Yankees’ motivation touches new high with playoff berth booked

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The New York Yankees punched their ticket to the postseason with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, marking their return to October baseball after missing out last year. While they still have a shot at capturing the American League East crown, the victory guarantees the Yankees at least a wild-card spot.

Last season’s 82-win campaign snapped a six-year streak of playoff appearances, the team’s lowest full-season total in 30 years. However, the Yankees bounced back in 2023, showing resilience and a revamped roster.

Their celebration in the clubhouse stood in contrast to the more subdued approach taken in 2022, when the Yankees opted for a simple champagne toast after clinching a playoff berth, saving the bigger party for when they won the division. Given the tough road back to postseason contention, the Yankees went all-out this time, viewing it as the first of several celebrations they hope to enjoy over the next six weeks.

Juan Soto underscored the team’s confidence in one another, pointing to their belief in collective success. He stressed the importance of each player focusing on their role and contributing to the team’s overall goal of winning, rather than chasing individual glory.

“We believe in each other, that’s what makes me think we can go all the way because we believe in each other,” the slugger said. “We don’t try to be the hero out there, we just try to do our job and try to win games for the team.”

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. went a step ahead predicting a World Series victory for New York in 2024. “I love being a Yankee, these guys are making it great and we’re going to go win a World Series,” he said amid wild celebration.

But manager Aaron Boone kept the focus on maintaining momentum as the Yankees pushed for the AL East crown, calling it their next immediate goal. He stressed the importance of continuing to win and playing with urgency down the stretch, “We got to keep the gas pedal on and hopefully keep racking up some wins; go get the East — that’s our next goal.”

Gerrit Cole acknowledged that last year’s struggles weighed heavily on the team, emphasizing how seriously they take their performance. He added that clinching a playoff spot early this season felt particularly rewarding, given the hard work the team has put into improving.

“It stuck with us a long time, as it should,” the Yankees ace remarked. “It does when it means a lot to you. I think it makes it more validating this year that we were able to come back and get in so soon. There’s a lot of hard work that went into it.”

Nestor Cortes, who delivered six scoreless innings to extend his recent run of stellar outings, reflected on the significance of returning to the playoffs. He noted that missing the postseason last year was unusual for the Yankees and expressed gratitude for the team’s ability to bounce back from mid-season adversity. Cortes hoped this celebration would mark the beginning of a memorable playoff journey, emphasizing the team’s unity despite facing challenges.

“Missing the playoffs is not Yankee-like,” the pitcher said after his gem carried the Yankees to win. “Celebrating in ’21, celebrating in ’22, this feeling is what it’s all about. A lot of people complain about ups and downs and maybe how bad we were during the summer. But we stuck together. We’re going to try to pull off a run here. Hopefully something special.”

Aaron Judge, addressing the locker room celebration, acknowledged the significance of the postseason return but made it clear that the Yankees are far from finished. He emphasized the team’s desire to win the division and praised the camaraderie and talent of the current roster.

“We definitely know the job’s not finished — we’re hunting this division — but getting an opportunity to punch our ticket back into the postseason after last year missing out, it means a lot,” the Yankees captain said drenched in champagne. “We got a special group here. The boys are definitely excited, but they know the mission is ahead of them.”

Yankees’ upbeat attitude is justified

The New York Yankees clinched a postseason berth on Wednesday night marking a dramatic turnaround from last October when the team was busy reviewing its organizational structure. While securing a playoff spot is just the first step, the Yankees celebrated their achievement with excitement in the visiting clubhouse, already setting their sights on the bigger goal: winning the AL East title.

This success comes after a disappointing 82-80 finish last season that saw the Yankees miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Now, with an 89-63 record, they sit atop the division, holding a season-high five-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles with just 10 games left in the regular season.

The Yankees have been in strong form, winning nine of their last 12 games. In Wednesday’s victory, Anthony Rizzo delivered the key hit with an RBI double in the 10th inning, while Ian Hamilton sealed the win in the bottom half. This victory brought the Yankees’ magic number for clinching the division down to six games.

The team’s turnaround this season is even more impressive given the struggles of 2023, the franchise’s worst season since 1992. A major factor in their resurgence has been the acquisition of Juan Soto, whose pairing with Judge has formed one of the most potent offensive duos in the league.

After a lackluster performance the previous season, many Yankees players reported to spring training in Tampa earlier than usual, motivated by what they described as the lingering embarrassment of their underachievement.

The offensive surge has been driven by the powerful duo of Aaron Judge, an MVP frontrunner, and Juan Soto, whom the Yankees acquired in a blockbuster trade during the offseason. The pair has helped New York lead the American League in runs scored. The lineup has been further boosted by the addition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the trade deadline and the promotion of top prospect Jasson Dominguez to center field. On the mound, ace Gerrit Cole has been a standout in the second half, returning strong after missing the start of the season with an elbow injury.

Despite the team’s successes, challenges remain, particularly with the pitching staff and a few holes in the lineup. These issues have led to some inconsistency in the second half of the season. Even so, the Yankees have stayed among the top teams in the American League, keeping them firmly in contention.

The chase for the AL East title—and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it—is still ongoing as the Yankees battle with the Baltimore Orioles. Regardless of the final standings, the Yankees’ star-laden roster positions them as serious contenders for the World Series.

Judge, now firmly the face of the franchise, is vying for his second MVP award, while Soto has lived up to expectations as one of the game’s elite hitters since arriving from San Diego in exchange for five players. However, Soto’s future with the team remains uncertain as he heads toward free agency this offseason. If this season is his only one in Yankees pinstripes, he’ll have the chance to leave a lasting mark in the postseason.

The upbeat celebration reflected the Yankees’ satisfaction with returning to October baseball and their determination as they set their sights on deeper playoff success.

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