Alex Rodriguez speaks boldly about Yankees’ World Series chances: ‘They’ve got an easy road’
As the New York Yankees prepare to host the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday night, one former Yankee thinks the team has an “easy road” to the World Series.
Alex Rodriguez knows the feeling of winning the World Series in New York. In fact, the last time the Yankees won the trophy was in 2009, when Rodriguez was part of the complete Yankees team that defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the franchise’s MLB-best 27th title.
While on the Fox Sports panel after Game 1 of the NLCS, when the Los Angeles Dodgers took down the New York Mets to take the lead in that series, Rodriguez’s Yankees teammate, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, talked about the Yankees’ chances of reaching the team. World Series.
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Fox Sports broadcasters, from left, Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter before Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres of the NLDS. (Photos by Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn)
“You never want to say you’ve got it. You’ve never had an easy road to the World Series, but if the Yankees could pick and choose their opponents, I think they’ve got the two they’d pick because of the success they’ve had against the AL Central,” Jeter explained.
Rodriguez was very positive about his thoughts heading into the series.
“You don’t have to say it, I’ll say it: They have an easy road to the World Series,” Rodriguez replied.
“Look, it’s not easy, is it? But this is a clear path in 20 years.”
Some Yankees fans may call Rodriguez’s comments a jinx, while Guardians fans hope their team uses something like this as “bulletin,” or fuel to prove Rodriguez wrong in this best-of-seven battle.
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But there’s some support Rodriguez has for his comments regarding the Yankees’ clear-cut approach over the past two decades.
It’s no secret that New York has been trying to reach the World Series for a long time, it hasn’t done so since Rodriguez and Jeter hosted it at Yankee Stadium in 2009. They have reached the ALCS in years past, but fell short. Don’t miss out on the Houston Astros in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
However, Yankees fans rejoiced when the Detroit Tigers took down the Astros in the Wild Card Round, as they knew they wouldn’t have to see them anytime soon on their hopeful road trip to the Fall Classic.
Former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was introduced at the Seniors Day Ceremony at Yankee Stadium. (Wendell Cruz-USA Today Sports)
Then, pending the rivalry between the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles, Yankees fans will admit that they prefer to see the former because this one has given them trouble in their AL East schedule all season. The Orioles were 8-5 against the Yankees in the 2024 regular season.
So, when the Royals knocked off the Orioles, Yankees fans were once again happy with the results. New York would eventually complete its ALDS victory at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, beating the Royals in Game 4 to go on.
Meanwhile, the Rangers arrived in the Bronx with a lot of momentum after Lane Thomas’ clutch hit off AL Cy Young leader Tarik Skubal in Game 5 of the ALDS, which ended up being the final shot in the Tigers’ Cinderella story this season. postseason.
The Guardian saw the Yankees most recently in the postseason, with New York beating them in five games in the ALDS in 2022. And while the Yankees are the top seed, Cleveland comes into this series with a formidable bullpen and the second-best batting average. among the four teams left in the postseason (.234).
The Yankees are hitting at a .220 clip, with reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge struggling with just two hits in four games so far. However, the Yankees have gone 4-2 against the Guardians this season, and will look to repeat that four-game winning streak to earn a spot in the series that is becoming difficult for them despite the talent and payroll on the books.
Alex Rodriguez before the game between New York and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)
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It’s certainly not an easy road, but Rodriguez is clearly convinced that this is the best opportunity the Yankees have had since wearing the aprons.
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