The Yankees Bats Go Silent Until It's Too Late As The Dodgers Take a Commanding 2-0 Lead In The World Series
And just like that the Dodgers have a commanding 2-0 series lead in the World Series. The Yankees bats were silent, aside from Juan Soto, until it was too late. They let Yamamoto dominate them and didn't sniff a rally until the 9th off of a tired Blake Treinen. You could have hit the sim button from the 4th through 8th and you wouldn't have missed a thing here.
The Aaron Judge "Mr. May" narrative continues to trudge along. It kills me, but he continues to bury himself. Another miserable 0 for 4 night, with three strikeouts. Looking completely lost up there. If you throw him a knee high breaking ball he swings right over the top every time. Any mistake is fouled off at best. I wrote this blog earlier in the day and there were some Yankee fans thinking I was too harsh.
How can you argue anything I said in there after this game? You really saw it clear as day in the 9th tonight as Judge struck out followed by Stanton keeping the rally alive with a ripped ball off the bag, scoring Soto. Just two polar opposite guys who can and cannot handle the pressure. I don't want to rip on Aaron Judge, but I don't think it makes you less of a fan if you do. He is choking at the highest level right now and killing this team. Obviously the lineup besides Soto was silent as well going into the 9th, but you're Aaron Judge. You're the MVP of the American League. You just put together the best season from a right handed hitter maybe ever. This is what you've resorted to? It's pathetic and embarrassing.
Gotta find a way to jump on Buehler on Monday and runaway with that one, otherwise it's curtains. This was always going to be the harder game to win in LA and the moment you let the Cole start waste it really put you in a hole. Rodon was fine until he wasn't. The moment things went sideways he crumbled. Bullpen after him was very good, but the offense refused to rally. It felt like we were stuck in an August regular season game when the team forgot how to play baseball. Just lifeless at bat after another.
Gut check time on Monday. Now or never. Goddamit I'm sad.
P.S. Obviously the world will now focus on Ohtani's shoulder after that slide late in the game. Didn't look good but the initial read seems to be positive. Certainly a massive deal, but at this point does it even matter if they're gonna hit like this?