by Paul Semendinger
August 3, 2023
***
About Last Night:
The Yankees won last night 7-2. Giancarlo Stanton went deep. Anthony Volpe went deep. Gerrit Cole pitched great as did Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes...
As a Yankees fan and blogger, I am at a crossroads...
Quick Stats:
Gerrit Cole: 7ip, 4 hits, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts
Tommy Kahnle: 1 ip, 3 strikeouts
Clay Holmes: 1 ip, 2 strikeouts
Gleyber Torres: 3-for-4, 2 runs
IKF: 1-for 3, 2 runs, 1 walk
Anthony Volpe: 3-for-4, Homer (#14)
Giancarlo Stanton: 2-for-4, Homer (#!5)
Big Story:
After losing the first two games of the series, the Yankees came back and won the final game. The Rays have not been playing their best baseball of late. They went just 8-16 in July.
The Yankees needed a win, and they went out, behind their ace, and got it done. Of note, the Rays went up 2-0 in the first inning. There was every reason for the Yankees to pack it in at that point. But, they did not. They battled back and won an impressive game.
Player(s) of the Game:
Gerrit Cole
Anthony Volpe
Better to Forget:
Today we are going to celebrate the win!
My Take:
As a fan, I am at a crossroads and, as I listened to last night's game, I crossed the Rubicon. (Only I went a direction opposite of what most readers might imagine.)
It is no secret that I am down on the Yankees, from top to bottom. These last few weeks, there was part of me that was somewhat glad they kept losing because I felt it was the only way they would sell to make the team better for the future. There is a lot wrong with the Yankees right now, we could be looking at years of bad baseball, and a sell-off at the trade deadline could have helped. I was rooting hard (because it was the right move) for a sell-off.
The Yankees did nothing, as we know, and here we are...
There is still part of me that believes that a terrible second half and a last place finish might force the Yankees to make the necessary changes to correct the mess they are in. I always felt Brian Cashman was a good GM, until recently. I now believe he lost his effectiveness. I have never believed in Aaron Boone. (He's never given me reason to believe in him.) On and on... I have to wonder - if the Yankees end up under .500, might the rebuild actually begin?
But, now that the trade deadline has passed and the Yankees went their way, much opposed to the direction I would have taken this team, as I listened to the game, as balls went "high and far and gone," I still took joy in hearing the good things that were happening. It was fun listening to the Yankees winning. (That needs to be repeated.)
It was fun listening to the Yankees winning.
I could watch and listen to the Yankees and be miserable the rest of the season, or I can "root, root root for the Yankees," knowing that if they don't win, it's a shame...
And, even though I sincerely believe that the best thing for the future of this franchise is for the 2023 team to crash and sink and flounder and struggle (etc.), I decided that since this is what we have, since this is what the team is, while I'll still be critical and honest (I have a GM article coming at 10:00 today), I am going to enjoy the games and the winning (hopefully it is often).
I can't spend the second half of the season hoping for the worst. On the other hand, I am also not going to hope for a miracle. The Yankees aren't winning anything this year. I am realistic. But, I'm going to hope for wins, and when they come, like last night... I'll enjoy them.
Let's Go Yankees!
Next Up:
The Houston Astros come to the Bronx...
Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Clarke Schmidt gets the start.
(We might be waiting a while for the next win...)
