Moose on the Loose: Astro-nomical
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NEW YORK (PIX11) — Sometimes there are just series in the regular season in major league baseball, and sometimes there are series that have more meaning.
Based on rivalries. Based on success. Based on history.
The Yankees opened the year in Houston against the Astros, an organization that haunts Yankees GM Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner and has been in every ALCS since 2017.
A team that won the World Series in 2017 and 2022, a team the Yankees have been chasing for quite some time, and a team that has treated the Yankees like the red-headed stepchild.
One series does not define a season. The Yankees finished off the Astros’ sweep Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 victory.
The Yankees have set the tone early that this team is different. The Yankees swept Houston, and the captain, Aaron Judge, had two hits.
The bullpen was awesome, as they did not allow a run in 15-plus innings of work over the four games. The Yankees got just one quality start from Marcus Stroman, and it did not matter. They flashed a little leather as well, highlighted by Alex Verdugo in left field.
Oswaldo Cabrera, stepping in for the injured DJ LeMahieu, was fantastic, with 7 hits, 2 homers, and 6 RBI. Shortstop Anthony Volpe had four hits in three games, and Juan Soto made a statement.
He had 9 hits, 3 walks, and nailed a runner at home in the 9th on Thursday. He also had big hits over the course of the weekend. Because it all came against the Astros, it means even more.
Houston is the team that has defined baseball in the American League for the last seven years.
The Yankees needed to make a statement that this year was going to be different, and they did. There are 158 games left in the regular season, and this is just four games, but sometimes there are series in the regular season that have more meaning. This weekend was one of those for the Yankees, and they responded.
It looked different. It felt different, and maybe 2024 will be different for the Yankees this season. Only time will tell.
Until next time, New York, I’m Marc Malusis.
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