2019 MLB Playoffs Thread

I just want to know what the hell is going on in Houston where they improve every pitcher's velocity and spin rate.

Same thing teams are wondering when they see Gio, Tauchman, Didi and others come here and explode as hitters. They definitely have a think tank down in Houston. Hopefully the Yankees are building one now with the hires they made this past year.

Yea, I was watching it and rooting hard for them to come through in the 9th. Hopefully, the Rays can take the next game and not get swept. Give Houston a little challenge at least.

That was probably Tampa’s best shot.

Yeah, why didn’t the Yankees sign and trade for everyone that’s any good? Don’t they know the best fans in the world who can only root for their team when victory is guaranteed deserve it?   [img alt="" class="smile" src="//storage.proboards.com/6828121/images/cYJDdrfMoRBryreIqHCt.gif"]

You’re not really linking us to any surprising information there, Russ. The Yankees have also been crystal clear in pointing out their fiscal goals. Yet, I wonder how many teams might wish they had the luxury of the pitching staff the Yankees run out there?

We’re now on the back end of what was at one time an expensive and highly desirable relationship with Charles Sabathia, the Tanaka signing was certainly admired by many and is still capable of returning benefits.

All James Paxton (obtained at a lesser cost due to his questionable health) must do is remain healthy and he can be as good as anyone’s ace. J A Happ was never meant to be more than a back end starter, and when you look at the records of back end starters you’ll find he fits the mold.

And then you get Severino. If he returns to form he’ll also be an ace that is something any team would like to have, which is a home grown ace. No need to trade for him, right? No need to get into German, but if not for an apparent need for extreme behavior modification we would have another potential ace in development.

So really, when you look at the staff the question is who you would have disposed of and when to justify a huge expense item that would have killed a fiscal plan that was about five years in development. Then you also have to consider the depth pieces that the team was readily able to afford because they didn’t spend the huge money on what is essentially a dying breed, the ace starter that can pitch six or seven innings per game. Even those pitchers do not come with a warranty.

Add to that that Yankees realized that they could obtain much less expensive arms to enter the game in the sixth or seventh inning and guess what? It’s brilliant! When you see it that way you should have one of those “Why didn’t I think of that” moments. Instead, you’ll more likely think something like..... ...

The interesting thing about that article is that we were several months into what would turn out to be this cool 103-win season when some one from Yanks Go Yard wanted to write a negative viewpoint article to appeal to the noetsi side of the fan base. Since it’s impossible to write one at a time like that, you must be inventive and creative.

Why didn’t we sign Yu Darvish? He implored before answering his own question and remarking what a good thing we didn’t...Why didn't we sign Lance Lynn? he implored before answering his own question. Really, was Lynn EXPECTED to have the season he’s had. These were basically added to fill the space he was allotted because the “real” pitchers we “should have” signed is a short list. And even those were questionable. Keuchel and Verlander were showing some signs that they were on the downside of their careers, and Cole was still looking to take the next step forward, but had lost a bit off his fastball after injury.

Would Cole Hamels really have been a difference maker? Really? I don’t think so. And none of those signings would have fit the game plan from the financial aspect, which would mean the lineup, bullpen, depth, some other aspect would have suffered. That might have meant we had one more really good pitcher to work 30 days of the season, all while having a lesser team the other 132 days.

We were 20-11 on days when J A Happ pitched. How much better could we have expected that day to turn out?...