Thanks to youngster Slade Heathcott delivering magic against the Rays, the New York Yankees are still aiming high for the AL East title.
By Robby Sabo
The way everybody is talking about the race, however, you’d think the difference might be over 10 games.
It makes complete sense after the way Toronto just stomped on the Yankees’ throats all weekend long at the stadium. They took the first game behind David Price on Friday night and then promptly ripped their hearts out in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Save for a Masahiro Tanaka gem on Sunday Joe Girardi’s club was completely dead.
Naturally, heading into Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, only keeping their comfy AL Wild Card lead intact remained of the utmost importance.
It’s funny though. Sometimes baseball has a tricky way of presenting opportunities to a club who has no business of receiving one.
Here are five reasons the New York Yankees can still win the AL East.
5. Monday’s Magic
Getting no-hit through seven innings seemed to be the cherry on top of an awful weekend against Toronto. In the end it turned out to be a footnote.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez was on point Monday night. He shut down the Bronx Bombers to the tune of no runs, one hit and six strikeouts over 7.2 innings of work.
New York was staring at a 1-run deficit heading into the top of the ninth.
Then Alex Rodriguez and Slade Heathcott happened.
A-Rod doubled home a run to tie it up, and the youngster Heathcott smashed a three-run shot off Rays closer Brad Boxberger. The Yanks closed the door on a 4-1 comeback victory which created much needed excitement up and down the clubhouse.
It is this type of moment that can propel a team on a run towards playoff momentum.
4. Troy Tulowitzki’s Injury
Quite honestly this discussion of the Yankees making an AL East comeback wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the injury.
Troy Tulowitzki, the man who sparked this Blue Jays revolution since the trade deadline, broke his shoulder-blade and is out of action for an indefinite period of time.
While reports still claim he might only miss a few weeks, many aren’t so sure. A crack in the shoulder-blade is nothing to sneeze at. Additionally, this is Tulo, the guy who is always injured.
Admittedly, Toronto’s lineup is still dangerous with Josh Donaldson’s MVP type season leading the way. They’re miles ahead of everybody in runs scored (790) and lead in home runs (202).
Still, not having Tulowitzki leading off leaves a gaping hole in a lineup which was considered golden. For now they’ll have to settle for really good – something that could be the difference down the stretch.
3. Girardi vs Gibbons
Whether you’re a Yankees fan or Blue Jays fan, it doesn’t matter. You’re all baseball fans.
And as baseball fans you realize Joe Girardi is light-years ahead of John Gibbons as an MLB manager.
First off, nobody handles a bullpen better than Girardi. He places each of his guys in the most appropriate position of strength allowing for max potential.
What he does best, however, is rest guys (which is sorely needed for a veteran team) to the fullest effect. Although many Yankees fans routinely get frustrated with the level of rest he divides to his regulars, it keeps these tired legs as fresh as can be down the stretch.
Gibbons on the other hand is a complete product of his players. With an overall record of 544-533 and no playoff appearances in seven-plus seasons with the team north of the border, I’ll take my chances with Girardi any day.
2. Yanks Bullpen
What won the Kansas City Royals the AL Pennant in 2014?
The answer is the bullpen.
For the shocking Royals a season ago, it was their dominating trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera who came together and shortened games to such a filthy extent. Manager Ned Yost knew all he had to do was get through the fifth, and even sometimes the sixth inning with the lead to take the game home.
With Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller throwing smoke out of the Yankees pen, anything is possible over these last two-plus weeks.
1. 1993
Until the Blue Jays finally slay that dragon and make the postseason, they’ll always have 1993 hanging over their backs.
Not since 1993, when Joe Carter was told to “touch them all,” has Toronto seen a lick of postseason baseball.
This franchise is still stuck in the longest active playoff drought of any team playing in the four professional American sports.
With 27 championships on the Yankees side and 1993 on the Jays side, history will also have to be overcome for the remainder of September.
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