Yankees Just Keep Winning

by  |  May 14, 2018

jackiemicucci

YankeesI thought they were going to be a juggernaut, but when the Yankees sat at 9-9 on April 20, I thought: “Oh, no. Another slow start.” In reality, playing .500 ball in April isn’t the worst fate for a team.

It only looks bad when the team you’re supposed to be in the hunt with (the much-hated Boston Red Sox) starts at 17-2 and you’re suddenly sitting 7½ games back.

Now, however, all is right in the universe. The Yankees sit atop the baseball world knotted with the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. Both teams boast a league-leading 28-12 record. And all the Bombers had to do to claw their way back was go on an absolute tear. They beat some of the best teams in baseball and looked good doing it.

Early in April, all seemed lost after they dropped two out of three in Boston and split two games at home with the dreadful Miami Marlins. This team was built to be World Series champions. Instead they appeared over-matched and dreadful.

However, their fortunes began to turn. At the Stadium, they took three out of four from Toronto and swept the Twins in four games. (Yankee Stadium is the house of horrors for the poor Twinkies.) Then came a big test: a road trip out west that included the World Champion Astros, a rematch of last year’s ALCS. The Yankees made quick work of the Angels sweeping them in Anaheim.

In Houston, when they dropped the first game, I thought the series wasn’t going to end well. But they then took three of four from the ‘Stros in an electric series that had more of a playoff atmosphere than any May series I can remember. It also included a first for many of us: watching a grown man punch himself in the face. (Oh, Ken Giles—now forever a gif.)

The Yankees headed home to sweep the first-place Cleveland Indians in three. Of course, the real test now was the Red Sox. The Bombers aced it—taking two out of three and coming very close to waging a comeback in the final game against Boston. By the time the Yankees finished up their home stand this past weekend, winning yet another series (against Oakland), they had amassed some pretty incredible stats.

So, just how good are the 2018 Yankees?

  • Winning 17 of 18 marked their best stretch since 1953.
  • This is the third season a Yankees team went 17-1 or better with a run differential of at least 65-plus in an 18 game span. BTW, the previous two teams (1953, 1947) won the World Series.
  • During the 17-1 stretch they outscored their opponents 78-33.
  • They picked up 8½ games in 19 days.
  • They dominated at home. The Bombers won 11 conescutive home games extending their franchise mark at the new Yankee Stadium.
  • The are most definitely the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees are the first team since 2003 with four 10-homer players by the 40th game.

The Yankees are back to being the juggernaut we all thought they’d be. They just keep on winning.