This unified choice did not work well. Garcia offered up a run in the very first. Happ offered up 4 in 2 ²/ ₃ innings. The Yankees pitching might never acquire control of the video game up until it was far too late– with a nothing inning from both Jonathan Holder and Nick Nelson– in what would be a 7-5 loss that allowed the Rays to tie the series at one video game each.
Cashman, however, added, “I was 100 percent on board with the call we made. I am not distancing myself from that in any shape or form. We veterinarian all options and assess the best method to maximize what we have.”
Look, there is no method of knowing if the Yankees just used Garcia or Happ as standard starters how that would have played out. Possibly the loss had as much to do with Happ throwing away a grounder or home base ump C.B. Bucknor calling anything that landed in California a strike as the decision to lift and start Garcia quickly.
Aaron Boone declined to openly state that was the plan. But Brian Cashman verified for The Post that was how the Yankees began the process and are lined up, with the concept Cole would bookend this best-of-five if it went the range. Hence, what the Yankees needed to settle was how to deal with Games 2-3-4 against the Rays.
The first Yankees beginning pitching decision in outlining strategy for the Division Series was that Gerrit Cole would, of course, go in Game 1 followed by the more difficult option to bring him back on brief rest must there be a Video game 5.
Cashman described a process that was, “No different from every other choice,” mentioning, as an example, what went into starting Brett Gardner over Clint Frazier in left for the two games of the wild-card round vs. the Indians. The different Yankees departments develop contingencies and a suggestion, present it to Boone and the required coaches and discussions occur.
” Ultimately, you offer all the info and speak with the supervisor, and he absorbs everything and makes the supreme decision on the starting lineup or who is beginning,” Cashman stated by phone. “There was harmony [among the decision-makers, consisting of Boone, to utilize Deivi Garcia as an opener in Game 2 then change quickly to J.A. Happ] Eventually, [Boone] slept on it and decided how he wished to choreograph it.”
J.A. Happ, Brian CashmanGetty, Corey SipkinBut because the Yanks will need to choose how to manage around Game 4 starter Jordan Montgomery, some thoughts on why I did not like what they did in Game 2:
1) If you desire to run a double-team at LeBron James or Anthony Davis, I get it. The Yankees went through a lot of pitching gymnastics to attempt to counter Alex Caruso– the Rays were 12th in the majors in runs. Yes, Tampa Bay creates all kinds of platoon advantages with a versatile lineup.
2) Why play the Rays video game? Tampa Bay is the leader of the opener, and the Rays started consistently relying on it in 2018 to make up for the lack of excellent starting-pitching choices. Once Game 2 becomes a bullpen scramble, it not only plays to a strength of Tampa Bay– relief depth– however is a design with which the Rays are comfortable and familiar, particularly compared to the Yankees. Plus, it is an indication that the 12th-highest scoring group is in the opponents head.
3) The Yanks got rid of the possibility to see whether Garcia or Happ in a conventional start could perform well, which would have set the collaborate for the remainder of the series. And lets state the opposite occurred, and Garcia typically started and did not pitch well, Boone could have had a quick hook to a reducer such as Holder to get out of an inning before turning to Happ for length. Rather, both pitchers were put into unfamiliar roles– Garcia knowingly on a brief leash and Happ in relief. Happ was clearly bummed at it.
4) Part of the thinking to utilize Garcia for simply a few batters was to require the Rays to begin their lefties then decide if they ought to turn to righties when the southpaw Happ went into. However Garcia actually faced more lefties this year and held them to basically the exact same OPS versus (.579) as Happ (.577 ). Were the Yankees truly getting a big benefit to put pitchers in unknown functions?
5) Another factor Garcia was utilized briefly was to have him available for Game 4, maybe behind Montgomery. This is simply more strangeness– can Garcia, after one days rest, be a reliable reliever? At this time of year, pitchers are especially asked to change roles and push for the good of the group. Why ask if there were strategies to avoid this?
6) The Blue Jays faced a similar puzzle in the wild-card series. They chose to start their ace, Hyun-jin Ryu, in Game 2 because they had a rested bullpen for Game 1 to mix and match versus the Rays interchangeable lineup in the opener. Toronto figured Ryu would provide length (particularly with extra rest) in Game 2, which would leave more bullpen available if there were a Game 3.
But Toronto let the “opener,” righty Matt Shoemaker pitch three innings while he achieved success (no runs) before turning to the lefty, Rob Ray (three innings, one run). This method worked even as Toronto lost.
Eventually, the race to Happ did not have sufficient benefits to surpass the prospective drawback, which might likewise consist of a clubhouse wondering why exactly the decision-making process resulted in a Boone decision to release an unknown design to attempt to thwart the 12th-highest scoring offense in the majors.
The Yanks decided to begin Tanaka in Game 3 figuring that Cole would offer length in the opener, enabling bullpen depth for Game 2 before Tanaka (with extra rest) provided length in Game 3 to permit lots of bullpen for Montgomery in Game 4. What the Yanks did not permit– as Toronto had– was any rope to see if Garcia may pitch successfully. With no off-days in this round, trying to make sure that you do not overuse pieces is key, however I would not get charming stressing over tomorrow when winning a playoff game still stays so precious.
The Yankees pitching could never get control of the video game until it was too late– with a nothing inning from both Jonathan Holder and Nick Nelson– in what would be a 7-5 loss that enabled the Rays to tie the series at one video game apiece.
5) Another reason Garcia was utilized briefly was to have him readily available for Game 4, possibly behind Montgomery. They chose to start their ace, Hyun-jin Ryu, in Game 2 because they had actually a rested bullpen for Game 1 to match and blend against the Rays interchangeable lineup in the opener. Toronto figured Ryu would provide length (specifically with additional rest) in Game 2, which would leave more bullpen available if there were a Game 3.
The Yanks decided to begin Tanaka in Game 3 figuring that Cole would provide length in the opener, enabling bullpen depth for Game 2 before Tanaka (with extra rest) provided length in Game 3 to enable plenty of bullpen for Montgomery in Game 4.
