About Last Night: The Yankees Were Crumbled by the Rockies 3-2

About Last Night: The Yankees Were Crumbled by the Rockies 3-2

By Tim Kabel

May 24, 2025

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The Yankees went into Colorado with the second-best record in the American League. They were facing the Rockies who had won eight games out of their first fifty. Yet, the Yankees managed to lose the first game of the three-game series to the Rockies. For at least one night, the Rockies were the better team. Of course that can happen anytime in any season. However, this was a game the Yankees should have won. After the game, Aaron Boone trotted out his usual malarkey by saying, “We were close.” I believe the reporters who interview Aaron Boone after games should receive hazardous duty pay.

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Quick Stats – 

·       Aaron Judge hit his first home run at Coors Field.

·       Clarke Schmidt lasted just 4.2 innings and gave up 3 earned runs.  

·       The Yankees only had 2 hits in their last 25 at bats, Aaron Judge’s home run and Jasson Dominguez’s single.

·       The Yankees were hitless against the Rockies’ bullpen. 

·       For perspective, the Rockies at 8-42, had the worst start over 50 games in the modern era (since 1901).  Only the 1895 Louisville Colonels had a worse start. My friend Roger was a season ticket holder for the Colonels.

·       Tim Hill has given up three home runs this year.  That is how many he surrendered all last season.

·       Ryan McMahon was 4-10 in his career against Tim Hill. One would think that Aaron Boone and the analytics department would have known that. Except, Hill was brought in specifically to face him and McMahon hit a two-run double to give the Rockies the lead they would never give up.

·       On May 23rd, 2019, Mariano Rivera pitched, caught a ball in centerfield, and hit an inside-the-park home run in an Old Timers’ Day Game. I would have preferred to watch a replay of that game than the one I saw last night.

Big Story – 

The Yankees lost a game they should have won last night. There is nothing that can be done about that. However, they need to win the next two games to win the series. There is no excuse for not doing that, particularly with Max Fried pitching today.

If the Yankees come back to win this series and have a winning road trip, last night's loss will be easy to forget. If they don't, it might be remembered as the beginning of the 2025 Boone-Swoon. 

Player of the Game – 

Aaron Judge had two of the Yankees’ five hits, including his 17th homerun of the season.

Notable Performances – 

Jasson Dominguez had a single, a walk, and a stolen base. He also made an excellent defensive play in left field. Unfortunately, there were two other opportunities where Dominguez could have stolen bases but presumably, was not allowed to do so, including a potential double steal with Anthony Volpe in the fourth inning, prior to Austin Wells hitting into a double play.

Brent Headrick pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his return to the Major Leagues.

Better To Forget-

That we all gave up two hours and twenty minutes of our lives to watch this mess. 

My Take – 

Let’s say you go to a museum with someone, and they look at a painting and say, “I see man's inhumanity against man and the timeless struggle of the oppressed to overcome against the backdrop of eternal hope and joy that is just waiting to burst forth.” Meanwhile, you look at the same painting and see a bear standing underneath a pine tree in a snowstorm.

Alternatively, let's say you sit down and have a glass of bourbon with that same friend. They tell you that they detect notes of bosc pears, charred cedar wood and Tahitian vanilla. You taste bourbon.  Well, that's how I feel when I listen to Aaron Boone deliver one of his postgame press conferences. Not only did he say that the Yankees were close last night, but he also stated that he likes the quality of Trent Grisham’s at bats lately. He also recently stated that it's good to have DJ LeMahieu back performing so well. Newsflash: DJ LeMahieu is batting .190 since he made his triumphant return to the Major Leagues. 

Boone also hinted very recently that Giancarlo Stanton is very close to returning. I heard an interview yesterday in which Boone stated that it's possible that Stanton could return by the end of the month. The end of the month is next week. Stanton hasn't played a single minor league rehab game. Yet, when asked about Jazz Chisholm, Jr.’s return, Boone brushed it off and indicated that it is not imminent. I would bet everything I own that Chisholm will be back before Stanton. Boone spent more time yammering about his matchup against his brother, who is now the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers than he did providing any useful information about the team. He always finds a way to make himself the center of the story. 

This is Aaron Boone’s eighth season as Yankees’ manager. He has led the Yankees to one World Series, which they lost. His warped perceptions of reality, particularly when it comes to washed-up veteran players is one of his most consistent features. When my visiting nurses come out to check the recovery of my leg, they always take my blood pressure. It is always perfect. However, the caveat to that is I have never listened to an Aaron Boone press conference or interview while the nurses were at my home. Had I done so, I'm sure I would have been transported to the local hospital immediately. 

As fans, we know that Boone is peddling nonsense as if he were a fishmonger with a wheelbarrow full of fetid oysters. Yet, he expects us to happily purchase those oysters and shove them down our gullets. Eventually, this must come to an end. Something has to give. Since I do not believe that Aaron Boone will ever lead the Yankees to a World Series victory, that means that someday, we will see an end to the farce that he is thrusting upon the fan base.

Next Up-

The Yankees will play the second game of a three-game series against the Rockies today at 4:10 PM at Coors Field. Kyle Freeland, (0-6, 5.68 ERA) will pitch for Colorado. The Yankees will send Max Fried, (6-0, 1.29 ERA) to the mound. Morgan Freeman might have a better chance than Freeland.