About the Postseason: Backs Against the Wall

About the Postseason: Backs Against the Wall

By Tim Kabel

October 28, 2024

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The Yankees resume playing the World Series against the Dodgers tonight. I was going to write “the Yankees will resume losing the World Series tonight” but, I decided to be less cynical and to be kind. I don't know that it will make any difference. The Yankees must now win four out of five games against the Dodgers to win the World Series. That is an extremely difficult task. I have some thoughts about the World Series and the Yankees in general.

·       The Yankees can still win the World Series. It is a mathematical possibility. However, I don't believe they will. Many people have said and written that they won the World Series against the Atlanta Braves in 1996, trailing two games to none.  In that World Series, games three, four, and five were actually in Atlanta, which is more difficult than being at home. Unfortunately, this team does not have Joe Torre in the dugout. They have Aaron Boone. Aaron Boone has repeatedly proven that he does his worst managing in the biggest games. There are no bigger games than the World Series, especially when your team is trailing two games to none.

·       There is a lot of criticism being leveled at Aaron Judge. He has struggled mightily this postseason and has one hit in nine at bats in the World Series. Obviously, the Yankees need him to turn it around. I know that. You know that. Aaron Judge knows that. If the Yankees lose this World Series and Judge continues not to hit, he will be part of the reason they lost. He will not be the whole reason. This is his first World Series. I don't think it will be his last. At least, I certainly hope it isn't. I'm sure if he struggles tonight and as many more games as they play, you will hear fans booing him. I don't believe they should. He is a marvelous player who put up one of the best seasons ever by a right-handed hitter this year. It is disappointing that he is struggling during the postseason but, he will not be benched. He will not be moved in the lineup. And no matter what, he will be back with the Yankees next year. People can do what they want. Fans pay to attend the games. They can boo if they choose to. Considering what the tickets to a World Series game cost, they can certainly boo. They can do it in capital letters. I just don't think that you should turn on your best player when he is struggling. It's certainly not a lack of effort and he wants to succeed more than anyone. I'm just saying that I don't think he deserves to be booed no matter what happens. 

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Austin Wells also struggling. However, he's doing a tremendous job defensively as the catcher. He's a rookie and there is a lot of pressure on him both as a hitter and as a catcher. I don't think he should be benched, and I certainly would not lose confidence in him moving forward. He will improve and he will develop. That's what young players do. He has shown enough to demonstrate that he is a capable player for the Yankees.

·       This World Series reminds me more of the Yankees in the ALCS against Houston in 2022 than it does the Yankees against the Atlanta Braves in the World Series in 1996.

·       If the Yankees lose tonight, I could envision Aaron Boone panicking and starting Gerrit Cole tomorrow night on short rest. That would be a mistake because you would still have to start Luis Gil at some point. Luis Gil is not the problem.

·       I have no idea what will happen but, I could certainly imagine a scenario in which Aaron Boone removes Clarke Schmidt very early tonight for no real reason and then brings in a parade of relief pitchers. I could also imagine a scenario in which he brings Clay Holmes into an important situation and it turns into a disaster.

·       I had to listen to part of the first inning of Game 1 on the radio before I could get in front of a television. I have to say that I was a bit troubled when Suzyn Waldman introduced John Sterling as “the voice of the New York Yankees.” He is not the voice of the New York Yankees anymore. He retired. He wheedled, cajoled, and finagled his way into calling the playoff games so that he could bask in the glory of them. If anything, Suzyn Waldman is now the voice of the New York Yankees. I know it's a minor point, but I found it irritating.

·       These next few games, however many there are, could well be the last games in Yankees’ uniforms for Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Alex Verdugo, and Clay Holmes.  They could also be the final games for Juan Soto but, I believe he will re-sign with the Yankees. There are some people who are saying the same thing applies to Gerrit Cole, since he can opt out of this contract. I don't know that he will but if he does, all the Yankees have to do is activate the option for the final year of the contract and he will remain on the team. I suspect that the Yankees’ careers of Rizzo, Torres, Verdugo, and Holmes are just about over.

·       We could also be witnessing the end of Aaron Boone’s career as the Yankees’ manager. I stated earlier that I thought it would take a World Series victory for him to return. It doesn't look like that will happen. In addition, his blunders and over-managing cost the Yankees Game One. If it were not for him, they would be opening play tonight tied with the Dodgers at a game apiece. I know there are many fans who feel that Boone does not make the majority of the decisions and some who feel that he makes none of the decisions. I take Boone at his word that he is the manager, and he makes the decisions. Clearly, he is making the in-game decisions. There are also fans who think that no matter what, he should return because the Yankees made it to the World Series with him as the manager and perhaps next year they could win the whole thing with him as manager. I'm not buying that. He has been the manager for seven years and has not won a World Series. At this point, we have seen two games of this World Series. The Yankees have lost both of them. Boone can be blamed for the first one. Enough is more than enough. Now, if a miracle occurs and they win the World Series, that would be a different situation but I don't think that will happen. 

·       If the Yankees lose tonight, they could very easily be swept in this World Series. I don't know that it really matters other than it might be less embarrassing to lose in five games as opposed to four but losing is losing. Perhaps this season will become like 1976. The Yankees were swept by the Cincinnati Reds and made some big changes in the offseason, including bringing in Reggie Jackson. Maybe the Yankees will re-sign Juan Soto and bring in another piece or two and then come back to win the World Series next year. That is a lot more possible than the idea of them winning this World Series.

·       I think if the Yankees lose this World Series, there is a better chance of Joey Gallo, Aaron Hicks, and Josh Donaldson returning to the team next year than there is of Aaron Boone being back as the manager. But that is a discussion for another day. Let's focus our thoughts and our energy on rooting for the Yankees to win. As unlikely as it is, it still could happen. As realistic as I am, I am still hopeful. Maybe a miracle will happen, and they will win this series.