The collective age of the Yankees, which has some concerned about their future, is exactly what could propel them to a World Series title this year, says Jim Kaat.
“To use horse-racing terms: This is a team that has pedigree and backclass,” said the former Yankees pitcher and broadcaster.
“You look at these teams that have been through this and that counts in the postseason. When you look at the Yankees’ players regardless of their numbers in the regular season, I think that makes them a little better team than a lot of other teams in the postseason.”
While the Yankees have been accumulating postseason games, Kaat has been watching them at home. But for the first time since 1993, Kaat will be back working playoff baseball games for the MLB Network, which will cover two Divisional Series games this week (Sunday, Wednesday).
It could be a return to calling Yankees games for Kaat, who served two stints in the Yankees’ booth (1986 and 1995-2006). The Yankees play Games 1 and 3 of their ALDS on those days.
The Yankees know when they play, just not who. They await the winner of tonight’s American League Wild Card game between the Rangers and Orioles. The Yankees avoided the do-or-die wild-card format by winning the AL East on the final day of the regular season, which sent the Orioles to Texas.
“I just don’t think to play 162 games and earn a spot and earn a one-game playoff, I’d rather see it be 2-of-3 but that may mean shortening the season by 6-8 games.” Kaat said. The Braves and Cardinals meet in the NL Wild Card, also being played today.
“I just think it’s not really fair for the two wild-card teams to have it decided by just one game.”
Derek Jeter and the unretired Andy Pettitte, who is expected to start Game 2, are the only Yankees players left who were part of the group that won four World Series in between 1996-2000. But few on this roster lack postseason experience with the Yankees making their 17th playoff appearance in the last 18 years. They last won the World Series in 2009.
“I think the guys that have been there maybe learned from that. A lot of these guys like A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) have been around long enough,” Kaat said. “Particularly from a pitching standpoint, a guy like Andy being the ultimate postseason pitcher on your team that counts for a lot.”
Jeter and Pettitte were not supposed to be the only ones with five World Series rings on the Yankees playoff roster. Mariano Rivera, considered by most as the best postseason closer of all-time, will not be a part of these playoffs after tearing his ACL in May. Rafael Soriano put up excellent numbers in the regular season (42 saves, 2.26 ERA), but his true test will be in the coming weeks.
“It’s been amazing what those guys have been without him, it also puts a lot more pressure on (David) Robertson, (Joba) Chamberlain, (Boone) Logan — the guys that come in at the end of the game. To me that’s where these games will be determined. If those guys can adapt to the pressure and perform well, that’s what we’ll have to see,” Kaat said.