Predicting the 2019 Season: The Postseason

162 games are in the books, the field is set, and the new season is upon us. Welcome to October, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the postseason. If you tuned into the blog yesterday you saw the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics win their respective divisions in the American League while the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros clawed their way to the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. In the National League the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers captured their respective divisions while the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies will battle it out in the one-game Wild Card playoff game in the National League. Who will win the pennant? Keep reading to find out!

American League Wild Card Game

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

Anything can happen in a one-game playoff, which is why the Houston Astros, despite how much pitching they lost during this offseason, at least have a chance in this game against the Boston Red Sox. Undoubtedly the Red Sox will have Chris Sale on the mound against Justin Verlander, so I expect a low-scoring affair for much of the night. The Astros are a scrappy team, and the Red Sox have a great offense, but the battle of the bullpens may decide it. If this were a seven-game series, or even a five-game series, I’d be inclined to pick the Astros because of the state of the Red Sox bullpen, but it’s not and I think Boston will be fine. Alex Cora will do whatever it takes to win, whether that is pitching David Price or Rick Porcello in relief, or simply running Sale out there until his arm falls off. Cora will do whatever he has to in order to win, and I think at the end of the day he will.

Winner: Boston Red Sox

National League Wild Card Game

Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies

You have to wonder who the Nationals will pick to start this game. Will it be Max Scherzer or will it be Patrick Corbin? If it’s Scherzer you have to give the clear advantage, in my opinion, to the Nationals, but if the team uses Scherzer down the stretch to clinch this game at home the Rockies have a lot more of a fighting chance. At the end of the day I think the Nationals will win the game regardless, but only because I feel like they are a more complete team than the Rockies this season.

Winner: Washington Nationals

American League Division Series

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox

The rematch of the century, but this time the Yankees have the home field advantage. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what I mentioned just a few paragraphs above in the AL Wild Card Game prediction. The Red Sox and their bullpen can, and in my opinion will, be exposed in a five-or-seven-game series. The Red Sox will likely have to use a starter in the AL Wild Card Game that they would prefer to start twice against the Yankees, but you can’t really plan for that and look past a team like the Astros. This will all work in the Yankees favor, but I still don’t see how this goes at least four or five games before we crown the New York Yankees the victor.

Winner: New York Yankees in five games

American League Division Series

Oakland Athletics vs. Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have great pitching, but their bullpen is suspect, and their offense is not as high-powered as you would like. The Indians have really benefited from a weak division in the AL Central and that will never be more obvious than it will be in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics. The Athletics have a great, young team that is only getting better, and I think the team will make easy work of the Indians in four games… and Billy Beane won’t see a single inning of it.

Winner: Oakland Athletics in four games

National League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the most games of any team in the league in 2019 and that will continue heading into the postseason. The Washington Nationals will give the Dodger their money’s worth in my opinion, pushing the series to five-games, but if Clayton Kershaw is healthy, I cannot see a way the Dodgers go out this early in the postseason. They are too talented and far too good to lose in an extended series.

Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers in five games

 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The Atlanta Braves are the new kids, literally and figuratively, on the block while the Milwaukee Brewers just grind out victories and find ways to win. If I were a betting man, I’d guess that we would see more Atlanta Braves highlights on Top Plays on Sportscenter and such than we will see the Milwaukee Brewers, yet I think it will be the Brewers that edge the Braves in four games in this series. Playing in the Midwest means a lot of casual fans don’t get to watch your games or pay attention to your team much, but the Brewers have a pretty damn good team that is stacked with talent. I can see first baseman Eric Thames having a huge 2019 season and an even bigger postseason, leading Milwaukee at least to the National League Championship Series.

Winner: Milwaukee Brewers in four games

American League Championship Series

New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics

In a rematch of the 2018 American League Wild Card Game the New York Yankees will play host to the Oakland Athletics in the 2019 ALCS. I think these two teams are more evenly matched than most people would admit or give Oakland credit for, but I think the Yankees are a much deeper and complete team. The Athletics may push the Yankees to six games, but I can see New York clinching their first American League pennant in front of the Bronx faithful since the 2009 season.

Call me a homer if you want to, but I truly believe in this team and I TRULY believe this team can be special.

Winner: New York Yankees in six games

National League Championship Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Classic David vs. Goliath. The Los Angeles Dodgers and their roughly $209 million payroll vs. the Milwaukee Brewers and their roughly $121 million payroll. The names on the Brewers roster will only pale in comparison to names like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Corey Seager, and others, but where the Brewers lack in “names” they more than make up for it in the talent department. Christian Yelich is the reigning NL MVP, Eric Thames is one or two injuries away from having a huge breakout season in 2018, guys like Jimmy Nelson, Corey Knebel, Chase Anderson and others now have Yasmani Grandal to pitch to, and guys like Ben Gamel, Josh Hader, and others can only get better in 2019 in my opinion. The Dodgers will presumably want a fight, and a fight they will get from Milwaukee. Just remember though, LA, sometimes even the most dominant fighter gets caught leaning, ask Anderson Silva, and I can totally see that happening again this year.

Winner: Milwaukee Brewers in six games

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2019 World Series will include the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. May the best team win, and good luck to both teams. Tune in tomorrow to find out the winner.

Hello… WE GOT BOSTON!

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Unless you have been living under a rock you know that the New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night in the Bronx to advance to the American League Division Series. Throughout the game I counted down the remaining outs in the game by saying “ X OUTS TILL BOSTON!” Well, 27 outs later and WE GOT BOSTON! The American League Division Series begins tonight inside Fenway Park in not only the fiercest rivalry in all of Major League Baseball history, but also in a matchup that puts a pair of 100-game winners head-to-head in a five-game series. I’m confident, I’m excited, and I’m ready. Let’s do this.

And baby, thank you for everything you are and for being you. Not many would stick by my side while I jump up and down at an Aaron Judge home run and not many would let me smack their butt every time Luis Severino struck out a batter, but you did… because you’re you, and I love you for it. Thank you, my good luck charm!

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics

And just like that playoff baseball has returned to us all and returned to the Bronx, New York as the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium play host to the Oakland Athletics. One game to decide a season. One game to decide the fate of both clubs. One game to decide it all. The Yankees will send Luis Severino to the mound with the pressure of protecting Yankee Stadium and continuing their season while the Athletics will send Liam Hendriks to the mound looking to play the spoiler. Neither team wants to go home and neither team wants their seasons to end here, but which team wants it just a little more? Let’s find out.

The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on TBS.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the New York Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, put up a five-spot in the first inning, and go Yankees!!

2018 Playoffs: Oakland Athletics Offense vs. Luis Severino - Career

Will we see Luis Severino circa the 2017 AL Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins inside Yankee Stadium tonight? Or will we see dominant, young ace right-hander Severino tonight inside Yankee Stadium against the Oakland Athletics? Stay tuned...

All stats and images courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference.

2018 Playoffs: New York Yankees Offense vs. Liam Hendriks - Career

How does this bode for the Yankees, and for Hendricks, tonight in the Bronx? Stay tuned...

All stats and images courtesy of ESPN.com and Baseball Reference

New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics 2018 Showdown

The New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics are set to face off head-to-head tonight in a one-game, win-or-go-home playoff scenario to decide the American League Wild Card winner. What has happened before tonight means very little in the grand scheme of things, it is the “second season” after all once the postseason begins, but for fun and for informational purposes we will take a look at what the Yankees and Athletics did against one another during the regular season. Will it tell us what is likely to happen tonight in the Bronx? Who knows, but it could… so let’s take a look.

Team Game-by-Game Schedule

Gm#	Date	Tm		Opp	W/L	R	RA	Win	Loss	Save
38	Friday, May 11	NYY		OAK	L	5	10	Graveman	Gray	Treinen
39	Saturday, May 12	NYY		OAK	W-wo	7	6	Cole	Hatcher
40	Sunday, May 13	NYY		OAK	W	6	2	Severino	Anderson
138	Monday, Sep 3	NYY	@	OAK	L	3	6	Cahill	Sabathia	Treinen
139	Tuesday, Sep 4	NYY	@	OAK	W	5	1	Robertson	Rodney
140	Wednesday, Sep 5	NYY	@	OAK	L	2	8	Fiers	Severino

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

As you can see these games were played so far apart that it was a bit of a tale of two seasons. The New York Yankees were steamrolling the entire league when the first three games were played and eventually won two-of-three in New York for another series win. In the second series the games were played without Aaron Judge in the Yankees lineup and inside the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s took care of their homefield winning two-of-three against New York to even the series at three games each.

Who wins tonight? History would say the New York Yankees, but I, for one, will not be the person who counts out the Oakland A's, no matter how confident in the Baby Bombers I am. 

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics

The New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics will kick off the American League Wild Card Playoff Round and the 2018 American League Postseason tonight in the Bronx. Get excited. Whether you believe this is a playoff game or not is irrelevant as the 2018 postseason officially kicks off tonight to everyone who makes those decisions and to everyone whose opinion matters, so leave your negative thoughts about the contest at the door. The second season has begun, let’s get to it.

In the game tonight the Yankees have named Luis Severino as their Wild Card Game starter while the Athletics have decided to counter the Yankees right-hander with Liam Hendriks.

Severino will start his second consecutive Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium hoping for better results in this start than his last. Severino was knocked out in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 American League Wild Card Game after allowing three runs on two home runs in an eventual Yankees come-from-behind victory. None of that tonight. Nothing but zeroes, please and thanks. Severino, a 24-year old right-hander, was 19-8 this season with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts, although the righty was 14-2 at the All-Star Break before a second half collapse of sorts.

Hendriks has been a relief pitcher for the Athletics here in 2018, but he is no stranger to the life of a starting pitcher. Hendricks has seen his season ride a roller coaster after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers in June, only to come back and start the biggest game to date for the Athletics here in 2018. Hendricks, a 29-year old right-hander, was 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 25 appearances this season,

The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on TBS.

Enjoy the game, win the game or go home… and I am not ready to go home just yet, and for the love of God… go Yankees!!

Hello… Wild Card Playoff Game

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Yankees family, the playoffs begin tonight and they kick off in the Bronx and inside of Yankee Stadium. Stand up, all rise, and get ready to scream your little asses off. Oakland has never been here before, this collective team hasn’t anyway, and we, the fans, can take them out of it early with our cheers, screams, and enthusiasm. Shake the place tonight, and let’s win this damn game.

And baby, get ready… your return to watching baseball begins tonight. The things you do for me, and with me. I love you for and an appreciative of each and every one of them, and for you. I love you!

My Thoughts Heading Into the 2018 Postseason

Yes, the American League and National League Wild Card Games are postseason games. Major League Baseball says so and so does Baseball Reference. It doesn’t matter if you say so or think so, so keep that in mind before leaving the smart-ass comments in the comments section, on Twitter, and in my email. Thanks in advance.

The New York Yankees postseason push begins tomorrow night in the Bronx when the team plays host to the Oakland Athletics in a one-game playoff. The loser goes home and the winner travels to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox, the owners of the best record in the American League here in 2018. What are my thoughts heading into the postseason? I am confident. In fact, I am as confident as one can be who roots for a team that is about to have to play in a one-game do-or-die playoff game. Why?

The Yankees are built for a one-game playoff better than most, if not all, teams across Major League Baseball. The Yankees starters don’t have to give the team much length with such a deep, talented and now rested bullpen behind them. That’s why I never stressed much on whether it would be JA Happ, Masahiro Tanaka or Luis Severino starting in the game, because it didn’t matter. At the first sign of trouble the Yankees would/could bring in a battery of David Robertson, Chad Green, Dellin Betances, Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman to potentially close out any game they need to. In a perfect world that is five or more shutout innings if every arm listed goes one inning. Green can go multiple innings, as can Robertson and Betances, while Britton and Chapman have as well in the past. That’s a whole lot of zeroes for the opposing team in my opinion.

The Yankees offense, albeit home run reliant sometimes, is explosive and it has been firing on all cylinders since the returns of Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius. With the aforementioned bullpen and pitching situation across a one-game playoff the Yankees may only need one run to win, or they may go out there and score 15 runs for all we know. No lead for Oakland will be safe, especially in the Bronx, and it will be the Athletics, not the Yankees, who feel like they are further behind than they truly are with every run that the Bronx Bombers score.

The Yankees have been here before, much of the core from last season is here with a few new veterans thrown into the mix, while the Athletics have not been. The A’s are a great team, but there is a different intensity playing in August and September than there is in October, and Oakland has yet to experience that as a whole. One mistake can win or lose your season for you.

Assuming the Yankees get past the Athletics in the Wild Card round of the playoffs the team would travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox. Boston won the season series 10-9 here in 2018, but the Yankees recently took 2-of-3 from the Red Sox in Fenway Park over the final weekend of the season. Sure, the Red Sox had nothing left to play for except to maybe keep the Yankees from hosting a Wild Card game or from winning 100 games on the season, but New York held their own for much of the season regardless, both at home and in Boston. Truth be told I think the Yankees could beat the Red Sox in a seven-game series, but the five-game series benefits New York much more than it would the Red Sox. Having a reliable arm like JA Happ or Masahiro Tanaka potentially pitching twice in the series with Luis Severino and CC Sabathia pitching once each in the potential series I can’t say that I don’t feel confident about being able to win every single night in the series. Especially with that offense and especially with that bullpen. Speaking of bullpen’s, Boston’s bullpen sucks, so that can only help.

If the Yankees go further than the ALDS I will have much more to say, so I won’t get too far ahead of myself now just in case. I feel confident in this team as I have all season long, and I will remain confident in this team no matter where the playoffs and the schedule may take them. I love this team, and I don’t think any team in the American League wants to face the New York Yankees right now… and that is a great feeling as a fan.

Severino Starts the AL Wild Card Game for the Yankees

Aaron Boone has made the decision on who will start the American League Wild Card Game for the New York Yankees and it will be Luis Severino. Severino finished his 2018 season with a 19-8 record and a 3.39 ERA with 220 strikeouts and will get the nod despite being knocked out in the first inning of the Wild Card Game last year inside Yankee Stadium against the Minnesota Twins. Severino will look to rebound from a terrible second half and from a terrible AL Wild Card Game start in 2017 tomorrow night in the Bronx.

JA Happ, Masahiro Tanaka and Lance Lynn will join a nine-man Yankees bullpen for tomorrow night's game.

Hello… 162 Games For Nothing

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Yes, the title of the post is accurate. The New York Yankees just played in 162 games for nothing. Well, not for nothing. The fact that the team is hosting the AL Wild Card Game and not traveling to Oakland for tomorrow night’s game means something, and the fact that they could have avoided this one-game playoff game scenario altogether is also something worth mentioning, but those things cannot be changed now. The outcome of the last 162 games cannot be altered. Aaron Boone’s questionable pitching change decisions and his favorable use of AJ Cole is now all water under the bridge. All the griping, complaining, and frustrations now mean nothing. The last 162 games mean nothing as the postseason is now a new season.

Every slate is clean. Everyone goes back to 0-0. Everyone still standing has a shot at glory. Win tonight and this game means nothing. Win three more and the ALDS means nothing. Just keep winning until there are no more games left to win. Then the only thing that will matter is the Canyon of Heroes parade.

Oh, and baby. I love you! We get to watch playoff baseball together again tomorrow!! That was so exciting last year and will be equally as exciting this year. I just know it. I loves you!!

Predicting the Wild Card Game Starter

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is being pretty secretive on who will start the American League Wild Card Game for the New York Yankees on October 3^rd, but I think I figured out who will start the game and I am prepared to share my prediction with you this morning on the blog.

The game is played on Wednesday, October 3^rd and the game will more than likely take place in the Bronx at this point with New York holding a slim lead and the potential tiebreaker advantage over the Oakland Athletics. With that said the game is officially seven days away.

Luis Severino pitched on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays which all but counts him out of the running to start the Wild Card game. I guess the Yankees could pitch him on seven days rest, but it seems like the team is more than likely banking on a Wild Card Game victory and having Severino come back in the ALDS after essentially skipping a turn through the rotation.

JA Happ last pitched on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, meaning his next turn through the rotation (including the bullpen game on Monday) would be Saturday the 29^th against the Boston Red Sox. Without much maneuvering that would leave Happ available on just three days of rest for the Wild Card Game in the Bronx, presumably. Not ideal, and probably not going to happen.

Masahiro Tanaka pitched last night and could pitch the game on Wednesday with six days of rest, something he has done exceptionally well throughout his career. Tanaka knows the bright lights of Yankee Stadium and knows what it is like to pitch a game in the Bronx in the postseason and specifically in the Wild Card “win-or-go-home” type atmosphere. To me it makes the most sense for him to make the start on October 3^rd for the Yankees, so he is my prediction. It explains the Yankees bullpen game on Monday and it puts New York not only in the best position to win the Wild Card round, but to compete and win the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox as well.

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: The Standings

Here is a quick look at my predictions for the 2018 season and the overall standings for all 30 teams!

As we count down the days until Opening Day 2018 I wanted to take the opportunity to say this, it is Prediction Season here on The Greedy Pinstripes. Every season I make a series of predictions, sometimes bold and sometimes not so much, before the season, and then I look back on them at season’s end to see how in tune I really was with my wizardry. Spoiler alert, I usually don’t do well in these predictions, but I put them and myself out there nonetheless for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy, and leave any constructive criticism in the comments below, or hit us on Twitter by tagging @GreedyStripes. Two million strong and counting folks!!

American League East

New York Yankees (X)                       94-68

Boston Red Sox (Y)                           90 -72

Baltimore Orioles                               80 - 82

Toronto Blue Jays                               76 - 86

Tampa Bay Rays                                 72 - 90

American League Central

Cleveland Indians (X)                        93-69

Minnesota Twins                                84-78

Kansas City Royals                            83-79

Chicago White Sox                            73 - 89

Detroit Tigers                                     64-98

American League West

Houston Astros (X)                           94-68

Seattle Mariners (Z)                          88-74

Texas Rangers                                   85-77

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim      83-79

Oakland Athletics                             75-87

National League East

Washington Nationals (X)                 96-66

Philadelphia Phillies                          84-78

New York Mets                                  82-80

Atlanta Braves                                   71-91

Miami Marlins                                   62-100

National League Central

St. Louis Cardinals (X)                       92-70

Chicago Cubs (Y)                               89-67

Milwaukee Brewers                            86-76

Pittsburgh Pirates                                74-88

Cincinnati Reds                                  70-92

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers (X)                 95-67

San Francisco Giants (Z)                  87-75

Colorado Rockies                             85-77

Arizona Diamondbacks                    83-79

San Diego Padres                             70-92

(X) denotes Division Winner

(Y) denotes Wild Card 1 Winner

(Z) denoted Wild Card 2 Winner

Yes, I went bold in the American League West. I don’t have a real and true reason why I feel like the Seattle Mariners will have a great season, but I just do. They have a younger team with a few key guys in key positions that are hungry, and I just have a hunch. This will be one I will likely regret when we look back at the end of the 2018 season, but oh well. For now, the Seattle Robinson Cano’s are in as the 2nd Wild Card team in the American League while the Texas Rangers are selling off pieces in July. Another bold prediction in the National League East as I have the young Fightin’ Phils in second place behind the big right-arm of Jake Arrieta. It isn’t so much that I feel like the Phillies are ready to compete, although they have a young core and nucleus that could easily sneak up on people this summer, but I feel like the NL East is just going to be that bad this season. I truly wanted to put the Atlanta Braves a little higher, but with Philadelphia (and the rest of the NL East) facing off with the Braves and Marlins around 40 times a season each we should see some inflated win numbers out of that division in my opinion. I truly think the most competitive division in all of Major League Baseball this season will be the National League West who will have four potential teams that could make the postseason, with the exception being the San Diego Padres. I like all their teams, and I think it could be fun to watch all summer long out West this season.

Again, leave your predictions in the comments section below or hit us op on Twitter, @GreedyStripes.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 9/22

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. In the middle game of this three-game weekend set the Yankees will send Lance Lynn to the mound to face off with David Hess for the Orioles. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally, MASN in the Baltimore area, and MLB Network nationally. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the New York Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, Hess is a gas station and not a pitcher in my eyes… and go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 9/22

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles will continue their three-game weekend set today with the middle game of the series. Today the Yankees will send out Lance Lynn looking to put some distance between them and the Oakland Athletics in the first Wild Card spot while the Orioles will counter with David Hess. Who? Exactly. The offense needs to make everyone say that about Hess as well, so let’s get to it here in the Bronx.

Lance Lynn... we can thank Sonny Gray for this experiment not being over yet. 

Hess will face the Yankees for the first time in his career this afternoon, and possibly at the worst time in his short MLB career. Hess has won just one of his last 14 starts including a loss in his last start where he allowed four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings pitched against the Chicago White Sox last Sunday. 

The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally, MASN in the Baltimore area, and MLB Network nationally. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game, just win baby, and go Yankees!!

Second Guessing My Hypothetical Wild Card Game Starter

The thing about predictions, hypotheticals, and fandom in general is that everything is subject to change. Remember when Giancarlo Stanton “sucked” and everyone (most “fans” anyway) wanted him traded after just a month? Where were those fans in August? Silent. Also, remember when everyone wanted Austin Romine to start every day over Gary Sanchez? Where were those fans on Monday night when he launched an 800 ft (exaggeration) home run against the Minnesota Twins in a victory? Also, silent. My point is that fans and opinions can change, and I have changed my mind concerning the Yankees potential and hypothetical Wild Card Playoff Game starter. 

In my initial post I listed JA Happ as my Wild Card Game starter followed by Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and CC Sabathia in that order, but on second thought I think I changed my mind just a bit. Looking ahead a bit, which I understand can be dangerous, I think if I were making the calls I would have Masahiro Tanaka start the AL Wild Card Game and not Happ. My reasoning? Well, that’s where it gets tricky. 

Masahiro Tanaka has playoff experience, specifically AL Wild Card Game experience, and has proven that he can pitch under the bright lights in the Bronx in October. Tanaka started the AL Wild Card Game for the Yankees in 2015 against the Houston Astros and Dallas Keuchel slinging five innings of work while allowing two runs, both solo home runs, with three strikeouts. Happ has playoff experience with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 in the NLCS, again in 2009 when the Phillies matched the New York Yankees in the World Series, and during the 2016 ALDS and ALCS with the Toronto Blue Jays, pitching to varying degrees of success. While Happ has pitched in the postseason and the World Series with Philadelphia he has done so as a relief pitcher with the exception of one start (that lasted just three innings) in the 2009 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies. Happ’s two starts for the Blue Jays both lasted five innings each and resulted in a combined 1.50 WHIP and over 11 hits per nine innings. In the immortal words of former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, that’s not what you want. 

The past is the past though and we cannot focus solely on the past when making this decision. Let’s look at the present. Who would you want starting two games and a decisive Game Five for the Yankees, assuming they make it that far? You have to think, especially against the Boston Red Sox,
that that’s Happ. I mean, sure, we would love to see Tanaka make two starts as well, but the team has to get their first and right now Severino just isn’t an arm that can be relied on in a one-game playoff scenario. Having Tanaka start the Wild Card Game, Happ starting Game One of the presumed ALDS, followed by Severino, Sabathia and Tanaka gives the Yankees at least a fighting chance. If the series goes five games I don’t think I’d want anyone else on the mound AS WE STAND TODAY in that decisive Game Five than JA Happ.


Happ has been the most consistent Yankees starter and has great numbers career against the Red Sox. It just makes logistical sense to me, even if it is looking ahead and subject to second guessing a bit. Having Tanaka start the AL Wild Card Game is not exactly throwing in the towel by any means, but if the Yankees can win that game with Masahiro on the mound the team would be ideally set up to take down the big, bad “best team to walk the planet” Boston Red Sox, in my opinion.

Hello… Chapter 1 of Book 2

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. As many of you know earlier this year I wrote a book, well I wrote another. Here is Chapter 1. Enjoy. And baby, I hope you especially enjoy because these books are for you. They are our love story!! I love you.

From Defiance to Undefeated, available for purchase on Amazon.  

Prologue

Standing in a room called the Hygge House are the last known remaining members of the Valkyries regime, the faction of men and women that once ran and owned the Land of Bartow. Dan, the former Valkyries council member and Territories expert that was in charge of not only keeping the Valkyries safe, but was also in charge of keeping tabs on the numerous splinter cells of resistance that popped up across the region, namely the group called Defiance. Andy, the former leader of the Valkyries after one of their own, a Defiance spy and operative working undercover, assassinated the former leader, Poke. Andy’s first decision as leader of the Valkyries ended up being his last after his orders to send the entire Valkyries military out to attack in response to the assassination kicked off the plan for Defiance to take over not only their compound, but all of Bartow. Jax, another leader of the Valkyries council and the man in charge of recruitment for the entire Valkyries regime. Jax had brought in many heavy hitters during his time with the Valkyries and his charm and skills as a recruiter were unmatched until Defiance came along. Jax could see things in people that many others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Jax saw potential in people that no one else did, and for that he was special.

Zero, the leader of the Valkyries military and war machine. Zero could have been the leader of the Valkyries, or in their council in the very least, but he always decided to simply stay where he was atop the Valkyries war list. If the towers needed taken, the opposing generals needed to be blown up, or if the final blow of the war needed to be handed down Zero was the man to do it. Zero led the Valkyries military with pride, precision and a heavy hand that you didn’t want to get in the way of when he was on a mission. Adam, a member of the Valkyries military that worked under Zero. Adam preferred to stay quiet and out of the limelight with his head down doing his job. Adam didn’t speak much but when he did his commanding presence and authoritative voice to match demanded the attention of the room. Phil, a member of the Valkyries military that also worked under Zero and with Adam. Phil was small in stature and his voice did not command the attention of a room, but there must have been a reason he was in the Valkyries military. Whether it be his brains, his brawn, or the fact that he had a wild streak that didn’t mix well with adrenaline remained to be seen, but there was certainly a reason he was picked by Zero to work under him.

These were the six remaining Valkyries, at least to the best of their knowledge, and they were all huddled up in a place north of their former compound in a house known as the Hygge House. After their battle with Defiance had come to an end with devastating losses and casualties for the Valkyries their remaining members and soldiers were left to pick up the pieces. Now the crew was left with the decision of what to do next. Do they run and hide? Do they try to rebuild and bring the fight back to Defiance? Or do they sell their souls in exchange for security, peace, food and a home to join Defiance?

No one knew right now, but they were all about to figure it out rather quickly.

Chapter 1 Six Remain

“So, what are we going to do now?”

In the Hygge House stood the six remaining Valkyries left after their brutal war with Defiance. The Valkyries took heavy losses and had lost control not only of their compound, but of Bartow as well. Like the Valkyries had done to Scopely all those years ago Defiance showed off their might and seized control over the region. The Valkyries as everyone knew them were gone, they had fallen, but if anything, the war with the Defiance gave the remaining Valkyries members something they never would have had before, a clean slate. As far as anyone knew all the remaining members of the Valkyries were dead, and with the amount of revolutionary leaders that Dan had seen die before his eyes there were fewer and fewer people that could even identify these six men even if they wanted to. They could run, but where would they run to? They could hide, but no one really knew who they would be hiding from. The group could try to blend in, but Nacho, the leader of Defiance, had seen Dan’s face as well as many others including the Phoenix Rises members that joined Defiance along with Dan’s girlfriend, Kari Ann. Tee, Gee and Darth could all identify Dan. So, what would they do? The group of six sat in the empty room surrounded by nothing but glass panes and brainstormed.

“I think we have to run, bro!” Jax exclaimed to the group.

“Where the hell are we running to, Jax?” Andy questioned.

“Hell, I don’t know, but we can’t stay here” Jax replied, sounding almost annoyed.

“Why can’t we stay here?” Zero was speaking up now. “Nobody knows where this place is but Daizie, who is dead, and the Valkyries, which are all in this room as far as we know.”

“As far as we know!” Adam was speaking up now. “We don’t know who the hell is alive out there. None of us thought that Dan was alive. None of us saw Phil lying there besides the Ultra-Rare Gear shop. There could be Valkyries still out there!”

“Yeah, and we don’t who was working with Defiance from within. This wasn’t just a coincidence that they knew just when to hit, and where. Someone was spying for them from within the Valkyries, I just know it.” Andy didn’t know about Jessica apparently, not yet anyway.

“Jessica…” was all that Dan was able to mutter amidst all the talking that was going on. Dan knew he was going to have to tell the story that Jessica told him, and he knew that he was about to break at least five more people’s hearts by doing so.

“Yeah, did anyone see Jessica when all this shit started?” Jax asked the question that Dan was waiting for someone to ask. The question that would jump start his story.

“I saw Jessica, yeah. I saw Jessica in her house right before I jumped the wall, and she was meeting with the leader of Defiance. His name is Nacho.” Dan began to tell his story as the jaws of the Valkyries members collected in the room seemingly dropped all at once. Dan revealed every detail to the men that stood in that room beside him. Dan told them how she was abducted by a man named Fox and he told them how they held medical treatments over her head in exchange for her cooperation. Dan explained to the Valkyries how Jessica infiltrated the Valkyries council, and Poke specifically, with the intent of bringing down the Valkyries after spending time with the rebel group named Kill All and Dan explained how she was the one that ordered Dan to be abducted, much like she was however many years before. Dan explained to them that it was Jessica, or “Light” which was apparently her code name with Defiance, that came over the wall and set off the alarms, seemingly on purpose, the night that Dan was abducted, and it was Jessica that sent Fox to his home with orders to burn it down and to kill Dan if he resisted.

The room was silent, and all eyes were on Dan. He had their full attentions as he continued to recant his story of what happened just a few hours prior within the home that Jessica and Dan shared. Dan explained how it was Jessica who pulled the trigger, killing Poke the fallen leader of the Valkyries and he explained how it was her who tipped off Defiance that the military was on its way in full force outside the walls of the compound and headed towards Phoenix Rises. Dan told them everything, even down to the smallest of details. Dan especially told them about when her story was just about over how Nacho busted into the room and put a bullet through her head as if she was no longer useful to Defiance or to their leader any longer, discarding her like yesterday’s trash.

“… and before I knew it Nacho was gone from the room, and from the house, and I was left there watching who I thought was my friend bleed out. I knew I couldn’t stay there and I knew I had to get out, so I took off running from the house and I jumped the wall closest to the armory. I didn’t know where else to go, so I came here hoping that a few of us made it and would follow.” Dan was done telling his story, but he knew he left out many key pieces of information. Dan never mentioned Kari, not even once, or the fact that he had been outside the walls and inside the Phoenix base strapped to a table as a prisoner as the assault began from the Valkyries military. Dan also left out that he had a choice whether to join Revolution or not after he was abducted. Sure, declining meant death but how could Dan justify his decision in that way when Ellie, his partner within the Valkyries territories room, was given the same choice and declined. Ellie sacrificed her life to die as a Valkyrie rather than live as a traitor to the regime, a decision that Dan would have to live with for the remainder of his days here in Bartow.

“There was one thing I remember from Jessica’s story that may be able to help us though, if we do it right. Maybe it can give us a starting point anyway.” Dan had the attention of the room as a glimmer of hope came across many of the eyes of the remaining Valkyries members. “When Jessica was talking to Nacho in the kitchen I overheard her talking about a man named ABB, and a place called ‘The Peach.’ Does anyone know a place like that? Or a man named ABB?” Silence overtook the room as the remaining members of the Valkyries all racked their brains trying to think if they ever heard of ABB or The Peach until finally Phil spoke up.

“I know what The Peach is… it is a bar maybe 30 miles or so from here. I know exactly where it is. You think if we went there we would be able to find other Valks?” Phil now had the attention of the room, but he really had the attention of Dan. Members of the Valkyries never referred to themselves as “Valks.” In fact, most members of the Valkyries hated being called Valks, it was almost like a condescending term to them. Poke would never allow a member of his Valkyries to call one another Valks, so it was weird when Dan heard that word come out of Phil’s mouth. Dan never mentioned this in front of the group, he knew he could just paranoid at this point after everything that has gone down and he knew that he may be looking to deeply into it. For all Dan knew, Phil could be a new Valkyrie and he just didn’t have that rule cemented into his head yet like the rest of the Valkyries did. Jax was in charge of recruiting, not Dan, and he didn’t bat an eye when Phil said it. Dan quickly put the idea out of his head and chalked it up to just being paranoid, although that didn’t mean he was going to forget it completely.

“Well, going to The Peach is a better lead than anything else we have to go on. Let’s go!” Andy was still leading the Valkyries, even from the dirt and no longer from the throne, and his Valkyries followed. No one questioned Andy, everyone simply gathered their things and they began shuffling out the door of the Hygge House and back into the unknown. No one knew what they would find when they got to The Peach, but each one of them knew that the five men they stood with was all that they had at that moment, with the exception of Dan who had Kari still in his life. As Dan packed his bags and began walking towards the door thoughts of his beautiful blue-eyed vixen came to his mind. He wished he had time to call her back on his laptop. Even more so he wished that she didn’t have to be such a secret, a feeling that I am sure she reciprocated for Dan. She was patient though and never said a word, but Dan knew that she would grow tired of this secretive world eventually. “Cross that bridge when you get there Dan, if we even get there” he thought to himself as he walked out the door and began his march towards The Peach.