More than three months have passed since the Yankees lost to the Astros in Yankee Stadium to bow out of the ALCS. However, the episode remains a key psychological factor in preparing the Yankees for their 2023 season and looks set to carry them when they begin their 14th straight season in pursuit of that elusive 28th World Series championship.
The loss to Houston was an aggravating, irritating one for fans of the New York Yankees and they always want to see if their team has mustered enough skills to beat the Astros the next season. Even the Yankees players see that shameful loss as something that has given them fire and made them a target for redemption.
“I think anytime you lose, especially at home, it stings with you,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge told the New York Post. “I even go back to losing the ALDS to the Red Sox in 2018 when they beat us on our field [in Game 4] and eventually went on to win the World Series. They all sting, I wouldn’t say anyone more than the other just because a loss is a loss.”
The Yankees shouldn’t just be able to knock on the door of the World Series. All of them, from Hank Steinbrenner to Brian Cashman to Aaron Boone to Captain Aaron Judge, know that it’s time to kick down the door.
“It was very, very painful, according to Yankees starter Nestor Cortes. “That’s the team we’ve lost to every time we’ve been in the LCS. I think we need to get over that hill in order to get there. It was like a dagger when they celebrated and beat us in four games, so I hope we can change that this year.”
“The feeling around here is that we can’t be satisfied with being the best team in baseball during the regular season or with winning the AL East, said Yankees ace reliever Michael King. We can’t be satisfied with that. I know that resonates all the way to the front office in terms of offseason moves, ’cause they see the same thing,” King said. “There’s just like a different attitude after a loss like that. Coming back in here obviously, it’s great to see everybody, but you know that we all have one goal in mind, and it adds fuel to the fire.”
“When you get swept at home, it’s never a good feeling,” Clarke Schmidt said. “It leaves a sour taste in your mouth for sure. It puts a little bit of hunger in your butt and makes you want to put a lot of work in to come back there and be able to come back the next year and do it to them. It definitely motivates us a lot.”
“I think a lot of people here are still thinking about it,” Clay Holmes said. “I think it’s what drives us, especially now that spring is here. It’s great that all of their minds are there in March. Better that they all have the same ideas in October.”
“I think in a way it was an opportunity for us to go into the offseason with a different mentality, a little more urgency in the offseason. Everybody seems like they made big strides in the offseason because it hurt so bad last year,” Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa told. “So I’m just hoping that we can stay healthy all the way through the season and see those guys again, or whoever it may be. But I think it left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, and we’re ready to redeem ourselves.”
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
[…] fans have long treasured a victory against the Astros, who have emerged as their formidable rivals in the ALCS over the past two seasons. Anthony Volpe’s clutch two-out hit in the sixth inning brought […]