The New York Yankees, fresh off a 99-win season, are now barely clinging to a postseason spot.
Aaron Judge is injured, as is his other big signing in left-handed starter Carlos Rodón. Plus, stars who make big money just aren’t playing near the back of their baseball card.
As Yankees legend Yogi Berra once said, it’s getting late early for the Bronx Bombers, but another isn’t too worried yet.
With 89 games remaining in the season, there’s plenty of time to turn things around, Derek Jeter says.
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Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter speaks to fans as he is honored by the New York Yankees before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 9, 2022 in the New York Yankees district. Bronx of New York City. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Jeter brought up how the Yankees got off to a historic start last season and were once on pace to win 120 games, which would have broken the all-time MLB record: After starting 52-18, they went 47-45. in his last 92 games. .
«They’re almost at the [All-Star] break, so there are a lot of games left,» Jeter said. told FOX Deportes. «I remember last year … when the Yankees got off to the great start they were off and started comparing last year’s team to the ’98 team. And I said, there’s a long way to go, too.»
Those 1998 Yankees are arguably the greatest team of all time, winning 114 games in the regular season and then sweeping the San Diego Padres to win the World Series.
But if things can go from overwhelmingly positive to disappointing in what seems like a snap of a finger, it could just as well be the other way around.
«You never know what’s going to happen over the course of a season. They’re fine from a timing perspective, but I think it’s something they should take on a day-to-day basis,» Jeter continued.
Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees celebrates after Game 4 of the World Series against the San Diego Padres on October 21, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Sports News via Getty Images via Getty Images)
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However, the Yankees are currently in their second-longest World Series drought in franchise history, without winning since 2009. Perhaps to the average baseball fan, that’s nothing, but in the land of the Yankees, it’s an eternity.
Sure, New York has missed the postseason just three times since its last World Series, and it’s done so in six straight seasons, but that’s not enough for the Yankees, says the former captain.
«I don’t think anybody in the Yankees organization is going to sit back and say, ‘Hey, we just have to make the playoffs.'» I just think that’s the wrong mentality,» he said.
«Our group made it look like it was easy to win. It’s not easy to win. A lot of things have to go right to win. When we won in ’96, it had been 18 years since they won. And then in 2000, it took us nine years plus winning again. It’s hard to do. I know the Yankees fans are nervous and getting a little impatient, but that’s what makes it great to play in New York.»
Derek Jeter #2 and Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrate on the field after their 7-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on 4 November 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
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Without the defending AL MVP in Judge, the Yankees are 10-14 this season. They’re 31-19 when he plays, but the Yankees have refrained from giving a time frame on when he’ll return from the toe injury he sustained after slamming his foot on the concrete during a wild catch in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Lakers. dodgers.
Jeter will make his debut for the FOX baseball broadcast team during the London Series this weekend between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.