It all now comes down to this.
After years of hearing about how they were cheated by the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal in 2017, and years of waiting for the once "Baby Bombers" to get over that Houston speed bump en route to World Series glory, the Yankees find themselves here.
They find themselves in a 3-0 series hole, starring at both a sweep at the hands of their tormentors, the Astros, and with an uncertain future starring them right back in the face.
So much went wrong in Game 3. The Yankees lost 5-0. Their offense was once again inept against Houston. The Yankees managed only three hits, two of those hits came in the ninth inning when the Yankees tried to stage a late rally. Not happening.
Talk about a team that is home run or nothing. That is exactly what the Yankees have been throughout this season, and in the most important games of the year, they have turned into that team again. Gone are the days or working counts and getting on base. In are the days of homer or nothing.
The proof is in the pudding. Since July 8, the Yankees are 41-45. They have been mediocre. They don't pitch well enough. Their bullpen is a mess -- see Aroldis Chapman, and Game 3 of the Division Series. Their offense is another story.
What's more when Harrison Bader and Aaron Judge misplayed a fly ball by Christian Vasquez in the second inning, it was sign of things to come. The next batter, Chas McCormick cracked a two-run homer off Gerrit Cole toward right. 2-0 Houston. Ball game.
What makes things even worse for the Yankees is the continued bizarre managerial decisions by Aaron Boone. In the sixth inning after Cole loaded the bases with none out, he decided to go the bullpen to bring in Lou Trivino. Lou Trivino who had a 4.53 ERA this year? That Lou Trivino?
Yep. And Trivino proceeded to give up a sac fly to Tray Mancini to make it 3-0, and a two-run single to Vasquez that made it 5-0. Just like that Cole's night was over.
So was the Yankees.
To say it is frustrating would be an understatement. If the Yankees go down at home to the Astros either in Game 4 or Game 5, one thing is certain changes have to be coming. The Yankees can not move forward with the same strategy, and thought process.
Who is crafting lineups where Athony Rizzo or Aaron Judge are leading off? It isn't work, and makes absolutely no sense.
Who is making decisions at the deadline where the Yankees fail to get an impact player like pitcher Luis Castillo and they end up with Frankie Montas?
https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1583987595138433025?s=20&t=TxcXGpqx5T672-Bc4IHfbQ
Both Boone and Brian Cashman have a lot of questions to answer. Both are under contract. It would be stunning if both are gone after this series ends, even if Yankees fans demand it.
Aaron Judge? He is hitting .156 in this postseason. He has been pressing the most, and will be a free agent. Is this the end of the Judge era? It could be. It very could be, and it would be a shame to see it end like this.
The Yankees go into Game 4 looking to do the unthinkable, win four in a row. Only the 2004 Boston Red Sox accomplished that feat (against the Yankees). The difference is the Astros have a lot of pitching that that Yankee team did not. If There is a game 5, Houston will just roll with Justin Verlander. Nuff said.
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