BOONE THE BONEHEAD!

The last thing I wanted to do was try and get too crafty against the Rays, and we've done just that. It's been a long time since I have been critical of Aaron Boone, but I can't think of a better time other than right now. I don't understand what Boone is doing AT ALL. I'm all for keeping our opponents on their toes but....I think he's lost his mind. This is an experiment that has gone terribly wrong.

We've had a lot of struggles against the Rays this season, so strategy was critical here....and Boone folded.

Game one was good, and it damn well should've been with Gerrit Cole on the mound. The Yankees did what they needed to do and we won. But...I'm still stuck on game two and game three was just bad.

Look, the Yankees complicated the situation in game two with Deivi Garcia. There was no reason to try and treat this like an "opener" situation that the Yankees have done before. It worked with Chad Green in the past but, we've already had challenges this season with the Rays....why complicate it?

Why not let Garcia go out there and pitch for longer and see what he had? If he tanked then sure, pull him but considering that the ALDS series has no planned off days, why not try and get some length out of your starters so the bullpen isn't overworked? The idea shouldn't change in the postseason.

But it did. I get it, Boone wanted J.A. Happ, the lefty out there to try and neutralize the Rays lefty heavy lineup. I understand the logic, but it didn't work and we didn't even give Garcia a chance to see if he could neutralize the Rays on his own. Boone pulled the trigger too fast....

And it backfired, terribly. Both Mike Zunino and Manuel Margot made Happ pay and then Austin Meadows hit a home run off of Jonathan Loaisiga. It was just a mess and Boone's pitching strategy just didn't work.

And last night I was really hoping for more out of Masahiro Tanaka. He is our proven and experienced postseason guy and he threw WAY too many sliders last night and the Rays just sat back and waited on it. Sure, Tanaka didn't pitch well but Boone also deserves some of the blame. As a manager he is responsible for making the decisions that put your team in winning scenarios. I really feel like he fails at this more often than not in the playoffs especially.

So now we are at a MUST WIN game four....or we sleep until spring again. Our fate lies in the hands of Boone and Jordan Montgomery and I don't feel so good about that. I still believe he can contribute to the Yankees but this hasn't been his year. He finished the regular season with a 5.11 ERA and his worst start came against the Rays on September 2nd. I hope he learned a lot from that appearance, because we need him now more than ever.  

I'm crossing every body part I have tonight, because I am not ready for the season to end. I'm ready to get Cole some backup because he needs it. I'm ready for the pitching to get their act together because Cole can't do it all, and I'm ready for Aaron Boone to stop being a BONEHEAD!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

UP NEXT: THE ALDS, THE RAYS & THE BUBBLE!

It feels good to beat Cleveland, really good. It was a short dramatic series and I'm just glad it's over. Game One was an explosion of offense and game two had its own drama with Mother Nature meddling with the start of the game. MLB really messed the start of yesterday's game up. 

There's nothing like calling a rain delay when it ISN'T raining and then starting the game when it's pouring. Not sure who exactly messed that up but that's just bizarre. At least when the bad weather finally passed and the game got started it was entertaining. I was glad to finally get the win and move on but....you know what that means, right?

The RAYS are waiting for us. Yeah, those guys. The new pain in our butts that really made us look stupid during the regular season. The Rays also just made a sweep of the Blue Jays. Both of us are running on momentum....but I am willing to bet that they feel even better than we do right now.

Maybe it is weird that I am not upset about the Rays winning the AL East this season. Maybe if this weren't a shortened 60-game season it would hurt a little more. They can have the division title....I am more bothered that they beat us during the regular season series 8-2. The Rays have been beating us all season, so playing against them in the postseason is a scary thought. We already know what the Rays are capable of but....did you see them against the Blue Jays?

Here is what the Yankees should study up on:

1. The Rays outfield is dangerous in the field and in the box

During the offseason, the Rays traded for outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe and both guys did some damage against the Blue Jays. Margot hit a two-run home run in game one, and Renfroe hit a Grand Slam yesterday. They also have another outfielder on the bench named Randy Arozarena who also had four hits in eight at-bats and two of those were doubles.

2. The Rays have power arms in the pen

The Rays have a good closer and they have good arms to bridge to their closer. There's not one person that Kevin Cash will rely on, but many. The Rays have used 13 different pitchers this season to close out games. The 12 different pitchers they used during the regular season tied a major league record. The Rays know what to expect at the end of our games, but Kevin Cash could literally throw just about anyone at us.

3. Strong, steady starters are waiting

Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow both pitched good games. Snell held the Blue Jays to one hit and no runs and Glasnow struck out eight over six innings. They also have Charlie Morton who did not have to pitch, and is dealing with some recent shoulder inflammation. If Morton is in fact healthy and pitches effectively, the Yankees will have their hands full with three good pitchers. 

The Yankees will need Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka to be dominant and keep the Rays off balance. As good as their pitching will be, ours needs to be better and our bats need to the do their part. The Rays lost to Gerrit Cole last year in games 2 and 5 of the ALDS, we need that trend to continue. Cole is the key, and Tanaka's proven postseason record is crucial to our success.

The Yankees offensive showed up against Cleveland, but it can't go to sleep against the Rays. The difference between the Indians and the Rays is night and day...and the Yankees will need to rise to the occasion. They need to play better than the team that was 2-8 in the regular season series. 

The bubble is waiting for us in San Diego, and so are the Rays. This won't be easy....but it can be done. What do you think the Yankees need to do to beat the Rays? Comment and tell us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BOSTON'S DESPERATION

Now I'm not about to slam the Boston Red Sox for the move they made, but I am surprised that the Sox made it.  Don't know what I mean? Check this out.

Yesterday we got word that the Sox traded for Craig Kimbrel.  In return, the Sox gave up 4 prospects. According to ESPN, "Kimbrel, who saved 39 games for the Padres this season, spent the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Braves before they traded him to San Diego on the eve of the 2015 regular season. The Red Sox assumed $25 million remaining on Kimbrel's contract but have him under control for up to three more seasons....The Padres received outfielder Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra and Carlos Asuaje, and left-hander Logan Allen. 

(In Photo: Manuel Margot)
Only Asuaje and Margot made it as high as Double-A last season."

Now look, I don't know much about those prospects, but being retrained as a Yankee fan and not giving up the farm like we have recently and actually watching our prospects blossom, I was just surprised the Sox give up so much.  Maybe it's a good idea, especially because the Sox haven't been too good lately, but obviously new GM Dave Dombrowski want's to make a big splash.

And so I ask fellow BYB Hub charter member, Section 36.  Is this is a good move?  I mean yes, Kimbrel is a great player, I'd love him on the Yankees, but is it worth it giving up you farm system?

Respond soon, we're looking forward to it.

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