Perspectives: Three More?

by Paul Semendinger

October 30, 2024

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Last night's game was a lot of fun. The Yankees showed some spunk. There were times when it would have been quite easy for them to roll over and admit defeat. They didn't. They played strong. They won. It was awesome.

Now they need to do it again.

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We had many great debates and discussions yesterday and through the night. I am of the opinion that a team in the situation the Yankees are in needs to go with their best and set up situations that allow their best players to be able to impact games the most amount of times.

A big debate was regarding Gerrit Cole. If he started last night on short rest, he would also be able to start a Game 7 (if it gets that far) on short rest. Cole will pitch tonight, but starting Game 7 is now out of the question.

Luis Gil did exactly as most thought he would. He wasn't great. He wasn't sharp. He gave up four runs in four innings. That's not good. The Yankees' batters though came through. And then the bullpen also did its job. In the end the Yankees won. That's what matters.

Did the Yankees do the right thing? Maybe. Was I wrong? Quite possibly. In one sense, absolutely - the Yankees won without their ace pitcher going.

I am still concerned about who will start Game 7 should it get there. I guess Luis Gil again. One could make the argument that he'll be sharper. At least he'd be pitching on regular rest.

Now Gerrit Cole needs to do his job. This is why he was brought to the Yankees - to be the ace and win the biggest games.

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I would love to be wrong about all of my Yankees concerns as we watch them pull off a historic championship run.

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Those fans that grabbed Mookie Betts made for a very ugly situation. I don't want to know their names. But, it would be good if the Yankees, Major League Baseball, and the City of New York put out a statement letting other fans know what the penalties for that behavior were. They should be severe.

That kind of behavior cannot happen. Ever.

Update - (I only have a second to write this) As I drove to work, Boomer and Gio on WFAN were saying that this type of behavior was expected. They stated that it was hysterical. They laughed about it.

In short, I'm outraged. I'm sure if Boomer had been grabbed during a football game, he wouldn't have laughed. I'm sure if it were Gio grabbed, he wouldn't be laughing. This is so obvious I am surprised I even have to point it out.

What those fans did was wrong. They should not be allowed back into a stadium. At all. It wasn't funny. It wasn't right. They could have injured Mookie Betts. They should face legal consequences for their actions. Fans cannot grab players. There is not any aspect of that situation that is funny, laughable, or enjoyable.

Radio hosts laughing about this on a huge NY sports station is wrong. Completely wrong. All that will do is encourage more of this.

Their position on this is irresponsible, wrong, and completely unacceptable.

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Aaron Judge looked like a different hitter last night. He had long at bats. He seemed... confident. Has something finally changed? I sure hope so.

I hope Mr. Judge becomes Mr. October and Mr. November these next few nights.

As tired as others are about me writing and discussing his long slump, I am tired of writing and talking about it. It can't be ignored. It has been a huge part of the Yankees' story.

It would be wonderful if Aaron Judge had three huge games this week.

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When Yankees baseball is over, even though we write about it all winter long, I miss it terribly. I hope the Yankees extend the season a few more days.

Win, win, and win some more.

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If the Yankees had lost and played flat last night, I think Aaron Boone's tenure as Yankees manager would have been in jeopardy. It is still not secure, but if they win tonight, it would be a huge vote of confidence for the manager. Teams just don't come back often from being down 3-0. They don't come back to win, of course, but they don't even come back to play Games Five or Six.

The Yankees forced a Game Five. The Yankees, for one night at least, were resiliant.

Now they need to do it again.

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Has there ever been a team that looks so terrible when they lose as the 2024 Yankees? (Of course there have, this is hyperbole, but...) When the Yankees of 2024 have been bad, they have been awful.

Last night, some of the awful things changed a bit: Anthony Volpe was out stretching a single into a double, but the ball popped out of the player's glove. The contact play... worked. Anthony Rizzo caught a popup by the stands. The Dodgers' catcher did not...

I do not believe in momentum and all of that, but it was nice, it was great, to see some breaks going the Yankees' way for a change.

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We will be at it again tonight. Stay tuned.

Let's Go Yankees!