About Yesterday Afternoon and Last Night: The Yankees Were Swept by the White Sox 3-1 and 5-0
By Tim Kabel
May 23, 2022
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Friday nights are supposed to be exciting; that’s why everyone looks forward to them. My Friday nights are a bit more subdued these days. I am usually writing an article for SSTN. Since the season started, the Friday night games have usually either been rained out or not televised. So, I've either been spending my Friday nights with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, or organizing my sock drawer. Call the retirement home; I’m on my way.
This Friday night’s game was rained out and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader yesterday. The first game was available on Amazon Prime, which I have. I turned it on at 2:30 and of course, I had a big message on my TV screen: “Something went wrong. Please try again later.” I called Amazon, and an earnest young woman, who told me that the game was not available, as Amazon only carries Friday night games, and the next one would be on May 27. I advised her that my TV screen clearly said that the game was available at 2:30 on May 22. She remained insistent on the matter, so I spoke to a manager, who eventually admitted that it was a system error, and technicians would soon fix it after a “slight delay.” I guess at Amazon, “slight delay” means the whole game. The whole situation caused me to emit an Amazon Primal scream
I felt as if I was adrift in a dugout canoe on the actual Amazon, lost in the Wilderness. I had to listen to the game with John and Suzyn. I went from the Wilderness to the Bewilderness. John ridiculed outfielders who jump for balls that land several rows deep in the stands. I wonder if he even recognizes the irony. He also called for a pinch hitter for Jose Trevino until Suzyn gently reminded him that with Kyle Higashioka out with Covid, the Yankees only had one catcher available. He later observed that when you are trailing 3-1, you need 2 runs to tie the game. You miss that type of profound insight when you watch the game on television. The second game was on ESPN, which was not ideal but, at least A-Rod is gone from the booth.
As if the logistics of the day were not frustrating enough, the games themselves were even worse. The Yankees produced nothing offensively all day and lost the doubleheader. It was a day full of missed opportunities and disappointment.
As Archie Bunker used to say to Edith,” You have ruined another Sunday.”
Quick Stats -
The Yankees scored one run all day. You won’t many games that way, let alone double headers.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the bottom of the Yankees’ order was Estevan Florial, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Marwin Gonzalez, and Rob Brantly. That is hardly Murderers’ Row. It is more like Pickpockets’ Parade. However, Gonzalez and Brantly had two of the team’s three hits.
On yesterday's date in Yankees' history, in 1920, construction began on the original Yankee Stadium.
On yesterday’s date in Yankees’ history, in 1963, Mickey Mantle hit a pitch from Kansas City’s Bill Fischer off the right-field façade at Yankee Stadium in an 8-7 victory over the A‘s.
Yesterday was Tommy John’s 79th birthday.
Big Story -
The Yankees had one of those days. They could not get anything going offensively, and the bullpen did not come through in either game. They found out that Chad Green will be out for the season with Tommy John surgery. Aroldis Chapman is struggling and has issues with his left Achilles tendon. It was a day to forget. As the old saying goes, “I should’ve stood in bed.” That goes for the Yankees, too.
Players of the Games -
Jameson Taillon and Luis Severino had dominant efforts in their starts and put the team in a position to win.
Notable Performances -
In the first game, Aaron Judge had three hits, including his 15th home run. He added a double in the nightcap.
Better to Forget-
Pretty much everything besides the starting pitchers and Judge, should be expunged from our memories.
My Take -
This was a day to discard. It is if you were an author writing a story about today. This is a draft you would tear up and start over. These days happen. It's not something to be proud of or happy about but, it is also not a cause for alarm. We don't need to run through the village ringing a bell. Not yet anyway. I know a few of you are out there looking for your bells but, I wouldn't go too far with it. If you want to polish the bell and have it ready just in case, that's fine.
The starting pitching remained excellent. The bullpen struggled a little bit. Jonathan Loaisiga did not have a good day. I'm sure he can right the ship and get back to the way he was last year, or something close to it. Things happen for a reason. The fact that Aroldis Chapman has problems with his Achilles tendon provides some explanation as to why he has not been doing well lately. Perhaps he needs to go on the IL. Perhaps he will just work through it. Either way, it is something tangible that we can understand and accept. I think the most difficult thing for Chapman is that most fans have a very clear, distinct and fresh memory of Mariano Rivera. And Chapman is no Mariano Rivera. That's not his fault, no one is. The bullpen is strong overall. However, the loss of Chad Green could be a major problem but hopefully, they have others who can step into that role. I would like to see Clark Schmidt get more of an opportunity. He's here and he has done well so far, I would expand his role.
Aaron Hicks had two hits today but, is still only batting 200 for the season. At one point, he hit a long foul ball, and Susan was waxing poetic over it because it was the first time he hit a ball that far in a long time. Later, at a key point in the game, he was picked off second base when he fell. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa was also picked off. That was his second base running blunder in the past few days. Mistakes on the base paths are never a good thing but, when you're not a major offensive contributor, and you are seen as someone who is an asset due to your base running, you can ill afford to make mistakes like this. Hicks is becoming more of a liability as the season progresses. He has virtually no power and is becoming a .200 hitting singles hitter. Unless the Yankees acquire someone else to play center field, it may evolve into a situation where Aaron Judge is more or less the full-time centerfielder. I know the team does not want to do that to him and with him but, they may not have a better choice.
The Yankees seem perfectly comfortable carrying two catchers who are excellent defenders and pitch callers. The fact that they do not produce much at all offensively has not been an issue thus far. Kiner-Falefa does contribute enough offensively so that he is an asset to the team. However, he is not the offensive shortstop they had with Didi Gregorius or of course, Derek Jeter.He is a stopgap solution and is more than adequate to fill the position. However, when you're not getting any offense from catcher, and virtually no power from shortstop, you can't also have a center fielder who has one home run and seven RBI. Eventually, that will catch up to the team.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that the Yankees still have the best record in baseball and are in first place. They do have some areas of concern but, I'm sure that one way or another all those areas will be resolved in a positive manner. Let's hope they get back on track against the Orioles tonight.
Next Up -
Today, the Yankees begin a three-game series at home against the Orioles at 7:05 PM. Baltimore's Jordan Lyles (2-4 4.11 ERA) will face Gerrit Cole (4-0 2.89 ERA).
