The Yankees head into tonight’s showdown with Baltimore needing only one win to clinch the AL East, something that seemed a fait accompli on June 14th. That night the Yankees won their 50th game to stand at 50-22, a blistering pace that had them on track for 112 wins and being compared to Joe Torre’s dynastic Yankees. Considering the Yankees achieved that record without a single inning pitched by 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, that comparison did not feel like hyperbole.
That’s when we were reminded that baseball is a marathon as the Yankees endured a roller-coaster ride in the second half of the season. All told, since June 15th they are 42-42 and today stand at 92-64 with 6 games left.
Which begs the question, which Yankees team is headed into the playoffs?
- The team that was winning 69.4% of their first 72 games.
- The team that won only 30% of their next 33 games.
- The team that has won 63% of their most recent 51 games.
- The team that has won 59% of all 156 games.
Yes, we know that the famous Bill Parcells quote turned cliché’ tells you to select #4, but we are going to with #3 because in a marathon season, it’s important to consider current form based on variables like health and stability.
The Yankees most recent push has benefited from both. After stints on the IR the Yankees have Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil back in their rotation, Anthony Rizzo back at first base and Jasson Dominguez in an outfield platoon. Additional stability in the lineup has come from the acquisition of the energetic Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the emergence of Austin Wells as the Yankees full-time catcher, primary clean-up hitter and late AL Rookie of the Year contestant.
In a long season, you also must catch lightning in a bottle to have success, like the fact that the backend of the bullpen has been stabilized by Luke Weaver, who has been outstanding since assuming the closer role despite a pedestrian 9-year career primarily as a starter.
The most surprising twist is the role that Gleyber Torres played. In the middle of the season, when the Yankees were struggling, there were calls for him to be cut. On August 2nd, he was benched by Aaron Boone for not hustling. Since then, he’s been an on-base machine and a stabilizing force in the leadoff position.
Ups and downs, twists and turns, stars being stars and surprise appearances. The Yankees regular season has been entertaining, unpredictable, and with one more victory, successful.
If you haven’t heard, baseball is a long, long season.
