Losses big and small

 Yesterday was a tough day for Yankee fans, first and most importantly with the sad news of Whitey Ford's passing. The greatest pitcher in Yankees history, Ford was a native New Yorker who grew up in Queens and lived on Long Island, by all accounts a gentle character with an old-time New York toughness underneath. Then in the evening Gerrit Cole pitched beautifully but ended up losing to the Rays, 2-1, ending the Yankees season. Cole's gallant effort in defeat was reminiscent of Ford's stellar outings in the 1955 and 1960 World Series, which the team lost despite Ford's fantastic pitching. Aaron Boone's questionable pitching decisions in the ALDS pale in comparison to Casey Stengel mishandling the rotation in 1960, causing Ford to pitch only twice instead of three times, which led to Stengel's firing. Hopefully Cole's Yankees will bounce back in 2021 the way Ford's did in 1956 and 1961.

 

It's all coming together?

 Last night, even without Chris the Collector's "help", the Yankees managed to force a Game 5 in the ALDS. The hitting, with home runs by Voit and Torres, was just good enough, and four pitchers pitched very well. They seem to be set up tonight with Gerrit Cole pitching. I'm feeling almost optimistic, which probably means they're doomed. It will be fun though . . . 

Momentum changes quickly

 Everything went poorly for the Yankees yesterday. Tanaka and the relievers provided the Rays another session of home run derby, the offensive outside of Stanton has forgotten how to hit, and Chris the Collector didn't even comment on my post. I'm starting to think he might not even like the Yankees.

Another clunker like the one Tanaka pitched yesterday and the Yankees are done until next season, whenever that may be. So much for the myth about "Playoff Tanaka" . . .

Chris giveth . . . Chris taketh away

Early in Game 1 of the ALDS Chris the Collector commented on my post that he thought the Yankees would score ten runs. They scored nine and won the game. Last night he commented that he would not predict for Game 2, and the Yankees scored just five runs and lost. Chris, since you obviously have magical powers over the Yankees, please predict something good for the Yankees tonight. If you do, and if they win, I'll send you some Red Sox cards.

Another reason the Yankees lost is Aaron Boone's attempt to be smart and "fool" the Rays by switching pitchers after the first inning. Though it's not like he has many good options; the Yankees have given up 15 runs in the two games Gerrit Cole hasn't pitched. Meanwhile, the Yankees hitters read all the headlines about what great home run hitters they are, ruined their swings trying to do home run derby and set a postseason record for striking out.

The real goat, of course, is Giancarlo Stanton. He only hit two home runs when the Yankees needed him to hit four.

The commenter is always right

While last night's game was still 4-3, Chris the Collector commented on my post from yesterday that he thought the Yankees would put up another 10 run effort. He was close - they ended up scoring 9 with a five run ninth. I don't know how much longer the Yankees can keep this together, but I wonder if this will be a more offensive-heavy postseason than usual, without the grind of a full season. The last few years the Yankees would peak in the midsummer - maybe this year October is the equivalent of midsummer, especially playing in warm weather sites. If so that would be a big help for the Yankees, at least until the big muscle guys inevitably start pulling muscles instead of fastballs.

Last night all four home runs were clutch - go-ahead blasts for Frazier and Judge, a game-tier for Higashioka, and the backbreaking grand slam by Stanton in the ninth. Gerrit Cole continues to carry the Yankees pitching staff. Someone else will need to step up and join him. Good thing they have got the steady veteran Masahiro Tanaka going ne - Deivi Garcia? What? OK, we'll see . . . 

ALDS preview

 The Yankees start their next round tonight against the best team in the American League. The Yankees lost eight out of ten to Tampa Bay during the regular season, but they have their injured players who missed those games back for the postseason, although some are probably due to pull a muscle or two during this series. Can the Yankees attack Tampa Bay's pitching the way they did Cleveland's? Can they get their own act together on the mound? We're about to find out. The biggest wild card might be the neutral site. We'll soon see who is helped more by playing in San Diego's Petco Park. 

1981 Topps Stan Bahnsen

 

The front: Here's Bahnsen in Spring Training at Daytona Beach. None of the ads on the wall have been scratched out.

The back: His fifteen-year career did not leave room for an information blurb.

The player: Stan Bahnsen, "The Bahnsen Burner", had some good years with some bad Yankee teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In five seasons he went 55-52 with a 3.10 ERA. He was traded to the White Sox and never really had the same success, despite lasting for another 11 years in the majors for five more teams. Overall in 574 games he went 146-149 with a 3.60 ERA.

The man: After his playing career Bahnsen went into the celebrity cruise industry, recruiting former teammates to appear on celebrity cruises for the MSC Cruise company.

My collection: I have 21 of his cards, from 1967 to 1982. I would be interested in trading for 1970 Topps #568 and 1972 Topps #662.

Cardboard Cousins: 1954 Topps/2000 Fleer Tradition

 Like Upper Deck Vintage, Fleer Tradition often stole from Topps designs. The 2000 set is a ripoff of 1954 Topps. I don't have many '54s but managed to find a team match with #202 - Pirates Bob Purkey and Pat Meares. The fielding poses are even kind of similar from card to card.

It was tough to find a good connection between these two. In 1965, Purkey was a St. Louis Cardinal, where one of his teammates was a rookie named Steve Carlton. Carlton's last season was with the 1988 Twins, managed by Tom Kelly, who also managed Meares when he made his big league debut with the Twins in 1993.

Wax Pack Wonders never cease

 I got another nice PWE from my newest trading buddy Wax Pack Wonders.

Some modern set fillers.

And some great vintage cards! Two from '71 Topps, one from '62 Post, and one each from 1970 Topps and O-Pee-Chee. The Ed Stroud O-Pee-Chee is a "perfect miscut", a term I just invented. The miscut occurs exactly along the top and left borders!

Here is a closer view on a dark background.

Who needs pitching?

It's not that often you can slug your way to a win in October, but that's what the Yankees did last night. Their own pitching was pretty bad, but home runs from the G & G & G boys (Giancarlo, Gio and Gary) kept the Yankees in the game. Aroldis Chapman pitched a great ninth inning after the bullpen had blown two previous leads, bearing down after Gary Sanchez's passed ball on what should have been a game-ending strikeout to avoid disaster. 

On to San Diego to play the Rays. Yankees were 2-8 against Tampa this year. The Rays won't make the mistakes the Indians did, so the Yankees better be ready. Hopefully the warm California weather will keep the Yankees' bats hot.

(I couldn't resist showing Gio on an Indians card.)