It looks like we’ve finally regained our ‘house’ pride. But more importantly, it’s doing so well without its ace. And with the return of that ace on the horizon, the team’s momentum could be even more frightening. This is the story of the New York Yankees, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most prestigious franchise, who are trying to win the World Series for the first time in 15 years since 2009.
The Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-1 on Friday at Fenway Park in Boston, USA. With the win, the Yankees became the first team in all of Major League Baseball to reach the 50-win plateau (22 games). According to MLB.com, “This is the 10th time in franchise history that the Yankees have won 50 games in the first 72 games of a season. Seven of the previous nine times, they went on to win the World Series, most recently in 1998.” The 1998 Yankees are often mentioned when discussing the greatest teams in Major League Baseball history, as they won 114 games in the regular season (48 losses) and dominated in the postseason, finishing the World Series undefeated in four games.
The pitching was perfect. Lewis Hill shut down the Boston lineup for five innings of four-hit ball, four walks, six strikeouts and one run to earn his ninth win of the season, while Alex Verdugo went 5-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs.
The Yankees acquired Juan Soto in a trade with the San Diego Padres prior to the season. Soto is batting .319 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a 1.024 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), making him a potential free agent steal after the season. Aaron Judge has come alive since May, hitting .301 with 25 homers, 63 RBIs, and a 1.115 OPS, and is on pace to win his second career MVP.
But it’s the mound that’s even more impressive. Especially the starters, who have performed well without their ace.
The Yankees started the season without their “ace,” Gerrit Cole, who suffered elbow soreness and was not on the opening day roster. Cole flew to Los Angeles immediately after the pain began and was examined by Dr. Neil Elatrache, a world-renowned expert in the field, who avoided a surgical diagnosis.
Cole has been indispensable to the Yankees. After becoming a free agent after the 2019 season, Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees, and has been a force to be reckoned with in every season except 2020, which was shortened due to the 토토 COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, he won his first Cy Young Award after going 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 33 starts.
Without him, the Yankees would have been halved in power, but their other pitching staff has been surprisingly strong. Hill, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and others have all been on fire. Hill, who is 9-1 with a 2.03 ERA, and Rodon, who is 9-2 with a 2.93 ERA, have been phenomenal.
The Yankees are on a roll, and with Cole on the verge of joining the organization, they’re about to get even stronger. Cole, who has been on a rehab assignment in the minors since May, pitched well in two Double-A games with eight innings of two-run ball, and today he pitched 4.1 innings of two-hit ball with 10 strikeouts and no walks in Triple-A, marking a perfect return.
With Cole back, the Yankees’ bullpen is now fully loaded. After his outing, Cole said, “I can’t wait to get back (to the majors). The Yankees are such an exciting team right now. I’m looking forward to getting back and seeing if there’s anything I can do to help them.”