- 6 minutes ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00It's a drive by Danny Dawson, Charles Chisholm goes deep.
00:09Hello, welcome to the Pinstripe Post.
00:11My name is Ryan Sampson, but he's the star of the show, Joel Sherman.
00:13Today is Friday, October 2nd, Joel.
00:16The New York Yankees sweep the Boston Red Sox in the AL wild card.
00:19They're moving on to the ALDS to face the Tampa Bay Rays.
00:23This feels like it's been growing and mounting.
00:26Like we talked about it with the Red Sox series.
00:28That was going to happen for weeks.
00:29And then if they were to get past the Red Sox, it was going to be the division rival
00:32in the Rays, the team they're always chasing in the division.
00:35And now they're going for game one on Saturday, 630.
00:38Garrett Cole has been announced.
00:39He's going to be the game one starter.
00:41We'll dive into that.
00:42We'll dive into what we saw from the Red Sox series and if they can carry it over into
00:45the ALDS.
00:46Before we get to any of that, Joel Sherman, how are you doing today, buddy?
00:50Oh, Ryan, thanks.
00:50As always, I'm doing well.
00:52I'm staying up here at MLB Network.
00:53I got some TV to do that I'm on a flight going from here to Newark on a flight down
00:58to
00:58Tampa, St. Petersburg for a couple of games.
01:02Look, the Yankees did the important thing.
01:04They took care of the first step.
01:06They did it the best way possible quickly.
01:09Give them an extra day of rest to kind of get all their pitching in order and not play
01:14the dangerous game three where anything could happen.
01:17And, you know, just like another round, like it was two days where they played really well.
01:22I thought especially game one defensively was a game.
01:25And I can't emphasize this enough for the two games in St. Petersburg.
01:30Against the Rays, if you don't play clean, they punish you.
01:33And so we saw in game two, Trent Grisham lollygag a ball that should be a single.
01:45I'm trying to remember.
01:46It wasn't Sogard.
01:47Who was the hitter on it?
01:48Eaton.
01:48Nate Eaton was the hitter, you know, who never broke stride.
01:52The scouting report on Grisham was he's going to screw around and do style over substance.
01:58Just keep going.
02:00Trust me, the Rays are going to have the same scouting report.
02:02They're going to have the same scouting report if Jazz Chisholm is out of position, if Grisham
02:07lollygags, if Jones can't pick up a ball off the ground, like all the bad things.
02:13The bunt defense that was bad in the second half for the Yankees in particular, then nobody
02:18bunts with the frequency.
02:20I mean, it's not close, Ryan.
02:22I dug into the numbers.
02:23We have a scouting report that will be up online sometime on Friday and in Saturday's
02:28newspaper.
02:28I mean, the Rays sacrifice more than anyone else.
02:32They bunt for hits more than anyone else.
02:34And they suicide squeeze and safety squeeze more than anyone else.
02:37And I mean, like the second place for all of it is so far away.
02:41And if you do not handle the ball well, that's how they punish you.
02:46And so game one was very good for the Yankees.
02:49Game two was OK.
02:51But the Grisham play reminded me, you pull that nonsense, you're going to cost 90 feet.
02:57And they are a team.
02:58A scout said something to me really interesting, Ryan.
03:00He said, the Rays are a team that's very comfortable scoring one run in an inning.
03:05In other words, like everybody's trying to hit a multi-run homer.
03:07The Rays will peck, peck, peck at you.
03:09And it's like if they get a runner on second with none out because Grisham's doing it.
03:13Like the Red Sox didn't move that runner over and it didn't score against Freed.
03:18The Rays will then bunt and then get the ball in play and score that run.
03:23So 90 feet, every one of those 90 feet mean a lot.
03:27You cannot screw around against them.
03:30You know, I've been saying this line for a long time about Grisham.
03:34What would make Trent Grisham play hard?
03:37Like apparently it's not a playoff game.
03:40It's not a playoff game against your biggest rival, the Boston Red Sox.
03:42So, but the Rays are going to probably throw all righty.
03:47The Rays are going to throw righty starters.
03:49Right.
03:50Grisham's going to play center.
03:52I would assume Jones is going to play right.
03:54So that's where we got to get into this, right?
03:56Like, because there's roster decisions still to be made here, Joel, about the big one, Aaron Judge.
04:01Right.
04:01Before we get into how the Grisham of it all plays into this, I feel like the judge decision could
04:06affect that maybe.
04:08So talk to me.
04:08There's no doubt.
04:09I'll say this is I still, it's a calf.
04:13I get it.
04:14We're still under three weeks.
04:16It's a calf.
04:17I understand how badly the player wants to play.
04:20And maybe they'll shock us.
04:22Maybe he'll be on the roster because they're like, we don't think he's good for one, two.
04:27Right.
04:27But there's an off day between one and two.
04:29There's an off day between two and three.
04:31And we think he's ready for three.
04:32Right.
04:32And so we're going to put him on the roster because we think maybe he could take it back in
04:37one and two.
04:37And he's a full player, not on the turf in three.
04:41Is that a possibility?
04:43Of course.
04:44Like until it comes out, it's not what, what I will point out is interesting is Grisham has the only
04:52Yankee who has good numbers against Rasmussen.
04:55He's literally the only, I mean, the Yankees has like, I think it's the sixth best ERA since the live
05:03ball ever since 1920 against the Yankees for anyone with 50 innings.
05:07Now he had one bad start against them this year where they beat him up.
05:10I'll say this is they beat him up for six runs in two and a third innings.
05:14In the other 10 games he's pitched against them, he's given up six runs.
05:18So like they don't hit him.
05:21Well, Grisham does.
05:22Grisham also hits Nick Martinez.
05:24Well, is Martinez the game two starter is Peralta.
05:27Is it a scramble?
05:28So like, like on a team that doesn't hit the Rays starters great historically, especially Rasmussen.
05:36So like if Judge plays, even if he plays right field, is that the game Spencer Jones sits just because
05:42Grisham is a guy who has some history?
05:43Or are you sticking with Spencer Jones just because really we're at like two months now where the at-bats
05:48have been really like, I always point out like when you strike out well, I think that's how.
05:54Like if you're striking out on a three, two bastard slider, I'm like, that's a good at-bat.
05:59Yeah.
05:59Like you drag the at-bat and I'm like, Spencer Jones drags at-bats like, like, and he's gotten the
06:03ball in play plenty and he's gotten big hits and he's been good lefty on lefty.
06:07So is it that sample size or it's that Grisham hits the guy?
06:12I still will see.
06:14I, I kind of think the Yankees are probably like, Aaron, it's up to us to figure out how to
06:20win without you for one more round, but we'll see.
06:24We'll see, you know, this player is dying to play and you know, you admire somebody who's kind of dying
06:31to get in there for all the right reasons.
06:34I think it's a, it's a tough road and maybe one we don't hear about until tomorrow morning anyway.
06:40Yeah.
06:42It would not shock me if he's on that roster, but like you said, if they slow play him and
06:46use him in game three, or maybe could you see him in a pinch hitting responsibility or stand still their
06:52right-handed pinch hitter that they want to go to.
06:54But does Stanton make this roster?
06:56That's what I was asking.
06:57Because here's like, here's a judge makes it would stay and come off.
07:01Well, let's, let's say judge doesn't make it, but they go to 12 pitchers.
07:05Okay.
07:05Who's the two position players they're taking?
07:08So I was, I would think it would be Rosario and Stanton.
07:11I would think in Rosario and potentially Ramos.
07:17But okay.
07:18But if judge isn't on the roster, who's, who's, you know, like if you want a right-hand hitter off
07:23the air, you know, like your extra outfielder outfielder.
07:26Yeah, I mean, Ryan, I think it's the one in play, but at least the other guy in Ramos can
07:33go play the outfield.
07:34We know it's not going to be great, but he can do it.
07:36Stanton is literally, you're limiting him to win at bat.
07:39Right.
07:39You're losing a lot of flexibility, which becomes more important when you go from 16 position players down to 14
07:47position players.
07:48You need, you can't just say it's an at bat.
07:50I mean, maybe, but like he can get in the field.
07:55Uh, and so I think that becomes a tougher road and yeah, I think, you know, like, I think they
08:02have tough, interesting decisions, uh, with some, which by the way shows, they do have some depth to a roster.
08:11Right.
08:12Uh, uh, making, making these decisions.
08:14And I do think one of the things they have to do, think about is flexibility in defense.
08:19It's why I think, uh, Rosario will be a cost here because a, the defense isn't good.
08:25And B, there's so much righty pitching on Tampa Bay, especially their starters that would you like to have Rosario
08:34sitting on the bench if they bring in Ian Seymour or Garrett Clevenger who are lefties?
08:39Yes, but you can do, Aaron Boone has done the under the hood stuff all year on Rosario's good under
08:47the hood against lefties.
08:48The reality is he hasn't hit lefties like he had previously in his career.
08:52And I think, I think he's a casualty of them going down.
08:57And by the way, not like I get it.
08:59It's, you know, it's kind of like an easy fan thing, but like Rosario is important to the group.
09:05Uh, and he's traveled the whole season with them and I'm sure he'll continue to be a positive force on
09:10the bench.
09:11Right.
09:11Like, like that's not, that's a tougher decision than a, than the cold hearted thing.
09:16So, right.
09:17And I mean, look, Rosario had the big walk in game one.
09:19I mean, uh, after the challenge of the ABS, so you can see, he could still get that for you,
09:23but I agree with you.
09:24The Rosario part of that equation doesn't make sense for this roster going into the series.
09:29That question is that this round, sorry, the second player though, right.
09:33If it's Stan, I get, it's just, it's the judge part of us all really fascinates me.
09:39Like, is he going to force himself onto this roster and say, I need to be on here.
09:43I'm ready to rock and roll.
09:44If you need me in a pinch hitting situation, or if I could be a DH potentially, I, I don't
09:48think they would do that because you don't want to mess with Ben rice.
09:50And you also want Luis Garcia's bat in at first base against all these righties.
09:55It's a really fascinating decision.
09:57I wonder also like, can I throw one other thing in Ryan?
10:00And I, I, I think I have a thought on it, but if you had to have an at bat,
10:07a right-handed at bat against the lefty Ray, would you rather it be Ramos or Stanton?
10:14I mean, Stanton hasn't played a game since April 24th.
10:17And I understand like it's John Carlos Stanton, but like Ramos has actually killed lefty pitching this year.
10:22And once he kind of cleared some early stuff with the Yankees, he started killing lefty pitching.
10:27He did look overmatched though in that wildcard game.
10:28That's what my concern was.
10:30You know, emotionally, Stanton will never be overmatched.
10:33Like Stanton, you know, like I said, uh, there were, uh, there were so many scouts at the first, uh,
10:38it was nice to see so many old baseball guys at the Yankee and Red Sox series.
10:43And I said to, uh, to one of them, he said, what do you think about Stanton?
10:47And I said, you know, the one thing I actually believe about Stanton is he can miss the first two
10:52pitches he sees by two feet.
10:54And you still might be in trouble because like, he's not going to be afraid.
10:58And if the ball hits his bat, it goes for 50.
11:00And I'm like, not being afraid to me is a big deal.
11:04Like you just see it with like Schlittler.
11:06Like, like not only is he not afraid, he's like, wow, great.
11:11It's all on me in to play in our city and to play at this time of year, you need
11:17players who are like, this is great.
11:19I always thought it was like, I said, obviously Derek Jeter had top of the, the, the, the, uh, rankings
11:26like skill, but like Derek Jeter was like, I'm not scared about, we played all year to play.
11:32Now I want to play now.
11:33I want the advantage to come to me.
11:35And I thought it made him a great, like, I thought it made a great player greater at that time
11:39of year because he was like, cool.
11:42Like the big at bats coming to me instead of like, I hope, I hope this is, you know, so,
11:48so, and I feel that way about Stanton.
11:50Like Stanton could strike out and miss the ball by three feet.
11:53That's just because he's overmatched against the pitching and rusty, but I don't think he'd be scared.
11:58I think he'd be enthused to take the at bat is would Ramos.
12:04I'm not sure about that.
12:05It wasn't a great showing at the first one.
12:08Yeah.
12:09But Ramos has been playing right.
12:10Like, I think it's a tough, I I'll say if I was sitting in a room, that would be a
12:15tough decision for me.
12:16And the, the, the, the tiebreaker might be the Ramos does not play defense.
12:22Well, that's, he does give you the defensive, you know, like if I need to maneuver around, I want to
12:27pinch run here, do this here.
12:29He does give you the potential to have someone go stand in right field.
12:33I hear you, Joel, but I also think like that defensive argument could also be his downfall, like of him
12:39not making the rosters because Caballero can go out there and play outfield.
12:42And, and you don't, you don't want to take any chances here against the race.
12:46You, like you said, 90 feet is precious to them.
12:48They're going to take advantage of that.
12:50The one thing on Stan, I wanted to ask you, I was a little shocked that Goldschmidt got the pinch
12:53hit the other night on game two.
12:56Why didn't he use Stan at least off the bench to at least let him see some kind of pitches
13:00in a game situation?
13:02Because I think in that situation, he was saying, I do like trying to score these runs has great value.
13:10And I, I, forgive me.
13:11I think there's a runner on third and less than two outs when Goldschmidt.
13:15Yes, that is correct.
13:16About that.
13:16That's correct.
13:17And he's feeling like, like Goldschmidt's going to get a ball into play and score like runs were precious at
13:23that point still.
13:24Right.
13:25But you hadn't gotten Bellinger's Homer yet.
13:28Am I correct about that or no?
13:29No, I think this is after Bellinger's home run.
13:31I'm going to double check for you right now.
13:33Okay.
13:34So, so, so maybe I would feel a little different about it, but I think he's probably still thinking runs
13:40are precious.
13:41It's the postseason.
13:42If I could add on, let's add on.
13:45So it's probably how he felt about it.
13:48And, and the one thing I will say about the whole Spencer Jones versus, versus Trent Grishman center field.
13:54Right.
13:54Like if, if, if judge doesn't make the roster, I, I don't know.
13:59I don't think Trent Grishman makes that play that Spencer Jones does.
14:03And in fact, I know he doesn't after striking out versus crochet out running Rutschman's throw to first and Contreras
14:09not playing the ball correctly.
14:10And then basically creating this cascading effect of small ball, a little bit running, stealing second, getting the overthrow, advancing
14:18the third.
14:19And then next thing, you know, the young kid Lombard who doesn't look overmatched right now slaps the ball into
14:24right field.
14:24And now all of a sudden you're, you're cooking.
14:27I just, I don't want to take Spencer Jones out of this lineup at all, Joel, because I understand defensively,
14:33you are a little concerned with him and how he misplays balls out there, but he provides so much for
14:38them in terms of competitive at bats.
14:40And, and just being an athlete on the base path that just Trent Grishman does not do whatsoever.
14:46Yeah.
14:47I think a big deal against the raise is you need smart alert players who are playing hard.
14:54If you, because here's the thing is one of the things you have to do against the raise is match,
15:00match aggression with aggression.
15:02Like the Yankees have more power than the raise, right?
15:06But the Yankees won the Red Sox series, won the wild card series because they out homered the Red Sox,
15:13but they also out hit the Red Sox.
15:15A really good pitching staff like Tampa Bay, like, like two strikes, getting balls in play, the Yankees work lefty
15:24on lefty, the Yankees ability to match, you know, the Yankees, we, we, the, you got to watch the raise.
15:32They'll steal third base.
15:33Also, I think Taylor Walls hasn't been thrown out stealing third base.
15:37I think Chandler Simpson is seven for 10.
15:40Do you know who's stolen third base the most in the major leagues this year?
15:42The Yankees and they're like 34 for 37 or 35 for 38.
15:47So, and they sold, I think like 15 bases against the raise this year.
15:51So like, you've got to make them play also.
15:55And that's like Jones and Lombard play into that.
15:59They're there.
16:00They've got some springing this to them on both sides of the ball.
16:04And I, I just think like, look, Grisham and Chisholm are free agents at the end of the season.
16:10The Yankees also just have to think moving forward about the type of player, like I don't
16:14want to get to 2027 yet, especially since we have no idea when the first game is, but
16:19just when you think about the type of players you want, like you've got to like have guys
16:25who technically care about playing well and playing hard, you know, smart and hard have
16:30great value.
16:31You get eliminated.
16:32You know, the Yankees lost against the Dodgers for a lot of reasons.
16:35Like they might, if the, if the Yankees play clean in the 2024 world series, might they
16:40still lose the world series?
16:42Yeah, but they might've won it.
16:44Yeah.
16:45Like the Dodgers were running out of pitching.
16:47If you've just played the game, you know, they really should have won game one.
16:50If they played clean, if they really should have won game five, if they played clean and
16:55the Dodgers are running out of pitching.
16:56If you just played clean, you would have given yourself a shot against the raise.
17:00Like part of it is I talked to multiple people for my scouting report and I can't tell you
17:07how many repeated this line in some form, Ryan, when they give you an out taken out, in other
17:14words, if there's a bunt and there's a runner on second, get the out at first base, limit
17:19them, like limit them.
17:21First of all, you're not sure that run's going to score, but don't turn it into first and
17:25third, don't like, like getting out.
17:29If they go one run at a time, let them get a run.
17:33Don't that.
17:34Um, one of the people I talked to said, they are not a team.
17:40I'm I'll get this close to verbatim.
17:42They are not a team.
17:43If you think of it like a heavyweight boxing match, they're not a team that leans against
17:47the ropes.
17:47They stand in the middle of the ring and they jab and they jab and they jab.
17:53And eventually you lower your hands and then they knock you out.
17:58That's when Caminero hits the three run homer because you've allowed stuff to happen.
18:02Yeah.
18:03And they're like, let them jab.
18:05See if you could get the outs that you can.
18:08They're going to squeeze with a runner on third, get up and make it tough on them.
18:14You know, like I'll tell you something else.
18:16The Yankees are really good at that could go under the radar.
18:19Like the stealing of third base, the Yankees hold runners as well as anybody in the sport.
18:24There's they were like the fifth newest stolen bases in the majors this year.
18:28They're, you know, obviously freed is great at it, but like a guy like Cole changes his
18:34timing all the time.
18:35Like they do make it tough to run and you've got to make it tough.
18:41The, the rays led the American league in stolen bases second in the major leagues.
18:45Like that's their game, bunting, stealing extra bases, playing on the springy turf, et cetera.
18:53They had the tide with Milwaukee for the best home record in the sport.
18:56It's no surprise.
18:57They play to their stadium.
18:59It's a, it's something definitely to pay attention to.
19:02It's going to be playing out all series long, especially like you said, in Tampa Bay, Joel,
19:07they go with Garrett Cole, the Yankees for game one.
19:09Are you shocked at all?
19:11They did not go with Rodon considering the rays verse right-handed pitching.
19:15They had the fourth best OPS in all baseball verse left-handed pitching.
19:19They have the 25th best OPS.
19:20And I am just fresh off of seeing Carlos Rodon pitch eight shutout innings against the
19:25rays, not only two weeks ago, but he has looked dominant down the stretch.
19:29Unlike Garrett Cole, who has gone through it, I would say in the last couple of months where
19:34he's had some nice performances more down than, than what he is used to being, I would
19:39say.
19:40Are you shocked that they went with Cole though, in game one over Carlos Rodon?
19:44And it seems like he's being lined up Carlos Rodon to just be a bullpen piece for them
19:47right now.
19:50Uh, you know, am I shocked?
19:52I'm not, I think, I think the manager probably looked at this and said, I've got Garrett Cole.
19:58I believe in Garrett Cole.
20:01Having said that, I wonder if we had the, the rays on truth serum, if they're a lot happier
20:07to see Cole than to see Rodon.
20:09Cause I certainly have talked to raise people since that September 22nd opener, which was
20:15the best I've ever seen Rodon pitch.
20:17His fastball was not only alive, but I've never seen the precision with which he's, which
20:23with, with which he threw that day.
20:25Like he, he as impressive as anything else was, he walked none and not only walk none,
20:31he was efficient.
20:32Like there wasn't a ton of three ball counts.
20:33He was on attack and hard to hit.
20:37And I do think he becomes a factor in this series.
20:40Uh, because of that, I do think he gets in, uh, you know, Ryan, it's like one of those
20:45tough ones again, let's pretend that between the two of us, we're manager and pitching coach.
20:52It would be tough to not pitch Garrett Cole, right?
20:57Like it is Garrett Cole.
20:58He's one of the great pitchers of the generation and he's still an outstanding pitcher.
21:04And you know, he's pitched a ton of playoff games and he generally leaves a playoff game
21:09having given his team a chance to win or better.
21:12And I just think like, in theory, it's easy to go, Hey, Rodon's pitching.
21:17Well, he's left-handed.
21:18Let's not pitch Garrett Cole for the first two rounds of the post season and see how it
21:22goes.
21:22I think in reality, that's probably a little tougher to do.
21:26Uh, I also still think it's not impossible.
21:30If Cole is problematic in this game, one that Rodon, if they get that far starts game
21:36for them.
21:37Right.
21:37Like you could always make that because, because here's the thing, you get Cole, Schlittler
21:42and two and five freed in three.
21:44Right.
21:45And because of the baked in off days.
21:48Yeah.
21:48Four again becomes a Rodon cold decision.
21:51And if Cole is Homer susceptible again, or doesn't pitch well, you can go Rodon and four.
21:58And I think that now, now I don't think they'll save Rodon for that.
22:03If they're like, like tomorrow night, if, if, if, if game one is like a two to two in the
22:09fifth and Cole is throwing 95 pitches, Rodon could be in that game.
22:16Like to try to bridge a few innings.
22:18Um, because he could then do it again in game four.
22:22If you would start Cole again.
22:23Right.
22:23Uh, I think, I think the Yankee starting pitching.
22:29So, uh, Ryan, I, I made a big deal.
22:33I think with us both in print and when you and I did this together that I thought the
22:37most important, the most important thing in the Red Sox series was Yankee starting pitching
22:42and not only the guys who started, but may come in and relief and do their lefties hit
22:47lefties.
22:48I don't, I, I really emphasized it on our last show and those two things actually turned
22:53out to be really huge, right?
22:54Their two starters were great.
22:56And I know Warren gave up a homer, but like his stuff was alive that night and he showed,
23:01you know what?
23:01He can maybe be a factor.
23:03I'm it lefty on lefty is not as big a deal in this series because the rays are going to
23:09start all righties.
23:10And the two main lefties you would expect like Ian Seymour, who's a starter going into the
23:15pen and Clevenger haven't done well against lefties.
23:18Cam Boozer has, but he's kind of a journeyman.
23:21It's not going to like get him to pull a lefty necessarily though, though it might to
23:28try to get a righty lefty on Boozer.
23:29So I don't think that's as important, but the starting pitching is more important than
23:33ever for them in this series.
23:35And again, I think Ryan Weathers is going to be on this roster.
23:39So now you're expanding it to six, right?
23:43Six starters.
23:44Yeah.
23:45Five guys and Warren.
23:48So I think Warren and Weathers become important bullpen guys.
23:51Rodon might become an important bullpen guy in this as well.
23:55And they, they, that is the strength of their team.
23:59And, and when you look like there was a winner take all game yesterday, the brave started an
24:07opener and they got great results from Ray Kerr.
24:10Yeah.
24:11But like it was Ray Kerr to save your season.
24:14And the Phillies are going with Aaron Nola on short rest.
24:18And then Zach Wheeler on short out of the bullpen because they've run out of starting
24:21pitching.
24:22And that the fact that the Yankees have not only not run out of starting pitching, but
24:26are going to shove two really good ones or maybe three really good ones into their bullpen
24:32at this time of year should not.
24:34I mean, the value of it is incredible that they have not run out.
24:39You look around at other teams in the post season, the White Sox advance.
24:44They were in a scramble for starting pitching.
24:46Houston did not advance.
24:48They had no starting pitching that the Yankees have so much of it is, is their continued advantage
24:56at this time of year.
24:57And it feels like that's the strength they're going to continue to lean on, like you're saying,
25:01and execute these guys and put them in positions to, to help them win and limit the runs.
25:06And you know, like we were, I'm sorry, Ryan cut you off here, but like, we're also in a
25:09period where I don't know if they could regenerate, but they haven't had to use Hedrick a lot.
25:14They haven't had to use Blackburn a lot.
25:16They haven't had to use Bednar a lot.
25:18You'd also think that their three main relievers are fresh for this series and it's game off
25:24day, game off day.
25:26So like you could use all the, a manager said something so interesting to me recently about
25:33the post season.
25:34He said, you know, the Yankees might get in position where everyone that Boone turns to,
25:41he wants in the game.
25:42He said, I'm telling you, watch the playoffs.
25:45That doesn't happen all the time.
25:47There's a lot of times you're putting someone in the game because you have no other, you've
25:52been backed into a corner in your most important games of the season.
25:55And you're putting out a guy out there and you're covering your eyes and hoping for the
26:01best.
26:02Like the Yankees might fail with their pitching.
26:06Like some of these guys might fail, but like at the moment they're brought in the game,
26:10that's who you're going to want in the game.
26:12The Yankees are not going to have the, oh, oh my God.
26:16Are we bringing in this guy moment?
26:20They're going to bring in good pitchers who the manager and pitching coach and team believe
26:25in.
26:25Right.
26:25And they have full trust then too, right?
26:27To, to get those outs or get the, get the, get the, the play that they need.
26:31Joel, there is this talk about this Yankees vibe after sweeping the Red Sox amongst the
26:37fan base.
26:38And I've talked to a lot of Yankees fans and my friends, they keep bringing up 2017 just
26:42because this feels like, and this, and hear me out here, the way they played in those
26:49two games felt very different from how they went about their regular season in terms of
26:53small ball working pitches.
26:56And when they got the timely bomb that hit the, the need for a home run, they got both
27:00of those after the, the Red Sox went to their bullpen in both situations.
27:05I'm not saying it's going to happen because this is going to be a very tough series.
27:08And I truly believe whoever wins this series is going to the world series for the American
27:11league, can this team have that 2017 like run because of the young talent of Jones and
27:19Lombard.
27:20And you've seen what Volpe gave you the other night and you see what Austin Wells did for
27:23you against the Red Sox.
27:25The young talent, Joel is starting to really emerge here for this Yankee squad, including
27:29Ben Rice and Cam Schiller.
27:30How can anyone not talk about that?
27:32But it feels the vibes feel different here about this team right now.
27:37Yeah, uh, a few things, uh, be careful about putting a team in the world series, uh, because
27:44I know how overwhelmingly, uh, the, the favorite will be who comes out of this series.
27:49But I remember covering the 20, uh, the 2003 ALCS and feeling that was the world series between
27:55the Yankees and the Red Sox.
27:56And then the Yankees lost to the Marlins, right?
27:59You know, you, there's no sure things in life.
28:01The Yankees should be heavy favorites if they move through this to beat Cleveland or Chicago,
28:06you know, like, like that, that kind of thing, but strange stuff happens, but they should
28:11be the over whoever comes out of this Yankees or Rays is going to be the overwhelming favorite
28:15to play the national league champion.
28:16So I agree with that.
28:17I see your 2017 point.
28:21And I know that I I've gone to this a few times.
28:24Are they the Knicks?
28:26Let me make my point.
28:29You got to win 13 games to win the world series.
28:32The Knicks went on a 13 game winning streak in the post season.
28:37I think we spent the entire Nick regular season saying, aren't they the best team in the conference?
28:42Why aren't they playing better?
28:44And then they hit a moment in the post season where it all came together.
28:49And you said, oh, that's what it looks like.
28:51If we play well, all of our guys, they started to win in blowouts.
28:57What were the two games against the Red Sox?
29:00And I'm going to give you one more that you haven't thought of at all.
29:04In round two against the Sixers.
29:08Even on the road, it was a Knicks crowd.
29:11Who do you think is going to be filling in the seats in Tampa?
29:13It's going to be like 70, 30 Yankees, maybe more.
29:16So there's going to be some of that, which is the crowd is not going to be a hostile road
29:22crowd.
29:22They might turn the building around if they could get some leads.
29:26So are they the Knicks?
29:28They feel a little more to me like the Knicks than the 2017 team.
29:34Because in some ways, the 2017 team didn't have like aircraft carriers that we knew about.
29:42You know, like Judge became one.
29:44Judge became one, right?
29:45But it was Judge and Sanchez, the young players, right?
29:49So can I throw one out there that I think is worthwhile also as I think about it?
29:55So I'm watching the Phillies lose last night.
29:59And I could literally – I'm going to go through this, right?
30:01If you give me a second.
30:03Coming off the field last night, Real Muto, 36 in March.
30:07Harper, 34 in two weeks.
30:09Trey Turner, 34 in June.
30:11Schwarber, 34 in next March.
30:12Nola, 34 in June.
30:14Wheeler, 37 in May.
30:16That's the face.
30:16Those six guys are the face of the last five years.
30:19They've gotten eliminated in the playoffs.
30:20That's it.
30:21By the way, they're all signed for a long time.
30:24Like some of them are terrible contracts.
30:26Some of them are fine, right?
30:28At the end of this year, Boehm, Sosa, and Arise are free agents, right?
30:33Like all going to have to be replaced.
30:35Boehm was – the hope was him and Stott would be part of like a next thing.
30:38It wasn't – like him, Stott, Marsh, Stott, Marsh, Duran, and Wheeler are free agents after next season.
30:44They already have committed for next year $236 million.
30:49We don't know if a salary cap is coming up.
30:52Why am I bringing this up?
30:53Because the face of the Yankees during the Aaron Boone era are Aaron Judge, Garrett Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton.
31:01None of those guys took a swing or threw a pitch in a playoff series.
31:05By the way, Stanton hasn't played since April 24th.
31:10Judge has played seven or eight games since the end of May.
31:13Cole didn't play for the first two months of this season.
31:17The Yankee baton pass to Schlittler and Rice has helped them –
31:22like if you and I were sitting here in say March 2025, we'd be like, man, the Yankees better win
31:30and win quick because Cole and Judge are getting old and so is Stanton.
31:36And that's the face of this.
31:37And the fact that those two guys have become superstars and you might be getting something out of Lombard and
31:44Jones as well moving forward.
31:48I just read you what the – the Phillies have been very much like the Yankees.
31:52This has been an era where it's been frustrating in the playoffs.
31:55They can't get over the top.
31:56They got to one World Series and didn't win it.
31:57And you feel the age and the expense and how do they do it.
32:01And by the way, their young players, Painter, Crawford, Kirkering, they all failed.
32:08They all failed.
32:09There's no Schlittler there.
32:10There is no Rice there.
32:12There's not even a Jones or –
32:13And so, again, I don't want to start playing 2027.
32:18The Yankees have to win a World Series this year.
32:20But you began to see the navigation device.
32:23Yes.
32:24Of – especially if there's a salary cap coming or something even more punitive with money, like how do you
32:29do it?
32:30Well, you better have some young guys who are stars.
32:32The Yankees now have young guys.
32:34The two best players on their team in that first round – it's only two games – were Ben Rice
32:40and Schlittler.
32:41Those were the two best players.
32:44Jones and Lombard were really good.
32:47You – and by the way, like what do you want out of Yankee players?
32:50You want guys who can handle New York?
32:53Check.
32:53You want guys who could beat the Red Sox?
32:55Check.
32:56You want guys who aren't intimidated by this time of year?
33:00Check.
33:01It's a – like nobody wants to play the 2027 season and moving forward.
33:07But I was – as I'm watching the end of that game last night and I'm thinking, what does the
33:12Phillies' near future look like?
33:15I'm like, oh.
33:16By the way, I like the Mets' near future better also because Benjamin McClain, for example, did what Crawford and
33:22Painter didn't.
33:23Right.
33:24Which is excel and give them some young guys or whatever.
33:27But then I thought about the Yankees and said, wow, the Yankees – if I would have told you 12
33:35months ago, the Yankees will advance in a playoff series in which Judge Stanton and Cole don't play, you would
33:41have went, come on.
33:42And decidedly too.
33:43Decidedly win those games.
33:45Decidedly.
33:46And the two guys who are the two most obvious baton passes on offense and the mound were the stars
33:52of the series.
33:55It just really hit me watching the Phillies last night.
33:58And it's a right thought.
34:00And it's what I had talked about after the game on Wednesday.
34:03I'm like, this is incredible what they're getting from these young guys.
34:07And it's something –
34:08And it feels like an extension.
34:09You know, they've been a – again, I think it gets poo-pooed too much.
34:12And you know what I said last year.
34:13You've got to get the chip this year.
34:14You've got to get the chip.
34:15Like at some point, you've got to get the chip.
34:17But being really, really special for 35 years, zero non-contending years, you're like, when will this end?
34:26Well, this makes you see that maybe it isn't going to end anytime soon.
34:29They'll be playing lots.
34:31And I know because I have plenty of friends who are Yankee fans, including you.
34:34It's like they better win while Judge and Cole are here because what's it look like after they're gone?
34:39Well, it kind of looks like Schlittler and Rice.
34:41That's what it looks like, and that looks okay as building ball.
34:46Joel, about the Rays pitching – or Rays hitting, I should say.
34:49This is something I feel like – I am interested to hear your thoughts.
34:53They don't strike out much, and they're a high-contact team, and they're going to work a lot of counts,
34:57and they're going to try to get these Yankees bullpen as quickly as possible.
35:03How do the Yankees navigate this?
35:04How do they, as a pitching staff and a unit, instead of, like you're saying, like, they're going to peck
35:10you,
35:10they're going to peck you.
35:11I think the Yankees are also going to try to – hey, we're going to throw gas right by you.
35:15Cam Schlittler went 117 pitches the other day, and you could see that Boone was not willing to go to
35:22Hedrick in that moment.
35:23He really, really wanted Cam to get that next out after Contreras.
35:28Could you see similar things happening with this Yankee staff going into this round where I'm going to lean even
35:34further and further
35:34on this starting rotation to go and push them to limits they'd never gone to before?
35:41Yeah, you know, if you dig into the numbers a little, the Rays don't strike out a lot.
35:46Two of the pitchers who have struck them out a lot over the last two years are Schlittler and Rodon.
35:52So that's one thing.
35:54Number two, I just go back to you've got to limit them to 27 outs because even if you strike
36:02out 10, 17 are in play.
36:04You've got to get 17 more outs.
36:06And, you know, on that turf, the ball is going to come quick with that roof.
36:10Now, the games are night.
36:12The 6.30 start is a little tricky, but at night it's a lot easier to see the ball against
36:17the roof.
36:18The catwalks make things crazy sometimes.
36:23The Rays have a distinct on the field.
36:26It might not be in the crowd, but on the field, a distinct home field advantage.
36:30And the Yankees have to counter that with three to five clean games.
36:35I mean clean.
36:36Like, you just can't – having said that, I just go back to the Yankees have six starting pitchers healthy.
36:43They're all really good.
36:45I think that Weathers and Warren stuff play up even more in short bursts to help them.
36:53And they are going to, like, at least see – I do think there will be a moment, maybe in
37:03game one, they're going to see on Hedrick, see, like, has he regenerated a little?
37:07And if not, I think it's now Weathers' job if he's on the roster.
37:11But, like, Hedrick was so good all year that I do think – the one thing about a five-game
37:16series, it's a short series, but you can make a mistake and survive in game one or two.
37:22Like, if you give one away, you don't want to give one away.
37:24It's a short season.
37:25But, like, if – that's why I'm saying Cole and Hedrick I think are going to be part of game
37:30one to decide if they're part of something else.
37:33Makes sense, Joel.
37:34It's a good point by you.
37:35Because you don't want to give it away.
37:36Like, especially if you could – the Yankees cannot win this series without winning at least one on the road.
37:42So, like, if you have control of one on the road, the last thing you want to do is let
37:46it get away.
37:48But having said that, Cole is going to start game one.
37:53My gut says Hedrick will be in the game, and they'll see, can we trust him or is he now
37:59– this is Weathers' job.
38:03Man, I'm fired up.
38:04So, Joel, a couple quick hitters here for you.
38:07Real quick, for the Yankees fans at the end here.
38:10Does Aaron Judge make the ALDS roster?
38:12Your opinion.
38:13Yeah, you know, it's just guesswork, and I hate to do that.
38:16I know.
38:16I know.
38:16Like, this is memorialized, and, like, whatever you say lasts forever.
38:20I just – if the normal timeline for a calf injury that is not the most mild is not under
38:31a month,
38:34like, it's just not.
38:35And now can a PPP shot and round-the-clock hair and the doggedness of the athlete change the clock?
38:44Maybe.
38:45And I think the scenario I offered, which is he's a bench bat for one and two and a full
38:51player for three.
38:52Is that possible?
38:54Maybe.
38:56But it's hard to play shorthanded, and I just feel like – like, look, everything is on the line right
39:05now,
39:06but you don't want to start messing with next year.
39:10You just don't.
39:11He's such an – that they've won without him, that they got to the playoffs, that they won 93 games
39:17with – mainly without him,
39:19that they won around the playoffs without him.
39:22You know, feather in the cap, kudos from the top of the organization down, that they built a more bulletproof
39:28team.
39:29But I wouldn't want to start 2027 without him, and at some point you've got to protect Aaron Judge from
39:35Aaron Judge.
39:36Aaron Judge will go on the field if he was in an air cast, right?
39:42Like, he knows what's on the line.
39:44He wants to be part of this, and nothing but respect for it.
39:48So sometimes you have to protect the player from the player, and I just feel like medically it's going to
39:58be hard to clear him.
39:59It's just going to be hard to clear him, and if he doesn't get medical clearance, it doesn't matter how
40:05much he protests.
40:06The Yankees will not – you know, ultimately the Yankees write out who's on the roster, and they send it
40:10into the league.
40:11That would be my hunch, that like, let's try to get you ready for an ALCS or even a World
40:16Series.
40:16Yeah.
40:17Get there, and try to give him the Kyle Schwarber thing, right?
40:21Like, Schwarber got hurt in what, game four or five in 16, and then made the incredible comeback to be
40:28able to play in the World Series
40:29and help in the World Series, which is, you know, like you could still be part of this.
40:35It's our job to win without you.
40:38And the Yankees, as we saw in the wild card round, and it's easy to forget this because they scored
40:47against the Red Sox.
40:48The Red Sox are great at run prevention, and the Yankees beat it up.
40:51Now, I think their manager and their front office made decisions I cannot believe.
40:57And I'm telling you, if you were sitting next to me, like, unfortunately, like, say, Dan Martin always is,
41:01or Mike Vaccaro the other day, or Johnny Eamon, I am like –
41:05when I saw Eric Miller running in again in game two, I was just like, no matter what happens here,
41:13this is the wrong move.
41:14Like, your season's on the – the point I kept making to everyone is, the strength of your team is
41:19the starting pitching.
41:20Like, we saw Boone stick with Schlipp.
41:22Right.
41:22We saw Boone push three through six.
41:24He knew what the strength was.
41:25Toley and Gray had dominated the Yankees this year, and even getting hit a little bit, they weren't giving up
41:31runs.
41:32So, to me, I would have stuck with both.
41:35But if I'm taking them out, Garrett Whitlock is coming in the game.
41:40Like, I don't care if it's lefty-righty.
41:42Eric Miller had been playing for the Giants.
41:44He's never pitched an important game.
41:46He's never – Yankee Stadium with all the marbles.
41:50And, by the way, he's been one of the worst pitchers in baseball for the last five weeks.
41:53How are you putting – that's a three o'clock in the afternoon decision.
41:57Sounds freaking good.
41:59Like, your season's on the line.
42:00And you're bringing Eric Miller in again?
42:02Like, what are you doing?
42:03It felt very much like the Yankees' previous postseason things that they had done.
42:07You know what I mean?
42:08Like, it felt like that.
42:10Right.
42:11And to me, the fact that people watch the postseason every year and still make this mistake, which is, like,
42:16this isn't July 9th.
42:18This is everything you've got to – as much as you could limit the game to your five to seven
42:25best pitchers, especially when it's a game situation, you must do that.
42:32And I'll always say the cardinal rule of managing is do what the opposing dugout hopes you don't.
42:40Like, trust me.
42:42When the Yankees saw Eric Miller running in in game one and game two, they were like, great.
42:48No more Peyton Toley.
42:49No more Sonny Gray.
42:50And by the way, that is not a Rodgers Chapman running in.
42:54It is not Garrett Whitlock running in.
42:56It is a guy – lefty on lefty.
42:59This guy, fine.
43:01Fine.
43:02You know, in part, like, you're going lefty on lefty on Bellinger also.
43:05Like, all right.
43:06The second best OPS in all baseball.
43:08Yeah, let's go after that guy.
43:10We'll intentionally walk Rice.
43:11I don't want to go up against him.
43:12Let's go to Bellinger.
43:13And so, to me, it's like you must – I would manage 162 games trying very hard to never do
43:20what the opposing team wants me to do.
43:23Certainly, in these games, do not – the Yankees were so thrilled.
43:29I didn't even ask a Yankee person.
43:30I say it confidently.
43:32They're thrilled to see that guy running into the game.
43:35Joel, it's going to be a heck of a series.
43:37You know, believe it or not, this is the first time the Yankees are going to be playing in Tampa
43:40Bay for a playoff series
43:42because the last time and the only time they played against in the playoffs was out in San Diego during
43:46the COVID year.
43:47This is the first time the Yankees were playing a playoff game in the Trop.
43:50So, it's going to be fun, man, like you said.
43:54Look, these have been the – these two teams since the middle of April have been one and two in
44:00the American League in some way.
44:02Best records.
44:02I mean, this is – the right two teams – this should probably be the ALCS.
44:08Like, they should have receded now and right now the Rays should be playing the White Sox and the Yankees
44:17should be playing Cleveland
44:18and the winners will play in the ALCS and the Yankees and the Rays in the ALCS would have been
44:25right.
44:26But I'm glad that there is a Yankee-Rays series because they've been the two best teams in the league
44:31all year.
44:33And I think it's a fascinating series.
44:37I think that there are things that the Yankees do extremely well.
44:41There's things that the Rays do extremely well.
44:43And the Yankee team that played these two games against Boston, if that team shows up, that's the best team
44:53in the American League.
44:55They were on paper in February and March.
45:00They were for two days to close September.
45:03We are now – flip the calendar to October.
45:06Does the Yankee team that played those two games in the way that that Knick team, once they got to
45:12game four,
45:13became the Knick team we wondered all year, where is that team?
45:16Aren't they the best team in the conference?
45:18The Yankees are on paper the best team in the American League.
45:23They are as close to healthy – now, again, judge is a big deal, stand is a big –
45:27but because the six starters are healthy, this is what you would dream of if you were the Yankees.
45:33That's the strength of the team.
45:35If that team shows up that's going to battle with two strikes, is going to hit left on left and
45:41right on right well,
45:43that's the best team in the American League.
45:45And it's going to be very hard to beat as long as they play clean like they did in game
45:50one
45:50and don't give it away a little bit like they did in game two.
45:54Grisham can't be – look at me, I'm going to – it can't happen.
45:59Jazz can't be out of position.
46:01Spencer Jones can't be bobbling the ball.
46:03Like, it's got to be clean.
46:05It's got to be clean.
46:0727 outs.
46:08If the Yankees limit the Rays to 27 outs, they'll be very tough to beat in this series.
46:15Joel Sherman, we appreciate all your time, all your effort.
46:18I'm looking forward to your coverage down in Tampa.
46:20Safe travels down there.
46:22And then we'll catch up with you next week, man.
46:24And the Yankees will be coming back to the Bronx for game three on Tuesday night, right?
46:28But, yeah.
46:29No, no, no.
46:31Monday's game two.
46:32So Wednesday's game three.
46:33So Wednesday night in the Bronx.
46:35Looking forward to your coverage throughout, man.
46:36And we'll catch up with you next time.
46:39All right.
46:39All the best, Ryan.
46:41All right.
46:41All right.
46:41All right.
46:43All right.
46:43All right.
46:44All right.
46:45All right.
Comments