FOUR THINGS THE YANKEES NEED TO DO TO ADVANCE

Welcome to that article that is always the most obvious, but you read it anyway. These are the 4 things that are concerning and are needed for the Yankees to advance to the ALCS.

Clarke Schmidt needs to be on

Clarke Schmidt is ready to shine Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALDS, with the Yankees and Royals all tied up after splitting in The Bronx. Schmidt’s been a beast this season, mixing in a nasty cutter, a wicked sweeper, a deadly sinker, and a knucklecurve that has hitters swinging at air. After missing three months with a lat strain, he came back better than ever, posting a solid 2.85 ERA over 16 starts. Schmidt has said he had been grinding through rehab with this exact moment in mind. Now, it’s October, playoff baseball is here, and Clarke is fired up for his chance to dominate. Let's home Schmidt can deliver!

Aaron Judge needs to break out

The other night when we needed him, Judge stepped up and struck out on just four pitches, leaving the crowd feeling deflated after Torres and Soto reached. This unfortunate outcome added to Judge's alarming postseason strikeout rate of 34.3%, the highest in MLB history among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances.

Despite this, Judge did manage to finish the night with a walk and an infield single, ending up 1-for-3. However, he now sits at just 1-for-7 in this postseason, raising concerns among us fans.  Judge has said, "If I'm not hitting 1.000, I'm not feeling good," and that concerns me a bit.

But if the Yankees look to advance, they need Judge desperately. Fans are really hoping he finds his rhythm soon. Maybe tonight.

Volpe needs to do his job

After another rollercoaster regular season, Anthony Volpe is finally starting to show some promise at the plate in the first two games against Kansas City. Sure, he made a costly throwing error in Game 1 that led to a couple of runs—pretty frustrating, honestly—but he’s otherwise held it down at shortstop. At the plate, Volpe has made some solid contact, like that 100-mph shot to the warning track and another well-hit ball to right in Game 1. He did work a bases-loaded walk and followed it with a hard-hit single to left on Monday, along with another walk and a rocket to shortstop.

Volpe’s been hitting the ball with some serious pop, cranking three balls over 100 mph in the series, including two over 105 mph on Monday. But while the Yankees are excited about his potential, it’s hard not to feel a little impatient—this kid has talent, but those long slumps? They’re starting to wear thin. Some scouts may question if Volpe will ever fully live up to the hype, but the Yankees are holding out hope that he’ll break through. What he does in the rest of this series might finally start to clear things up.

Continue to keep Bobby Witt Jr. quiet

It might not last forever, but it’s sure sweet while it’s happening! The Yankees have put Bobby Witt Jr. on ice. Heading into Wednesday’s Game 3 at Kauffman Stadium, the rising star shortstop is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts, and the Yankees’ pitchers are in total control. They’ve kept Witt from finding anything to hit, and even when they’ve slipped up, they've dodged the bullet. This is especially satisfying since Witt normally gives the Yankees trouble, boasting an .864 OPS in 17 career games against them and an .887 OPS this season. But right now? The Yankees have him locked down—and they're loving every second!

The New York Post had a scout quoted as saying: “The Yankees have been a lot more disciplined in how they deal with Witt, but they’ve gotten away with a couple of mistakes and that won’t last forever.’’

Next game's tonight. Let's go Yanks!

MORE OF THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THE YANKEES IN THE PLAYOFFS

The Yankees in the Boone era can't walk and chew gum in a short series at the same time. It's the story of our lives.  Last night, with ample opportunity to go ahead 2-0 against the Royals they pittered out.  It doesn't matter that Bob Costas was the biggest anti-Yankee bitch I've ever heard in my lifetime... I mean that added to it. But it was the fact that Aaron Boone was managing the pitching like it was Game 7 of the World Series and yet we had bodies on the bench that might have been able to spark some kind of rally.  The fact that he's misguided, a non-leader and not worthy to be sitting in the manager seat is baffling to me all these years.

The Royals are going home. Going to Kansas City is not a good thing for New York, especially in an existing hitting slump.  Not the mention our pitching hasn't exactly been lights out.  Pitching wins ballgames, this is true, but only if we hit.  Sure, I sound like Yogi there, but the truth is this Yankee team is not in sync at all and it's awful.

MLB writes: 

"...the Royals are officially bringing postseason baseball back to Kauffman Stadium, a goal of theirs from the start of 2024 after hearing what the ‘14-15 runs were like and seeing how the sports city has embraced an NFL dynasty right across the parking lot at the Truman Sports Complex with the Chiefs -- who, by the way, are undefeated after beating the Saints on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

A “Let’s go Royals” chant broke out there. The Royals had the end of the Chiefs’ game playing in the clubhouse postgame...

“It’s going to be electric,” shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said. “... Going back home is going to be a lot of fun. Get the boys right, getting hot at the right time."

Synergy works and the Royals ARE getting hot. The Yankees? They are not.  Aaron Judge can't figure it out. Juan Soto looked flat.  Sure, it's important to have everyone contribute at the right time, and that is something that essentially makes good teams, team contributions, but if we've seen anything from the Yankees this season it's that day in and day out, it was often Juan and Aaron, and tiny contributions from the rest of our hitters. 

I have written about this all year long; the Yankees are not built for this. Our pitching was NEVER sorted out last winter and should have been... we're seeing it now.  Our hitting is sporadic... we are seeing that again and our defense... is NOT what we were told we were getting.  I have seen the sloppiest shortstop in Anthony Volpe the last 2 games. He is not the shortstop we need.

So, what now? Well, we go to Kansas City as a mouse in a lion's den.  It will be loud, it will be hard and we just have to try and win and not be complacent.  Complacency kills teams.  We walk around often with our chest puffed out talking about how we are 27 world championship winners a lot. But what does it matter?  Touting it means nothing unless we can keep going.  It's like your town winning "best family town", although that was a decade ago and the town looks pretty run down these days.  You can harp on your reward in the moment... but it's what comes next?  What are the Yankees going to do next to add to those rewards?    

We will see, but my feeling is it ain't happening with amateur Aaron Boone.  We need something better. That's the bottom line.

NASTY NESTOR IS THROWING & HOPING FOR POSTSEASON RETURN!

I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch, but Nestor Cortes pitched yesterday! It's the first time he has pitched since his move to the Injured List on September 25th with a left elbow flexor strain. Nestor says he is "feeling better" and hopes to pitch in the postseason. I hope he's not counting his chickens before they hatch.

Nestor and trainers have a plan, and the first hurdle was yesterday. He ended his session feeling fine. The second hurdle is waking up today with no pain. So now we wait and see what happens. Nestor's best case scenario is he returns to pitch in the playoffs, and is even holding out for an ALCS return if the Yankees make it that far, read that HERE.

Yesterday was the first time he threw a baseball since he went on the Injured List. Since then, he's been throwing plyo balls, so it will be interesting to see how he feels today. As excited as I am to hear he's feeling better, we all know elbow issues are no joke. The timing couldn't be worse. Not just because the Yankees are in the postseason but, if this treatment he received doesn't work and he has more elbow issues, that could turn into Tommy John surgery. If he has surgery, he's out a year and then he becomes a free agent. Not a good time for an elbow injury. So now, we sit and hope these platelet-rich injections did the trick and he can come back this season without further injury.

If Nestor does return, we shouldn't expect him in a starting role. The Yankees won't have enough time to stretch him out to handle a starting workload and using him as a reliever might help reduce some of the wear and tear on his elbow. It would be the smarter move to keep him as healthy as possible. Not to mention, before he got injured Aaron Boone said the Yankees were leaning towards using him as a reliever anyway. Now this would likely force their hand.

I love Nestor's determination. He says "the goal is to be back as soon as possible," and I love the competitive spirit, I just worry that he and the Yankees are going about this the wrong way. I've said it many times before, I don't trust the Yankees trainers and medical team. I hope they aren't being too aggressive with this.....it could cost us next season.

Hoping for good news with Nestor, and hopefully we do get to see him if the Yankees advance. After all, we gotta get there first.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN; YOU'RE STRESSING ME OUT!

If you are a pessimist, please don't read this blog anymore. I think Derek Jeter said it best Saturday afternoon ahead of the Cleveland - Detroit game: The postseason is a completely different feeling. And it is. There are nine innings for a reason; winning postseason baseball comes down to one thing: endurance. Can you wait out the good pitcher to get to the less impact pitchers? Can you wear out the other team with hit after hit? Can you out game them? And so, I say to you, those who are pessimistic and continue to ask why this and why that: "You need to calm down!"

Gleyber Torres definitely had a topsy turvy season. Up and down both defensively and offensively, but his manager stuck with him. Good or bad or indifferent, Aaron Boone backs up his players. I don't always agree but he is consistent in that matter. Torres deserves to be in the leadoff spot and he proved it by launching one out to right to give the Yankees a very short lead in the Saturday bout against the Kansas City Royals. So, naysayers beware, Torres could be a difference maker when things get tough down the pike. 

Alex Verdugo stresses me out. And then all of the banter around why Verdugo over Jasson Dominguez is just distracting. But his lefthanded defense is far superior than Dominguez who is still learning and evolving. "I just felt like this was the way to go for Game 1," Boone said. "Obviously Alex has been tremendous for us defensively. Even though it's been up and down for him in the second half offensively, I still feel like there's a really good hitter in there who can provide something for us as the bottom (of the lineup)," reported Sports Illustrated. Defense is clearly important but if the Yankees don't string up enough hits, it won't matter. 

Next up, is Gerrit Cole. I would call him Mr. Inconsistent this season. He gets hot as quickly as he goes cold. And that has not given the Yankees the kind of momentum that the Mets seem to have to outlast their opponents to this point. But the Yankees stay with him; not like they have any choice, but it is more than that. They get behind him, and believe in him, despite what his numbers say. That kind of mindset keeps the clubhouse calm and that is what is needed to ensure there are no distractions, just focus. Calming down means you clear the mechanism and do what you are supposed to do. For runners like me, it means just running- clearing your mind of negativity or doubt, but rather just putting one foot in front of the other. 

The Yankees actually have the biggest distraction in front of them: ending the World Series drought in the most pressure-field market in baseball. I am sure that is front of center of their captain's mind. Aaron Judge not only has the pressure of leading his team from the role of captain but he has to perform, something he has not been successful with in the postseason with more strikeouts than hits. But again, there is no need to get concerned or rant and rave about what was in the past. If the Yankees are going to win, they just will have to dismiss the negativity, the demons in their past and all the critics. If the Yankees are going to do this, they have to go into this with the right mantra: calm, focused and determined. 

It is the team, collectively that has to come together and make their dreams a reality. No manager, fan or single player can do it. And it does not matter that the Orioles nor the Astros are here to face the Yankees in this 2024 postseason. It is not smooth sailing; the same formula exists, no matter who is facing the Yankees. This is the best of five games, not one and done. So stay calm, remain positive and root for your team to outlast the Royals: one inning, one game at a time. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ADVANCING TO THE ALCS COMES DOWN TO ONE THING FOR THE YANKEES: AARON BOONE

The Yankees have the tools to advance, but if Aaron Boone is calling the shots and over-tinkers, you can forget this season.

The Royals are marching into the ALDS like a scrappy underdog ready to take down the big, bad Yankees. And why not? The Royals have already defied the odds, rising from a 106-loss season to claw their way into the playoffs, leaving baseball fans wondering if Cinderella’s glass slipper fits a cleat. Meanwhile, the Yankees are stumbling into the postseason after a leisurely five-day break, trying to shake off the cobwebs while their manager, Aaron Boone, sharpens his tinkering tools like he’s prepping for an IKEA furniture assembly—except with even worse results.

If history tells us anything, it’s that the Yankees under Boone are world-class experts at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The last time they had this kind of layoff, they lost five of their first seven games after the All-Star break, and, shocker, they’re now set up for the same rust-induced disaster. Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo even admitted the downtime is "like another All-Star break," which is code for, “we’re about to come out flatter than a pancake.”

To shake off the impending doom, Boone is calling in the minor-league cavalry for live pitching practice. Because, apparently, when your big-league squad leads the American League in home runs, the logical solution is to have them face pitchers from Scranton who are about two bus rides away from unemployment. Brilliant!

Boone insists it’s all about finding that elusive balance between rest and staying sharp. Unfortunately for Yankees fans, "balance" isn’t really his strong suit. Last season, multiple teams with first-round byes—Braves, Orioles, Dodgers—flamed out in spectacular fashion, and the Yankees seem determined to follow in their footsteps. The “Bronx Bombers” may have bashed 237 home runs this year, but in the playoffs, they often swing like they’re trying to hit piñatas blindfolded. This time around, they can't. They need to do better.

Let’s not forget the Yankees' regular-season domination of Kansas City, going 5-2 against them and practically treating Kauffman Stadium like their personal playground, outscoring the Royals 27-12 in four games. Sure, Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres had some fun, but October isn’t June, and when Aaron Boone is in charge, postseason magic tends to vanish faster than a dollar bill in Times Square.

Now, let’s talk Royals. A year ago, they couldn’t win a game if their lives depended on it, and here they are, fresh off knocking out the Orioles, becoming the first 100-loss team to win a playoff series the very next year. They’re riding high on momentum, and if there’s anything the Yankees should fear, it’s a team that’s already broken the odds and has nothing left to lose. Plus, the Royals’ speed and sneaky pitching could make the Yankees’ five-day spa vacation look like a very bad idea.

The real wildcard in this series isn’t the Royals’ lineup—it’s Boone himself. His playoff strategy is like watching someone play chess by flipping the pieces at random. In short series, he’s notorious for overthinking, over-managing, and just plain over-doing it. The Yankees would be better off if someone locked him in the clubhouse with a bucket of sunflower seeds and told him it was Game 4 of the ALDS.

At the end of the day, the series boils down to this: Will the Royals, hot off their fairy-tale run, exploit the Yankees’ rust and Boone’s inevitable blunders? Or will the Yankees finally figure out how to not trip over their own superstar lineup? If Boone stays out of it, the Yankees might just survive. But if he starts tinkering, it’ll be another October meltdown in the Bronx. Same story, different year.

REIGNITING THE YANKEES-ROYALS RIVALRY

Few rivalries in baseball history have sizzled quite like the Yankees vs. Royals showdown of the late '70s and early '80s. This wasn’t just some friendly competition over who could grab more beer sales at the stadium; it was a full-blown, bad-blooded feud that had more drama than a soap opera and more punches thrown than a heavyweight boxing match. For five straight years, these two teams clashed in the postseason, and trust me, if you were a fan back then, you didn’t need fireworks on the 4th of July—this rivalry lit up the skies on its own.

Let’s rewind to 1976. The Kansas City Royals, a bunch of scrappy up-and-comers, made their first playoff appearance, only to find themselves staring down the barrel of the Yankees—who were fresh off an 11-year World Series drought. Talk about bad luck. The Royals were the new kids on the block, thinking they could hang with the big boys, while the Yankees were ready to prove their Bronx swagger was still alive and kicking. And boy, did it all go down in Game 5 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium. George Brett—yes, that George Brett, who’d go on to terrorize New Yorkers for years—launched a towering three-run homer to tie the game in the 8th. 

But the Yankees were like, “Nah, not today, junior.” Chris Chambliss stepped up in the bottom of the 9th and smacked a walk-off bomb, barreling through a sea of lunatic fans who stormed the field. Classic New York: wild, chaotic, and straight to the World Series.

That game didn’t just crank up the heat; it dropped the match into a powder keg. The Royals were furious, and the Yankees? Well, they were just getting started. Fast forward to 1977. The Royals, still salty, held a 2-1 lead in the ALCS, thinking they finally had the Yankees right where they wanted them. But in typical New York fashion, the Yankees snatched victory out of their hands, breaking hearts and beer bottles all over Kansas City. 1978? Same deal. Brett gave it everything he had—three homers in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, practically trying to carry the Royals on his back. But Captain Thurman Munson, playing with a bum shoulder, said, "Not on my watch," and blasted a two-run, go-ahead homer. Once again, the Yankees sent the Royals packing.

By this point, the tension between the two teams was hotter than a New York sidewalk in July. The Royals were tired of being the Yankees’ punching bag, and George Brett was turning into a one-man wrecking crew, determined to settle the score. 

And in 1980, he finally got his shot. Facing Goose Gossage—who made hitters wet their pants just looking at him—Brett smashed a three-run bomb into the upper deck of Yankee Stadium in Game 3, sending the Royals to the World Series with a sweep. It was sweet revenge for Kansas City, and Brett probably still has dreams about it. As for the Yankees? Let’s just say the champagne stayed on ice that year, and manager Dick Howser was unceremoniously booted from the Bronx despite leading the team to a 103-59 record. How’s that for gratitude? He wound up in Kansas City, where he led the Royals to their first World Series title in 1985. Oof.

And then... the Pine Tar Game. If you don’t know about this one, are you even a baseball fan? It’s 1983, and Brett, already a nightmare for Yankees fans, steps up and smashes what looks like a go-ahead homer. But hold up—Yankees manager Billy Martin, always the crafty one, noticed something fishy. Brett’s bat had more pine tar on it than a lumberjack convention. Martin waited, patient as ever, for Brett’s homer to hurt the Yankees before pouncing with the protest. The umps sided with Billy, calling Brett out, which sent George into one of the most iconic meltdowns in sports history. The man lost it—charging out of the dugout like a madman, fists flying, eyes bugging out like someone told him the Royals were moving to New Jersey. The clip is pure gold. Of course, the call was eventually overturned, and the Royals were awarded the win when the game was resumed. But by then, Brett's freak-out had earned him a permanent spot in the Yankees-Royals Hall of Infamy.

Sure, the rivalry fizzled after 1980 when the Yankees stopped bothering with Kansas City in October. But those few years? They were electric. Punches were thrown (literally—thanks, Brett), homers flew, and Yankees fans saw their team rise above the scrappy Royals time and time again. Whether it was Chambliss knocking out fans like bowling pins, or Brett’s infamous pine tar tantrum, the Yankees-Royals rivalry will forever be one of baseball’s greatest—and most hilariously heated—chapters.

The Yankees and Royals are back at it in the playoffs, and the rivalry is officially reignited. Sure, legends like Chambliss, Thurman Munson, Hal McRae, and George Brett are long gone, but this ALDS is about to explode with stars like Bobby Witt Jr., Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Seth Lugo, and Salvador Perez. For all the old-school baseball fans out there, let’s hope the Royals can at least keep it interesting—because the Yankees are about to remind everyone who really owns October. Get ready for fireworks, because this one's going to have all the drama and dominance of the glory days!

In New York, we don’t just win; we do it with flair, fireworks, and a little controversy for good measure. 

Royals fans? Thanks for playing.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

YANKEE FANS KNOW THAT FEELING OF "BELIEVING" VERY WELL

Pete Alonso of the Mets couldn't hit himself out of a paper bag for weeks.  So you knew it was only a matter of time for him to get a big hit in a big moment last night... and good for him.

For me, I'm not a Mets fan. I don't have any feeling for them good or bad. For me, they are just the Mets.  That's how it's been for a long, long time.  When Derek Jeter made that remark about the team recently, it just made sense for me. They ARE just the Mets. I don't particularly root for them, I don't boo them... I just watch them.  And that's about it.  

Last night, I was leaning Brewers just because of the fact that I long for the 80's, the Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas, Paul Molitor days. It was nostalgic for me. Plus, my kid's a Christian Yelich fan so it just made sense.  But to be honest, I went to bed not really caring who won, but I do have to say, it was a good game.

But the moment that Alonso had made us all bring us to those great moments in baseball. It is what makes baseball truly great. A home run when a team needed it most, the moment, the feeling, the triumph, the defeat on the other side. It was baseball at its best.  Happily, as Yankee fans, we have had many of those and they all made us feel incredible... especially during big games.

CBS News writes:

"At least we didn't get swept."

Jim Leyritz remembers saying that out loud when the Yankees' sixth-inning rally in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series still left them trailing 6-3, only nine outs away from going down three games to one to the Atlanta Braves....Two innings later, Leyritz changed Yankees' fortunes and pinstriped history with one swing, a game-tying, three-run home run off Braves closer Mark Wohlers. The Bombers would go on to win the game in extra innings, tying the series."

And how about the true team effort of Yankees in 2001 when the Yanks needed them most. Cronkite News writes:

"Those three nights included President George W. Bush delivering a perfect strike for the first pitch before Game 3, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius hitting two-run home runs in the 9th inning off Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim in back-to-back games, Derek Jeter walking off Game 4 in the 12th, earning his title Mr. November, and the rookie Alfonso Soriano delivering a walk-off hit in Game 5 for the 3-2 New York series lead over Arizona."

The home runs when we need them most is vital to the fabric of the game of baseball and so great for the true baseball fan.  Last night was fantastic for Mets fans. It was important for Alonso, and we all felt it for a few minutes.  Life for the true Met fan was glorious.   But what happens next...

While the big home run is incredible, it depends on WHEN it takes place.  As all Yankee fans know, losing the 2001 World Series was a heartbreaker. The Yankee homers came at the right time and in bunches... but it wasn't enough.  In fact, a bigger moment came for the Diamondbacks against the greatest closer of all time when Luis Gonzalez hit that blooper to win the game.  Another moment in time that for the true baseball historian is just incredible.  For the Yankee fan, it was gut wrenching.  

For Leyritz, he would have several of those home run moments. The one in 1995 against the Mariners was incredible, but we didn't win that series.  Obviously 1998 Scott Brosius was on fire against the Padres, and in that World Series those moments were significant, we WON that.  But again... it's WHEN these moments happen that allow teams and their fans to truly love and appreciate being a fan.

 

Pete Alonso did something great last night. It should not be dismissed. But the Phillies are no slouch. The big question for the Mets is can the use that momentum to keep going, or was the highlight, as great as it was, only be a highlight that sits on a shelf, like Aaron Boone's homer against the Red Sox.  Something that we recall, but years later doesn't mean much.   It's a question every team clawing toward the World Series needs to think about.

I love big moments in baseball... we've had plenty as Yankee fans.  But it's how a team keeps going that is vital for the makeup of that team and what truly makes them a champion.  Mets fans are happy today. I respect that.  What I don't respect is the trash talk, rudeness, slapping down of Phillies fans before they even show up.   You are only as good as the game you played. When a new day comes, a new game comes.  The Phillies are not about the roll over. Mets fans need to take the homer, praise Pete, applaud the team, but then reset.  

Oh... and stop praising Grimace.  How about you root for your team instead of rooting for a false vibe?  That's the problem with Mets fans... they don't "believe in their team"... they believe in something fabricated to help them through the brutal fandom they've dealt with all these years.  That's no way to be a fan.

Big baseball weekend coming.  Go Yanks!  Let's get some.  Oh... and to the Mets, the Phillies... good luck.

YANKEE MEDIA TRAINING BLOWS

I can't stand when Aaron Boone speaks to the media because he says literally nothing, and Brian Cashman is right there with him.  

Cashman speaking to the media about the Yankees and the playoffs comes down to one thing for him... and literally everyone else on the planet. ESPN writes:

"We have a great shot, but we only have a great shot if we play our best baseball," the general manager said Thursday ahead of an AL Division Series against Kansas City."

Thanks, dimbulb.  I learned nothing from that and honestly, I can't get that 4 seconds back.

Look, there is no question the Yankees have to win this year. I mean this is their year. The future hinges on this World Series win for the Yankees.  If we lose, we probably lose Juan Soto. If we lose, Aaron Boone gets fired... I mean that's a plus I guess, but my point is the Yankees need to win this year. It's been way too long, and we can't tout ourselves as a big franchise if we're not winning a lot of championships.  But there's more to it... the Yankees media machine sucks.  I will say this, the Yankee players are media trained and they are terrific.  Upper management? Horrible.

Aaron Boone on the Royals. pic.twitter.com/eu8GC3Wot8

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 3, 2024

Even earlier today, I was annoyed with YES Network for posting Boone talking about the Royals.  I mean, who the hell cares? His opinions don't matter, he has no substance.  It's not important.  Give me ANY of the Yankees to talk about it. That I care about. Boone is insignificant, he really is.

The Yankees need to win, this is a fact.  The media training by their manager and front office? Do better or get rid of these tools.  It brings down this glorious franchise... they're better than those guys.

IT'S THE ALDS THAT NO ONE SAW COMING!

WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?!

I feel like I woke up in a parallel universe. The American League postseason will be NOTHING like I predicted. Hell, I know others are saying the same thing. My predictions in my NCAA March Madness bracket this year were more accurate than what I thought would happen this year in baseball and I don't follow (or really even care) about college basketball at all.

So seriously.... WHAT HAPPENED?! 

The Kansas City Royals just swept the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card round! Oh and then the Detroit Tigers swept the cheating Houston Astros. Two huge thorns in the Yankees side are out fishing! Or maybe golfing! Hell, who cares....all that matters is the Yankees won't see them again until next season. The Royals are Bronx bound and Game 1 of the ALDS is Saturday! I still can't believe it.

This postseason couldn't come together any better. The Yankees had the best record in the league, so they get home-field advantage through the ALCS, if they make it that far. They also don't have to worry about the cheating ASSTROS who have dominated the Yankees in the postseason or the Orioles, who won the division last year and gave the Yankees a run for their money again this season. There are no AL East powerhouses in the Yankees way. The teams that the Yankees didn't have good records against are not standing in their way.

Now the AL Central is standing in the Yankees way. That's not to say this will be easy, because it won't. The Yankees can't be complacent, and they have to play good fundamental baseball and score runs. It sounds easy and it sounds easier because people don't look at the AL Central the same way people do teams that were just eliminated.

But now is not the time to be complacent. The Yankees had a 24-7 record against AL Central teams this season, with a 13-6 record against the AL Central teams in the playoffs now. Statistically, they are in a better position here then against the Astros or Orioles. That doesn't mean it will be easy, though. Yankee offense struggled against Seth Lugo this season and the best start of his season was against the Yankees. There's also Cole Ragans, who is just an incredibly talented lefty and Salvador Perez who is a powerful hitter, and the last link to the 2015 World Series champions so he's no stranger to this stage.

The Yankees can't stroll into this too confidently. The bats need to be alive, and I'm not just talking about Aaron Judge or Juan Soto. The Yankees full lineup needs to show up and come hungry. Our pitching also needs to meet expectations and pitch deep into games. Not just Gerrit Cole! The Yankees CAN win this, but they can't let pitchers they aren't familiar with beat them.

I never would've thought the Yankees and Royals would be meeting in the postseason. It's the first time this is happening in my lifetime. It's the first time since 1980. Anything can happen in the postseason.... just look at which teams are no longer playing. It's time to take care of business!

 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

HALL OF FAME PUTS OUT A MESSAGE HONORING PETE ROSE... REGRETS IT IMMEDIATELY

What world do we live in where the great hitter of all time, Pete Rose is banned from baseball and the Hall of Fame, dies, and then the Hall of Fame tweets out an honor of the man like he was a "regular" in baseball all these years?  Do they think we forgot that he was banned for life? Are they stupid? Do they think we're stupid?

Here's the best part, the true baseball fans out there... the ones that understand what Pete Rose accomplished on the field went ape on the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and they should have.

Career Stats. AVG .303. HR. 160. RBI. 1314. OPS .784. 17 time All-Star. All-time Hits leader.

Pete Rose did his time.  He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Stupid tweet by the HOF.  They need to do better.  

 

LET'S NOT PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE...

All of these predictions made by baseball analysts' mean absolutely nothing to me. It doesn't matter if you were a bubble team or the division winner; it's a clean slate, an open whiteboard and the future is in each team's hands. As I watched each of the Wild Card matchups on Tuesday, I was impressed. From the Tigers to the Mets, the games were exciting; just as playoff baseball should be. Yet the baseball pundits will continue to predict, and I say, don't listen because the story has not been written yet.

Source: Reuters

"Even in a world where the Dodgers lead off a game with three former MVPs, the Yankees’ combination of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto may be the most fearsome one-two punch in all of baseball. Judge just completed a season that evoked prime Barry Bonds (.322/.458/.701 with 58 home runs and 144 RBI) while Soto led the American League in runs scored (128) in his first season in the Bronx," reported The Guardian. Facts. And all of this will have an impact, if the Yankees can put themselves in the position to leverage more than just those combos of bats. A lot has to stack up first before the Yankees can be predicted to go far in the postseason.

With a bye into the American League Division Series, the first obstacle, if you would call it that, is to keep from getting rusty before their first game against a worthy Wild Card opponent who has battled through another worthy Wild Card opponent. “We’ll do our best to prioritize taking advantage of the rest that I’m sure a number of guys at this time of year will benefit from,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday. “But also trying to make sure we keep that mental edge and keep guys as sharp as we possibly can with live looks and things like that. Try and strike that balance and then tee it up on Saturday,” reported the New York Post.

From advantage standpoint, however, the Yankees will be fresh, likely the most fresh they have been since the beginning of the season. And that could mean a lot for this club who has been plagued by injuries and setbacks all season. 

Source: ESPN

"Besides avoiding a short series where anything can happen, the Yankees will be able to line up their rotation exactly how they want for the ALDS — Gerrit Cole in Game 1, likely Carlos Rodon in Game 2 and either Luis Gil or Clarke Schmidt for Game 3 (Gil would appear to have the slight edge, with Schmidt having prior relief experience)," reported The Post. While the rest of their AL opponents have had to expend their starting pitching just to compete in the ALDS. 

Again, not a bit of this matters, if the Yankees can't take advantage of what would seem a favorable position. As Yahoo Sports points out, "Any team, no matter how talented, can fall victim to the torturous reality of October randomness." In fairness the writer was speaking to the Phillies who have the most potential to go the distance, because of the team's completeness. Yet, the same writer states, "Whether or not this ends up being Soto’s final year in pinstripes, this looks like as good of a chance as we’ve seen in a while for New York to return to the Fall Classic." 

It is a crap shoot and an endurance exercise all at the same time. And if you say too much, you might talk your way out of the mix. But if you don't hype enough, you might not confident enough to withstand the pressure of the entire enterprise. It takes balance. And an ability to know how much optimism and how much humility you need to contribute. Yet, putting the cart before the horse is a good way to drive yourself right off the rails. So, I like the optimism, and I appreciate the critics, but in playoff baseball, it is about doing just enough to move on. And getting better with each game.

2009 was a long time ago. So was 2017. It is 2024. Go get it, Yankees. Stay hungry like your cross-city rivals. That is the kind of persistence that wins ball games, no matter what horse you have in that stable. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof