MLB playoffs 2016: 3 reasons the Yankees make it
Sep 21, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) hits a home run during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Bronx Bombers just keep hanging around. Even a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox wasn’t enough to sink their ship.
Every time you think the New York Yankees have been eliminated from postseason contention, they find a way to put themselves back into the conversation. After being swept last week by the Boston Red Sox in a series that included a few gut-wrenching losses, the Yankees have gotten back on track with two straight wins over the Tampa Bay Rays.
With only 11 games left in the year, the Yankees are 2.5 games out of the second wild card spot. There are three teams ahead of them, but the Yankees can vault them with one strong push to the finish. Here are three reasons not to count out the Yankees in this year’s race for October.
Have you heard of Gary Sanchez?
The Yankees have this new rookie catcher named Gary Sanchez. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He’s kind of a big deal.
#Yankees Gary Sanchez is the first player in baseball history to hit 19 HR in his first 50 career games.
He has done so in just 45 games.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) September 22, 2016
There have been a lot of baseball players since the game started being played in the 1860s. Gary Sanchez is the quickest of all to 19 home runs. He has as many home runs as Brian McCann, the catcher who started the year for the Yankees. McCann has 465 plate appearances, while Sanchez has 188.
No one could have predicted that Sanchez would do what he’s done so far in 2016. Heck, it took him 498 trips to the plate to hit 25 last year in the minor leagues. There are some crazy numbers in Sanchez’s splits this year. For example, he is batting a ridiculous .636 when swinging at the first pitch with four home runs. When he is ahead in the count, Sanchez has a 1.604 OPS. Pitchers still haven’t fully figured out this powerful rookie, and that may have to wait until next year when more video of his at-bats can be digested.
It’s been a historic start for Gary Sanchez, and the Yankees finish their season with 10 games against the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Eight of the catchers home runs have come in 18 games against those teams.
Sep 8, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) is congratulated by Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) and left fielder Brett Gardner (11) after hitting a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
What have they got to lose?
If you’ve watched any Yankee baseball over the past two months, it has been a fun experience. This team has a newfound energy. Nothing against Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, and Andrew Miller, but whatever changes in clubhouse chemistry came after the trade deadline have made a world of difference.
The rest of the AL Wild Card contenders (at 8.5 games back of the division-leading Red Sox, the Yankees are out of that race) have scuffled along, barely playing .500 baseball in the second half. The Orioles and Blue Jays have had numerous chances to cement their status as playoff teams, but have been unable to do so. Both teams’ offenses appear to be pressing right now, trying to hit five-run homers with the bases empty. The pressure of holding onto a playoff spot that you have held for six months can get to a team whether they admit that or not.
The Yankees are playing with a different type of energy than has been felt in the Bronx in a long, long time. They have gotten younger at nearly every position over the past year, and their average batter age of 30.1 years is the team’s lowest since 2002 (also 30.1). If you want a number lower than 30.1, you have to go all the way back to 1993. No matter how you slice it, the Yankees are playing with very few external expectations, and that freedom has allowed them to come alive and embrace the moment rather than shrink away from the pressure.
Sep 21, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) is congratulated by left fielder Brett Gardner (11), manager Joe Girardi (28) ad teammates after he hit a home run during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
They control their own destiny
With ten games left against the three teams ahead of them in the division, the Yankees control their own destiny. Play well against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Orioles, and October is a real possibility. That’s not an easy task, but it is one the Yankees may be up to.
The Yankees have struggled this year against the Jays and Red Sox, posting an 11-20 record against the two teams. Against the Orioles, they have been better, with an 8-8 record and a 5-2 record at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees draw the Orioles at home in the final week of the season. The Yankees are only 1-5 in Toronto this year, so something will have to change there.
The Yankees likely have to win eight of their final 11 games to make the playoffs, a very daunting task, but they are aided in that they get to attempt that difficult feat against three of the teams who are ahead of them. Every time the Yankees beat the Jays, Red Sox, or Orioles, they have a chance to make up ground. Yes, it will be difficult to fend off the Houston Astros, who have seven games remaining against the Los Angeles Angels, a team they are 11-1 against this year. However, the fact remains that the Yankees are in a position to take care of their own business by beating their divisional rivals in the season’s final week. A team can’t ask for much more, especially when they were left for dead two months ago.
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