New York Yankees: Veterans Are Making Their Presence Known

Rightly so, the New York Yankees story this summer has been about their transformation from an aging and pricey team to a young and promising band of brothers destined for future championships. But with the exception of Gary Sanchez, it’s the veterans who are carrying the team now.

There’s a trend developing with the New York Yankees that’s in conflict with the recent youth movement that was undertaken by the team in mid-summer. The veterans, who were largely cast off as “in the way” are now the ones who are stepping up and carrying the Yankees as their surge to the playoffs continues.

Last night, the contributions came from CC Sabathia who pitched into the seventh inning allowing no runs in a crucial 3-0 win against the Dodgers that followed a loss the previous night. In the seventh inning with the Yankees at bat, Didi Gregorius, who’s young enough to be one of the Baby Bombers but isn’t, hit a go ahead never look back home run.

Then, perhaps the most maligned of the older and pricey Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury followed with another blast putting the icing on the cake. Ellsbury in particular and together with Brett Gardner have been rotated in the Yankees outfield since the arrival of Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin.

In fact, It might be said that Joe Girardi has something against Jacoby Ellsbury. In the one game shootout with Houston last year, a game that the Yankees lost, he was noticeably held out of the starting lineup and that trend has continued this season.

For his part, Ellsbury has behaved like the veteran he is by keeping his name off the back pages of New York newspapers as a protest to his reduced playing time. Instead, like he did last night, he’s making the most of the playing time he gets. Last week, it was Gardner who made a game saving catch that sealed a win for the Yankees against Toronto.

Just four days ago, Mark Teixeira, another of the Yankees aging veterans, launched a grand slam home run to beat Tampa Bay.

The exception to the veterans taking over rule of course is Gary Sanchez who hit his 14th home run in last nights victory. Sanchez continues to receive all the attention he deserves as he chases what should be the Rookie Of The Year award in the American League.