The Yankees. The damn Yankees. I'm not sure if i've Quantum Leaped to 2000, but the Yankees, led by a young band of exciting talent, are one series away from the World Series for the first time since 2009. That time, it felt different. Like a kind of last stand for a group of veterans, one more stab at glory before the glue factory. You knew they wouldn't be back again for a while. And now? The future, despairingly for everyone who values themselves as humans, the Yankees are on the rise.
There is a lot of upside to this team. Anyone with eyes can see that. They are hitting for average, and are slugging for power. They're pitching brilliantly. They took on a previously unbeatable Indians team, and beat them. 3-2 in the NLDS. Guys like Castro and Gregorius are plugging the infield brilliantly. Castro hitting .300 and Gregorius .287. Add in that Gregorius also slugged 25 homers, and maybe we will be looking at an early bet for AL MVP in 2018 in the Dutchman. Headley is filling the role at 3B dependably, and does not represent too much of a loss in production, despite not having the traditional numbers of his more illustrious teammates.
In the outfield, we have the phenom of Aaron Judge. MVP Candidate? Check. ROY? Barring a travesty, the likes of which would make Roy Jones jr losing the Gold Medal match in Seoul 88 seem like a good decision. The guy is a future superstar. End of that discussion. Ugly? Correct. Very much so. But as the great Yogi Berra stated, "So i'm ugly. So what? I've never seen anyone hit with his face". Gardner is coming alive this postseason, having had an OK season in the Bronx, and Hicks/Ellesbury? Yeah, umm, yeah.
At catcher they have a franchise guy. Another who can become a MVP botherer in the future, in Gary Sanchez. The future is settled at the Catcher position.
With solid, if unspectacular pitching, they look damn good. This feels like, however, they are 1 or 2 players from an actual World Series ring. But with a resurgent Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers looking good, having the Evil Empire being actually good again, can only be good for the League.
On a scary note, Harper/Stanton will be joining this team in the offseason.
Look away non-Yankee fans. Play the Darth Vader music. The Yankees are coming. And don't be surprised if they don't go away.
There is a lot of upside to this team. Anyone with eyes can see that. They are hitting for average, and are slugging for power. They're pitching brilliantly. They took on a previously unbeatable Indians team, and beat them. 3-2 in the NLDS. Guys like Castro and Gregorius are plugging the infield brilliantly. Castro hitting .300 and Gregorius .287. Add in that Gregorius also slugged 25 homers, and maybe we will be looking at an early bet for AL MVP in 2018 in the Dutchman. Headley is filling the role at 3B dependably, and does not represent too much of a loss in production, despite not having the traditional numbers of his more illustrious teammates.
In the outfield, we have the phenom of Aaron Judge. MVP Candidate? Check. ROY? Barring a travesty, the likes of which would make Roy Jones jr losing the Gold Medal match in Seoul 88 seem like a good decision. The guy is a future superstar. End of that discussion. Ugly? Correct. Very much so. But as the great Yogi Berra stated, "So i'm ugly. So what? I've never seen anyone hit with his face". Gardner is coming alive this postseason, having had an OK season in the Bronx, and Hicks/Ellesbury? Yeah, umm, yeah.At catcher they have a franchise guy. Another who can become a MVP botherer in the future, in Gary Sanchez. The future is settled at the Catcher position.
With solid, if unspectacular pitching, they look damn good. This feels like, however, they are 1 or 2 players from an actual World Series ring. But with a resurgent Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers looking good, having the Evil Empire being actually good again, can only be good for the League.
On a scary note, Harper/Stanton will be joining this team in the offseason.
Look away non-Yankee fans. Play the Darth Vader music. The Yankees are coming. And don't be surprised if they don't go away.
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