Yanks play the Sox in Boston tonight. Winner moves on, loser goes home.
Never mind the indigestion: Let’s Go Yank-ees!
Saturday
November 9, 2024
Since 2002
"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver
--Earl Weaver
A friend of mine texted me a few miutes ago:
"I know you gotta be hyped up for tonight."
In a word, yes.
There have been a dozen different possibilities over the past week, but we've arrived at the certainty we all expected through most of the summer -- Yankees vs. Red Sox in a one-game playoff. I'm old enough to remember 1978, but that's not what comes to mind for me. It's the late 90s to early aughts -- Manny and Papí back to back in the order, Pedro sending Soriano and Jeter to the hospital, Varitek and A-Rod squabbing at the plate, Jeter diving into the stands, Boonie sending one into the night and then Mo collapsing on the mound in exhausted celebration, even the long, slow death of the 2004 ALCS.
Villains come and villains go, but to paraphrase, there has been one constant through the years. The Boston Red Sox mark the time. What happens tonight will live forever in the rivalry, whether there's an iconic moment like Bucky Dent's or even if it turns out to be an uneventful game that does nothing more than send a winner to the divisional series. So lock in, Banterites. We get to watch some history tonight.
Testing a theory.
[1] Here, here!
You all heard, I hope, about the 4 numbers that came up as the winning numbers in the Massachusetts lottery on Monday night? They were, in order:
1-9-7-8
So yeah, it should be something!
[2] Also, Martin, Maris, Mickey, and Yogi!
Let's. Go. YANKEES! As for mlb: Fuck off for scheduling the first pitch for 8:07.
hey all. Let's Go Yan-kees!
Yo! Let’s Go Yank-ees!
Boston Sucks! Boston Sucks!
We need a total shellacking today. A message game.
Go Bombers!
LET’S FUCKING GOOOOO!!!
Evening, Team!
[10] Top O’ The Mornin’ to you, weeping!
Dog walked, snack plate and coffee made, all set here!
What happened to rbj , he’s not been in the game threads anymore..
[12] Hope he's ok.
Highest walk rate in the AL, tied for 3rd in HR and... so far down in runs scored. Still blows my mind.
Here we go!
Why can’t nasty nate suck, like he did when he was with us?
I *abhor* that stoopid monstah. What a dumb ballpark
Geez, how was that NOT out? Damn...
Oh feck..that was soooo close
I hope everyone is watching the Statcast broadcast and not the regular 4-letter network
Holy fuck.
Motherfucker.
You have to run!
Not a good look for Stanton there
Not very leadoffish by Rizzo. Not very get-on-my-backish by Stanton. C’mon fellas.
Shave and a haircut, strike three.
I only can get the regular E$PN feed here, but I don’t mind A-Rod too much. He’s better than Snotlz at least
Boat, Stanton wears that look a lot tho, as his 19 doubles this year would attest.
[19] I am streaming it on Fubo TV - and so currently stuck with the 4 letter. Holy smokes is A-Rod awful in the booth. It took some searching but they do have ESPN2 so I switched over.
Joey Gallo got half of Eo's pitches.
I bet he can't keep that up for the whole game.
Old times?
More like *Old Timers*!
Howdy Nostra, howdy OK Jazz, howdy everyone!!!
Man, FrankenStanton fooled, I thought that ball was gone off the bat!
[19] I barely know how to watch the games these days, which is why I'm so out of it. Years ago YES suddenly dropped out of my comcast package at the last minute which enraged me because that was the whole reason I had cable in the first place. Right now I have the four letter people on hulu, where I'm watching. And I get a sprinkling of YES games on Prime.
I fucking hate this shit. I miss the days when I could just turn on channel 11 and watch the fucking Yankees, easy-peasy lemon squeezy.
Anyway.
They didn’t even show the replay of the check swing. You could hear the ump say “ball 3, low.” At least show a fucking replay. I didn’t think he went.
[25] A five year old who has never watched a baseball game would be better than Smoltz. Joe Morgan at the height of the takedowns by Mike's Baseball Rants / Fire Joe Morgan was light years better than Smoltz. I could go on, but why waste my time?
[29] Hey, old friend!
[29] Hey, cult! How's things (game aside)?
Being out of state and area, I have the MLB app and can basically watch every game on my phone. Except when it’s a National broadcast
Cult!!!!
My oldest nephew is at the game totally decked out in Yankees gear
Don’t think I can take 9 innings of this…
Wow Cult and Weeping, both!
[38] You and me both, friend.
Such a pathetic chant for a fan base
Motherfucker
Yup.
Not ideal.
Devers chewing tobacco is disgusting
JFC!
[29] What uo, Cult! Lot of old timers here indeed!
Well that sucked.
Well, that sucks and blows in equal measure.
Ugh.
I’m gonna have to start drinking early tonight
Oy.
I'll say this -- A-Rod is really good at this job. But damn. Not an ideal start.
sigh
Dammit…not ace-like by Cole..
This is not my beautiful Cole...
[31] They showed it on my broadcast. He went.
This is absolutely awful
[41] Same record as our boys. More losing seasons in the last 30 years than our boys. They've been wasting their breath with that one for as long as I've lived in Massachusetts.
Work a count FFS
This is where starting Higashioka & Velasquez hurts. Down by 2 and have two automatic outs bottom of the lineup
[34] I'm ok, I'm just living in Texas!
So ... O_o?
Time for Eovaldi to perform his usual Bob Gibson impression.
Not a hit but a good AB by Gleyber
[58] When the Patriots won their first SuperBowl ... that's the chant they broke out during the victory parade ... *that* was sad.
[61] Texas..! Enjoy the great food, watch out for those dudes varying rocket launchers to go shopping..
Eovaldi an Italian son of Texas, isn’t he?
Gio running well. And, now feels if…
Why don't they show the exit velocity on gits like Ureshela?
What an ugly swing. Now tie the game
Run into one, Higgy
That looked like a check, IHMO.
Apparently anything close to a swing will be a swing.
Goddamn it.
No shit
If you average the exit velocities of the Stanton single and the Urshela single, do you get two regular singles?
not a swing.
Grrrrrrrr.
He did NOT fucking go!!! At least it didn’t look like he did live. No replay, of course
[78] we saw a replay and he didn't go.
[65] I'm in Wichita Falls ... great food is in short supply ... although, I am quite satisfied with the BBQ and the chicken fingers!
Base Umps are trigger happy tonight
Fuck the umps, fuck the fans, and fuck the shit sox
(Mo gave us three shutout innings that game. Talk about the good old days.)
At least it was foul and no one ran into the wall
Nasty hook
Ball girl took her sweet time ambling out of the way there.
Jesus, Cole. What the FUCK, man???
Cole is off today. I hope he figures it out soon.
[80] Wow, I’ve actually heard of Wichita Falls as a great college friend was from there before settling in Midland!
2-bagger ti Plawecki?? C’mon Cole!
[88] I'm not sure you figure out a "bum hammy"
Nice pitch.
good finish there
Ok, good. That's something.
Ask and you shall receive. Great come back inning for Cole.
Cole on pace to hit a 100 pitches by the 5th. :/
This game is gonna kill me.
[95] I don't think I ever asked ... where in Texas?
Damn, Bucky looking old…
Way to make 'em work for those outs!
My broadcast totally missed the Velasquez at bat. Grrr.
Anyone else?
“Aaron, what was the key to the Yankees’ unlikely championship run?”
“Lots of first-pitch hacking.”
Nice ab...
[101] Worked for 2002 Angels
Fuck.
Well, poop.
This sucks. Time for beer. I’m actually off tomorrow, so…
It's all over so fast.
Two at-bats, thee pitches for Judge?
thelarmis, I’ve got a 11.5% Imperial Stout in the fridge, but that’s a big no-no at 10am local time..
Jazz - I can’t do a beer like that at any time
Fuck, shit, piss, and hell.
Time for the ‘pen…
I can't fucking take this.
Our white whale is a fucking complete dud. : (
"but that’s a big no-no at 10am local time.."
You're right ... I'd move straight to free-basing heroin at this point ..
Just spotting them some runs to make it more dramatic.
His wad of chewing tobacco is disgusting
He’ll settle down in the fifth. It’ll only be 6-0 by then.
The worst part of this is that Eovaldi has looked pretty good.
He's hurting, is the problem.
Bullpen?
Frankly? I was rooting for the Blue Jays at the end.
I just want Boone-y gone and half the roster "disappeared".
Nearly 50 pitches. No outs.
Went to put away laundry after 1st. Get back to see another homer and an infield single. MOTHER FUCKING BOLLOCKS!
I thought Blue Jays would be tougher than the Red Sox, but not looking like it at the moment.
[123] Really?? How come they stopped the first and second innings???
Gonna have to pull Cole early. He isn't accurate and hasn't been for a bit.
What a shit show.
Back to School Night for my kids. For some reason it's always the same night as the AL Wild Card game. So twice before I've been walking around their high school campus, checking the game in between stops. First the loss to the Astros (Dallas Keuchel) and then the comeback win over the Twins. This year Back to School Night is on Zoom, so at least I can have the game on in the background. Hopefully things will get better...
Bring in Holmes before a three run home run.
What a shit show.
[128] hahahahahaha! Jinx.
What a ducking awful performance by Cole..just terrible. At least Boone was awake and pulled him
Jesus. Did not see that early hook coming.
Maybe he can pitch earlier in the ALDS now.
Can’t stay in there after getting bat-shy like that. I like the move.
What a bunch of fucking bollocks. I know his hamstring isn’t 100%, but he hasn’t shown he’s an ace when it counts. There are so many better pitchers and they’re shouldn’t be…
[133] Hate when it autocorrects to "ducking."
had to pull him.
[122] I just want the manager gone to see what these players can do with a real manager. As a team they only perform when the players are all coincidentally hot.
Since the crack down Cole's stuff hasn't had the movement he relied on for all those strike outs he used to get. He had that 15k game against the Angels back in July but other than that he's been just a good/average pitcher.
I don't think I expected a dominant Cole performance tonight, but I certainly would never have guessed 2+ innings. Earlier this week he was talking about Clemens and his big game performances. Maybe he should've aspired to someone else...
At least we have Sevy for some of those innings.
[141] Where are the roids when you need them.
Holmes should not be the first out, with runners on
Man, what a dud.
[140] Uhhhhhh.
Yeah no. He was really good for that period. Until the injury.
[138] Ducking-A right..
This is the game right here, have to get out with no runs more
Money!
I hated Verdugo when he came up with the Dodgers. Hate him more now. He fits the shit sox. Also, ridiculous he switched to #99.
I do like the DP, however!
Whew!
Nice work.
Way to go Clay (with an Umpire assist); now, let's get some runs!
Which was the game when Mussina came in the bases loaded in like the third or fourth and wriggled out of the jam? Was that Game 7 2003?
Eovaldi is simply too good.
Just poured an Green Man ESB Amber Ale from Asheville. Drinking out of a Yankees pint glass, wearing a road gray Father’s Day Yanks t-shirt.
Eo sucked for us, then got hurt. Figures…
RIYank even before the injury he wasn't the same. First half of the season he was going deeper into games while also throwing less pitches. Second half it's a bunch of 5/6 inning starts throwing 100 pitches on average. He's Cole so he's learned to adjust but it's comes at the expense of a lot more pitches, more homers and labored starts.
Still has fewer pitches than Cole threw
[154] nice. Wife and I are sharing a Supreme from Imagine Nation Brewing out of matching NY Yankees wine glasses. Wearing my Notre Dame Pinstripe Bowl jersey (somewhere in my young adulthood my Nettles jersey disappeared).
[152] I was thinking about that also -- Game 7 in 2003. Good mojo.
just got under that
Seamus!!! I’m so glad you’re able to enjoy beer, your wife is a gem, and I’m happy you’re here! I hope Ara Just Fair sees the ND part too : )
Hey Thelarmis! The wife is amazing! I am lucky lucky...
That was a fucking strike
Let's be honest ... our pitching could have been better/luckier ... but it didn't put us here .. our bats did.
What was it I saw someone post today? 0-3 runs scored 70+ times.
Leadoff man on. My favorite. FUCK!
Hunter Renfroe gives me Trot Nixon annoying vibes..
How about a 2-ball in the 1st pitch?
Nice pick by Torres
I did not type in. On. Dumb auto INcorrect.
There’s the 2-ball! Nice job Gleyber
Nice!
Very nicely turned.
Oh, that was beautiful.
That was a tricky hop.
very nice from Holmes. Severino can do 2-3 from here.
Never understood why you would hard shift a guy only to throw a 98 mph pitch expecting him to pull? If you are throwing a fast pitch to put a guy away, ahead in the count, wouldn't you be expecting the hitter to be late on the pitch?
All right, now, sticks, get some fucking RUNS!
2 innings and 16 pitches for Holmes
2 innings and 50 pitches for Cole (+2 runs)
Why does Rizzo have to be so chummy with everybody at first base? This isn't a spring training game in Sarasota, for christ's sake.
[174] Yeah, you got me.
Holmes for one more inning?
[177] It would be better if he was lonely at first base.
Nate on pace to pitch 10 innings…
This ab may decide if Gardner will be coming back.
[179] i'd guess as long as he was warming we see Sevy. But i'd be fine with Holmes.
Do we bring Gary in early now that Cole is out?
Fucking hell
A run or two here would make some of the pitching decisions a little easier.
[184] Yes. Yes. Yes.
I don’t think they’re going to touch Eovaldi tonight..
I wonder if it would’ve been different in the Bronx…
Gardner should not be having meaningful AB in the playoffs. I don’t understand how they even got here with barely four MLB quality OF.
First pitch swinging
First pitch swinging
First pitch swinging
Do these numbnutses have an early flight?
Yikes, we really need to get this pitch count up. Or maybe he is bad 3rd time through the lineup?
Things could obviously change, but sometimes big game baseball comes down to this -- one ace has his stuff, the other doesn't.
Buster Olney maybe a great reporter but he’s awful on tv..Eovaldi is humble because he puts up Xmas lights on his house? Wtf that even mean??
I’m getting salty now with this broadcast and game..
Anyone know why Velasquez was in the lineup instead of Odor? Not that Odor is scaring anybody at the plate, but at least he can hit sometimes.
Yeah, Sanchez should be in there now that Cole is out.
[194] Right there with you.
Exceptionally pathetic
Meanwhile Eovaldi could go nine innings tonight.
[194] I have it muted. This is kind of painful, but I feel good about the next inning.
This is demoralizing.
Well, at least a) I won't have to waste a second thinking about this team after tonight and b) the Rays are going to curb stomp the Red Sox, so ...
[194] Hhahahahahaha! I know.
Hold them this inning, and it’s still winnable.
I’d have preferred to see Gary up that last AB but maybe another inning of Higgy behind the dish is necessary.
Jazz - maybe Arod and the inane stupitude he spews on those broadcasts has rubbed off on Buster. That crew is unlistenable
[194] I was wondering about that, too. I suppose the super rich are not supposed to do any household tasks. Maybe he's just cheap.
[202]. I thought either team would get stomped by the Rays. It would be nice to see a close game, though. Or some, you know, runs.
Cult - gotta hope tampon takes care of the shit sox and the pale hose represent the AL. Even though TLR is insufferable
[195] All hands lineup. Maybe the defense can create a turnover?
[205] Wait, you listen to the broadcast?
That's on you bro, to me it sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown ...
[206] I imagine that they have a lot of free time in the off season.
Look at Gold Glove Gleyber!
[205] [206] ‘I’ll tell you, (random player) is just such a great guy. He uses his blender to make smoothies every morning in his own kitchen with a blender, really tells you the kind of person he is..’
Like a good Gleyber, Torres is there.
Now it's a strike?
Cult, I tried to get the radio feed and TV in synch but it wouldn’t work. Can’t get ESPN2 feed here :(
Sorry for looking ahead, but Gleyber looks so much more comfortable at second. Let's just lock him in there for the next ten years, then get Cory Seager to play short and slide LeMaheiu to first full time.
[213]
Ha ha. If you lead by aping John Madden “I’m telling you…” you’re definitely doing it wrong.
[205] i only listen a few times a season. sunday night baseball, if i'm able to watch and there's no statcast telecast. sometimes, i'll put on Ma/Pa, but the feed is slower...
[205] to be fair, A-Rod sounds like a genius compared to when Boone was on the broadcasts.
there ya go, sevy!
Our bullpen is better than your bullpen.
i hate when they praise their cheater manager. I mean Arod cheated too so I guess there is that...
A just heard Sterling's home run call of Stanton's 1st run hit. OMG. Worst. Call. Ever. He needs to go, too.
We need at *least* a run out of this next half inning.
Good news? Yankee bullpen is looking dominant.
Bad news? Eovaldi...
So basically everyone besides Cole can be economical with their pitches
[224] I'll put him on the list, but the smothering pillow is *very* backed up right now ..
I don’t blame Sterling, he’s 80! I’m 47 and have barely any depth perception anymore.. :/
[220] Well, Boone has never said anything interesting in his entire life (on mic).
[224] I was wondering about that. The home run calls are what he lives for nowadays. I'd say he calls at least one or two false homers a week. I think everyone thought the Stanton ball was gone -- even Stanton -- but Sterling's still an embarrassment.
[224] He always seems to flub the Yankee calls but somehow always gets the opponent's homeruns right.
[229] what is depth perception?
OK Jazz ... tried VPN?
[224] Did you hear the Vikings announcer in week 1? That was classic. Or course I am a Packer fan...
Boone had the (correct) quick hook, but how does he let Higashioka and Velasquez get ABs against an obviously dealing Eovaldi??
[232] I watched 61 today to get prepped. And the movie had a horrible fake home run call by an announcer. And that was entirely scripted!
that was some pinch hit at-bat.
I'd much rather see Tyler Wade in the game now.
amazing it wasn't foul. on the board!
Hope!!!
woooooh! Rizzo!
Boom goes the dynamite!!!!
Fuck. Yes. Rizzo!
Ok, that's one.
Ratso!
Break that schneid
The 2 ex-Cubs have both homered.
good hustle Judge! All rise and RUN!
Let's Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
A pulse!
Interesting.
Ohhh, he's safe!!
Wow. Cora doing us a favor, in my opinion.
Ye old Eo meltdown?
We can hope.
cheating manager pulls his ace. nice!
Wow, VERY quick hook by Cora!
UNLEASH THE FRANKENSTANTON!
I think that was the wrong move.
[257] Very, indeed.
Cora got some data on his apple watch...
[261] Hopefully it's tee times
I don't think I would take him out, but OK with me.
Don't you think the Yankee hitters are pretty happy to see anyone else but Eovaldi?
Fuck. That was his pitch.
Damn it.
The thing about Brasier is he looks EXACTLY like a friend here in Pittsburgh. Like disturbingly so...
What are they doing? What the hell was Nevin thinking?
GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKER!!!
This is going to be a microcosm of this season isn't it?
That wall is sooo stoopid.
Horrible send with no one out. Jesus.
It wasn't even close at the plate. Unbelievable.
Nice send as usual.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUUUUUUUCKK!!!!!!
why was he sent on that?
More outs on the base paths. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid n
why send him???
Nevin again? Really
Phil Nevin is the worst 3rd base coach in the history of baseball. Fire his ass!
Is this Nevin's first time in Fenway Park?
Are you fucking kidding me?
FrankenStanton would have 2 HRs and 3 RBI in *any* other park on this planet ...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Phil Nevin sucks again!
Pull Nevin mid-inning. Give Bucky Dent his job.
i've always hated that stoopid little league park. it's awful.
What a fucking waste.
JESUS FUXKING CHRIST, Nevin. Sit down and don't bcome back.
there goes the season. that right there is on nevin.
Moved on to Weathered Souls PB French Press beer... Feeling like weathered souls with this team...
They wouldn't have scored anyway.
Lovely.
What a fucking delight.
I still can't get over that send.
[288] tell us more about weathered souls, PB, and french press! i know nothing about all 3...
[289] Huh? I like our chances with Torres, RISP and two outs any day of the week.
[292] a peanut butter coffee stout I believe? delicious!
At minimum, with men on 2nd and 3rd, they’d have pitched more carefully to/around Gallo and maybe Torres would have had a crack. Or a sac fly. Anything.
Geezus.
does tobacco wad drop his bat a lot on swings? i can't stand looking at this fuck.
[quote]They wouldn't have scored anyway.[/quote]
QFT
[294] nice! those are hit and miss. i like some chocolate-peanut butter porters, though they're too heavy to drink a lot of.
i need to stick with one kind per night. looks like i'll be downing quite a lot of the ESBs tonight!
Really, they wouldn't have scored anyway? Not sure how we know that...
sevy looks sexy!
22 times thrown out at the plate…You gotta wonder why he wasn’t fired before this.
if it were 1st/3rd with 1-out, i think we're scoring a second run. gallo doesn't hit into many double plays. nevin took away the possibility.
[301] jesus! that's pure insanity.
[298] that is (ara) fair. I always liked ESBs! And this Yankees team is extra bitter at times...
[300] and yet Boone getting ready to replace him. I would keep him in there for at least 1 more inning
[298] Looks like you picked the wrong week to, well, you know ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm8fYf53SMg
[301] The fish rots from the head down ...
c'mon, blue.
Looks like that Cardinals fan got on the wrong flight
fucking BULLSHIT! : /
Too old for this shit. Going to bed.
Boone might catch some heat about bullpen management, but Cole put him in this hole.
[306] I don't get it. i said i'll be drinking a ton...
Walked the dog, heard the Red Sox radio guys just beyond themselves that Nevin sent Judge. ‘Sox catch a break as that was just an awful, awful send by Nevein there..’ :(
Stupid Fenway. Begs the question why more teams don’t F around with outfield wall angles etc to create more home field advantage. That stupid hill in Houston comes to mind.
[304] nice! yeah, my palate doesn't really allow me to go from beer to beer.
There's nobody like Alex Cora. He really has the Alex Cora effect, on this magical Red Sox team ...
thanks, i'll take the veggie lasagna! one more, johnny
[316] i'm limited to two pints these days. So I drink slow. But the wife loves sampling different beers. I am happy to oblige!
[313] Does Alex Cora have the magical Alex Cora effect on you?
You can be honest.
This beer talk is making me thirsty but not even noon here yet…
That extra run really hurts..
Well cult, I wish he was the Yankee manager…!
This freakin umpire
Lasa Laser!
[317] I know, right?
Loaisiga is ICE.
Apparently, after JLo left him ARod is now romancing Boston
[322] We should think outside of the box ... hire Jose Mourinho ... proven winner!
[327] The entire band?
[326] Johnny Lasagna is the man.
[327] Who’s a well known Boston woman for him to chase? Ally McBeal?
Jose Mourinhio! The Larry Brown of soccer
[331] Ally McBeal is as real as their pitch anticipation.
Well, I’ve had two beers. It’s bourbon time.
[334] ooooh. so jealous. I can only do limited amounts of bourbon but definitely not after two beers!
[334] What we talkin' here, Willis?
hit away from the people with gloves on one hand!
Could be looking at Gardy's last at bat here...
‘Bottom of the lineup hasn’t been productive tonight..’ Jeez, you think?
Gardy's last party?
[329] Fran Cosmo was (is?) a happily married guy. I knew his nephew once upon a time. 'Course he hasn't been in Boston in like a decade...
[339] Right? With one run on three hits, I'd have thought the bottom of the lineup would've been REALLY productive.
7 outs left ...
[338] Some how I doubt it but it should have happened 3 years ago.
Was that the last swing of Gardy’s career?
[340] He better come up in the ninth, otherwise this will be a depressing finish.
i think there's some type of option. gardy might very well be back...
Gardy has had a great career, but he’s cooked.
I don’t think a three pitch lK by Gary pinch hitting will be enjoyable even if Gio gets on..
Gio is my favorite current Yankee. i hope he comes through here.
[336] I stand corrected. Elijah Trace Rye. Not bourbon.
Gardner is done. Way overdue.
Urshela can do it. He just needs to focus.
6 outs til winter. better be some BIG changes for next season...
[347] If he doesn’t we’d better get more than eight or 10 games out of Hicks
Or not
[347] I love me some GGBG but ... it's time to move on.
[347] Hicks, aka Ellsbury 2.0
if losing gets Boone fired there is hope imo. I always appreciate Boone for that one home run. I just never thought he was a good manager. We have the talent. We need the high level coaching.
Says something when Torres (.331 OBP) and Urshela (.301 OBP) see more pitches than the guys at the top of the lineup...
Man, I would much rather it was 3-2 instead of 4-1. Not that our boys can't come back from being 3 runs down.
[357] Even if Boone is axed I suspect they will just get another inexperienced manager for the analytics department to control like a puppet. The person that really needs to go is Cashman
[353] i really hope hicks comes back and is successful next season
[359] I do think that it is time for Cash to go. He owns the Boone hire and it was always a reactive hire.
I’ve come around on Boone over the years but still think Meulens would have been a great hire. 2020-21 have kinda shown me that Boone has major weaknesses that are not going to be fixed, so a change may be in order.
It’s ok to fail on the field but it’s not ok to be sloppy and I feel like Boone has allowed these teams to be so.
[360] I like Hicks so I hope for the best! I'd be good with that.
Alex throwing shade on Cash and Hal. Love it.
The leading team would like to do nothing more than to add to their lead. Brilliant commentary.
sorry i'm getting negative. Let's Go Yan-kees!
I know people are down on Boone, and there have certainly been times when I've wanted him out, but is there any manager who wouldn't have wanted Gerritt Cole on the mound tonight? At some point players have to perform, but sometimes they don't. Eovaldi performed. Cole didn't.
MlB the Show has better commentary
[360] no question!
[364] what'd he say?
Hicks is an absolute zero. I hope we never see him play again.
And yes, I really miss Aaron Hicks. Regardless of what happens here, I really hope we get a healthy Hicks next year.
"Even if Boone is axed I suspect they will just get another inexperienced manager for the analytics department to control like a puppet. The person that really needs to go is Cashman"
I am intrigued by your ideas and would subscribe to your newsletter, preferably via mimeograph. I *love* the smell of mimeograph in the morning ...
Wait -- did Alex just say Judge and *Rizzo* are the two guys to build around?
[367] The problem isn't with Cole tonight. It is with the scores of bad decisions over the years. Doesn't make him a bad person. It may be the best thing for him. But he doesnt have the instincts.
[370] Talking about how to construct the team not copying the Rays and using "your available resources" i.e: money
[364] I wouldn't trust Alex to pour piss out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel, so ...
[371] i hope that's facetious, 'coz that statement is absolutely nuts!
When your ace doesn't get an out in the third inning of an elimination game, that's obviously part of the problem. I see problems with Boone, but my point is just that if Cole had been dominant tonight, we wouldn't be having this discussion right now. I'm not blaming Cole for anything, either. He just didn't pitch well tonight.
Hank, this game isn’t on Boone. Over the course of the season though what evidence is there he’s a good in-game manager?
Boston hitters have seen 121 pitched. New York, 94.
Green? God help us.
Hicks is 'a' problem, because he can't stay healthy, but he's so far down the list of "problems", well ...
a-rod is awful on these broadcasts!
hicks is incredibly talented. he would've been my favorite yankee over gio, but apparently there have been some extra marital affairs and such. of course, we don't know what happens behind closed doors, but it was enough for me to move on, especially with the injury.
all that said, he could be a real weapon as a daily starter next season. switch hitter with power, patience, and defense. sign me the hell up!
Green against Devers? Not Perlata??
Hank, you’re not wrong, but it was a 162 game slog to end up as visitors to this shit box for one game winner take all and I think the Yankees could have had someone better in the seat over the length of that drive.
Hell, 22 outs at home plate (I don’t know what the MLB average is) sounds outrageous to me. And the in numerous other adventures on the base paths. To start. Demanding another OF, so that they would have to choose between risking Stanton in the field or running 100 year old Gardner out there repeatedly. I could go on.
[379] I don't think Cole is/was 100%
[379] eh my complaints about Boone have nothing to do with this one game.
Wife comes in from tennis.
“Hi sweetie. How are the Yankees doing?”
“Bad. How did tennis go?”
“Tough. I won ugly. What did you have for dinner?”
“Whiskey.”
eovaldi is a strike thrower. we're not gonna run the count up on him. we had great success against him last week. so, of course, they said there was pitch tipping. he adjusted and we sucked tonight. cole sucked worse than anyone. though Nevin is right there too.
[380] I'm not really defending Boone specifically. As for his game management? Meh.
throw a fucking strike.
how about a win? Let's go Yankees!
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
Chad Green came up big in a big spot, said never.
But if we're talking game management, the decision to go to Green is mindboggling.
And a two-run single exactly as I clicked post. Not surprised in the least.
it's ovah.
Well, I guess now I can focus on college football and the EPL.
Who was the one that said they didn't like Verdugo? He is making your night.
so umm what just happened? did he try to go for two and was he out before or after the second run?
Out after the run. 6-1.
[402] thanks.
Just cast your mind back to every game given away, every “gut punch” that ended with a hangdog press conference about how “the talent is here, we just need to get it together” … and how every time, what you said to yourself was: Dammit, if it all comes down to one game because of this…
Well, shit, it did. Reap what you sow.
There’s no real control over how well you pitch or how well you hit. But you can control dumb decisions. How many games did dumb cost the Yankees this year?
[378] You're kidding right? The Yankees should be modeling off the Dodgers, not the Rays. They should have an all-star back up at every position and 5 ace starters.
Why do we keep pinch hitting with Sanchez with no one on base? He isn't an OBP guy.
[404] I was thinking the same thing tonight. Just one of those ridiculous losses...
[405] about Hicks being a total zero? that's bollocks. he's a super talented baseball player.
{406}
Don't you feel the "swinging at an outside slider you couldn't hit with a boat oar" sexy time?
[408] Hicks is absolutely a plus player.
I'm a big Hicks fan.
After the Minnesota catch Hicks is my guy, full stop.
Hicks is **so** far down the list of our problems ... but is still a problem.
Time to go for some lunch. Let’s Go…Giants? Such an unlikes ke field this year, Rays, Astros, Cardinals, Dodgers….blechhhh
Oooof.
Doing my best with some Power of Suggestion IPA...
Doesn't A-Rod know Rizzo is, you know, old?
That was a dreadful comparison, Hank, agree. Mets we’re up & coming, Totally different scenario to Yankees now
My guys are fucking CABBAGES in the box
[405] but, yes, the yankees should definitely model after the dodgers and not the rays. that is an absolute. i don't see how aaron hicks is the major problem though. the injuries suck, but he's a switch-hitter with power, patience, and defense.
[410] Premium defensive position and can get on base. And not at the end of their career.
Hicks has exactly one solid season under his belt and it was largely one hot half of a season that produced those numbers and that ridiculous contract. He's not a plus to the lineup unless you're talking about him over Gardy
[419] lol. Meanwhile, Mr Cabbagehead's garden is a fun card game...
*Time to go for some lunch*
I am *far* more interested in Mr OK's lunch options than this Yankees team?
What are the choices?
Can we vote where you should go???
[418] Second time he's said it tonight. He wants the Yankees to build around Judge and Rizzo.
[414] yes, Giants, definitely! they're always my NL team anyway. i'd also root for the brew crew, but not after young devin williams breaking his pitching hand punching a wall. Go Giants!
hopefully, it's vs. the pale hose, 'coz i *really* HATE all the other AL teams
[421] He's a career .233 BA and .330 OBP. That's not great for a guy who "gets on base" as his calling card
[410] Last 3 seasons: 59, 54 (short season) and 32 games.
Cult: Soba & fried tofu with wakame seaweed. Samosas, mutton daal curry & naan. OR Stone oven Italian pizza joint down the block…still considering
Some udon ... tonkatsu ... bento box?
WHAT ARE WE TALKING!?!!!???
I'd be a weeeeee bit afraid of "Soba & fried tofu with wakame seaweed. Samosas, mutton daal curry & naan." from one place.
Just sayin'
So we go after hitters and pitch fierce down five runs in garbage time?
[427] Right? Most importantly, he can't even get on the field.
Arod really hates Gallo? Gallo does need to learn how to hit other than homeruns.
[427] Wow, just looked at his stats. You are correct that he is probably not the answer. I thought his numbers were better than that. And so many missed games.
This is one of those “more than one thing is true” deals.
1. I like Aaron Hicks
2. When he’s there he contributes
3. He’s not there nearly enough
C Sanchez
1B LeMaheiu
2B Torres
3B Urshela
SS Seager
LF Gallo
CF Hicks
RF Judge
DH Stanton
P Cole
P Scherzer
P Severino
P Montgomery
P Cortes
We’re all reduced to debating the merits and demerits of Aaron Hicks..Sigh..
A-rod also REALLy *loves* the bunt. talks about it a ton. must have forgotten he was a big-time power hitter.
at least Odor will be back next season!
over/under on seeing 10 pitches this inning?
salt on the wound - our Rule 5 guy is gonna end the season for us.
Won't be a surprise if Stanton loses one into the night.
Put one OVER the fucking wall this time, please.
Just to start the winter with a little dignity.
Welp, there you go.
Stanton!
Yesss!
I’ll take it.
Now we just need a grand slam!
[438] We *could* discuss the merits of various types of bento boxes!
I'm a practical man!
At least Stanton came to play.
Oh that’s too sad if Gardy can’t get one last AB..
pesky yankee
He says if I’m too tired to carry this team and put two over the monster, I’ll take the easy route.
Stanton has had himself a nice night.
Grady ends his career on deck
ok all good. Hopefully we can have a good off season.
Thank you all for sharing the evening (morning). Here’s hoping for great games and game threads next year.
Now: Go… Pale Hose? Or Dodgers.
At least they will get stomped by the Rays.
[437] I like it.
Oh, well. Seeya'll next season.
And there it is. A rough way for the season to end, but I want to thank everybody here for making the season -- and even tonight -- a lot more fun. I'm not sure what I'd do without the Banter and the Banterites. Thanks, everybody.
Well, hey, at least it was over before Midnight. Yanks went quietly into the night during what turned out to be a misbegotten season. It’s never fun to lose against Boston but hard to get too upset about this one. This team just was not that good.
And that's that.
Goodnight, Team.
Lovely sharing this clusterfuck with you guys.
Go Giants!
461) Thank you for all you’ve contributed. And of course, huge high fives and hugs to all the Banterites. Love you guys.
Rays haven't won a series, but I would like to see the White Sox. So it will probably be the Cheatin' Astros or Red Sox.
Thank you, Alex, for leaving the light on for us.
Nice to be here with the Team tonight.
GO YANKS, 2022!!
I am preparing a dummy to hang Phil Nevin in effigy.
Call it a Halloween decoration.
Great seeing everyone here tonight even with the craptacular result. Next up: let’s go Knicks!
Amid all the woolgathering and misty-eyed see-ya-next-years… let’s not forget to fire Phil Nevin, a lot, immediately..
Thanks so much, Alex.
Really appreciate you keeping this going, considering how very busy you are with other stuff.
Maybe for Halloween I’ll shave my beard, put on an ice cream helmet, and go as Phil Nevin. I’ll just point all the children to run into traffic.
[461] [465] Thanks to you guys for leaving the lights on and all you do. Love you too, AB.
This team achieved exactly as much as it should have.
You can debate the merits, the culprits, etc. But this was a tremendously frustrating (though at times fun) season, and in the end they got no further than they deserved to.
Unlike 2017 and others of recent vintage where the ending really stung.
Glad I found some time to spend with y'all (that's the Texan in me speaking) at the end.
Not surprised at the outcome, so not very disappointed; I'll try and stop in and say hi more often!
Hear, hear re Alex B! Busy or quiet, it means a lot that the Banter is always there.
(Time for a new Tasters Cherce tho!)
Happy looking out the window and thinking about spring, everyone
sweet dreams all! Thanks Alex for leaving the lights on as others have said. There is something lovely about being able to come back here, converse and even disagree with old mates, in the key moments of the cycle that is baseball. Love yinz!
Heartbreaker! The Yanks were an uneven team all year. Had to fight for wins and had very few blowout games.
The bullpen was gassed, and were asked to do too much tonight.
22 outs made at home. I like Phil Nevin as a human but he shouldn’t be coaching 3rd.
At least they cut down on the Double plays tonight but so few guys on base, I guess not as many opportunities. The most exciting part of the season was when most of the team had Covid and they started stealing bases.
The outfield next year will look pretty strange unless they can deal someone. Hicks was missed and Gardy was gritty but played too often. Surprisingly, he had a better 2nd half.
Rizzo is a good fit and Voit is never going to hold a candle to him defensively and carrying all that heavy muscle, he will likely be injured again. I know he wanted to play but he looked kind of angry the last few weeks coming up to pinch hit and didn’t seem like a team player.
Cole’s injury cost him, and I wonder if he got this start based on his former resume and not on what Boone’s eyes were seeing the last few starts?
This isn’t a team that you need to blow up but they definitely need to jettison some guys.
DJ was a huge loss tonight.
It’s tough when you have guys coming back after missing time and not in sync. Gio was out for a while. Severino just came back for a bit and Loiaziga. Greene has had a horrible 2nd half. At least Boone didn’t bring in Heaney.
I watched every inning this year and this team frustrated the shit out of me for most of the year. They were not consistent enough to win it all. The Rays would have destroyed them anyway.
The rotation and bullpen can still be great next year, and we just need to trade some mashers for grinders but who does that deal?
I wanted to comment last night but I was traveling all over the state for work. I didn't even get to hear the game until I got in the car and turned on the radio to learn it was 3-0. I knew it was over, but I listened to the whole mess all the way home.
I think John Sterling was right when he said a lot of changes are needed simply because we don't score runs. He's right. We scored 711 runs this year. That's 232 less than 2019, 140 less than 2018, and 147 less than 2017! And, the 2021 Yankees actually OUTPERFORMED their Pythgorean expected record of 86-76!
It's been very clear to me for a long time that Aaron Boone is not a good manager. Gleyber and Sanchez have regressed. We run the bases horribly. We don't play good defense. We hit into a lot of double plays. And we can't even bunt! [Had Tyler Wade executed a bunt properly back on April 29 the Yanks probably wouldn't have lost to Baltimore. Did that matter? Well, if we'd won the game last night would have been at home -- but we weren't going to win it anyway].
But Cashman is the one who put this team together. He fired Girardi. He hired Boone. He signed Cole. He had a nearly all right-handed hitting team, which forced the acquisitions of Rizzo and Gallo. And he's the one who left Garrett Whitlock unprotected for the Rule 5 draft.
Fire Boone. Fire Cashman. Fire the coaches.
Early wish list:
- Freddie Freeman
- Corey Seager
- Robbie Ray
As for a new manager, unless Cashman gets the boot (doubt it) they will either stick with Boone or bring in another Boone type figurehead.
Stay healthy this off season, everyone. 2022 will be our year… I’m feeling it already!! I love all you guys.
Alright. Neck deep into LA-SF game five,I have some thoughts on 2022
Thames, Nevin, and Pilittere are gone.
Keep Boone around but make sure he knows it’s contingent on the team not continuing to play below it’s abilities, or it’s on him.
Dump Sanchez for…anyone.
Sign Seager at SS for whatever it’ll take.
Try to resign Rizzo, and if so trade or non tender Voit (much as I love the guy)
Torres to 2B full time but hopefully with the message that he’s not expendable.
DJ and Gio to platoon 3B and 1B at times.
Not sure where they can get another OF, but Gardy should not come back.
Hopefully these moves will put the original baby bombers on notice that they’re not Supreme Court justices and guaranteed a spot for life.
Maybe this will create a little positive friction.
PS. Can’t believe Gallo is still pre-FA. I would dump him at the deadline for Matt Nokes if he reproduces his 2H 2021.
Jeez..... Astros against Red Sox! Who do you root for???
Dirty bomb beneath home plate?
Well... I guess the lesser of 2 evils won.
I spent my whole adult life in NH, 70 miles north of Fenway.
But I can simply never root for the Sox.
[483]. National league, I guess.