Photo: AP
The Yankees took a break from the chaotic American League playoff race with a leisurely 5-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. In a game played with as much intensity and crowd interest as you’d expect in the early Spring, the Yankees frittered away an opportunity to take a two game lead in the A.L. East.
Considering the lopsided pitching matchup, the Yankees seemed to be playing from behind before the first pitch. Unfortunately, Ivan Nova did little to dispel that impression. The right hander allowed a two-run homer in the third and two-run double in fifth, which not only put his team behind 4-0, but also set a new franchise record for most extra bases hits allowed in a season. The 87 extra base hits allowed by Nova surpassed Andy Hawkins’ previous record of 86, which was set in 1989. Needless to say, that’s not the kind of anchor the Yankees were hoping Nova would become.
To be fair, it probably wouldn’t have mattered whom the Yankees pitched because Brandon Morrow continued his string of dominance over the Bronx Bombers in Toronto by throwing seven shutout innings. In five career starts against the Yankees at Rogers Centre, the hard throwing righty is now 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. Maybe by throwing Nova to the wolf, there was a method to Girardi’s madness after all?
Although Morrow was efficient, he wasn’t overpowering. In fact, the Yankees had a base runner in every inning but the second, but could never break through against the right hander. For the most part, Morrow seemed to bear down with runners on base, but in the fourth inning, he needed a great running catch by left fielder Anthony Gose to escape unscathed. Otherwise, it was lackluster performance by the Yankee bats, who were shutout for the sixth time this season.
With a one game lead and six remaining, the conclusion to this season promises to be memorable. Unfortunately, a very forgettable game got in the way. Then again, if the Yankees lose the division by that game, it could be the one that haunts them.
Okay, so if the Yanks and O's end the season tied, they play a one game playoff next Thursday. Home field is determined by the team with the better record in the AL East.
Yanks are 36-29; O's are 39-27. Six games left.
Oh, and no matter how frustrating this loss was, Morrow was on his game and he deserves credit.
[2] Yeah but still..bad loss.
3) At this pernt, every loss is a bad loss.
[1] Yanks have no chance of hosting a one-game playoff with Baltimore. Both teams only play A.L. East opponents, so if the Yanks ended up with a better record in the division, they'd also wind up with at least a 3 game lead.
Right. I'm a moron.
So... tell me if this is correct.
If we tie for the Division, we play the O's a 1 game playoff in Baltimore.
If we lose that game, we are a WC and have a 1 game Playoff against the other WC.
Where is that game (assumed against the A's or TB).
Since we had a better regular season record, would the WC playoff be in NY?
[7] Right, the WC play-in would be based on which team has the better record. There's a chance the Yankees or Orioles could be play three consecutive "playoff games" in different cities if things broke right/wrong.
TB is now within 3 games of Baltimore, and tied with LAA, 2 games out of the second WC spot.
While it would be nice to 'Win our way' into the PS, a couple of Baltimore loses would be handy.
One way or the other, the Division is decided in the last 3 games, where:
The Boids play the Rays in TAMPA BAY.
We play the Sox in YANKEE STADIUM.
If TB is playing for a WC spot, they will obviously play their hearts out.
While I'm sure the Sox would love to knock us out, we should be able to beat them.
This will be close, but the schedule ceratinly favors us.
We simply can't have play ANY more games like last night.
And while a Strike Out is just an out....
When we have 1st and 2nd, no outs....
Granderson HAS to put the ball in play.
It's may be a small thing, but in close games, we HAVE to move runners over.
You can't make fun of productive outs.
Our guys really have to play better situational ball.
[8] I don't know if I counted correctly, but I think we split our series with Oakland and lost the series to TB. So, if we tie for the Division, we play one in Baltimore and then (if we win),1 in TB.
If it's Oaklnad and not TB, where would that game be?
It's seems either way, if we don't Win the Division, we have a hard road to the PS.