Bronx Bomber Ball

It’s time for a do-over. Photo credit: Hamlet Hub

It is officially acceptable to say “next team up” as the Yankees have swept the Minnesota Twins and will be moving on to face the winner of the Astros and Rays in the 2019 ALCS. Despite only being two games better than the Twins in the regular season and losing their home run record to the AL Central champs, the Yankees absolutely dominated the Twins in this series. With this series now concluded, the Yankees have won 13 straight playoff games against the Twins. This series also resulted in the Yankees having the second-best run differential in a three-game playoff series ever at a mark of +16. Photo Credit: Twitter

With the playoffs coming up in just over a month, the end of the season looms near. Furthermore, there’s several significant decisions to be made this offseason for the Yankees. For one, the front office must figure out the starting rotation situation. The retirement of CC Sabathia and underperformances of a few starters in 2019 means they’ll look to possibly execute some reinforcements, such as free agent right-hander Gerrit Cole. Past that though, the free agency of infielder Didi Gregorius sits atop the priority checklist. Photo Credit: Julio Cortez/AP

The Yankees took a trip out to the West Coast this week for two three-game sets against the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers. The first series in California led to an embarrassing three-game sweep of the Yankees by Oakland. However, the Bombers took the series in LA, winning two out of three against the Dodgers this Players’ Weekend.  Photo via @Yankees on Twitter

With the All-Star break in the rear view, the Yankees sit at a 57-31 record and hold a commanding 6.5 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East heading into the second half. Impressive play from the likes of DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, and a much-needed bounce back year from Gary Sanchez have helped them get there, but who will keep it going? As everyone knows, the Yankees have dealt with a handful of injuries that kept their top-tier players sidelined for a large portion of the season so far, and others who have struggled here and there. Setbacks lead to comebacks, making these guys perfect candidates for this list… Photo Credit: Julie Jacobson/AP

Let’s just get this out of the way first. I’m thinking it. You’re thinking it. Now, the world has gotten the chance to see it on full display this past weekend.   DJ LeMahieu has been, without question, the single biggest free agent signing by any team this season.   His numbers through his first 76 games in pinstripes?   A .345/.392/.534 slash line, 12 home runs, 61 RBIs (his career high for an entire season is 66!), and an absurd .486 (35-for-72) batting average with runners in scoring position.   He has accounted for a 4.0 WAR and was just recently voted the starting second baseman for the 2019 MLB All Star Game.   He has been more than any Yankee fan could have ever imagined when he was inked to a two-year, $24 million deal this past Winter. Photo Credit: AP

The Yankees kicked off a historic week by taking three games from the Blue Jays. The Yankees tied the consecutive game home run record with a home run off the bat of Aaron Hicks in game one of the three-game. This game was initially a blowout, but Jonathan Holder’s implosion in the eighth resulted in the game becoming much closer than it should have. The Yankees were able to hold on.   Photo Credit: NY Post

In a back-and-forth slugfest, the Yankees erased two deficits, including one of five runs, to beat the Blue Jays, 8-7, in walk-off fashion Wednesday. The win clinched a series sweep of the Blue Jays for the Yanks, and they finished off their final home stand of the season’s first half with a 9-1 record. After today’s win, New York is now a season-best 24 games above .500 at 52-28. They lead the American League East by 6.5 games. Photo Credit: Seth Wenig/AP Photo

Coming into the night on a three-game losing streak, and after dropping eight of their last 11 contests, this game was one the Yankees needed. Fortunately for them, the bats came to life, and the pitching was solid, as New York downed the White Sox, 8-4. The win, coupled with Tampa’s loss, allowed the Yanks to regain their half-game lead in the American League East despite their recent struggles. Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo

As a follower of the Yankees, the richest franchise in baseball and fifth in all of sports, they’re often associated with superstar names when guys become available because they have the money, pedigree, and even the assets if it’s via trade. Look no further than the latest example of a potential trade target that would require a massive package, shortstop Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports

After an exciting 10th inning win in Cleveland, the Yankees are coming back home for a two-game series against the crosstown rival Mets.  The Yankees, who are now tied for first place, will be trying to right the ship after a little slide last week where they lost five of seven.  The Mets on the other hand are coming in a game under .500, and are third in the NL East, five games back of the Phillies.  Last week, they impressively took two of three from both the Giants and Rockies.  In 2018 the Yankees were 4-2 in the subway series, and hopefully they can use this quick series to get back on track.

Prior to tonight’s series opener in Cleveland, the Yankees reinstated shortstop Didi Gregorius from the 60-day IL. Thairo Estrada was optioned to AAA following yesterday’s contest. Gregorius returns after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October; he sustained the injury on a headfirst slide into home during the ALDS. Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Gregorius is a welcome addition to a Yankees lineup that is slowly but surely beginning to overcome the injury woes it has faced this season. He’s become a stalwart in the heart of the Yankees’ order over the past three campaigns, putting up high averages and solid power numbers while becoming a fan-favorite in the Bronx along the way. In 134 games last season, Sir Didi posted a .268/.335/.494 slash with 27 home runs and 84 RBI. Didi’s insertion back into the lineup will mean more regular days off throughout the infield, a unit that has fared quite well in his absence. While Gio Urshela will stay put at third, Gleyber Torres will slid...

As June begins, if there is one thing to be said about the 2019 New York Yankees, it is that no matter how much adversity or injuries ravage this team, they are a group who not only accept whatever hardships come their way, but they will continue to thrive. Despite numerous key players spending a significant amount of time on the injured list, this continues to be a team that is not only fun to watch, but one that anybody should be afraid to play, regardless of the lack of superstars on the field. Photo Credit: Paul J. Bereswill

The New York Yankees currently own a 35-19 record and a one game lead in the battle for first place in the American League East on May 29. They have been able to achieve this success all with Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino, and  Dellin Betances combining to play in only 23 games.   Photo Credit: NY Post

Remember when it seemed like someone was sustaining some sort of injury every night, and we could slowly and painfully feel our souls leaving our bodies as a result? Well, those days are over. With the activation of James Paxton this morning, the Yankees are slowly getting healthier. There has also been good news released about numerous other injured Yankees as well, so let’s dive right in. Chris O'Meara / AP

The Yankees have officially placed CC Sabathia on the Injured List with inflammation in his right knee.   This is the same knee that Sabathia had surgery on in 2014 and saw IL (then, the DL) time with in 2015, 2017 and 2018.   The Yankees will recall Nestor Cortes to take Sabathia’s spot on the roster. Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP

It is almost as though fans aren’t phased by it anymore. Over the course of the past month that baseball has been “in session,” the Yankees have accrued enough players on the Injured List to add up to $87 million worth of payroll as of April 7th.  They have also led MLB in the category of… most injured players.   The injury woes didn’t start with the season opener, either; we can’t forget that prior to the start of the 2019 season, Didi Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery.   Dellin Betances has his shoulder issue, which started during Spring Training.   Aaron Hicks had, and continues to have, back problems.   Jacoby Ellsbury… we won’t even go there (or discuss the astronomical numbers he has cost the Yankees at this point).   Luis Severino, devastatingly, suffered a shoulder injury during Spring Training, which changed the outlook for the starting rotation that already had to regroup -- thanks to the previously-accounted for absence of C.C. Sabathi...

Over the past few seasons, the Yankees’ infield has undergone a significant transformation. The old guard of veterans is gone and has been replaced by confidant young guns, two of which were finalists for the 2018 Rookie of the Year award. While many of the same names from the end of last year are returning, there are some new faces in the fold that are looking to stake their claim for a role. The unfortunate injury that will force Didi Gregorius to miss a significant portion of the season will also play a role in how Aaron Boone deploys his infielders this season. Let’s look at them position by position. Credit; Elsa/Getty Images

While the Yankees may have missed out on the free agent market’s biggest names this Winter, the team landed a pretty nice consolation prize when it signed infielder DJ LeMahieu back in January. The contract, which spans two years, and will cost New York $24 million, looks like a potential steal for the ball club. Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

For most of the offseason, amid the rumors surrounding Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the Yankees were rumored to be seeking extensions with some of their impending 2019-2020 free agents; most notably Aaron Hicks, Dellin Betances, and Didi Gregorius. Exactly one third of those dominoes has now fallen, after Hicks and the Yankees agreed to a seven-year, $70 million extension early Monday morning. It was reported later that day that the Yankees were laying the groundwork on extending Betances as well. Next up for Yankees: Dellin Betances. Yanks are working on extending him. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2019 With an extension reached with Hicks, and work being done on extending Betances, the only impending free agent left is Gregorius, who is one of the top all around shortstops in the game, and arguably one of the most fun players the Yankees have. If the Yankees choose to extend Didi as well, what might that look like? Abbie Parr/Getty Images