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DETROIT – Yankees Universe was enthralled by Paul Goldschmidt’s two home runs, and Jasson Dominguez’s tie-breaking, two-run shot off a gold-standard ace lefty.
Beyond those key drives in the Yankees’ 4-2 win Wednesday night at Comerica Park, manager Aaron Boone was still awed by the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal.
“Just a really good win for us against a dominant pitcher who I feel was at the top of his game,’’ Boone said after the Yanks took two of three from Detroit.
“We made a few big swings stand up, caught the ball well enough and the bullpen did a great job behind Stormy (Ryan Weathers),’’ who went six innings, as did Skubal.
While these Yankees (48-31) are enjoying the view in first place, here in Motown they wonder when their disappointing Tigers (34-46) will call it a lost season and point toward 2027 – even in this mediocre American League.
And that starts with parting with Skubal, a pending free agent, and the most valuable commodity leading into the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Detroit had started to rally a bit before the Yanks won two straight close games here. Skubal struck out nine, walked none and gave up just four hits – three that left the ballpark.
So, maybe this is part of the long goodbye for a starter who could impact any close pennant race.
You’d figure the Dodgers, Braves and Cubs have interest, and maybe the Phillies and Blue Jays are in it, too.
The Yankees? They’re always engaged. GM Brian Cashman will know the price point on Skubal.
But the Yanks have Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren and Weathers, part of an enviable rotation.
Pretty soon, Max Fried – coming off a bone bruise to his left elbow – will be facing live hitters, and you’d expect him back around the All-Star break.
An experienced right-handed hitting catcher and some impact relief – either lefty or righty – is much higher on the Yankees’ list of needs than an impact starter.
Starting pitching is fragile; as you’ve heard, you can never have enough.
But if the Skubal price starts at Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr., or Lombard and Carlos Lagrange – who is due to impact the Yanks’ bullpen within weeks – is that a good exchange to double down on a current strength?
Skubal is a wonderful pitcher. This was his third start back from surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow, a new procedure that had him back sooner than anticipated.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game and facing him is a tough challenge,’’ said Goldschmidt, who was 7-for-12 with four homers vs. Skubal after his second at-bat Wednesday.
“There’s not really a recipe to try to beat him. He’s got four really good pitches, and he competes as well as anyone,’’ which Goldschmidt learned all over again, struck out by a 100-mph, full-count fastball in his third at-bat.
Dominguez got him, after being – as Boone said – dominated in his first two at-bats, with two Ks.
“He’s one of the best. Definitely a tough matchup,’’ said Dominguez, whose first homer off a lefty this year came on a tough, nine-pitch at-bat against Skubal.
“Battle. That was all that was in my mind,’’ said Dominguez, who connected on a full-count changeup.
“The first two at-bats, I couldn’t figure him out,’’ said Dominguez. But after seeing changeup after changeup, “I had better clue.’’
“He’s the total package,’’ said Goldschmidt. “He competes out there – that’s probably the separator.
“There’s a lot of guys who’ve got really good stuff in this game, but you look at the Cy Young-type guys…they always compete at the highest level.
“He never gives in, he brings his best every game. That’s why he’s a Cy Young winner and will probably continue to pitch at a great level for a long time.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees get the best of Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal as trade talk swirls
Continue reading...
Beyond those key drives in the Yankees’ 4-2 win Wednesday night at Comerica Park, manager Aaron Boone was still awed by the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal.
“Just a really good win for us against a dominant pitcher who I feel was at the top of his game,’’ Boone said after the Yanks took two of three from Detroit.
“We made a few big swings stand up, caught the ball well enough and the bullpen did a great job behind Stormy (Ryan Weathers),’’ who went six innings, as did Skubal.
While these Yankees (48-31) are enjoying the view in first place, here in Motown they wonder when their disappointing Tigers (34-46) will call it a lost season and point toward 2027 – even in this mediocre American League.
And that starts with parting with Skubal, a pending free agent, and the most valuable commodity leading into the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Speculating on Tarik Skubal
Detroit had started to rally a bit before the Yanks won two straight close games here. Skubal struck out nine, walked none and gave up just four hits – three that left the ballpark.
So, maybe this is part of the long goodbye for a starter who could impact any close pennant race.
You’d figure the Dodgers, Braves and Cubs have interest, and maybe the Phillies and Blue Jays are in it, too.
The Yankees? They’re always engaged. GM Brian Cashman will know the price point on Skubal.
But the Yanks have Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren and Weathers, part of an enviable rotation.
Pretty soon, Max Fried – coming off a bone bruise to his left elbow – will be facing live hitters, and you’d expect him back around the All-Star break.
An experienced right-handed hitting catcher and some impact relief – either lefty or righty – is much higher on the Yankees’ list of needs than an impact starter.
Starting pitching is fragile; as you’ve heard, you can never have enough.
But if the Skubal price starts at Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr., or Lombard and Carlos Lagrange – who is due to impact the Yanks’ bullpen within weeks – is that a good exchange to double down on a current strength?
Skubal is a wonderful pitcher. This was his third start back from surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow, a new procedure that had him back sooner than anticipated.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game and facing him is a tough challenge,’’ said Goldschmidt, who was 7-for-12 with four homers vs. Skubal after his second at-bat Wednesday.
Tarik Skubal is "one of the best''
“There’s not really a recipe to try to beat him. He’s got four really good pitches, and he competes as well as anyone,’’ which Goldschmidt learned all over again, struck out by a 100-mph, full-count fastball in his third at-bat.
Dominguez got him, after being – as Boone said – dominated in his first two at-bats, with two Ks.
“He’s one of the best. Definitely a tough matchup,’’ said Dominguez, whose first homer off a lefty this year came on a tough, nine-pitch at-bat against Skubal.
“Battle. That was all that was in my mind,’’ said Dominguez, who connected on a full-count changeup.
“The first two at-bats, I couldn’t figure him out,’’ said Dominguez. But after seeing changeup after changeup, “I had better clue.’’
“He’s the total package,’’ said Goldschmidt. “He competes out there – that’s probably the separator.
“There’s a lot of guys who’ve got really good stuff in this game, but you look at the Cy Young-type guys…they always compete at the highest level.
“He never gives in, he brings his best every game. That’s why he’s a Cy Young winner and will probably continue to pitch at a great level for a long time.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees get the best of Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal as trade talk swirls
Continue reading...
