NEW YORK — Away from the mayhem of the New York Yankees’ clubhouse — where Aaron Judge was drenched in beer and cheap champagne, where Jasson Domínguez staggered through the spray in his beer goggles, where Austin Slater knelt as five teammates unloaded beer over his head, and where Paul Goldschmidt’s son, Jake, reveled in the heart of the madness — stood Oswaldo Cabrera, apart from it all.
Cabrera is the soul of the Yankees. His smile is permanent, and his energy is infectious. He sustained a gruesome left ankle fracture on May 12, but never once did his positivity waver. Before he got clearance from the Yankees’ medical staff to walk again, he would roll into the clubhouse on a scooter, greeting everyone in his path. But after the Yankees officially clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night, Cabrera acknowledged how challenging it has been for him to watch from the dugout.
“It’s not fun being on my side because I feel like I can’t do anything for the team inside the field,” Cabrera told The Athletic. “But I have the opportunity to pick my guys up in the dugout. That’s everything that matters to me right now is to try to pick my guys up and to get the vibes up.”
Cabrera is now a part of “The Hot Corner,” an unofficial place in the dugout where all the bench players celebrate. It was created by Amed Rosario, whom the Yankees acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals. To be a part of The Hot Corner, positive energy must always be at 100 percent, and it’s a perfect place for Cabrera to still make an imprint.
“I’m so happy for my guys,” Cabrera said. “That’s all that matters to me. I feel like I’m still part of the family.”
The Yankees’ champagne showers were not as wild as they were when they won the American League last season and advanced to the World Series. That night in Cleveland, the Yankees trashed the visitors clubhouse. Multiple TVs were smashed, and lockers were destroyed. The Cleveland Guardians gave the Yankees the green light to go as berserk as they wanted, as they were about to undergo offseason renovations. But Tuesday, after a 3-2 walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees were operating with unfinished business.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the division,” Judge said. “It’s still right there for us. We’re excited about getting in, but we got bigger things ahead of us.”
The New York Yankees celebrate after punching their ticket to the postseason. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
The Yankees (89-68) are within one game of the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead, though the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker. If the Yankees win their five remaining games (two against the White Sox and three against the Baltimore Orioles), they’ll win the division if the Blue Jays finish 3-2. Toronto has two games remaining against the Boston Red Sox and three against the Tampa Bay Rays, who’ve been eliminated from postseason contention.
Winning the division would all but assure the Yankees of securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series, at a minimum. That’s why the Yankees didn’t celebrate as hard as they could have. They know their job isn’t finished yet.
“It’s always great to play October baseball, but it means even more to go to the World Series,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “Right now, this is just the first step. We’re going to keep on going.”
The New York Yankees pose for a team photo after clinching a postseason berth. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
Few inside the Yankees clubhouse were more excited about clinching a postseason berth than José Caballero, whom the Yankees acquired on deadline day from the Rays. He was awarded the Yankees’ player of the game championship belt after his walk-off single in the ninth inning. Caballero, who can play multiple infield positions and pinch run, has been a massive addition. His biggest moment so far as a Yankee ended with his teammates mobbing him at first base.
Long after the game ended and the Yankees were taking pictures on the field, Caballero still had the belt draped over his shoulder. He doesn’t plan on giving it up anytime soon.
“Hell no,” Caballero said. “This is the best time to have the belt. I’m not letting it go.”
Teammates swarm José Caballero after his walk-off single. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
It’s been a challenging year for the Yankees. They had an 87-game stretch in which they were just one game over .500. They lost their ace, Gerrit Cole, before the season to Tommy John surgery. Their slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, missed more than two months with double tennis elbow. Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, mainstays in the rotation, missed significant time because of injury. But the Yankees have persevered and put themselves back into contention for winning the division.
The Yankees entered this season with all of the motivation they needed — they were embarrassed in the World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who then mocked them this offseason. They have not forgotten about it. Cabrera said the World Series loss has been the “one thing that we have on our minds every time we are on the field.” Chisholm said the heartbreak of Game 5 “still feels like it’s yesterday.” That’s what is pushing the Yankees into October this year.
“This October, we’re coming to prove a point,” Chisholm said.
(Top photo of Aaron Judge and José Caballero: Al Bello / Getty Images)
Source link
