SEASON OVER: PUNCHLESS YANKEES DONE IN DETROIT

Well, that was depressing. Following three losses through the first three games of the ALCS in which the Yankees had chances to win in each; the Bombers went down without a fight in Game 4. Nothing went right in this 8-1 loss for the Yankees, and they head into the off-season searching for answers.

Just like every other game this postseason, the Yankees had trouble scoring. Whether they were facing Joe Saunders or Justin Verlander, the Yankees had trouble generating offense of any kind, no matter who they faced.

 

This time they got shutdown by Max Scherzer. He held New York hitless through the first five, with first hit he allowed coming on an Eduardo Nunez triple to lead off the sixth. Nick Swisher, playing in most likely his final game as a Yankee, drove Nunez in with a double two batters later. That was the only offense by the Yankees; one run on two hits. What a joke.

Though the offense was bad in the ALDS against the Orioles, they managed to fare worse in the LCS against the Tigers. They scored a total of six runs in the four game series. Two of those six came in the final three games played. In the 39 total innings played, the Yankees scored in just four of them. There are so many culprits, unsurprisingly, in this offensive disaster. Robinson Cano, who deserves the most blame, goes along with Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin, Eric Chavez, Mark Teixeira, and Brett Gardner as guys who you can all point to. Hell, I’m probably forgetting someone. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Offensively, this ALCS was an unmitigated disaster for the Yankees. In total, they hit the second lowest LCS AVG in history,  .157,  in the four game sweep. It was a collective effort of offensive futility, aside from a few players. I can’t help but wonder if hitting coach Kevin Long’s job is on the line. After Game 2, Joe Girardi mentioned that the offense hasn’t been making adjustments, and they needed to do so. Based on what they did in the two games that followed, it sure looked like the offense didn’t respond to the skipper’s claim. At this point, I would not be surprised if Long was on the chopping block, but that’s speculation, at least for now.

CC Sabathia started, and he didn’t have it. He lasted just 3.2 innings, allowed 11 hits and six runs (five earned). Even if he did pitch well (say, 7 innings, two runs), do you really think the offense would have backed him up? Me neither. Anyhow, though CC struggled in the biggest game of the year, we can’t forget how awesome he was for the last three weeks. After people suggested he “wasn’t an ace,” it was great that he proved the doubters wrong. One bad start does not change that.

Tigers eliminate the Yankees, 8-1.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m rooting for the National League winner to beat the Tigers. This is the second straight year the Tigers have eliminated the Yankees from the postseason, and it absolutely kills me. I hope they get destroyed in the World Series, but I don’t think the Yankees care about that. I don’t know how many changes will be made in the off-season, but I know at least a few will have to be made. You can’t sweep this disaster under the rug, you have to fix it. Here’s to hoping Brian Cashman and Co. put together a team that will win Number 28 in 2013.

Thanks for letting me write for you this season!



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Lead Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter @SchindlerJesse



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