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The Yankees started the American League Division Series with a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, and in a new edition of The Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed the main reasons that explain the result and the adjustments that New York will have to make before game 2.
The match left a particularly frustrating feeling because Gerrit Cole He did enough to keep the Yankees in competition. The problem was on the other side: an offensive that practically disappeared against Drew Rasmussen and that only got a hit throughout the match.
During the show, the Yankists reviewed the Tampa Bay starter's dominance, Cole's performance, decision-making by running the foundations, and the stage that New York now faces in a best-of-five series.
The Yankists: the offensive was the main problem
For Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas, the first point of the analysis was evident: the Yankees cannot expect to win postseason games by producing only one hit.
Drew Rasmussen controlled the lineup for eight blank innings, allowed just one hit, gave two walks and struck out 10 batters.
Beyond the result, the worrying thing was New York's difficulty in building long shifts, generating base traffic and forcing Rasmussen to work under pressure.
The Yankees came from scoring 18 runs and hitting 26 hits in two games against Boston, but the story changed completely against Tampa Bay pitching.
In the Yankists, precisely this contrast was highlighted: the offensive that looked aggressive, profound and productive against the Red Sox, never found pace in the first ALDS game.
Gerrit Cole kept New York alive
One of the positive points pointed out during the program was the performance of Gerrit Cole.
The right-hander worked five innings and allowed only one race, enough to keep the Yankees in a closed match until the end.
The only major damage was Jonathan Aranda's solo home run in the third inning.
For the Yankists, Cole's departure met what is expected of a starter in October: avoid a big rally, keep the score manageable and give the offense opportunities to react.
The problem was that that reaction never came.
When a starter allows only one run in a postseason match, the expectation is that the offense will find at least one way to tie. This time New York couldn't do it.
Drew Rasmussen completely changed the match
Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas also recognized Rasmussen's work.
It wasn't just about the Yankees hitting badly. The Tampa starter ran an excellent plan and never allowed the lineup to feel comfortable.
He mixed speeds, attacked different zones, and kept the batters out of balance for almost all night.
Rasmussen took a no-hit game to the eighth inning and forced the Yankees to play from offensive despair.
For New York, the challenge now will be to study what the law did to master that way and avoid repeating a similar approach to the next Tampa Bay starter.
Austin Wells broke the no-hitter, but took a huge risk
One of the most discussed moments in the Yankists was the play of Austin Wells in the eighth entry.
Wells hit the Yankees' only hit, a hit down the right field line that ended with Rasmussen's no-hit attempt.
The hit guaranteed him a double and placed the draw in the scoring position with two outs.
However, Wells tried to get to third and ended up being eliminated.
The play immediately closed the entry.
On the show, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas discussed precisely the relationship between aggressiveness and risk in a playoff match.
With two outs and losing only 1-0, keeping the runner in second had enormous value. A single could tie the game.
Attempting to convert the double into a triple offered a limited advantage, but the risk was maximum: finish the entry.
That was exactly what happened.
Wells's mistake doesn't explain defeat by itself
The Yankists were also clear at another point: it would be too easy to hold Wells responsible only.
The complete offensive produced a single hit for nine innings.
If the Yankees had generated opportunities for the rest of the match, Wells' decision would be just a play within the game.
But when there are so few opportunities, each error acquires a much greater weight.
In October, a bad decision can completely change the result precisely because another opportunity does not always appear.
Aaron Judge's absence is once again part of the conversation
the situation of Aaron Judge It also appeared during the analysis.
The captain was left out of the ALDS's roster as he continues to recover from his right calf injury.
The Yankees proved against Boston that they can produce without him, but a game like Game 1 remembers how much an offensive changes when a hitter is missing, capable of transforming a match with a single connection.
The Yankists insisted that their absence cannot be used as an excuse.
New York knew before starting the series that Judge would not be available and built the roster with that reality.
That's why players like Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Garcia Jr., George Lombard Jr. and Austin Wells will have to take more responsibility.
Stanton had his chance in the ninth
Giancarlo Stanton He also appeared in one of the important moments of the match.
The veteran was used as an emerging hitter in the ninth inning, but ended up striking out.
In the Yankists it was explained that asking Stanton to solve a postseason game with a single shift after a long competitive absence represents a complicated task.
Its power is still an important tool from the bench, but it cannot become the only plan when the offensive passes eight entries without producing.
Yankees need better turns in game 2
The main adjustment pointed out by Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas was not simply "hitting more".
The Yankees need to change the quality of their shifts.
work more counts.
Avoid chasing pitches outside the zone.
Force the opposing pitcher to run with runners on base.
generate pressure.
And mainly take advantage of the few opportunities that appear.
Against Tampa Bay, waiting only the home run can become a dangerous strategy.
This type of series can be decided with a simple producer, a stolen base or a good decision running the bases.
Cam Schlittler will now have an enormous responsibility
Attention changes rapidly towards Game 2.
Cam Schlittler He will have the ball for New York after his great performance against Boston during the Wild Card.
The right-hander comes from throwing six innings and a third without allowing races and striking out 10 batters.
But the Yankists insisted on something important: Schlittler can't be forced to throw a perfect match either.
The offensive has to offer support.
If the Yankees return to produce one or no run, any error from the mound can become a defeat again.
Game 2 already has a completely different pressure
Tampa Bay took advantage 1-0 in the series.
That doesn't mean the Yankees are in a desperate situation, but it does reduce the margin of error.
The goal now is to return to the Bronx with the tied series.
Winning Game 2 would allow New York to recover the local advantage and turn the series back into a practically best-of-three matchup.
Losing, on the other hand, would mean returning to Yankee Stadium down 0-2 and needing to win three consecutive games to avoid elimination.
The final analysis of the Yankees
The conclusion of the program was simple.
The Yankees didn't lose because their pitching was bad.
They didn't lose because Tampa Bay exploited offensively.
They lost because Drew Rasmussen dominated and the New York offensive never found an answer.
Gerrit Cole allowed only one run.
The bullpen kept the match closed.
The defense did enough.
But in October you also have to produce.
Game 1 left a clear warning: what happened against Boston no longer matters.
Tampa Bay represents another type of rival and will force the Yankees to better execute every detail.
Now New York will have a day to review what happened, make adjustments and prepare for a Game 2 that already has enormous importance.
In the Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas will continue to analyze every decision, each adjustment and every move of the Yankees during this divisional series.