Making Yankee Fans Smile


J.A. Happ has been all the Yankees hoped for -- and more. The veteran left has gone 6-0 in eight starts since the late July trade from Toronto.

Monday night at Target Field, he again came up big -- throwing six innings of shutout ball as the Yanks opened their series against the Twins with a 7-2 win. Gary Sanchez' home run in the top of the 6th gave Happ the lead before the Yanks blew it open an inning later.

Happ's consistency has upgraded his status from "bolstering the rotation" to joinining the conversation about starting the Wild Card playing game three weeks from now.

A good post-season for the Yankees might even lead to Cashman and Steinbrenner writing a big check to keep him in the Bronx. Remember that Yankee Stadium's configuration benefits lefthanded pitchers. And there's always something to be said about holding onto a savvy lefty -- when the club's other veteran southpaw CC Sabathia appears to be on fumes heading toward the finish line.
(My image of J.A. Happ is from the June 20th Blue Jays/Braves game at Rogers Centre.)

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