The Yankees backs are up against the wall in Cleveland once again. How did it get to this point?
The Cleveland Guardians are this wonder team that simply get all of those ‘lucky’ hits as a fan you dream about. Many fans started calling the Guardians, ‘The Cleveland Bloopers’
When this best of five game series began on Tuesday, it was Gerrit Cole on the mound that started it off. Since then, the Yankees are winless and now on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention.
As of this moment the Yankees have won the same amount of games in the playoffs as the Dodgers, Braves, and Mets. Yes, those three teams won over 100 games in the regular season and are now sent home in a hurry.
While the Yankees won 99 games this season, many reporters in New York thought this team would easily get past the Guardians. Michael Kay, YES Network broadcaster, said he would be ‘flabbergasted’ if they lost.
Well, they now have to win the next 2 games or else Kay, among many other Yankees fans will be flabbergasted.
Last nights’ loss in Cleveland was difficult for all Yankees fans, but what made it tougher was the statements the players were saying following the loss.
Aaron Boone took questions from reporters about the decision to not being in Clay Holmes when the game was on the line in the 9th inning. Instead of going to Holmes, they went with Clarke Schmidt. Before this year, Schmidt had only 12.2 IP under his belt in the majors.
This year he did appear in 29 games, and 57.2 innings, but nothing compares to the 9th inning with the bases loaded in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Boone’s reasoning was simply “Only wanted to use Holmes in an emergency situation”, which to many fans questioned what does Aaron Boone classify as an emergency? “Extra innings, or no other pitchers left”.
Following Boone’s press conference, Clay Homes also took questions from the media. This is where it gets interesting..
“I woke up today preparing to pitch, like every other day. I felt like I was available to pitch. They asked, and I told them I was good to go.”
These are the stories that change the culture of a team forever. It is extremely rare for a player to throw his manager under the bus when the team is still playing, let alone on the Yankees.
The Yankees brought in Aaron Boone to be a ‘players-manager’, a coach that would defend his players to the media, and protect them. Someone that these players want to play for. After last nights loss, I don’t know if that is the case anymore.
Luis Severino started the game last night, and here is what he said following the loss:
“He’s our closer. So of course I was surprised. I don’t know if he was down. There shouldn’t be people down in the playoffs. That’s something you guys need to ask Boone or Blake to see what was going on there.”
Again, these are the statements that can alter the clubhouse forever. The players need a manager they respect, and want to play for.
Remember what happened the last time the Yankees lost a heartbreaker in Cleveland? It cost Joe Girardi his job. The mistake of not putting Clay Holmes in the game last night, may have cost Aaron Boone’s as well.
The Yankees will turn to their ace in Gerrit Cole once again this series in hopes to push a Game 5 in the Bronx. Can the Yankees pull it off?
