Bronx, N.Y., April 21, 2019; Yankees 7, Kansas City 6 — The Big Maple pitched another brilliant game Sunday afternoon under improving skies, but all he has to show for it is a no-decision and a standing ovation from 40,000 delighted Yankee fans, who would not remain happy for long. James Paxton has now turned in back-to-back 12-strike-out games and has, incredibly, whiffed 24 of the last 49 batters to face him. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 20, 2019; Yankees 9, Kansas City 2 — Genuine lineup or not, the Bronx Bombers lived up to their name in a 9-2 demolition of Kansas City in a cold, damp, but not rainy Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon. They bashed four (five, actually) home runs to back the superb Masahiro Tanaka, who did not need much of that explosion. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 14, 2019; Chisox 5, Yankees 2 — Coming off a well-pitched, and well-played, victory on a glorious warm day in the Bronx on Saturday, it was hard not to be feeling pretty good about ourselves as Yankee fans after the third inning Sunday. With a patched together lineup, the Bombers had managed to eke out a 2-0 lead. Not only had superb righty Masahiro Tanaka retired nine of 10 with six strike outs, but he had done so on just 37 pitches. Conversely, Chicago lefty Carlos Rondon threw 68 and allowed two walks, both of which scored for the only runs of the game. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 13, 2019; Yankees 4, Chisox 0 — With bad news on the injury front almost daily, the Yankees stumbled out of the gate this year, were swept in Houston early this week, and fell to the lowly White Sox Friday night despite having taken a 4-1 lead in the second inning. Injuries have crippled the offense, and the underperformance by their vaunted bullpen has come as a shock. With ace Luis Severino’s absence, the kind of starting performance that could help right the ship has been sorely wanting. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 3, 2019; Detroit 2, Yankees 1 &#151 Ron Guidry had a glorious day in old Yankee Stadium in 1978, the day he whiffed 18 Angels to establish the Yankee record for strike outs in a game. It was an uplifting day in the Bronx, and my recollection is that it was the day the fan practice of standing and applauding once a pitcher had two strikes on the batter originated. Louisiana Lightning has been in the Yankee pantheon for what he did that day, and that year, ever since. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., March 30, 2019; Baltimore 5, Yankees 3 — James Paxton pitched well in his Yankee debut, but not good enough to avoid taking the 5-3 loss. The southpaw throws hard, pounding heat up to 97 mph, mixing in a slider, and a (very) occasional slow curve. He’s a strike thrower; James threw 21 of 24 first pitches for strikes, and 57 strikes and just 24 balls. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., March 28, 2019; Yankees 7, Baltimore 2 — Yankee fans could be forgiven for thinking Thursday’s home opening win was in the bag four batters into the bottom of the first. Staff ace Masahiro Tanaka had held the visiting Orioles off the board, and one-out sharp singles to right field by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton set up a monstrous home run by DH Luke “LUUUKE” Voit on a 3-1 count into Monument Park, 3-0 Yankees. That left fielder Dwight Smith, Jr., had to reach above the fence to corral a following drive from Miguel Andujar added to the certainty. Continue reading →