Five things that doomed the Yankees in the ALDS
When you win 100 games but then get quickly bounced in the division series, there are plenty of places to point the finger. Here are five reasons why the Bombers are heading to the golf course while the Red Sox advance to meet the Astros in the ALCS.
A CASE OF BOONE-BRAIN
Rookie skipper Aaron Boone took more heat than a manager who guided his club to 100 regular-season wins really deserves. But Boone did himself no favors when it comes to his legion of critics for the way he bungled the ALDS. His most egregious error came as he sat glued to the dugout steps while his socalled ace, Luis Severino, took a Game 3 pounding. The Mighty, Mighty Bosox pounded Severino for six runs on seven hits and two walks in just three innings on Monday. Boone never should have sent him out to start the fourth inning. Too bad Girardi's binder wasn't lying around. Severino — who struggled after the All-Star break and was a complete disaster in last year's wild-card game — quickly loaded up the bases with no outs and the rest is history. Boone compounded his mistake by turning to Lance Lynn instead of one of the many options at his disposal with experience putting out fires. The Lynn move did not end well. The end result was the Yankees' worst-ever playoff loss, 16-1.
START-OF-GAME-GATE
Speaking of Severino, how is it possible your Game 3 starter doesn't know what time the game starts? Forget the Yankees' half-hearted attempt to diffuse the controversy after the game, this is just a mind-blowing level of incompetence by all involved. Biggest game of the season and your starting pitcher is late to warm up. This isn't Geno Smith missing a team meeting because time zones confused him, but given the magnitude of the situation it's just as unforgivable. Clearly the reaction of pitching coach Larry Rothschild who can be seen telling Severino “You know first pitch is at 7:40,” is a pretty good indication Sevy should have been warming up already, despite him saying the contrary. You can sure his warm-up start time in his first game next season will be watched by all.
THE JURY IS BACK, JUDGE MESSED UP
Aaron Judge prides himself on being this pinstriped-generation's answer to Derek Jeter. The say-nothing leader that delivers the goods on the field and rarely off, always does the right thing. On Saturday night, Judge got a little full of himself, acting much younger than his 26 years when he decided to blast "New York, New York" as he made his way by the Red Sox clubhouse after Saturday's 6-2 series-tying win at Fenway Park. It wasn't a good look, especially against a team as potent as the Red Sox. Yes, Boston already wanted to Sox it to the Yanks, but now they had that little extra motivation. The Red Sox outscored the Yankees 20-4 the rest of the way and clapped back at Judge by spraying Champagne around the visiting clubhouse to the classic Frank Sinatra tune. Start spreading the blues! It's New Yuck, New Yuck!
STANTON AND THE SLUMBERING BATS
The Bombers' formula for success is simple. Hit the ball out of the ballpark, especially that little bandbox in the Bronx and its famed “Short Porch” in right. The greatest regular-season hitting club in baseball history — 267 round-trippers — couldn't manage to hit a single ball out of the Stadium in limping out of the postseason in embarrassing fashion. As a matter of fact, the Yankees managed just two extra-base hits, and only two Yankees homered in the four-game series Aaron Judge (2) and Gary Sanchez (2). Giancarlo Stanton, who looked every bit the player who had never played in meaningful games before, was the biggest offender. The $325 million slugger didn't hit a single extra-base hit during the ALDS. The image the Yankee faithful will take into the offseason is Stanton meekly striking out in the bottom of the ninth against Sox closer Craig Kimbrel who pitched as if he had money on the series going the distance.
WHY NO ANDUJAR?
Boone tried to shake up his lineup, but how in the world does Rookie of the Year favorite Miguel Andujar never even get an at-bat with the season on the line in Game 4? Boone opted for Neil Walker at third base to start Tuesday night's game in large part for the veteran's defense. That meant not having the guy who produced a season that featured 27 homers, 92 RBI, a healthy .297 batting average and an OPS of .855. If you are going to go down, go down swinging. The Yankees could never find that big hit these last two days and Andujar sure deserved a chance to put his stamp on the series.