With all eyes on Rogers Centre for the start of the American League Division Series, the Toronto Blue Jays came out and made a statement to the baseball world against the New York Yankees.
Not only did the Blue Jays seize a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five, but they dominated their AL East rivals across 18 innings of action to begin their post-season run.
From Vladimir Guerrero Jr. collecting six hits, two home runs and six RBIs in the two games to Trey Yesavage announcing his presence on the national stage with his 11-strikeout performance, Toronto put MLB on notice by winning the first two games by a combined score of 23-8.
New York will now hope a return to Yankee Stadium can rinse away its road woes in order to save its season, with a pivotal Game 3 on deck.
With the landscape still shifting after the Blue Jays stunned the favoured Yankees, here’s a roundup of what MLB analysts in the U.S. are saying about the series.
Perhaps the most off-the-radar development for both the Yankees’ lineup and their fans was Yesavage’s star shining bright on the national stage. And Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz gave the rookie starter his flowers for not only his electric Game 2 outing, but also his journey to the majors this season.
“His performance served as a capstone to what was already a remarkable ascension up the minor-league ladder for the East Carolina University product. Yesavage appeared for all four of Toronto’s affiliates on the farm this season. He pitched against Mighty Mussels, Dust Devils, Yard Goats and IronPigs. He resided in three states and two countries, living out of a suitcase while collecting passport stamps and strikeouts.
“Toronto called up the precocious hurler in September for something of an October test run. And Yesavage passed with flying colors, looking completely undaunted by the intensity of big-league ball. Statistically, he performed well in the three starts he made down the stretch, but the Jays were particularly impressed with his demeanour. They believed he could handle the pressure-cooker of postseason baseball.
“His showing Sunday proved them right.”
Fox Sports MLB — Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Dontrelle Willis react to the Blue Jays’ 2-0 lead
How much confidence does David Ortiz have in the Yankees’ making a comeback?
Well, according to Big Papi, even divine intervention won’t help the Bronx Bombers slow Toronto’s offence.
“They can bring Jesus back, and they’re still going to Cancun. It’s over. It’s a wrap. This Toronto Blue Jays lineup ain’t playing around.”
Surely, the Hall of Fame Red Sox designated hitter may be a little biased when it comes to any topic involving the Yankees, but the rest of the team at Fox didn’t downplay Toronto’s performance in the first two games, either.
Former all-star pitcher Dontrelle Willis broke down Yesavage’s start, showcasing why the 22-year-old’s splitter was so effective against New York’s stacked lineup.
“I felt like the fastball command at the top of the zone was excellent. And being able to change that eye level. The left-handed batters were neutralized by that split-change.
“He could have told them that pitch is coming, and it still would have been the same result. Out of 18 swings and misses, 11 (came) with that split change, so he had confidence all day long.
“I didn’t want him to come out of the ballgame because I felt like we were going to see even more history. But that is a big-time start, and he really did a good job of feeding off the energy, and obviously, the offence backed him all day long.
“This is not the last time we’re going to hear from Yesavage, you can guarantee that.”
Former Yankees shortstop Jeter concurred that Yesavage was firing on all cylinders — and attacking New York hitters with stuff he’s happy not to have to step in the box against.
“I’m glad I’m not playing anymore. What is that, a split-change? … From that arm angle and he’s got some velocity too, so as a hitter, you’re saying, ‘Get the ball up,’ but then he throws the fastball and it’s tough to catch up to.”
NJ.com — Are Yankees doomed? Aaron Boone says no and here’s why he could be right
Yankees beat writer Randy Miller took a look back at some of New York’s greatest post-season triumphs and defeats for a reason to believe the ALDS isn’t wrapped up just yet.
While Miller first said that Games 1 and 2 “weren’t just playoff losses. They were beatings that have the Yankees down 0-2 heading home for Game 3 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium,” he started his jaunt down memory lane in 1960.
“Baseball fans who know some history of the game can tell you the Pirates won the World Series that year on (Bill Mazeroski’s) famous Game 7 walkoff homer at Forbes Field, but how many know the Yankees’ three wins were 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0 slaughterings that were similar to the ones the Blue Jays unleashed this weekend?
“A lot more recent, the Yankees lost the first two games of their 2017 ALDS in Cleveland, then won three in a row to take the series and advance to the ALCS. Aaron Judge brought that up in the Yankees clubhouse after Sunday’s debacle.
“A generation earlier, the 2001 Yankees lost to the first at home to the Athletics in a best-of-five ALDS, then they won in Oakland and the series turned in Game 3 when Derek Jeter saved a run with one of the most memorable plays of his Hall of Fame career, his flip throw to the plate.
“So while history won’t help the Yankees save their season this week once, let alone three times, it does show their task is not impossible.”
The Athletic — In Division Series opener, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally gets his postseason moment
There was perhaps no story more important for the Blue Jays in Games 1 and 2 than Guerrero Jr.’s playoff arrival. After three disappointing trips to October, Guerrero Jr. finally stepped up when the Blue Jays needed him most.
After his Game 1 homer, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal put into context what Guerrero Jr.’s breakout means on a larger scale to Toronto and beyond.
“Guerrero looked lost for much of September, his timing off, his swing not where it should be. Schneider said the five days off the Jays earned by winning a tiebreaker over the Yankees helped Guerrero, ‘Sort some things out and kind of just feel where his swing should be a little bit.’ Guerrero, who appeared in 156 games during the regular season, felt the benefit was more from rest than anything.
“The Jays in recent years missed out on several big names in free agency — Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki. But in signing Guerrero to his 14-year extension, they locked up a player born in Canada while his father starred for the Montreal Expos. And a player who, for all his accomplishments — five All-Star appearances, a Home Run Derby title, a Gold Glove — entered October missing one thing: Post-season success.
“‘Play free’ was his manager’s request. Even under another October crucible. Even without his fellow star, Bichette. Guerrero, asked what he thought Schneider meant with those words, said, ‘To me, it’s play with my heart, give 100 per cent every time.’
“He played with his heart Saturday, putting an immediate and emphatic stamp on the game. Afterward, as Guerrero conducted interviews on the field, fans chanted, ‘Vlad-dy! Vlad-dy!’ His parents are natives of the Dominican Republic, but Canadians claim him as their own. From Halifax to Vancouver, they had been waiting for this moment. And their hero did not disappoint.”
The tabloids — A sampling of some headlines from New York’s back pages
New York Post: D’Oh Canada: Bombers blasted again north of border, leaving season on life support
Daily News: Bummer, Eh!: Yanks dash home after lousy Canadians weekend puts season on brink
Newsday Sports: Canadian Clubbed: Jays rock Fried, slug Yanks to brink of ALDS elimination
