BOSTON — The 2023 “disaster” of their 82-80 season behind them, the Yankees are back to being the real Bronx Bombers again. Their tops-in-MLB 50th victory — happily won here Friday night in the city of their chief rival — provided a nice punctuation mark to a brilliant beginning.
One big-time winter acquisition, a progression to the mean and steadfast belief that they’d get healthier (how could they not?) marked them as slight American League favorites to start the year. But hardly anybody saw this coming. (Certainly not me, who envisioned them as a third-place team. Sorry about that call!)
At 50-22 entering Saturday, the Yankees are posting big numbers — their plus-134 run differential tells quite the story — and flat dominating their schedule. The start-to-finish heroics of former Red Sox Alex Verdugo, he of the shiny bling and original speech patterns (“Nines” means No. 99 Aaron Judge), in their 8-1 series-opening victory over the Red Sox represented just another nice notch on a team belt that’s as impressive as Verdugo’s diamond-encrusted necklace.
History is in their current location, and history is on their side. Teams this dominant early often go on to win championships. Things are becoming less predictable though, as seen just two years ago when they faltered in the second half following a big start after their health took an unhappy turn.
“These guys have played outstanding baseball to start the season. But we know that’s all it is — it’s the start to the season,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
That 2022 team looked the part early, too, but one difference is that the great Judge has more help now than in his record-setting platform season. Here are three reasons the Yankees, fairly, are already the World Series favorite.
No one wanted to pick a favorite for the award in their clubhouse. (I know; I tried asking but was shut down.)
Soto, though, gave thanks for Judge, the fire to Soto’s ice.
“It’s really nice to hit in front of him,” Soto said. “I’m just trying to take my walks and swing the bat when I can. When you have a guy like Judge behind you, it’s one of the best things you can have. … You don’t have to be the hero every time.”
Judge was Mr. May (meant in the most positive way possible), but Soto’s steadiness is one for the books, too. Even with his elbow scare and rare three-game respite in the middle of his current hot streak, he’s reached base at least twice in 10 straight games. When this was relayed to him by The Post, Soto said he was originally unaware.
“Pretty cool,” he said.
Boone, meantime, is happy to have the league’s MVP co-favorites together near the top of his lineup. (Predictably, he also wouldn’t say who leads that race.)
“When [Soto] and Judgie are doing what they’re doing,” Boone said, “It’s just another level from everyone [else].”
2. Verdugo brings something new.
Boone said he spent quite a while advocating for Verdugo’s acquisition, and it’s becoming obvious why. Of course, left field was becoming a liability. But it’s more about Verdugo, who has serious skills (hitting, fielding) and also interesting personality quirks (or maybe attributes?) that are livening up a previously sedate clubhouse.
Boone called it an “edge.” You could see it in game one here when Verdugo let out a yell while rounding first base on his first-pitch home run back in his old park, then turned up the volume when he saw the reaction on the bench as his shot flew into the center-field bleachers.
“It was a big-time shot of energy in our dugout,” Boone noted.
Beyond the nine home runs and nine defensive runs saved — the latter tops among all left fielders — Verdugo adds serious spice to a clubhouse previously inhabited almost exclusively by a band of quiet professionals. Maybe he’s just what they needed. Maybe they needed a fun diversion.
3. The pitching is a plus day after day.
The Yankees traded half a rotation to get Soto and somehow got better.
The rotation that looked thin to start the spring, then lost the best pitcher in the game — Gerrit Cole says he’s “definitely” coming back “soon” — is arguably the best in the game. And with a solid bullpen, their pitching is tops overall, with an MLB-leading 2.88 ERA.
The talent is there, but nearly everyone entered with a question mark.
Luis Gil, a late add to replace Cole, is using extraordinary stuff to become the revelation of the season, and a deserving All-Star.
Marcus Stroman, the studious one (with Cole out), has a game plan that compensates for velocity.
Nestor Cortes developed his changeup.
And Carlos Rodon, who bombed his first year in pinstripes, has undergone a makeover that’s returned him to the pitcher he’s supposed to be. The former two-pitch pitcher is throwing a curveball and even mixing in two-strike changeups to right-handed hitters.
“He’s becoming more of a complete pitcher,” pitching coach Matt Blake said.
Right now this looks a complete team, and for today they look like a worthy World Series favorite.
