta got the last couple outs. But the Yankee lineup scraped together just 4 hits in the game and hit the teens in strikeouts again, this time amassing 13.
Make no mistake, this offensive performance is historically bad and truly embarrassing. They can’t put the bat on the ball. Credit Houston’s pitching, of course, and offensive production is usually down a bit in the playoffs, but this is pathetic. Small ball becomes more important in the playoffs, but it’s kind of hard to do that with no baserunners and striking out 30 times in 2 games.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Putting the ball in play helps win games. There’s nothing more unproductive than a strikeout. The Yanks have been dismal in the batter’s box over 2 games. Hopefully the trip back to the Bronx will wake the bats up. Otherwise it really doesn’t matter who’s on the mound.
Game 3 – Blanked
This series is pretty much in the bag for Houston as the Yanks’ lineup plated 0 runs in the 3rd game of the series. Cole got the start and wasn’t really amazing but that’s a moot point when the offense puts up no runs. After Bader tried to call off Judge on a ball in the gap in right-center then dropped it, Cole surrendered a 2-run dinger to McCormick. The error from Bader was annoying and it added a run. Bad defense in the playoffs will kill you.
Then there was controversy in the 5th when Cole loaded the bases with no outs and was pulled in favor of Trivino. Trivino allowed 3 runs to score and then it was 5-0 and the game was essentially over. I guess I would get angry, but the Yankees didn’t look like they could hit their way out of a paper bag anyway so even if Cole was able to escape only giving up 1 run, or even none, does it make a difference whether you lose 5-0 or 3-0 or 2-0? They didn’t score, what difference does it make how many runs they lost by?
And herein lies a very interesting thought process. If the score was held to 2-0 or 3-0, and we feel the Yankees somehow would have felt more capable of rallying to make up that deficit, then why would they feel they couldn’t score 5 runs? I’m sorry, if the mental makeup of this team is so weak that it doesn’t feel it can rally in a (nearly) must-win ALCS game, then the team has a real problem from the top down.
Bottom line is this team has looked weak and defeated as though this series was over before it even started. They struck out another 11 times bringing their ALCS total to 41 over 3 games. That’s pathetic. Their at-bats are feeble, and their run production has been laughable.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Getting shut out in a playoff game is embarrassing. Getting shut out at home in a game you needed is revolting.
Game 4 – Swept
It was a foregone conclusion and while the Yanks showed some fight, they ultimately wilted as the Astros won Game 4 by the score of 6-5. The stats hardly seem to matter in this one. It was Houston’s party, and they weren’t to be denied. All credit to those guys as they look confident and ready to take on the Phils in the World Series. Should be a fun series for all the marbles.
The Yankees looked like a team without leadership. I love Judge but his 1-16, 0 RBIs, 1 run scored line in the ALCS leaves a lot to be desired. They look to the Big Man for leadership, but he didn’t provide much in this one. Boone? Please. I think the team’s performance in this series shows how much heart they have playing for him.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: When you get socked in the mouth, you gotta credit your opponent. The Yanks had no chance of winning this series. Houston outclassed them in every way you can be outclassed on a baseball field. The Yanks’ pitching was pretty solid but as a whole they had no chance. That oughta tell Yankee fans all they need to know.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Nothing like a good World Series to make baseball fans happy. While the Yanks won’t be in this one, this World Series has Jacob Schoeneberger very excited. The ‘Stros are powerful and confident, but these surprising Phillies have grit and they’re looking like they want to be the last ones standing. Jacob Schoeneberger thinks we may have a classic on our hands here.
-
New York Yankees ALDS Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 55th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After winning the AL East and clinching the 2nd AL seed in the playoffs, the Yanks set themselves up for a first-round bye and headed straight to the AL Division Series. They awaited the winner of the Rays-Guardians series, and the Guardians took the first 2 games of that series at home, setting themselves up for a trip to the Bronx to open the ALDS. The Guardians won the clinching game on a walk-off homer in the 15th inning, so they’ll be riding a high into this series. The Astros will welcome the Mariners in the other AL series as the M’s staged a dramatic comeback to win their series over the Jays.
With that in mind, here are some thoughts in random order on the ALDS from Jacob Schoeneberger:
Before the series even began, some big news came about the rotation and roster, and those left off. The first major news to drop was Aroldis Chapman being left off the roster because he skipped a mandatory workout. Say whaaaaaaaat? What’s with this guy? It’s been pretty apparent for a while that he hasn’t been happy with his role on the team. We all get it. He took an injury, became ineffective, and lost his closer role to Holmes. That’s baseball and that’s life. Keep in mind Holmes was an All-Star and was basically unhittable the 1st half of the season. He earned that closer role.
When Chappy returned, he wavered between being really good and being really unable to find the strike zone. It was hard to know what to expect when he took the mound. But he had a role, and he definitely could have helped the team succeed in the playoffs, with his experience and the ability to be lights-out when he’s on. Now that’s out the window, at least for this series. It’s doubtful he’ll pitch again for the Yanks, and I want to be very clear about this: Jake Schoeneberger feels the team is weaker because of this. Yes, obviously the team’s hands are tied, and he had to be left off the roster because he skipped the workout. But this hurts the team. And fair or not, Yankee fans may remember Chappy more for the way he’s now ditched the team with the playoffs looming, and the look on his face as he surrendered those season-ending homers in the playoffs, rather than all the good times he’s provided.
Boone announced that Cole will be the Game 1 starter, followed by Nestor for Game 2 and Sevy for Game 3. This is understandable. If he’d given Nestor the ball in Game 1, it would be hard to argue that decision. Nestor has been the team’s ace all year. But he’s going with the experience of Cole and I’m on board with that call. No need to make Nestor’s first playoff experience having to start Game 1. Plus, Cole has said how hungry he is to prove himself so hopefully he’ll reward this decision with a solid outing.
Going with Sevy in Game 3 over Taillon is another understandable call. Sevy has playoff experience, and he was looking pretty sharp at the end of the season. Taillon deserves to see the ball in his hands though so hopefully he and German will get some bullpen action in this series.
When the roster was announced, the only real surprises were that Carpenter made the list, and DJ and Effross are off. Carpenter being there is a huge win. Having his experienced left-handed bat will really help. Losing DJ and Effross to their respective injuries is tough. DJ swings a clutch bat and doesn’t feel the weight of the pressure. Effross would be huge to have, especially now that Chappy isn’t on the roster. But it was unfortunately also announced that Effross will need season-ending Tommy John surgery. Huge bummer there.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: The playoffs are a different animal. The at-bats are tougher, the pitchers are locked in on every pitch, the pressure is high. This Yankees team has more playoff experience than Cleveland, but experience doesn’t win games. They’ll have to earn it.
Game 1 – Cole Delivers
Cole followed through on his promise and provided a gem in the 1st game of the series, leading the team to a 4-1 victory. He turned in 6.1 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and striking out 8. The 1 run he surrendered was a 1-out homer to Kwan in the 3rd inning that put the Guardians ahead.
That lead was short-lived, however, when Bader hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the game 1-1. Bader became the first Yankee ever to hit his first homer for the team in a postseason game. Quite a special moment for him!
Donaldson made a huge mistake in the 5th inning when he thought a ball he hit was a homer and started trotting the bases. But the ball wasn’t out, and he got thrown out trying to get back to 1st. The bad news is obviously you can’t make this mistake in a playoff game (or any game for that matter). But the good news is his teammates picked him up and the team didn’t suffer for this. I’m sure Boone will tell him not to make that mistake again, especially in the postseason. Run hard until you see the ump circling his fingers then go into your trot. But no need to make a huge deal out of this.
Trevino knocked a run in later in the 5th (could have been a bigger inning if Donaldson had hustled), then Rizzo delivered the big knock that sealed it with a 2-run homer in the 6th. Loaisiga got the last 2 outs in the 7th after Cole departed, Peralta pitched the 8th and got the first out of the 9th, the Holmes came in and finished off the final 2 batters for the big win.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Focus is everything in the playoffs. The team was locked in for this game, despite the one mental blunder. If they can continue this, they can keep getting tough wins. Nestor is next, hopefully he can continue with his magical season.
Game 2 – Guards Bounce Back
The Guardians earned a hard-fought extra innings win in Game 2. Nestor started for the Yanks and gave the team 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits. Not a bad outing as he kept the team in it.
The lineup was held in check by the Cleveland pitchers though. After Stanton hit a 2-run shot off Bieber in the 1st inning, the Yankee hitters went to sleep and were held scoreless the next 9 innings. That’s not gonna cut it.
One thing Jacob Schoeneberger has to take exception to was the fact that Yankee fans were heard booing Judge as he turned in an 0-5 day with 4 strikeouts. Look, I get it. He’s had a few rough playoff outings in a row here. He had 3 strikeouts in the game 1 win, and now these 4 K’s look kinda bad. But let’s be very clear here. This Yankee team isn’t even in the playoffs if he doesn’t lead the league in homers and RBIs all year, and come up just a few percentage points short of the Triple Crown.
If Aaron Judge had had even an average year, the Yankees aren’t playing playoff baseball. If he had 30 homers and about 100 RBIs, hit around .260 or so, the Yankees are golfing right now. Please, give me a break people. I realize these fans were the minority but that’s the kind of ridiculous garbage that makes all Yankee fans look bad. It’s obvious he’s pressing too hard here, it doesn’t take a genius to see that. But show the Big Man the respect he’s earned. I don’t care if he goes completely hitless in this series. He carried the team to this point.
Taillon gave up 2 runs in the 10th to take the loss. It was the 1st time he’d ever pitched out of the bullpen, and he gave up the 2 runs on 3 hits and didn’t record an out. Schmidt then came in after him to get the inning, but it begs the question: Why not give the ball to Schmidt to start the 10th? Shouldn’t Taillon have been used only if it had gone into later innings? He has no bullpen experience. Schmidt didn’t pitch in Game 1 so he was rested and available. Interesting decision from Boone and it cost them.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: No one ever said the playoffs would be easy. The pressure is on, and teams have earned their places here. Anyone who thought this Guardians team would just roll over for the “mighty” Yankees was fooling themselves. This Guardians team is young, plays with energy, and is brimming with confidence. Now they head to Cleveland with a chance to end this series there.
Game 3 – Guardians Rally to Walk it Off
The 3rd game was a thriller, but a tough one to swallow for Yankee fans. Sevy got the start and was solid. He turned in 5.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and striking out 6. A very representative effort and he left with the team holding the lead. Couldn’t really ask for more from the guy.
Judge (who was booed in the Bronx) cranked a 2-run jack in the 3rd inning that tied the game. Does anyone think it’s a coincidence that he hit his record-tying and record-breaking home runs in away stadiums, after not being able to hit them at home? And now he hits another big playoff homer in Cleveland after struggling at home. It’s almost as if the fans in New York actually hurt the performances of their players by being so hard on them. Or maybe it’s just a big coincidence. Maybe he really does want to sign a long-term deal to play for fans who boo him when he struggles for a couple games. Here’s to hoping. Eyeroll.
Cabrera hit a big 2-run homer in the 5th to put the Yanks on top, then Bader hit his 2nd homer of the series to make the score 5-3 in the 7th. Then things came apart for the Yanks in the 9th. Schmidt had the ball because Boone didn’t want to use Holmes in 3 straight games. Hmmm, ok I get that the guy came off the IL to start the playoffs. I get that he’s still getting stronger. But this is the playoffs. I won’t knock the decision too much because Schmidt has been solid, but this just wasn’t his night.
The Guardians peppered him with hits in the 9th, and with 2 outs and the bases loaded Gonzalez singled in the tying and winning runs to clinch a thriller for Cleveland. It hurts as a Yankee fan, but you have to tip your cap to the Guardians. This team plays hard all the way through, and they’ve set themselves up with a home game to try to advance to the ALCS. All credit in the world goes to those guys.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: It ain’t over ‘til it’s over (especially in the playoffs). I can’t take credit for that nugget of wisdom, but it certainly holds true on a game like this. But the series isn’t over for the Guardians either, even after this dramatic win. Cole gets the ball in Game 4, and he won’t let this season end without a fight.
Game 4 – Cole Saves the Season
Cole has lived up to what he promised. He told the fans that he was hungry for redemption after some lackluster playoff performances the past couple years and he has delivered in this ALDS. He won Game 1 and now he’s carried the team in Game 4 as well. He turned in a masterful performance, going 7 innings and allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 8. This is an instant classic performance with the season on the line, and I for one have to show him some huge respect. I’ve criticized him in the past, but he really stepped up and delivered in this series.
Bader cranked his 3rd homer of the series, a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning that put the team up 3-1. I definitely criticized the trade to get him, because it cost the team a starting pitcher that I feel still has great potential, but I have to tip my cap to the way he’s playing right now. He’s not feeling any pressure wearing the pinstripes. He’s come to play hard and give the team everything he has. Huge props to Harrison Bader.
Holmes pitched a scoreless 8th and Peralta threw a scoreless 9th for the save as the team grabbed a 4-2 win to keep the season alive. That’s exactly how you would have scripted that game so now it’s back to New York for a winner-take-all Game 5.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Deciding games are decided by standout performances. The Yankees will give the ball to Taillon for the start and I’m glad he’ll get his chance to redeem himself. He’ll be more comfortable starting the game and I hope he can deliver in a big way. But this lineup needs to find itself. Someone needs to seize the moment and carry the team to the next round. Whose bat will step up when the team needs it most?
Game 5 – Yanks Take It
After Game 5 was rained out on Monday, MLB enjoyed a historical first on Tuesday when the Yanks and Guardians played the final game of the ALDS while the Phils and Padres started the NLCS on the same day. That’s never happened before, pretty cool.
The Yanks wasted no time jumping on the Guardians. Stanton cranked a 3-run jack in the 1st inning, Judge smacked a solo shot in the 2nd, and the Yanks never looked back. (The Judge home run marked the 4th time he’s homered in a deciding postseason game and is a new record. That’s pretty amazing, congrats to the Big Guy!)
With the rainout, Boone elected to go with Cortes on short rest instead of Taillon and the decision worked out in a big way. Nestor cruised through 5 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits. Loaisiga came in for 2 scoreless innings, Holmes threw a scoreless 8th, then Peralta slammed the door with a scoreless 9th to seal a 5-1 victory for the Yanks.
Unfortunately, the win came with a price. Cabrera and Hicks collided in the 3rd inning as they both chased a foul pop-up in left field. Hicks took a season-ending knee injury in the collision so that’s the last we’ll see of him in these playoffs. That’s a real shame because while he’s struggled pretty badly this season, he still plays solid defense and can string together good at-bats when the pressure is on. Now that’s lost.
And the celebration had to be pretty short, as the Yanks boarded a flight almost immediately after the game down to Houston, where the Astros await them. Houston dispatched the M’s, sweeping their series and winning the deciding game 1-0 in 18 innings. They are well-rested and ready to go on their home field.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Celebrate, but keep it in check. The Yankees definitely deserved to crack some champagne after this series. The Guardians played good baseball and came very close to taking this series. The Yanks stayed tough and flexed their muscles to claim the series, but having to play Game 1 the day after a deciding Game 5 is hard. Gotta keep the celebrating to a minimum on this one.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: To be the best, you have to beat the best. Houston had the best record in the AL and seemed destined for the ALCS all season. Now here we go again. The Yanks have to find a way to beat a team that has had their number for a while now.
-
New York Yankees September 30 – October 2 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 53rd installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After taking 2 of 3 from the Jays in Toronto, clinching the division, and watching Judge tie Maris with his 61st homer of the season, the Yanks came home for their final regular season homestand in the Bronx against the O’s. Hopefully they can keep getting hotter and be ready for the playoffs. And hopefully Judge can crank a record-setting home run for the fans in Yankee Stadium.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
The Yanks looked pretty quiet in the 1st game of the series, losing 2-1. Cabrera cranked a solo shot to account for the only run the Yanks mustered, and Judge had a single, a K, and 2 walks. He’ll probably get walked quite a bit over the last week of the season, as he has for the past few weeks. The race to the Triple Crown remains tight.
German started the game and looked fine, going 5.1 innings and only allowing 2 runs. That’s not too shabby at all. The bad news is Britton came on in relief and couldn’t find the strike zone and wound up leaving the game with an arm issue. That stinks for him. He may have thrown his last pitch as a Yankee.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Hard to fault a team having a little hangover from previous celebrations. The Yanks clinched the division and celebrated Judge’s record-tying homer in the past few days. It’s not all that surprising that they looked a little slow in this game.
Lineup Explosion
The Yankee lineup exploded for an 8-0 win in the 2nd game of the series. Stanton cranked his 29th homer, Higgy hit his 9th, Gleyber had a couple RBIs, Donaldson had a couple, but Judge was held 1-2 with 2 more walks and no big home run.
The big story was Nasty Nestor, though. Cortes turned in 7.1 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 12. He looked impressive in his final start of the year, as ready as he can be for the playoffs coming soon.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: A 1-2 pitching punch can carry you a long way in the playoffs. If Cole can be a true ace, and Nestor can continue giving these kinds of performances, the Yanks have the chance to make a deep playoff run.
Sleepy Loss
The Yanks again looked a bit sleepy in the final game of the series, losing 3-1. Judge was 0-3 with a walk and 3 K’s. The bat is starting to look a bit heavy in his hands as the pressure builds to set the record.
The Yanks threw a bullpen game together with everyone pitching in. The issue came when Marinaccio had to leave the game with shin soreness. He’ll have an MRI to determine how extensive the injury is, but he would be a key loss before the playoffs if he can’t return.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Sometimes a home crowd provides too much pressure. It was great seeing the crowd react to every pitch thrown to Judge throughout this series, but maybe that added attention actually wore on his nerves a bit. Now that their final series is on the road, hopefully he can relax and crank at least 1 more homer to end his historic season.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: You want to finish the season strong and head to the playoffs hot. The Yanks now head to Texas for a 4-game series against the Rangers to complete their regular season. Hopefully, the bats can get hot, and Judge can relax a little and launch a few dingers into the stands. Jacob Schoeneberger believes that would be the perfect way to end this crazy season and begin the playoffs on the right foot.
-
New York Yankees September 22 – 25 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 51st installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After sweeping a 2-game series over the Bucs in Pittsburgh, the Yanks headed home for a 4-game series against their old rivals, the Red Sox. While the Sox are having a down season, they’re always dangerous and probably looking to play spoiler in this series.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
Taillon got the start in the 1st game of the series and was solid. He turned in 6 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just 4 hits and striking out 8. Need him in this kind of form as this race for the AL East and the playoffs gets hot.
But Schmidt came in to relieve him and had a rough time, allowing 4 runs in the 7th inning, including 2 homers. Chappy came on in the 8th and was ineffective, walking 2 guys. The Yanks trailed 4-3 but tied it in the 8th. Trivino and Holmes held the Sox down after that and Donaldson singled home the winning run in the 10th. A nice win for the team as they held it together throughout, but no record-tying homer from Judge.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Getting that 1st win in a 4-game series is huge. The Yanks maintain their lead in the AL East as every game that passes makes it tougher on the Jays to catch them when they don’t gain ground in the standings.
Yanks Win a Tight One
Cole got the start in the 2nd game and while he wasn’t bad, once again the long ball plagued him. He went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 8 Ks. He gave up a solo shot in the 1st inning to Pham, but the big blow came with 2 outs in the 6th when Verdugo took him deep for a 3-run shot after Cole thought he had him struck out. That tied the game 4-4, and both Cole and Boone got tossed for arguing with the ump between innings. I dunno, I think Boone argues way too much with the umps for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, there are times to go after the ump, but he does it all the time and it loses its meaning when you’re constantly complaining.
Trevino laced a go-ahead single in the 8th, Marinaccio turned in a scoreless 7th, and Loaisiga turned in 2 scoreless innings for the win. Another solid team effort all around.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Getting the first 2 wins of a 4-game series is even huger! The Yanks have set themselves up nicely to win this series. No homer from Judge but the team inches ever closer to winning the AL East.
Yanks Win Another
German got the start in the 3rd game of the series, and while he allowed two dingers, he was able to limit the damage. He turned in 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits. Not a bad day of work as he struck out 5 and proves he can be of value to this team in the playoffs.
The lineup came alive, with Gleyber, Cabrera, and Rizzo cranking homers in the 7-5 win. The bullpen got in on the action as Britton (back from TJ surgery), Trivino, Luetge, Schmidt (who rebounded from his last outing with a scoreless 8th) and Effross all pitching in. While Judge didn’t homer, it was another solid team effort.If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Winning another series is just what you need to do as the playoff chase heats up. The Yanks have guaranteed a series win and the outlook gets brighter by the day.
Sweep the Sox
The Yanks took the rain-shortened final game of the series 2-0. Nasty Nestor got the start and continues to impress. He gave the team 6 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 5. Boone has already said that Cole would start the 1st game of any playoff series the team makes, but Nestor has made a solid case for that honor. Either way, he’ll be a solid 2 starter.
The umps called the game after 6 innings due to rain, and that worked out mighty nicely for the Yanks. They got to rest their bullpen before the upcoming Jays series, and they got themselves a convenient little win.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Rain-shortened wins are always a welcome feat for the winners, and a dismal pill to swallow for the losers. The Sox lost out on 9 outs to try to rally, and Judge didn’t get more chances to tie the record, but the Yanks will take a big win and a sweep of their rivals.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: If you want a division title, beat the 2nd-place team when you play them. The Yanks now head to Toronto for a 3-game set with the Jays. If they win, they will walk out of Canada with the AL East title. Lose and they keep the Jays’ slim hopes alive. Jacob Schoeneberger hopes they deliver.
-
New York Yankees September 16 – 18 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 49th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After sweeping a 2-game set in Fenway, the Yanks made a rare trip to Milwaukee for 3 games against the Brewers. The Brew Crew is a solid ballclub, but the Yanks could use a couple wins in this series.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
The Brewers took the 1st game of the series by outslugging the Bombers 7-6. Montas got the start and continues to thoroughly underwhelm as he went just 3.1 innings and allowed 4 runs on 4 hits. To make matters worse, Holmes took the loss after Donaldson tied the game 6-6 in the top of the 9th.
It’s hard to paint a pretty picture when your lineup stakes your starter to a 5-0 lead and he blows it, then both your 8th inning guy and your closer allow runs to let the game slip away. That’s very disheartening for fans. Plus, no home run from Judge.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: If you can’t pitch, you can’t win. Montas has looked pretty lousy, Holmes is hit or miss lately, and the team just looks beatable. Yes, they still hold a solid lead in the AL East, but it remains hard to imagine this team having a deep playoff run.
The Crew Wins Again
The Yanks bumbled through the 2nd game of the series and only managed to score 1 run in a lackluster 4-1 loss. They’re now in danger of being swept just as this race toward the finish line was supposed to be heating up.
Taillon got the start and turned in 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits, including a 3-run jack to Adames in the 3rd inning. Not the start the team really needed, and again no homer from Judge in this one.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: You can’t afford to sleepwalk through any game in September. The Yanks looked like they were barely awake in this game and showed no fire at all. I don’t think many Yankee fans are holding out high hopes that this team can somehow flip a switch and become a machine the way they were in the first half of the year.
Yanks Win a Slugfest
The lineup provided some fireworks in the final game of the series, winning 12-8. The big story of the day was Judge cranking 2 homers to raise his total to 59 for the season. He’s now officially at the point where he could tie or surpass Maris any game now and it’s provided some serious excitement and drama. Every at-bat will become a must-see event from here on out as the Big Man carries this team toward the AL East title.
Cole got the start and wasn’t great, going 5 innings and allowing 4 runs. This was essentially the same outing Taillon had the day before, but the difference here was that the lineup supported Cole. Again his major weakness is the long ball as he surrendered a 3-run jack in the 1st inning and a solo shot in the 2nd. If he could cut down on the home runs, he’d be a lot better.
Cabrera, Rizzo, and Hicks also homered for the Bombers in helping to avoid the sweep. In fact, Stanton was the only starter who didn’t have at least 1 hit in the game.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Sometimes you just need to outslug the other team. It was good to see the lineup answering the call when Cole faltered early.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: When you have a solid lead in the standings, just stay the course and carry it home. The Yanks still hold a 5.5 game lead over the Jays (6 in the loss column) as the season nears its end. That’s a big gap to make up with just 16 and 15 games remaining for the teams. But it can be done so there should be no resting on their laurels if you’re the Yanks. The Yanks now head home to welcome the Pirates for a quick 2-game set. Jacob Schoeneberger knows they could do themselves a big favor by winning both of those.
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
-
New York Yankees September 13 – 14 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 48th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After taking 2 of 3 from the Rays, the Yanks headed to Fenway for 2 games against their hated rivals. The Sox remain in last place in the AL East, but records go out the window when these teams meet and I’m sure they’d love to try and spoil the Yankees’ run.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
Cole got the start in the 1st game of the series and did not look all that great. He turned in 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 3 homers. The long ball remains his nemesis. That start was not exactly what the team needed, but luckily there’s an MVP candidate on the squad that stepped up big time.
With the team trailing 3-2 in the 6th, Judge belted his 56th home run of the season to tie it. Bogaerts put the Sox up 4-3 by homering off Cole in the bottom of the 6th. Then Judge cranked his 57th of the year in the 8th to tie it at 4-4, and it went to extras. I mean, what would this team be without Aaron Judge? He’s been an absolute machine.
The Yanks plated 3 runs in the 10th, but barely held on because Boone sent Holmes out for the 10th after he’d pitched a scoreless 9th. Once again Holmes faltered when asked to do more than 1 inning of work, which, again, remains obvious to every human being on the planet Earth with 2 eyes and a single iota of intelligence EXCEPT Aaron Boone for some reason. Holmes cannot go more than 1 inning, it’s pretty simple. He’s proved it time and again. Peralta came on after Holmes to put the Sox away, but they scored 2 runs and made it a tight 7-6 win for the Bombers.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Taking a tight game from a rival in their ballpark is a huge win. Hopefully the Yanks can hold this momentum and keep pressure on the Jays and Rays. Those teams are separated by a half game in the standings, and both trail the Yanks by 6 games in the loss column. It’s going to be a tight race to the finish line.
Sweep the Sox
The Yanks got the 2-game sweep by topping the Sox 5-3 in the 2nd game. Nasty Nestor got the start and turned in 5 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 7. A solid outing in Fenway. Then Schmidt came on and gave the team 2 scoreless innings without a hit. Loaisiga and Holmes took the 8th and 9th innings, and each gave up a run, but it wasn’t enough for Boston.
The game also included a weird play that allowed Gleyber to score on a single. With men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the 5th inning and no score in the game, Gleyber lined a single in front of the right-fielder who decided to throw home to try to cut down the run. His throw was up the 3rd base line and Gleyber had rounded 1st so the catcher threw to 1st to try to get Gleyber in a rundown. But his throw was errant which allowed the 2nd run to score, and Gleyber went all the way from 1st to beat the throw home. Yikes! Sloppy fielding will burn you every time. The play plated 3 runs and gave the Yanks a lead they never relinquished.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: When you look at teams that are having a rough year, often the defense is a huge culprit. The Sox were 1 out away from getting out of the inning but bad defense turned it into a 3-run fiasco when the damage could have been limited. It’s the little things that win and lose baseball games.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Sweeping a rival makes the team feel good. The Yanks went into Fenway and grabbed 2 crucial wins. That has to have them feeling a lot better about themselves. The Jays and Rays are currently playing a 5-game series, and the Jays have taken 3 of 4 so far, putting themselves right back in the mix for the AL East race, and the race for the Wild Card. The Yanks’ lead over the Jays remains 6 games with each team having 19 games left to play. They will meet in Toronto for a 3-game series in late September, and right now that series looms large.
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
-
New York Yankees September 9 – 11 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 47th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After taking 3 of 4 from the Twins, the Yanks welcomed the Rays to the Bronx for a 3-game set. This is a crucial series for both teams. It’s the last time they play each other, and the Yankees have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way. Among other opponents, they will play 6 against the last-place Red Sox (even though those will be tough games as the Sox will likely love to play spoiler), 2 against the last-place Pirates, and 4 against the lowly Rangers. The Rays really need to seize this opportunity to close more ground on the Bombers.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
The Rays took the 1st game of the series 4-2. Montas started and went 5.2 innings, allowing all 4 runs on 9 hits. A far cry from the last start he had against the Rays.
The Yanks can’t feel good about this loss, as they’ve dropped another game in the standings. The pressure is squarely on New York’s shoulders now as they have to turn this thing around and soon.
No homer from Judge so there’s really no good news as the lineup was totally flat. They look like they’re sleeping again.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: When you’re in a rut, someone has to get things rolling. Somebody in this lineup needs to step up soon or everything is going to fall apart.
Bats Come Alive
Finally the lineup ignited and the Yanks scored double-digit runs for the 1st time since Nixon was in office, as they won the 2nd game of the series 10-3. They teed off on our old pal Kluber in the 1st inning, to the tune of 6 runs on 8 hits. Kluber wasn’t even able to get out of the 1st inning.
Taillon gave the team what it needed as he settled in with the lead and cruised through 7.1 innings, allowing just the 3 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 8. This was a feel-good win for the team as they were able to score a huge victory and put the pressure squarely back onto the Rays’ shoulders.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Momentum can swing quickly in the game of baseball. Now that the Yanks grabbed the 2nd game of the series, all the pressure now lies on the Rays. They cannot afford to lose this series and not gain ground in this head-to-head matchup. There are fewer and fewer games remaining in the season and a head-to-head matchup is a golden opportunity to control your own destiny.
The Empire Strikes Back
The Yankee lineup continued to mash as they plated 10 runs in the first 2 innings, en route to a huge 10-4 victory. Gleyber hit two dingers and Stanton hit a 3-run shot (his 2nd homer in the past 2 days) as they stepped up at just the right time. These are 2 guys that can start to carry the team if they get hot at the right time.The Yanks used pretty much the whole pitching squad with everyone throwing an inning. Everything about this was a statement victory as they put incredible pressure on the Rays. Their lead in the AL East is technically 5.5 games, but it equates to 4 in the loss column and 7 in the wins column. That’s quite a bit of ground for the Rays to make up in a short amount of time. The Yanks have 21 games remaining, the Rays have 24. It’s not insurmountable by any means, especially after seeing how badly the Yanks can play sometimes, but it is a tough haul.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Getting hot at the right time can make your season. Sometimes it’s not about being the best all season, sometimes it’s about getting hot at the right time.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: A September push can lead to good things in the playoffs. If the Yanks get hot now and push hard through their last 21 games, maybe they can carry good momentum into the playoffs. Frankly, Jacob Schoeneberger just wants to see them make the playoffs with how rough the past month and a half has been.
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
-
New York Yankees September 5 – 8 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 46th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After losing 2 of 3 to the Rays, the Yanks stumbled home for a 4-game set against the Twins. The Yanks are chasing history, if they blow their lead in the division it will be the biggest division lead ever blown. Hey, there’s a nice distinction to hang your hat on says Jacob Scheoenberger.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
The Yanks took the 1st game of the series 5-2 by hitting 3 home runs. Gonzalez hit his 4th of the year in the 3rd inning, Kiner-Falefa hit his 2nd of the year in the 7th inning, but the big one was Judge’s 54th of the year, a 2-run shot in the 6th inning. Judge continues to absolutely mash the ball as he marches toward history of his own. Except his is positive history.
Taillon got the start and went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits. Now normally that’s enough to earn a Yankees pitcher the loss, but the lineup was feeling generous in this one.
Our old pal Gary Sanchez hit a 2-run homer, his 14th of the year, to provide the only runs for the Twins. At the time, his homer tied the game so I’m sure that felt good for him.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Sometimes home games help set things in order. Hopefully this upcoming 7-game Yankees homestand will get them rolling in the right direction. With 27 games remaining in the season, something has to start going right for them.
Swept the Twin Bill
After the 2nd game of the series was rained out, the teams played a doubleheader and the Yanks won both. The 1st game of the twin bill featured some crazy drama. Judge cranked his 55th homer and Gleyber hit his 19th to provide the Yankees’ 3 runs. German got the start and went 6 innings, allowing just 3 runs on 7 hits himself, but the teams headed to extra innings tied at 3 apiece. After the Twins scored a run in the top of the 12th to make it 4-3, Kiner-Falefa led off the bottom of the 12th with a hit to tie it, then Oswaldo Cabrera knocked a walk-off single to win it 5-4.
After using most of the bullpen in the 1st game, the Yanks needed a solid outing from Cole in the 2nd game and he delivered. I ride Cole quite a bit about not stepping up when the team really needs it, but he was a rock in this game. He went 6.2 innings, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits and striking out a whopping 14 batters. This was a huge performance exactly when the team needed it, against a solid opponent. Luetge came in and got the last 7 outs of the game, helping the Yanks to a 7-1 victory.
Kiner-Falefa hit a grand slam in the 4th inning to put the Yanks up 4-1. It was just his 3rd dinger of the season, but his bat is coming alive at just the right time. Even Hicksy, who has struggled mightily this year and been the target of a lot of Yankee fans’ ire, had 3 RBIs in the 8th to help ensure the victory.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: A doubleheader sweep should get your team rolling. These wins ensure the Yanks have now won this Twins series, and it’s important to keep going because the Rays won yet again, and the lead is still 5 games (4 in the loss column). This lead is by no means safe, but every day that goes by without them closing makes it tougher for the Rays to pull it out. And Nestor returns from the IL to start the final game of the Twins series, so hopefully the team will be fired up behind him.
How Sweep It Isn’t
The Yanks weren’t able to complete the 4-game sweep over the Twins. The final game of the series was a tight, well-pitched, well-played game, and it’s certainly not something Yankee fans can be too angry about. Nestor started but only went 4 innings as he’s fresh off the IL. He allowed 2 runs.
But the big blow came in the 8th. With the scored tied 2-2, Correa took Weissert deep to make it 4-2. The Yanks plated a run in the bottom of the 8th, but that was it as they lost 4-3.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Lineups have to do damage or solid pitching is all for naught. I’m pretty worried that this lineup doesn’t pack enough punch to do any damage down the stretch. Of course it has Judge so there are some games he can carry the team. But DJ is now on the IL, Benintendi and Carpenter may not return, Stanton is looking feeble after his return from the IL, and Gleyber and Hicksy haven’t stepped up the way they need to. Andujar did crank a homer last night, and Cabrera, Peraza, and Florial show potential, but these are not guys you can rely on to provide punch for a September push to the playoffs. That is worrisome.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: If you want 1st place, beat the 2nd place team when you play them. It’s really that simple believes Jacob Schoeneberger. The Rays now come to town for a 3-game set in the Bronx. If the Yanks want to win the AL East, they should take 2 of these 3 games. They hold a 4.5 game lead over the Rays (but just 3 in the loss column), so there isn’t much room for error. The Rays are hot, but it’s time to claim the division if the Yanks really want it.
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
-
New York Yankees September 2 – 4 Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
The 45th installment of Jake Schoeneberger’s opinions on the Yankees
After losing 2 of 3 to the Angels, the Yanks took their dumpster fire show to Tampa Bay for a 3-game set with the 2nd-place Rays.
Here are some thoughts in random order on the series of Yankees baseball from Jacob Schoeneberger:
The Yanks continued their race toward history as they dropped a really close 1st game of the series 9-0. They knocked a paltry 5 hits and recorded 3 errors as they continue to look primed to blow their lead in the division.
German started and went 6.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Not an awful night by any means. He kept the team in the game, but unfortunately he forgot that his team was the Yankees and allowing a single run means you get the loss. He should try to remember that from now on.
The bullpen came in and stunk, obviously since they allowed 6 runs, but that’s really a moot point because the lineup is so feeble. At this point it’s more a question of does Boone survive the rest of the season, and will Cashman be fired in the offseason? I sincerely doubt Boone will be fired because that would require Cashman to admit he made a mistake, which he will absolutely never do. Despite the fact that the evidence overwhelmingly speaks otherwise. And firing Cashman would require Hal Steinbrenner to prove he actually cares about winning a championship, which it’s looking more and more every year like he really doesn’t. I think Hal is content to field a team consistently good enough to make the playoffs, or be close, and then bow out. It probably turns a nice tidy profit for him every year.
But this year he’s got some serious issues, and I don’t think that strategy will work for him anymore. If he fails to bring back Judge in the offseason, his fans will be seriously unhappy, he’ll have trouble fielding a team that can contend next year, and he’ll have trouble putting butts in the seats in 23. Not to mention Cohen now runs the Mets and is helping New York remember what it’s like to have an owner committed to winning it all.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Kinda hard to win when your opponent scores a run per inning while you score 0 runs per inning.
Comical
The Rays won the 2nd game of the series 2-1. Judge hit his 52nd homer of the year as he continues to provide the only reason to even watch this team anymore. They’ve lost yet another series and their lead in the AL East continues to dwindle daily.
There’s very little reason for optimism at this point, but hopefully Judge can set the record in what’s rapidly becoming a lost season. The team had 3 hits on the day, Judge had 2 of them. They’re just plain pathetic.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: You can’t ask your fans to care when it’s pretty clear the team doesn’t.
Avoid the Sweep
The Yanks salvaged the final game of the series, winning 2-1. I know the YES announcers were trying desperately to feed the fans the whole “this could be the beginning of something good” line, but I’m not biting. This win didn’t feel to me like a break out of the funk kind of win. In fact, they’ve had several of those over the past month and a half and none of them have worked, so why should this one feel any different?
Montas got the start and had good stuff as he went 5 innings, allowing 1 hit, 0 runs, and notching 7 Ks. A solid outing. Judge cranked his 53rd homer and scored both runs in the game. He had 3 of the team’s 6 hits as he continues to basically carry them as best he can. But that’s hard to do when literally no one else on the team is hitting at all. He’ll hit a home run every game but there’s rarely anyone on base.
And it’s not like it was all good news on the day. Benintendi has some sort of fracture in his wrist and looks headed for surgery. Holmes gave up 3 hits in the 9th, 2 of them doubles, as he barely hung on for the save. It took striking out Diaz (on a very, very borderline pitch) with the tying and winning runs in scoring position to barely preserve the win. Plus, DJ looks like he can barely put weight on his back foot when he swings. I think he’s playing through pain to try to help the team, wouldn’t surprise me a bit if we learn he had a significant injury in the latter half of the year.
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: Avoiding a sweep is nice, but it’s not winning the series. This tight win helps, but it doesn’t make everything ok for the Yankees at all.
The Jake Schoeneberger Random Yankees Thought of the Day
If there’s a single Jacob Schoeneberger Baseball Nugget of Wisdom it’s this: At some point, the lineup needs to hit. Boone threw a fit on a catcher’s interference call and got booted from the game. He was already upset at what he felt was a missed call on a foul ball that was called an out, but he felt hit the screen. He lost his challenge and then couldn’t challenge the catcher interference call. Whole thing seemed ridiculous to me. The only thing he should be angry about is the fact that his team isn’t hitting. Jacob Schoeneberger believes it is really that simple.
More Thoughts from Jacob Schoeneberger
Jacob Schoeneberger
Jacob Schoeneberger | Father | Husband | Marketing Content | Sports
Jacob Schoeneberger 