The New York Yankees are the trendy pick to win the 2018 World Series, but we say do not crown them quite yet. We have a handful of reasons why the Bronx Bombers may fall short of that goal.
Anytime the words baseball history are mentioned, the New York Yankees are typically in the mix. The most storied franchise in all of MLB history reigns in the Brox, with 27 World Series titles, 13 other American League pennants, 18 AL East division titles, and a list of MLB Hall of Fame members that are second to none.
New York Yankees retired greats whose jersey’s are hanging on the rafters of the (new) Yankee Stadium:
The current New York Yankees roster boasts potential Hall of Fame worthy candidates as well, with the likes of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge — and a roster full of elite MLB talent. However, as good as the Yankees are projected to be, they may fall short of the ultimate goal of raising the Commissioner’s trophy for the first time since 2009.
Vegas has the Yankees listed as the likely third team to win the 2018 World Series:
Houston Astros: 5/1
Los Angeles Dodgers: 11/2
New York Yankees: 13/2
Cleveland Indians: 6/1
Chicago Cubs: 15/2
Washington Nationals: 19/2
Boston Red Sox: 10/1
St. Louis Cardinals: 22/1
Los Angeles Angels: 25/1
Arizona Diamondbacks: 28/1
Milwaukee Brewers: 30/1
Minnesota Twins: 30/1
New York Mets: 35/1
Toronto Blue Jays: 35/1
Seattle Mariners: 40/1
Colorado Rockies: 40/1
San Francisco Giants: 50/1
Philadelphia Phillies: 75/1
Tampa Bay Rays: 150/1
Pittsburgh Pirates: 150/1
Atlanta Braves: 175/1
Texas Rangers: 200/1
Baltimore Orioles: 200/1
Chicago White Sox: 200/1
Oakland Athletics: 200/1
San Diego Padres: 200/1
Now, with Opening Day now just hours away, the New Yankees turn their sites to divisional rival Toronto Blue Jays, chinks in the armor of the Bronx Bombers will expose them — an Achilles heel of sorts. Will it be enough to prevent them from winning it all?
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 12: Aaron Boone /
Aaron Boone
Joe Girardi nearly took a young New York Yankees team to the promised land last season, falling just one game short in the 2017 ALCS against the eventual champion Houston Astros. For his efforts, management sent him packing. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Joe — is what they were “subtly” saying.
We know on the baseball diamond Boone has a knack for the postseason, with his walk-off home run sending the Yankees to the 2003 World Series.
Boone’s been around baseball his entire life, watching his father and grandfather play at the MLB level, getting an all-access pass. His 12-year career was a steady one, and he no doubt learned much from
But, playing and managing are two entirely different animals. Unlike last season, expectations are sky-high, with Dellin Betances telling ESPN’s Senior Writer David Schoenfield last month:
“If we don’t win (the World Series) it won’t be a great year for us… We understand the expectations. … Last year was great, but one of the things that stands out about being in that room right now is that each guy I’ve spoken to, that hunger is there. There’s no satisfaction in what they accomplished last year. We understand it’s a very tough road.”
No pressure, huh?!. Anything short of a World Series victory will no doubt have Yankees fans up in arms, also. Aaron Boone must win, and he must do so now, which is a tall task to ask of anyone, especially a first-year guy.
Even with a loaded-roster, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll play baseball into October or beyond. Learning how to use that talent correctly is no easy feat, and hopefully, Boone’s inexperience doesn’t cost them a shot at the crown.
Will Aaron Judge have a sophomore slump?
Aaron Judge took the MLB world by storm in 2017, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in the process. His body of work looked great on the surface, with an overall stellar campaign at the plate and nominated as Gold Glove finalist in right field.
Overall, Judge slashed .284/.422/.627. He smashed 52 home runs, 119 RBI, 124 runs scored and even stole nine bases. But, after taking a closer look, the second half of 2017 was (mostly) a disaster for the power-hitting star.
208 strikeouts in 2017. That’s no typo, folks, with that amount increasing as the season went on. MLB team’s figured out how to pitch to Judge — low and away — taking advantage of his aggressive nature at the plate.
Now, he’ll have the protection of Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, but the pressure of living up to a fantastic 2017 will be tough — which seems like a common denominator for the 2018 New York Yankees — great expectations.
Playing under the microscope of the harsh New York media and spoiled fans could spell disaster for Judge, Boone, and Stanton, among others.
The Yankees face a loaded American League and National League for that matter.
Vegas knows what they’re talking about and there’s a reason that both the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers odds are higher to win the 2018 World Series.
The Astros are looking to become the first team since the Yankees to win back to back titles and they have a good enough roster to do so. Led by American League MVP Jose Altuve, George Springer, and stout pitching staff, the Astros are the favorites to win it all again — even with the Yankees new additions.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, the Astros aren’t the only problem they’ll face in 2018. They need no further than their own division, with the hated Boston Red Sox looking to three-peat in the AL East.
With the addition of J.D. Martinez, and Cy Young hopeful Chris Sale leading the charge, the Yankees will have their hands full. Not to mention, they will get the best shot of other teams in their division, with the Orioles a handful on offense ( who could outslug the Yankees in any given series) and the Blue Jays should hover around .500 before it’s all said and done.
The AL Central boasts two teams who may give the Yankees additional problems. With the Indians elite pitching staff and a solid roster, they are capable of beating anyone in a long season.
Even though the Twins fell to the Yankees in the 2017 AL Wild Card game, they’ve gained a few reinforcements — recently the addition of a veteran right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn. Even though St. Louis Cardinals fans undervalued the workhorse, he’ll thrive in Minnesota. If the Yankees find themselves in another winner take all game in the 2018 MLB postseason, the edge might go to the Twins this time around.
If the New York Yankees make it through the gauntlet of the top-heavy Ameican League, they’ll have the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondback, Chicago Cubs, or the resurgent St. Louis Cardinals on the other side.
The Yankees pitching must hold up, and that brings us to our final gaping hole that could cost them a 2018 title.
(Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
Do the New York Yankees have enough arms to compete with other elite starting rotations?
Even with Greg Bird out to begin the season, the New York Yankees starting lineup still rivals anyone in all of MLB.
Masahiro Tanaka — RHP 2017 statistics: 13-12 record. 4.74 ERA. 1.24 WHIP: The Yankees are hoping for the October version and not the inconsistency they saw for most of the 2017 campaign from Tanaka.
CC Sabathia — LHP: 2017 statistics: 14-5 record. 3.69 ERA. 1.27 WHIPIf Sabathia’s able to keep his ailing right knee in check, he’ll be a solid No. 3 starter.
Sonny Gray –RHP 2017 statistics: 10-12 record. 3.55 ERA. 1.21 WHIP The curious case of Sonny Gray provides more questions than answers, but he’s got the potential to have a solid campaign.
Jordan Montgomery — LHP 2017 statistics: 9-7 record. 3.88 ERA. 1.23 WHIP. A more than a formidable fifth-day option.
One word describes the Yankees pitching staff perfect. Potential. However; there’s also probability it may be an average pitching staff at best.
The Yankees’ bullpen is fully-loaded with power arms, who saw their struggles in 2017 — with Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances showing flashes of greatness and also mediocrity. However, with those two power arms to go with David Robertson out of the pen, the Yankees may have a historical bullpen in 2018.
It’s the Yankees starting pitching which should worry the New York faithful the most. They have way too many question marks, needing every single possibility to go right for their pitching staff to hang with the elite MLB teams.
The lack of consistent starting pitching would wear out their bullpen, who could have tired arms by the time postseason play rolls around.
With all of these factors adding up, are they enough to prevent the New York Yankees from winning it all in 2018? Unfortunately, yes. Not only will the Yankees not win a World Series, but they won’t even win the AL East; with the Boston Red Sox primed for a third-straight crown.
