I saw a lot of twitting after the game blaming, in descending order:

1. Boone, for taking German out.
2. "Nerds", for limiting German's pitches.
3. Cashman, for reasons.

And I mean, whether the Yankees' bullpen is garbage or not, they should be expected to hold a 4-run lead in the 8th inning. That's what Boone asked them to do, and they failed. Now, maybe he could have asked someone else in the bullpen other than who he'd asked. Maybe he should have gone to Britton right away in the 8th. But it's not unreasonable to expect the bullpen to hold a 4-run lead.

I know they are working up German's pitch count, building his endurance. That's sensible, and seems to have worked in the past with, well, everyone. It's not a "nerds" thing, unless nerds came up with the idea of spring training. The one thing I'd quibble with here is what Boone would have done if German still hadn't given up a hit. Would he have pulled him from the start at his pitch limit regardless? If not, then what's the difference between that and keeping him in after Verdugo got the first hit in the 8th? I don't think we can know the answer to that.

I can see an argument that Cashman needs to go. I can't see an argument that he needs to go on the basis of this game's outcome. If they have a crappy bullpen it's his fault, but also, if you wait to hire a GM who can build a non-crappy bullpen you'll be waiting a long time. Nearly every team's fans think their team has a crappy bullpen, and if they don't, wait a year and they will.

Nearly every team's fans think their team has a crappy bullpen, and if they don't, wait a year and they will.

Wasn't it Earl Weaver who quipped that it's easier to find 5 good relief pitchers than it is to find 12?

For all the handwringing they are 3 1/2 games out of a wild card spot and if they get there they'd have about as good an option any team in the American League to start a winner take all game. I think this weekend pretty well eliminated them as a divisional threat. 9 back isn't impossible but two teams ahead of them (and one very good team a game behind them) just is a tough row to hoe.

Just for the hell of it every team will play it's 102nd game this week bringing us to 162 over the last two years. AL Standings in that time;

TBR 100-60
NYY 84-74
BOS 85-75
TOR 81-74
BAL 59-99

CWS 94-65
CLE 84-73
MIN 78-82
DET 70-89
KCR 68-89

OAK 92-69
HOU 90-69
SEA 81-79
LAA 75-83
TEX 57-103

NL:
ATL 83-75
NYM 78-78
PHI 77-81
MIA 74-86
WSN 71-87

MIL 87-73
CHC 83-77
CIN 82-77
STL 80-78
PIT 57-102

LAD 104-57
SDP 95-67
SFG 91-68
COL 69-90
ARI 56-105

Oh good, I felt mildly bad not doing the NL but just didn't care enough to do it. I think we can safely declare the strength of the NL localized out west.