What to do about CC? I like him, but I’m not sure how much he has left in the tank. Still, he can be a mentor and de facto assistant pitching coach. Plus he’s only 14 Ks away from 3000.

[0] Still here, in and out! Following the ALCS with one eye, looks like a Fenway type game today. Don't care who wins, only like the Brewers of the remaining teams.

[1] 1 year deal for sure!

2 passed balls in one inning? When did Gary Sanchez join the Astros? I kid, I kid. Though not really.

I'd like to see CC around for another year. Cashman needs to focus on starting pitching help. We should realize that to get a quality starter, we have to give up quality. The organization is deep enough in prospects and kids to get a #1 or #2. From what I see, the FA market for starters is a bit thin, and probably too expensive. Assuming that Stanton stays in NY, there is no need to go after Harper. Machado looks a bit more interesting now that DD will be out for much of next year, and he's young enough to give him a legit long-term contract.

Maybe a one-year contract for CC that auto-converts into a coaching contract when he gets K3K? Silly, I know, but I'm always a sucker for a creative approach. He's someone I'd like to see in a long-term mentor relationship with the team, potting around spring training when he's 65, etc. Now would be the time to set that in motion.

Sad to think we may have seen the last of Gritner - I see the writing on the wall as well as anyone but I've been a fan for a while.

Mostly I'd like to see a sign in the tunnel that says "Home runs get on SportsCenter but timely base hits win ballgames." The (lack of a) two-strike approach in the ALDS losses really bothered me, though I know it's too soon for that to be a purely rational judgment. They read too much of their own press as All-Time Team HR Champeens.

I love CC, but but by the end of next year, what will he have left in the tank? The Yanks will trade Gray and maybe a youngster comes up to help? I like Happ despite his Game 1 loss to the Sox. We have Tanaka, who doesn't give us any length in the rotation and then CC would mean 2 starts a week, where the bullpen is going to automatically be taxed, and maybe 3 days a week if they have an youngin like Sheffield?

Keuchel would be great (If he will be willing to shave?)

I'd trade Andujar and Voit, while their stock is high. Get Machado, and when Gregorious comes back, he goes to 3rd or short. Andujar is going to be lacking on defense and Machado and Didi are proven commodities. Voit is a beast, but the Yanks already have two all or nothing righty mashers.

Maybe Walker at first with Bird? Hopefully Bird can rebound as they can use a lefty bat, or Andujar or Bird can be traded for a lefty first baseman or a lefty reliever? I wonder if the Yanks would consider trading for a catcher and moving Sanchez to first? Maybe his bad defense carried over to the batter's box?

It is too bad that Frazier had the concussion issues this year. When Hicks and Judge went down, it would have been great to plug him in.

Gardner is likely gone, and what the hell happens with Ellsbury? Do they finally just cut him and eat his salary?

Good stuff all around. My current take is CC gets another year to finish up his career, then offer him a coaching gig to school the youngsters. His value in the clubhouse around the young players is tremendous, and I for one would hate to see that squandered. Look, they found a place for A-Rod and they really couldn't stand him in the end, but he's a baseball bible and you don't throw away knowledge like that. Like I was saying with Pedro Martinez; Sevi worked out with him last off-season and it paid off; at least in the first half of the season. Pedro is an ass, but he is very effective. CC isn't an ass and could be around all year for him and the others if it was his job.

Happ is a solid 2-3 guy who can give you quality innings down the stretch, but he's gonna cost a lot this off-season. If you had to chose between him and Patrick Corbin, who's also going to get paid, who are you going for? I like young hard-throwing pitchers, but I also like smart pitchers (see Verlander, Scherzer, et al) who can more or less adjust with age when their stuff starts to fade. Yankees usually wait too long to get those kind of guys (Randy Johnson), or miss out entirely because of something "intangible" like not willing to conform (Pedro), which may or may not keep them from considering Keuchel, or a trade doesn't work out (G. Cole, Cliff Lee, etc). Yanks have a big problem with developing steady starters for themselves as well, which makes me fear for the future of Justus Sheffield and even Jordan Montgomery when he comes back. I don't want these guys to turn into just relievers like many others (or get traded and become solid starters elsewhere, Ian Kennedy)...

I believe if they sign Machado, it's for two reasons: A.) They can't get the pitchers they want, so they have to beef up the lineup and/or trade Andujar to get that pitcher, or B.) They get a groundball pitcher who relies on strong infield defense and they feel Machado is at least better suited at third than Andujar. To be honest, I can see the Yanks getting Machado and keeping Andujar, but with the caveat that the Yanks haven't otherwise been able to shore up the rotation and maintain the quality of the bullpen to their satisfaction. The rotation is the key as it was before this season began.

That said, I think they (try to) re-sign Walker to man second and slide Gleyber to his natural position at short, then Walker goes back to utility when Didi returns. If Walker signs elsewhere, I think they do the in-house thing like before. This leads to another issue that has bothered me throughout the season...

Yanks NEED to do better with situational hitting. Screw what analytics says about a home run being better than a single. If that single drives in two runs, I'll take them. Getting on base isn't even so much a problem when you consider how many runners they left in scoring position. Not everyone no this team can hit the crap out of the ball like Judge and Stanton and Sanchez, and it's foolish to expect them to every time there are runners in scoring position. How many homers are you going to get out of Torreyes each season? Out of Walker? Is Hicks really a slugger or a guy that you expect to get hits when you need them? I hate the single-mindedness of some of these stats-driven objectives. Let's see how that line of thinking plays out for the rest of the post-season.

Frazier is my guy to inherit Gardner's role in LF, but he's at a crossroads with his health. Any more concussions and the guy's done. He probably should learn to play the outfield a little more gracefully, because the way he's doing it now may be exciting, but it will shorten his career. Nobody needs that.

Bird, same. Dude has to get it together or he's out. Now he's got competition. so he can't play around.

Getting Sanchez right is also a huge priority that needs to be addressed. No matter who you bring in to pitch or hit, if Sanchez plays like a black hole again, the team is toast and the season is wasted. Seems like something must have been distracting him or weighing on him, and I hope the coaches figure it out.

Ellsbury who? *poof*

7) Yeah, I agree about the all or nothing homer thinking.

I think we see more in the postseason when runs are at a premium how important it is to score in other ways, and it is no accident that Houston and the Sox are still in the playoffs right now, because they don't rely just on the homer.

To that end of runs being at a premium, it also means defense in the postseason is important too. Not sure Andujar will every be that great at 3rd. It was also rough watching Voit out there at first and he has to try and dig out an errant throw from Andujar, and you have guys on both ends to worry about. And just about every splitter thrown and we are holding our breath with Sanchez behind the plate. He should be a DH or 1st baseman. So we have 3 guys that can hit but can't field in our infield and they are all righties. Not a great recipe for continued success.

Bird needs to win the first base job. With Didi gone for most of the year and Gardner unlikely to be extended, they lose two of their few reliable lefty hitters.

Machado and Clint Frazier are righties too. That basically means that they have all righties and Hicks and Walker are switch hitters.

I just now found out about Didi. Say it ain't so! : (

Next up, first base. Bird, Voit, maybe Miggy Jr.? Open competition in ST?

What did you all think about Machado's punk move trying to sweep the leg last night in the Dodgers game?

This reminded me a little of ARod's slapping the ball from Bronson Arroyo. The big difference was he could have injured Aguilar.

The Yanks are the clear front runners for Machado in the off season even before Didi got hurt. He seems like an immature brat with a lot of talent.

The saying "Johnny Hustle aint my thing" and now this latest incident, and I think the Yanks should go in another direction. Not that character means as much as winning, but I like all the guys on the roster now.

Like ARod, there is no denying Machado's talent and in a way, it makes it even worse. They don't have to cheat or act like jerks to win. That is the kind of teammate that gets other teammates hurt.

Crap punk assed move by Manny. He already had one slide into second ruled a double play in this series. Not very high on rooting for him next year. Makes Alex’s actions seem tame and goofy. Manny has a history of this, it could result in a plunking or Gleyber getting raked out

Let's see how this plays out in the playoffs. If it does effect the Dodgers enough to get bounced then yeah, nah. If he turns out to be the MVP, you can't blame the team if they do sign him.

Boston held it's nose with their Manny and it worked out well for them until the end, we held ours with A-Rod and got a championship as well. I think it would take him getting suspended for PEDs or something egregiously embarrassing to everyone for the Yanks to not consider him anymore.

We also have Chapman after all...

Move Miggy Two-Bags to left, so we still get some use out of his arm.

Definitely sign Machado. Machado plays short. Gleyber stays at 2nd.

Face facts: Didi is out for the bulk the season by the most conservative estimates. The Yankees should plan on not having him. And who knows how long it will take him to get back in to playing shape without spring training, etc.

Walker/Torreyes at 3rd?

Stanton learns to play first with Voit as his back up.

Frazier (if he comes back), Andujar and Stanton split time DH and left field.

14) Seems like we would be sacrificing a lot on defense trying to have Andujar and Stanton trying out new positions. And we still have Sanchez trying to corral every ball in the dirt behind the plate.

I'm more worried about having the guy who will be most likely making the most scratch on the team in Machado (If his contract eclipses Stanton) not hustling and creating drama, by being a jerk on the field. Also, if he is doing this crap on the eve of getting one of the richest contracts in the MLB, just imagine how entitled he will feel after signing for a bajillion dollars.

I wish the Yanks would get away from overpaying for big stars again. The Stanton deal sort of fell in their laps and I think they looked at it and saw the Marlins eating some money and not having to compete like they would have had to do to sign Harper.

Apparently they aren't learning the lesson of ARod here. We did get a ring out of his signing, but look at all the talent on the team, and tell me that we didn't think we would get many more?

When ARod slapped the ball away from Arroyo, Jeter had to go back to first, and that was a rally killer.

I'd rather the Yanks shore up their homegrown players and maybe even extend them. Judge should be extended. Didi would have been a candidate for extension before his injury.

In my mind, character counts.

Houston - we have a problem... You fucking blew it big time. Stoopid fucks. Worthless.

Go Senior Circuit!!! Come on Brew Crew - win it all ⚾️

[16] It's going to be Sawx-Dodgers and either winner is intolerable. I'll dive into the NBA instead, Let's Go Knicks!

{17] NHL. I just do not care for basketball. With HD you can actually follow the puck, plus ESPN has turned the NBA into a soap opera.

[18] I think ESPN is the bigger problem than the NBA. I'm accepting that today's players are markedly different in temperament than the players I grew up with, as was the case before us and down the line. But networks and the league themselves are only ever trying to cash in on the players doing their thing, and fail to connect with players that are more and more savvy about their options because they never want the players to be savvy in any way. They want the players to be clock-punchers, not partners.

And ESPN in particular doesn't know what to do with itself without alienating portions of their customer base, but a lot of young players are not as capital-neutral as they once were. Quite a conundrum >;)

[17] Best possible WS, IMHO. I'm pulling for the Dodgers to crush the Sox. Should be fun.

Sweet Meteor of Death!

[20] Isn't there any way they can both lose?

[22] See [21]

Let’s go SMOD!

I might tune in from time to time, but I couldn’t be less interested in a Whirled Serious.

I hope the sox get swept. Fuckem. I might watch the Sharks - Predators game out of spite. My Yankee hating dad likes the Dodgers because of Jackie Robinson.

Come on, Klaw! Too many damn walks and hits. Need a DP and K here... (not watching, just following on the mlb app after my classes ended)

Kershaw out already. Damn...

Still need the DP and K...

Red-ass Sux did it with nibblers and bombs. Dang! They do it all.

Tomorrow we got Ryu on the hill. Go Dodgers.

In the 8th inning after taking the lead for good, Sox fans chanted (very loudly) "Yankees suck." Wow!!!

[29] Insecurity is a mutha...

Classy. What a disgusting fucking team and fan base. GO LA!

I knew it was stoopid to bring in Masson at that point. Fuck it all straight to hell : /

So, now price is a prized postseason pitcher? Motherfucker.

RUN, you stoopid fucking entitled asshole motherfucker. What a piece of shit you are, anti Johnny Hustle

Fuck.

Shoulda been bases loaded with 1 out. Stoopid Cody trying to steal off the lefty. Shoulda been anti Johnny Hustle instead...

He was OUT!!!! Fuck you, blue AND replay

Now win the fucking game, LA

Screw you, Machado. Asshole.

I fucking loathe the shit sox. Why are their shitty relievers not allowing any runs? Where the fuck is the Dodgers prodigious power? Why is Nun-E making multiple plays in extra innings?

And there it is. No point in even playing Game 4... :_(

FINALLY!!! Now win the fucking game, god fucking dammit.

Crap. Leadoff man on in the 15th, after the double switch fucked the Dodgers immediately on defense.

Fuck piss shit hell

MAX MUNCY!!! WAHOO!!! GO RICH HILL!!! GO DODGERS!!! ⚾️

LA WINS!!! Take the next 3!!!

I am so glad thelarmis had a good time last night!

[47] A veritable One Man Banter.

Haha! That was the beer talking. Hopefully, the Dodgers win handily in regulation tonight!

I was kinda hoping Boston would go up 3-0, and then the Dodgers sweep the next four. I’m not still smarting over 2004. Nope, not bitter at all.

Well that was awesome.

(Puig dinger.)

PUIG!!!!

Masson has sucked all series. So has Dave Roberts : /

Roberts is beyon awful. No way Kenley can pitch two innings tonight. And now it’s tied. Series ovah...

And there it is. It’ll all be over tomorrow... FUCK!

Well, at least they didn’t get to double digits. Quite surprising...

What a fucking shitshow. Roberts sucks.

Btw, the fucking piece of shit did it again and stepped on the first baseman on purpose. I really don’t want him in pinstripes

While I was hoping the Dodgers would win, they deserved to lose this series. You can’t go down 3 games to 1 and yet Roberts managed the game like it’s just game 75 of a 162. I don’t get why owners pay managers today. Nodoby has a feel for the game any more. It’s just do what the binder says.

[60] You can likely blame the front offices for that, particularly the ones that are all-in on analytics and want little to no parts of traditional scouting for that. Analytics are a permanent part of the game, I get that and it's not wrong, but as the past few winners have also proven, there has to be a balance once everyone is competing on the same ground. I've read and listened in various places where insiders have said that Girardi, who we all know carried his notebook like it was an extra appendage, butted heads with Cash & Co about in-game decisions where he felt it was necessary to eschew the data and go with his gut. That apparently is a no-no in some analytics-driven departments, and that turned out to be the root cause of him being let go . Couple that with the fact that Joe has since removed himself from a couple of searches, one that ended up with neophyte David Bell and another still searching, you don't only get the impression that he's holding out for a Chicago job.

But I believe all things being equal, the teams that balance analytics with scouting will prevail in the long run, and Boston is proving to be the breakthrough on that. If teams can maintain their health in the process, they'll be perennial contenders like the Yanks. That means that coaching skills may once again come into play. I'm thinking that Cashman has to allow some of that balance or it's going to choke out the growth of the young talent. That said, that might open a can of worms with his decision to go with Boone, who is obviously loyal to the notebook, but visibly grew frustrated near the end. Hopefully Boone has the capacity to grow as an in-game manager and not just a proxy facilitator (a la Dave Roberts) as we perceive it now.