2023 Game Twenty: Blue Jays 6, Yankees 1

 

not

even 

dead

I think it is fair to say about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that he is neither a shy nor retiring person; he seems rather at ease and at home in the overall context of being a star baseball player starring at playing baseball. That being so, why not just straight-up say how you feel, right Vladdy? And so it was Friday, at which time the fine beat writer Ben Nicholson-Smith reported: "Asked in NY about off-season comments in which he said he’d never sign with the Yankees, 'not even dead,' Vlad Guerrero Jr. doubled down, saying he has personal/family reasons for preferring not to play for the Yankees and would 'never' change his mind." It doesn't seem like they were crazy about any of this in New York! Some people even booed him a little! I have no idea what personal/family reasons Vladdy is alluding to here (did Vladdy Sr. have issues with the Yankees I have forgotten about? is this a "Pedro Martinez is my godfather" situation?), though I must admit that the first thing that came to mind was this now-famous clip in which Ken Griffey Jr. speaks powerfully about his own personal/family reasons. Who can say? Only Vladdy, I suppose. In any event, Vladdy does not seem to mind being a villain in Yankee Stadium (where he has hit really a lot of home runs) even a little, and his cool little shuffle-step trot around the bases seemed a little cooler as he so trotted after his first-inning two-run shot (Springer was aboard on a double). Would you believe Brandon Belt homered, too? And hit a double over Aaron Judge's head (that's really hard to do!)? Brandon Belt, of all people! I hope he keeps it up but also I fear that he will not be a part of this lineup by the All-Star Break. Prove me wrong, please! By getting all kinds of extra base hits like you did Friday!  

And yet it is clearly low-key-ace Yusei Kikuchi who deserves our praise above all others on this night: a run on four hits and two walks in six innings? In Yankee Stadium? Which is a little bit of a joke of a stadium in some respects, as you may have heard about? Great job, Yusei Kikuchi! Did you know that Kikuchi's record this season is 3-0, and the Blue Jays have won all four of his starts? Did you know that I have chosen to ignore how Kikuchi has clearly outperformed all of his peripherals and is plainly due for regression? Well it's all true! Let's go! 

once again Yusei Kikuchi, and once again I say pitch

KS