LET’S KICK SOME A’S
Boone gambles with Luis, even after last year’s Wild Card meltdown
SEVY TO START DO-OR-DIE WILD CARD GAME — SEE SPORTS
Aaron Boone didn’t take the easy way out. Heading into his first playoff game in his first season as the Yankees manager, Boone went with his gut in naming Luis Severino the starter for tonight’s American League Wild Card Game.
“A lot of guys had input on the decision and had reasons why one way or the other. I just kind of took all that information and slept on it, and felt like at some point Sunday is when I decided for sure that I wanted to go with Sevy in this game,” Boone said Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. “And that’s where we’re at with it.”
Severino was the surprise choice and, quite frankly, not the easy choice. So with this one, Boone is gambling on his gut instincts. Considering his inconsistencies this season, Severino is a boom or bust decision.
The logical choice was J.A. Happ.
The 35-year-old lefty was lined up to pitch on regular rest tonight. He’s been the Yankees’ best pitcher the past two months, since they acquired him from the Blue Jays. In 11 starts for the Yankees, Happ is 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA. He also beat the A’s last month, holding them to one run over six innings.
Happ will be on the roster in case there is a repeat of Severino’s implosion in last year’s wild-card game.
Most likely, despite the talk about not looking ahead, however, Happ will be saved to start the first game of a potential AL division series against the Red Sox. Masahiro Tanaka, who has proven to be a big-game pitcher, will also be on the roster in case of a disaster.
So, Boone didn’t make this big gamble without hedging his bet a little.
“I just feel like it covers us in a lot of different scenarios. Only going with 10 pitchers, obviously, in that scenario we have guys that are capable of giving us significant length, if we needed to, if we got into an extra-inning situation,” Boone said. “As far as with Sevy, hopefully he pitches deep into this game, and if he’s pitching well, he’ll have that kind of opportunity.
“But obviously with our bullpen and what we’ll have available at our disposal, we’ll also be very aggressive in making moves or trying to set up the best matchups, depending on the game.”
That translates into Severino having a very short leash. Not only did he wither in last year’s wildcard game, allowing three runs and recording one out before being Yanked, but he lasted just 2.2 innings against this A’s last month. Severino said he was probably “too excited” in last year’s game and there were miscommunication issues with Gary Sanchez in last month’s loss.
“I think he’s equipped in so many ways to handle this,” Boone said, citing Severino’s ability to work past his struggles. “And perhaps most importantly, he’s equipped with amazing stuff and the ability to dominate big-league hitters because he’s such a talented pitcher.”
Going on seven days rest, Severino will quickly have to prove that he has his fastball command and a working slider. He had it in his first 18 starts when he looked like a Cy Young candidate, pitching to a 1.98 ERA with a .195 batting average against. He lost it for two months, pitching to a 6.83 ERA and allowing 13 home runs in 55.1 innings.
“I’ve been missing my spots lately, a couple fastballs and sliders, but the last three or four outings, I’ve been feeling better, the command, change-up and the slider have been good,” Severino said. “Like I say, I don’t feel tired. If I struggled in the past, it was because I was losing my command.”
In his last three starts of the regular season, Severino allowed four earned runs over 17.1 innings, did not allow a home run and struck out 18. With the potential for a fastball that can touch 100 miles an hour and the wipeout slider he featured in the first half, that was enough for Boone to roll the dice.
“I guess in a way I’m going with what I believe . . . and what I believe is when he’s pitching his best, he’ll be the best pitcher on the field tomorrow,” Boone said. “And I feel like he’s ready for this opportunity.”