As the country celebrates the holiday of Thanksgiving, let’s take a look at what fans of the New York Yankees should be thankful for.
The New York Yankees are undoubtedly the most recognized sports team in the entire world, and they have one of the strongest fanbases in all of baseball as well.Fans of the Bronx Bombers are spoiled to say the least. Since the origination of the franchise back in 1901, the club has won 27 World Series titles, 40 American League Pennants, and 18 division titles.
The franchise has also produced some of the greatest players in major league history, including Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Derek Jeter — just to name a few.
Now that it is Thanksgiving, us fans are supposed to take time to remember things that we are thankful for. The fanbase of the Yankees certainly has a lot to be thankful for.
Whether it is a certain player, a front office personality, or even a fellow fan, let’s take a look at some things Yankee fans should be thankful for this holiday season:
Reason #1: The Arrival of the “Baby Bombers”
In 2016, times were not looking too great for the Bronx Bombers due to the aging veterans and a lack of production from pretty much everyone on the team. This all changed after the trade deadline, when the team decided to give the young guys a chance.
They shined under the spotlight.
The emergence of young stars including Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Tyler Austin gave the team a newfound energy that has not been present in years. Despite some struggles here and there, these kids proved that they are the real deal and are in it for the long run.
Sanchez was the most impactful of the “Baby Bombers,” as he finished the season with a slash line of .299/.367/.657 and 20 home runs to go along with 42 RBIs in just 53 games. “The Kraken” finished in second place for American League Rookie of the Year voting and proved to everyone that he deserves a spot in the heart of the order next season.
Both Austin and Judge made waves of their own when they hit back-to-back home runs in their first big league at bats, setting the tone for a new Yankees team post-Alex Rodriguez.
All of these players will certainly prove to be key pieces to the Yankees’ 2017 success, with even more talent waiting in the wings. The Baby Bombers are definitely something Yankee fans should be thankful for.
Reason #2: The Return of Greg Bird
Prior to the emergence of the Baby Bombers in 2016, there was Greg Bird. Bird arrived in the middle of the 2015 season and had quite the impact, helping New York find a spot in the 2015 AL Wild Card game.
In 2015, Bird slashed .261/.343/.529 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs in just 46 games. He brought a young spark to a team which consisted of mainly aging veterans who were running out of gas towards the end of the season. He also helped fill the role an injured Mark Teixeira left wide open.
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Due to a right shoulder labrum tear, the first baseman missed all of the 2016 season, which was a huge loss for the Bombers. On a less somber note, though, Bird will be back and healthy for a 2017 season where he is set to be the starting first baseman, bringing some pop to a position the Yankees did not see much production from last season.
The 24-year-old participated in the Arizona Fall League to help get himself back in the baseball groove. The future certainly looks bright for the young first baseman, who Yankee fans should surely be thankful for as the 2017 season nears.
Reason #3: Brian Cashman
Brian Cashman has been the general manager of the New York Yankees since the 1998 season. Ever since, he has been nothing short of fantastic, proving to fans that he is one of the best in the game at what he does.
So far in his tenure as the Yankees’ general manager, Cashman has won four World Series rings and is currently undergoing his first rebuild. By making a surplus of trades and acquiring a vast amount of minor league talent, he has set the Yankees in a great position as they head into the future.
Yankee fans have realized throughout the years that their GM is potentially one of the best negotiators in all of baseball. In his career, Cashman has acquired the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Starlin Castro, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez through trade while giving up practically nothing in return.
If there is a very pessimistic Yankee fan out there, even they would have a hard time arguing that they have one of the top general managers in all of baseball.
Reason #4: Dellin Betances
The Yankees know what they have in Dellin Betances, and it is time fans start appreciating him for what he is — one of the top relief pitchers in all of baseball.
Sure, it can be argued that he had a really bad September last season, but that was caused by severe fatigue and should not be relevant anymore. Despite one month last season, over the past three years, Betances has been one of the top late-inning pitchers in the game.
Throughout his first three full years as a Yankee, the 28-year-old has a 1.93 ERA with 392 strikeouts and a 14.3 K/9. These are absolutely remarkable stats which could carry on for years to come, as Betances could potentially go down as one of the top relievers in Yankees’ history.
If you call yourself a Yankee fan and have a distaste for Betances due to one struggling month in 2016, you should go check out his overall stats from the past few seasons and realize how he ranks among some of the top pitchers in the game.
Reason #5: Yankee Stadium
Despite the old illustrious stadium being torn down following the 2008 season, the new one still is able to get the job done and is considered by many as one of the top parks in all of baseball.
It is rare in sports that the name of a team’s stadium is actually the name of the team, and the Yankees are one of the few who have that. They have never sold out to a sponsor to take the name of their stadium, keeping tradition alive year after year.
Another tradition the Yankees kept alive in the new stadium was the dimensions, which included the short porch in right field. Left-handed hitters can still have a field day at the new house.
When the postseason makes its way to the Bronx, the stadium still has an unmatched special vibe. Fans should definitely be excited for more postseason baseball in the new stadium in the near future.