Chap’s Insta like supports Joe rip
CLEVELAND — If Yankee fans think Joe Girardi’s tenure as manager should be coming to an end, it seems Aroldis Chapman might ‘like’ that idea. The Bombers closer liked a comment on his Instagram page early Saturday morning insinuating that Girardi shouldn’t return as skipper in 2018.
“Let’s hope Joe’s contract is not renewed after the season,” the comment Chapman liked, written by user @millsjr33, reads. “He’s an imbecile.”
The “imbecile” part most likely refers to Girardi’s decision to not challenge a call in the sixth inning.
—Nicholas Parco
YANKS STILL 3-LIEvE
The Yankees may be down 0-2 in the ALDS to the mighty Indians, but they still believe they can come back and win three straight.
Only nine teams have ever accomplished the feat in a best-offive series — including the Bombers in the 2001 ALDS.
“They’re playing well and they’re a great team,” Dellin Betances said. “But they went to the World Series last year up 3-1, so hopefully we can win three games like the Cubs did. I like our chances. Like I said, we’ve fought back in do-or-die games during the regular season.” Betances’ teammates agreed. “We’re not out of it yet. We can battle our butts off and get right back in this series,” David Robertson said.
Added Todd Frazier: “We’re not giving up. We’re going to be playing hard for (hopefully) these last three games.”
It looks like LeBron James is rooting for the Indians now.
“WINdians!!!” #TheLand @ Indians” James tweeted after the Tribe came back from five runs down to stun the Bombers.
James wore a Yankee cap a decade ago when these two teams played in the postseason, causing a stir in Cleveland.
TANAKA TIME
Masahiro Tanaka will be starting a potential elimination game for the Bombers on Sunday night in Game 3 in the Bronx.
Tanaka went 13-12 with a 4.74 ERA during his potential opt-out year. He served up a career-high 35 homers.
“It’s been up and down,” Joe Girardi said. “It’s been more consistent the second half than it was the first half, but there’s been some up and down moments.”
There was some thought that Girardi may turn to Luis Severino for Game 3 if his team fell down 0-2, but the manager said that both pitchers were going to have to pitch at some point if the team was to advance.
I’M ON FIRE
Jay Bruce did it again. The former Met, who nearly was traded to the Yankees in August, homered for the second straight game of the series, ripping a game-tying solo homer to left field against David Robertson in the eighth inning to complete the Indians’ comeback from an 8-3 hole.
“Absolutely, no doubt, that was an amazing game,” Bruce said. “There are no words, honestly. To be down to a team like that and put the at-bats together and push the runs across, I mean, wow. Honestly, I’m speechless. It says a lot about our team.”
Bruce also homered and drove in three runs in the Indians’ 4-0 win Thursday in Game 1.
Edwin Encarnacion, who suffered a gruesome right ankle injury and left the game. He’s day to day after an MRI and the team will see how he feels Saturday.