They may have needed until Game 162 to win the AL East, but the Yankees are as dangerous as ever entering the playoffs.
In fact, I believe the Yankees are the team to beat in the American League.
If you look at the team on paper, there’s no denying that they have the names and star power to compete for a World Series title, but New York’s star players have stepped up when it has mattered most and are scorching hot heading into the postseason.
Robinson Cano, the team’s best hitter and arguably MVP, has been tearing the cover off the ball as they season has come to a close. The 29-year-old second baseman is hitting .613 with three home runs and 12 RBI over his last seven games, providing a boost to the middle of a Yankees lineup that has lacked consistent production with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira struggling at the plate and with injuries.
On the pitching side, this is a much different Yankees rotation than the one that we saw fall to the Tigers in five games in last year’s ALDS. Behind CC Sabathia, the team’s undeniable ace, is a rotation that features one of the greatest playoff pitchers of all-time in Andy Pettitte and a pitcher who is capable of pitching at an ace-like level, as he did earlier this season, in Hiroki Kuroda.
Personnel aside, the Yankees also have home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs, which helps their home-run heavy lineup, and will have the benefit of not having to face the opposing team’s ace until at least Game 3 of the ALDS due to the new Wild Card format.
All of this considered, with the exception of Texas (which may be eliminated on Friday) the Yankees have the most playoff experience out of any team in the postseason, and very well could be playing for their 28th World Series in just a few weeks.
Games through Oct. 3 (Regular Season Completed)
1. Nationals (98-64) (Previous Ranking: 3) – Nationals are the favorites to win the World Series after having the best record in all of baseball.
2. Yankees (95-67) (6) – Getting hot at the right time, still a powerhouse in the American League despite needing all 162 games to win the East.
3. Athletics (94-68) (7) – Moneyball 2.0. Is Brad Pitt available for a sequel?
4. Reds (97-65) (1) – Cannot help but remember what happened the last time the Reds made the postseason. Luckily, Roy Halladay and the Phillies are nowhere to be seen.
5. Braves (94-68) (4) – Will throw Kris Medlen in the play-in game, meaning the Braves are likely to win.
6. Rangers (93-69) (2) – Pretty big collapse would all be forgotten if the Rangers win the Wild Card game.
7. Giants (94-68) (5) – Madison Bumgarner was a rookie when the Giants last won a World Series, this time they’ll lean on him much more in the playoffs.
8. Tigers (88-74) (9) – Miguel Cabrera would like a World Series ring to go with the Triple Crown.
9. Orioles (93-69) (8) – Baltimore’s season hinges on one game, luckily this is a team that has thrived in high-pressure scenarios.
10. Rays (85-70) (12) – Have to wonder how the season would have played out with a healthy Evan Longoria.
11. Cardinals (88-74) (11) – Never count out the Cardiac Cardinals in October.
12. Angels (89-73) (13) – After making huge free agent splashes, no playoffs is a disappointment.
13. White Sox (85-77) (10) – Couldn’t close the deal in September, but showed that it can compete for an AL Central title.
14. Brewers (83-79) (14) – Still managed to compete despite trading Zack Grienke mid-season.
15. Dodgers (86-76) (15) – High-powered offense didn’t produce as it should have this season. The Dodgers sported just a plus-4 run differential.
16. Phillies (81-81) (16) – There are no moral victories, but Philadelphia has to be content with a .500 season considering how awful things started out.
17. Diamondbacks (81-81) (17) — A middle-of-the-pack team that most may have overrated before the season started.
18. Pirates (79-83) (18) – 20 straight losing seasons. Need I say more?
19. Mets (74-88) (19) – Have to re-sign R.A. Dickey and David Wright if they hope to contend in the near future.
20. Padres (76-86) (20) — Chase Headley finished with an NL-best 115 RBIs.
21. Blue Jays (73-89) (23) – Still a distant fourth in the AL East.
22. Mariners (75-87) (21) — Won convincingly on the final day of the season but still has a lineup with their best hitter, John Jaso, batting .276.
23. Royals (72-90) (22) – Played a role in the AL Central race by losing six of seven to Detroit over the final two weeks of the season.
24. Marlins (69-93) (24) — Gave Adam Greenberg a moment he will remember forever, one of the few highlights of the Marlins’ first season in Miami.
25. Rockies (64-98) (26) — Troy Tulowitzki’s inability to stay healthy doomed this team early on.
26. Twins (66-96) (27) – Scott Diamond finished up a strong rookie campaign with 12 wins and a 3.54 ERA.
27. Indians (68-94) (28) — Albert Belle wants to interview for the vacant manager position, but he isn’t in the same class as Sandy Alomar Jr. or Terry Francona.
28. Cubs (61-101) (29) – The curse lives on.
29. Red Sox (69-93) (25) – Axed Bobby Valentine, but at what point is it not the manager’s fault and actually the personnel?
30. Astros (55-107) (30) – Hey, at least it wasn’t the only 100-loss team in baseball.