The Yankees don't have a mascot. And that's okay. They are the Yankees, not the Mets. But when Nestor Cortes, Jr. talked his team into a team turtle, there was no turning back. After adopting this said turtle, the Yankees went on a seven game win streak which included the powerful, game winning home runs from Giancarlo Stanton in Boston and last night's big 7-2 win in Toronto. Could Bronxie be the different maker? Well let's put it this way, the Yankees will take any good karma they can after this season of ups and downs.
"Cortes is very much a proud papa, but others, including DJ LeMahieu -- who is said to just enjoy staring at Bronxie -- are involved and engaged caretakers, as well. This week, Bronxie made his first road trip, joining the team in Boston," wrote ESPN.
The Yankees have gone on a tear. Not the tear the St. Louis Cardinals have—a team that has come back to life to win 17 in a row (franchise record) and clinch an NL Wild Card slot should the season end today. Similar to the Yankees final week of the regular season, they have a somewhat tough last six games against Milwaukee and the Cubs. Both teams were sort of left for dead 8 weeks ago, with their stints to the IL, COVID and just poor baseball. But the Yankees have something the Cards do not—a pet turtle named Bronxie.
"Lucky charm, whatever you want to call it; I know a lot of guys believe there's a connection here," Gardner said before Sunday's game. "At the end of it, it would be great if we could go out and get him a little World Series ring," reported ESPN.
Bronxie needs to provide some good vibes for Yankee pitcher Jameson Taillon who is likely out for the rest of the season after coming out of the third still being bothered by his right ankle. He also has some work to do to keep guys like Stanton and Aaron Judge healthy and fierce while also providing some love for his proud Papa Nestor Cortes, Jr. who will likely need to give the Yankees some good innings to backup Corey Kluber who does not have the endurance to go more than 5 innings and fill in now for Taillon who would have made another start in the postseason if the Yankees make it out of the Wild Card.
Wade Boggs was one of the most superstitious players I have ever seen. He was specific about what sock he put on first and what he did in the batter's box. And if Bronxie was a part of the clubhouse back in 1996, Boggs may have rode the horse with Bronxie in tow. So, yeah, this turtle is something special and the Yankees can use anything special to keep their dreams alive in 2021.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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