The New York Yankees: Why the World Series is Not Out of Reach

It was the first inning and you could smell the rivalry in the air. Josh Beckett was on the mound, and the fans packing the stadium weren’t thinking about three years ago when he pitched for the Marlins, beating them in the World Series. They were thinking about how he had become a pitcher for the hated Red Sox and about the fact that some of their clutch players were on the disabled list and rumored to not be coming back this year.

But, as early as the first inning, it was obviuos that the Yankees weren’t down yet. With a steady influx of injurty plaguing the team, the focus had moved to the new guys. The young guys. The guys who had been waiting their entire lives to get that phone call and leave for the Bronx. People have been saying it for at least two years now – too many older guys, not enough youth. But after Melky Cabrera scored all the way from first base in that first inning, on a steal, no one would doubt the young spunk of the Yankees again.

In the following inning, another young guy, Andy Phillips, hit a three-run home run and all of a sudden, no one could remember why they were worried about the Bombers’ season in the first place. Sure, two star out-fielders were out, possilby for the entire season, and the captain had a badly bruised thumb and was out of the lineup. So far in the season, almost everyone besides the younger players, the highest paid player, and the season’s star pitcher had been on the disabled list. But this wasn’t the time for worry. This was a time for celebration and for hope. Maybe, just maybe, the Yankees could win another World Series this year.

The purpose of this article is not to brag about a favorite team or player. It is to take a minute to really realize that it’s not out of the question. With all of the championships won in the past, many would think that maybe the Yankees’ time is just up. But if the younger players making recent waves have anything to say about it, those rings will be weighing down their fingers come this October.

Robinson Cano was a candidate for AL rookie of the year last year, and with good reason. This year, he’s batting .307 with 20 RBIs, and it’s only June. Andy Phillips, a player who, it was thought, would only be in on rare occasions when Giambi wasn’t on first, is batting .291 with 11 RBIs and Melky Cabrera, or “the Melkman,” has not only garnered his very own major league nickname, he’s batting .301 with 10 RBIs. Even a younger pitcher, Scott Proctor, although a bit shaky a few of his last times out, has a 3.55 ERA in 38 innings.

So, can the Yankees win without Matsui, Sheffield, even Jeter on occasion? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, let’s not forget that Mickey Mantle was young once too, and there was a time when he was so young that he was completely overshadowed by Joe Dimaggio. And what would have happened if he was never put in the game? The World Series is not out of reach for this team. Maybe this season, having to juggle the line up is more of a blessing than it seems. And maybe, just maybe, the Bombers are back.