Bronx Bomber Ball

 

Through all the troubles and frustrations in this Yankees season, the time is finally here. Playoffs. Thanks to the first ever walk off hit in the career of Aaron Judge, the Yankees beat the Rays in Game 162 to give the Bombers a playoff berth and send them to the Wild Card Game. 

  Just ten short days ago, this team looked on death’s door, dropping back-to-back games to the Cleveland Indians at home by a combined score of 22-4.   They had fallen out of a wild card spot by 1.5 games, and trailed Boston for the top spot by 2.5 games.   All of the good vibes and positivity accrued during their 13-game winning streak from August 14-27 was seemingly out the window.   They appeared headed for an early end to their season – one that began with lofty expectations of a World Series title.

The number one need for the Yankees down the stretch is...Aaron Boone correctly managing the bullpen.   Photo Courtesy: New York Post

Well, that was a fantastic way to start off the 2017 postseason. The Yankees were down three runs with their best starter out of the game in the FIRST inning, and they didn't even blink. It was one of the most unpredictable games in recent memory, and definitely one of the best. Brad Penner / USA Today

Coming into this year’s American League Wild Card Game, the Yankees will be sending their ace Luis Severino to the hill to face Ervin Santana of the Twins. Santana, 34, enjoyed one of the best years of his career in Minnesota this year pitching to a 16-8 record with a 3.28 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and .225 BAA in 211.1 innings. While he is the Minnesota ace, there are plenty of signs that the Yankees can jump all over him in his win or go home playoff. Photo Credit: Christopher Pasatieri | Getty Images

The Yankees will be playing in their second American League Wild Card game on Tuesday, since its implementation in 2012. The first go around for the Yankees in this new playoff play-in game went extremely poor as they were blanked at Yankees Stadium by the up and coming Houston Astros. While they won’t be facing a pitcher quite as good as 2015 Dallas Keuchel, the Yankees still have their work cut out for them against a Minnesota Twins team that has a core of young, explosive players and a solid starter in Ervin Santana on the bump. Winners of 91 games, the Yankees are too solid of a baseball team to be eliminated in a one game playoff. However, there is a strong possibility this could happen, so the Yankees need to have a game plan in order to avoid going home for good on Tuesday. Here are five keys for the Bombers to ensure that they punch a ticket to the ALDS for the first time since 2012. Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Yankees outfield has had very great success in 2017. With Brett Gardner covering left field and Aaron Judge doing what he does in right field, that has left center field open. Two players have platooned the position all year due to injuries to their counterpart and each of them have seen success in 2017. The two players are Aaron Hicks and Jacoby Ellsbury, both of whom have seen injuries in the 2017 season but both have also seen great success when they have had a chance to play. With Ervin Santana pitching for the Twins in the Wild Card game, Joe Girardi has a serious question to address in the starting lineup. If they lose, its over. If they win, he can decide who to put out there for the rest of the postseason but they have to beat Santana and the Twins first. Lets see how Hicks and Ellsbury match up. Photo Credit: AP

With the 2017 regular season in the books for the Yankees, it’s finally time for postseason baseball again in the Bronx after a brief hiatus. While it was a fight to the finish for the AL East Divison, the Yankees ultimately find themselves in the play in Wild Card against the Minnesota Twins. While having great success against the Twins both this season and historically, the Yankees are taking no chances and will send out their ace this season Luis Severino.  Photo Credit: NY Post

Throughout the course of the regular season the Yankees bullpen went from being the team's biggest strength, to an astonishing weakness, and back to an overpowering strength. With ace right hander Luis Severino taking the mound against the Twins in Tuesday's AL Wild Card game, the Yankees will hope to get a solid outing from their starter. Even if Severino were only to last five innings, the Yankees have enough bullpen depth to feel comfortable about emerging victorious. In the subsequent paragraphs, I will analyze the bullpen hierarchy heading into Tuesday's do-or-die game. Though my analysis begins with the pitchers Joe Girardi will turn to in the later innings, it is twofold in the sense that the discussion will encompass reliability in addition to bullpen role. Photo Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke/ Newsday

Photo Credit: Mike Stobe | Getty Images A few days ago on MLB Network, Brian Kenny discussed the idea of starting Chad Green in next week’s Wild Card Game, and thus, saving Luis Severino. It’s a fine idea that nearly has the support of Hall of Famer John Smoltz. But there are many reasons the Yankees should avoid this plan of attack when they play the Twins next Tuesday in the Bronx. Let’s break it down. I say the #Yankees should start Chad Green & Bullpen the Wild Card game. And I have John Smoltz' blessing (almost): pic.twitter.com/tdI2LmpYUB — Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) September 26, 2017

Technically, the Yankees are still in the hunt for the AL East title, sitting four games behind the Boston Red Sox with nine games to play. Realistically, however, the Yankees are cognizant of the fact that they will more than likely be playing in this year's American League Wild Card Game. Bearing this strong possibility in mind, I've decided to put together what I identify as the best lineup the Yankees can field against their potential opponent, whether it be the Twins, Angels, or Rangers. In all likelihood, the lineup I'll soon articulate will not match the one Joe Girardi trots out on October 3rd. However, it would be the best lineup, under the circumstances, the Yankees can concoct in a one-game playoff. Photo Credit: Paul J. Bereswill/New York Post

With just 18 games left in the 2017 Major League Baseball regular season, the New York Yankees are in hot pursuit of not just a playoff spot, but potentially their first division crown since 2012 as well. As of this morning, the Yankees currently stand at 78-66, four full games back of the first place Boston Red Sox.  While it is still conceivable the Yankees can steal away the division from the Red Sox in the final two weeks of the season, I’m writing this piece today assuming the Yankees will be hosting the 2017 American League Wild Card Game.

In an ideal world, the Yankees will go on a magical run to win the American League East. This is certainly doable, but the lack of remaining head-to-head matchups with the Red Sox for the duration of the season makes such an outcome much less probable. The Bombers will more than likely be hosting, and at the very least playing in, the AL Wild Card Game. Young ace Luis Severino continues to prove that he should get the nod for the Yanks in this do or die game. However, with the race coming down to the wire, Joe Girardi may not have the privilege of aligning his rotation in a way that would enable Severino to get the start. So if not Severino, then who? This article will provide a subjective ranking of the next best available options to start for the Yanks with the season on the line. Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/New York Post