Tag: new-york-yankees

MLB World Series: Another Disappointment

Of course the most painful game was the one that ended the latest. It was slightly after midnight when the Los Angeles Dodgers put the finishing touches on a World Series Championship and celebrated in the house of the New York Yankees. The only good news about this outcome is that I actually get to have more than six hours of sleep. The bad news? It will be extremely difficult to get this Series loss out of my head. After all, this is the fourth straight year that the Yankees’ season has ended in embarrassing fashion.

I’m pretty sure Brian Cashman’s job is safe. Photo from the New York Times

Ryan and I were texting throughout the entirety of Game 5, long after everyone else went to sleep. To say Ryan was unhappy is a major understatement. He waited all his life to see his most favorite team play for a championship. The result he got, particularly in the clinching game, was nothing short of disgusting. From the pulling of Gerrit Cole in Game 1, to the final whiff of Alex Verdugo, it felt as though the Yankees were a JV team compared to the Dodgers fielding a varsity squad. As much as he tries to love Aaron Judge, him striking out in nearly half of his playoff at bats gives him pause on judging (no pun intended) how to rate this team since 2017. Despite the payroll, despite the talent, the franchise has consistently come up short when it mattered most. In case you have forgotten, this is how each of the last four years have ended:

2021-Wild card blowout vs. the Red Sox

2022-Swept in the ALCS vs. the Astros (lost the clincher at home)

2023-No playoffs, 82-80 record

2024-Lost the World Series in five games (again, lost the clincher at home)

Some of you reading this might say, “But at least they get to the playoffs almost every year. Most teams would kill for that”. Sorry, that’s not good enough. Talk to fans of the Milwaukee Brewers who have made the playoffs five out of the last six years with nothing to show for it. Ask Caitlyn. Do you think she is thrilled with the Phillies coming up short three straight seasons? Making the World Series in 2022 was great but these last two years have ended in frustration. Do you think those fans feel lucky?

I have my own feelings about what needs to happen to next. I don’t want to say them out loud yet because I could change my mind next week. One thing I do know is that the status quo cannot remain the same. If that means Brian Cashman and/or Aaron Boone are relived of their duties, then so be it. Their pairing as a team was good but ultimately fell short of what every Yankee fan should experience: a World Series championship.

MLB World Series: One Kid Left Standing

This post meant to come out earlier in the week. However, life occasionally gets in the way of my little writing treats. So, it really doesn’t matter that the World Series has already played a classic game and that the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a 1-0 lead over the New York Yankees. The confidence that Ryan and I both have for the Yankees to ultimately prevail in the Fall Classic remains unshaken. The most important footnote to all this is that out of my three children that had a playoff rooting interest, Ryan is the only one that remains.

Friday was not the last we see of Gerrit Cole. Photo from Sports Illustrated

Because of the gap between the end of the LCS and the beginning of the World Series., it feels as though Caitlyn has been without a team for about two months. She tells me each morning that she wishes the Phillies were playing right now. She half-jokingly says that the Phillies gave up and they are chasing the bag. Opening Day for her can’t come quickly enough. As for Matthew, he couldn’t have been more depressed about how the Mets’ season ended. However, he at least got to see the final game at Citi Field in 2024 end with a victory. He said during the week he was very happy with the season. He keeps saying that the Mets have so many decisions to make but is still optimistic for 2025.

As for Ryan, I am extremely happy to see he finally got a chance to see his favorite team play for a championship. The only drawback for me is that he will be 140 miles away at school during the course of the series. Despite the disastrous loss, his reaction surprised me a little bit. I thought he would lose faith and predict a Dodgers’ victory. However, he assured me there is still a lot of baseball left and was still big on a Yankees’ victory. I’ll take my cue from him. Yankees in 6.

MLB Playoffs: Subway Series Dreams Are Far From Dead

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in more ways than one. The sun is shining and for the first time in a week the temperature will hit 70 degrees. Perhaps nothing is more beautiful than knowing that the dreams of all New Yorkers are still very much alive. The Mets gave Citi Field one more party in 2024 with their 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers while the Yankees showed more resiliency with their 8-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians. We in New York get one more weekend of full baseball, one more chance to get both of our teams in the World Series, much to the chagrin of MLB executives and Fox.

Gleyber Torres has been a big time playoff performer. Photo from Sports Illustrated

First, let’s look at the easy road. The Yankees will be in the World Series. As difficult as the Guardians are as an opponent, the Yanks have proven to be just a shade better. Cleveland’s renowned bullpen, and Emmanuel Clase in particular, has faltered just enough to give New York the edge. New York’s bullpen has been a little bit better, despite Luke Weaver giving up a big home run in Game 3. Giancarlo Stanton has proven to be a playoff difference maker with his home runs in big spots. Gleyber Torres has left his regular season woes in the rearview mirror. There is a chance Carlos Rodon doesn’t pitch quite as well in Game 5 as he did in Game 1, potentially allowing the Guardians to extend the series. However, Gerrit Cole will certainly fare better than his Game 2 performance, launching his team into the World Series.

It won’t be easy for the Mets. Not only do they have to win consecutive road games to clinch, but they are playing against a club that has looked great while also displaying their own brand of resolve. The Dodgers were a game away from elimination in the previous round against a hot San Diego Padres team and won two straight to advance to this round. Although the Mets’ three losses look like lopsided scores, they really were in every game. A big problem has been their inability to score with runners on base. Nothing epitomizes that more than their bases loaded, no out situation in the sixth inning of Game 4. they failed to score a single run. Credit must be given to the Dodgers’ staff for working out of those jams. However, if you are a championship ballclub, your lineup needs to push runs across the plate. I really believe that the Mets hitters will turn those missed opportunities into runs. The question is, can the Met pitching keep the potent Dodgers’ lineup down just enough to get a lead to Edwin Diaz?

The Yankees will be playing at this time next week. The Mets, that is less certain. It is going to be a big hill to climb. Have faith, New York baseball fans. At this time next week, both of our teams will be preparing for Game 1 of the World Series.

New York Yankees: Ryan Needs to See the Mountaintop

For seven, long seasons Ryan has waited for a moment like this. It’s not the first American League Championship Series he will have seen his New York Yankees play. However, this ALCS represents the best chance the Yankees have had to reach the World Series since he became a fan. New York is the clear favorite this time around; however the Cleveland Guardians are not to be taken lightly. Jose Ramirez is one of the best players in baseball and their bullpen is better and deeper than it was when these teams met in the ALDS two seasons ago. Still, as I’ve told this to Ryan (and everyone else) since August: if not now, when?

It’s all set up for Aaron Boone and the Yankees to win the ALCS. Photo from Yanksgoyard

Ryan is excited but pessimistic. I can’t blame him. Year after year they (for the most part) make the playoffs and then inevitably lose (usually to the Astros). You can talk about Yankee tradition all you want, 27 World Series titles, countless icons of the game, 32 straight winning seasons, on and on and on. However, what does all that tradition mean to him? He hasn’t seen one of those titles. The best player of his generation, Aaron Judge, routinely underperforms at this time of year. The manager who got them the farthest out of any of these playoff runs, Joe Girardi, is no longer here. They haven’t made the World Series in 15 years, one year short of their longest stretch without playing for a championship. There is only so much, “hey this time it will be different” that I can tell him. This has to be the year the Yankees win the ALCS.

Carlos Rodon will be starting Game 1 of the series. Given how his start in the last round went, do you think Ryan (or any Yankee fan) is happy right now? The team is good enough to overcome any potential deficit against the Guardians. I am rooting as hard for the Yankees in this round as I have at any point in my life. After all, my eldest son deserves some good fortune with his baseball team.

MLB in October: More Than Just the Postseason

I get it, the Major League Baseball playoffs are a big deal. This is what every player dreams of, fighting for the chance to win a World Series. However, there are many more teams whose seasons have concluded and are now focusing on 2025. For those fans who love baseball but just can’t bear to watch the postseason without their favorite team, there is still competitive baseball being played. In fact, even the teams still left in the playoffs have a vested interest in this “other” baseball currently in action.

Austin Wells is one of many guys who have played in the AFL. Photo from Sports Illustrated

The Arizona Fall League was formed in 1992 with the purpose of giving all Major League organizations a chance to take a longer look at a certain group of prospects. The AFL consists of six teams, with MLB clubs sending seven (or more) prospects each to form the league. Play for 2024 began on October 7th and will wrap up the season with a championship game on November 16th. It also features a Home Run Derby on November 8th and an All Star Game on November 9th. The list of players to play in the AFL reads like a laundry list of All-Stars and even some Hall of Famers like Derek Jeter. Prominent current players from our respective teams that have participated include Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the players from each of our teams who are getting extended paying time in Arizona. Team names of the respective AFL squads are in parenthesis.

New York Yankees (Salt River Rafters): Harrison Cohen (RHP), Jackson Fristoe (LHP), Ryan Harvey (RHP), Carlos Lagrange (RHP), Luis Pacheco (RHP), Rafael Flores (C), Caleb Durbin (SS), and Garrett Martin (RF)

Cohen was 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA at three Minor League levels, finishing up by dominating at High Class A Hudson Valley. Fristoe started 12 games at Hudson Valley, pitching to a 3/79 ERA and holding opponents to a .201 batting average. Harvey signed as an undrafted free agent and started 12 games for Class A Tampa. Lagrange is 21 and is 6-7, pitching nine games total at Rookie ball and Tampa. Pacheco pitched at three different levels in 2024, finishing at Double A Somerset. Flores is only 17 and stole 19 bases 49 Rookie ball games. Durbin spent much of the year at Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, posting a .394 on base percentage. Martin slugged 12 home runs at Hudson Valley.

New York Mets (Scottsdale Scorpions) : Noah Hall (RHP), Jonathan Pintaro (RHP), Jawilme Ramirez (RHP), Dylan Ross (RHP), Jett Williams (SS), and Drew Gilbert (CF)

Hall started the season with High Class A Brooklyn but was injured early and did not pitch after April 26. Pintaro, who finished with a 2.68 ERA, worked his way up the ladder in 2024, landing at Triple A Syracuse for his final start of the year. Ramirez also ended up in Syracuse at season’s end, recording a 3.58 ERA. Ross had his season wrecked by injury, pitching in only one game. Williams, the Mets’ #1 pick in 2022, hit .364 in 22 at-bats at Syracuse. Gilbert, the #2 organizational prospect, hit .205 at Syracuse.

PS-Jeff McNeil is also on the AFL roster, presumably to get at bats in anticipation of being added to the NLCS roster.

Philadelphia Phillies (Glendale Desert Dogs): Tristan Garnett (LHP), Griff McGarry (LHP), Christian McGowan (RHP), Wesley Moore (LHP), Andrew Painter (RHP), Wen-Hui Pan (RHP), Jordan Dissin (C), Otto Kemp (3B), Bryan Rincon (SS), and Gabriel Rincones, Jr. (OF)

The 6-6 Garnett climbed the ladder, ending at Triple A Lehigh Valley, and struck out 56 batters in 41 innings. McGary recorded 40 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings at Lehigh Valley. McGowan was injured off and on, pitching in 11 games at Double A Reading. In two Minor League seasons, Moore has posted a 2.33 ERA in 70 games. Painter, the Phillies’ #1 prospect missed all of 2023 and 2024 with Tommy John surgery. Pan registered a 1.29 ERA in 14 games at High Class A Jersey Shore. Dissin registered .354 OBP between Single A and Double A. Kemp played at four different levels in 2024, with 16 home runs and a .392 OBP. Rincon struggled in 2024, spending ten weeks on the injured list. Rincones, Jr has 26 home runs in 188 Minor League games.

I will be periodically checking in on these players until the AFL seasons ends.

MLB Playoffs: Checking in on the Family Vibe

I write this in anticipation of the New York Yankees clinching their divisional series against the Kansas City Royals this evening. I’ve checked in with Ryan today who, like most Yankee fans is waiting for the bats to wake up. As far as the other two kids go, well, their series is over. The New York Mets next play on Sunday vs. either the San Diego Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies next play a game in 2025, a fact that Caitlyn is trying to come to grips with.

Giancarlo Stanton is the best Yankee in the playoffs. Photo from Sports Illustrated

I knew this would be a really hard week. Someone has to win and someone has to lose, but knowing that didn’t make it better with the realization that one of my kids would be sad. At the end of each game, no matter who won, Caitlyn and Matthew would shake hands and say, “good game” to one another. It speaks to their excellent character and their love for one another. I firmly believe that if it is the Yankees playing the Mets in the World Series, Ryan and Matthew will exhibit the same affection for one another.

On to the three teams:

Yankees: It’s amazing how much Giancarlo Stanton can disappear in the regular season only to become the Yanks’ best hitter during the playoffs. It happened in 2022 and it is happening again now. Aaron Judge is slumping once again and the barbs regarding this on Ryan’s texts continue. His confidence level is not great but he believes that with just enough offense tonight New York moves on. He might even put in a good word for Gleyber Torres if they win. Ryan will be home next weekend so it represents a great chance to get his facial expression on either a Yankee victory or a Yankee face plant.

Phillies: Well, Caitlyn’s greatest fear came true. A regression from World Series in 2022 to NLCS in 2023 to NLDS in 2024 materialized in the most painful way possible. Now she is convinced they will lose in the Wild Card round next year and then miss the playoffs for the next ten years. I told her that as long as Bryce Harper is around, that will not happen. She doesn’t want them to win the division next year given the track record of division winners in the divisional round. I countered that the Mets were the best team in baseball since June 1. The first goal any team makes is win the division. All is not lost in 2024. I told her to pay attention to the Phillies’ prospects in the Arizona Fall League.

Mets: I suspect that Matthew would have celebrated a little bit more had the Mets beaten a team other than the Phillies. He said that he felt bad for Caitlyn as he knows what she is feeling. With that said, he is amped for Sunday. He would like the Dodgers to beat the Padres Friday as he believes San Diego is the better team. It’s a good thing there is no school Monday as Game 1 will begin at 8:15 PM EST. I think for as long as the Mets are in the playoffs, he can breeze past his bedtime to watch the finish of each game. Just think, the last time the Mets made it this far, he was 4. It’s now official: everyone in my family will have seen at least one League Championship Series with their favorite team playing.

Do You Remember the New York Yankees?

There has been so much excitement around here for the last week involving the New York Mets that the other New York baseball team seems to be have been overlooked. Yes, the Yankees won their first playoff game last night, defeating the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-5. But now they get another day off before resuming their series Monday night. So now that they have played exactly one game in a week, it almost seems like they are coming back from Japan after playing an exhibition game.

Gerrit Cole finally pitched on Saturday. It felt like forever. Photo from the Sporting News.

We got the chance to see Ryan this weekend so it made for a doubly good opportunity to see the Yankees play Game 1. However, though the Yanks won, some of the things Ryan fears about this team popped up during the game. Aaron Judge struck out three times. Gerrit Cole was shaky. Anthony Volpe committed a huge error. Needless to say, the victory did not stir a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings for the boy. I look at it as a Game 1 victory and now they are ready to drop the hammer on the Royals the next two games. But again, it doesn’t even feel like they are part of the playoffs. The Mets and Phillies just finished an instant classic with their Game 2. Meanwhile, the Yankees sit idle once again and now I ask the question. Did they really win last night?

It doesn’t get much better. The Yanks and Royals will get another off day for travel after tomorrow’s game and potentially another one if the series goes five games. This isn’t an MLB playoff series, it feels more like an NBA playoff series. This is supposed to be the most exciting time of the baseball calendar. For a team sharing the same city as the exciting Mets, the Yankees feel like an afterthought.

New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals: Back to the (Really) Old Days

I must have been on to something. On June 11 of this year, I wrote (you can read here) about the baseball rivalry that I missed. Well, it turns out that I am getting what I wished for. The Kansas City Royals will be taking on the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series after dispatching the Baltimore Orioles in two straight games. With the way baseball is now, it is hard to imagine these two teams meeting in the playoffs four times in five years. However, one thing this series will have in common with the others is that it is a best of five round.

Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt, Jr revive a dormant rivalry. Photo from NY Post.

The years were 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980. The three series that took place in the 70’s were won by the Yankees while the 1980 affair was a Royals’ sweep. Not only were there great players up and down both teams, but each series had at least two memorable moments or games that made this rivalry special. Unfortunately for me, I am not quite old enough to say, “I remember the Chris Chambliss series ending homer” in 1976 or, “Did you see the Nettles-Brett brawl at third base last night?” in 1977. The only memories I have are from 1980 which saw (A) George Steinbrenner leaving in disgust after Willie Randolph got thrown out at home plate in Game 2 and (B) George Brett‘s moonshot off Goose Gossage in Game 3 to finally slay the Yankee dragon. It’s interesting to note is that while the teams largely remained the same through all four series, many big name players missed one or more clashes. Reggie Jackson didn’t get to the Yankees until 1977, Goose Gossage in 1978. Ron Guidry didn’t pitch in 1976 while Willie Wilson was a bit player in 1977. Dan Quisenberry did not get into the KC bullpen until 1980. Tragically, Thurman Munson did not live to 1980.

Maybe because of color TV and better sound quality, watching highlights from that era doesn’t seem that far removed. However, when you look at the years and then do the math, you realize that their first meeting was 48 YEARS AGO! Who are this year’s comparable players? Bobby Witt is George Brett. Aaron Judge is Thurman Munson. Juan Soto is Reggie Jackson. Seth Lugo is Dennis Leonard. Will this year’s games match the intensity from another era? Tune in for a rivalry renewed, 44 years in the making.

No Party Like a Lynch Baseball Party

It took all the way until game 161 but all three teams in the Lynch household have made the playoffs. The New York Mets’ incredible 8-7 victory against the Atlanta Braves in Monday’s opening game was one for the ages. It is too bad I was stuck at work missing arguably the most exciting game of the year (thank goodness for MLB At Bat). For the second time in three years, it will be a playoff party in our house with the Mets, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies all playing in the postseason. Though the Mets lost early two years ago, Matthew was lucky enough to attend game three with my sister, Kathleen. Despite the loss, he called it the greatest sporting event he has witnessed. Playoff baseball does that to you.

Francisco Lindor‘s 9th inning home run made it a Lynch Playoff Party. Photo from SI.

This isn’t going to be about predictions. Instead, I am going to gauge the confidence of the kids in the house on how they feel their respective teams are going to do over these next six weeks.

Yankees: I don’t think Ryan is very confident about this group. There have been too many scars from playoffs past to change his mind about 2024. He expects the same same script as 2022: no clutch hitting. We both agree the American League is set up for the Yanks to make the World Series. Anything less than a World Series appearance this year would be a huge failure, one that I haven’t seen in at least a decade. It might be on par or surpass the 2010 ALCS loss to the Texas Rangers. Though Ryan has seen plenty of playoff series for the Yankees, they have never gotten back to the heights of the 2017 ALCS, a Game 7 loss……..pre Aaron Boone.

Mets: I don’t know how you can top what we saw in Atlanta. I kept getting texts from Matthew that shows the emotion baseball can provide. He went from running around the living room with joy in the top of the 8th inning, calling Edwin Diaz a bum in the bottom of the 8th inning to having no words after Francisco Lindor’s home run in the 9th inning. But he has also been educated in the woes that comes with the territory if being a Mets’ fan. He does think they will beat the Milwaukee Brewers in three games. I think that will give him great joy and he will call it a successful season. Of course, a series win over the Brewers sets up an NLDS match with…..the Phillies.

Phillies: The Hunt for Red October makes its third consecutive appearance. Caitlyn’s big fear is this: the Phillies lose in the NLDS this year after making the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS in 2023. The National League is so much harder than the American League in that any one of the six teams has a chance to win it all. She is a Nervous Nelly during regular season games; with playoff games she paces around enough to complete a marathon. There will be lots of talking to the TV and out loud to anyone who will listen (usually me). As far as her confidence level goes, she believes this is the year it all comes together.

Embracing Pennant Chase Baseball

It is sad that the Major League Baseball regular season is ending in less than two weeks. 60% of the teams in the league will not be playing in October. Our daily routine over the last six months of checking box scores and Quick Pitch highlights will conclude, leaving a void until the Spring. Fortunately, for the fans in our house, there is so much more on the line and as we continue more intense scoreboard watching over the next 12 days. All three of our teams are in playoff position yet we still check the other teams that are in direct competition with our teams to see where our playoff seeding is.

Aaron Judge leads the Yankees to another AL East title. Phot from Sports Illustrated

We have Ryan checking in on the Orioles to see if the Yankees can finally put some distance between them and win the American League East. Spoiler alert: the race is over. Matthew is making sure the Mets continue to stay ahead of the Braves while also eyeballing the second wild card spot as the Diamondbacks have entered another September swoon. Caitlyn is anxious for the Phillies to claim the best record in baseball while also rooting for the Dodgers and Braves to lose every night. Two teams are comfortably in playoff spots while the third is making life easier for their fans. It is indeed a fun time of year, even though one of us is 140 miles away. This is a far cry from last year when both the Yankees and Mets missed the playoffs and Caitlyn had playoff baseball all to herself.

Baseball is so much better when all three of our teams make the playoffs as was the case in 2022. Competitive baseball in September helps us cope with the start of school and the end of warm weather. For at least two kids, the season will have a bitter ending. Here is hoping one of them will be smiling when the last out of the 2024 season is made.