The New York Yankees were once a franchise that was synonymous with winning the World Series on a regular basis. The Yankees are the most successful team in the history of the MLB with 27 titles to their name, although the last of those crowns came in 2009. New York have endured previous droughts without the World Series, with 18 seasons between their success in 1978 and 1996, and previously 15 years between 1962 and 1977.
The current crop of Yankees are aiming to end a 13-year spell without the World Series, although they will be feeling the pressure. The Yankees have not been a force in the playoff as they have been in the regular season, so they need to regain their clinical edge when the pressure is on. Aaron Boone’s men are backed in the best MLB odds at +375 to win the World Series, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers in the minds of the oddsmakers.
AARON JUDGE HITS HOME RUN NO. 40‼️
He’s the first player to reach 40 HR in a season before August since 2001.
(via @Yankees)pic.twitter.com/yOhaX8kMrw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 30, 2022
The Dodgers are emblematic of the Yankees of old, displaying an incredible level of consistency to reach the World Series three times in the past five years, although only winning the title on one occasion. It would certainly be a mouthwatering contest should the two teams advance from the National League and the American League to face off in the World Series in October, but, as the Yankees have discovered, getting to the final series is a difficult proposition.
Postseason Woes
Since 2009, the Yankees have not returned to the World Series, despite their resources. They’ve been surpassed as the standout team in the AL by the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros, who have won multiple titles since New York last lifted the crown. Perhaps the most frustrating defeat came last season against the Red Sox, who were a weakened unit and far from the team that had beaten the Yankees comfortably in the 2018 season before winning the World Series. New York could not raise their game at Fenway Park, suffering a 6-2 loss with Gerrit Cole on the mound.
It’s not only the Red Sox that have had their number as the Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers have all beaten out the Yankees in the post-season since their last triumph. The image of the Yankees’ dominance in the post-season has been shattered, leaving Boone and his team with a lot of work to do to rebuild the reputation of the franchise.
Aaron Judge is having an MVP-caliber season and will hold the key for the Yankees in the run-scoring department alongside Gleyber Torres, DJ Lemahieu, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, along with the hope of a resurgence from Giancarlo Stanton. The pitching ranks look impressive too, with Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Cole ready to take on the challenge. The talent is all there for the Yankees and Boone to surge towards the World Series, but potential and ability can go out the window in a pressure situation. History will decide whether this outfit can buck the trend.
