Gardner was frustrated after striking out to start an inning last night, channeling Paul O’Neill back in the day. (I love when Holliday turns around to look and is so nonchalant.)
The good news is the Yankees won the game, yet again in come-from-behind fashion, and their 8-6 win over Toronto and series win put them squarely in first place – not a bad way to kick off May. They really are fun to watch.
CC dug them an early hole for the second time in a row. He was pitching well to start the season but is clearly in a slump now. I hope Rothschild can figure out what’s wrong. We need CC to go deep into games or the bullpen will be toast.
On the plus side, it seems there’s no hole our hitters can’t dig themselves out of – with power, grit and a little luck. Judge just keeps being Judge. Will he continue to homer his way into the record books for a rookie? Or will he turn out like this guy?
My guess is he’ll have longevity. Maas wasn’t even a highly touted prospect, as I recall, and he certainly didn’t have Judge’s size. But Judge is more than a big, tall guy. He’s a kid who worked hard to cut down on the strikeouts – the knock against him in the minors – and now he’s got a great eye at the plate. He and Hicks and Castro, in particular, were free swingers who take pitches now.
And I can’t forget to give some love to Holliday for hitting his 300th homer. That’s pretty impressive, and he’s been a nice addition to the Yankees. He and Chris Carter are giving the kids a veteran presence to look up to, and they’re contributing in their own way.
On we go to Chicago to play the Cubs this weekend. I’m glad Warren and Chapman will get their World Series rings, but I hope the Yanks make the Cubs forget they’re champs and beat them silly.
The beginning of this games was discouraging and I’m really worried about CC but with this team I never lose hope. After they came back from a 9-1 deficit last Friday I don’t think I’ll ever be without hope again, even if it’s the bottom of the ninth with two outs :).
The whole team is impressive. Even Chris Carter is starting to hit and Holliday – well, I’m humming “Happy Holliday” a lot these days, thanks to John Sterling’s classic home run call. For so long we would face the Boston or Baltimore or Detroit or Toronto lineups with trepidation, each successive hitter scarier than the last. Now the Yankee lineup is like that and I love it!!!
As for Aaron Judge – he’s a god. Whether he will prove to be mortal eventually time will tell but for now let’s just sit back and enjoy watching those bombs reaching upper decks and Monument Park. I have a feeling we’re going to start seeing a whole lot of Judge jerseys walking around.
“I hope the Yanks make the Cubs forget they’re champs and beat them silly.” From your keyboard to God’s ears, Jane.
A lot of Judge jerseys is right, Audrey. I’ll buy one myself. At the end of last season, I thought the big seller would be Gary Sanchez jerseys, and maybe he’ll go on a tear when he’s back this weekend. But right now, it’s all about Judge. Are you making the trip down to the Stadium from Vermont this summer?
Definitely. My family needs an early afternoon game to do it all in one day and the choices are limited. I’m really disappointed that half the home games in July are against National League teams – you know how I dislike inter-league play. So Wednesday, July 5 against Toronto might be our best option that month. Sunday, July 25 against Texas might work, too. That is Old Timers’ Day.
I have a friend who keeps pushing for a trip to Baltimore to watch a Yankee-Os game (she used to live there.) I say let’s start a little more local and work our way up to the big trip. So I might get together a Ladies’ Day for her and a couple of other women I know who enjoy baseball, if not necessarily the Yankees. They’ll be converts after a visit to the stadium, I trust. If I do something like that, Jane, I will let you know. Maybe you could join us :)
I was at the game last night. What a ride! We didn’t leave enough time to deal with the security lines (they were really looking through bags) so by the time we sat down in the top of the second it was already 4-3. Before the game we were all talking about how we wanted to see Aaron Judge hit one out, and he obliged! I knew we were going to win, but I did get a bit nervous when we left so many runners on base.
In Stadium notes, the subway race is back! The 4 train won. I wonder if people complained? Still no Cotton Eye Joe. Guess that didn’t inspire protests.
I think Judge is for real. Maybe he doesn’t continue to hit a home run every night, but I am looking forward to him leading the team for a long time.
I agree, I hope CC gets it together. Things fall apart quickly if our pitching is not good. But right now this team is exceeding all expectations! Go Yankees!
The July 5th game against Toronto might be a fun one for you to go to, Audrey. The Blue Jays almost guarantee some high scoring. But I think your ladies’ group should make a trip to Camden Yards. I love that place. Not only is it fun to see a game there, but I love Boog’s BBQ!!!!!
What a great time you must have had, Darren. You asked for a Judge homer and he obliged. Doesn’t get much better than that! Ugh on the return of the subway race.
My family has been to Camden Yards and we do like it. My daughters’ first Yankee game was there and my brother-in-law had tickets through work that had them sitting right behind home plate. It’s been all downhill from there! My friend wants to do the Camden Yards trip with our Gourmet Supper Club so it would be fun and my husband an I have family in that area. But we already drive so much! With our son in North Carolina and a daughter moving to South Carolina this fall we make a lot of road trips. At least we get to sit on the train for a good portion of our Yankee Stadium trips.
Understood. A train trip will be much easier!
That was, again, an incredible come back win. This young team never thinks that they can’t win even though they are behind. That’s why they’re doing this again and again this season. Watching Gardie destroy the recycling container was pretty funny – definitely reminded everyone of Paulie. Anyway, I’m just relieved for the WIN and that they are in first place. Glad they have a day off but it may be scary to be in Chicago. We’ll see what happens. GO YANKEES!!!
I don’t think this team is scared by anyone, even the Cubs, Diane. And sometimes they play better when they’re up against a good team.
Gardy wasn’t beating on plastic yesterday, that’s for sure.
No he wasn’t! What a comeback!