The New York Yankees have arguably the most storied history of any professional sports team in existence. They have played in countless playoff series’, and experienced both triumph and heartbreak unlike any other team (although it has mainly been triumph). They have won the World Series 27 times, won the American League 40 times, and have played host to some of the game’s most iconic stars, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle. The Yankees have established themselves not only as a powerhouse in baseball but an important part of American history.
With an organization so rich in history, many iconic moments, players, and series can slip through the cracks, becoming somewhat lost amidst the treasure trove of memories that the Yankees possess.
However, the 2020 American League Division Series, and any potential playoff games that may follow it, will instantly forge a unique path in Yankee history.
A Season Unlike Any Other
For starters, the entire 2020 MLB season will always be the source of scrutiny. Containing a schedule of just 60 games, it was the shortest regular season in the history of Major League Baseball. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many unique games and situations that have not necessarily been seen before. On August 28, the Yankees lost to the New York Mets, after Amed Rosario hit a walk-off home run against Aroldis Chapman. Sounds pretty standard, right?
Well, the game was at Yankee Stadium, and Rosario’s hit came in the 7th inning of the game. The Mets were the home team because the two opponents previously had a weekend series postponed, after a player and a coach from the Mets organization tested positive for the virus. The game was just 7 innings long as a result of a new rule for 2020, which shortened all doubleheader games to 7 innings. The rule was instituted in order to help teams that were scrambling to make up lost games. As a result of COVID breakouts surrounding several teams, including the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, many teams were forced to go extended periods of time without playing.
But for all the unique memories we received during the regular season, the postseason will be even more bountiful.
A Postseason Unlike Any Other
We have already witnessed the expanded Wild Card format, which allowed 16 teams into the postseason and expanded the round from a single-game elimination to a best-of-three. In this round, the higher-seeded team played host for all 3 games, at their home stadium.
As the playoffs progress, things are only going to get more bizarre.
The Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series will all be held at neutral locations. The remaining teams are forced to quarantine in a ‘bubble’, with their teammates and family members, for the duration of their playoff run.
In a typical postseason, the Yankees would be in Tampa Bay, preparing for Game 1 against the Rays at Tropicana Field. This season, however, both teams hopped on planes and traveled across the country, to San Diego.
Petco Park, typically the home of the San Diego Padres, will spend the next week acting as a neutral site, hosting the ALDS matchup between the two teams. The two teams, who have quite a history with each other, are actually being forced to stay at the same hotel, about 45 minutes north of the ballpark.
This affects start times as well. On the East Coast, the teams are used to beginning games at 7:00 or 8:00 PM, well after the sun has set. However, 8:00 PM on the East Coast is only 5:00 PM on the West Coast.
If that wasn’t enough, Tropicana Field is a domed stadium, meaning Rays players typically do not have to deal with the sun whatsoever. Now, they will be expected to fight the shadows as the sun sets over a field that is completely foreign to them. They will have to adjust to all of this in a series that is supposed to provide them with a home-field advantage.
Another missing factor typical of an average season is the fans. Fans, obviously, can provide a major advantage (If you think otherwise, I will direct your attention to this video). The fake crowd noise can help the players feel some sense of normalcy but certainly cannot compare to the intensity of postseason crowds.
On the Road Again
The effects will be spread beyond just the playing field, as well. The two teams have moved their equipment into the facilities at Petco Park, with the Rays getting the Padres’ clubhouse, and the Yankees taking the visitor’s digs. The Yankees have not played at Petco Park since 2016, and the Rays have played only three games there in the last several seasons, and obviously did not use the home clubhouse for any of those games.
A major advantage of playing at home is the factor of comfort. Players can sleep in their own beds, and use the facilities that they are familiar and comfortable with. In the Division Series and beyond, no team will have this advantage. For all intents and purposes, the only benefit of being the home team is batting last (which can be a fairly significant advantage, to be fair).
When the Dust Clears
Though this years’ postseason is different in so many ways, at its core, it is exactly the same.
This is still MLB baseball. The fundamental actions and strategies of each team will not be affected by the new venues, or other challenges and quirks put forth by the COVID pandemic.
Once the dust has settled, things will more or less feel the same for those involved. Undoubtedly, it will be a strange feeling running onto an unfamiliar field, with unfamiliar surroundings, especially when it is intended to be their “home” stadium, but once that first pitch is thrown, it will feel like just another baseball game to most.
As teams progress through this postseason, despite that natural feeling once the games begin, they are dealing with unprecedented challenges. The path to the 2020 World Series is a path that has never been crossed. Whoever is able to hold that trophy at the end of October will have earned it, by accomplishing something that no MLB team has accomplished before.
Different Circumstances, Same Expectations
One thing this pandemic and new postseason format certainly does not change is the expectations, especially for this Yankee team. The Bronx Bombers were one of the preseason World Series favorites, and it is still very much World Series-or-bust for this team and its fanbase.
This postseason will become instantly memorable for its unique circumstances, and will undoubtedly seal its place in Yankee history. However, it is up to the Yankees themselves to decide if this postseason will also be remembered for its results.