"These $310 million Yankees just aren't particularly good."
A friend of mine texted me that yesterday morning with a link to THIS opinion piece. I expect no less coming from a Dodger fan whose team is barely holding on in their own division series. Always something to try and stir the pot, right? My friend tried, and so did USA Today.....they just weren't very successful.
It's interesting because when you look at ANY team with that kind of price tag you expect them to be the best of the best of the best and unstoppable. I get it. This is an expensive team. This team has the same issues its been dealing with for years now, especially offensively. I've been critical at times and I won't deny that but to say they "just aren't particularly good" is an interesting take.
The Yankees have some serious holes and without Juan Soto this is the same team from last season. Last season the Yankees finished fourth with an 82-80 record with a damn good Gerrit Cole. This season, the Yankees won the AL East with a 94-68 record. They dethroned the Baltimore Orioles as the division winners AND managed to get where they are without Cole for the beginning of the season and a starting rotation with a lot of question marks early on. This isn't a team that is going to roll over and play dead so don't count on that "early exit." You can call us "punchless" but that was one game in a best of five series. We're hungry, we want that winning feeling back.
So I love when we are underestimated. Do I think the Yankees SHOULD beat the Royals or anyone in the AL Central? YES, our 24-7 record against central teams this season shows we are capable. At the same time, this is about which teams get hot at the right time. Look at the Mets! They rode their momentum and eliminated the Phillies, and I expected the Phillies to win. A lot of people did, it just didn't work out that way. Let's look at the cheating ASSTROS. Who on earth would've predicted the Tigers to sweep the ASSTROS?! The Kansas City Royals are a Wildcard team that defeated the Orioles, and the Orioles have a good team they were no walk in the park. Welcome to postseason baseball. Teams like the 86-win Royals in a weaker division can and do get in.....but you still gotta outplay the other team.
Now, let's get back to those Yankees that "just aren't particularly good" and so timely written opinion right after the Royals won Game 2. Now Game 3 just happened....and the Royals lost. Now the Royals have to HOPE to do well against Cole again in KC. I wouldn't bank on that. Could it happen? Sure, anything can happen in the postseason. Is it likely for a gamer like Cole? NOPE. Especially not after his last start. He's gonna come back hungrier. He's no slouch either. He may not be 2023 Cole, but he's going to give Lucas Erceg a run for his money.
Don't count us out, because the Royals aren't particularly better, either.
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