New York Yankees: 3 Major takeaways from the Yankees 4-3 win over the Rays

New York Yankees, Jordan Montgomery
Apr 21, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (47) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Last night on Lou Gehrig Day, the New York Yankees not only celebrated the career of their greatest first baseman, but they celebrated a back-to-back win over their nemesis Tampa Bay Rays, leaving open the opportunity to take the four-game series. The final score was 4-3.

Montgomery pitches well in the win

Jordan Montgomery may not have had his best stuff working last night, but he pitched into the seventh inning, using 99 pitches, giving up three runs; only one was earned. He also struck out six Rays hitters. He also got 8 ground ball outs.  He allowed only one extra-base hit to limit the potential damage against him. However, the defense behind him allowed two of his three runs. His outing last night was his sixth, going at least six innings. He is ERA is now 3.92 with 59 strikeouts in 59.2 innings of work. His record is 3-1.

The bullpen of Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green back up Montgomery with two scoreless innings. Aroldis Chapman came in to close it out in the ninth. He made it interesting by walking the first two hitters he faced. But in the end, he got the job done and earned his 12th save.

The Yankees still making basepath mistakes

The Yankees have been making base running mistakes all season; they have the most in baseball. 29 Yankees have been called out on base running mistakes. Although they have been coached to be better on the base paths, they only seem to get worse. Gary Sanchez, the Yankee catcher, has the most out on the bases. But Yesterday it was Gio Urshela and Gleber Torres.

You have to know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. In a tight game against a better team, you can’t afford them extra outs. Gio Urshela was thrown out at third when he tried to outrun a pitch that bounced away from catcher Francisco Mejia in the seventh inning with the Yankees up by a run. To add insult to injury, Gleyber Torres was caught off first base to end the inning.

The team is trying to address the problem while at the same time trying not to stifle aggressiveness. Manager Boone has said they are working on base running drills, which are usually only done during spring training.

Yankees make a puzzling move

With Luke Voit on the IL, the New York Yankees don’t have a natural first baseman, and this has been true since the beginning of the season. And yet, the Yankees have chosen to do relatively little about it. After spring training the better defender and better hitting, Chis Gittens didn’t make the 40 man roster. Mike Ford did. The Yankees have been platooning Ford and DJ LeMahieu to cover one of the most important positions in the infield. Ford has missed some plays that would have been made by a good first baseman and, as of this week, was batting just .133.

The New York Yankees have finally addressed the problem; they sent Mike Ford down to Scranton and replaced him with a bullpen arm and a poor one at that. What kind of a bonehead move was this? Now they have less coverage than before, and it prevents DJ LeMahieu from returning to his natural position at second base. Presently Rougned Odor is covering for LeMahieu; Odor also lacks hitting; he bats just .196. Gittens, in 16 minor league games, has 4 home runs and is batting .261. I understand that the Yankees would have to adjust the 40 man to bring Gittens up, but that one move would solve two problems and get production from first base. It’s staring the Yankees in the face, but they don’t seem to get it.