Regression for Girardi’s gang was inevitable
BALTIMORE — Three weeks prior, Joe Girardi had sat in a different visiting dugout, that of Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and (very) subtly issued a freeze warning.
“You know, .700 baseball is a really high clip. I get that,” the Yankees manager said on May 9, before the Yankees, 21-9 at that juncture, concluded a two-game set with the Reds. “But I told you coming out of spring training that I like this team, and I still like them.”
The Yankees proceeded to lose that night, and three of the next four at home to the Astros, so they haven’t been a .700 team since Girardi showed off his math skills. After roughing up the Orioles on Tuesday night, 8-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, they are a modest 9-10 in their past 19 games.
Only time can answer the question of whether we’re witnessing a simple market correction Girardi projected or something more foreboding. The Yankees believe it’s the former, and the statistical and anecdotal evidence rests in their favor.
“I think during the course of the season, you’re going to go through that. Or you’re going to end up with 120 wins, and that hasn’t happened,” Girardi said Tuesday before the game. “That’s the bottom line. I still like the way we’re playing. We’re still in every game. We have a chance every game. So I still like it. We just haven’t been as hot as we were before.”
Then his guys went out and beat up on O’s starter Chris Tillman and former Met Logan Verrett, with Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday homering twice apiece as Luis Severino turning in another terrific start.
“I’m happy that I’m contributing to a team that’s in first place,” Holliday said.
Back at 21-9, the Yankees stood on pace for 113 wins, ridiculously rare air that has humbled all besides three teams (the 1906 Cubs, the 2001 Mariners and Girardi’s 1998 Yankees) in the game’s history. Now, at 30-19, they ride a track en route to a still elite 99-63. And they still lead the American League East.
Holliday’s 2015 Cardinals started their schedule 22-8, a record 119-victory pace (the ’06 Cubs and ’01 Mariners share the mark with 116 wins). Over the course of the season, they slowed down to a still-superb 100-62 mark before getting eliminated by the Cubs in the National League Division Series.
“It’s almost impossible to keep the pace,” said Holliday, the Yankees’ oldest player. “As long as everybody shows up every day with the same attitude to go out and compete, if the talent’s good enough, you’ll be where you’ll want to be.”
Prior to his mash bash Tuesday, Holliday had contributed to the recent slowdown, as had Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius and Chase Headley. They all offered encouraging signs Tuesday in the Yankees’ 14-hit barrage, and Gregorius, hit in his left hand by a Richard Bleier ninth-inning pitch, said X-rays had revealed no issue.
“I think the overall feel on this team is we’re playing good baseball,” said setup man Tyler Clippard, who picked up the final four outs Tuesday. “Even the games we’re losing, we’re in all of them. Have chances to win all of them. We understand as a team that’s the game. So there’s never been a point in the season where we haven’t felt confident, and we haven’t lost that.”
During this 9-10 stretch, the Yankees have outscored their opponents, 87-83, giving you what you need to know: Their offense has slowed down a little, and they’re losing a few more close games, as Clippard said. But in general, when you outscore your opponents over extended periods, good results are the rule.
None of this precludes a stronger downfall. However, if you’re looking for red flags in the Yankees’ tumble from Mount Olympus to a penthouse apartment, you’re going to be searching for a while. The Yankees seem perfectly comfortable with the current downgrade.