In Some Sports, they have star players, that propel them to the Big game, such as the quarterback in a Super Bowl, or the seven foot center leading his team to the NBA Championship. But in baseball its a team sport. Twenty-five or sometimes even twenty-six men that play as a complete team, at least if they want to be successful. Love them or hate them, the New York Yankees, have been successful for the 40th time since they were established in 1903 as they have once again made it to the World Series. Even though these two teams have not faced each other for 43 years in the World Series, they will begin their 12th epic clash on Friday evening in Los Angeles.
But……..how did the Yankees get there?
Game time decisions, and performances played a big role in the Yankees success. But pivotal performances, are what legends are made of.
An all time moment in the 10th inning was a combination of things, that allowed the Yankees to win Game 5 of the ALCS and punched their ticket to the World Series. Against the Yankees, there were very few easy decisions for Cleveland, and in the end its what some may say what did them in.
Cleveland Manager Steven Vogt, elected to go with Starter Tanner Bibee, deep into the six inning. Bibee pitched five scoreless innings, keeping the Yankees high powered offense in check. Which, in turn, also kept the Guardians bullpen rested. In the other dugout, Luke Weaver was the unsung hero for the Yankees. You can read an in depth article explaining that here. Cleveland relievers had accounted for 62% of the clubs innings pitched this season. Thus, they were a tired bunch, as a result, their key pitchers were missing their targets in key situations and the Yankees were able to capitalize on them, with game changing plays, throughout the series.
As Bibee was set to face Giancarlo Stanton, with a runner on, and the less then scary Jazz Chisolm waiting on deck, Vogt elected to stick with Bibee. Although Stanton had struck out twice against Bibee he had homered three times in four games in the Series.
Could lightning strike again?
Stanton battled the count to 3-2. Cleveland’s catcher called for a low slider, and was hoping for Stanton to chase it, which would have ended the inning. But, Bibee missed the target, and hung the slider to Stanton who crushed it deep to left field. And with one mighty swing the game was tied at 2 and the ever important momentum swung to the Yankees.
One can question Vogt’s decision to go with Bibee, but what it really came down to was Bibee didn’t execute and Stanton did. Stanton had a pivotal performance, but that was not his only one in the ALCS. Stanton now has seven hits in his career in the playoffs vs. Cleveland. All seven of them were home runs. That’s pretty impressive.
In the series, Vogt trusted his elite bullpen to challenge the Yankees best hitters, in Stanton, Judge, and Soto. But he may have done so one too many times.
If you put it into perspective, the big guns of the Yankees combined to hit 9 home runs and drive in 16 RBI’S. While the rest of the Yankees lineup had 1 homer and 6 RBI’s.
Fast forward to the 10th inning.
The Cleveland bullpen was holding down the fort prior to the Stanton blast that set the stage. If the Guardians bullpen could get the Yankees down in order they would have a chance in the bottom of the inning.
But things unravelled quickly. With one out and a Yankee runner on base. Bryan Rocchio bobbled the toss from Andres Gimenez and all runners were safe. This allowed Soto to come to the plate, with the game on the line.
There is no hitter better in baseball then Juan Soto and he lives for pivitol performances like these.
Some may ask this question. What was the reason to pitch to Soto, instead of Judge? The simple answer is, Judge is better adapted at hitting breaking balls. Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis’ slider and changeup are much better then his breaking ball. This fact is proven by our friends at baseballsavant. In 2024 Judge has a season batting average on sliders of .244 and the changeup is his worse batting average of any pitch at .229. As a contrast, Soto in 2024 has seen 415 changeups with a .250 batting average and his eyes have literally watched 467 sliders because he has only hit .169 on them. It is the only pitch he has a negative run value on in 2024.
The pitch sequence to Soto in this important at bat was; first pitch breaking ball that missed inside. Second pitch was a breaking ball again, which was called a strike. The third pitch was a hanging slider, right down broadway that Soto tried to hit for a home run, but was fouled off. Gaddis knew he dodged a bullet. Somehow I just knew that Soto would win this battle. Even though he fouled the pitch off, he knew he was confident in getting the better of Gaddis. Soto also fouled off the fourth pitch. Soto fouled off the next two as well, a slider and a changeup. With wasted pitches, the advantage was with Soto. Nine times out of ten enough fouled pitches gives the advantage to the hitter.
He still hadn’t seen a fastball. Soto usually feasts on baseballs,(704 in 2024 with a .322 batting average) especially ones high in the zone. Naturally, trying to trick Soto, Gaddis decided to throw a high fastball. But not high enough. And Juan Soto was waiting for it, smashing it over the right center field wall. Another pivotal performance. This one propelling the Yankees to the World Series.
It was another series of plays in which the Yankees rose to the occasion, doing what playmakers do in key situations. They were decisions buy the Cleveland management that should have had better outcomes based solely on numbers. But, capitalizing on mistakes, even if it is only one pitch in one at bat, is what successful players do and that is what makes them collectively become successful teams.
Photo Credit; AZCentral, Akron Beacon Journal, Yahoo Sports, Call To The Pen, WTNH.com
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