Yankees' Solid Playoff Chances Against Tough AL East
Despite stiff competition, the Yankees are secure in their position for a playoff berth, ready to shine against AL East foes. They have an 8-game wildcard lead.
Video Transcript
And I'd be willing to take a shot and say that as good as Tampa has been, I still think the Yankees have a chance of winning the American League East.
Absolutely.
I could be crazy.
It could be.
It could be.
I still think they're very much in it.
Oh, it could be, and Tampa could lose in the first round of the playoffs too, but I, I still stand by them- Oh, yeah, that's- Yeah, but I still stand by them, you know, dominating at home, you know?
Like, they're just so good there.
They just seem to really have it figured out.
And then they went on the road last week and they won all their games there too.
It's, too good for me to fade.
They got Liam Hicks from Miami.
The guy's been incredible since he's gone there.
He's hitting grand slams.
He's, he's hitting home runs.
You know- Yeah this week, I, I, I don't know.
I mean, to me, I still have to give them the advantage.
I don't see Baltimore beating them two out of three.
I see the Rays winning that series.
And naturally, things will get tougher down the stretch.
They're gonna have to play Boston three more times.
They're gonna have to play the Yankees I think it's three or six more times too.
So, um- Yep I, I, I, I'm with you, I think.
And by the way, I think anything can happen in the playoffs.
We've seen teams like the Rays, teams like Cleveland, teams like Milwaukee before winning 90-something games.
Yep.
Immediately get to the playoffs.
You run into a big payroll like Philly, like New York, like LA, and you go down.
Happens all the time.
I, I'm not gonna pretend like this team is different or this Tampa Bay team is better than the ones three, four years ago.
But I would say I would be very surprised if the Rays in the, in their first round series, whenever that is, I'd be surprised if they lost because of having the home field advantage.
I would not make them the favorite to come out of the American League or even win the World Series, but I'd be very surprised if they didn't win their first playoff series at home.
Yeah, th- I, yeah, I agree.
I, and I, I do think home field will matter, to Tampa a little bit more than a few others.
They have also done an amazing job, by the way, of beating up these sub-500 teams.
I mean, I don't think they lost a game on this West Coast trip, Craig.
They swept Seattle.
They, you know, the Athletics, they beat up like, like nobody's business.
They have been very good against sub-500 teams.
The big test is, well, we're gonna, we're gonna see how that comes up.
Yankees, of course, sending Gerrit Cole here tonight.
Mm-hmm.
And from my understanding, I believe Stanton is closer than anybody.
You know Judge, they're hoping to get back by the end of the regular season heading into postseason.
But Bellinger also looks like he should be back prior to the postseason.
So i- if you can get those two guys and weather the storm just to get Judge back, I, you, you know, that's two pretty big bats here that the Yankees offensively, not to mention they're winning one run games here, low scoring games left and right, which is crazy.
But yeah, you could, they got some reinforcements still coming that other teams don't.
The only question would be is that can Stanton and Judge play in the same lineup?
Will Judge be I mean, Stanton's not playing the outfield- anymore, so it's just a matter of is Judge- Good point gonna be able to play the outfield, and that's still very much to be determined.
The update that we've gotten on Judge is he's resumed some baseball activities.
But, Joe, until Aaron Judge goes to triple A and starts playing, he's gonna have to go play some minor- Right league games.
There's nothing to talk about at this point.
I mean, he is gonna have to go there for a week, maybe longer than that, and here we are, we're closing in on the end of August, and he hasn't started.
So I don't know that the beginning of September is even reasonable for Aaron Judge.
But yes, they'll get some hitting back.
As you saw there in the standings, they're gonna make the playoffs.
They're eight games up in the wild card, s- a few games back of Tampa Bay.
I, I think their spot, that's one of the few teams, Joe, I think their spot is kinda secure where it is.
I think they're g- gonna end- Yes up being the first wild card team in the American League.
I, I don't think Boston's gonna make any more moves up.
I could see them falling back.
I don't think Boston's moving up.
And, and, and then the Yankees are gonna be a really tough out, because in that first round, you know, it is possible the Yankees play the White Sox in the first round.
Yep.
If the White Sox, and then- Yep you would take the Yankees in that series, you know?
Like, that's, you know A- or they would play, H- Houston, and you would take the Yankees in that series too, you know?
So- Yep it's, it's A- and then maybe the Yankees play Tampa Bay at, at that point.
You may say Tampa Bay maybe beats the Yankees in St. Pete.
You could see that as well.
But, Y- Yep Yankees are in good shape.
It's, it's about getting the health back.
But you tell me who's gonna win that final wild card.
I don't have a clue, man.
Like, all of those teams- No are still in play.
I, I, I don't, I, I, I'm out on Seattle.
You can't honor the best players in the history of your franchise and roll out Griffey and Randy Johnson and get swept.
I mean, please.
That's terrible.
Literally, that's what you I mean, come on, man.
Like, h- how, how did you- No let that happen at home for three games?
I'm out on Seattle.
I still say Texas is in the playoffs one way or the other.
I, I, that, that's, you either win the division or the final wild card, and I got Texas making it.
But I will say that I thought that before I knew deGrom left with the injury, was it yesterday, so- Yesterday, yeah we'll see what ends up happening with him.
