Yankees hammer Red Sox in season finale, claim best record in AL
ByThe Yankees were in first place — either sole possession or tied — since June 11th, a span of 101 team games. They officially clinched not just the AL East title with Wednesday night’s season-ending 14-2 win over the Red Sox, but they also finished with the best overall record in the AL. Pretty good year, I’d say.
(Elsa/Getty)
So Long, Dice-K
It’s kinda hard to believe that the Daisuke Matsuzaka era is over in Boston. It still feels like just yesterday that we were talking about how much the Yankees should bid and how much it set the franchise back that he wound up with the Red Sox, crazy stuff like that. It’s safe to say that the Bombers avoided a big nine-figure mistake there, even though they reacted by blowing $46M on Kei Igawa. Definite end of an era of the Yanks-Sox rivalry.
Anyway, Dice-K came into this start with a 5.52 ERA (~4.55 FIP) in ten starts and 58.2 career innings against the Yankees and made those numbers even worse by allowing five runs in 2.1 innings on Wednesday. Oddly enough, he retired the side on just six pitches in the first before blowing up in the second. I guess that’s part of the Dice-K experience. Curtis Granderson did the honors with a three-run homer to right in the second inning, and an inning later Robinson Cano hit a loud two-run shot to right. Granderson’s was more of a big fly ball with a lot of hang time while Robbie’s was a line drive. And just like that, Matsuzaka’s career with the Red Sox came to an end.
(Elsa/Getty)
Welcome to HIROKtober
Much like David Phelps on Tuesday, Hiroki Kuroda let Boston take a lead in the very first inning. Again much like Phelps, he settled down and ultimately carried the Yankees through seven efficient and highly effective innings. The two runs in seven innings came on seven hits (five singles and two doubles) and two walks, though he retired 14 of 19 batters faced from the second through sixth innings. One of the five exceptions was an infield single. Eighteen of his 21 outs came on the infield.
From start to finish, Kuroda was the team’s most reliable and consistent starter, which is somewhat ironic since he got tagged with the inconsistent label back in April after like, three starts. He finished the year with a 3.32 ERA (3.86 FIP) in 33 starts and 219.2 innings, which is pretty incredible for a 37-year-old pitcher coming over to Yankee Stadium and the AL East after spending years pitching in a big ballpark in the NL West. I’ll look at this more in-depth at some point this winter, but Kuroda will certainly go down as one of the best free agent pitching signings in franchise history.
Leftovers
(Al Bello/Getty)
The third inning homer wasn’t all Cano did on Wednesday. He singled in the second inning and tacked on a second two-run homer in the fifth inning, extending his career-high to 33 dingers. That’s pretty awesome. He also singled in a pair of runs in the sixth for a 4-for-4 night (six runs driven in), allowing him to end the season with a .313/.379/.550 batting line. Robbie’s multi-hit game streak is up to nine, the second longest in franchise history. None of those hits have been cheap either, dude is locked in.
Jeter went 1-for-4 on the night, bringing his season line up to a ridiculous .316/.362/.429. He finished the year to 216 hits, the second highest total of his career and just just three short of his career-high set back in 1999. The Cap’n led the big leagues in hits and it wasn’t close — Miguel Cabrera had 205 and no one else was over 200. Cano finished in third place with 196. Pretty unbelievable year by Jeter, who also led the Majors in plate appearances and at-bats. Yes he was a leadoff man for a strong offensive team, but it also speaks to his durability at age 38. He’ll definitely get some MVP votes.
Alex Rodriguez ended an 83 plate appearance extra-base hit-less streak with a double into the left field corner in the fifth, one batter before Cano’s second dinger. He also singled and drew a pair of walks. Nick Swisher also had two hits and two walks. Granderson tacked on a solo homer in the eighth, his second long ball of the game, extending his career-high to 43 homers. That blast gave the team a franchise record 245 dingers, breaking the previous record set in 2009.
Things got a little silly in the late innings as the Yankees piled on against Boston’s Grade-D relievers. They wound up scoring 14 total runs on 23 baserunners, broken down in 15 hits, seven walks, and one hit-batsman (Russell Martin). It was the fifth time they’ve scored double-digit runs in the last 14 games after doing it just nine times in the first 148 games. Pretty awesome. Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada, and Freddy Garcia closed things out with two nice-and-easy innings.
Box Score, WPA Graph & Standings
MLB.com has the box score and video highlights while ESPN has the end-of-season standings. The Yankees officially won the division by two games over the Orioles and were one game better than the Athletics for the best record in the AL. They also won 95 games for the fourth straight year, which is pretty great. I don’t think people understand just how hard it is to win that many games in a single year, nevermind year after year.
Source: FanGraphs
Up Next
Three days off, then things get really serious. The Yankees will open the ALDS on the road thanks to the new 2-3 format, so that means either Texas or Baltimore depending on what happens in Friday’s wildcard play-in game. Game One is scheduled for Sunday, and I assume CC Sabathia will be on the mound.
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What a journey its been. Can’t wait for the postseason. LET’S GO!!!!
go go yankees!!!
Well done, Yankees! Now rest up and let’s get ready for some playoff baseball! Eleven wins to go!
NoMaas is still better.
YANKEES!!!!! AMURRRRCA!!!
GONNA GO OUT AND SAVE THE MUTHAFUCKIN DAY YEAH!!!!
Okay, I was watching the debate, and I turned to the Yanks during the very last few seconds, but I could have sworn that I saw Kuroda throw the last pitch?? Jeez, I need some sleep.
I’m a big Orioles fan on Friday. As much as I’d like to see the Yankees get revenge for 2010 on the Rangers, I think it would be fitting for them to lose at home to Baltimore after they blew that lead.
Preferably it will be a one-run extra inning game.
A champagne-soaked Meredith Marakovits? Intriguing…
Oh, yes…
I don’t care about matchups, I want the O’s to lose by one run in 18 innings to get Texas. Serves those fuckers right.
Red Sox got owned tonight. So long, Bobby V.
the 1 disappointment to the season: boston didn’t lose 100 games. maybe next year.
It’s not enough that we should win, others should lose.
Nova, you shouldn’t be in there considering your year.
He had his moments, and when the Yankees built that 10-game lead they never lost, he was one of the starting five and pitching well. So, yes, he gets to be in there.
Now as to Chavy drenching Meredith, hmmmm…
Eh, I don’t see it with her.
At this point, just find someone who’s good at the job, because they can’t find ones who seem to fit the other criteria you’re speaking of, at least in my opinion.
More dripping wet Meredith, cameraman.
A-Rod: I knew they wouldn’t be cheering that loudly for me
Nova started the party early I believe.
Step 1 is complete.
Step 2: Beat the Rangers or Orioles.
I’ll visit Step 3 when the time comes.
I love A-Rod:
“What were you thinking when the cheers started?”
“Well, I knew those kind of cheers would be for me…”
It sucks how he’s treated, but at least he can kind of joke about it.
Damn it, ‘would not be for me’.
Ruined that pretty terribly.
I laughed but then felt pretty crummy. I get mad at Arod too but I never would boo him.
I’ve never booed a player on my favorite team. Just not my style, and don’t understand it. Like people who were booing Teixeria. The guy’s timing is way off. Booing makes no sense.
I get frustrated sometimes, and may voice that in words, but I don’t boo people on the Yankees. Just not my style.
For the most part, I think people are like you and me that way. If you’re ever at Yankee Stadium and a player is being booed, like A-Rod, it’s really a few thousand people, where the other 40,000 aren’t. Frustration, though, yes we all feel!
booooooo.
I don’t even like to boo former players. The only time I remember booing a former Yankee was Sheffield. He was an ass when he left. Which was sad because I really liked him when he played with us. I also understood the Pavano booing, but I just didn’t actively participate.
Didn’t Sheffield call Joe Torre a racist?
On the way it the door, like a coward.
Agree with both of you. It really doesn’t make sense.
I yelled “boo-urns” a couple times.
It’s stupid to Boo a player who for the past 7 years has been one of the top contributors on the team even in decline. This season is a frustrating on considering the injuries. But the fact that he got Booed even while winning all those MVPs and being the best player in baseball is just dumb. His contract sucks, but it’s not his fault the team gave him the money.
i’m told the mick never got booed.
You weren’t told the truth.
Don’t forget, Mick “replaced” Joe D. He got booed often early in his career.
Mick was before my time, but I heard he was booed quite a bit. I doubt anyone would admit to it today, assuming anyone is even alive who booed him!
I booed A-Rod
…when I was 11 years old.
I booed A-Rod
…but then I turned 12 and never looked back.
Some idiots were seriously chanting M-V-P for A-Rod. I thought it was a joke but I looked at them and they were just some clueless kids who looked like they’d never been to a baseball game. Just cheered for the name they knew.
Well, they weren’t lying… He was, in fact, MVP of the league at some point. Albeit a few presidencies ago, but still
Some guy was booing him when we were up 9-1.
It was b.s. I almost dumped my Carvel on that guy.
“I woke up this morning and I said to myself ‘Self? We’re going to celebrate today!’”
-Nick Swisher
I love this man.
I’d love to be in his skin just for a day to see what being on a constant high is like.
Fuckin Swish man… hilarious.
Congrats to everyone, it wasn’t easy, but it’s sweet when you demolish the red sox to boot!
honestly, one of the best years for me. yankees took care of business like usual, i was actualy able to see them at turner field, division champs/best record in the league, not to mention i found a new internet home with other fans like myself. RAB definitely helped make this a season to remember, and hopefully we can cap it off with #28!
Hooray for winning the division.
Boo that the baseball season is over.
Hooray for winning the division.
Boo that the baseball regular season is over.
Just an enjoyable season from game 4 through game 162
Everyone deserves credit.. EVERYONE.. it was that type of year…
But I have to single out the middle of the infield..
Cano, a fantastic player right smack in his prime
Jeter, continues to be the best leader in the sport even if his own fans are too busy being snarky to realize it
This!
This!
Soriano: “If I don’t do what i do, the team isn’t celebrating right now”
absolutely an eff you to the fans whom he know refuse to give him credit and want him gone no matter what he does
I’m more than grateful for what Soriano has done this season. He’s been great. However he makes too much damn money to be a set up man, and did far too well to not opt out and get a gig closing somewhere. He’s earned the job of closer, sadly that job is taken again next year.
We want the Orioles in Round 1. There’s no other team I’d rather see them beat than Baltimore. Texas pitching is a mess and I think they’re finished. They’ll have to burn up Darvish in the WC. Then what? Harrison, Dumpster, Holland. They don’t scare anybody. Baltimore-NY will be a great series and then I’d like to see them get a rematch vs Detroit.
Why even give Baltimore the light of day? I don’t care who we beat. The flag is the most important thing.
Let’s just hope Oakland knocks off Detroit.
MLB, where the #1 seed team could (in a worst case scenario of course) only get 1 home playoff game to a Wild Card’s 2 in the 1st round.
If a number one seed isn’t good enough to win at least one game on the road, then maybe they just aren’t that good. That being said, I do agree that the system is effed up.
Oh absolutely, and I mean “worst case scenario” in its truest essence. Crushing injury, bad call in a crucial spot, etc just anything that could see the wild card sweeping it seems stupid that the #1 team would only make money at the game for 1 playoff game.
Or the best case scenario. Yanks win 1st 2 on the road and 3rd at YS3.
If you sweep, you also only get one game at home in the first round.
payroll must’ve played a big part towards winning 95X4
Yankees – 95 W, $195,998,004
Athletics – 94 W, $49,137,500
That’s a $146,860,504 well spent!
And just to piss on everyone’s parade just a little more, the Yanks now get to face the best of two 93 win teams, instead of having the 2nd seed and facing an 88 win team, Detroit.
Well, at least they don’t get Verlander in the 1st round.
And just to piss on everyone’s parade just a little more
Hey! We got our parade after all! stuart a must be thrilled.
Yes, because wins and salary are the only true measures of a team.
But why am I talking to you?
I think not facing Verlander is worth that, at least.
Being terrible for the last 5 years lets you do that.
worth. every. penny.
Hey dipshit… The Yankees don’t spend $200M to win THIS season, they do it so they can win EVERY season.
Any team can flash in the pan for one season (two of them this season, in case you didn’t notice), it takes alot to get there almost every year for the better part of the past two decades…
Favorite game ever.
i just got back from the game, lots of fun, exactly what i was hoping it would be, a blowout.
other than the douche behind me hating on arod. he said to one of the people with him, why are they batting someone with a 271 ba in the clean up spot. first he wasn’t in the cleanup spot and if you are really going to base who is in the 3/4 spot on just ba, you doing it wrong. granted its not like he has a great slugging %, but it seems to be working for them. i was happy the second after he was complaining about this, he belted a double. here’s to hoping he has a 2009 esque playoff peformance.
Don’t hold you breathe…the odds are more likely Arod will come up small when it matters the most as will Swisher and Tex. Cano I am afraid is going to have to carry the load.
YES always does such a great job on the montage for their season ending credits.
Amazing that after all of our bitching and panicking (me included, though there was never a point where I didn’t think they’d win the division) the Yankees:
1) Never lost first place for 104 straight games
2) Won the AL East (by TWO games, no less!)
3) Have the best record in the American League
And we were having discussions about who would be fired or cut from the team abouta week and a half or so ago. Amazing.
(Also, when it really came down to it, we ended up being pretty fucking clutch)
pretty clutch indeed. i said in the gt, if the yankees keep producing like this, i don’t imagine anyone stopping us. the best part is, despite all the bitching, we all can enjoy the divison crown together, y’know? there were doubters, there were blind sheep (me included), but at the end of it all, we’re celebrating another postseason run. i, for one, am fucking stoked.
Ball game over! American League East division over. Yankees win! THEEEEEEE Yankees WIN!
Now the season begins.
Does anyone know what the rest situation is for the ALDS? How many days are between games 1 and 4 and 2 and 5?
Just 1 offday (after game 2) so both would be 3 days rest.
I believe it goes
Game 1
Game 2
off Day
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
On this happy night allow me a minor vent. Switching between the Yankees and Orioles games I caught this howler. It was either Sutcliff or Boone (not sure which) but while waxing rhapsodically over Longoria he said that had Tampa had a healthy Longoria the whole season they would be 5 games in front of the division.
Well…isn’t that special. So Tampa gets their 1 [that's O-N-E] significantly injured front-line player back for the whole year. That’s great. While we’re doing that can we give the Yankees back full seasons from Pineda…and Gardner…and Mariano…and Andy…and CC and ARod? Or, do we just add Longoria to the board and stop there?
Geez that annoyed me. End vent.
why would you care what a windbag announcer said…
tampa has no room for injuries, they have crappy depth and 1 guy there best offensive player got hurt and they were screwed. thell there GM trade a pitcher to improve there offense or depth.
*their
I caught that. Sutcliffe is an idiot. What he forgot to mention is Longoria is not hitting 3 homers every game.
cano on the 2 week love affair.
the guy has a few less extra base hits then Cabrera and 40 less rbi’s, what does that tell anyone with a brain? Cano sucks with RISP..
Robinson do it in the playoffs and then talk to me…
the guy should have 120 RBI’s minimum…
need more parades…..and extensions……
anyone with a brain likes parades……..
You mean like he did in 2011 where he had hit .318 with a .375 obp while slugging .682 with 9 rbi’s in those 5 games
or in 2010 where he was hitting .343/.361 obp with a .771 slugging percentage
like that?
cano has sucked in the playoffs….
he also sucked this year with RISP, unless you think under 250 is good……..
“has sucked” being the operative statement. As in the past tense.
Ah yes…. The smallest of sample sizes. Seems like a logical barometer of someone’s talent or value.
And he was great last year, the year before, and the year before that with RISP. Also he had a .268 average with a .398 OBP, the average isn’t to his standards but its still decent, and the OBP is excellent.
Also Robbie has had 2 bad postseason’s in his 6 times making them.
his rookie year he hit .263/.333/.421
2007 he hit .333/.375/.800
and I of course mentioned 2010 and 2011
so two bad postseason’s is it.
Trout finished the year with only 83 RBIs, therefore he sucks.
/stuart
Too bad he’s not arod…
Just read through some of the game thread…somebody took my old handle lol? I didn’t even think that was possible. I guess I didn’t save it or something?
Either way, since I started seriously following the team in 2001(I was a fan before that, but that’s the first year I made it a point to watch games) this was one of the most rollercoaster seasons I’ve ever seen. Seriously, this has to be the toughest 95 win season in history with all the injuries, terribleness by both the pitching and hitting at times, and sometimes head scratching managerial moves. I’m excited for the playoffs going forward.
I’ve been watching since 1976 and this has been a rough season since the day we lost Pineda. This August was probably the hardest month to watch Yankee games in ~20 years.
READ THIS FOR FUN:
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....-kc-68893/
There just too old.
mustang says:
May 22, 2012 at 12:31 am
I think they have reached bottom I have no factual analysis to back this up, but I think they are going to turn it around soon.
I do enjoy some of our proud and faithful jumping ship with 120 games left to go.
So here they stand on May 22, 2012 5.5 games back our repost this WHEN they are in first place.
Reply
Robinson Tilapia says:
May 22, 2012 at 8:32 am
Tonight feels like a much better matchup, even with Hughes on the mound. Yes, there will be signs of life soon. No, it actually isn’t as bad as it seems. Yes, it certainly does feel like complete rotten ass right now.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Before the Toronto series I was praying, and I mean praying, for us to have a hell of an easy Wednesday night. I thank God that dream came true.
Now go enjoy Cecil Fielder hanging in the bleachers during Roll Call: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......8;c_id=mlb
stats can be twisted a dozen different ways.
cano lifetime avg in the playoffs is 258.
491 slugging % and he had a whopping 281 slugging % in 2009.
Cano’s postseason career has not been great yet……….
he needs more parades…….and extensions…….
and ellipses……
All those figures and two bucks wouldn’t buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Enjoy the day, Swish and Cano are due to have their Arod 2009 type postseason.
Chill lax
What Starbucks are YOU going to? $2? Maybe in 2002, Amirite?
Read much? I said it wouldn’t buy you a cup…
Plus, not the fu-fu drinks, but the brewed coffee is under $3 for a “tall”. You can get several types of Starbucks in a Keurig K-cup for well under a buck but you’ll need to buy the 10-pack and brew it somewhere.
Point was, his stats for the prior postseasons have little-to-nothing to do with this postseason. Cone, Kay, & Singleton all picked (Cano, Arod & Swish) different players as their “breakout postseason guys”.
IMO, look at the stats as a guideline, not the gospel.
I bet you were crushed when he passed Ike Davis in RBIs tonight
…he’s been taking lessons from arod…
And when Cano does have a great season you’ll find something else to complain about.
*post-season
LOVE THIS TEAM! Bring on the chase for #28!
As much as many of us complained (including myself), about RISPFAIL, the starters, etc throughout the summer, this really has been a fantastic season. What an exciting year. Can’t wait to see who’s next in the ALDS.
I’ve always preferred Blue Crab to BBQ, but either would be good to feast on.
No clue how this team wound up with the best record in the AL. Texas or Baltimore will be tough, especially starting two at their place. I mean lets be honest, if you were told that Mariano Rivera, Brett Gardner, and Michael Pineda were going to miss the whole season and that CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez were going to have extended DL stints, then to top it all off you were told that Jason Nix, Andruw Jones, Raul Ibanez, and Ichiro Suzuki were going to have to play key roles? Jesus…you’d say that 95 wins is the ceiling, yet here we are. I’d like to see Ibanez, Chavez, Ichiro, Kuroda, and Jones get rings. They’ve had long careers and probably won’t have much of a HoF case except maybe Ichiro. It’d be nice to see them end their careers on a high note. Congrats to this squad and now it’s time for them to get ready for the post season.
Ichiro and jones are HOF locks
interesting question… how many future Hall of Famer’s on this team?
Jeter – lock
Mo – lock
Ichiro – lock
Andruw Jones – should be a lock
A-Rod – should have been a lock
Cano – possible
CC – possible
Teixera – unlkely
Pettitte – unlikely
The 1931-1933 Yankees had 9(!) hall of famers…
Disagree with Andruw Jones….and Arod depends on whether or not the writers are willing to vote for a cheater.
Look at me! I’m dalelama! I’m negative all the time!
You forgot about Phelpsie.
You make a great point. 95 wins and all those guys had DL stints? That’s huge.
stuart! we clinched!
i love you so much right now, buddy.
Did other people know about the stat that every time Kentucky has won the NCAA championship, the Yankees have won the World Series? Pretty awesome isn’t it?
Except that’s not a true statement.
Kentucky won the title in 1948, and the Indians won the WS that year.
However, every year since then, the Yanks have won the WS when Kentucky has won the NCAA title.
It’s amazing that Joe put that lineup out there last night when Robbie Cano is hitting over .600. Keep the lineup the same regardless of righty lefty. Throw the binder in the garbage. I might even put Grandy ahead of Teix right now. This is the best lineup in baseball now that it is healthy.
I meant it was amazing Girardi put the lineup out there that he did 2 nights ago, not last night. 2 nights ago, Girardi put his best hitter hitting .600 5th in the lineup, behind a guy who has only been back 2 games. He better not do that again.
as i said tuesday, girardi followed m y lineup except he flipped tex and grandy. ichiro should bat in the 2 hole regardless if there is a lefty on the mound. i also hope randy levine will talk to major league baseball before the playoffs to remind them that the integrity of the game is at risk when umpires conspire lik they did last year in the detroit series to screw the yanks on their strike and balls and when they give games to the other teams as they did in the tex slide game. i know selig desparately wants the yanks to lose
While watching the game last night, I said to myself, if Kuroda gets through the fifth and sixth innings, he is going to be o.k. for the postseason.
Wow what the heck! According to the WPA graph the Yanks had a 100% chance of winning in the 7th!