Yankees ALDS Game 3 Disaster

Missing Shortstop

Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is an easy personality to want to root for. Not only is he a likable persona, but was a Yankee fan in his youth. The problem with him lays in the field: he is not a World Series winning shortstop. He is, in fact, a Gold Glove 3rd baseman. This follows the Yankee trend of trying to make shortstops out of other infield positions (remember pulling Torres off of 2B?). I feel like Cashman is hoping to find a diamond in the rough to avoid over spending on a big name shortstop because he knows he has too many problems to solve besides blowing money on one position. In his defense, he is correct. However, his choices of shortstops have come back to haunt the Yankees, particularly this playoffs so far. Kiner-Falefa made two errors to open game 1. Thankfully, the Yanks were able to recover. But in game 3, his first inning error immediately lead to a run scored, and again drove up the pitch count of the starting pitcher. Unless Kiner-Falefa plays flawless baseball for the rest of the way, it is hard to see the Yankees winning a championship with him at shortstop.

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Lack of a Closer

The closer was the biggest question mark going into the playoffs. Not only did the Yankees not have a clear closer, but manager Aaron Boone even admitted as such. While Wandy Peralta fought valiantly and effectively through multiple innings, he needed help to help put the final nail on the Guardians coffin. Unfortunately, Clark Schmidt did not have a hammer. Frankly, no one did. According to Boone, Clay Holmes was unavailable, but even so, he is very far removed from his All-Star first half performance level. Aroldis Chapman could not even justify himself a roster spot. As a result, all the Yankees can do is hold their breath on a late inning lead.

Let’s take a moment to talk about Holmes for a second. In the postgame interview, Boone expressed how Holmes was unable to to pitch back to back games, and only available for an emergency. Holmes however, expressed that he was in fact available and expected to pitch. So here is the question I would ask each of them: what did Holmes say or do that gave Boone the impression he couldn’t pitch? I cannot shake the vibe that there is something that both of these guys are not telling us.

What Will Keep the Yankees Afloat?

Gerrit Cole. The Yankees ability to tie the series rests on the shoulders of Gerrit Cole. Last year, Cole famously underperformed in the do-or-die elimination game, so the pressure still lingers above his head. On the bright side, he knows he has something to prove. As long as Cole keeps the ball inside the ballpark, he will put the Yankees in position to win. Likewise, the field must provide him with flawless defense to keep his pitch count low, so he can pitch deep into the game. The best thing the Yankees lineup can do is to put up runs early and buy Cole breathing room just incase he gives up a home-run (which he is prone to do). This is the game we are paying Cole to win.