Gio Urshela Might Just Be a God Living Amongst Us

Yankees 4 Rays 3

I mean this is getting out of hand. Gio Urshela is the hero now for every single baseball game. He gets up in a big moment and he pounces on it like a tiger. Last night with the bases loaded and one out did not change the narrative. Urshela fell behind 0-2 and I thought maybe he wouldn’t come through for once. Nope, he worked the count back to 2-2 and waited on a hanging breaking ball to rip into left field. What might have led to this pitch was that the pitcher Emilio Pagan wanted to have a mound visit with his catcher for that 2-2 pitch, but since the Rays only had one left, his catcher told him to stay on the mound. That led to his immediate demise. I was at the bar with a buddy who hasn’t watched a ton of baseball so far this year and I had a hard time explaining what Gio Urshela has been doing. He’s pretty much been Machado if Machado played out of his mind. We’re living in a dream world folks.

Domingo German and Tyler Glasnow faced off against each other in a battle for who is going to start the All Star Game (so far). Both showed flashes of being dominant and both showed chinks in their armor a little bit, granted these are two good lineups they’re facing. Glasnow had a weird first inning where he was wild and not helped out by his defense, resulting in two runs. He found his footing after that and looked unhittable at times. The movement he gets on pitches seems illegal, but still the Yankees touched him up for the most runs he’s surrendered this year (4, 3 earned).

German started fast and shut down Tampa until the 5th when he got bit by the home run ball from Meadows and Choi. For the most part he was solid and kept the Rays in check. He hung around long enough to get his MLB leading SEVENTH win. Obviously wins are a stupid stat, but it’s cool as fuck to see 7-1 next to your name as a starting pitching on May 11th.

I really want to have a word with Major League Baseball and file a complaint against the braindead Pittsburgh Pirates. You guys really traded Meadows AND Glasnow for Chris Archer? Are you fucking kidding me? You just gave the Rays two cornerstone franchise pieces for a guy who has been declining for four years? Fuck you guys.

For the second straight night, the Yankees bullpen was flawless. I got some news for you people, these guys are GOOD. Kahnle-Ottavino-Britton-Chapman is a goddamn foursome. You do not want to see your team trailing and these men coming into the game. Ottavino did work himself into some trouble in the 7th, but the gold glove in DJ LeMahieu bailed him out with an incredible unassisted double play.

One of the biggest changes this year with the Yankees has been the infield defense. The additions of Urshela and LeMahieu make plays like that one seem effortless. It’s got to be nice as a pitcher when a ball gets hit on the ground that you’re actually going to get rewarded for it.

Tonight CC goes after win number 249 against Stanek. The Rays are very good, but the Yankees won’t flinch against them. They’re fearless and relentless and exciting as fuck to watch. Let’s keep this going boys.