by Paul Semendinger
October 5, 2022
***
About Yesterday:
The Yankees split a double header against the Rangers. The games, themselves, mattered little. The Yankees had already clinched the American League East and a first round playoff bye. The Rangers had locked up a losing season weeks and weeks ago.
But there were some big stories...
The Yankees' win in the first game was their 99th of the year. If they can win today, they will have their 22nd season in team history with 100 wins. (If I recall correctly from the television coverage yesterday, only two other franchises have ten 100 win seasons - the A's and the Dodgers.)
Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of the year. He is now the Single Season All-Time American League Home Run Champion. Amazing
Gerrit Cole struck out his 249th batter of the year to set (and then surpass his record a few times during the game) the Yankees' team record for the most strikeouts in a season. The new Yankees record is now 257.
Oswald Peraza hit his first career home run
Quick Stats:
Gerrit Cole allowed his 33rd home run. That leads the A.L.
Giancarlo Stanton has homered in each of his last three games
The Yankees loss in the second game was only the second time the Yankees have ever lost when Stanton and Judge have homered in the same game. (Per Katie Sharp on Twitter)
The only players in American League history to hit 59 or more homers in a season were all Yankees (Babe Ruth 59 and 60, Roger Maris, 61, Aaron Judge 62).
The Yankees will play the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS beginning October 11.
Aaron Judge is 2nd in the A.L. in batting. Luis Arraez is at .315, Judge is at .311.
My Take:
The last day of the baseball season always makes me a little sad. I love the daily rhythm of baseball. The game, for good or bad, is my constant companion from April into October. I'm excited for the playoffs, but I do love the regular season. I always feel a bit older when the season concludes. Another year has passed.
The second game mattered not at all for stats (except for the records) or the standings, but I am concerned that Gerrit Cole was twice given a lead and he twice gave it up in the immediate next half inning. He has been doing that a lot. A ton. This has been especially true in the last month of the season. Cole must step it up for the playoffs. He needs to be able to hold leads. It's pretty simple - and as the season ended, it's pretty clear he didn't do that well.
There will be a lot of talk here in the coming days about playoff rosters and such. This will be a lively and fun discussion.
I am thrilled Aaron Judge set the home run record for the A.L. He is not the MLB single season record holder. Barry Bonds (love him or hate him or whatever) is. Bonds did what he did. Baseball can't start changing the books. Let's be happy for Judge. He set a huge record. He did it. No one predicated this. No one. It was an amazing season!
If I were Aaron Judge, I'd ask to start today. If I were Aaron Boone, I'd let him. I'd keep Judge in the game as long as he continues to get hits... I'd let him chase the batting title. If he goes 3-for-3 (to start the game), he'll be at .314. Let's have a game like Ted Williams had in 1941 with Judge getting a ton of hits to win the batting title and the Triple Crown!
The Aaron Judge contract is going to be one of the biggest stories of the off-season. Let's hope that decision has to come after a World Series victory.
I hope the Yankees win Game 100 today. That would be amazing.
Next Up:
The season concludes today with a 4:05 p.m. game. Domingo German takes the mound.
