Game Thread Yankees vs. Red Sox Thursday 9/15/16, 7:10 pm

They're just signs that a lot of mediocrity still exists and that doesn't even include the awful Ellsbury contract.

 

I'll say it again though. Girardi has to take the blame for this one with what was just some awful decision making. I get they should've had more runs but you're up 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. You should win the damn game if not for some brutal over managing. First, as I said at the time here there was no reason to pull Tanaka at 93 pitches after seven innings. He's your ace and you already know you have an overworked bullpen. Warren wiggled out of trouble but not before handing Boston a run. Then came the ninth inning where after having Lane start the inning and getting an out why are you taking him out for the likes of Parker? Who of course then proceeds to hit a batter and give up a hit. Let Lane pitch for crying out loud and put your damn book away for once. Then comes Betances who while he's not looking at all like closer material has also been overworked of late. The pitch counts a lot of his own doing but the fact still remains. I sat there watching get beat over and over on 84-85 MPH pitches. Then the final blow comes on a fastball that everyone in Boston and New York knew was coming. Girardi blew this one as much if not more than anyone on the roster tonight. Just an exceedingly terrible job of decision making.

 

I really hope the Yanks demoralize Boston and send them into tailspin.

 

Boston owns them and have been in this team's head for a while now. It won't get any better when they likely replace a retiring Ortiz with Encarnacion this winter.

 

It's also a matter of getting rid of the veteran toys Girardi can't help but play with. I've seen enough of doing things like pinch hitting Mccann and seeing him strike out.

 

There's a lot of blame to go around for a game like last night but Girardi did the team no favors by overthinking, over managing and getting in the way for no reason. As you mentioned pinch hitting for Butler was a move that made zero sense. If it was for somebody else like Refsnyder than I'd buy it but why pinch hit for a veteran bat who produced some runs for you already in the game? As for Betances I understand that Girardi was likely trying to get through the game without using him. The problem is you need to win every game. Once Warren makes it a save situation by giving up the homer to Ortiz I think you have think about letting Betances start the ninth clean. Or I still don't see why he took Layne out after one batter after he struck a guy out on three pitches. Layne has pitched a full inning before and he gets pulled for Blake Parker?