My post last week discussed which Yankees have the most pressure on them going into 2021. The reality of the situation is that the entire team should be feeling the heat.
2021 will mark the fourth full season of the Yankees’ “championship window.” The team burst onto the scene in 2017, reaching Game 7 of the ALCS in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Aaron Boone, also entering his fourth campaign, has yet to take the club that far since taking the reigns.
The Yankees ran into a historically good Red Sox team in 2018 that eliminated them from the ALDS in four games. Houston’s trio of Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, and Zack Greinke proved too much for the Yankees to overcome in 2019. Finally, the Bombers lost to the Rays in a heartbreaking ALDS that went to the wire last season. I’m not trying to make excuses for any of these losses. The Yankees had championship caliber teams in each of those seasons. But there is absolutely no excuse for this team not to win a World Series this season.
There is no potential 108-win, juggernaut team in the AL like the ’18 Sox were. There’s no Cole/Verlander/Greinke trio in the AL this year, either. And those pesky Rays? They’ll be around, but they just lost two of their top three starting pitchers this offseason. Fangraphs has the Yankees as the winningest team in the AL this season, with 95 wins. That’s seven wins better than their next best teams, the Astros and Blue Jays.
The Astros will be good, but are still without Verlander & just lost George Springer. Toronto will rake, but are short on pitching. The White Sox are talented, but unproven. Tampa should be a playoff team, but they did lose Blake Snell & Charlie Morton. The Red Sox are rebuilding. There will be other good teams in the AL. But it’s the Yankees and everyone else. If they don’t get it done, heads will roll.
Am I saying that the Yankees will definitely win the AL? Of course not. But it would be a MASSIVE disappointment if they don’t.
The Yankees are the best team in the American League and it will be a MASSIVE disappointment if they don’t at minimum win the pennant. Put up or shut up time
— Stanzo (@ncostanzo24) March 5, 2021
Boone was handed the keys to a Ferrari in 2018. If he doesn’t get this team to the World Series in 2021, I think his job seriously comes into question. Aaron Judge’s 2021 will determine whether he gets a contract extension this winter, or enters 2022 with the potential to hit free agency after the season. 2021 is the last chance for Gary Sanchez, plain and simple. Giancarlo Stanton is here for the long haul, but this season is huge for him. Gleyber Torres has to show improvement defensively with a strong crop of shortstops available in free agency next winter. And so on and so on. I wanna make it clear, I believe in all of those guys and their success this season. But they absolutely have to get it done in 2021. No more excuses.
Cole is in the Yankee dugout now. We have a deep lineup top to bottom. Two of the highest paid relievers in the game & bullpen depth behind them. And more potential difference makers in the starting rotation than they’ve had in a long time. We’re heavy favorites to win the AL, and for good reason. However, I won’t be satisfied with anything short of 28.
This should be a really good Yankees team. A great team. But if I’m not at a parade down the Canyon of Heroes the end of October, major changes will be necessary. I’d prefer the parade option.
