Manager Joe Girardi might want to take a lesson from Rex Ryan as the Yankees prepare for the postseason.
The Bombers are nine years removed from their last World Series, and David Wells says support from the new Yankee Stadium crowd could be the difference between the Yankees adding a 27th banner or facing another October disappointment.
“Nobody is afraid of them anymore and that’s the thing,” said David Wells, who won a title with the Yankees in 1998 and is now an analyst for TBS.
“That’s why the fans can be an intricate part of their success .Because they are crazy, nuts. When the Padres came in 1998, they were so intimidated it was a joke. And that rattled their cage and the fans got on them. It’s a very intimidating factor in New York. They razz the hell out of somebody and that can take them out of the game.”
Ryan, the Jets new head coach, called fans before their last home game to tell them to keep things raucous when the Patriots came in. The Jets won, 16-9, on Sunday. It’s another New England team the Yankees will be hoping to topple this weekend and lock up the the AL East.
The division title would all but give them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, a spot they appeared destined to claim when their lead bulged to nine games earlier this month. But recent struggles have allowed the Red Sox to sneak back into the race. Boston has the chance to make it a race to the wire if they can pull off a sweep in The Bronx this weekend.
“The Red Sox are playing great right now and their pitching is stepping up. And that’s what it comes down to,” said Wells.
If the Yankees find a way to lose the AL East, they likely would start their postseason in Anaheim against the Angels, who are cruising to an another AL West title. The Angels bounced the Yankees from the playoffs in 2002 and 2005.
“The Angels grind it out,” Wells said. “[Manager] Mike Scioscia’s done such a great job of getting that team to play small ball. They just do the right things. And you have to be playing fundamentally sound baseball when you go into the ALDS and that’s just something you have to do. In 2002, we were favored and the Angels just came in and beat the hell out of us.”
If the Yankees win the division, they get a series against the AL Central champion — the Tigers or Twins — while the Red Sox would head west to try to do the Bombers’ dirty work. The Red Sox eliminated the Angels in the ALDS in 2004, 2005 and 2008, with Anaheim managing one win in the three series.
Home or away the Yankees will definitely need one thing to conquer in the postseason, according to the former hefty lefty.
“What it all comes down to is pitching, and will it be there for the Yankees?” Wells said. “You got guys there that are studs like CC Sabathia, but he doesn’t have great postseason credentials. Same thing with A.J. Burnett. Andy Pettitte does, but he has to get through his arm troubles. If so, you have to consider them the favorites.”
justin.terranova@nypost.com