So I am listening to the Michael Kay Show right now and a caller made a point about how everyone is saying the Yankees need to "hit more like the Rays." And it opened up a whole can of thoughts for me because I really think people are glorifying something that isn't really there. I had to start writing.
Let's start with this - the Yankees were TERRIBLE on Monday night. It was a disgrace. The errors were out of control and their general ability to hit has disappeared. I am with everyone on that.
BUT . . . . . .
They need to hit more like the Rays??????
According to my research, assuming the internet is right:
- RISP - The Rays were 1-13 w/RISP in Game 2. If the Yankees go 1-13 w/RISP, they get CRUSHED. The Rays are heroes with that?
- STRIKEOUTS- The Yankees struck out 7 times to the Rays 4 strikeouts. Ok, 3 more. But it's not like it was 15 to 2. ( I understand that over the course of the season, the Yankees struck out 335 more times than the Rays for the season. That's 2 more K's per game. Not 9 more per game. Let's get a grip.)
- HOMERUNS- You can't win in the postseason just hitting home runs. Well . . . . what exactly did the Rays go in Game 1? Oh yeah - they won the game with 1 home run. 1 swing was the difference in the game. Would it have been great for the Yankees to have some runners on when Ben Rice hit his homeruns - of course. Didn't happen. But don't say it's IMPOSSIBLE to win via the homerun. I hate to break it to you - usually - the team that out homers the other team often wins! Check this one out:
| Postseason Year | Record of Teams That Out-Homer Opponents | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Postseason | 22–6 | ~78.6% |
| 2023 Postseason | 25–2 | ~92.6% |
| 2024 Postseason | 23–8 | ~74.2% |
| 2025 Postseason | 30–5 | ~85.7% |
| 2026 Postseason (In Progress) | 11–3 (as of Oct 7, 2026) | ~78.6% |
**The above chart is an AI Overview created from Google**
I know that didn't work out this time, but stop with the "small ball always wins" crap. It's a great skill and helpful to use. The Yankees even do it sometimes. Maybe not often enough, but it's not the only answer. It's a part of the equation.
Other ridiculous thoughts:
- "The Rays keep putting pressure on by hitting the ball." Let's think about the balls that they hit that led to runs being scored. Many were basic grounders to Yankees infielders. The Yankees Defense FAILED them. It was terrible, but let's not give the Rays too much credit for putting pressure on them. If the Yankees hit ground balls to the infielders, they look like they are not trying. They are giving up. They have no urgency. If the Rays hit ground balls to the infielders, they are "Putting pressure on the other team." This is not a game where the Yankees struck out 16 times. They hit the ball just about as often as the Rays and they actually got the ball out of the infield 2 more times than the Rays. The problem is that the Yankees kept dropping the ball, throwing it away, blowing double plays or interfering with the swings. (SEE HERE) This was a defensive failure of epic proportions - not a huge accomplishment by the Rays hitters.
- Boone is to blame. . . . . . . . Really?
- So it's Boone's fault that McMahon suddenly can't field the ball or throw this year? You think that suddenly McMahon has decided to be a worse player, non-functional in the only thing he did well because the coach didn't bench him? Well guess what - the coach DID bench him this year. And he DID play other guys there. And it didn't help. You could argue that maybe someone else should play. And I would not argue that. Sadly, McMahon is not the defender he used to be. I don't blame that on the coach. I could make a case to blame the coach for putting him in the lineup.
- Is it Boone's fault that suddenly, the shortstop who was "MLB Ready" defensively over a year ago, George Lombard Jr, is suddenly making horrible plays? Did Boone teach him a new way to field that led to his 6 game error streak in August? Must be Boone's fault. You are right. he ruined Volpe, and now in record time, he ruined Lombard. ORRRRRRR, Lombard, the young kid, is having growing pains and is freaking nervous!
- Is it Boone's fault that Wells glove got hit by the bat, putting a runner on 1st? Wells, who has been fantastic as a defender in many ways, and the only guy who has hit besides Rice in this series, suddenly decided to stick his glove in front of the bat because he was not disciplined enough by Boone?
- Yankees haven't won since 2009. They need to be more like the Rays the Brewers and the Blue Jays. Oh yeah? How many championships have THOSE teams won since 2009? Oh yeah - NONE. (Some - literally NEVER won.) While I agree it's amazing how these small market teams (MIL & TB) can do so well so consistently with their payrolls, that is a different argument for a different day. We are not looking for a team to spend less money and continue to not win, so that's not a reasonable argument. Their WS Championship droughts are MUCH MUCH longer than the Yankees. So why are we striving to be like them if the only thing that matters is championships? Funny - Championships are the only thing that matters for the Yankees, but for some reason, the teams you all want them to model - DON'T WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! And that's ok? Yeah sure - - - - - - I'd much rather be like the Blue Jays. Lost in the WS in 2025, just like the Yankees in 2024. But in the years surrounding that WS loss, DID NOT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!
Here's the bottom line. The Yankees lost that game on Monday. They blew it and embarrassed themselves.
- Credit to the Rays Defense for being fundamentally sound and not falling apart in a huge moment. They seem to do everything - literally everything - right.
- Blame to the Yankees defense for coming up small - incredibly small - in a huge moment, similar to the 5th inning against the Dodgers in game 5 two years ago. (Although that was only 1 inning. This was a whole game).
- Feel free to blame the Yankees offense for not being able to get real hits beside Rice
- NO CREDIT TO ANYONE'S OFFENSE. I'm sorry, I'm not impressed by ground balls to infielders that lead to an unreasonable amount of errors. The Yankees hit the ball just about as much as the Rays. But the Rays FIELDED the ball, unlike the Yankees.
- Credit to Schlittler for not completely falling apart like the team around him and the rest of the staff for keeping it close. With all of those errors, they should have lost 12-2.
- Credit to the Rays pitching staff for getting the Yankees to look like a little league team at the plate.
Yankees better wake up at bat and in the field. I got my tixx to game 4 and I expect to be at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night with my son.
As Boomer Esiason says, "1 pitch, 1 out, 1 inning, 1 game".
Let's Go!!!!
JOEY V - OUT
PS - My 9 year old son REALLY wants to meet Aaron Judge so he can sign his Pinewood Derby Car. Anyone have a connection? :-)
oh yea. . . . . and for fun, make sure to watch this:
(Hilarious from Brothers Pizza in Staten Island)
No comments:
Post a Comment