Yankees Can Recreate Magic In The Bronx

With the demoralizing loss, last night to the Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees must send thank you baskets to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies accomplished a rare feat and handed the Boston Red Sox a loss. We have documented several times over at this point the changes that must be made by the Yankees. We’ve documented the lifeless nature of their play. We’ve even documented the fact that as things currently stand they are not entirely out of the hunt for the AL East Division (as of yet, anyway.) 

What makes watching the Yankees play over the last month so difficult is the fact that we know this team can be better. We have seen this team functioning as a well-oiled locomotive barrelling down the tracks of success. Yet, in what seemed out of nowhere the Yankees have done their best to impersonate a “Life Alert Commercial.” If the Yankees are to remain in the hunt for not just the AL East but a playoff spot altogether the Bronx Bombers must get back to the level of play they had in May and June.

The Bombers have had players having expectedly great seasons like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. But they have also received significant contributions from unexpected players. Guys like Aaron Hicks, Miguel Andújar, and Gleyber Torres were all expected to help the team in one way or another. However, no one could have expected the production the Yanks have received. Aaron Hicks has turned into the best center fielder not named Mike Trout. Miguel Andújar and Gleyber Torres have made the baseball community forget about Shohei Ohtani.

This Season’s Not All Great

But growing pains have happened as Andújar has struggled in the field. Gleyber has had some mental lapses on the bases and in the field. Gary Sanchez started off the year seemingly having improved his blocking behind the plate only to regress severely. Yet even with those struggles and a pitching staff that has also faltered recently. Yet the Yanks still possess the second best record in the Major Leagues. And the Bronx Crew is still on pace for about 108 wins.

It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over

While the lead the Red Sox currently maintain over the Yankees in the division seems insurmountable stranger things have happened. Let’s take a trip down memory lane a bit when the Yankees and Boston battled in 1978. When Bucky Dent earned his infamous Boston nickname. A nickname that Yankee manager Aaron Boone would come to be known by just 25 years later. And here we are 15 years after Boone earned the Boston epithet with a chance to recreate some magic. 40 years after Bucky “Bleeping” Dent sent the Red Sox home. The Yankees can make history by sending the “team with no deficiencies” home packing and win the World Series.