by Paul Semendinger
October 18, 2024
***
The Yankees made Game 3 exciting, but only because there was that one moment when the offense came up big: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton going back-to-back in the eighth inning with the game-tying homer and the go-ahead blast. The rest of the game, as they have done so often, they mostly came up small on offense.
Those same big batters came up in the 10th inning, against the back-end of the Guardians' bullpen and didn't get it done. Those are the moments when the stars of the team - Soto, Judge, and Stanton must come through. They didn't. They also didn't produce earlier in the game.
***
In the 9th inning, when the Yankees could have put the game away, they had runners on second and third with no outs and only scored one run. The situational hitting for this team has been atrocious.
Of note, the Yankees would have run themselves out of that inning had not Jose Ramirez dropped the ball as he atatempted to tag out Anthony Volpe.
How many base running mistakes can a team make before it is recognized as a very real problem? We have seen Jazz Chisholm, Anthony Volpe, Anthony Rizzo, and Jose Trevino making terrible base running blunders in just the last two games. That's unacceptable in April. It's inconceivable in October - in the ALCS. Again, this is a direct reflection of the manager and his coaches. There is no logical argument against that. This is a direct result of preparation and coaching. The bad running has cost the Yankees runs and it played a big role in them losing the game last night.
***
We saw in this game that Anthony Rizzo is no longer a good fielder. I was thrilled to see him back in the lineup in this series. I said it was the right move. But, after seeing his poor play last night, he should not be playing. At all. It's sad when a good player loses it, but, it's lost. Rizzo cannot be playing. At all. It was a nice story, Rizzo made his way back, but now he must be tied to the bench and should the Yankees advance, he shouldn't be on the World Series roster. Rizzo is a shell of a player. Playing him in the field is reminicient of the Red Sox trying to play Bill Buckner in 1986. It's not smart.
***
I never like seeing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hitting back-to-back. Last night, for a brief moment, it worked. Most often it doesn't. I hope the Yankees don't do that again. That being said, last night I was wrong about them hitting back-to-back because it did give the Yankees a huge moment and the lead.
***
The Yankees exposed (and/or) overworked Luke Weaver the other night, using him for a four-out save. It was, absolutely, the wrong move. I said that at the time. A bullpen has to be able to hold a four-run lead for one inning without using the closer. Using Weaver in Game 2 cost them last night when they went to that well one too many times.
***
The Yankees exposed some of the Guardians' bullpen last night, but in the process, their own bullpen was exposed as well.
Who do the Yankees go to late now? Luke Weaver has given up home runs in back-to-back outings.
When you have a magic trick, if you do it too often, the people watching figure out the trick. That was Luke Weaver. He pitched great, but he was never a great pitcher. The Yankees were relying on smoke and mirrors. The smoke has cleared and the mirror is broken.
***
There was this thought, argued by some, that last night was a game the Yankees could afford to lose. I don't agree. I never agreed. Smart teams don't give away games in the playoffs. The Yankees absolutely, cannot lose tonight.
***
Last night's lost was a crushing blow. Crushing.
***
Austin Wells is completely lost at the plate, but Jose Trevino cannot throw. The catching for the Yankees is an absolutel mess. I think they have to play Wells, but his bat has a gigantic hole in it. He had killed many scoring opportunities.
***
Luis Gil, who hasn't pitched in something like 45 years gets the ball tonight to try to prevent Cleveland from tying the series. The Yankees should have used him before going to him in a huge game.
***
I have been VERY impressed with Anthony Volpe's at bats. He works the counts. He's had good swings. Gleyber Torres too. He has also been very impressive.
***
Well, I'll say this... it's been exciting. It hasn't been fun, necessarily, but it's been exciting.
***
Let's Go Yankees!
Paul, great ponts! if they win tonight, last night becomes ancient history. If they lose tonight, last night becomes a turning point. Id say, tonight is a huge game. Problem is, we have no idea what Gil will show up. Also, Wells AB in 8th with no outs, runner on 2nd & 3rd was critical. He struck out swinging. It amazes me that no one has been able to shorten his swing for the last month. Its long and wild. All he had to do was put the ball in play.
"Last night's lost was a crushing blow. Crushing."
No. The Bloody Sock Game was a crushing loss. 1997 ALDS Game 4 (Rivera HR to Alomar) was a crushing loss. Tonight is not an elimination game. Yesterday was an ugly loss, but the Yankees are still in the driver's seat. As you pointed out the other day, New York is the better team, Cleveland can't beat them, and only the Yankees can beat themselves.
I predict the self-flagellation will stop tonight, and while I'm predicting (I've been pretty good so far!), the right-hander Williams will pitch like a guy with a 4.86 ERA (which he has), Gil will pitch like a RoY candidate (which he is), and the Yankees will win…
The question of Luke Weaver is a pretty easy one - he's clearly tired. He's been fantastic all year, and changes he (and the Yankees' coaches) made to his mechanics and pitch mix have worked wonders. Check out the line chart from a query I ran on Baseball Savant for all of his October outings - the precipitous velocity drop at the end? That's Game 3; he just didn't have the same gas.