Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Yankees-Rays: A Fun Rivalry

The series with the Rays had just about everything, including good starting pitching, clutch hitting, a benches-clearing tiff, a Boone ejection and, best of all, enough “W’s” to put the Yankees safely in front of the Rays by eight games by the time it was all over (Boston is ten back.) There’s always tension and emotion when the two clubs play these days, and I really enjoy it.

I loved the way this team never seemed to give up, and in yesterday’s double-header, particularly in the nightcap, I loved the station-to-station hitting. I love homers too, of course, but moving players around the diamond was something the Yankees weren’t so good at in previous years.

German has really distinguished himself as a pitcher we can count on, and Urshela is just plain on a tear. Do we still need that starter before the deadline? Absolutely, if we’re going to step up and win this thing. The clock is ticking, Cashman. Keep working those phones.

It’s Break Time

I was going to post last night, but I was still sulking over the Yankees’s two losses here to the Rays. I purposely didn’t go to any games during this series because whenever I go to the Trop, the Yanks lose and I didn’t want to be a jinx. The first two games went beautifully; I stayed away and we won. Not so for Games 3 and 4, and both were very winnable – and frustrating. Boston seems to have picked up steam and the Rays are flush with their two victories over us, and our lead in the division has shrunk. Not what I wanted to happen before the All-Star break.

I know, I know. We’re still out in front. And this team has played brilliantly no matter who’s injured. But there’s still a big item on Cashman’s To Do list that need checking off as we prepare for what is likely to be a grueling second half: another starter. Everybody knows we need one. I’d like us to get Scherzer, naturally. But any guy with a low ERA and a live arm will do.

I’d also like Encarnacion to hit more than the occasional homer. Sure, he came to the Yankees leading the leagues in homers, but it seems to me his outs far exceed the homers he’s hit thus far. Maybe he just needs to get acclimated to NY.

I’d like Judge to cut down on his strikeouts. He’s been hitting some majestic bombs, but didn’t he used to get singles and doubles too?

I’d like Didi to get hot. He’s a streaky hitter who goes on a tear with homers and then slumps at the plate. Consistency, please.

I’d like Chapman to stop the high-wire act every time he closes. Jeez, he gives me heart attacks.

I’d like Stanton to finally get healthy and stay healthy.

And I’d like someone to figure out what can be done to get Severino back. At this rate, I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever see him pitch again.

As for the All-Star game itself, as I’ve said many times, it’s not my thing. (Forget the Home Run Derby. Not a fan of that at all.) So I’ll be spending the break enjoying Wimbledon and other pastimes, and will look forward to baseball later in the week.

The Big Sweep

Gosh, it’s nice to be able to use the broom image again. And it’s particularly nice to use it against the Rays, with whom we’ve been dueling for first place. There’s no doubt about who’s in first now: the Yankees are — by 3 1/2 games. Not a huge lead, but the best one yet.

Clearly, the Yanks have the Rays’ number at the Stadium. They absolutely dismantled the Rays during the sweep. They’ve been less successful at the Trop, but we’ll see how that goes next month when they come back to town. Also clearly, Blake Snell, the Rays’s ace, did not have a good day, while CC won his 250th game – quite a milestone.

Tanaka had a complete game. Haap was great. Which goes to show that when you have good starting pitching, good things come of it.

On the offensive side, what can I say about yesterday’s Janer, in particular? TWELVE runs. Torres’s first grand slam. Sanchez’s show of power. And LeMahieu continues to impress. I really don’t want to lose either him or Maybin. And by the way, the Yankees’ hitting coaches must be really good this year, because Maybin, for one, was talking about how he got to the Yankees batting, like, .120 and with a few tweaks he’s on a roll.

Now the Yankees take on the Astros, which should be a great test of how the team is gelling. Again, pitching will be key, and Boone hasn’t announced his starter. (Please don’t let it be Cessa.)

 

A Slugger Comes to Yankeeville

I thought we were getting a starting pitcher. We ended up with a home run leader, who has clobbered the Yankees in the past. I’m not unhappy – why not get a DH who can clobber – but the acquisition of Encarcion does complicate things.

Brett Gardner will be the odd man out in the outfield with Stanton and then Judge back and healthy. Fine with me to use Gardy as a late-innings defensive replacement in left field and as a pinch runner, but it may not be fine with him. Poor Clint Frazier was sent down to Scranton because he really was deemed unnecessary. But I’m for anything and anybody who makes the team stronger.

I’m just not sure that acquiring sluggers makes us stronger.

Well, of course it does in the offensive department. But what good is bashing 10 runs (as we did in Chicago during a split of the 4-game series) if the pitching staff will give those 10 runs right back to the opponent?

I keep reading that Cashman is out there searching for a starter or two. Is it really detective work? How long does it take to zero in on somebody and just PAY HIM? The Yankees can afford to shell out some money for a couple of starters. They need to do it soon. Paxton bounced back yesterday with a decent game against the White Sox, but I still think he’s wobbly, as is CC, as is Tanaka, as is Happ, and Chad Green as our “opener” just doesn’t thrill me.

Now is the time to act. We have a big series at the Stadium with the Rays starting tonight. It’s been a seesaw battle for first place in the division, but right now we’re a half a game ahead. I’d love to put them in the rearview mirror and end the series with more daylight between us. Fingers crossed.

Ortiz and More

Before I get to the state of the Yankees, I need to send out healing thoughts to David Ortiz after he was shot in the abdominal area yesterday in the Dominican Republic. Apparently, he underwent a six-hour operation, but is now in stable condition. It’s always a shock when a member – especially such a high-profile member – of the baseball community suffers a sudden injury or illness, and I was certainly shocked to learn about Ortiz last night. He was our nemesis for so many years, but he’s said to be one of the good guys. I hope he’s back on the MLB Network team soon.

As for our boys, good for them for salvaging the series in Cleveland with a late win, but now we’re deadlocked in a tie for first place with the Rays and seemingly falling apart – despite the welcome return of Didi. With German now joining the Injured List and Keuchel signing with the Braves, the need for a starter (or two) couldn’t be more essential. Get on it, would you, Cashman? (Tanaka is only on paternity leave; he’ll be back. But let’s hope he’ll be back in better shape than when he left. He hasn’t been all that great.)

The relievers have been spotty too. Betances isn’t coming back any time soon, and the others are hit and miss. Which puts pressure on the offense to overcompensate for runs given up.

On the plus side, the Yankees have done a remarkable job despite losing so many players to injury. I never dreamed we’d be near first place with so many stars out and yet here we are. So grateful to LeMahieu, Urshela, Maybin, etc. for filling in so admirably.

Looking forward to taking on the Mets. I think.

The Calm Before the Storm

After last night’s cruel and frustrating one-run loss to the Padres, the Yankees are only one game in front of the Rays for first place. I know. Given all the injuries and the fact that Boone is playing musical chairs with the lineup and the starting rotation, first place is a major accomplishment.

But I hate losing one-run games, especially since the Yanks mounted a late comeback only to fall short.

Also, it’s the Padres. I mean come on. We really need to beat them in today’s finale.

Because Boston comes in for the weekend. No, they’re not the big, bad Boston of old, but they’re 6 games back and 6 games can disappear in a hurry. They’re hungry to topple the order of things – and to right their miserable start to the season. Besides which, the Rays just don’t lose very often.

Paxton is making his return from the I.L today, but he’s said to have lingering problems with his knee and that he’ll have to “play through the discomfort” for the rest of the season. Does that sound promising to you? Me neither.

CC is said to be returning in time to pitch Sunday’s game, but he, too, has knee issues.

Management seems thrilled with the tag team approach to pitching, with Chad Green as our opener and God only knows who to follow him. That method works for the Rays, but I’d much prefer a steady diet of starters – i.e. a real rotation.

But it’s only May, I keep reminding myself. Almost June. Plenty of time for our players to get healthy. Plenty of time for Judge. I’m waiting for Judge. I miss Judge.

First Place and a Janer!

I take full credit for the weekend series win against the Rays at the Stadium. Why? Because when I went to see the two teams tee off at the Trop last Saturday night, the Yanks lost and I vowed to stop jinxing them. Even though this weekend’s series was televised on our local sports network here in Tampa/St. Pete, I did not watch on Friday night and the Yanks won. Yesterday, I couldn’t help myself and turned on the TV – and we lost. Today I compromised by listening to the audio only and we won.

And it was a satisfying win to say the least. Following the Rays’ playbook and trotting out a bunch of relievers instead of using a starter, the Yanks were dealing in risky business. And with the score tied at 5-5, I was sweating. But the boys prevailed 13-5.

It amazes me how this cast of mostly supporting players has rallied together to put themselves in first place, even if it doesn’t last long. Gardner, Hicks and Sanchez had a nice offensive day, but it’s the no-names who impress me the most. Kudos to Cashman – and I don’t usually “kudos” him – for pulling together guys like LeMahieu, Morales, Urshela, Estrada, Maybin and, of course, Voit.

As the team heads down to Baltimore for four games, I hope the winning will continue. Let’s go, Yankees. Clap clap clap.

 

 

My Jinx at the Trop Continues, But We Won the Series

It was throwback Devil Rays tropical shirt giveaway night on Saturday for my return to Tropicana Field, and as I was handed one at the entrance I said to my husband, “I don’t think I’ll ever wear this.”

The Yanks had won on Friday night behind a pretty good performance by German, but I approached Saturday night with trepidation. My record at the Trop isn’t good. I honestly think the Yanks have lost every single time I’ve been there. Still, I was hopeful with CC on the mound and Gio Urshela hitting like crazy.

Sadly, we couldn’t rev up our offense and a reliever named Nestor Cortes (???) coughed up runs late in the game that cost us. The result was another “L” for me. Not that I didn’t enjoy seeing the boys or the game. We had good seats. There’s a new restaurant this year that offers the Impossible Burger, the non-meat patty that’s all the rage with those of us who avoid red meat. And the Rays fans are always happy when their stadium is packed – even if it’s because the Yanks or Red Sox are in town.

I wasn’t there yesterday for the finale, and I’m glad. I watched on TV and that power outage lasted waaaay too long. The Yanks busted out and scored 7 runs and Tanaka was stellar in getting the win, but do the Rays ever need a new stadium. It’s sad. They deserve one. They’re a very good team and I expect we’ll be battling them all season.

In My Backyard

After taking three of four games from the Mariners at the Stadium, the Yanks will begin a weekend series in St. Pete at the Trop. I’m always excited when they come here, even if this time I won’t recognize all the players (Urshela, Ottavino, Maybin, etc.). I’ll be at the game Saturday night so look for me behind the visitor’s dugout.

The Rays are in the first place – by a mere game-and-a-half – and have been playing well. This will be an important series for many reasons, not the least of which is the Yankees need to prove they can beat the top-tier teams. Therefore, beating the Rays will matter. I was hoping to see Happ pitch, but since he was on the mound last night, that’s not happening. Is Paxton coming off the IL  for the series? That would be nice. CC? Tanaka? German? Whoever is pitching Saturday night needs to bring his “A” game because I don’t want to watch in misery. Some run support would be nice, too.

Will post pics after my Saturday night adventure.

 

Poor Didi. Poor Us.

Didi’s headfirst slide into home plate won Saturday’s game against the O’s. It also cost us his services, most likely for the WC game. When I read that the Yanks not only lost the finale of that series yesterday but also announced that Didi’s slide caused torn cartilage in his right wrist, all I could say was, “A kick in the gut.” That’s what it felt like. He’s the lynchpin of the infield and in the lineup. Sure, Gleybar can move to shortstop or Hechavaria can start there, but there’s no replacing Didi at such an important time. Boone said they’re giving him a cortisone shot to see if it alleviates the pain/inflammation enough that he can still play. I’m doubtful. Torn cartilage hurts and usually requires surgery.

But onward. I’ll be at the Trop tonight for the start of the series against the pesky Rays. Obviously, I’d like to see a win.

Someone Is Celebrating and It’s Not the Yankees

The Yankees tried to sweep the Red Sox and avoid letting them clinch the AL East on our soil, but they couldn’t manage a win in the finale. So be it.

There were some positives to take away from this series.

Severino pitched well – better than he has in ages. Happ continues to dominate the Red Sox and provide an overall consistent arm in the rotation. Luke Voit continues to mash and infuse the team with tons of energy, making Bird a distant memory. Andujar may have his shortcomings on defense, but he can hit, really hit. Stanton’s grand slam last night broke him out of his slump. And, of course, Judge is back in the lineup; he may not have found his stroke yet, but he’s getting there.

On the negative side, Gary Sanchez. Period. Please can we trade him? What good is he to this team? If he were hitting a ton, I’d say OK, maybe he can DH now and then. But he hasn’t hit for real, not in a long time. And his defense is atrocious. As Kaat said last night on MLB Network, pitchers don’t want to throw to a guy they can’t trust and Boone would be well served to use Romine in a one-game playoff. Another negative? Tanaka. I would not use him to start a one-game playoff at Yankee Stadium. He gives up too many early runs. The shaky bullpen. Honestly, every time Betances takes the mound, I worry. Ditto: Chad Green. Chapman is back but let’s see how he does after the layoff. And Sheffield may or may not play a role in important situations.

With the A’s freaky 21-run win over the Angels yesterday, we’re only a whisper in front of them in the WC standings. This thing could go down to the wire.

I’ll be at the Monday night game when they open the series against the Rays – Section 1, Row Q at the Trop. I’ll try to will them to victory, but this race is on them.

Just Ugh

RAYS 3, YANKEES 2

Yankees Leave Florida With No Homers and a Bigger A.L. East Deficit

Image
Aaron Judge hit a single in the first inning on Wednesday, but the Yankees were unable to get a big hit when they needed one in a loss to the Rays.CreditMike Ehrmann/Getty Images

By Peter Kerasotis

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As usual for a team hitting home runs at a record pace this season, it was the long ball that decided the Yankees’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

The problem for the Yankees, though, is that they did not hit any — not Wednesday, and not at all in this three-game series. And after a 3-2 loss at Tropicana Field, they were headed home having lost two of three in the series after being swept by the Rays the last time they faced them on the road.

“Get out of Tampa,” Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said succinctly in a somber clubhouse moment after he struck out to end the game.

But it isn’t just in Tampa — or St. Petersburg, to be precise — where the Yankees have struggled to hit home runs. In their five games since the All-Star break, the Yankees have just one homer — their fewest in a five-game stretch since June 10-15, 2016. It also was the first time they did not homer in a series of at least three games since Sept. 2-4, 2016.

They failed to get one even against a cobbled-together lineup of pitchers that the Rays were forced to deploy after they traded away their scheduled starter earlier in the day. Tampa Bay’s offense got all of its runs courtesy of two sixth inning homers: a Kevin Kiermaier two-run blast off Yankees starter Luis Cessa, followed two outs later by a solo shot from C.J. Cron, off Jonathan Holder.

“It’s a tough loss — frustrating,” Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said. “There were a couple of losses in this series that could have gone either way.”

But the Yankees’ inability to get a big hit in crucial situations — either via long ball or otherwise — did them in. Both losses to the Rays came by one run.

That the Boston Red Sox have kept their foot on the accelerator with the best record in baseball accentuates every Yankee loss. The latest setback dropped the Yankees to 64-36, five and a half games behind Boston, who was scheduled to play the Baltimore Orioles later Wednesday. The Red Sox also acquired the pitcher who was set to start for the Rays on Wednesday — the power right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, a former Yankee — hours before the game.

“We can’t worry about what other teams are doing, especially when we’re not playing them,” Gardner said. “We haven’t played the way we can. I still feel that the best is yet to come.”

With Eovaldi headed to Boston, the Rays started reliever Ryne Stanek, who pitched a scoreless first inning, fanning two of the 10 Yankee batters who would eventually strike out.

The trade forced the Rays to scramble in other ways, too. They pitched reliever Sergio Romo in the eighth inning, then played him at third base for the first out in the ninth before reinserting him on the mound to get the game’s final two outs.

“Do I get credit for a hold and a save?” Romo said, only half-jokingly. “That was cool. I can now say that I played third base in a major league game.”

The moment briefly overtook Romo when he returned to the pitcher’s mound.

“I was feeling kind of giddy, feeling like a little kid when you’re super excited,” he said. “But then I threw a first-pitch ball and I was like, ‘O.K., let’s go. Lock in.’ I got back in the pitching mode quickly.”

The Yankees did get a key reinforcement before the game: the rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres, who had been rehabbing a right hip strain. He went 0 for 3 in his return, but he did walk and score one of the Yankees’ two runs.

The Yankees also got a solid start from Cessa, who is vying for a permanent spot in the Yankees’ rotation after replacing the struggling Domingo German — now in Class AAA after a poor start against the Mets last week. Cessa was cruising with a shutout through five innings before a flat changeup found the fat part of Kiermaier’s bat and the hitter deposited it in the right-field stands.

It wasn’t the first changeup Cessa had thrown to Keirmaier in the at-bat. “He threw me the same pitch and I swung right through it,” Keirmaier said. “That’s not the way to make a living, missing pitches you’re supposed to take advantage of. When he threw me the same pitch again, I got a hold of it.”

After Cessa was lifted one out later, Holder struck out the first batter he faced before surrendering a solo home run to Cron. The Yankees had pushed across a run home in the second and eighth innings, and had two base runners in the ninth, but couldn’t manage a big hit when they needed one.

“The Rays scored those few runs in the sixth, but that shouldn’t be enough to hold us down,” Gardner said. “We have to play better baseball. We didn’t have a great game collectively.”

Added Boone: “We have to move on quickly and go get home and kick off a nice home stand. I know our bats will start coming around. We’re close to breaking free — close to breaking out.”

Yankees-Rays: Another Loss at the Trop

I wasn’t there this time; I didn’t want to jinx the Yanks as I feared I did last time they came to St. Pete. I needn’t have worried. They jinxed themselves. Or, should I say, Gary Sanchez jinxed them with his sloppy, lazy playing. Brace yourself for a rant.

I’ve been quiet on the blog during the All-Star break because I don’t watch the game or the home run derby. And earlier in the month, I was glued to Wimbledon, tennis fan that I am. But now I’m letting my frustration fly: the Yankees are blowing it. They were keeping it close with the Red Sox, having a really entertaining battle with their rival for the division lead. Now? They’ve squandered that lead.

Tonight, Severino had an uncharacteristically bad outing, but it kicked off with Sanchez’s run-scoring passed ball, and it looked to me as if the two of them were having a heated discussion about it in the dugout. Not good.

Fast forward to the ninth inning. The Rays had gotten off to a great start in the game but the Yanks came all the way back to within one run with bases loaded. On the final play, Sanchez chugged – seriously, I could run faster than he did – to first base for the last out, ending the opener of the three-game set. If there’s one thing I can’t abide, it’s lack of hustle. It was my problem with Cano, and now it’s a problem and has been a problem with Sanchez. I hate to say it, but I think we’re looking at another Jesus Montero situation. Sanchez will probably be benched or fined for tonight’s stink-up, but he should be traded for a starting pitcher. I’m done watching him be talked to and disciplined. I’m done sensing that pitchers don’t want him to catch them. I’m just done.

Now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest, it’s on to tomorrow’s game. Let’s hope for a better result before this season slips away.

A Reverse Sweep – Not Good!

After Andujar’s homer in today’s finale against the Rays and Stanton’s later on, I thought maybe it would set the tone, there would be offense and we would fend off the Rays to avoid being swept. Wrong. Into extra innings the Yankees stumbled, missing chance after chance to score more runs, even though the bullpen kept them in the game. Well, until Shreve gave it all up with that walk off homer. My heart sank at the sound of the crack of the bat.

I know the Yankees won’t win every game. I also know they won’t always beat teams they should beat. But they really looked flat this weekend. With Sanchez hurt and possibly headed for the DL, we’re another bat down, not that he was on fire or anything. And I’ll say it again: WE NEED A STARTING PITCHER. Yes, the kids show promise, but they’re inconsistent – too inconsistent for a serious pennant race.

I hope this malaise they’re showing doesn’t carry over into the Phillies series, but there are likely to be pitchers over there the Yankees have never faced and we know how they don’t do well against those. Grrrrrr.

But I’ll end on a positive note. The team is good. They are. In the long run, they’ll be fine.

Now That Was a Great Sweep

It’s one thing to beat teams you’re supposed to beat, but the Mariners came into the Bronx and presented stiff competition. So when Chapman threw the last pitch of today’s game and nailed down the sweep of Seattle, it was thrilling. It was thrilling to prevail in the tight games all series long. It was thrilling to come from behind. It was thrilling to see Stanton have his “signature” Yankees moment with the walk-off in last night’s game. It was thrilling to beat King Felix. It was thrilling to watch Torres and Andujar and Hicks, etc do so well. And it was thrilling that German wasn’t a flash in the pan. “Lasagna,” as they call the Nicaraguan pitcher, is still a work in progress but a talented one. For now, it’s ok to have the kids starting, but come playoff time, we’ll need a veteran arm to take us deep into games. I know, I know. I’ve already beaten that drum here and Cashman’s looking, so I’ll stop.

Tomorrow night the Yanks will be here in St. Pete to play the Rays and I’ll be at the Trop – down in front on the visitor’s side – hoping to see a Janer. I’ll have my Judge jersey on, so wave at the TV if you see me :)

Moving Hiatus

I’m moving – as in right this minute – and will have to take some time off from the blog to deal with the joys (not!) of packing, moving and unpacking over the next week or so. Michael and I decided we were done with winter in CT and are making the switch to FL (St. Pete) full time. The good news, aside from no more snow, is seeing the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and whenever they play the Rays at the Trop.

While I’m off the grid, I’ll be checking scores and hoping for all good things for our boys.

Back soon!

Mt. Crushmore!

Ok, Greg Bird is out of the picture for now, but how about the murderer’s row on display in today’s finale against the Rays? Stanton, Judge and Sanchez all hit bombs and Didi put on a HR show yesterday. Good job, guys.

Severino was impressive even if the Rays are notorious underachievers at the plate.

The important points were that Stanton rebounded from the booing he earned yesterday, Sanchez woke up from his slumbering start to the season and Judge continued to flex his muscles. If I were an opposing pitcher, I would have nightmares thinking about facing this lineup even if they do go into slumps now and then.

Speaking of offense, the O’s come to the Bronx for our first matchup with them this year. They can hit, but can they pitch? We shall see.

Oh – I forgot to mention – I’ve been spending the winter in St. Petersburg, FL (actually I did mention it in a previous post about going to the first spring training game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa), and now I’ll be living here full time starting in June. So whenever the Yanks come into town to play the Rays, I hope to be at the Trop. I also hope to catch a glimpse of the players while they’re coming and going at their hotel. Recently, I snapped this pic at the Vinoy while the Red Sox were in town.

Do you honestly think I’m NOT going to take a photo of our heroes? Not a chance.

Follow Me!

  • Jane Heller on Goodreads
  • Jane Heller on Pinterest
  • Jane Heller on Facebook
  • Jane Heller on Twitter

Get in touch!

I’d love to hear from you! Contact me!