Series 52: Blue Jays @ NYYankees (Fri., Sat., Sun. Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2017)

[hockeyfan1]

                                                                         @




Place:   Yankee Stadium    New York, NY


Fri. Sept. 29
Starting Pitchers:   Joe Biagini              RH  (Jays)       3-12   5.34  ERA
                            Masahiro Tanaka     RH (Yankees)   12-12  4.94  ERA
Time:                    1PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Sat. Sept.30
Starting Pitchers:    Marcus Stroman     RH (Jays)         13-8  3.06  ERA
                             Jaime Garcia          LH (Yankees)     5-10  4.41  ERA
Time:                     1PM             
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590

Sun. Oct. 1
Starting Pitchers:   Brett Anderson        LH (Jays)           4-4  6.97  ERA
                            Jordan Montgomery LH (Jays)           9-7  3.96  ERA
Time:                    3PM
TV/Radio:             Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Source:   MLB.com

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto Blue Jays visit the New York Yankees in their final three-game road trip of the season.

In this being the last weekend of play for all MLB teams before the post-season begins, the NYYankees are in position to overtake the A.L. leading Boston Red Sox for the A.L. title.  The Yankees are 2.5 GBL Bosox and need to win all games remaining, provided Boston loses theirs.

A tall order indeed, though not if you're playing a non-contender unless that contender plays spoiler.  Considering that the Yankees clinched their playoff berth in taking one game in Toronto most recently at the Rogers Centre, also consider that the Jays did prevent New York from moving on up in the standings by taking two out of the three games.

As it stands,  for the Yankees these games have meaning but for the Blue Jays, well, they can finish off the season with some pride and with a nod towards next year, namely the Jays rookies such as Teoscar Hernandez who has been on a tear of late.  Hernandez made Blue Jay history by hitting his eighth home run in the month of September.

And of Jose Bautista, who may very well have played his last game at the Rogers Centre recently and who may very well be playing his last games as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.  Ah, but Bautista has reached the franchise record books himself, in being second on the list (behind Vernon Wells) in hitting his 790th run. 

So, let the final season games begin...

GO JAYS GO!

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 0  NYYankees 4

Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka delivered quite a performance shutting down and shutting out the Blue Jay offence.  Tanaka did not allow a runner to get on base until well into the fifth inning.  Tanaka also struck out fifteen batters.

Jays' starter Joe Biagin didn't fare well, as he allowed three Yankee runs and got the loss.


Game recap:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/tanaka-strikes-15-yankees-shut-blue-jays/

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 2  NYYankees 1

The Blue Jays went out on a winning note from Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon, though the Yankees took two out of three in this final three-game series of the season.

It was the reversal of Saturday's game in which New York won by an identical score and i nwhich saw Yankees' rookie sensation Aaron Judge hit his A.L.-leading 52nd home run on the year.

In Sunday's game, Jays' starter Brett Anderson pitched five excellent innings before giving way to reliever Danny Barnes who got the win.  Osuna closed out the ninth earning his 39th save.

The Blue Jays thus closed out the year with a 76-89 w/l record, and avoided being cellar-dwellers in the A.L. East -- that honour goes to the Orioles - - finishing in fourth place.

The New York Yankees long clinched their playoff berth and the WC spot, both accomplishments coming ironically against the Blue Jays, both in Toronto and here at Yankee Stadium.  They will go on to play the Minnesota Twins in the A.L. WC playoff game

The Boston Red Sox finished first and won the A.L. East division.

Even though this was a season to forget for many of the Blue Jay players and what the fans hope was an anomaly or a blip for the team, many observers believe the team is in for a rebuild of some sort, and in need of improvements.  As we saw with some of the youngsters such as Ureña, Hernandez, Ramirez, et al., all showed promise.  It definitely doesn't stop there.  There are questions surrounding the futures of several veteran players and others whose contracts will be discussed  such as Donaldson, by management in order to gauge and decide what is best for the team to further build upon and in what directive this should take, regarding it's foreseeable future.

Questions, questions.  Answers?  Changes?  We'll see.

As for Jose Bautista, who most likely will not be in the Jays lineup come spring training next year, as fans, we'd like to say thank you Jose, thanks for the memories!  In our hearts, forever a Blue Jay!

Game recap:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/bautista-blue-jays-edge-playoff-bound-yankees-finale/