WE DROPPED GAME ONE, BUT THE BRIGHT SIDE'S COMING!

Starting off strong, Domingo German had a great few innings against the Red Sox last night, however, the night slowly went south for the Yanks. Struggling in the fourth and letting up four runs, the night turned ugly and neither pitching or hitting was on point.

German allowed five runs over 4 and 1/3 innings and walked four, his highest total since the season started. Brett Gardner did not allow the Yanks to be shutout and homered in the fifth inning.

Source: NewsDay

Although we lost last night, there are a few positive takeaways. Luis Severino allowed one run over three-plus innings in Double-A Trenton. This could mean we see Severino activated soon. You can read a more in-depth story on that right here on BYB with our morning post titled: SEVERINO OUTING IS HUGE.

Source: NY Daily News

Dellin Betances began his rehab assignment and worked a scoreless inning for Trenton. He is expected to work a few more outings before coming off of the IL.

Gardner matched his career-high with his 21st home run.

Source: Pinstripe Alley

“Certainly the power … hitting (21) homers and the consistency of that power. He kind of embodies what I talk about with our team that there is just this hunger and focus and he’s just so mentally tough, too,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s going to do all he can especially while his body is still cooperating, which is certainly is."

David Price was scratched from the lineup due to a sore wrist. 

If the Yanks win the next three games, they can eliminate Boston from AL East title contention.

So although we lost, there is a lot we can do to really secure our post-season in the next few games. And our guys are getting healthy! Let's look to the bright side and keep cheering on the Pinstripes!

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke

SEVERINO OUTING IS HUGE

In case you didn’t notice, the Yankees got a big-time performance last night. No, definitely not in last night’s debacle at Fenway. It was in Trenton, where Luis Severino started the Thunder’s Eastern Division Series clincher as part of his rehab stint. It’s another step closer to his return, with no hiccups or warning signs. If you take Aaron Boone’s comments earlier in the day on face value, that if the outing went well, he could be brought up to the majors imminently.

Severino threw 50 pitches in 3+ innings before being pulled in the 4th after a lead off base hit. His velocity was in the mid 90s, topping out at 97 mph, according to scouts in attendance. Over those 3+ innings, he struck out 5, and walked none.  He did not get to ball 2 in any count until the third inning. He did give up 5 hits, one of them a solo homer, but was able to get out of trouble for the most part.  All in all, I would say he had an excellent night.

Photo Credit: NJ.com

With the playoffs only a few weeks away, Severino’s presence would be a huge asset. A starting rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Domingo German, and James Paxton would be awesome. Think about how much better the Yankees’ postseason posture looks when you think about Severino taking  J.A. Happ’s slot. It would be an incredible positive shift.

Obviously, It’s Aaron Boone’s job to make sure he doesn’t reinjure himself. That will likely mean strict limits on pitch counts. The good news is that if we see him start Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, he’d be facing one of the worst hitting teams in the American League. They’re last in the league in home runs and second to last in strikeouts, both of which play to Severino’s strengths and away from his weaknesses.

Whatever happens, I’m paying very close attention to next week’s games and announcements about him getting a start.

--Ike Dimitriadis
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

SONNY GRAY IS GOOD, GUYS

Look, the truth is Sonny Gray was always good, but clearly he couldn't perform for the New York Yankees. Pressure was too much for him. Big market teams and historic runs freak out guys sometimes. It's fine... it happens.

Hell, look at the guy like Zack Greinke. He'll never come to New York because of his anxiety. I get it.  You do what you know you can do. You find the right team for you. Hell... good for Sonny Gray. He's found a home in Cincinnati.

SNY writes:

"Sonny Gray's season and a half with the Yankees did not go as planned. In 34 regular season starts as a Yankee, Gray struggled to find consistency, pitching to a 4.51 ERA with a WHIP of 1.416. Gray eventually lost his spot in the starting rotation, and never seemed to be comfortable pitching in Yankee Stadium, where he had a 7.71 ERA during the 2018 season. 

The right-hander was traded to the Reds prior to this season, and it seems as if he's turned things around during his first season in Cincinnati.After starting the year with an 0-4 record, Gray is now 10-6 with a 2.75 ERA. 

On Thursday, he pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Reds went on the beat the Phillies 4-3 in 11 innings. Gray is now assembling one of the better pitching seasons by a Red in recent years..."

Here's the thing; Yankee fans wanna be all mad.  You can't be. This is life. These players play the best they can, but sometimes it doesn't work out. But Sonny is back and good for him.

I tip my cap.

I DON'T NEED A SURVEY TO KNOW YANKEE FAN CONFIDENCE IS HIGH

I appreciate all the blogs out there. I read them all and I know many read BYB too. We disagree on things here and there but you gotta respect the grind and how we all do our own thing uniquely to feed our audience.

Secondly... the Yankees are good. No... they're great this season. Fans are loving it, Yankee brass is... any solid baseball fan can respect the way this Yankee team is playing, even with injury... even with a young manager and all the juggling and stresses... we have found a rowdy, hardworking group of young men who come out each night and find ways to win.  Every night it's someone new that's the star. It's exciting.

Why am I rehashing all this stuff? Because I found it weird that Pinstripe Alley would advertise a story about team confidence reaching 90% as part of their survey.  SB Nation Fan Pulse did it, but do we really need a survey like that after all I've just told you? It's obvious right?

No disrespect. It's uniquely different, but I find it odd.

We are Yankee fans. We are seeing great things happen before our eyes every single day this season. I don't need a survey to tell me my confidence is high or not... I know it is.

Go Yanks!

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MIKE FORD?

This season has been a wild and crazy ride. The frustration I felt from all of the early injuries quickly turned into the excitement of watching "no name" guys step in, kick butt and help the Yankees win games while our biggest rivals like the Red Sox struggle. I can't believe it is September already.

This season has been all about guys stepping up and getting the job done while all of our heavy hitters were out injured. It sucks when big names like Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar miss time but we've had a long list of new guys to watch and get excited by. One of my favorites lately has been Mike Ford. He's been pretty clutch, he has good plate discipline and his defense at first base has been good. In fact, so good that we should all be asking "Greg Bird WHO?" Seriously, I don't even know why I even mentioned him.

But it is worth mentioning that while Luke Voit missed time Ford was the best fill-in that the Yankees could have asked for. Seriously, thank you to the Mariners for leaving him unprotected so we could grab him in the Rule 5 draft. But what happens to him next?

The Yankees have a few weeks to figure things out thanks to September expanded rosters. Thankfully Voit seems to be healthy for now, and hopefully he stays that way but once the Yankees start making decisions about the postseason roster and eventually next season where does that leave Ford?

It's been a relatively small sample size but the 10 home runs have been exciting to see, especially his hit against the Oakland A's this past weekend. Some media sources like New York Post and other blogs like THIS one are calling him a "savior" I wouldn't go that far, but I will say he's been a productive clutch hitter. Is that enough to stay in New York?

I don't envy Brian Cashman's position right now. He is going to have a very busy November before the rule 5 draft. He is going to have quite a few decent players with some trade value that he won’t be able to protect. Ford has already experienced Rule 5, question is will he have to do it all over again? It seems early to think about but November will be here before we know it.

Ford's had some nice moments for us, but is it enough to keep him on the 40-man roster? Let's give him Bird's spot! Okay, all joking aside....he deserves a shot somewhere even if it isn't with us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

A DIFFERENT KIND OF YANKEES PLAYING LAST NIGHT

Source: NY Daily News

I can't take credit for the headline.  My mother, an avid Yankee and baseball fan, texted me this message as I headed for Baltimore for an overnight business trip.  She and I banter about baseball all of the time; there are text messages filled with Yankee uniformed bitmojis and emojis of laughter, sadness, celebration and frustration.  Last night was no different; yet a different kind of Yankees were playing last night.

Source: NY Post Corey Sipkin

"The Rangers had shut the Yankees out on Monday, the first time in over a year. After a bad day offensively Monday, however, their bats broke out Tuesday. They hit five homers off opener Edison Volquez, relievers Ariel Jurado, Jonathan Hernandez and Rafael Montero, the former Mets prospect," boasted the NY Daily News.

Source: NY Post

And James Paxton has shown he can be a different kind of pitcher.  He was dominant last night as he was in his last two starts.  As the News called out in its headline, "James Paxton can be Yankees’ reliable ace." He may have to be with CC Sabathia out for a spell and perhaps not at his best with his latest knee set back and question marks surrounding Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery.

"Tuesday night, he was dominant. Paxton threw seven shut-out, one-hit innings as the Yankees rebounded for a 10-1 win over the Rangers at the Stadium. The Yankees have won three of their last five as Paxton won his career-high tying seventh straight start," reported the News. In addition, Big Maple had 12 strikeouts and took a no-hitter into the 5th inning.  Now that is the kind of pitching we need to make a dent in the offense that will face us come the post season.

Source: USA Today

Thankfully the Yankees always seem to rebound after tough losses.  We had some tough ones as of late but also a lot of celebrations.  Yes, this is a different kind of team- one with grit, focus and filled with savages.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MY PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT OF YESTERDAY'S YANKEE GAME

The Yankee game sucked yesterday.  It really did.  The Yankees got shut out for the first time in 220 games.  Nuts to think about because that's a great achievement... but true.

But the highlight for me had to be Clint Frazier in left field throwing out Elvis Andrus.  By far my favorite in a while. YES Network thought so too... take a look:

WHAT A THROW BY CLINT FRAZIER! MAYBE NEXT TIME!

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/5L2eVO6mUJ

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 2, 2019

Now many rip on this kid for his "horrible defense". I don't think of it that way. To me as a fan watching this kid, I know it's about confidence, reps and most of all comfort.  He's been under a microscope since he came over from the Indians.  He just needs to relax. Not only that... the press needs to back the F up and let the kid play.

Anyway... not too many highlights yesterday.  This one was however. I'm happy for Clint.

WHEN WILL EDWIN ENCARNACION RETURN?

A lot of players are starting to come off the IR these days.  And what it does is provide a log jam, especially because the fill-in guys have been doing such a great job, and now there will be roster moves, some even being sent down to AAA. Not because they haven't performed, but because there's just no room.  We will have to see what happens at first base next, because Edwin Encarnacion could be returning.

Newsday writes:

"Edwin Encarnacion is tantalizingly close to returning to the Yankees, having completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre about a month after landing on the injured list with a fractured wrist. Aaron Boone said Monday that Encarnacion could be reinstated Tuesday, though he said he’d have to check with the first baseman/DH first. 

Encarnacion confirmed the end of his rehab assignment to the Scranton Times-Tribune, saying: 'I feel good. I feel healthy. I feel 100 percent.'”

Stay tuned for this one. It could affect Voit or Ford. We will see.

HAVE WE SEEN THE LAST OF CC SABATHIA?

I don't want to think about this, but it's a possibility that shouldn't be ignored. We all knew this was going to be CC Sabathia's last season. The end is in sight, but this wasn't the potential ending that I was envisioning. It's pretty much the exact opposite so I am crossing my fingers that Friday night's game wasn't the end.

It sucks, but CC Sabathia is back on the disabled list for the fourth time this season. I'm sure it's not the journey he saw himself on at the beginning of the season. It's not what I saw either. No one thinks that CC is the same pitcher we saw back in 2009. Time gets the best of us all, but he's still an important piece to this team. More than anything, I want to see him go out on his terms and not because he isn't healthy enough to finish what he started.

But just like the New York Post wrote this weekend, there is no guarantee that CC will pitch again. There are no guarantees in life or in baseball but there is always hope. That's one thing I have been telling myself this weekend. I'm not giving up hope. CC doesn't want his last outing to be this past weekend and in pain. Sometimes the body just doesn't cooperate and it just gives out.

I hope that's not what happened this weekend. I want CC to walk off the mound at Yankee stadium feeling good. Derek Jeter got to end his career with a bang by hitting a walk-off single in his final home game. That home run was pretty incredible too. David Cone got an unforgettable out against Mike Piazza in the 2000 World Series to end his career. And what about David Wright? He got to play that one last game at Citi Field before calling it career. His body simply gave out, but at least he got to call it a career at home....and I at least want the same for CC.

Aaron Boone said he won't speculate on what will happen next with CC, read more HERE. CC has done a lot for this team and he's been a warrior, just like Boone said. CC deserves to pitch one last time at Yankee stadium and to leave it all out on the field. I don't want to think about CC walking away from the game without a proper send off.

I want to see CC walk off the mound at Yankee stadium to a sold out crowd and loud cheers. That is the send off he deserves. I want those to be his final moments in a Yankee uniform.

We are pulling for you CC, Friday wasn't the end of your journey. Not yet. That's what I choose to believe.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY THE YANKS ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!

The Yankees don't have all their top players on this team right now.  They have a bunch of guys that were signed or called up to help while the "top" players healed. And this has been going on all freakin' season.

Early on I hated every bit of it. I still rooted hard and they all slowly impressed me. And while I was accused of not being a true Yankee fan (whatever that means), I never left my team behind. I just approached fandom in a different light when it came to my newly manufactured Yankees.  I'm glad I did... because if I put too much pressure on myself or on this team... and me being the superstitious one... I know I would have ruined some cosmic alignment of planets or something.

This team is so much fun!

Every game there's a different star.  A few days ago a guy like DJ LeMaheiu was hitless all game just to walk off the Yankees in monumental fashion and then yesterday, a dude named Mike Ford... who really has had a baseball journey of essentially NO highlights.... comes to the Yankees and becomes a superstar.

Not only all season... but yesterday in particular.

ANOTHER WALKOFF.
ANOTHER STAR.

I love what I see!

Our pal Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record writes:

"...As he came to bat next, “you’re not down (a run), thanks to Gardy for that,’ Ford said. 'It’s the same approach but just a little more relaxed.’

Jumping on a full-count delivery for his 10th homer of the year, Ford gave a little flip of the bat as he watched the ball sail into the Yankees bullpen in right-center field. 

'Didn’t even realize it until I saw the video,’ Ford said of casually tossing the bat aside. As for his latest Next-Man moment, 'the organization does a great job of preparing uns. 

'When we get our chance, we want to run with it.’"

This team plays to win. The chemistry is perfect. Dare I say, I have seen a ton of Yankee teams over the years. My favorite is the 1998 Yankees.  This however may be my new favorite.

Happy Labor Day everyone.

Go Yanks!

MVP CHANTS FOR DJ LEMAHIEU CONTINUE

Source: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

I always consider it a gift when I have the opportunity to spend the day at the ballpark.  Yet after the outcome of Saturday's game, I consider it a very expensive gift!  The day did not start out the way I expected, but the end of it was more than I could every imagine.

My son and I arrived to the game a little later than we had anticipated due to train conflicts, but our #4 train did pull up to the Stadium by 12:10 p.m.  Unfortunately, the lines were absolutely ridiculous and the gatekeepers were unable to move the flow efficiently toward security, leading multiple thousands of fans to be upset and without the promotional sweatshirt giveaway.  We were two of those many fans.

Yet, what started as a dreadfully awful entry into the Stadium, slowly built to an amazing come from behind win and extra inning walk off, as the Yankees took down what has been their nemesis this season, the Oakland Athletics, 4-3 in the bottom of the 11th.  Leading the surge was DJ LeMahieu, who launched a first-pitch lead-off home run to right field to hand the Yankees the victory amidst screaming chants of "MVP" and a welcoming committee at home plate.

Source: MLB.com

 "We were going crazy. I was on deck, so I had a perfect view of it. I threw my bat and helmet in the air and got ready for the celebration,” said right fielder Aaron Judge. “[LeMahieu has] been a great piece to this team, what he’s done day in and day out, when he’s feeling good, not feeling good -- he always produces. And that’s what you look for in a baseball player and a teammate,” reported MLB.com.

The Yankees actually got all of their runs by way of home runs in Saturday's game.  Gary Sanchez launched two bombs and Aaron Judge tied the game in the bottom of the eighth will a two-out right field scorcher.  It was a game that Yankees had to win and having the chance to see it in person after the rough beginning, for both the Yankees and fans, is really a blessing.

Source: ESPN

"It ended an eventful day for the Yankees, who placed CC Sabathia on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation and saw Zack Britton removed in the top of the eighth with cramping in his right calf," reported the NY Post.

Source: AP

The Yankees have also lost all of its matches with the A's this season, so topping them Saturday was something they had to do for their psyche.  There has been so much strength and grit in this Yankee team and DJ LeMahieu has certainly earned the MVP chants which will hopefully lead to him actually winning the honor.  He has been the Yankees' anchor, amidst injuries and tough patches of losses throughout the season.  He has given all of us a reason to believe that the Yankees can reach their endgame this season and bring #28 home.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

VOIT BACK, BABY! BUT THERE'S BAD NEWS...

Well, I am damn happy to report that Luke Voit is back baby!

Gotta love that report!

The New York Post writes:

"Voit returned from a sports hernia following a rehab stint and will be available for their series opener against Oakland..."

But here's the bad news. Gio Urshela, whom everyone thought would return tonight with some soreness, was placed on the 10-day IL.

That also comes from the Post:

"Urshela, who was removed from Wednesday’s game in Seattle with left groin tightness, landed on the 10-day IL. DJ LeMahieu could be used at third base in Urshela’s absence..."

And there you have it.

Go Yanks!