Pre-World Series Thoughts

By Andy Singer

October 22nd, 2024

Photo Credit - Gregory Fisher, Imagn Images

I will freely admit, I am still riding high with the realization that the Yankees are actually (finally) playing in a World Series. When the team's championship window surprisingly and excitingly opened in 2017, I expected to see the team here with regularity. That didn't happen, and though that has been disappointing to witness as a fan, that reality doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the coming World Series. On some level, I would guess that Dodgers fans feel similarly; besides their World Series in 2020, which feels like it has an asterisk next to it, the Dodgers have failed to be around for the last game of the year as frequently as they should, given the rosters they've put together over a similar timespan.

That context makes this upcoming series really fun. From a historical perspective, I think it's pretty great to have a Dodgers/Yankees World Series. I grew up reading stories about the battles for New York when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn, so this matchup brings me back to a much more innocent time in my baseball fandom. Given my excitement, I'm having trouble working through my thoughts enough for a focused post, so we're back to bullet points today. Here are some of the things I've been thinking about:

• It's beginning to look very likely that Nestor Cortes will be available to pitch out of the bullpen in the World Series. I noted just how good Nestor was for the Yankees from August forward last week, so getting Nestor back even on a limited basis makes the team's pitching staff that much deeper.

• It's impossible to not love Nestor. Flexor strains are scary injuries for pitchers, and are very often a precursor to Tommy John Surgery. If Nestor injures himself further and requires Tommy John Surgery, he will almost certainly miss the entirety of his free agent walk year. Nestor even recently noted that he is aware that coming back from this specific injury this quickly puts him at an increased risk for further serious injury. More to the point, he has indicated in interviews this week that he knows he is potentially costing himself a significant amount of money should the worst come to pass. Despite that, Nestor has noted that it has always been his dream to pitch in the World Series, and he wants to do anything he can to help his teammates. Actions like this are rarer in the modern game as the business gets bigger, so it's refreshing to watch a player like Nestor Cortes remind us of a more innocent era. I love Nestor.

• He also can really help the team. Nestor combines the ability to neutralize tough hitters with more strikeout stuff than one of the guys Nestor could replace on the roster. Tim Mayza has only thrown 1.1 innings in the playoffs, and I don't think anyone really trusts him in a big spot. I think swapping Nestor in for Mayza on the roster makes the Yankees a more formidable opponent. I can't think of a guy I want to have a bigger series than Nestor Cortes.

• Okay, that's not quite true. I want Aaron Judge to have the type of jaw-dropping performance we all know he's capable of producing. Judge has had some big moments in the playoffs this year, but he also is treading water offensively more than he's dominated. His numbers against the Dodgers have been very good, even for him, so I'm hoping for some magic.

• Baseball fans are very lucky to watch the game's two best players play each other in the World Series. I'm sure that MLB has had its fingers crossed for a Judge vs. Ohtani World Series. I know that I can't wait to see what happens.

• Winning the AL East proved to be critical to the Yankees' playoff success, as it gave them an easier path to the World Series. Not only did they get a little breathing room to get healthier with added time off, but they were able to face an easier team in the ALDS. Too often in recent years, the Yankees clearly didn't care about winning the AL East, and it hurt them in the playoffs. This year showed how much better it is to win the division if the goal is to win the World Series.

• The Dodgers are the most formidable test the team will face in the playoffs this year. The Dodgers offense is so deep, and they can beat teams in a variety of ways. They can hit for power, move runners along, and run the bases well, putting plenty of pressure on pitchers and defenses. The Yankee pitching staff will be stretched to the max in this series. I can't help but feel like the Yankees need Cole and Rodon to come up like aces to save the bullpen more than they have so far in the playoffs. I don't think the Yankees can beat the Dodgers if they are forced to use Holmes and Warren for multiple innings nearly every game.

• On the flip side, I'm not as impressed with the Dodgers' pitching staff as many seem to be. Their 3 starters have been inconsistent, though the talent is there for Flaherty, Yamamoto, and Buehler to be lights-out, but we haven't seen that version of any of them night in and night out in the playoffs. The Dodgers have an excellent bullpen, but again, they've been leaned on heavily and are starting to show cracks.

• 1B is another interesting storyline for the Yanks. Anthony Rizzo deserves tons of credit for getting himself ready to play with two broken fingers, and he's found a way to be successful at the plate by choking up and shooting/slapping the ball to all fields, which is more than I can say for his performance in the regular season. However, Rizzo has been awful defensively in the playoffs, to the point of being a liability. I am sure that Rizzo will start as long as he's healthy, but I can't help but wonder if we'll see Aaron Boone be a little more willing to pull the trigger on changing the defensive alignment earlier in games, given Oswaldo Cabrera's defensive prowess.

• The Yankees need to play smart, fundamental baseball; giving away runs like they did against Cleveland won't fly against the Dodgers.

• Much has been made about the Yankees' failures to score more runs given how often they've been on-base in the playoffs. As frustrating as that's been for this fan, I think it points to the idea that the Yankees are due for an offensive breakout. Keep putting ducks on the pond, and eventually they'll all start coming home. I have a sense that the offense is close to producing a big game or two.

• I really hope Judge's ribs are healthy. That HBP he took in Game 6 of the ALCS looked ugly, and I think it pretty clearly affected him throughout that game. My fingers are crossed that this is the last time I mention it.

• Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton are as close to Murderer's Row as any combination I've seen in my lifetime. I feel really lucky to witness these guys bat back-to-back-to-back.

• Austin Wells looks so beyond lost at the plate for the most part, but I don't see how the Yankees can play Trevino behind the plate again. The Dodgers will run all over Trevino, so I think the Yanks have to hope that Wells snaps out of it.

• Jazz Chisholm is another guy that looks lost right now. I love the guy, but some of his at-bats lately are completely non-competitive.

• If one of Austin Wells or Jazz Chisholm can heat up, this offense looks that much more dangerous.

• Prediction: The Yanks take the Dodgers in 6 games behind a quick 2-0 lead with good performances from Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. Giancarlo Stanton continues to be October Stanton, and Judge pitches in, playing like an MVP. I think the Yankees will show some real fight by winning a back-and-forth game in the middle of the series that gives them the momentum. Either way, I think this is going to be a fantastic set of games.