BOS Wins ALDS 3-1
When Aaron Boone took the job as Yankees manager almost one year ago, he took it with full knowledge he had his work cut out for him. He was taking over a team with high expectations, a team that won 97 games, and was one win away from the World Series in 2017. Not to mention he was taking over for a manager who won a World Series, and was ranked fifth all time in regular season wins in Yankee history. Sure, Boone can say he isn't Joe Girardi, and nobody expected him to be Giardi, but when it mattered most in the ALDS against division rival Boston, Boone proved he has a long way to go before he can become a great manager. He has a long, long, long way to go.
It is ironic in a way that the Yankees lose this ALDS to the Red Sox in this fashion, and on this stage of Yankee Stadium.
A year ago at this time, Yankee fans were booing Girardi after he made a mistake not challenging a play involving Gary Sanchez in Game 2 of the ALDS in Cleveland. When the Yankees returned home, Girardi was booed, with many calling for his firing. The Yankees won that series against Cleveland. And almost won the next series against Houston. Yet, those fans who wanted Girardi out, got their wish. Now they are kicking themselves.
With practically the same team, san for Giancarlo Stanton, Zach Britton and Luke Voit, Boone couldn't push them over the finish line.
It started with his poor handling of Luis Severino in Game 3, where the Yankee ace was late to warmup for the game. Then Boone made the biggest sin of all, allowing Severino to stay way too long in this game as he was getting completely and totally shelled by the Red Sox who posted 10 runs before the fourth inning was over. The Yankees lost Game 3 16-1. By the ninth inning, the game felt more like a regular season game on April 17 instead of a playoff game on October 8. Game 4 was no better. The Yankees came out with no fire. Through three innings only one man reached base, Neil Walker on a single, as Rick Porcello dominated the Yankees.
By the top of the third inning, Boston did something the Yankees in 2018 never learned to do -- which is manufacture runs. A sac fly by J.D. Martinez brought in Andrew Benentendi; a double by Ian Kinsler drove in Steve Pearce, and a single by Eduardo Nunez brought home Kinsler. Three runs on two hits. Smart base running. Get on. Get over. Score.
All the Yankees knew how to do was try to aim for the fence, and each time they did that the walls seemed farther and father away.
After Porcello shutdown the Yankees over five innings of four hit ball, the bullpen held the Yankees hitless and scoreless for the next three innings until Craig Kimbrel almost gave it away.
Heck, things have been so good for Boston lately, that the Yankees bailed out Alex Cora from his own mistake. Cora opted to pitch Chris Sale in the eighth inning. Predictably the Red Sox ace made quick work of the Yankees on 13 pitches. Instead of bringing him back out for the ninth inning, he went with Kimbrel, who just didn't have it.
Kimbrel walked Aaron Judge and served up a base hit to Didi Gregorious. With two on and no-one out it was up to Giancarlo Stanton, but he struck out swinging, A-Rod style in the most important at bat of his season.
After Kimbrel walked Luke Voit to load the bases; he hit Neil Walker with the first pitch to drive in Judge cutting the Sox lead to 4-2.
Bases loaded, one out.
A home run and the Yankees win in grand fashion.
A base hit and the Yankees at least tie the game.
What does Sanchez do?
He did what every Yankees hitter did in crucial situations this year, aim for the fence.
He swung and missed hard on the first two pitches before settling down to take the next three to set up a 3-2 count. On 3-2, Sanchez again tried to give a Ruthian swing to a four-seamer, but popped the ball up into left field for a sac fly. He drove in a run, but it could have been and should have been so much more.
With two out and two on it was up to rookie Gleybur Torres - a kid who earned the moniker Gley-bor Day from the Yankees play-by-play man John Sterling for his powerful swing and trusty glove. Instead, Torres meekly grounded to shallow third, and was thrown out on a good throw by Nunez, and an even better stretch at first base by Pearce to end it.
Yankees lose.
The Yankees lose.
11 years after they watched the Red Sox celebrate at the Old Yankee Stadium, they watched this version of the Red Sox have that moment too. The Red Sox move on the ALCS to face the defending Champion Houston Astros. The Yankees? They head home wondering what could have been.
One thing is certain, the Yankees need better plate discipline, and a manger who has a better handle of his ball club in big spots.
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