C-Mac: Yankees are best team in American League by far, so this is year to get to World Series
The Yankees have officially clinched a playoff spot, the first checkpoint of redemption after enduring their worst season in over 30 years in 2023.
But, as the fans know and the players made clear while the champagne was flowing in Seattle, the goal is to win a championship, not just get back to October baseball.
Looking at the current landscape of the American League, Chris McMonigle says this is the year for the Yanks to get back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.
“Not only are they the best team in the American League - I think it’s hard to make the case that they’re not - that’s not saying much this year…the Mets and every single playoff team in the National League are probably going to end up where they would have the third-best record in the American League,” C-Mac said.
“Right now, the Yankees are the clear cut favorites in the American League, and they head in, right now, as whole, healthy, and feeling good about them as they have at any point.”
The Yankee bullpen, even with another Clay Holmes hiccup, feels deeper than it has all season, while Aaron Judge has started to break out of his slump. Gleyber Torres has found his stroke in the leadoff spot, and the starting rotation boasts a number of arms that can go out and shut a lineup down on any given night.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are scuffling and waiting for reinforcements to arrive, the Royals are slumping, and the other division leaders in the American League are by no means above the Yanks. So the time is now to get the job done.
“They have plenty of starting pitching to feel good about, the bullpen is healthy, and you have four or five guys in there that you can trust,” C-Mac said.
“The lineup is as deep and balanced and has as many good hitters as they’ve had in a while.”
