2020 has been an odd year, and baseball is feeling the irregularities. The MLB has added six teams to the playoffs instead of having their usual 10 fighting for a title. The New York Yankees were not atop the American League East this season, which helped them get into the playoffs.
Historically, the Yankees are not a team to choke under pressure. They have a large list of clutch moments during the postseason like Scott Brosius’ homer in Game Three of the 1998 World Series and Aaron Boone’s home run in Game Seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series. With players like Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter, or “Mr. October” “Mr. November,” the franchise is known for their stellar play under pressure.
The Yankees have lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 8 out of 10 times during the regular season, but anything can happen during the postseason. They have already won Game One in a five game series to see who will move on, after sweeping the Cleveland Indians.
The Yankees’ title window is busting open, as this is not their only year to win but it is the start. They now have Gerrit Cole, who has two wins so far in this postseason, as a number one pitcher. When Luis Severino comes back next year from the injured list, the Yankees will have two solid starters, which is what has been lacking from an otherwise stellar team.
The Yankees have a strong farm system that has brought up impact players like Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez. Judge was unanimously voted to be the American League Rookie of the Year during his first season with the Yankees in 2017. He also finished as the first runner-up in the American League Most Valuable Player race that same year due to having hit over 50 home runs.
The Yankees have also made a string of smart trades over the past three years. They added Gleyber Torres, who is now their starting shortstop, by trading Aroldis Chapman, who they got back the following year. Torres and Miguel Andújar, another strong player from the farm system, were both runners-up for the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018. Gio Urshela, their current starter at third base, was also acquired in a shrewd trade. This young team can only go up from here.
There is a strong chance that the Yankees can go all the way this postseason, while setting records along the way, such as the record for the most home runs hit in their first three playoff games with 11. Giancarlo Stanton has five of those 11 by himself. While questions are being asked about the Bronx Bombers’ title chances, all baseball fans can do now is sit back and watch.
