The only sign that Carlos Rodon was hot this start was that he was the only player on the field for Game 1 of the ALCS wearing short sleeves.
The temperature at Monday's first pitch was 50 degrees, but the temperature dropped as the inning progressed. The sound of the flag ringing at the top of Yankee Stadium was so loud that even the loudest crowd of 47,264 could occasionally be heard.
Rodon, an outdoorsman, said he likes cold weather and thought it had been at least five years since he last pitched in long sleeves. Regardless of the weather, Monday night was cold in Lodon. That's what he promised and what the Yankees want and need.
After Rodon allowed one run in six innings in the Yankees' 5-2 win over the Guardians, Aaron Boone said, “He's in complete control of himself and his emotions.'' I thought so,” he said.
Rodon's temperament became a key issue in the Division Series. After being weakened by out-of-control emotions in his first season with the Yankees in 2023, Rodon was better in every way in 2024. But then, in Game 2 against the Royals, the Yankees' only loss so far this postseason, Rodon flared up. He struck out three in the first inning and celebrated as if it were a new year. By the fourth inning he was exhausted and was eventually knocked out of the match. He lost his balance and control of the strike zone.
This made me wonder if the Yankees really wanted to open the championship series with a left-handed pitcher. However, among the Yankees, there is no player who analyzes himself as honestly to reporters as Rodon. And his session on Sunday was more therapy than a press conference. He took a deep breath and admitted he couldn't get himself back together. In Game 4 of the Yankees' deciding game, Gerrit Cole mentioned how calmly he pitched through each inning with a “poker face.”
One of the mysteries of Rodon's experience is why it took so long for a 10-year major leaguer with postseason experience to learn that lesson. But at least he learned it. In his words, he wanted to be a “robot.”
“The goal was obviously to stay in control of what I can do, both physically and emotionally,” Rodon said. “I thought we executed that well tonight.”
In contrast to the Royals game, the first inning against Cleveland was the toughest in many ways. Stephen Kwan started the game by fouling off three pitches for two strikes, forcing a nine-pitch battle before getting a flyout. In the 22-pitch inning, David Fry singled and Rodon followed all four batters.
In addition, he faced 17 batters, threw 13 first-pitch strikes, had only one three-ball count, zero walks, nine strikeouts, and caused 25 whiffs mainly on fastballs to the right. He strikes out batters with his threatening slider. Brayan Rocchio led off the sixth inning with a home run, but Rodon held a 4-1 lead after the sixth inning as Clay Holmes warmed up.
“Obviously a lot of questions came up. [the start vs. the Royals] if [Rodon] it will start [ALCS] Game 1 or Game 3,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “There was some noise around. But he set the tone for us here. He was aggressive, he struck out guys who normally wouldn't strike out, he was stable and neutral about his emotions. He never allowed it to get too big.”
And the Yankees needed his work, along with the continued excellent bullpen work of Holmes and Luke Weaver, who appeared in all five of the Yankees' postseason games without giving up a run.
Similar to the game against Kansas City, Aaron Judge had a chance to take the lead in the first inning, but he struck out with two on and no outs, giving him 11 strikeouts in his last 21 postseason at-bats. It was a hit. As a result, the Yanks finished the postseason with 0 for 7 at bats and 6 for 42 at bats (.143 batting average) with runners in scoring position.
These Yankees are producing less by getting more base runners, especially by walks, and not getting enough benefit to create comfort in these games.
Juan Soto led off the Yankees' third run with his first home run of the postseason. What followed was a nine-batter sequence spanning the third and fourth innings, with Alex Cobb and Joey Cantillo combining for six walks and four wild pitches (all by Cantillo), two of which were scored. listed. The result was 4-0. However, with the exception of Soto's home run, there were no game-breaking hits. The Yanks are 2-for-12 with men on base and 16-for-84 (.190) in the playoffs. The Yankees' only hit after Soto's home run was one by Giancarlo Stanton with two outs in the seventh inning, marking the Yankees' 13th home run in 32 playoff games.
That was enough to put the Yankees at 4-1 in those playoffs and a one-point lead in the ALCS. This is because Coach Rodon's efforts to prevent runs on Monday were amazing.
Although he came out wearing short sleeves, he was a calm businessman throughout.
