In Between the Pinstripes #42

In between the Pinstripes_42: Back from the dead
I love this team. This game was one of the greatest games I’ve ever witnessed. The ups and downs of this game were like any other. The only game that compares to this is the game in May against the Orioles. The Wild Card Game doesn’t hold up, I can only really say is “WOW.”

From a great start by Sonny Gray going 5+ scoreless only to walk George Springer, have Josh Reddick reach on catcher’s interference call, to being pulled after ball one to Jose Altuve. David Robertson gave up a ringing double down the left field line to go down 3-0. Starlin Castro (my favorite Yankee) had two key errors including one in the top of the 7th to go down 4-0. After that Judge homers, Didi triples, and Sanchez hits a sac-fly in the bottom of the 7th. After a scoreless 8th by Chad Green, it gets crazier from here.

In the bottom of the 8th, Frazier walks, Headley pinch hits for Romine (which is important) then doubles, falls down, BARELY gets in under the tag at second, Judge doubles (the Stadium erupts), Didi walks, and Sanchez puts the nail in the coffin (sending the Stadium into the stratosphere. In a matter of minutes I went from calling for Joe Girardi’s job for pinch hitting for Romine to completely forgetting that happened, running around my apartment, and screaming in pure excitement.

When the game was 4-0 in the bottom of the 7th I began to think how I was going to start this column, all I could think of was “as the saying goes ‘the ball will find you’ and that was exactly what happened today.” That still holds true with Romine’s catcher’s interference call and going 0-2 at the plate after he was called upon to catch Sonny Gray.

Lifting Romine for Headley almost made my head explode. Not only do I hate when Girardi DH’s Sanchez and puts Romine behind the plate but to lose the DH in the 8th inning in a big game I couldn’t handle it. Plus, it was Headley who was 0 for his last 17 up until that point, only to add almost getting thrown out after falling down completely. HOWEVER, and this is a big one, it worked. It worked, and Girardi looks like a genius. Call it what you will, whether he was due, or you believe in the baseball gods, Girardi made two big time calls [catching Romine to begin with, and then pinch-hitting for him] and he will be the hero because of it.

Not only that but not switching up the top of the order with Judge and Sanchez worked. He ridded the ship with them and that cashed in at the same time. Big time win to top it off regardless of the comeback—because you know have a best of three series with the two hottest pitchers on your staff, C.C. and Tanaka with Severino in between the two. You’ll have all three on full rest, and you have the pleasure of coming back at home with Tanaka on the mound.


Yes, the bombers do face the guy who they haven’t beaten in what seems like forever in Dallas Keuchel, but this team has proven that NOTHING is impossible. I know the word that has been used to describe this team is “resilience” but that is what they truly are. This group doesn’t quite no matter what. And, that is makes them so fun to watch, and such a lovable bunch. I honestly, love this team, this is my favorite team out of all 16 or 17 teams that I have seen play in the pinstripes. What a game, what a series, what a year. It’s all tied up for Tanaka Time tomorrow in the Bronx. A huge thumbs down as the chase for 28 is alive and well. Let’s go Yanks.  

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