
I’ve never understood the Yankees’ strategy against David Ortiz, who hits homers at Yankee Stadium the way I hit this computer to write about it, which is to say: a lot. Last night’s two homers in the series finale against Boston was a case in point. Severino, who hasn’t exactly been Cy Young this year and will probably be sent back to the minors, is over-matched when facing a guy like Ortiz. So why not walk him?
Moreover, why not walk the guy every time he’s up? He kills the Yankees – particularly at the Stadium, as I said – so isn’t it a waste of everybody’s time to sit there and watch him go deep?
Ok, rant over.
Now I’ll start on the Yankees’ inability to hit knuckleballers. Aside from Tim Wakefield in his later years, knuckleball pitchers baffle Yankees hitters and Steven Wright, last night’s starter for Boston, was no exception. We managed – what – a measly three hits? I’m not saying it’s easy to hit a ball that’s dancing all over the place, but there must be videotape to watch, tips from the hitting coach, something. Having said that, why don’t the Yanks have a knuckleballer of their own?
And what’s up with all the injuries? Last night’s casualty was Darlin’ Starlin with an oblique. Sigh.
On a brighter note, the first two games of this series ended in victory for the Yankees, and it seemed as if they were finally getting on track. Maybe whoever’s healthy will be inspired against the Royals in the series that starts tonight. KC is a really good team, obviously. Sometimes the Yankees play up to the competition. I’m hoping this series will be one of those times since I’ll be at the Stadium on Wednesday night and don’t really want to shiver in the cold and see them lose.