For my blog today, rather than the usual review and rant, or is it rant and review….? Anyways.

I’d thought I’d do a preview of the Yankees Astros weekend series in Houston. This is a big one, because the Yankees need to start winning, and because it’s the Astros.

The Astros should win this series if, they continue to do what they have been doing. They score a lot of runs and win at home, to the tune of 28 wins at home this year.

The Yankees will win this series if, well if they are, there’s that word again, consistent. They need to play all three phases, they need to hit, they need to pitch and field. Scoring 7 runs doesn’t mean much when you give up 9, usually by the manager not knowing when to pull his starter, or the inexperienced bullpen shows they are an inexperienced bullpen.

One thing I’d like to see if the Yankees work some counts. Don’t be concerned with the home run as much. Hit and run, steal bases, BUNT. Play team baseball. Quality team baseball. The Yankees of the late 90s and early 2000s had stars, but they also had guys who just played hard. The team needs to get back to that Rather than out slugging teams, grind out some wins by using that team baseball formula I discussed earlier.

Finally, the Series X Factor: Gerrit Cole. Cole pitches Saturday night against Zach Grienke. It’s Prime Tome, its Fox, Cole needs to step up. Relax, Gerrit, do the things that you do well. Mix your pitches, go after guys, don’t be tenative. In other words, earn your money. Prove why the Yankees signed you.

Prediction: Yankees take 2 of 3.

It’s going to be a fun weekend, enjoy it.