Yankees’ “Gains” And So Likely, At Least, To The “QTRS” Of The Upcoming Baseball Tournament

The New York Yankees, a la the result in the 2000 ALCS, have won the first two of three games in Seattle vs the very likely out of contention, Mariners, and having been on the positive end in 6, of what is now 8 straight days of “gains” in the Yankees/Orioles battle for the one eighth “div,” have a 5 game lead over the O’s–veritable zeroes of late, having lost 8 of 10 games, however, be warned, things often change quickly in the ‘offs, witness last season when the O’s went into the ‘offs as the A.L. one seed and after a first round bye, were swept out in 3 games by the eventual champion, Texas Rangers.

5 is operative, as I cite it, not because I think the O’s have much of a shot to win that one eighth “div,” but to recall a 3 game series, 50 years ago, earlier in September (Tues 9/17-Thurs 9/19) of “same calendar” 1974, when “Balti” came to New York (Shea Stadium not “Yankee,” as it was being refurbished) and swept the Yankees in all 3 tilts.

Balti and the Yankees have split their 10 contests, thus far, and the tiebreaker/season series, but I seriously doubt any real drama, will be decided in the upcoming O’s at Yankees, Sept. 24-26th. (5-5 and 5 game lead, the Yankees won games 3 and 4 at “Sea” in the 2000 ALCS, lost #5 there, then won the pennant, clinching it at home in #6, in the last “LCS or later,” game, with Bob Costas as the lead TV broadcaster).

That win made official that an intra New York/Subway (World) Series would take place between the Yankees and Mets. It was the first such series in 44 years (Yankees 7’d Brooklyn (Dodgers), reversing the 1955 result, in ’56) and the Yankees took their 26th crown and 4th in 5 seasons, doing so in 5 games.

Speaking of the Mets, they currently are tied with Arizona, the team that denied the Yankees a 4th straight title, rallying in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 7/2001 World Series, for the second of three wild card spots, each team 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, (a franchise, the Yankees, managed by ex Braves player, Joe Torre, defeated in 8 straight W.S. tilts to cop the ’96 and ’99 crowns, after losing at home in the first two W.S. tilts in ’96), for ‘offs/tournament qualification.

Oh will I have numbers(#’s) here as the baseball season heads into its tournament.

Surely, at least some will involve the Yankees and their largely great history/success.