Yankees playoffs: The baby bombers are serving notice in the ALDS

The Yankees rose up in games three and four of the American League Division Series. And it’s the Baby Bombers who are learning, leading and finding redemption.

The Yankees front office has to be thrilled with their rebuilding timeline if a bit bewildered.

By early 2015, they must have looked at the organization and felt comfortable that by the following year, the Yankees would be a team in transition.

Highly valued prospects Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird were sure to be called up by the start of the season where they would begin to mix with veterans such as Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

That transition would move into high gear in 2017 as more young, talented farmhands filled out the roster. They hoped it would all result in at least an ALDS appearance.

But Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi were still just dreaming on players such as Aaron Judge and Luis Severino and worried that Didi Gregorius would never hit lefties. And so the veterans would surely be the key to 2017.

The Yankees brain trust knew CC Sabathia, Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez would have to carry the baby bombers while they spent their first postseason learning tough lessons. After all, it is not unusual for players to struggle in their first playoffs.

That vision, of the 2017 New York Yankees in at least the ALDS, has been realized. But instead of needing veteran guidance, the baby bombers are providing all the poise. And the power.

They are learning lessons, and even teaching a few. Some have found redemption, while others have rediscovered their confidence. It has all added up to the Yankees fighting back to tie this series with a chance to become even more anachronistic.

A Bad Postseason Performance

However, before we look at what they have done so well, a quick word on my recent work, not done quite so well. Namely, my recent playoff predictions. I said the Red Sox would beat the Astros; they didn’t. Then I said the Nationals would advance to the World Series; they are currently down 2-1 to the Cubs.

And of course, I said the Yankees would lose in four to the Indians. No matter how happy I am to be wrong, nothing can change that I was indeed wrong. So, no more postseason predictions for 2017. I clearly suck at them real, real, bad.

The Baby Yankees, on the other hand, are growing into playoff contenders right before our eyes.

Beyond the Numbers

Yankees fans have a right to be a bit ambivalent about Aaron Judge in the ALDS. The biggest of baseball’s big men is batting just .067/.263/.133 with only one hit, albeit a double. He’s only scored once but has accounted for two of the Yankees RBIs.

But his performance to-date proves that baseball is a game that must be seen and not just read about in the stat sheets. Judge has a special baseball quality about him; several of these young Yankees do. He has impacted the game on the field far beyond his numbers, and, my guess is, in the locker room, as well.

His double in Game 4 was not the biggest hit of the game, but it felt like it affected the game the most. The impartial announcers certainly saw it that way, and so, seemingly, did the Yankees. And that, perhaps, because it turned the Yankees offense outburst from a molehill to a mountain.

Or it might be because his teammates know that when Judge starts making contact, good things are about to happen.

But his most important contribution is the catch he made in game three. Poised and perfectly placed, Aaron made a series-saving catch for the ages. Almost as important, he did so like he was catching a routine fly ball in the middle of June.

Of course, a little perspective will help Yankees universe appreciate the rest of Aaron’s underwhelming accomplishments.

Not Enough A-Bombs

Aaron has already hit as many postseason home runs (1) as A-Rod did in 13 postseason games from 2005-2007. And it’s one more than he hit in 21 games from 2010-2012. Postseason home runs drive a team’s success; hitting one in your first playoff game is both producing and promising.

Aaron also already proved he did not need veteran leadership to learn a crucial October lesson: Never let your struggles in one aspect of the game affect the others. Judge has added zero extra-base hits in the ALDS.

But he has continued to take his walks. That isn’t nearly as good as hitting deep drives down the lines, but it shows Judge is playing under control. And applying pressure to the other team. His walk in the sixth inning in Game 3 started a series of dominoes that, once fallen, resulted in the Yankees’ season-saving story.

Because Judge took his walk instead of flailing and failing, he wound up on third base. In a scoreless game. That put a lot of pressure on Indians SP Carlos Carrasco, and the rest of the Indians as well. It also extended the batting order, eventually bringing Starlin Castro to the plate.

That was all manager Terry Francona could handle. He switched pitchers probably earlier than he wanted and that led to disaster for the Indians in the seventh. Had Carrasco finished the inning, and Miller allowed to come in fresh to start the seventh, things might have gone differently.

An Argument to be Had

Some would argue that I make too much out of a walk in the sixth that led to no runs. But every play is tied to the next in a baseball game, and those bonds get much tighter in the playoffs. Another lesson the baby bombers seem already to know: There are no small plays in the postseason.

And Judge has not let his offensive struggles affect his defense, either. It was because he kept his composure that he was able to put himself in position to make the key defensive play to save the Yankees season. And Masahiro Tanaka.

The Yankees Rising Son

Not that the Hiro needed much saving. Another young Yankee—Tanaka is still just 28—is today the living embodiment of another playoff trueism, that a single great playoff performance can redeem a lost season.

That is not meant to say that Tanaka didn’t contribute to the success of the Yankees season. His feast or famine pitching performances still accounted for some big wins. But when you’re the ace, and you finish the season with a 4.44 ERA, you need to find some redemption.

And when you go out and throw seven shutout innings in a season saving game, safe to say you’ve found it. Especially when you strike out seven, walk only one and give up three little hits. That’s controlling the game.

That is not to say that Hiro has completely rehabilitated his reputation. When the emotions die down, his season will loom a lot larger. But that will probably benefit the Yankees.

A Playoff Prism

It is still hard to imagine Tanaka opting out. He might now have enough leverage to extend his Yankees contract by one year, though. And that would be worth it to Joe and Cash.

The Yankees play for championships and figure they can throw enough talent at teams to qualify for the tournament. They know that once in, it is no longer about depth but about having the best postseason players. So, the Yankees tend to opt for free agents with at least some proven postseason success.

It’s why they opted for an older Beltran and erratic Ellsbury: Both had performed at high levels in previous postseasons. Hiro might not have done enough to warrant enough outside interest, but he has already shown himself a fit for the Yankees mold.

They’ll be happy if his regular season allows them to keep Tanaka. Especially if he continues to pitch like he did in Game 3. And Greg Bird continues to hit game-winning solo shots.

A Charm

The Yankees have seen the same pattern three times with Sevvy. First in spring training, and again at the very start of the 2017 regular season: Luis struggles with his heart rate at first, and it costs him. Then he comes back out, perhaps even in the same game, controls his emotions and dominates.

They saw it for the third time in these playoffs.There was always some suspicion that Severino’s emotions might get the better of him:

Because the Twins can win tonight. Luis Severino might be over-amped in the first inning, and prone to mistakes.

That proved true by the time he walked off the mound after one-third of an inning in the Wild Card game. His ERA of 81.00 definitely qualifies as struggling.

But Monday, in yet another win or go home start, Severino proved he learned his lessons. And found redemption.

His outing was not as good as Tanaka’s, but he controlled the Indians, had a better than quality start and gave the Yankees that all-important length. Luis went seven innings and gave up three earned runs while striking out nine and walking one; the Yankees won 7-3.

Arrested Development

In fact, since the offense scored seven runs, Sevvy could have given up more runs and still helped save the Yankees.

Like a long at-bat that is still productive because of its effect on both teams, Sevvy’s seven might be the difference between winning Game 5 and going home: He and Hiro combined to provide rest for a previously overworked bullpen.

This sets the Yankees up to have the kind of bullpen game they employed in the WC game. It was a necessity then, and the bullpen was ready. The same now goes for tonight, thanks to Severino and Tanaka.

But the Yankees would not be in Game 5 without significant contributions from a lot of players. Again, the youth is being served, with the help of one satisfyingly surprising veteran.

A Walk is as Good as a Hit

Perhaps one of the most important lessons about playoff baseball is that everything is magnified. That comes to adding to the team’s victories; we’ve already discussed Judge. Hopefully the Yankees will look at Didi’s line and internalize the idea.

To players, management, and fans, Didi has become an indispensable player. That remains true in these playoffs. That is clear from seeing the team play.

It is not, however, because of his identical average and slugging: .077/.368/.077. Based on those, Gregorius is almost as big of a playoff bust as Ellsbury or Headley.

Healing Thyself

But that has not made Didi lose his focus or upbeat outlook. His OBP and defense tells us that. Again, everything is magnified in October. Getting on base puts pressure on the pitcher to perform, and the bullpen to get ready.

It’s not much, and not nearly as good as getting base hits, but it is better than going in the tank. And keeping your composure during a difficult playoff run helps everyone. Hitting or not is contagious and a lot of times it starts with the team mentality. One person’s slump can become everyone’s problem.

And Didi has brought that most important quality to the playoffs: Consistency. As infielders on other teams commit uncharacteristic errors, Didi’s steady play shines through. Didi is keeping his head up and in the game. And he is finding ways to contribute.

His infield mate, Starlin Castro, is doing more than just that.

Sorry for the, A Starlin is Born Line

Starlin seemed to start slowly but now he and Aaron Hicks are driving the offensive engine from the bottom of the order. Watching him play, it can sometimes seem like he is not a significant contributor. Perhaps that is because men with more talent share the same stage.

But few if any of them can boast Starlin’s slash: .278/.316/.389. He has the team lead in ALDS hits (five)—two of which were doubles—but only one RBI.

The only Yankees player to end the season with at least a .300 average is beginning to calm down, and rise up. He might take center stage if the Yankees get more games to play.

Castro is starting to reaffirm his great regular season; Aaron Hicks has reclaimed his.

Finding His Stroke

There were a few Yankees who came into the postseason trying to find redemption. Maybe none of them needed it more than Hicks.

If so, he has found it and then some. Hicks has retaken the starting center fielders job and will almost certainly enter spring training an assumed starter.

That’s what happens when you hit .313/.313/.563 with one each of a double and homer. Hicks-y has scored twice, driven in four runs and collected nine total bases. And his five hits tie him for the team lead. Now that is how you drive the offense.

Hicks might find himself higher in the order in future playoff games. And that is as much because of his defense.

Remember that he came into the postseason struggling offensively after a long layoff. But Girardi always favors defense and started Hicks over the hotter Ellsbury.

That move has paid off as Hicks has played a tremendous center field. If defense wins championships, Hicks is on his way to unofficial Yankees ALDS MVP.

Contending with him would be another Baby Bomber with seemingly unlimited potential but who came in to the post with questions to answer, Gary Sanchez.

A New Round

Yo Soy, the August Mr. Sanchez, showed a glaring weakness this year among his prodigious powers. Gary was one of the worst catchers in the league at blocking balls in the dirt. For that, he was roundly and deservedly criticized from every corner, including his manager.

The question everyone asked was, how would Sanchez respond? Gary became a star last year and his home runs this year kept him that way, defense or not. He would not have been the first famous Yankees player to think himself above such criticism.

Gary gave his answer in Game 3. With the game on the line and the bases filled with Indians, Sanchez had the heart to call for one filthy Tanaka slider after another. Each pitch diving directly towards the dirt might have exposed Sanchez and his suspect defense.

Instead, when it was all done, and Tanaka had used his most dangerous weapon to give up no earned runs and Sanchez had showed the results of his hidden work. Oh, and Yankees pride.

Fuzzy Memories

I remember the 2009 postseason, although I forget the game; sorry. Johnny Damon had gotten to third in a tight game. The announcers said that Damon’s presence on the bag was going to eliminate the pitcher’s best off-speed stuff.

They said the catcher would not want to call anything in the dirt for fear of not blocking it. The pitcher’s performance made true the pronouncements as the other team played scared. And lost the game.

That is one more lesson these baby bombers have now learned: Yankees never play scared. Not real Yankees, the kind that spend a career in pinstripes and end holding a plaque of themselves.

But that does not mean Sanchez has been a slouch at the plate; far from it. His AVG and OBP are nothing special, but his SLG is, well, see for yourself: .211/.211/.526.

Of his four hits, two have left the yard. He’s scored three times, driven in the exact same and shares the team lead with ten total bases.

They are being real careful with Judge — and Gary is making them pay.

Don’t Worry but Don’t Just Be Happy

The Baby Bombers are not just happy to be in these playoffs. They are the reason there will be a Game 5. Meanwhile, veterans such as Ellsbury, Headley and Holliday have contributed little to nothing.

But no look at these last two games could be complete without mentioning three of the older Yankees.

CC Sabathia was at least serviceable in Game 2 and gave the Yankees just enough. He will need to be better than that against Kluber, or give way early to a rested Yankees bullpen. I am not sure CC has a shutout in him, but if the Yankees bats come alive, serviceable will do just fine.

But Not Forgotten

Todd Frazier is already doing better than that. He is the only veteran who is having a great ALDS, slashing .286/.333/.357 with four hits, a double, an RBI and five total bases.

Todd’s not young and will not be on this team in 2018. But he is here now and playing a role coveted by most: Local boy makes good. Most of us cheer for someone like that.

Todd adds a lot of gritty attitude to the team, and hits his best when he has a reason to have a chip on his shoulder. That can be a valuable commodity late in a playoff game.

Now What?

Finally, though, if baseball is about the next game and the next chance at redemption and teams pulling together in their toughest times, then these last two days are as much about Joe Girardi as anyone.

Over the weekend, both he and John Farrell of the Red Sox looked likely to be fired for quick playoff exits featuring bad decisions. On Wednesday, Farrell has already been fired while Joe might have actually rallied his team to his defense.

His players responded to his blunder in Game 2 by playing their most focused game of the season. They followed that up by chasing the Indians out of town, threatening them with their bats. They have spoken up for him and seem to feel genuine affinity.

I think that only increased with Joe’s impassioned, tearful apology. It was late, but it was heartfelt. And it is that passion for his players that has in part redeemed his biggest blunder.

Making Advances

It takes passion and fire to win and now everyone knows Girardi has plenty. A veteran team might be non-plussed; a young team like the Yankees might embrace him for it.

And that is the biggest lesson of all for these Baby Yankees. Time slowdowns in a playoff series and things can change greatly one day to the next.

A manager who looked in danger of being fired now looks like he has cemented the bonds with his team. And a team that looked as fated to lose as the Red Sox suddenly seems like a serious threat to advance.

If they had lost any faith in themselves or their manager, they have shaken it off and are playing like a dangerous team. And they move into this final game with some lessons already learned.

They know they have to keep their intensity and play like they expect to win. And not worry if they struggle in one or more areas, focusing instead on finding even small ways to help the team. Small contributions add up quickly in the playoffs.

And above all else never, ever listen to my predictions.

Next: Here is how the Yankees Looked just Two Games Ago

Perhaps the Baby Bombers came in to this series knowing all of that. Either way, they definitely know it now. They have seen the intensity and bathed in it; they have learned to keep focusing on the positive; and, they have learned they have the talent to compete with the best team in the American League.

And now the Indians know it, too.