SEATTLE (AP) — A year ago, the New York Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs a week before the end of the regular season, ending a streak of six consecutive playoff appearances.
When I remember what it was like, it feels even better to secure a play-off spot this time with more than a week to go.
“We’ve been through a lot this year,” said manager Aaron Boone. “We know this is just a first step – but an important one. We’re on it.”
After sitting at home when the postseason began last year, the Yankees secured their spot in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
Nestor Cortes, who threw six scoreless innings, said this Yankees team is using last season’s loss as motivation for October.
“Last year we were knocked out of the playoffs. It was a bad feeling for us,” said Cortes as the New York players showered each other with beer and champagne at a boisterous celebration in the clubhouse.
“We had a goal in spring training, which was to make the playoffs, and now we’re here. Of course, the ultimate goal for any team is to be in the World Series and win it. But right now we’re enjoying this moment.”
New York has the best record in the American League at 89-63 and is five games ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AL East with ten games remaining. The latest win secured the Yankees at least a wild card spot.
It’s the 59th postseason appearance in franchise history, but the Yankees are still trying to end a World Series drought that stretches back to 2009, when New York celebrated its 27th title.
“A lot of things have come together,” Boone said. “Probably better health overall. Definitely an extra focus for guys who have had tough years. And simply put – we’re better. We weren’t a great team last year and this team has a chance to do something special.”
Last season, the Yankees were hampered by an injury-plagued roster that was eliminated from the playoff race on Sept. 24. Before that, they hadn’t missed the playoffs since 2016, when Aaron Judge had only 27 games of major league experience.
Now they return to the playoffs, with Judge as the favorite for American League MVP, another hitting star in Juan Soto, and a starting pitching staff that may have enough depth to take the Yankees deep into the playoffs.
“It’s definitely going to be exciting, especially after last year’s season where we missed the postseason,” Judge said. “That’s what we wanted to do this season: get to the postseason and give ourselves a chance to go out and win a World Series.”
The home stretch is about making sure you return to the playoffs as AL East champions. The Orioles’ recent collapse has opened a gap in the division race and perhaps created enough of a lead to take some of the drama out of the three-game series between the teams in the Bronx next week.
But it will only remain stress-free as long as the Yankees don’t stumble in the next few days. After the series ends in Seattle on Thursday, the Yankees will end their last trip with three games in Oakland.
They hope this is the last time they will be away from home for a while.
“Our goal is to win the division. That’s what we want to do,” Soto said. “We’re going to focus on that and try to finish the season strong.”
Soto is a big reason the Yankees are back in the playoffs and potentially have home-field advantage in the American League. Judge is rightfully the favorite to win his second MVP title in the last three seasons with 53 home runs and 136 RBIs, but Soto’s contributions have been just as important.
Soto hit 40 home runs for the first time on Tuesday in the series opener against the Mariners. It was also the 200th home run of his career, at just 25 years old and in the offseason when he will be the top free agent. The duo will likely determine how far the Yankees go in the playoffs.
“I’ve had a front row seat all year, watching him do it, watching him day in and day out – he’s just a great hitter,” Boone said.
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