The last home game of the regular season at Yankee Stadium. Cold, rainy, and two old lefties–CC Sabathia and Rich Hill. The game moved slowly, crawled for the first 3 innings, but Sabathia pitched OK. He was picked up by Adam Warren, who threw 3 shutout innings. I thought he was a sure thing to come back in the 9th–after home runs by the kids, Bird and Refsnyder gave them a 4-1 lead–but it was Betances instead, retiring the Sox in order.
The Yanks won, 4-1, and will play in the wildcard game next Tuesday night.
Making the playoffs is something to savor. Let’s do just that.
[Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images]
Curmudgeon alert
Making the playoffs is definitely something to savor -- in doing so, these guys have overachieved and served crow to a lot of people -- and I know there are 20 MLB teams dusting off their golf clubs right now.
But there's something to be said for "act like ya been there before." Even if you haven't been. Plastic tarps and champagne spray felt to me like it was a little over the top for limping into a wild card spot.
Get off my lawn
From Chad's LoHud wrap as linked above:
"Greg Bird is the third player in Yankees history with at least 11 home runs in his first 44 games (also Kevin Maas and Shane Spencer)."
Christ, did you have to say that out loud? :)
[1] What do they get if they throttle back on the fun of celebration? I think over the many celebrations we've witnessed (and they few I've been luck enough to be a part of) my opinion is finally - let 'er rip. Take away the joy and what's left?
I wasn't picking the Yankees for last in the AL East, but I thought third with a .500 record would be a good season. Celebrate. It's a team of old guys, a disgraced old guy, and young guys you've never heard of before.
Sure a one game play-in game ain't baseball, but at least it's one more game before winter sets in.
I think I've come around on this; at first I was very dismissive of the accomplishment as it is; the Yanks in the playoffs, but essentially backing in and very likely to be painfully exposed in a short series, never mind a long one. But I realize that the players on this team have experienced and overcome quite a lot to even get to that point, so why begrudge them the joy and the shine? It's not like I had anything to do with them getting to the playoffs. So maybe I am spoiled by their past success; doesn't change the fact I understand and appreciate what they went through to get there. Higher expectations for me means I know they are capable of it, not that they automatically should do it.
That said, it would be nice if the notebook were a little more fluid for this run, as there are absolutely no guarantees in any part of the lineup.
The records all go t 0-0 for the playoffs. This team can get hot and go on a run. Beltran has a great playoff history.
The Yanks offense has been missing lately, but they also have Tanaka, Severino, Pineda and a rejuvenated CC, and a great pen in late innings.
Defensively they have a good infield and aside from Beltran, a good defensive outfield. McCann calls a good game and can pick runners off.
Anything can happen. 10k victories. Let's wake up destiny. We win today das it.
and sometimes it rains...a lot.
split doubleheader manana.
If the Astros would have the good grace to lose, the rained out game would become meaningless.
Just sayin'.