After losing the series against the Twins, a team we used to beat regularly (the less said, the better), I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about facing the Mariners, who’ve been nipping at our heels for the Wild Card slot.
The trade happened and we got D-Rob, etc., but I was still wondering about a starter. It turned out the resilient, bounce-back Yankees of 2017 won three of the four games in Seattle and they just kept showing how they don’t quit. Judge seems to have rediscovered his home run stroke and Chapman was back to his high-velocity self today, but everybody’s contributed lately. Tanaka continues to be a puzzle; he had a rough inning on Saturday giving up four runs, but then he settled down and pitched well. CC has been pitching his heart out this season, and I wouldn’t mind keeping him when his contract is up – at least for the short term. Severino has earned the “ace” moniker for now. Will we sign Yu Darvish as has been rumored? Okay with me.
Not good news about Castro re-injuring his hamstring, by the way.
Again, what I love about this team is that they went through a long rough patch but never folded. And now, just maybe, they turned a corner in Seattle this weekend. Winning can become a habit for a team. As a fan, it’s a habit for me. More, please.
The most impressive game of this series for me was the one the Yankees lost. After Tanaka melted down in the third inning it was pretty discouraging but this team keeps at it. When they tied it up, then fell behind in the next half of the inning they could have given up but instead they tied it up again (brilliant move by Girardi, gotta give credit when it’s due). So it was heartbreaking that they lost but so hopeful that they were in it. I expect a continuation of this momentum on the homestand. They are only one loss behind the Red Sox, too, so this could get very interesting very soon!
P.S. The bullpen just won the “Bullpen of the Week” award. I didn’t realize there was such an award but after the way our bull pen has tortured us this past few weeks I will gladly take it!!
Our relievers won “Bullpen of the Week?” That surprises me, Audrey, but maybe it’s because I only remember the soul-crushing blown saves. Anyway, I agree that in many ways the game the Yankees lost was illustrative of their fighting spirit. They don’t give up the way past teams did or appeared to do. I’m sure they’re savoring this off-day after such a tough road trip. It’ll be good to have them back in our time zone.
A few days ago I was walking home from work when one of my Red Sox fan neighbors pulled up next to me and made a snarky remark about the Yankees. Since then the Yankees have gone three for four and the Sox have gone one for five. Karma’s a bitch (and she just let the Yankees move ahead of the Sox in the loss column).
Haha. Karma indeed, Audrey! Keep it classy, Red Sox fans! Bravo to Montgomery for pitching a gem last night.