Listen up, Baseball America.
The New York Yankees, this 2018 edition, might be the best team ever.
They are that good, that scary good. And no, its not too early to say it out loud.
Theres something brewing in Da Bronx. And its just not a random hot streak that will soon pass.
Its bigger, deeper than that. We might be watching the making of a record-breaking season, a season to remember. Heck, MLB history in the making.
On Sunday, the Yankees were down 4-0 in the eighth inning. They came roaring back to win in the bottom of the ninth inning on a walk-off, three-run homer by rookie Gleyber Torres.
The Yankees stun the Indians with a rally in the 9th
Neil Walker hits a game-tying double to right field, and Gleyber Torres follows with a walk-off three-run home run to win the game About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S.
It gave the Yankees a three-game sweep over the Cleveland Indians.
It was the third time in four games that the Yankees won in walk-off fashion. Almost nobody does that.
Better yet, it was the Yankees 15th victory in their last 16 games.
Oh, have they done some damage in MLB. No team or lead, for that matter, is safe around these Yankees.
This team is super-awesome, Torres said Sunday to the media at Yankee Stadium after his heroics.
This isnt a one-man band, either. The heroes are spread up and down the lineup. The starters are coming through. And when they need help, that back end of the bullpen is present and accounted for.
This is a all around team effort, a team people figured to be good this season when it was constructed over the winter after they fell a game short of making it to the World Series.
But this good? No way, no how.
The MLB single-season record for wins is 116 games. Its held by the 1906 Chicago Cubs (116-36) and the 2001 Seattle Mariners (116-46).
The Yankees threatened the record in 1998 when they went 114-48. They went on to sweep the San Diego Padres in the World Series.
This team reminds me of that 1998 squad. I covered that team as a sports columnist for Newsday in New York. They won at a ridiculous clip. It was an amazing thing watch.
The only difference between these two teams. The 2018 team is better, deeper.
Stanton goes 4-for-4 with HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs scored
Giancarlo Stanton goes 4-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs, three walks and his fifth homer of 2018 in the Yankees’ 14-1 win over the Twins About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S.
Want proof?
This team has already put together a better run than that team.
In fact, the current run is the best 16-game stretch by a Yankee team since 1980. That team went 15-1, too.
It would be one thing if the entire team was peaking and playing over their heads. But its not the case.
Remember, the Yankees were dealt a number of key injuries early on: starting first baseman Greg Bird and bullpen studs Adam Warren and Tommy Kahnle were all sidelined.
The good news for manager Aaron Boone and his squad as that those players are on the mend. Bird (ankle) will play in extended spring training games this week. Kahnle, according to YES Network, will throw a bullpen session.
Add to that that some of the current Yankees are only going to get better when Giancarlo Stanton – the reigning NL MVP – and Gary Sanchez play up to their ability.
Both had some big homers early on. But are both much better hitters than weve seen so far. Stanton is batting .227 and Sanchez .198.
And did we mention that Brett Gardner is batting .203.
You get the point. Those proven players will get better and be around their career averages when its all said and done.
The starters are good, especially ace Luis Severino. Hes 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA. Masahiro Tanaka has four wins. And CC Sabathia has picked up where he left off from his late run last season. Hes 2-0 with stingy 1.39 ERA
And just like a year ago, the bullpen, despite its missing pieces, is deadly. Aroldis Chapman has seven saves thus far with a 1.80 ERA.
Full AB: Chapman K’s Altuve to seal Yankees’ win
Aroldis Chapman puts an end to the Astros’ comeback hopes as he strikes out Jose Altuve in the bottom of the 9th to seal a 6-5 win About Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S.
For sure, this isnt an overreaction to a magical moment. Home runs like that make you honestly wonder what could be.
In this case, the Yankees are simply really good. But they havent peaked. This team can – and will – get better. And when they do, the record for wins in a season will fall. And the Yankees will be the best of all.
