Yanks drop second straight game to Tampa Bay

By On September 28, 2011 · 5 Comments · In Game Recaps

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

I admittedly haven’t been watching much baseball since the Yankees clinched their playoff spot last Wednesday, and so I didn’t see a single inning of last night’s 5-3 loss to the Rays. This feeling of ennui in the aftermath of Yankee losses is a weird one — one that will undoubtedly be shaken off come 8:37pm Friday night — but also represents an enjoyable reprieve after 155 games of caring deeply about the outcome of a given Yankee game.

In fact, I couldn’t help but be mildly annoyed to see the Yankees leading 3-2 through six innings while Boston jumped out to a commanding lead over the Baltimore as I checked my BlackBerry for the score. Thankfully (again, weird to be typing this) gave up a three-run homer to Matt Joyce to put the Rays ahead for good, ensuring that the tie for the Wild Card would live another day.

Probably the most important takeaway from this game was that was able to go 5.1 innings and only surrender two runs. While the length may not have been ideal, this was still a step in the right direction for Bart after two straight sub-par outings. He’s still likely destined for the ‘pen in the playoffs, but given that the Yankees will have half their starting rotation in the bullpen they’ll have plenty of arms to soak up innings in the postseason.

The Yankee offense was pretty quiet yet again — a recurring theme in September, a month in which they’ve averaged 4.74 runs per game, down from their 5.34 seasonal average, though still above the AL average of 4.47  — but really few if any judgments can be made regarding this team’s performance in September, a month in which they’ve not only done whatever they can to get many key players extra rest, but have basically been playing exhibition games during its final week.

The team closes the regular season out tonight in a game that will basically be giftwrapped for the Rays on a silver platter, as the Yankees not only aren’t trotting out a real starting pitcher, but will also be resting as many players as possible with only one off day between the end of the season and start of the playoffs. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Baltimore tonight, as the Red Sox must win in order to force a Game 163 with Tampa Bay tomorrow.

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5 Responses to Yanks drop second straight game to Tampa Bay

  1. Paradox13VA says:
    September 28, 2011 at 9:25 am

    I want us to win tonight. I know these games don’t “matter” in the classic sense, but they matter to me, as a fan. And I want us to close the season with a win. I want a win at our backs going into the ALDS. I understand resting players, I understand the strategy of lineup management going into the post-season. But simply as a Yankees fan, with the last regular season game of a fantastic season on the line, I want a win.

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  2. Mike Jaggers-Radolf says:
    September 28, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Whatever happens tonight, the Yankees have done their jobs well. Win or lose in Tampa, Boston and the Rays are forced to use their best pitchers tonight, while the Yankees can rest as many players as they like. That’s a huge disadvantage for whichever AL East team wins the Wild Card. Truth be told, I feel that either the Rays or the Red Sox would be a dangerous opponent in the ALCS, more dangerous than either the Tigers or Rangers.

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  3. Professor Longnose says:
    September 28, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Yeah, but it’s not necessarily an advantage for the Yankees. The Red Sox or Rays won’t play the Yankees in the first round. If they bow out quickly, that will help the Rangers or Tigers line up their starters to hit the Yankees if they make it to the second round.

    Reply
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    September 28, 2011 at 10:18 pm

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