The New York Yankees Are Finally Back In The World Series
It took 5,473 days, nearly three full presidencies, and $4 billion, but the greatest franchise in professional sports is finally on the doorstep of an unprecedented 28th world championship.
After a nightmarish 2023 season that concluded with the Yankees missing the postseason for the first time since 2016, this downtrodden franchise was at a crossroads. They had to watch from home as they, once again, came up short - just in far more inglorious fashion.
But this year, the Yankees are back where they belong, competing for an unprecedented 28th World Series championship. It begs the question - how did they get back to The Promised Land?
The Yankees' Path To Redemption Started With Vintage Big Moves
This time last year, newly anointed captain Aaron Judge was rightfully outspoken about his team needing to make drastic transformations in order to compete again. Judge wanted this team to be healthier, more ambitious, and overhaul the front office's application of analytics.
The first big move involved making a bargain with a hated enemy. In early December last year, the Yankees traded for Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. Although Verdugo had a falling out with Boston, he brought a credible left-handed bat and excellent defense to a Yankees left field that had been famished for production at that position.
Just one day later, general manager Brian Cashman channeled a late-'90s/early 2000s Yankees stunner, when he traded for generational talent Juan Soto.
The results are self-explanatory. While Verdugo had a challenging season with his bat, he was still a worthy contributor defensively during the regular season, as evidenced by his Gold Glove candidacy.
Juan Soto, with all of the comparisons to Ted Williams, had the best full regular season of his entire career. He and Aaron Judge coalesced into arguably the greatest MLB duo of all time.
The two transcendent talents produced numbers not seen since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Judge and Soto's output is perhaps more impressive, though. Ruth and Gehrig - with all due respect - were not facing the best competition, nor did they face the opposing pitchers that Judge and Soto do.
Those two massive additions to the Yankees' lineup were just the proverbial tip of the iceberg, though.
A Transaction That Was Initially Under The Radar Has Paid Massive Dividends
About one month before spring training began this season, Brian Cashman made a seemingly discreet move by signing now-beloved closer Luke Weaver to a one-year contract.
The contract, which includes a club option for 2025, is a huge bargain for the Yankees now, especially with the demotion of beleaguered former closer Clay Holmes. Weaver's tenure in pinstripes began when the Yankees claimed the then-embattled hurler off waivers on September 12th, 2023. The Seattle Mariners had designated him for assignment only two days prior.
The former first-round pick out of Florida State has proven to be indispensable for the Yankees. Never mind his regular season excellence; Weaver has been especially indispensable with his four postseason saves and 10 1/3 innings pitched this October as the team's new closer.
Not All Of The Valuable Additions Were Players
There is another transaction the team completed that did not add one single dollar to its $314.87 million roster. Right in the beginning of spring training, Hal Steinbrenner had an answer to Aaron Judge's demand for better transparency with analytics.
A former MIT physicist was brought aboard to facilitate such concerns about how the Yankees apply analytics and numbers. His name is Aaron Leanhardt.
Leanhardt, who has a PhD in physics and was a seven-year physics professor at the University of Michigan, has delivered keen insight and a new way of thinking to the organization.
He now holds the title of analyst to the major league coaching staff, but Leanhardt's value to the Yankees transcends his job title and salary. He has developed a camaraderie with Aaron Judge and Gerritt Cole, and his tutelage has clearly given the Yankees the results they've desired for 15 years.
A Trade Deadline Move Bolstered the Yankees' Lineup and Bravado
If one were to ask the ebullient Jazz Chisholm, then this is destiny for the New York Yankees. Chisholm has guaranteed a World Series title for the Yankees, and he also drew the ire of Royals fans in the ALDS.
Chisholm was outstanding for the Yankees during the regular season, too. The Nassau, Bahamas native registered an .825 OPS, slammed 11 home runs, and stole 18 bases in just 46 regular season games for the Yankees.
The sparkplug known as Jazz Chisholm has already been the cover athlete for the "MLB The Show" game franchise, and an All-Star. He has also become one of the spokesmen for the Yankees despite being on the team for a total of 55 games, including this postseason.
While the Yankees have been a historically banal team when it comes to personalities and self-expression, Chisholm has no such reservations or qualms. He exudes a nonchalant yet boisterous demeanor that has resonated within the clubhouse.
Despite his own struggles during the Yankees' World Series run, Chisholm has encouraged a fun, unabashed approach to the game. He has helped his teammates stay focused and loose simultaneously, and that has played a pivotal role in this October sprint.
The Yankees Did Not Have An Easy Path To The Pennant, Beginning With The ALDS
Contrary to what many fans and pundits frequently alluded to this postseason, the Yankees did not ever have a simple way of getting back to the World Series. There is no such thing as an easy path to a championship in sports, especially the MLB postseason.
The first trial for the Yankees was in the ALDS. They had to power through Kansas City's brilliant rotation, MVP finalist Bobby Witt Jr, and decorated catcher Salvador Perez.
Three Luke Weaver saves, Herculean efforts by Stanton and Torres to catalyze an otherwise anemic lineup, and a panic-inducing moment in Game Four were what won the ALDS.
Make no mistake about it - the Royals were always going to be a dangerous adversary. They invested just over $110 million in free agency - more than all but five other teams - and gave superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr a gargantuan extension right before spring training. They were ready to expunge any recollections of a 106-loss 2023 season, and they certainly did so.
Cleveland Never Makes Life Easy For The Yankees
This ALCS was the seventh postseason matchup between the Yankees and Guardians, making it the second-most frequent playoff meeting between two teams. Only the Yankees and Dodgers have faced each other more often in the postseason, with 11 encounters. All of those games were World Series games.
Prior to the ALCS, two of the last three postseason meetings between New York and Cleveland had gone the distance - in 2017 and 2022. Both times, Cleveland had the Yankees teetering on the brink of elimination, only to be defeated.
This series certainly felt the same way. Yes, the Yankees had two initial victories that were relatively devoid of trepidation, but that all changed. Game Three was about as bonkers as possible, as was the remainder of the series. But the Yankees persevered because they were able to solve Cleveland's historically dominant bullpen, especially star closer Emmanual Clase.
Including this postseason, the Yankees lineup has a slash line of .320/.382/.460 against Clase. Stanton and Torres especially tormented him, with Stanton remarking that the team's mentality against Clase is what led them to tee off against his normally sublime arsenal repertoire.
Juan Soto's Presence Of Mind Is A Gift That Is Not Talked About Enough
Just before midnight on October 19th, Juan Soto fittingly caught the final out after putting his team ahead for good with a three-run home run. It was a masterful at-bat that featured six pitches - four of which were fouled off by Soto.
Known for his Soto Shuffle and undaunted demeanor against even the finest opposing pitchers, Juan Soto knew he was going to blast a long ball off of Hunter Gaddis.
Utilizing his standard Soto Shuffle and a few playful head nods directed at Gaddis, Soto - the man who was brought to The Bronx to get this tea to the World Series - did just that.
Stanton Redeems Himself, And The Yankees Are Finally Back Where They Belong
Giancarlo Stanton won ALCS MVP, and deservedly so. He, however, has his eyes fixated on the Commissioner's Trophy. A year after he hit .191 and missed 61 games, he has solidified his place in Yankees lore and will become a true legend if the Yankees win the World Series.
This was the first time the Yankees clinched the pennant on the road since Game Five of the 1999 ALCS against Boston. They did it how they usually do it - with power and patience.
The Chase For 28 is on. The Yankees are finally here again.
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