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A New York Yankees Diary – Day One – September 11th, 2024

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Last time in New York, I was following Steely Dan on tour as they accompanied the Eagles on their “Long Goodbye” – that was the Eagles goodbye, not the Dan’s (but who can tell). This time I’m once more working on a commission to watch baseball and report on the New York Yankees. Tough life.

Having flown into JFK on the 9th, I took a “jetlag” day on the 10th, and reported to the Stadium on the 11th. Significant date. 23rd anniversary of that horrible day. The Yankees placed their memorials. Police officers sang the National Anthem and God Bless America.

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The New York Yankees in August – Part One – The Batters (2024)

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The New York Yankees are not the team they were in the first months of the season, but they have improved from the form that they were showing in June and July.

In August, they went 14-12. They managed to return to 1st position in the American League – and opened up a 1 1/2 game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. It could be better, but not what’s not to like right?

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The New York Yankees in July – Part One – The Batters (2024)

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So, the Yankees June slump has come and gone. And the July trading deadline has come and gone too.

Sadly, things don’t break down into nice monthly intervals in the real world or in the sports world.

So, between the beginning of the month and the 9th of this seventh month, the Yankees won 1 and lost 6. Between then and the 26th, the Bronx Bombers went 5-7. Finally, it did appear that they had turned the corner in the last 5 days of July with a 5-0 sprint to end the month.

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The New York Yankees in June – Part Two – The Pitchers (2024)

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If the Yankees batting fell apart in June (with the exception of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge – it’s becoming like a mantra), then the pitching, particularly the starting rotation also hit massive problems.

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The New York Yankees in June – Part One – The Batters (2024)

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In May, the Yankees were probably tied with the Philadelphia Phillies as the best team in baseball. They were certainly the best team in the American League.

In June, it all began to collapse around them, On the month, they were only 14-13 (compared to 21-7 in May). More remarkably and significantly, in the second half of June they were 4-9.

Aaron Judge and Luis Soto remained strong, but what had gone wrong?

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The New York Yankees in May – Part One – The Batters (2024)

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The New York Yankees had a sensational month in May. They went 21-7 and dominated the league and their division.

Aaron Judge, who had struggled in April, bounced back with strength. Juan Soto continued at the high level he set in April. Their starting pitchers exceeded expectations. The bullpen had as much depth as anticipated.

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The New York Yankees in March / April – Part One – The Batters (2024)

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The Yankees settled into their groove right from the beginning of the season this time out. By the end of March, they were 4-0 and in first place in the American League East.

By the end of April, they had slipped back to 2nd in the division, but only by one game behind the Baltimore Orioles.

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The New York Yankees in September / October – Part One – The Batters (2023)

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At the end of August, Brian Cashman (Yankees’ General Manager) said “It’s been a disaster of a season. We’re embarassed by it”.

This came, of course, with the Yankees’ usual gift for hyperbole. It was what the less thoughtful fans wanted to hear, and it just built things towards the inevitable firestorm.

For Hal Steinbrenner, and those at the financial helm of the Yankees, it had of course been disastrous. They looked like they were going to miss the post-season (they still had an outside chance when the statement was made – and that would be a tremendous financial loss. They had cut Aaron Hicks, and Josh Donaldson was about to go down the same route. They would carry the can for those poorly chosen signings and their contracts.

But they have finished the season over .500, and were just about to pull themselves up by their bootstraps with a 17-11 last month plus of the season, and move above the old enemy, Boston Red Sox into 4th place in the American League East.

So, really not good, but not a disaster. It gave them a chance to look at some developing young players (not everything went smoothly as we shall see), and to re-examine their priorities. Some fans will still spit and cuss, but that’s a given. Here’s the batting stats for September and October.

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New York Yankees Diary – September 24th, 2023

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And there was rain… New York rain.

Yesterday, there was no game. Today, a 51 minute delay, but there was a game.

For 3 hours and 2 minutes we sat out in the rain. Before the game, at least we were able to have friendly conversation with Ed Alstrom, the Yankees organist of the day. That chat and the free food in the Stadium suites was more enjoyable than sitting in the rain and watching this game.

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New York Yankees Diary – September 22nd, 2023

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The Yankees went into their last home series of 2023. In reality, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ record on the season isn’t that much stronger than the Yankees, but they are in a much weaker division – and, therefore, whilst the Yankees will finish fourth or fifth, Arizona will finish second or third.

Today, the Yankees sent Luke Weaver to the mound, who is trying to rebuild his career, whilst Brandon Pfaadt (pronounced “Fought”) is trying first time around to establish a Major League career.

Weaver started the season at Cincinnati, and then when the Reds released him, he was signed by Seattle. The Mariners placed him on waivers, and the Yankees claimed a couple of days later. His career might seem to be on the garbage heap, if he can’t turn things around soon. His first game for the Yankees came in Pittsburgh where he pitched four innings for 3 runs. Tonight, he had a second opportunity to turn it all around and rebuild his career.

Pfaardt went into this game with a 2-8 record on the season, His Earned Run Average stood at 5.86.

It was not hard to predict that the outcome of the game depended primarily on the two teams’ batting performance on the night.

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