ALDS Saturday: Getting Ready For Game 2 – Perspectives

Game one didn’t go as I had hoped. Here are some reflections and perspectives.

Giancarlo Stanton had a bad game. He has had plenty of them this year. I do not believe that means he isn’t “clutch.” Plenty of “clutch” players have had bad games. Plenty of “clutch” players have had bad series. All that being said, I do feel that he hasn’t been himself for much of the season. As I watch him at bat, it seems, quite often, that he doesn’t recognize a lot of pitches. He seems to guess a lot and when he guesses wrong, he looks bad. I still think he’ll do fine this series.

The Yankees should be confident against David Price. If they don’t beat him, they probably won’t win the series. In his last 12 post season starts, David Price’s team is 2-10.

I have said all year that I think Brett Gardner isn’t nearly the player he once was. That being said, I think he will have a solid game tonight if starting over the possibly injured Aaron Hicks.

JA Happ didn’t have it last night. That doesn’t mean he won’t be good the next time out against the Sox. I would still start him in Game 5 (if necessary).

Why the Yankees stop hitting with the bases loaded is beyond me. That’s been a problem all year long.

I still think Andrew McCutchen will go deep. It would be great to see him lead-off the game with a homer tonight.

I am very confident in Masahiro Tanaka tonight. I hope my confidence is rewarded with a solid outing.

I would have rather the Yankees won both games in Fenway, boy would that have been great! But if a team takes one of two to begin a post-season series, they are usually in good shape.

I hate waiting all day for a baseball game after a big loss. I wish the game started now.

Let’s go Yankees.