With the Yankees falling to 60-61 after one of the worst roadtrips in recent memory (2-7 in games against Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta), the baseball world has taken notice. Sure, we’ve all been watching, so we know that the Yankees have been struggling for more than a full calendar year, but now suddenly it’s a story.
The fact is, the Yankees have been under .500 for two hundred games now. I know that sounds preposterous — I mean, it is preposterous — but it’s true. On July 7th of last year, Gerrit Cole led the Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Red Sox to improve the team’s record to 60-23. They’d actually win again the next day to reach a high-water mark of 61-23, on pace to win 117 games, and all the talk was of rainbows, shamrocks, and World Series rings.
But then, as you know, the bottom dropped out. They limped home at 39-40, meaning since that win over the Red Sox, the Yankees have gone 99-101. This isn’t even a sample; this is just who they are.
Closer to the end of the season I’ll post a deeper analysis of what’s gone wrong along with my ideas about how to fix things, but for now let’s just hope they can beat the Red Sox. Because that would be nice. It’s always nice to hope.
"I know that sounds preposterous"
It doesn't sound preposterous ... it sounds like the plain truth.
Which ... I mentioned yesterday.
This team has been THIS team for over a year.
I'm not sure why anyone is running about pretending to be surprised and being wide-eyed and confused about the reality of that at this point.
"along with my ideas about how to fix things"
Good luck with that, just remember that Hal cares FAR more about the CBT than about winning the next ring ...
Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this letter finds you, and finds you well.
The Shawshank Redemption
Hope in one hand and piss in the other ... see which one fills up first.
-CoB
Hope would be admitting the reality that 2023 is DONE.
OVER.
FINISHED.
And making hard decisions to prepare for 2024.
Hal needs to sell to someone who gives a damn about winning.
[0] Hey Hank ... hope you got your waders out for this weekend ... Hilary's gonna be one hell of punch come Sunday/Monday.
Be safe out there.
Double
Single
GREAT START!
3 batters .... 1-0
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
4 batters ... 4-0!
This is too funny!
Do the Red Sox know what pitches are coming? They are crushing Brito.
[3] You were saying?
3 outs ... LOL
1-2-3 after the 4 run cushion.
LOL ... what a joke.
At least he is pitching a lot of pitches.
Quantity over quality IS a strategy!
LOL
This is TOO funny.
Boy ... good thing we didn't bother to sign Yoshida ... he can't TOUCH the left fielders WE'VE run out there in 2023!
"Pitching Change: Ian Hamilton replaces Jhony Brito. "
In the top of the 3rd ... the Red Sox have gone through their lineup 2x ... we're still on batter #8.
LOL.
Is there going to be a Yankees reliever who can lift his arm above his shoulder by the end of the year?
[14] I just got home and realized I cannot watch the game tonight. No Apple tv for moi. 7-0. I am going to remove the "un" and just say fuckingbelievable. Oi!
Well ... at least we won't be shut out 3 games in a row ... BABY STEPS!!!
HELP ME WILL MCKINNEY ... YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE!
Nope.
I didn’t watch tonight. What was the mood of the Stadium crowd during those first couple innings? Cascading vitriol?
Maybe the Yankees should think about doing something like this and be proactive about 2024?
Awwwww, who am I kidding ... WE'RE JUST A HOT STREAK AWAY FROM WS GLORY!
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1692909277176827941?s=20
Early Saturday gameday!
Thanks, Bader.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
And ballgame, again.
That’s not how you bunt. Nor is it a bunting situation.
Exceptional at bats or suspicious?
Walking the terrorists no longer works.
I don't get it.
This is basically the same team then went 61-23.
Sure, some regression is understandable... but this?
And today, even Cole shits the bed.
The good news?
I can cancel my MLB subscription and save $25/month.
It can't get any worse, can it? Cole on the mound to stop the bleeding, but nope.
At least the no hitter and shut out are gone.
Looks like he could have caught it, but lost it?
Yeah that’s what it seems.
Devers, Yankee Killer. At least it is not a close game.
Well at least I won’t have to stay up late watching playoff baseball.
[38] See [1]
"This team has been THIS team for over a year.
I'm not sure why anyone is running about pretending to be surprised and being wide-eyed and confused about the reality of that at this point."
Yeah, baby!
Who's up for a 2nd straight series sweep in a row???
And ballgame once more.
1-0 ... LOL
Congrats to Gleyber ... he managed to not do what he was thinking of not doing ... he merely struck out.
This team ... strewth.
IPK batting 5th. Doesn't that just tell the story.
That was SO strike 3 on Bader.
Jebus.
Bring on the robots.
[51] It does ... and has, since he's been batting 5th/6th for a while.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Any news on Rizzo?
I think the last thing I heard is he was doing some light workouts.
But, frankly, there is ZERO reason to bring him back this year.
ZERO.
Tied up!
Hicks injured.
Oy.
Gleyber!
Yeesh.
Volpe! Retied
A lead!
Definitely in there.
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Oh bullshit
That's some pure bollocks.
Who is the person who decided safe or out? If it's one person aren't we entitled to find out who he is?
Some guy and MLB HQ.
Well, it'd be 6-6 anyway at this point.
(69). Yes, but what’s his name? And wouldn’t it be cool to see the discussion that results in a safe or out call?
XFL or USFL did that this spring, where you got to see the review. MLB isn’t that innovative.
An INCH away
Judge had 2 center cut pitches that he missed. 3 K's today.
And now the dangerous . . . backup catcher. Sigh.
8 isn't enough, baby!
1st and 2nd, No Outs,2,3,4 up... and we can't score a run. PATHETIC.
I hope Hank and everyone else in SoCal are safe.
Finally
https://twitter.com/jackcurryyes/status/1693739279418048958?s=46&t=iY3A5ltR4etPgtHQjEZv0A
THANK. YOU. RED. SOX!
[79] Finally. Who gets cut?
Ah, Greg Allen.
[80] McKinney to the 10 Day
But he might not make it back.
I’m back in to watch the young guys play! About time they were called up, but why not the catcher Wells too??
Maybe a 40 man issue?
That was quick.
Benny!
Ben!
The Dutch Rocket! ( fake nickname!)
ARRRRRRRRRRRRGH.
END OF THE BAT.
SIGH
Ha, got greedy
[89] Better nickname than The Dutch Oven!
When I tune in late I usually see something incredibly shitty happen. That was a nice change of scenery.
That makes up for things. Quite the t-rex header into 2nd.
Wasted opportunity.
It's almost as if Judge is playing ... hurt.
6 innings ... 1 hit.
FEEL THE BRONX BOMBERS!
Do the Yanks have 4 or 5 walks in an inning in them? Without a double play of course.
Well walking the terrorists backfired.
Can you smell 9?
I smell 9!
I'mma calling a walkoff for the rook!
Fucking Bollocks!
Well, he hit it hard.
9!!!
SCORING ENOUGH RUNS?!@?!?!?!!?
They aren't even getting enough HITS!
LOL
My God!
2 hits... and both by Rorty?
HOW THE FUCK IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?!?!?!?
This team has given up.
I've given up on this year's team. After 70+ years of fandom, I cannot remember a time when so many members of the team simply don't try at all. Get rid of everyone except Judge and Cole (and maybe Volpe) and bring up the supposed prospects. Prospects at least will try to play hard! I was going to cancel my MLB plan and sign up for YES (since I spend a chunk of time on vacation in an area within the blackout range), but I think I'll wait to see whether or not the brass and Boone get fired.
[106] This team hasn't given up ... it's Just. Not. That. Good.
Strewth, people ...
A nasty lefty. Oh, boy.
All rise!
ALL RISE!
First lead in 61 innings, according to the Nats broadcasters.
Kablammo!
A second run
Is that even legal?
ERRORZ!
All rise again. A veritable plethora of runs
C YA!
FAFO ... indeed.
A Bill Buckner special
Ya just can't predict baseball, Suzyn.
-Did anyone catch Waldman saying "this is so boring" yesterday? The 'ol "hot mic" after a commercial break.
Uh ...
That was fair ... and a HR
Poop.
Bader flashing the leather.
Eh, hate that sort of dive for a ball like that.
Too dangerous.
And if you BIFF it ... WAY more likely it gets behind you.
FRANKENSTANTON!
NICE APPLAUSE!!!
GOOD JOB, SEVY!
Rats. That sucks for anyone.
Ugh
He's in serious pain.
There's no crying in baseball. Unless you completely rip apart your leg on the outfield wall. Damn. My heart breaks when I see that.
RISE AGAIN!!!
FIRST 3 HOMER DAY FOR THE JUDGE!
More rising
Oh, shite! I completely missed homer #3! Fuck!
Well, a win is nice.
We can't have nice things!
9-1 IS a nice thing ... for a change.
A smorgasbord of runs
A shut out is the nice thing. lol...
We'll take the win.
That would have been a much better game to be on TV.
"The Yankees have become reliant on larger parts of their win total coming from a shrinking percentage of their roster, which leaves a lot tied up with the fate of a few players. The Angels can tell you about the inherent risks of that, though the Yankees have historically done a much better job filling out their rosters with complementary players than their haloed compatriots out west. The 2022 season demonstrated how good the Yankees’ core was when things went their way more often than not; the 2023 team is a very similar roster showing the opposite scenario. Just as 99 wins was a realistic possibility, so was a 79-win season."
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/its-time-to-rebuild-the-bombers/
Afternoon game!
If Judge can go yard another 3 times?
We might have a chance!
Huh ... is King the "starter" or the "opener" today?
I suppose it depends on how deep he can go ...
New game, all rise.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
The horrible problem with this team ISN'T that they can't hit homeruns ... it's the 90% of the time, they can't do anything if the DON'T hit homeruns.
Speaking of which ... let's see where runner on 2nd, 1 out leads.
Stupid base running.
Well, that's novel ... except is isn't with this team.
And more of the same.
[152] Why stop at just ONE out on the bases???
Like the worst parts of this team are upstream of Boone-y ... but there are PLENTY of the bad parts that ARE his responsibility, so ...
Oh, joy ... VolpE
Gleyber unties it!
GLEYBER!
Two on ... nobody out ... zero homers ... ZERO RUNS!
This team should be up 3 or 4 more runs, but ... NOPE!
Strasburg to retire at the end of the season, and now I feel real old.
How can a team have 7 hits through 6 and look SO feeble doing it?
Shit
Gee ... WHO could have seen THAT coming???
Is it just me or has Kahnle pitched like shite all season?
Not just you.
OH YEAH ... KAHNLE POWER!
Kahnle fully deserved being postured like that
Mercy call there for strike 3, 3rd out.
A nice, proper Meh! inning from the Yankees ...
Stanton!
FRANKENSTANTON!
2
I'm probably fine with letting Bader walk this offseason.
FU blue
WOW ... bring on the robots ... please.
THERE IT IS!!!!!
First MLB hit!
And wasted
GREAT at bat ... JaKe
Oh, out.
Good challenge ... safe at first (well, second) but then he went too far!
Don't challenge the Judge, silly, silly boy.
Grr
It's a good thing Severino is on this team, because otherwise DJL would be my biggest disappointment this year.
Damn insurance run.
Modammit!
Well, at least Bader didn't get the Platinum Sombrero
This team?
Makes me giggle ... and think dark thoughts.
Evening gents ...
Honestly ... as I have said before ... Boone-y is NOT the prime architect of this nightmare, but, at the same time ... Ca$hman is NOT batting IKF ... 5th.
Ugh.
It would be nice if one ... at least one of our rookies could have a smoking finish to this year ... maybe?
Can ANYONE hit with RiSP ... without it being a HR???
What the HELL was Judge swinging up at there ... 3 wild whiffs at balls at out the strike zone.
Yeesh.
More waste.
Wow this team is bad.
They do absolutely none--zero--of the little things correctly, and what's even worse, it seems like the rookies are following the lead of the vets.
Peraza has looked very hesitant, in the field on the base paths, etc. Sure he should be given plenty of time. However, it seems like the worse thing for his development is to play for this team and this manager and coaching staff.
My only joy comes from play the How Will We Not Score This Inning Bingo game
In THIS case ... you "winning" combination was weak infield pop fly and strike out.
Rather predictable, I know ...
Right on cue, Pereira has been infected. He looked like Stanton up there.
[197] This is where *I'm* at ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q
I know it's pointless to ask these questions, but why the fuck is IKF playing center field?
You can't make this stuff up.
[200] Ha!
"why the fuck is IKF playing center field? "
Why the fuck is IKF batting 5th?
I mean ... if the answer is half-the-squad ate bad sushi at the team dinner last night and he's one of the few not letting loose out of both ends, well, OK ... but this bullshit's been going on for **2** months!
Remember the Gas House konga line around the bases when they played Buggs Bunny?
The Yankees could do a KO waltz between the home plate and the dugout.
Hey ... a RUN!
On a homerun ... of course.
With no one on base ... of course.
LeMachine goes yard
Glad to see DJ getting his act together. It's only August 26. Plenty of season left. ;>)
I have to be honest ... all I can think watching Judge out there is ...
HE'S PLAYING FOR NOTHING.
On NINE healthy toes.
Nine is ALSO the number of years that will remain on his contract after 2023.
The Yankees are S.M.R.T SMRT!
"Glad to see DJ getting his act together."
How is he getting his act together?
He hit a shitty pitch ... plenty of chumps do that.
Cole is going to have to be perfect for the rest of the game.
ALEX DAMMIT ... the word R O U L E T T E should NOT kick a comment into moderation!
Don't worry ... we're going to see Bullpen R O U L E T T E ... trust me.
Is what I wanted to say in the first place.
Ah yes, the old “make the starter get his pitch count up by striking out a lot” ploy.
1st and 2nd no out ... what is the fail-to-score bingo card THIS time?
Out #1 ... line out to SS
Out #2 ... line out to LF
OMG ... a run scoring HIT!
Are those allowed?
A RUN ... A RUN!!!
For THIS team?
From a two on, no out situation??
A RUN feels like a DELUGE!!!
Good thing, too ... 2-1
Obligatory Cole home run
What's up, gang. Just in time to see some risp excitement! Let's go Gleyber!
THIS CANNOT BE REAL!!!
What, another RISP hit?
WHAT IS THIS MADNESS???????
And more?
Hoy shite! More runs. Atta boy, Stanton!
Do not bring Holmes into this game.
12Ks ... strewth ... this team ... modern baseball.
Ugh.
NOW ... DJ might be back on track ... maybe ... probably not ... but maybe.
This DJ kid is pretty good.
And again.
Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd then Judge strikes out for ... the 4TH TIME.
C'mon Johnny!
Phew
A win!
YAY!
I’ll take the walking the terrorists as a plus.
Trivia Question for today's game ... Other than Aaron Judge ... who are the OTHER 6 Yankees to have earned the "honor" of wearing either a Golden OR Platinum Sombrero this season (so far):
Neat story!
"One by one, the Yankees filed off the Boeing 757 jet on Thursday evening, thanking their captain for a smooth flight. That exchange occurs countless times during a baseball season, but with Clarke Schmidt’s father behind the controls, this trip was a family affair.
Dwight Schmidt, a veteran Delta Air Lines pilot of more than 20 years, guided the Bombers’ charter flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Tampa International Airport. The elder Schmidt said that he lobbied for the trip when he spotted the Yankees’ tail number pop up on Delta’s systems: DL8883."
https://www.mlb.com/news/clarke-schmidt-s-dad-flies-yankees-to-tampa
IKF STILL batting 5th.
Strewth.
And, ballgame.
2 hard hit balls ... 2 easy outs ... this feels like a no hitter brewing.
I can’t care anymore.
A hit!
A HIT!
"I can’t care anymore."
Not caring?
Is still a type of caring ...
3 in 6 isn't a bad outing for Clarke.
Quality start for Schmidt.
7th inning out
Rats, tending to the terrorists dint work.
In 1965, the Yankees went from WS Game 7 to 77-85. 1966 was worse 70-89. I hope we’re not seeing this happen again.
Why do you think NEXT year will be better?
In an attempt to find some good news:
Schmidt goes 6.2 IP, only 1 earned run.
We might have a very solid #3 for next year
Who’s the #2?
Little League run. Yeesh.
And ball game with this vaunted offense.
Jeebus ... I'm 10 minutes late getting back from the store and the game is already OVER?
The only bet remaining is whether the Yankees will muster more hits than the Rays do runs ...
Will the Yankees have more hits or errors? I’m going with errors.
HIGGY HOMER!
Higgy trying to prove me wrong.
Belly to belly!
TIED UP!
I REALLY want to shut Judge down.
OMG!
Volpe. I’m guessing I was wrong.
Jeff Nelson is tapioca ... beige ... a gruel made out of cardboard.
Why he is on the announcing team is ... beyond me.
[268]
George: Well, it doesn't even have to be the general manager. Maybe I could be like, an announcer. Like a colour man. You know how I always make those interesting comments during the game.
Jerry: Yeah. Yeah. You make good comments.
George: What about that?
Jerry: Well, they tend to give those jobs to ex-ballplayers and people that are, you know, in broadcasting.
George: Well, that's really not fair.
Yargh, tied.
Tied Up.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
TB runs 6
Yankees hits 4
Well ... at least DJ is hitting the ball hard.
Uh oh, some excitement.
Handbags aren't excitement ... gimme some Nolan Ryan VS Robin Ventura action!
Blergh
Are some of you guys still watching this crap? Bunch of masochists! BTW, when was the last time the Yanks and Mets were BOTH in last place?
This team is so broken, walking the terrorists doesn’t work anymore
A run!
The Yankeed need Luis. Remember when Mussina had a horrible stretch? Pitchers go through slumps. Sevi may as well slump in a year everyone blows.
Hooray bad baserunning by the Tigers
Nice, Sevy.
All rise
That was not high. Poor call, booth! lol...
Here comes THE JUDGE!
Whoo-hoo! Not THAT was high. Atta boy, Gleyber!
And belly yo belly
Great outing by Sevy, pity the bullpen will blow it.
A fourth run?
Did someone secretly replace the Yankees with a competent team?
They HAVE managed to K 15 times, so no, probably not.
Good start, Clay.
Uh oh ... hopefully it's not bad Holmes again.
Nice!
4-1 is mostly fine.
I accept that win.
Ding dong ... the witch is dead, the witch is dead!
Ahead of tonight’s game with the Tigers, the Yankees officially released veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson from the roster, closing a chapter of one of the worst trades in recent team history. Donaldson had logged a 94 wRC+ in a ****fitting 666 plate appearances**** with the Yankees,
Josh is on the 60 day list, so he wasn’t taking up a 40 man spot. As the trade deadline is past, I guess this just a courtesy to let him find another team. Best of luck.
"Best of luck."
Sorta, kinda ... not really.
[299] Could also save the Yankees some money (~250k) if another team picks him up.
Tarik Skubal sounds like a Conan the Barbarian villain's name.
So ... have I mentioned I wanted the Yankees to shut down Judge several weeks ago?
WHY?
.221 .383 .547 .931
Those are his splits since coming "back" from his toe injury.
454' for Gleyber!
Ha, walking the terrorists worked. Josh was the curse.
Speaking of gone ... SO LONG Darth Bader.
"The Yankees have placed center fielder Harrison Bader on waivers, reports Erik Boland of Newsday (Twitter link). As is the case with the Angels’ series of waiver placements, New York’s hope is that another team will claim the remaining salary on a player who was headed to free agency in a couple months."
So clearing space for the kids. I like it.
I have no problems ... at least, give a few more guys a shot for a month.
Losing at this point is a given ... might as well see what you've got.
Oh ... AND ... SHUT. JUDGE. DOWN!
Cut Bader.
Phew, escaped that
"Cut Bader."
They essentially just did.
Higgy!
Higgy!
Good job, King
Ouch
Ouch!
Lean into one, Stein.
Wow ... Volpe struck out ... again ... who could have seen THAT coming?
Or throw one to the backstop.
Thank. You. Tigers!
I’ll take that.
It is painful to watch the Yankees take strike-after-strike and then swing at ball-after-ball.
Yeesh.
Nice DP.
Volpe!
One down.
Two
3rd shutout lost in the 9th inning in 2 weeks?
Holmes, grrr.
Watching Holmes is a perverted kind of entertainment
The Martian is supposed to arrive on Friday!
Well ... I'll take that.
Walked the terrorists, missed that run. Ouch, painful way to get an rbi.
I'd take MORE, of course.
"Ouch, painful way to get an rbi."
Better chance of driving in a run *that* way than swinging the bat ...
"The Martian is supposed to arrive on Friday!"
Wells is coming up, too ... which probably spells the end of the Ben Rordvedt experiment.
DJ!
LeMachine!
Wait a RISP hit?
[333] I can’t wait for that experiment to end
Obligatory Cole homer.
"I can’t wait for that experiment to end"
He's made such a positive impression ... that I can't even remember how to spell his name correctly.
Gleyber gets that run back
Belly to belly redux!
Can the Yankees just play the Tigers 162 games a year?
SHUT.
HIM.
DOWN!
This team makes me SO angry at times.
Oh good, Friday’s game is free. It’s the Mutts on Apple-
I hope Boone puts the Martian right in.
Ooops, obligatory homer #2
Have you all followed Jason Dominguez? aka The Martian. For 4 years I've been reading about him I had no idea he was only 5'9". Whoops. I was looking forward to seeing him play tomorrow in Rochester but word on the street is he'll be joining the Yankees in Houston this weekend. Along with Auston Wells, a solid 24 year old catcher.
Well, Wells is at least a potentially solid *hitting* catcher.
Not so much a glove man.
Sweet Jebus ... it's 59F out there ... I haven't seen 59F since March ... and probably won't until November.
Another day ... another 3Ks for Judge.
Yeesh.
That’s a one.
Win!
They STILL need to shut Judge down.
And a three! A series win.
Cheers, y'all.
[347] We have a young SS who is 5'9", and will hit 20 HRs this year. Mookie Betts is also 5'9", with 36 HRs so far this year. You don't need to be big to be really good.
I agree, OYF. I've seen plenty of his highlights recently and he will be fun to watch. There is another smaller guy, he who shall not be named, that kills the Yanks and plays for cheaters who hits a ton.
Oy, Volpe.
Reds claim Bader
"We have a young SS who is 5'9", and will hit 20 HRs this year. Mookie Betts is also 5'9", with 36 HRs so far this year."
One of those things is NOT like the other.
Nice almost double error there, Gleyber!
Doh!
2-0.
Playing like it’s getaway day.
Well ... at least that's a unique disappointment.
Uh ... that was ridiculously still behind the plate.
When this offense takes the day off ... they really commit to the bit.
Volpe! Tied up.
VOLPE!!!!
And here comes Holmes to untie it
Not yet!
Now ... how will we fail to score the runner from 2nd?
Bader leaving so close to yontef- is that kosher?
That’s how.
There's your answer.
LOL.
And that’s how you lose the game.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL