New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino throws during the first inning in Game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Game 2 in the Bronx did not go the Yankees’ way, and not just because of the final result on the scoreboard. It was one of those games when line drives off Yankee bats were caught, but bloops and flares off Guardian bats found the grass.
In a well-pitched game on both sides, there were a handful of moments that determined the game. With a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, Josh Donaldson stood at the plate with two outs and runners on second and third. He ripped a ball to left field that would likely have scored two and might even have chased Cleveland starter Shane Bieber from the game, but left fielder Steven Kwan was able to race in and grab it for the final out. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, Kyle Higashioka looked for just a moment as if he would be the hero, but his line drive was snagged by third baseman Jose Ramirez, and again the Yankees were turned away.
Finally, in the top of the tenth inning, Aaron Boone sent Jameson Taillon (and not Clarke Schmidt) to the mound, a questionable decision considering Taillon had never before appeared in relief. The result was predictable, if not the manner in which things played out. First there was a bloop to left by Ramirez, a ball that Oswaldo Cabrera might’ve been able to catch were it not for a moment’s hesitation towards the end. The hustling Ramirez forced a desperate throw to second from Donaldson, and when that throw sailed into right field, Ramirez ended up a-huggin’ third. Oscar Gonzalez followed that with another bloop, this one falling in front of Aaron Judge in right, and the Guardians had their lead. (Josh Naylor followed with a double that was an absolute rocket, but it was the bloops that had done in Taillon.)
The Yankees were never going to go 11-0 in the postseason, and they probably weren’t even going to sweep the Guardians. This isn’t the time to panic. Luis Severino takes the mound today, and it’s been more than two weeks since he last allowed a base hit! Yesterday’s loss does nothing to change the fact that the Yankees are a better team than the Guardians, or that Severino is a better and more experienced pitcher than Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie. Tonight’s game is pivotal, but this isn’t doomsday. Come in off the ledge and watch the game. It’ll be fun!
Let’s-G0-Yank-ees!
Apologies for the missing accent marks -- I'm working on a Chromebook, and I couldn't figure out how to do it.
Sevvy has to be our El Duque tonite
The Braves & Mets are both our, and the Dodgers could be too after tonight..not sure I enjoy the expanded playoffs. The games are exciting but we shouldn’t be robbed of a potential ATL-LAD rivalry matchup
The expanded matchups are meant to favor the higher seeds so this certainly feels like an anomaly.
Maybe they can change the divisional round to 2-1-2 to give the home team a bigger advantage.
I probably would have led off Oswaldo, but Gleyber is fine.
Got end of Mariners - Astros on here, bottom 10th tied 0-0!
Judge is playing like the anti-Jeter.
This Kwan kid is pissing me off something fierce.
Please roll a 2-Ball right here.
I heard there was a big game today. ;>)
At least I got the right thread today.
Judge picked a bad time to go into a slump. Good move by Boone to bat him 2nd today.
Unfortunately, I have to leave for work later on.
Anyway, Let's go YAN-kees.
FUCK
Ugh, Falafel
IKF really sucks for a glove first player. Can’t make any routine plays
IKF?
IDK.
That was interesting.
Flash that Gold Glove leather, I. K. F.
I really fucking hate the Indians. But if it’s them vs Astros, I’ll quickly learn to love them.
Our defense would be better with Peraza at SS, but it's nice to have someone in the line up who doesn't strike out every time.
JFC! The team that can't score is going to run out of pitchers. Recipe for success!
Yeah, Peraza should really be on the roster. I can’t believe Boone let Locastro hot for himself yesterday. Hicks could have worked a walk…
31 fucking pitches for Sevy. Oy!
3 putrid at bats.
We look terrible.
IKF is a nightmare in the field. Every ball his way makes me cringe in anticipation.
Didn’t see this start coming from Sevy.
Jesus, Sevy. 7 pitches and a leadoff double. I’m going to the studio. Fuck this bollocks.
Ridiculous
I guess the Guardians are not the Rangers.
NOW would be the time to get Taillon up and ready.
I've got a bad feeling about this game.
Also, I really like McKenzie.
I think we will see Schmidt again tonight. Can he go 2?
Taillon, Schimdt, German…
Nice play, Gleyber!
Ugh. This fucking kid is up again
I want him to retire on the spot.
Nobody fucking out
Just fucking great.
One out, my bad… Sevy = very bad
Maybe the Yankees should imitate Cleveland and string together some hits.
German warming up…
13th inning - scoreless in Seattle
Why do you suppose the TBS graphic tells who the pitcher is — even though that’s the constant — but not the hitter? It’s irritating.
Two VERY deep and loud outs. Sevy can’t throw another pitch in this game…
I can't remember the last time the Yanks have had a rally.
Sevy has given up three fly balls that would’ve been home runs at home.
lucky to be 2-0
Swing at ball 4. Now what?
[44] Very lucky
Of course. Strike out after starting with a 3-0 count. Why not…
Nice Cleveland like hit for Cabrera
C’mon, Judge - bang your fucking gavel
OK. Judge. It's money time.
He’s late. That pitch was right there for him
The bottom of this lineup is putrid…
YES!!!
Finally, all rise!
Phew.
YES!!!!!!!!!!
ALL RISE!!!
Booh-ya!
FUCK YEAH!!!
Note: It would have meant very little without Cabrera on.
[60] I was thinking the same. Love that kid.
Missed it! I’m still in Seattle
Wow was a bomb to deep center!
Hmm, Sevvy back out there.
Well, look at that - a super fast shutdown inning from Sevy. I’ll fucking take it!
Definitely needed that inning.
JMU shit the bed in their first game as a ranked team. Need the Yanks to win tonight to compensate.
At least my twins soccer team (I coach) won big today and older daughters game was competitive- 3-2 loss.
Jazz - are you at the game?!
Knuckles! Yeah, Penn State got rocked today as well. Let’s Go YANKEES!!!
Thelarmis, no no I’m in my sofa in Yokohama! Just meant ‘watching the Seattle - Hou game’ be nice to visit Seattle one day though!
Crap
Acha. Headed to the 14th!
Sevy out for the 4th. Bottom of the lineup. One pitch, one out.
Thelarmis brother from a different mother.
Also while I’m grumping. Did Topgolf with work this week after not having swung a club in anger in at least ten years - “beat” my whole office on the scoreboard though the real golfers were seeing how far up the back screen they could hit. I am sore AF after 60 swings
C'mon Sevy!!!
this is Seamus btw. I think I just showed with a different name... :)
3 fly balls to Judge. 3 more quick outs.
Not dominant there but got out of that inning quickly enough.
Seamus! Thanks for the clarification jaynek!
[78] hey thelarmis!
I’ll take a leadoff hit by a speedy base runner!
I thought their ss IKFd that. I tease but I thought it was reachable and he seemed to hesitate.
Switching to TV muted and Wilco via the hearing aids for now.
Need to decide on playlist as the situation changes. I know there’s some music heads in the house so all recommendations welcomed.
Ooooooooooooooooswaldo!!
OSWALDO!!!!
LET’S FUCKING GOOOO!!!!
Best pose EVER
The Kid stays in the picture.
Cabrera!
And a little sauce for the young in’… I’m not mad about that at all.
Oswaldo with a double, homer, and two runs scored!
That was beautiful. Hell Yeah!
I love that he posed then sprinted the bases.
Like- pumped up but also respect the other side.
Whatchya in the mood for style wise, knuckles?
TheLarmis
I’m amphibious
Cabrera not afraid to style. Love his energy so much!
To the 15th scoreless in Seattle. Has to be a postseason record.
Friendly call!
Lucky call on strike 3. I’ll take it. 9 in a row for Sevy
[96] I thought it happened last week.
Good Sexy!!!
Beautiful, Sevy! What a turnaround! Under 90 pitches, might go out for the 6th…
very nice sevy!
[101] just thinking he can go one more possibly.
How deep did Mets Astro’s go in 86? That and the Leyritz game have to be the best long playoff games ever.
For anyone who cares, I’m onto the latest Maren Morris album. I can’t stop playing this one. Got the vinyl in the mail this week and plan to spin tomorrow after kids soccer.
Knuckles, I’ve not heard of Maren Morris. Is that a person or a group? Style? I’ve got my Best of 2022 releases podcast cominuo soon in December, always on the lookout for cool new artists!
I’m in the studio now. Why’d they take Sticks out?
Costas is still kind of annoying, also seems to have zero chemistry with Darling
[105] don't know them. I've been way into Adrianne lenkar lately. May not be your thing though...
[107]. He pitched pretty well. A couple mistakes that the Yanks did not miss.
Hi all.
Love me all this Oswald-O!!!!
But does anyone know why the Yankees' dugout is on the first base side? Did Costas say?
Can't believe it is scoreless in the 16th inning.
Will check Lenkar.
Maren Morris is a she and in the mold of Brandi Carlisle, Kacey Musgraves etc.
Maybe spiritual successors to Dolly, Emmylou etc.
Modern country rock but more Willie than Garth.
Huh. Okay I've answered my own question.
Strange that having watched baseball for a half century or so, I never realized that a lot of teams just choose to have their home dugout on the third baseline!
Fucking bollocks.
⬆️I’m not really a country guy but will give a listen if it’s in that lineage.
IKF should not be on the roster next round if they make it, he brings nothing to the table!
RI. Dugouts are team specific and Random as to Who chooses 3B.
[113] oh you might like Lenkar then. Not too far from Brandi Carlisle.
Got greedy with Sevy?
I don't know what I liked better. The double pump I've got all day or the shite throw.
Now trouble.
This is all on IKF.
If you don’t like country it’s probably a lost cause.
Not quite jazz (given the screen name) but check Birds of Chicago and Alison Williams
This is high pitch count for Sevy. I agree with pulling him.
Too bad IKF didn't have a better throw.
By the way, I can’t imagine the stress of what’s going on in Seattle right now.
C,mon Trivi.
There ya go.
First chamber was loaded.
IKF.
Fucking fuck fuck
No names coming up big. Can the bullpen not suck in big spots?
In general I think the pitcher who's doing just fine is a better bet than Random Bullpen Guy, even when his pitch count is over his usual threshold.
Not if there's a great relief pitcher available, but if it's Random Bullpen Guy. Which Trevino is.
Phew!
Lord. That gave me a heart attack.
Watch yer lips.
phew
[131] In Boone's defense, it was a tough call after the first guy reached. The second guy had a legit hit.
17th inning in Seattle, rain delay in San Diego(??!!), what weirdness can happen in this game now for the trifecta? How about an inside the park homer by Higashioka?
Well I'll be.
I like it.
Monty who?
BADER
Ba Ba Bader!!
Oh, Harry!
When's Montgomery's next post-season start? : )
Realmuto hit an inside the parker!
It's so cool that the hometown boy is making good.
Uh, well, not Cleveland, you know.
Of course Bader would be an essential post season player. I knew it all along.
[146] Like just now??? I didn't even know he was playing!
Fuck off, blue!
Onto the scoreless 17th.
I assume RI is talking to me. Yes, at the very moment I typed that, JT went back to Citzen’s Bank Park and ran they bases all by his lonesome, after they knocked out the Braves. It still counts as the only inside the park homer by a catcher in postseason history!
About to wrap up the doubleheader in Seattle, but still no runs.
I remember that Braves Stros playoff game that went 18 innings!
Johnny Lasagna - please get this pest out!
Imagine being at SafeCo and beer sales stopped in the 7th inning..
Homer for Houston!!!!
Crazy how Houston let Correa go and basically has a younger version of him. Fuck them.
Beer Sales are about to flow here in my basement bar. Cheers!
Fucking astros.
It's like the Astros are playing their 4th game.
The Astros could end up sweeping this series without a single hit from Altuve. Damn them.
Amazing that the team that came back from an 8 run deficit is held scoreless for 17 innings.
At least is making contact now.
Rookie Julio Rodriguez tater to tie it..?? Let’s play 3..!
Nope, Astros AGAIN..
Their 6th ALCS in a row. Yuck.
[165] Like the stupid Patriots.
six outs. Let's do this!
Booth petting many carts in front if many horses. How about the present.
nice Wandy!
ok. 3 outs. Let's go!
Time for bottom of the ninth. And I’m fine with Chapman being I Florida.
I don't think I would have gone to Peralta again, though he does look good.
[171] we were all not surprised to learn there was only an I in Chapman.
Fuck. Not again. Straw sucks. Now, top of the lineup. Dammit!!!
IKF had a play at second? He didn't look
One
Maybe Hicks should be a defensive replacement?
Here we go.
I can’t fucking stand that fucker
Now it’s J-Ram. Fuck
Bad vibes.
Jeez, not going to be easy.
C'mon, two more outs!
Speed on first. My bad on J-Ram. Let’s not have to see him, because of a double play
Motherfucker
Bullpen not good enough. News at 11:00.
I fucking hate this team. (Both of em)
Why wasn’t Holmes in?
Come on, double play.
There’s no way either of these teams can beat Houston
The Yankees are going to lose this game soon.
Rookie moment.
This guy is fucking huge
One. More. Strike.
Two down, but I need a bourbon refill.
Unbelievable
Yup. This team isn't good enough.
Fuck me.
Fuck.
It’s ridiculous to say that this team isn’t any good.
Feels like a mercy killing coming on tomorrow
They outhit us 15-5
I’m just gutted.
[202] I was struck by that also. Stunning.
I know we’re not supposed to bemoan bad luck, but has any team had as many bloop hits as these Guardians?
Should have started Schmidt in the ninth. Boone screws up again.
gonna be a long off season unless we pull off a miracle.
Same thing with Severino. They got greedy rather than just starting the inning with the reliever.
And maybe put in Hicks as a defensive replacement.
Yanks did only have 5 hits so they probably didn't deserve to win, but almost pulled it off.
One strike away.
Had to take my daughter out, checking MLB app now and WTF, we lost in the bottom of the 9th???
[212] You were fortunate to miss it.
I love Oswaldo, but a regular OF would have got the second out.
OMFG, checking the box score and, was there any reason for using the bullpen the way they did???
[215] It almost worked, but I think if they were planning on going to Schmidt anyway, they should have just had him start the inning. It might not have worked out, but that is what I would have done. Peralta pitched great.
Schmidt has like 60 career IP in the majors, not who you want in a game like this though? Why was Hicks not in for defense as well?
Lots of debate about these issues on the postgame right now.
Why is Hicks on the roster if he isn’t playing defensive in the ninth?
Why were Trivino and Loáisiga used for only three outs if they knew Holmes wasn’t up?
Why was Schmidt not trusted with the tenth yesterday but with a more important ninth tonight?
Why not leave Peralta in?
All excellent questions, no good answers for any of them.
Holmes right now saying he was prepared to pitch, even though Boone just said he wasn’t.
⬆️Thanks Hank, I usually avoid the postgame pressers but will watch that later. Boone is simply not a strong in game manager, surely we’ve seen enough evidence by now..
Think, as many speculate, that Boone takes in game decisions from the front office??
They’re botching the Holmes issue. Boone should’ve just said that they were staying away from him, period. And he said Holmes was only available for “an emergency.” This just added confusion to a confusing situation. The analysts keep saying THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY. I’m sure he sees an “emergency” as an eighteen-inning game.
I think Boone is an extension of the front office, certainly.
⬆️Exactly, this is the playoffs, every game is close to an ‘emergency’ especially in a beat of five??
Luis Severino on Clay Holmes not pitching the 9th:
"He's our closer. So of course I was surprised. I don't know if he was down. There shouldn't be people down in the playoffs. That's something you guys need to ask Boone or [Matt] Blake to see what was going on there."
[218] Good summary, Hank. I guess some of it is Monday morning quarterbacking, but protecting a 2 run lead was important to have your best defenders in there, extra innings be damned.
Just saw that this is the first time in 168 games that the Yankees blew a multiple run lead in the ninth. It is also the first time Cleveland came back to from down multiple runs in the ninth. Lots of history being made tonight, unfortunately.
Go Padres! Our only chance to beat the Trash Tros…
Mattingly is available this winter. Just sayin’
I agree with getting Mattingly.
Cole needs a big time performance tonight.
Let's go Yan-kees!
I didn't like the use of the bullpen. (I would have stuck with Severino longer, and I definitely would have gone to Clay Holmes if he could pitch.) But I also don't like complaining about bullpen use :)
Hank makes a great point though: why is Hicks on the roster if he doesn't go in to play the outfield for Oswaldo in a two run game in the bottom of the ninth?? Is it just a gesture??
It's a flawed team. But the Dodgers are a really good team, and they're out. That's just how things go in baseball. Right John Sterling?