The Basement View

  Aaron Boone’s bullpen usage cost the Yankees last night. It is a double-edged sword with the way a manager decides to use his bullpen, but in a game that was in the Yankees hands, Aaron Boone gave a nice present to the Baltimore Orioles. And before you come at me with “if Boone took Cortes out with only 77 pitches last night after six the Stadium would’ve booed relentlessly, and they still would have lost.” The second half of that statement is possibly true, if Aaron Boone didn’t allow Nestor Cortes to go out for the 7 th inning Baltimore still could’ve won the game, but the Yankee manager would’ve extended his team’s chances of winning for another inning. The Yankees best option to go into the 8 th inning with the lead was sitting the bullpen because Aaron Boone was staying away from him because he pitched the night prior. No, it wasn’t Michael King or Ron Marinaccio who both threw 20-plus pitches the night before, it was Wandy Peralta. Who faced three batters, retired them in...

  Last night in the Bronx was the first moment for Anthony Volpe in a Yankee uniform; and just another moment for Yankees Captain Aaron Judge. This win came on the heels of a lack luster start by Yankee Ace Gerrit Cole who went five, gave up five, walked three, and only struck out two (one of which was his 2,000 th strike out [becoming the third fastest pitcher to reach the feat]). Anthony Rizzo and Harrison Bader also gave their best efforts at the plate with the Bombers first baseman collecting three hits, and their center fielder driving in two important runs. The Yankee bullpen did their job keeping Baltimore off the scoreboard and allowing the lineup to get back in the game. Felix Bautista, the second half of Baltimore’s back Dynamic Duo out of their bullpen,  was uncharacteristic, giving up a game-tying home run to Aaron Judge with one out in the bottom of the 9 th . That long ball was only the second home run surrendered by the Baltimore right-hander and just the 8 th ...