The most famous baseball team in the world, the New York Yankees, hasn’t won anything in a long time. But now the self-confidence is back. For the first time in fifteen years, the “Evil Empire” is back in the finals. But the opponent has it all.
Baseball is psychological warfare. And so last Saturday, Juan Soto of the New York Yankees subtly announced to the pitcher of the Cleveland Guardians that he was about to hit a home run. After every ball that the Dominican hit out of bounds, he nodded and looked at his opponent as if to say something to him. “Yep, you’re due soon.”
30 seconds later, the 25-year-old hit the ball centrally and in a high arc into the stands of Progressive Field in Cleveland. For the Guardians, the season was over that evening – and the New York Yankees are in the final of the American baseball league MLB, the World Series, for the first time in fifteen years.
The strength of nerves with which Soto mastered the decisive game situation is exemplary of the new self-confidence of a baseball club that has not frightened its opponents in recent years. The New York Yankees are seen in the USA as a kind of FC Bayern Munich, an arrogant and successful rich club that buys the best players away from other clubs. No club is hated as passionately as the Yankees, who call their opponents the “Evil Empire” in a nod to Star Wars.
The empire won 27 championships. For many New York visitors, attending a game is a must. Even those who aren’t interested in baseball know the names of club legends like Derek Jeter, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth.
Yankees crave success
In contrast to FC Bayern, the Yankees have hardly had any success in recent years. The Yankees last won the championship in 2009. Since then, general manager Brian Cashman has spent a lot of money tinkering with the elite team’s roster every year, but for years the only continuity in the team was star outfielder Aaron Judge, the league’s best hitter for years. Otherwise, the players came and went – and championship dreams regularly ended in the play-offs. The “Bronx Bombers” (another nickname) are no longer scary.
Until now. This year, New York sports fans’ dreams could come true. Because the Yankees have long been more than just Aaron Judge. Over the past few years, Cashman has put together a mix of experienced superstars and young talents who finally have the potential to celebrate great success again.
Gerrit Cole is considered the best starting pitcher in the league. Anthony Volpe, who attended the Yankees’ victory parade as a child in 2009, is now a shortstop for his favorite team, clearing short balls in the infield. Giancarlo Stanton, the ponderous batsman who has been rather unsuccessful in recent years, suddenly hits the ball again. And the young hotshot Soto, who only joined this year, is, together with Aaron Judge, so good at hammering balls out of the stadium (home run) that opposing teams often wave both of them to first base (walk) without resistance. So here she is again. The fear of the Yankees.
Dodgers are considered favorites
But there is a team that the Yankees also have to fear this year. The Los Angeles Dodgers – the final opponent in the World Series. In the last eight years, the Californians have reached the final three times and lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy once, and this year they have strengthened themselves with arguably the most complete and talented player of his generation for the astronomical sum of 700 million dollars over ten years. Shohei Ohtani from Japan not only hits home runs (almost) as often as Aaron Judge, he is also a distinguished pitcher.
Typically, pitchers are so specialized in their position that they don’t bat themselves. Things are different with Ohtani. The 30-year-old moved to the Dodgers to finally win a championship. The Dodgers also brought in exceptional pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Japan. There is also the hitter Mookie Betts, who has been successful for years, and a whole host of other superstars. In short: If anyone can beat the Yankees this year, it’s the Dodgers.
It starts on Friday evening. Up to seven games (four wins are necessary) will decide who wins the duel between the giants – and the baseball world is already looking forward to the clash. CBS commentator David Samson said last week: “This is what baseball has dreamed of for 45 years.” The two teams from the largest metropolitan areas, with the highest salaries and the biggest stars. Samson could hardly hide his joy that his sport was finally dominating the headlines again. Even tickets in the outfield for World Series games change hands for thousands of dollars. Everyone wants to be part of this historic encounter.
Excitement is guaranteed – right from the first game and the first throw. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will face Shohei Ohtani on the pitcher’s mound. Who will keep their nerve? It will be a psychological war again.
