Jon Berti was the lone member of the Yankees’ ALCS roster that wasn’t included on the club’s roster for the World Series, though beyond tactics, health was the key factor in Berti’s absence. Manager Aaron Boone told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch and other media that Berti suffered a flexor strain in his right hip while running the bases in Game 4 of the ALCS. Berti entered that game in the top of the ninth as a pinch-runner for Anthony Rizzo, came around to score what ended up as the game’s winning run, and then played second base in the bottom half of the frame.
“Unfortunately, time ran out for [Berti] to be ready,” Boone said. “So that’s a blow for us. I feel for him because he was playing a really important role for us, especially in those first two rounds.”
With Rizzo sidelined by two broken fingers until the ALCS, Berti found himself in the unlikely role of New York’s starting first baseman for two ALDS games against the Royals, and again for Game 3 of the ALCS (with Rizzo on the bench against Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd). Though Berti has carved out a niche as a super-utility player over his seven Major League seasons, he had never before played first base during his entire pro career before taking on the cold corner for this year’s playoffs. Berti can only watch from the sidelines as his teammates will try to dig themselves out of an 0-1 hole in the Series after yesterday’s heartbreaking walkoff loss.
More from around the AL East…
- Ted Leonsis looked into buying the Orioles when the Angelos family put the team up for sale, the Washington Post’s Rick Maese write as part of a long profile of the billionaire. Already the owner of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards, Leonsis was heavily considered as the prime contender to buy the Nationals when the Lerner family announced they were looking into selling the team in April 2022, though the family reversed course last February and said the Nats were no longer for sale. Leonsis reiterated earlier this year and within Maese’s piece that he remains interested in the Nationals if the Lerners do decide to sell, though it also makes sense that he would’ve at least checked into the Orioles once they came on the market.
- Jackson Holliday had some success after adopting a toe tap into his swing late in the 2024 season, and the Orioles shortstop told Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun that he’ll now look to continue using this adapted approach next season. Though Holliday had used the toe-top technique on occasion during his high school days, he gave it another shot while “just messing around in the cage, trying to imitate [Shohei] Ohtani,” but Holliday then felt quite comfortable with his swing. Holliday hit only .189/.255/.311 over his first 208 plate appearances in the big leagues, striking out 69 times as pitchers took advantage of the big leg kick Holliday used in his old swing. Obviously it’s too soon to tell if this adjustment might truly unlock something for Holliday, but as he heads into his sophomore season, the sky is still the limit for the first overall pick of the 2022 draft.
- MLBPA head Tony Clark told reporters (including The Athletic’s Evan Drellich and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale) that he and the union haven’t yet heard from the league about any plans for the Rays’ playing future, as Tropicana Field was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton. Assessment of that damage is still taking place, but since the Rays will surely have to spend at least the start of the 2025 season in a new home ballpark, plenty of options have already been floated as interim locales. As Clark noted, the players’ union “do not have a hand in the facility. We don’t have a hand in the move. We have a hand in what’s called effects bargaining: How are players affected by the league’s decision? At the end of the day, if the decision puts players in harm’s way, it depends on what harm’s way means.” This would mean making sure everything involved in a new ballpark is up to Major League standards, as several minor league stadiums and Spring Training facilities are under consideration for the Rays.
The Yankees should really move on from Berti after this season. He just can’t stay healthy.
That was supposed to be one the 4 wins for the Yankees. They need to stretch the series out if they are going to make the dodgers bullpen a liability.
Nestor Cortes and Aaron Boone. They deserve each other.
How is it Cortez’s fault? He should have never been put in that situation. He hadn’t pitched in a month.
Bringing in Cortes seemed dumb at the time and obviously was dumb with hindsight but who else could they have used? Who was left?
It reminded me of when the Cardinals brought Wacha in against the Giants a decade or so ago. Wacha hadn’t pitched in a month but he was on the roster and that’s who was left.
Who was left? The Tim’s, both Mayza and Hill. Those two left handers were available and are used to coming out of the pen as full time relievers. Hill, in particular, has been effective lately, having given up no earned runs or inherited runs in his last 4 appearances (4 – 1/3 innings)
If the game had been tied, a manager could be worried about a prolonged game and bringing in a starter makes sense. The Yanks had the lead, and only needed to close it out. A guy with regular relief experience would have made more sense. Boone shouldn’t have been worried about longevity, so a short stint guy like Hill made more sense.
This is all hindsight, but even in the moment it felt dicey to bring in a rusty starter instead of a reliever on a roll.
Yeah even at the time I thought it was a dumb move to bring Cortes in. He hadn’t pitched in a long long time. Yeah Hill was the guy not sure what Boone was thinking.
%100 correct
No, that’s not a defense of the Wacha move (which is the single worst move I have ever seen a manager make in a meaningful baseball game) because Trevor Rosenthal, the closer with the 2.42 FIP, was also available. But Matheny saved him for a save situation which would never come to fruition because he brought in Wacha instead.
Still angry
I’ve never managed a day in my life but if I were in the dugout the Yankees would have beaten them so bad MLB would have no choice but to declare the series over after 1 game.
Ironically, Cashman declined Flaherty based on medicals…. And he shut down the Yankees offense for the most part.
As far as the bad decisions of Boone, they are compounded by the fact that Yankees outhit the Dodgers, and left 11 men in base!!! Teams cannot have such a poor offense with RISP and expect to win. This game should have never made it to the tenth.
This team cannot win with the Boone/Cashman tandem. I hope they prove me wrong.
The fan that interfered with Gleyber‘s home run was a Dodger plant clearly on Mark Walter’s payroll. If you slow down the video you’ll see he was on his phone right before. A reverse phone lookup shows a number of a burner phone bought with a credit card traced to Walter’s assistant
I’m sure you believe the Astros wore buzzers too
It was sarcasm and your a fool if you think they didn’t.
Idiots are impervious to sarcasm.
It was Jeffrey Maier’s cousin.
Nestor threw middle inside meatball n Freddie smoked it ! Need to step on there throats tonite. Get up early, don’t give em hope. Dodgers are on a mission.
This is baseball and not a gladiator movie. You’re suggesting a form of violence that is unnecessary
omg… I hope your being sarcastic, it is an expression. Lighten up.
Soy products are bad for men
1990 Kirk Gibson hits a super iconic HR, practically unable to walk to the plate. Berti gets a hip flexor. Out for series. Are the rules just more lax now? You’d think the Dodgers would have put an able bodied person on the roster vs. an aging Kirk Gibson.
Gonna go ahead and point out the obvious here. Your comparing Gibson to Berti? Listen I like Berti but he is no Gibson. If a guy like Gibson wants to go he goes. Also Berti’s game is predicated on his speed, he aint comin in to hit a pinch hit bomb.
Wasn’t it 1988?
Any World Series game on the line, I want Kirk Gibson hitting in that spot. I don’t care if he’s got two broken legs. That dude proved in the ’84 Series that he’s the biggest-stage type of competitor when he took Gossage deep, even though Gossage had owned Gibson before that. Gibson is the rare guy you save a playoff roster spot for, even if he’s injured.
Jon Berti? Sorry, man, you’re off the roster if you’re not 100% healthy because he’s just an option to chose from. Berti is not a vital player at all.
And Gibson was in his prime in 1988. He won the NL MVP. What are you thinking??
Guys like Kirk, Will Clark and John Olerud were not prodigious HR hitters or put up monsterous year in and out RBI totals. Why? I chaulk it up to playing clean. Steroid use didn’t seem to look like it was part of their make up. BUT they were superstars in my book. IE. were comfortable in their own skin playing every game the same whether it was opening day, mid season, playoffs and so on. Ice in their veins.
Was never impressed with Berti not even sure why the Yankees hired him. Guy has no power at all. Couldn’t they find anyone better for a utility role?
I think the MLBPA will have a negative opinion of any outdoor baseball in FL past May 30th.
Clearly heat and excessive rain are issues, and that’s why the Rays have/had a dome and the Marlins have a retractable roof. What I wonder is how do they manage in the Low-A Florida State League and rookie league? As far as I know, all those facilities are open-air. I realize the powers that were (and maybe still are) don’t care much about the well-being of lower level minor leaguers, but I’m talking schedule-wise with rainouts.
Minor league series are 5 game series which often allow teams to make up games from rain outs through double-headers. They also change game times regularly as weather dictates. Playing outdoors in Florida would be a disaster for the Rays schedule and any team playing them, particularly west coast teams. It would also be the worst option from a revenue standpoint. Mid 90s temps. High humidity. Regular rainouts (Tampa is known as the lightning capital of the world for a reason). I didn’t know this until recently, the Yankees affiliate that plays in Tampa hasn’t even averaged 1,000 fans per game in the past 5 years. Rays would draw more, but would they even get to 5K, even with discounted prices? They averaged 16,500 at the Trop for those looking to make a joke about Rays attendance. This is an awful problem for the Rays.
Any opinion is moot until damage assessments are completed so no reason to offer one yet.
Nah, speculating about possibilities is what comment boards are often all about.
Jackson Holliday would be a great pick up for the Cardinals for either 3rd or 2nd base. That opens up the door for Matt Holliday to become the Cardinals new hitting Coach.
Many Cardinals hitters go to Matt Holliday in the off season to line out their swings for the following seasons anyway.
Sounds nice but Holliday has no history of playing 3b at all. Cardinals definitely don’t need a shortstop and they just drafted Wetherholt for 2b.
Pass. Maybe some sort of deal based around Urias and Contreras?
Cardinals have no need for Urias. If they are trading Contreras they will want prospects.
Just wondering: If the Cards trade Contreras, who will be their starting C? They didn’t seem happy with Contreras’ back up when Contreras was out with a broken arm.
Herrera could start. Crooks will be ready probably by mid season he’s the long term catcher imo. The Cardinals are very very deep at catcher probably more so than any other team in baseball.
Orioles aren’t trading Holliday, unless it was for a special pitcher with several controllable years left. The Cardinals don’t have that special pitcher. Nor do they have a special hitter either, unless the Cards are coughing up Masyn Winn; and that’s not happening either…
Yeah, but Holliday isn’t available.
Yeah, but Holliday isn’t available.
===========================
But you don’t actually know that. You know that Holliday had 77 Ks in 266 ABs in AAA last year. He was very young, but that’s a pretty decent amount of Ks, like 174/600 ABs.
He’s a bit similar to Moncada when DD traded him after only 19 ABs.
Holliday was drafted first overall to be a core piece for the Orioles and nothing that Elias has done in the last 5 years suggests that he would trade such a player. All of the guys he has traded have been a tier or two below the elite prospects- Ortiz, Norby, Hall, Hernaiz, Baumeister, etc.
The high draft picks he collected during the tanking years- Adley, Kjerstad, Cowser, Holliday- are all still in the organization and nothing suggests that a change in philosophy is imminent, especially now that he should have some real money to spend in free agency under the new owner.
What are the Cardinals offering for Holliday? Sonny Gray and most of his salary?
That sounds good to me but he doesn’t have a place to play in St Louis.
I’d rather just keep Holliday and sign one of Burnes, Snell, Eovaldi, etc. The payroll is already low enough that STL eating Gray’s contract isn’t even that big of a deal for the Orioles.
Looking forward to seeing Holliday’s first full year. He was clearly a bit disappointing overall in his first taste of MLB action, but he did flash the tools that made him such an uber-prospect a fair few times. Just gotta find that consistency, and switching to the toe tap might be the first step towards that.