New York Yankees in Contention

Last season, the New York Yankees missed the playoffs for just the second time in the 19 seasons of expanded playoffs (1995-2013).  Both of those times were under current manager, Joe Girardi. They never failed to qualify under Joe Torre, who enters the “Hall of Fame” this Sunday.

The team seemed likely to not qualify again as baseball 2014 “hit” the All star break.

However, with a decided home/away games advantage, I “knew” Mr. Jeter would not go “easily into privileged retirement.”

To their credit, the Yankees won 6 of 7 home games vs the suddenly slumping Cincinnati Reds (they were hot but 3 losses to the Yankees started a current 6 game loss skein) and the “never to be,” now “broken” Texas Rangers.

The Yankees are only three games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the A.L. East and one game ahead for playoffs qualification, in the form of the bogus wild card.