Yesterday, when the Yankees lost to the Tampa Bay Rays and broke their eight-game winning streak, I was upset. The type of 'upset' where I have the expectations that the Yankees SHOULD win and I shouldn't think that way, because this team isn't a playoff caliber team.
But now, as the Yankees inch closer to the A.L Wild Card and American League East (believe or not), I'm starting to become that selfish Yankee fan, again.
I think everyone is shocked how great this team is playing, after selling off three of their best players before the deadline. But then I always felt, even when the Yankees have Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran, the only way they were gonna reach the postseason, would have to be help from the minors.
They were gonna need to bring up Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez; because they needed a young spark. The Yankees were an aging team and needed a kick of young blood on the team; just like how Greg Bird saved the Yankee season last year.
Can this young, brash Yankee team make the postseason? Some will say, no. That, there's 'no way' this team can past other teams like the Tigers, Orioles, Blue Jays and Red Sox. But then if you look back in the past postseasons where a young, inexperience team makes an epic run at the end of the regular season and goes deep in the playoffs. Like the 2003 Florida Marlins (a team Yankee fans know very well) who won the World Series by beating the Yankees in six games. Or the 2007 Colorado Rockies, who had a young Troy Tulowitzki lead them all the way to the World Series, but to get swept by the Boston Red Sox.
We've seen it done before. Although if they make the postseason, how will they get there?
We keep focusing on the Wild Card, since the Yankees are closer in that race, BUT, they might have a better shot in the A.L. East.
Reason for that, is the fact the Detroit Tigers are tied with the Yankees and are both 2-games back for the second Wild Card, the Tigers have a much easier schedule in September. Yes, the Tigers will see the first place Cleveland Indians a couple of more times, but the Indians could begin to rest their players, since they have a comfortable lead in the central.
Yankees won't play the Tigers at all this season. So they don't control their destiny in the Wild Card, unless the Tigers just begin to fall completely out of it. Because if that happens, then the Yankees just have worry about the Orioles and Blue jays in the Wild Card; teams they'll face several times this season.
As for the division, where the Boston Red Sox are first place, the Yankees have played them relatively well, this season. I think the Yankees as aren't threaten by the Sox, as they're more threaten by the Jays and Orioles because of their power. And the Yankees have seen David Price hundred times.
The Red Sox start a three-game series against the Orioles tonight. So if the Yankees win, they'll gain games on either team.
Though the Blue Jays start a three-game series against the last place Rays. That should be an easy series for Toronto.
The one team, to me, that's gonna be the hardest to beat in the division or pass in the division, is the Orioles. Because they have a legit, dangerous offense. They're very versatile offensively, by hitting the ball out of the ball park or using the whole field. Also, their ballpark, Camden Yards, is a heavy hitters' dream. And no, they may not have top starting pitching, but their closer, Zach Britton, is basically been Mo-like this season.
If the Yankees wanna make the playoffs, they need three bats to come alive in these last three weeks. Brian McCann (whose been hot), Mark Teixeira and Aaron Judge. McCann and Teixeira, for sure, have to get going because they're veterans who have track records and in Yankee Stadium they can do damage. Yankees need some easy, cheap homeruns in that short porch in right; any runs or homeruns is needed.
As for Judge, whose been struggling, he needs to trust his hands, more. Let the ball get deep in the strikezone. Judge has immense power. He's gotta let the ball travel in the plate.
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