36 • October 7, 2021 - October 13, 2021
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
Sports Yanks not making it much of a rivalry with the Red Sox As if playing 19 games during the regular season wasn’t enough for one of America’s biggest sports rivalries, the baseball Gods blessed Major League Baseball with one more on Tuesday night, this one for an American League wildcard spot. It was Game 163 of the season for both teams, who ended the regular season on Sunday with 92 wins and 70 losses each. Ten of the Red Sox’s 92 wins were against the Yankees. Winning the majority of the 19 games gave the Red Sox home field advantage for a single-elimination, loser goes home matchup. The Red Sox, who were dominated by the Yankees two weekends ago at Fenway Park and swept in their three game series, avenged those defeats with a 6-2 win in the most important game they have played this season in front of a sellout crowd of 38,324. The Red Sox rocked Yankee ace starter Gerrit Cole, who didn’t live up to his record breaking nine-year, $324 million dollar contract signed in December 2019, the highest ever for a pitcher.
both hitting homers. Stanton also hit two bombs off of Boston’s Green Monster, shots that would have been home runs in most other ballparks. “The ending is really cruel, but there’s nothing better than competing for something meaningful,” said Boone, trying to turn a negative into a positive. Boone knows the thrill of victory, having hit a series ending, walk-off home run against Boston in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The Red Sox will now play the AL East division winning Tampa Bay Rays beginning tonight, in the best-of-five American League Division Series.The Rays had the AL’s going 100-62. As good as their regular season record is, it was baseball’s third best, behind the National League West champion San Francisco Giants’ 107-55 and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers’ 106-56. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole gave up three runs in less than three full innings in a 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in their wildcard game on Tuesday As for the Yankees, owner Hal Steinbrenner must determine if the system He was removed from the game by Yan“This is the worst feeling in the world,” utilized by general manager Brian kees manager Aaron Boone in the third said a sullen Cole after the game. Cashman needs to be abandoned. Reinning after giving up a two-run home The Yankees relievers couldn’t stop lying heavily on analytics, the Yanrun to Boston shortstop Xander Bo- the bleeding, giving up three more runs kees, with the second highest payroll gaerts in the first, and a home run and by the eighth inning. First baseman An- in baseball at over $200 million (the two walks in the third to put the Yan- thony Rizzo and outfielder Giancarlo Dodgers are No. 1), have not won a kees in an early 3-0 hole. Stanton provided the Yankees’ scores, World Series title since 2009. (Wikipedia photo)
By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews
Another losing season, another needed overhaul for the Mets By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
The Mets didn’t end up 11.5 games The Mets, who haven’t behind the Namade the playoffs since tional League 2016, fired Luis Rojas on East division Monday. Officially, franchampion Atchise owner Steve Cohen lanta Braves prideclined the team option marily because on the 40-year-old’s conof Rojas. He was tract for 2022. In two seaa symptom, not sons managing the Mets, the source. The the COVID-19 pandemfailed campaign ic shortened the 2020 began by ousting campaign in which the highly regardteam went 26-34, and ed hitting coach this past season, when Chili Davis and they lost eight of their assistant hitting The Mets fired Luis Rojas after two seasons managing the team to a final 12 games to post a coach Tom Slater combined record of 103-116 mark of 77-85, Rojas was in early May. Al16 games under .500. derson essentialHe has been a member of the Mets orFor his part, Rojas was non-con- ly designated them scapegoats for an ganization since coaching their Domin- troversial in exiting. “I want to share offense that went on to be putrid the ican Summer League squad in 2006. such heartfelt gratitude to so many in ensuing five months, affirming Davis “The entire Mets organization is grate- the Mets organization for not only the wasn’t the issue. ful for the dedication and devotion that last two seasons as manager, but for The Mets finished the season 27th out Luis has exhibited over the last two sea- the last 16 years in a variety of roles,” of 30 teams in Major League Baseball in sons as manager,” said Mets President said the son of former major leaguer runs scored with just 636. The pitching Sandy Alderson in a statement. “He has Felipe Alou in a team released state- staff, with ace Jacob de Grom making AM NEWS shown a great commitment to the Mets ment. “We live in a results-oriented only 15 starts resulting from10/07/21 several inover many years in multiple capacities. business, and am deeply disappoint- jured body parts including his right foreThese decisions are never easy, but we ed for our staff and fans that we didn’t arm, lat muscle and shoulder, did an feel a change is needed at this time.” reach our goals this season.” admirable job posting a collective ERA (MLB.com photo)
of 3.90, ninth overall. But they couldn’t carry an offense that was an albatross. Even before the season began there was a sign Alderson had made poor decisions in structuring the Mets’ leadership. In January, general manager Jared Porter was terminated after being accused of sending unsolicited sexually explicit texts to a female reporter in 2016 while employed by the Chicago Cubs. Affirmation came on Aug. 31, when acting general manager Zack Scott was arrested for drunk driving hours after having attended a fundraiser at the Cohen’s house in Connecticut. The necessary changes in the organization shouldn’t exclude Alderson. There’s a reason why the small market Tampa Bay Rays, with far less resources than the Mets, have been vastly more successful over the past decade. The fundamental answer is the minds and baseball philosophies of those in the executive offices.
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