Bronx, N.Y., October 18, 2017; Yankees 5, Houston 0 — Although I’m of a mind to talk about all the young bats in the rejuvenated Yankee lineup, I would be remiss were I not to give credit where it is due: The uncontested star of this evening’s 5-0 win over visiting Houston in Game 5 of the ALCS was the superb Masahiro Tanaka, who used nine ground ball outs and eight strike outs to stifle the Astros offense through seven dominant frames. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., October 17, 2017; Yankees 6, Houston 4 — Righthanders Lance McCullers and Sonny Gray matched five-inning one-hitters in Game 4 of the ALCS in Yankee Stadium Wednesday evening, setting up a game much like the two 1-run contests the Astros had won in Houston to start the series. When, in the top of the sixth, a rare play that has been much in the pinstripers’ favor the last few years — a catcher’s interference by Yankee backstop Austin Romine on Josh Reddick — set the ‘stros up for a big inning, first baseman Yuli Gurriel delivered a three-run double off reliever David Robertson. At 3-0 down, then 4-0 after an unearned run in the seventh, one had the feeling that had this taken place in Houston, the Yankees would be down three games to one. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., October 16, 2017; Yankees 8, Houston 1 — That the Yankees plated two runs in the fourth inning Monday night on their third infield single of the game and a wild pitch might lead you to believe that their offensive malaise remained in place, but not once you consider that those tallies were sandwiched between two 3-run home runs. CC Sabathia went six strong for the win, and the home team cashed in an 8-1 victory, and now trail the Astros in the seven-game ALCS, two games to one. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., October 8, 2017; Yankees 1, Cleveland 0 — It was a hopeful, nervous, but mostly disgruntled fanbase that showed up at Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the ALDS Sunday night. With their team down 2-0 in games and on the cusp of elimination,, virtually to a person the crowd believed that the Yankee players had earned a split their manager had deprived them of in Cleveland, and there were mixed emotions all around. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., October 12, 2012 – What can you say after watching your team score in four of 25 innings over two days, and on the third day a guy whom you refuse to believe is the second coming of, well, name your all-time righty ace, has retired 12 of 12 through four? If you’re not feeling the panic that is gripping my fingers even now as I type this afterward, given the scene as set, you may not be a baseball fan, or, well, never mind. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., October 10, 2012 – The agony that can be postseason baseball was visited upon Yankee Stadium Wednesday night. Questions about the weather dissipated throughout the day, but doubts about the second-half Yankee offense persisted, right up until the “last” moment. Continue reading →

Bronx, New York, October 1, 2011 – Well, it took 26 hours and 55 minutes, four “starting” pitchers and two entrances to (and exits from) the Stadium, but the Yankees have finally taken the first game of their 2011 ALDS battle against the Tigers. The game was halted by a monsoon Friday night, and rains threatened to mess with the Saturday restart as well, but as it turned out all the fans and players had to contend with was bone-chilling cold. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., September 30, 2011 – Why should the postseason be any different than the regular season? Rain, rain, go away…

Bronx, N.Y., October 20, 2010 — The Yanks survived with a 7-2 win in ALCS Game 5 Wednesday, so I guess it follows that CC Sabathia was his automatic self and just mowed the visitors down. Well, not exactly. Continue reading →