As the New York Yankees prepare for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night, one former Yankee believes the team has an “easy path” to the World Series.
Alex Rodriguez knows what it feels like to win the World Series in New York. In fact, the last time the Yankees won a trophy was in 2009, when Rodriguez was part of a loaded Yankees team that defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win a franchise-record 27th MLB title.
Appearing on a Fox Sports panel after Game 1 of the National League, in which the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets to take the series lead, Rodriguez's Yankees teammate, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, said that the Yankees were the best in the league. talked about the possibility of reaching World Series.
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Fox Sports broadcast before Game 5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. NLDS San Diego Padres, from left: Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter. (Kyomio/Imagn Images)
“I don't want to say we won by any means. The road to the World Series is never easy, but I think if the Yankees could pick their opponents, they got the two guys they would pick, because… Because they've had the success they've had in the AL Central Division game,'' Jeter explained.
Rodriguez has become much more committed to the series.
Rodriguez replied, “You don't have to tell me. I'll tell you. They have an easy path to the World Series.”
“Look, it's never easy, right? But this is the clearest path we've taken in 20 years.”
Some Yankees fans may call Rodriguez's comments a jinx, while Guardians fans may think the team uses something like this as “message board fodder,” or even this best-of-seven. He may be hoping to use the fight as fuel to prove Rodriguez wrong.
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But there is some support for Rodriguez's comments about the Yankees' clearest path forward in the last 20 years.
It's no secret that New York has long wanted to reach the World Series, but they haven't been able to do so since Rodriguez and Jeter hoisted the trophy at Yankee Stadium in 2009. They have advanced to the ALCS in recent years, but were unable to qualify. They won't be able to top the Houston Astros in 2017, 2019, or 2022.
Now, Yankees fans were overjoyed when the Detroit Tigers defeated the Astros in the wild-card round, knowing they wouldn't have to watch the Astros at any point on their hopeful path to the Fall Classic. I did.
Former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will be introduced at the Old Timers Day ceremony at Yankee Stadium. (Wendell Cruz-USA Today Sports)
And while we wait for the Kansas City Royals to face the Baltimore Orioles, Yankees fans will admit they'd rather see the former since it disrupts the AL East schedule all season long. . In the 2024 regular season, the Orioles were 8-5 against the Yankees.
So when the Royals defeated the Orioles, Yankees fans were once again happy with the result. New York would end up winning the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, defeating the Royals in Game 4 to advance.
Meanwhile, the Guardians had Lane Thomas hit a clutch grand slam off AL Cy Young front-runner Tarik Skubal in Game 5 of the ALDS, finally clinching the Tigers' Cinderella story this postseason. After giving the title, he came to the Bronx with a lot of momentum.
The Guardians recently faced the Yankees in the postseason, and New York defeated them in five games in the 2022 ALDS. And while the Yankees are the top seed, Cleveland comes into this series with a formidable bullpen and the second-best batting average. of four teams remaining in the postseason (.234).
The Yankees' batting average is .220, and AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge has struggled with just two hits in four games. However, the Yankees are 4-2 against the Guardians this season, and despite the talent and payroll on the list, securing a spot in the series has been elusive for the Yankees. We hope to repeat those four wins.
Alex Rodriguez before the New York vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Calchietta-USA Today Sports)
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It won't be an easy road, but Rodriguez is clearly confident this is the Yankees' best chance since donning pinstripes.
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