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Happy Baseball in a Cornfield Day for those who celebrate!
(That is my contractually-obligated mention of the Field of Dreams game.)
Last time
Andrew Vaughn hit a home run off of Aroldis Chapman, and that was the only good thing that happened.
The White Sox got roundly swept out of the Bronx by the Yankees. Our bullpen may hate the Yankees more than the rest of us.
How’s it going?
The Yankees are currently 63-51, six games back in the AL East. The Yankees were on a tailspin before the All-Star break, but are currently 13-7 in the last 20 games so they somehow righted the ship.
Against Central opponents, they’re 15-7, and they’re 31-26 on the road. Since the start of July, they’re on pace for a 103-win season. Aroldis Chapman, Clay Holmes, and Michael King are all out hurt, and the bullpen may be feeling the pressure by having to pick up extra work.
Additionally the Yankees are without recent acquisition Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sánchez, Gerrit Cole, and Jordan Montgomery due to COVID-19 protocols. Gio Urshela is dealing with a hamstring strain and Gleybar Torres is out with a sprained thumb. Oooof.
It’s worth noting that the dimensions of the Field of Dreams park is 335 feet down the lines, 380 in the gaps, and 400 dead center, so I imagine there’s going to be a lot of hits and run-scoring in the opener.
Pitching matchups
Today is Lance Lynn against Andrew Heaney. Lynn was tapped to fill in for Carlos Rodón, who is taking a break on the IL with some shoulder fatigue (get well soon, Los!). Lynn is 2-2 against the Yankees and last faced them in 2019. In his last seven starts, Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA over 39 innings while striking out 44 and walking 14.
Andrew Heaney is 7-8 this season with a 5.45 ERA over 104 innings, striking out 126 and walking 34 while giving up 102 hits and 63 earned runs. Through his last seven starts, he’s 3-3 over 35 1⁄3 innings with a 6.88 ERA. At the deadline, Heaney came over to the Yankees from the Angels with some cash for minor leaguers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. In his last five appearances against the White Sox, Heaney has gone 3-1 over 29 innings with a 4.66 ERA. Heaney relies on three pitches. 4-seam (59%), curveball (22%), and changeup (17%).
Saturday (Friday being the off-day, because it’s a long drive from Iowa to Chicago) is going to see Dylan Cease and TBD. In his last seven games, Cease is posting a 4.50 ERA and 2-3 record over 38 innings. In the one time in his career that he faced the Yankees back in May, Cease went 4 1⁄3 innings and gave up five earned runs to earn a whopping 10.38 ERA. Hopefully, Saturday goes better.
Sunday for the close is Lucas Giolito vs. TBD. Giolito is 3-3 in his last seven games, lasting 43 1⁄3 innings and posting a 3.74 ERA. He’s 2-1 against the Yankees, having last faced them in 2019, posting a 6.75 ERA over 16 innings.
Why we hate them
We do we hate The Empire or Nazis? Some institutions are just evil and deserve our derision.
— Millennial Sox Fan (@MillennialSox) August 11, 2021
In no particular order:
— Ramon (@chisouthside23) August 11, 2021
- AFraud
- Their payroll
- “Yea Jeets”
- Gardner’s big-ass forehead
- 27 cHaMPioNsHipS
I went to Yankee Stadium earlier this season when the Sox were in town and got really sunburned.
— Jacob Shiner (@jacob_shiner) August 11, 2021
Because everyone should hate the Yankees
— Joshua Tapper (@TapCityBaby) August 11, 2021
Their fans are the absolute worst. From throwing stuff at players to chanting about the Astros (still) to getting in my guys face when we went to NYC. Hate them.
— Scarlett Ramírez (@Tigresa_de1810) August 11, 2021
— colleen (@colleensullivan) August 11, 2021
— Louie Brons (@brons_medal) August 11, 2021
The lack of alleys in nyc.
— Frank. (@toofrank_) August 11, 2021
Derek Jeter’s defensive range.
— Major BS ⚾️ (@BenChiTownKid98) August 11, 2021
Because Lakers & Cowboys fans are the worst
— White Sox Barber (@BarberSox) August 11, 2021
Turned Odor into a little kid lmao.
— Major BS ⚾️ (@BenChiTownKid98) August 11, 2021
Because they’re always sticking feathers in their hats and callin’ it macaroni! Like, who does that!?
— Dick is @SebyTuesday (@SavesTuesday) August 11, 2021
They made Joey Gallo shave.
— Micah J (@TheBestMicah) August 12, 2021
They made Lance Lynn Shave his beard. https://t.co/8yKj5j7JcG
— WhiteSoxTwitt3r (@SoxTwitt3r) August 11, 2021
how could I forget? Mariano Riviera and his whacked out views.
— delia catherine is fully vaxxed (@deestweets23) August 11, 2021
The “27 rings” fanboys who were alive for maybe 2 of them. Derek Jeter was overhyped, and their stupid “no beard” rule. I don’t want to see disgusting baseball chins.
— White Sox Truther (@SamR33v3s) August 11, 2021
They led the league in steroid use apology press conferences for two and a half decades.
— WhiteSoxTwitt3r (@SoxTwitt3r) August 11, 2021
Jeter was some great defensive SS, well he wasn’t actually.
— Father Sean (@sean_janko) August 11, 2021
I think they have a disproportionately high # number of casual fans who don’t know baseball but wanna root for what they perceive as a winner. Yankees history + legacy makes them an easy choice, & so there are lots of low info people not really engaged but still wanting to gloat.
— Eric Gilde (@EricGilde) August 11, 2021
The Yankees are the monetization of mythology. They turn nostalgia into a Brand and steamroll you as an inescapable empire. They are everything gross and tawdry and oppressive about sports and capitalism. Also Jeter's jump-throws were because he had no range.
— Brian O'Neill (@oneillofchicago) August 11, 2021
Derek Jeter was unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame, while Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Minnie Minoso, and Joe Jackson have been left out, thereby proving what garbage the HOF is.
— Dump Ump (@DumpOnTheUmp) August 11, 2021
They’re the baseball equivalent of Notre Dame: arrogant and entitled cuz of their history even though their last championship is increasingly further in the past, and the media always carries their water.
— Bill Koester (@Billy_dk_89) August 11, 2021
Also, THEY don’t lose a home game for this pointless Field of Dreams game.