Game 7 ALCS Recap and also a peak at what the offseason should look like for this young Yankees crew.

Game 7 Recap and What’s Next for The Yankees?

Pre-Game

The Astros and the Yankees squared off on Saturday night; in a very highly anticipated Game 7 ALCS matchup. The Yankees sent C.C. Sabathia to the mound; to guide the Yankees to the newsstand to spread the news. C.C Sabathia was pitching a very well Postseason for the Yankees. Most of the time only able to go 5; being the 2nd starter. Would usually be a very big  problem. Not with this Yankees bullpen, going into the game with a 1.94 ERA in the postseason; 2nd among active teams. Sabitha knew he only had to 5; and with his young bats this, put the Yankees as the my pre-game favorite.

The Astros on the other hand; were going into Game 7 with a big 7-1 win the night before. Behind our Athlete of the Week; and Astros ace this Postseason, Justin Verlander. The Astros bats caught some fire; after not being able to score for 16 innings in Yankees stadium. In the 5th the Astros scored 3. Then scored 4 in the 8th to catch some magic in Houston. Behind the rubber arm of Verlander; a shaky 1 run earned 8th inning from Brad Peacock. With Ken Giles coming in the 9th to help the Astros get the W; and close out the game forcing a Game 7 in Houston. The Astros really only had some hopeful hot bats from last night going into this one. They sent Charlie Morton to the mound; who had 10.79 ERA in 3 starts going into Game 7. They needed him to pitch well; at least 6 or 7 innings. Which was a lot to ask; this Astros bullpen can’t go as long as the Yankees pen. This is the position you are in when your regular season ace Dallas Keuchel can’t get a win in a hostile environment of Yankee stadium in Game 5. However the bats of Houston might of woke up; and with some Morton miracle the Astros have a shot in stopping this rebuilding process of the Yankees from becoming a perfect master piece.  

Game 7 Innings 1-3

Charlie Morton looked to prove the numbers wrong when he stepped to the hill. As he did in the top of the 1st with a 1-2-3 inning. Sabitha pitched a very easy 1st as well escaping it with no runs allowed. Morton composer wasn’t shaken either in the 2nd; as he made the Yankees hitters look at strikes, and fly out in the 2nd. However Sabathia and the Yankees had a scary moment in the 2nd. With 0 outs 2-0 count to Yuli Gurriel; who at the time was hitting .378 in the Postseason, was at the plate. He gets the hold of one of Sabathia’s pitches, and gives it a ride to right field. However Judge read the ball perfectly; and as we do for him, he rose up and caught the ball. Bringing it back in the game; and stopping the Astros from taking an early 1-0 lead. Besides that scare the 1st to 3rd inning was quiet; with good pitching from Morton and Sabathia. Both starters were proving the numbers wrong, and looked like we may have a pitching showdown in Houston.

Game 7 Innings 4-6

The 4th through the 6th is when the action started to come up in this showdown. Not for the Yankees though in the 4th; Charlie Morton escapes a scare from the Yankees lineup in the top half of the 4th. He however survived, and walks off the mound still tied 0-0 a piece. This was not the Yankees 4th , like they wished it was. Sabitha already up to 48 pitches going into the 4th, but no worries the Yankees have either the 2nd or best bullpen in the Postseason. First though you have to give that bullpen a lead to secure a win. Evan Gattis the first batter of the inning; wanted to make that task a little harder for the Yankees. As he does on 2-2 pitch first batter of the inning. Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis takes Sabitha yard to right center; giving the Astros some momentum awakening this Houston crowd in Game 7, as they did in Game 6. Sabathia would be pulled that inning; only giving the Yankees 3.1 innings; bringing in Tommy Kahnle out of the pen to calm this Houston offense down 1-0.

The Yankees though do not give up so fast. Morton working with an 1-0 lead, faces a jam in the 5th. With runners at the corners 1 out; Todd Frazier comes up to the plate. He works the count to be 1-1. Then the next pitch he hits a chopper to Bergman the 3rd baseman; a tough play for him to get the runner at home. However he was already playing in; Bergman fields the ball cleaning and fires it home. Former Yankee catcher Brian McCann puts the tag down and gets the tying run in Greg Bird at home. Morton gets the next batter to escape the top of the 5th; and give the bats back to this Houston offense.   

The Houston Astros got it going against this Yankee bullpen in the 5th. With 1 out in the 5th; Jose Altuve came up to the plate. Who was one of the few Astros hitting this Postseason. In 1-1 count; Altuve decides to take Kahnle pitch the opposite way, into a place where Judge can’t get it this time; 8 rows deep into the Astros right field stands. With his 5th home run this Postseason, and homering in back to back nights; giving the Astros a 2-0 lead. Fast Forward to later in the inning. Brian McCann came up against Kahnle. Kahnle has worked himself into quite a jam in this one. Runners at the corners, 2 outs, bottom 5. McCann waits until his pitch on 2-2; and takes that ball down the line in right. Correa and Gurriel scored from 1st and 3rd giving the Astros a 4-0 lead with their home stadium rocking in the 5th.

The 6th was easy for both teams. As the Astros pull Charlie Morton after not giving up a run with 5 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. They gave the ball to Lance McCullers Jr in the 6th; who would look to get the Astros closer to the promise land. He pitched a scoreless 6th. So did Yankees 2nd bullpen pitcher on the night Adam Warren . As he pitches a scoreless 6th as well. The Astros are now 9 outs away from a World Series going into the 7th.

Game 7 Innings 7-9

The 7th inning through the 9th was just putting down the Yankees inning by inning. Any little spark the Yankees made; the Astros put it quick, fast, and in a hurry to get to LA. In the 7th Astros McCullers 2nd pitch of the inning to Greg Bird was taken into left center deep. Watching it on the tube; you could tell center fielder George Springer, and left fielder Marwin Gonzalez were both calling it. Neither one heard the other especially Springer. As Gonzalez camps under the fly ball with his back to the wall. Springer jumps over Gonzalez not knowing he was there. Usually this is a setup for disaster. Not in this one Springer catches Bird’s fly ball; flies onto the ground, and holds on for an incredible catch.

As nothing goes on in the game besides McCullers dominating this Yankee lineup; and the Yankees bullpen keeping the score the same. Until the top of the 9th; when McCullers Jr is still pitching. With 2 outs in the 9th; the Astros 1 out away from a dance with the Dodgers in the World Series. Greg Bird comes up with the same cast of characters in the last play. On McCullers 2-0 pitch, Greg Bird flies this ball high but shallow to center. George Springer camps under it; catches the ball; and the Astros win the pennant.

What a run for these young Yankees but it’s the Astros story in Game 7. Overcoming 3 losses in the Bronx; going down 3-2 coming home to Houston. They did what they had to in Game 6 and 7 to clinch the AL pennant. They are going to the World Series for the first time since 2005; when they lost to the White Sox. The Astros become to first team to go to the World Series once as in NL team in 2005, and as an AL team this time around.

What’s Next for the Yankees?

After a surprise 2017 season for the Yankees. They have some questions going into this offseason. Yes this is a heart breaking loss for fans and the Yankees themselves. It should be all smiles going into this offseason for all kinds of reasons. This year was looked at as a rebuilding year. Which the Yankees have been in for the last 3 years. Yankee fans were starting to switch to Mets fans; they lacked winning so much in the past few seasons. The Mets went to a World Series and a Wild Card game in this time. Of course Yankee fans are going to fence jump; I mean you didn’t hear from any Yankee fan in April. However the Yankees brought their fans back to base with this run. Being 27 outs from the World Series ain’t to shabby for “rebuilding.”

The Yankees play in the shortest ballpark in the majors this season; and every season unless some team decides their team is a little league team. The Yankees however did not lack offense this season. They were 1st in home runs in the majors, which only makes sense in that ballpark; with young stud Aaron Judge 2nd in the MLB in the category. Behind Giancarlo Stanton’s  59; Judge hit 52 homers for the Yankees. They were also 2nd in RBI's, and 3rd in on base percentage with a .339 average. On base is a big one for these Yankees; they were able to work pitchers this season. With being 7th in batting average, and 2nd in RBI's this only makes sense how the Yankees were so explosive. This offseason they shouldn’t look to improve hitting to much they have a lot of tools. Maybe go and get Mike Moustakas from free agency. Besides that sign veteran players like a Frazier or Holiday; and keep what you are doing going in that category Yankees.  

The Yankees defense in the field however is not the best. This young Yankee squad needs to become better at fielding for them to get to the next level. The next level being the 28th world champion team the Yankees produce. However this doesn’t throw away the stat that they were 17th in errors this season. In the league’s bottom in errors with 95. I expect them with age to get better in this category. They had a lot of young stars playing for them; the nerves of Yankee stadium could of gotten to them. Or they just aren’t that good at fielding to begin the day with. I know Didi Gregorius is not defensive Derek Jeter but he will improve; just like Jeter did when he came up. Not saying he will be Jeter, just saying he will get better at this fielding. Gardner is getting older and the Yankees should find someone so he doesn’t play everyday. Not saying he can’t, but maybe some fresh legs would help improve that 18th in the MLB fielding percentage. The fielding problem will come together for the Yankees; not much to worry about though.  

One area however the Yankees can only get stronger in, is the bullpen of course. That bullpen of course if nothing but great in this regular and postseason. They pitched the 3rd lowest ERA in the regular season with a 3.34 ERA. This regular season they made it look easy getting batters out; striking out the 2nd most in the MLB with 653. This bullpen didn’t stop there. They were the biggest piece for the Yankees; and manager Joe Girardi on this crazy run. They pitched their way to a 2.94 ERA this postseason. 3rd in the Postseason; only trailing a team they beat in Cleveland, and what it looks like the unstoppable Dodgers. The Yankees just locked up Chapman to a 5 year deal last offseason. Now it’s time lock up Betances to a big contract as well; if they want to keep the dominance from this pen coming.  

This bullpen was built because the Yankees thought the starters were either too old or not good enough this season to give them 7 innings every time around. They really didn’t have a true ace this season. Nonetheless Yankees starters knew their role, and came up big. Being 5th in ERA with a 3.72; and 5th in innings pitched with 1448.2. These starters were shocking the world this season; keeping the opposing team score low while batters only averaged a .228 batting average against the Yankee starters, 2nd in the MLB. Even though how big these starters came out this year. As the Yankees you can’t expect that twice. They need to go out and spend money on an ace. If they can get Jake Arrieta or Yu Darvish proven talent in the regular and postseason. This contracts will be high which is no problem for the Yankees. However if it somehow is they should go get Lance Lynn not a proven postseason starter but can do well with this Yankee bullpen.

Now what should the Yankees do at manager? Joe Girardi manager since 2009 has won a World Series with the team but has had his open and downs. His contract is up this offseason. He’s 910-710 with the Yankees considering the squads he’s had it should be a higher win total. He missed the postseason 3 years in a row; which is uncommon in Yankee land. If he didn't have a good season it was off with him. Which all Yankees fans were calling for him to be fired when Lindor hit that grand slam of Game 2 in the ALDS. Right after Girardi’s  catcher asked him to challenge the previous play. He did not, and Lindor and the Indians came back from 7-1 that night to win. However he did respond bringing his young team to the ALCS. In my opinion the Yankees should still have him walk. He has only won once with all these good teams put in front of him. In Yankee land it's the World Series or nothing. He’s only gotten 1 and that was in his first season. I’m calling for the Yankees to either let Girardi sign a 1 year deal and see what he does. Or stop wasting time and get former Yankee 1st baseman Don Mattingly from the Marlins or just let Jeter fire him. Mattingley has built that Dodgers team that Dave Roberts just manages. He guided the Marlins to a 2nd place spot in the NL East; a spot they shouldn’t have been. It’s time for a shakeup at the Yankees helm if you ask me.  

The Yankees had a wonderful season; and will have plenty more. With the signing of Betances and other starter or bat. The Yankees could be jumping with joy for that 28th World Title soon.

By

Matthew Doherty