The Yankees Were Forced To Make Normal Baseball Plays In Game 2 Against The Rays And Once Again Fully Embarrassed Themselves
It's truly the definition of insanity writing this blog, but hey here we are again. It's the postseason, the Yankees are playing a real team that preaches fundamentals in the field and at the plate, and they can't hang. They simply do not know what to do when pressure is put on them in the field or when it comes to creating runs without the home run ball.
You always feel good handing the ball to Cam Schlittler in a big game, but asking him to get 6 outs in the first inning is outrageous. You can't win that way with anyone on the mound. Well, that's exactly how this game started.
First came McMahon's error on the first Rays at bat of the game. An easy ground ball to 3rd. McMahon's only existence on this roster is to play a good 3rd base, something he's struggled at this year more than any season of his previously. He proved once again he does not deserve to be out there.
Next up was Jazz, who might as well have been throwing the game out there with his play.
Good news by the way, Jazz doesn't think he did anything wrong here.
He's going to make an amazing Los Angeles Angel next year.
Just when Cam was about to pick up an easy out by himself, Austin Wells had to reach and get called for catcher's interference, negating the strikeout and awarding Liam Hicks first base.
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For fuck's sake, if not for Lombard's great foot work and quick thinking, Jazz commits their 4th error of the INNING here.
Amazingly enough Cam pitched his way out of that chaos only allowing just one run. Unfortunately for him, things wouldn't get easier. Every inning besides the 4th was filled with baserunners and stress. Eventually the Rays made him crack in the 5th, retaking the lead and ending his night. Was it Cam's best stuff? By no means, but I don't fault him for anything that happened in the game. If anything the Yankees were given the opportunity to be in the game far longer than they should have because of how good he was. By the time the 5th inning rolled around he was gassed and the Rays hitters began to tee off. That's what happens when you make a guy get three extra outs right away.
Credit to the Rays also, they make every play in the field at an exceptional level and they put the ball in play relentlessly. They don't give you an inch. They know how to move runners and grind out at bats with men on base, just like Palacios did against Headrick in the 5th.
The game ended right there. This Yankees lineup just isn't good enough to battle back from that deficit against these Rays relievers. They had one inning of life and that came in the 5th with Peralta knocked out. Bellinger gave it a ride, threatening a grand slam, only to fly out to the track. A home run in 12/30 parks, but not the Trop.
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Tampa is just the better team. They know how to play the game against good teams in big moments. The Yankees once again just show up to October and prove to the world they've learned nothing. They think the postseason is a crapshoot, but when you refuse to get better and don't fix your glaring mistakes you're never going to hit the lotto like they think they will. The Dodgers showed everyone in 2024 how easy it was to beat them.
Toronto did it last year and now it's Tampa's turn. All the Yankees can do these days is beat Boston. That used to be the team that would stand in their way of the World Series. Now they're just the early cupcake before the real test happens. So far they've shown they have full intentions of failing that test once again.
They've got two at home here and I'm not saying dead yet, but the fat lady is getting ready to sing. Shake up the lineup man.
Get Jazz and McMahon out of my life and throw in Volpe+Caballero for some spark. It can't hurt because the current answer is the wrong one.