This Yankee Team is GOOD
Last night the Yankees took three out of four against the Red Sox with an absolute dominant game against a potential Cy Young winner in Chris Sale. They stepped up BIG after getting swept by Cleveland.
Couldn't have asked for a better game out of Sevy in the biggest game of the year so far. Last night cemented that not only would he be the right pick for a potential wild card game, but that if we're in said game, we can go in quite confident. This Yankee team is GOOD. Easily the best team since 09. The depth we have is unbelievable on both sides. Let's dive in.
Starting with pitching, as I said we have an absolute ace in Severino, but we also have Sonny Gray, Tanaka, and CC (who has been pitching great again). On the bullpen side we have a great lineup (on paper) and if they perform to their potential it could be one of the top bullpens in baseball. Betances, Robertson, Kahnle, Chapman, Green, Warren. Like what? That just ain't fair. That's three solid closers.
Offensively lately I can't believe my eyes when I look at our lineup. Let's start from the top shall we?
-Gardner: when Brett Gardner first came up as a Yankee, I will admit I underestimated him. I thought he'd be a fourth outfielder type who'd be on the team two years tops. Fast forward and now he's the longest tenured Yankee on the team. Our vet. Absolutely clutch as hell and the backbone of this team. Brings an intensity that I love and every team needs.
-Aaron Hicks: if you'd have told me last year how important Hicks would be to the team this year I probably wouldn't have believed you. But he's done it on both ends. Defensively (although half the "good" catches he makes would be normal outs if he knew how to take a route to a ball) and offensively he's been great.
-Judge: speaks for himself. One of the biggest names in baseball. Obviously he's been slumping but his OBP is still great with all the walks and every time he comes to the plate he's a threat.
-Ellsbury: if you look at the size of his contract, on paper, Jacoby Ellsbury is a great player. He's good in the field, a scrappy hitter, and smart on the bases. He hasn't quite lived up to his potential in pinstripes just yet but getting benched for a rookie ginger seemed to wake him up a little bit and now he's playing well again. That just shows the depth we have. Hicks on the DL again? No problem. Put in Ells.
-Headley: Chase. Fucking. Headley. Guy is absolutely killing it. Quieting the haters, to which there have been many. I personally have always liked him. When he first came to the team (three years ago already?) he had a bunch on clutch hits. He can also get pretty fired up which I like. Since the all star game he's one of the top hitters in the AL. I've always thought people were a little too critical of him so I'm happy for him that he's getting the credit he deserves.
-Didi: gotta give credit where credit is due. Having to fill maybe the most beloved Yankee ever's shoes is an intimidating task. But Didi has stepped up on both ends. His defense is impeccable and offensively he's been extremely consistent all year. Props to Cashman on this one.
-Torreyes: with one of our top hitters in Castro on the DL, Torreyes stepped up. I will not mention his gross nickname or go into the mole above his lip (https://youtu.be/rc5G04nJecI), but he's one of a handful of guys in the AL to be hitting above .300 this season so of course Joe isn't playing him. But just another example of our depth.
-Castro: plagued by that hammy a lot this season but guy is a hitting machine when he's been healthy. One of the other few guys batting above .300.
-Bird: also bitten by the injury bug but already has a handful of homers since he's been back and will be an important part of our run for the division
-Sanchez: speaks for himself. Guy loves the month of August more than you love anything. Two years in a row he just went off. He's serving the three game suspension starting today (thanks Torre for waiting till we finished with the Sox). Offensively he's been great but behind the plate he's been one of our biggest weaknesses this season. I've never seen so many players get on base on dropped third strikes in my life. He's gotta get that figured out despite his fantastic arm or he won't last behind the plate.
-Holliday: he's been plagued by injury as well as potentially the actual plague earlier in the year (what was it, mono?), and while his .230 average isn't opening any eyes, the last two games with two big home runs shows his importance to this team. Not seen in stats is his veteran knowledge. I know he's been a real asset to younger guys on the team, especially Judge.
-Clint Frazier: kid hit so well when he came up that Joe benched moneybags Ellsbury. He kinda plateaued before he got injured but he adds more depth when he gets back.
You'll notice I didn't mention Romine or Todd Frazier. Both have had their moments but I don't think either add particularly much to this team. Especially Frazier. A couple big home runs but besides that he's batting around .210 and I don't care to see him back in pinstripes next year.
But look at that depth. That roster. That's a team that can make a run. You can tell they have fun together and genuinely like one another. And I want to make a point. I feel like the Yankees are being slightly underestimated. Yes, we're a few games behind the Sox but if our bullpen had converted a normal % of saves we'd be up at least five games.
So, it should be a fun September. We should make a run for the division and if we fell short and nabbed the wild card, I actually have confidence that this team can pull out a win, unlike the last few seasons.
