Incredibly, the New York Yankees accomplished something they hadn’t done in 15 years last night.
Thanks to their 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, the Bombers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Believe it or not, this marks the first time since 2009 that the Yankees have taken a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.
Of course, we all remember what happened back in 2009 when the Yankees captured the World Series title, snapping their relatively long championship drought. (A drought which makes this current one feel like eternity.)
Since then, the Yankees have reached the ALCS five times but have lost each and every one of those series. At no point in any of those did the Bombers ever have a 2-0 series lead.
Most recently, in 2022, the Yankees were swept by the Houston Astros in the ALCS. Houston has been a familiar playoff nemesis, having also eliminated the Yankees in the ALCS in both 2017 and 2019.
In 2019, the Yankees got off to a strong start, winning Game 1 of the ALCS 7-0. However, they fell in an 11-inning thriller in Game 2, and the Astros claimed a 3-1 series lead by winning both games at Minute Maid Park. Houston ultimately won the series in six games.
The 2017 series was another heartbreaker. The Astros took the first two games with 2-1 victories, but the Yankees rallied to tie the series at two games apiece. Despite forcing a Game 7, the Yankees were shut out in the decisive game, and Houston went on to win their first-ever World Series title.
The Yankees’ other recent ALCS trips haven’t been any easier.
In 2012, they were swept by the Detroit Tigers, who went on to reach the World Series. In 2010, New York grabbed Game 1 against the Texas Rangers, only to watch Texas respond with three consecutive wins. The Yankees managed to extend the series, but the Rangers eventually took it and advanced to the Fall Classic.
However, times have changed in the American League. The Rangers took a major step back this year after their (let’s face it) fluke-ish World Series run last season. Meanwhile, the Astros reign of dominance appears over.
In other words, it looks like the American League – and perhaps the entire baseball world – is back to belonging to the Yankees.
That’s not to say that the Yankees don’t have a few issues they’re working through. There’s no perfect team in baseball, and the Bombers are certainly no exception.
They’ve been fortunate to have faced a relatively easy playoff path thus far.
Despite his home run last night, Aaron Judge continues to be an absolute disaster at the plate (for his standards). Thanks to other bats stepping up, Judge’s struggles have yet to truly cost the team.
Meanwhile, two out of three Gerrit Cole starts have been less than dominant. You want to see more out of Cole, who possesses all the traits of an old-school warrior ace but doesn’t always show it. Thankfully, the lights-out bullpen has saved the day for the Yankees.
Let’s not even touch on the horrendous base running and amateur defensive miscues by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Having said all of that, the Yankees are clearly the favorites to win the World Series. That’s no disrespect to the Los Angeles Dodgers or crosstown rival New York Mets.
However, let’s face the facts, it will be an epic failure if the Yankees aren’t hoisting the trophy come late October.
What are your thoughts on the postseason thus far? … Do you agree that the Yankees should win the World Series this year???