by Carlos Martinez-Cabrera
April 26, 2023
***
The Twins, for the first time in decades, won a season series against the Yankees with their 6-2 victory last night.
Quick Stats -
Win - Joe Ryan (5-0, 2.81 ERA)
Loss - Nestor Cortes (3-1, 3.49 ERA)
Home Runs (Yankees): N/A (Sigh)
Home Runs (Twins): Byron Buxton (4), Trevor Larnach (3)
Big Story - The Yankees have had a horrendous stretch of games lately. They came into this game losing three of their last four which includes a series where the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays. The Yankees right now are not a good team. They are missing various key pieces such as Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, Harrison Bader, Luis Severino, etc. They are trying to make do with the team that they have, which in turn, is just not a great team. In recent games, there has been a lack of offense and a rotation that basically revolves between Nestor Cortes and Gerrit Cole.
The Yankees got their first hit with Judge singling down to left. Aaron Judge would be driven in by DJ LeMahieu with an RBI single. This would be the only run the Yankees drove in without the help of an error.
The Twins would score later on in the third inning with an RBI double by Donovan Solano with Michael Taylor coming in all the way from first. Jorge Polanco would also double which brought in Donovan Solano. Later on in the fifth inning, the Twins would try to make a double play but results in an error that lets the Yankees score. This would be the last run the Yankees would score in the game. In the sixth inning, Byron Buxton would send Nestor Cortes out of the game by hitting a two-run home run. Later in that same inning, Trevor Larnach would also hit a 2-run home run which made it a 6-2 ball game. Neither team would score after this. But, there was an awesome diving play made by Jorge Polanco in the 8th inning for the highlight reels.
Player(s) of the Game -
I cannot give it out tonight, unfortunately. The pitching was not the best, to say the least. The offense scored only off of an RBI single off of LeMahieu with the other one coming off an error.
Better to Forget -
This game. This was a hard watch. It was a close game for quite a while, but it got increasingly more painful to watch the Yankees being so close but seeing that offense was not doing anything to take the lead.
My Take -
I have tried to not be too negative on the site, but this starting to look like the same old Yankees. Right now, this team just makes me believe that the season is going to end like every other. The Yankees make the playoffs with a very slim lead with it ending in a playoff loss to the Astros.
It also does not help that the major transactions the Yankees have made have not paid off. For example, Carlos Rodon has yet to make a start for the Yankees as he started the season out injured. Harrison Bader arrived at the Yankees last year injured and started this season out the same way.
And like every other season, the Yankees have high expectations but deliver the same old results. This has to do with the fact that they also seem to have the same problem as every other year. The offense can get short hot streaks but tend to have cold streaks that last even longer. The Yankees have a very weak left-handed hitter core which has been a big problem in recent years. The only solid left-handed hitter is Anthony Rizzo.
Right now, I pray that the return of some stars from the injured list, call-ups from the minors, or even a trade can change the direction where this team is going.
Fun Fact: The Yankees are 0-3 when I have to write the "About Last Night" articles so that might be a trend to watch out for.
Next Up -
The Yankees end their series against the twins at 1:10 today. Domingo German is facing off against Kenta Maeda where the Yankees will look to avoid getting swept.
Awful hitting. Look at the batting averages, .225, 27th out of 30. Too many guys who don't belong in the majors. As mentioned below, the training/conditioning staff should all be fired. Once again, the Yanks lead all of baseball with injuries. What's with Rodon? Arm strain in spring training, then back sprain while recovering? Is he going to pull a muscle shaving or brushing his teeth? Sounds like a rerun of "Ellsbury-itis."
Boone comments are ridiculous. He needs to go.
The "hurt" players they are waiting to get back, are frequently hurt or now are at the age where their body breaks down. As a certain captain of the yankees used to say, "there's a different between being injured and being hurt". I may be wrong, but does anyone see a win at all costs look in the eyes of any of these guys? They are too comfortable, and that starts at the top. You can play hurt, but you have to want it. I don't see that mind-set on this team. Maybe its just me, but i don't recall seeing a contender start a season without a left fielder and a closer. At 13-11, they are where they shou…
I know it's early. I get it. "It's only April..."
But, as of this morning, the following teams all have a better winning percentage than the Yankees:
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
Twins
Rangers
Braves
Mets
Pirates
Brewers
Cubs
And, yes, I know the Astros have the same record as the Yanks - as do the Dodgers... so this probably means nothing at this point.
Still, I sense that the Yankees, without some big changes, aren't turning this thing around.
Harrison Bader, who so many are waiting for, has a lifetime OPS+ of 97.
He had produced 11.6 bWAR over 6 season, or 1.93 per year on average.
Does that sound like the player who is going to get the team…
WELCOME TO THE TEAM CARLOS!
You've done an excellent job with these initial game summaries.
Don't worry, the Yankees will start to win a few games that you cover. They will. (I hope!)