While the Yankees issue for most of the 2018 season came from them hitting too many home runs and not getting on base, this 2019 team has done it all.
Six home runs in a ball game, one would expect a Yankees win in a rout. However, the Yankees’ bullpen spearhead by Nestor Cortes Jr. and Luis Cessa could not get the job done. That is alright because the Yankees bats were able to muster 11 runs.
As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I had thought the Yankees had a shot to catch up to the Twins and retake the home run record for a season. At last, here we are, 276 to 276. When you truly think about 276 home runs in 146 games, there has to be one player to have 50 plus right? Well, with an average of 1.89 home runs per game and an abundance of players who put the ball in the seats, it makes a little more sense as to how the Yankees got here. With Gleyber leading the way with 36, and Gary not far behind with 34 (389 ABs) the power display in the infield is unmatched by any other team.
Having five players reach 20 plus home runs (and we figure it to be more by the end of the season), there is also a whopping 13 players with 10 plus; an MLB record broken by guess who? The Yankees. It doesn’t matter if it is at home or on the road this team just has a knack for crushing baseballs and there is no way to stop them.
Last year’s problems were evident. There were too many home runs and not a lot of people getting on base. This year they are doing both as the Yankees are third in the league with a .340 OBP. This historic season has brought the offense into focus as many of their star players missed significant time with injury. What if Giancarlo Stanton played the whole season? What would be the total of home runs? 300?
With a career slugging years from Gardy, LeMahieu, Sanchez, Torres, and Urshela, it comes as a surprise that this team has been able to hold up offensively. Even the emergence of Ford and Tauchman have been able to generate a combined 23 home runs. The Yankees scouting department has been fantastic in finding offensive depth. It has been redundant all year, but the job the backup Bronx Bombers have done is second to none and it should be never forgotten.
I tip my cap to the 2019 Yankees. What was able to be done on offense has been some of the best memories as a Yankees fan to date. The sheer dominance displayed has not been matched and I am excited to see their run In the postseason.
P.S.
We will never forget the lives lost on 9/11. With the many men and women lost, and to the survivors and first responders, we will never lose the memory of your lives and the impact you have left for this country. This day holds such a heavy heart and as we remember the tragic events we shall also be aware that this is the best country in the world.