But it was a lot of fun while it lasted.
Tell the truth. Did you ever think the 2017 Yankees would make it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS? I didn’t. Not until the first win of the Cleveland series. Then I believed, truly I did, that this team might just be capable of anything, even winning the World Series. They were that resilient.
But in the end, they didn’t have that little extra special mix of players. The starting pitching was brilliant until it was not. The relievers were almost without exception (poor Betances) terrific. The defense was spotty; too many errors. And the offense was both tremendous and nonexistent. Clearly, this was a team that thrived at Yankee Stadium and looked helpless in Houston.
We have a fantastic core of young players who, with more seasoning, could go on to be a force in future postseasons. But if I were Cashman, I would think about acquiring a top Verlander-type starter, maybe Yu Darvish, especially since we don’t know if Tanaka and CC will opt out. I would find replacements/new homes for Ellsbury, Castro and Headley. I would try to hold onto to Todd Frazier. I would send Gary Sanchez to catcher bootcamp and teach him how to hang onto the ball behind the plate. And I would make every single player learn how to hit a damn curveball.
Will I miss hearing Joe Buck go on and on about Altuve? No. Ugh.
But oh what was a wonderful season it turned out to be – a season of games that were so much fun to watch. This Yankees team gave us so much pleasure, along with the occasional frustration, and I applaud them for achieving far more than anyone expected, including me. I’m sad it’s all over, and I’ll throw my support to the Dodgers the rest of the way, but we got October baseball. Can’t ask for more than that.
As usual, you’ve summed it up well, Jane. I laughed at the Joe Buck mancrush on Altuve remark. We were quite admiring of Altuve going into this (my husband is 5’8″ so he always like to see a little guy do well) but by the end of this series we were sick of seeing his face on the screen. I probably will not watch much of the World Series but when I do I will be rooting for the Dodgers. I didn’t hate Houston before but I’ve started to a little.
But all in all we’re taking the end of the Yankees’ season pretty well here. Yes, they went farther than we expected and it was a very entertaining ride but ultimately it is just baseball (did I just say that?). We have spent the weekend at a hospice where my 89-year-old mother-in-law is spending her final days. My husband and his siblings are heartbroken and wavering between wanting her to still be with them and wishing her the ultimate peace and comfort. Yeah, it’s just baseball.
No, you summed it up well, Audrey – on the baseball front and on the “real life” front. I’m so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Having gone through my mom’s final days with hospice last year around this time, I can so relate to the conflict between saying to a loved one, “It’s ok for you to go because I don’t want you to suffer” and “Please don’t go because I’ll miss you so much.” It’s heart-wrenching and puts everything in perspective. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing whether Girardi and Cashman get new contracts and stay.
I knew you would understand, Jane. I still love baseball and my Yankees, of course, but I’m almost glad they didn’t make the World Series this year. How could I enjoy it when so many people I love are grieving? But Go Dodgers anyway!
I do understand, Audrey. Losing a loved one takes priority over baseball – an easy call. Send my best to your husband and his family.