The Yankees season has been marked by ongoing frustration and occasional elation. Yesterday was no different…
The Yankees probably didn’t know how they were supposed to feel in meeting with reporters following last night’s win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Only a few hours after being pummeled in this space because of their inability to score runs and hit with runners in scoring position, to score thirteen runs on fifteen hits, all without getting a base on balls while going 7-13 with RISP, and leaving only three men on base.
And to boot, the Yankees’ emergency starter, Luis Gil, on short notice, turned in six shutout innings while surrendering only four hits, picking up six K’s, and needing only 88 pitches to get it done.
How nice of a day was that for the Yankees?
For These Yankees, It’s Never Quite That Easy
Well, as most Yankees fans now know, the day also had a dark side too.
For the third time this season, the Yankees are the victim of the virus that won’t go away, losing Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery for a minimum of ten days after testing positive for COVID.
In addition, as reported by Peter Botte for the New York Post, the Yankees have officially placed Gio Urshela on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
Aaron Boone said the third baseman underwent an MRI, and it’s labeled as a Grade 1 or Grade 2 strain. “He’ll continue to ramp up here in the next couple of days,” Boone said. “Hopefully, it will be just another week or eight days or so.”
To fill up their roster with much-needed pitching depth, the Yankees also called up relief pitchers Stephen Ridings and Brody Koerner, who made their MLB debuts on Tuesday as well. In a smaller transaction, reliever Sal Romano was claimed off waivers by the Brewers after being DFA’d by New York on Friday.
All in a day when Giancarlo Stanton went 2-2, and Anthony Rizzo 2-3 with RISP, all but one Yankees’ hitter had at least one base hit (Joey Gallo). Stanton and Aaron Judge also homered in the attack.
Yankees Creeping Ever So Close
But the best news of the day comes with both the Red Sox (five in a row) and Tampa Bay losing, enabling the Yankees to move within six games of the lead and only two behind in the Wild Card race, thus creating a new look in the AL East standings.
The euphoria of watching the Yankees do what they’re supposed to do is tempered by the fact two of their best starts will miss a minimum of two outings each, depending on the severity of any illness they may endure over the next few days.
According to reports, Cole is fully vaccinated, so if the trend holds that symptoms for those receiving the vaccine are typically mild, the Yankees could welcome him back soon.
The vaccination status of Montgomery has not been released per Yankees policy.
Yankees Pin Their Hopes On Jameson Taillon
Jameson Taillon (today’s Featured Image), who went 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five July starts, will take the ball Wednesday, hoping to provide some stability to the Yankees rotation.
The American League pitcher of the month in July, Taillon underwent a self-appraisal that pushed him into realizing that he was capable of producing more, telling the New York Post, “I kind of told myself, ‘I worked too hard to not be good. I worked too hard just to be mediocre or be struggling and not helping the team.”
Looking to extend a string in which the Yankees have won six of his previous starts, Taillon will need to go deep into tonight’s game, as almost for sure Aaron Boone will need to go to a “bullpen game” for a game sooner, not later.
Nevertheless, in his post-game report, Aaron Boone could afford to be optimistic following all of the day’s events:
Yankees: The Rollercoaster Season Goes On…
We could have almost guessed that in this rollercoaster Yankees’ season, there would be days like this when despondence and elation wrack our heads in conflict.
No team replaces Gerrit Cole and James Montgomery, especially in August when only DFA’d players can only have waiver deals.
Based on the Yankee’s outburst offensively last night, it does appear there’s a will. Now, we’ll see if there’s a way…
Here’s What Readers Are Saying…
Gene VanAmburgh Jr.He’s (presumably Gil) earned another start for sure, I recall in 1964 the Yankees called up Mel Stottlemyer and he was instrumental in them going to the World Series as he won nine games that year, we can only hope history repeats itself!
Pam Concato Tuesday’s game was outstanding! Gil was great!
Theresa Engel Never know which Yankees you’re going to get any night. Just when you think they are getting it together, they crash and burn. Hopefully, we are on an upswing
Rich Sobik New teammates, new chemistry, new outlook. Let’s go on a run now, Go Yankees
John Casale The Yankees have more good players in their farm system than people realize. There are always diamonds in the rough. Let’s hope that is the case with Gil
Gene VanAmburgh Jr., Of course, I’d love to see him have success against the better teams in the league, I don’t mean to downgrade his game last night, he was terrific, I just want to see how he matches up against the stiffer competition! When Cashman went out and got Rizzo and Gallo it gave me a renewed interest in our year, the constant poor play had begun to wear on me. Now it’s exciting to see how we will do for the remainder of the season!
Dan Minehan OK, but I’m becoming more hopeful of a NYY Playoff Berth!
Closing Published Comments Ans Final Thoughts
With the game time approaching, this closes published comments on this article.
Like most of us I suppose, Yankees fans seem willing to hang in there to watch the season play out, but Gallo especially needs to pick it up…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
