Up until last night I wasn't sure how I felt about the Yankees celebrating a wildcard berth. It seems kind of silly to be popping champagne and smoking cigars when you're only one game away from cleaning out your locker. But I loved every bit of last night. It's difficult to embrace because the pinstripes are so awe-inspiring but this has been a team of underdogs all year long. Vegas had them finishing below .500 before the season started. These aren't your older brother's Yankees. It's a cast of kids and aging veterans. There's very little in between. It's hard to remember that this guy...
And this guy...
were both counted out by pretty much everybody at some point in 2015. People were wondering whether or not A-Rod was even going to make the Opening Day roster in spring training. Everyone wanted CC out of the rotation and when he went down with his knee injury the consensus was that his season was over. And yet they're both here and contributing to a playoff bound Yankee team not only on the field but as leaders in the clubhouse. That in and of itself is something worth celebrating.
And how about my man John Ryan Murhpy...
It's always better when you deliver a great quote in a deadpan manner. So well done @JRMurphy513. pic.twitter.com/Qqa1TqlQU0
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) October 2, 2015
You had to be blind not to see this coming. Of course my good Irish brother John Ryan Murhpy led the drinking effort last night after the game. And he earned it. The guy hits every single time he gets a chance to play. For a young kid it's pretty impressive how he's able to go out there and contribute with the bat and behind the plate even though he's not getting regular playing time. He absolutely stole the show.
As for the game, how about my man Adam Warren. Thrown into the game having no idea he was available to pitch, goes three scoreless and bridges what was seemingly an impossible gap to Betances. Forget Ramiro Mendoza. This guy is better than him. He does everything. Start, high-leverage relief, mop-up duty, paint your fence, wash your car. The Yankees aren't where they are today without Warren and all he's been able to do this season.
It's impossible to feel good about this team given the way they've played lately. They have a myriad of issues to sort out between now and Tuesday. But that's the beauty of postseason baseball. Once it starts you can toss everything you've done up until that point out the window. All it takes is one swing of the bat to atone for a season of mediocrity. I don't know what the postseason will bring for the Yankees. If they run into Keuchel for the one-game playoff they're going to be in trouble, even if it is on three-days rest. But these are short series' after that. They don't have to sustain success over another 162 games. They have to get hot for a few weeks. I'm not banking on it but crazier things have happened.
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