The Yankees are headed to the 2024 World Series.
It's the eighth time in my lifetime that they will be playing baseball for the sport's biggest prize.
On this very night, I feel young again. After all, that's where so much of the Yankees' success in my lifetime was experienced. Yeah, cue the tiny violin. But, it's been fifteen years since the last Fall Classic visit. That's fifteen years of life, growth, and other stuff that has happened - nostalgia is easy to engage in with a gap and life parallel such as this.
Also, there is the obvious - I always watched baseball with my dad. This is the Yankees' first time in the World Series since he's left Earth, and of course, my experience during this run has carried that void. This upcoming World Series - win or lose - we won't be staying up late agonizing over games. Or as we did in 2003, my freshman year in college, connect briefly on the phone to say hi, talk Yankees, and hang up.
Nonetheless, this run is special. Hopefully, there are four more wins to come. But for now, some really quick thoughts from yours truly:
- I couldn't be happier for a guy like Giancarlo Stanton. The guy has embraced New York - good and bad - since arriving. His tenure hasn't been perfect, but he really has been as advertised - injury-prone, but a force when healthy. I've always gravitated to the larger baseball players throughout my life, mainly because of my own experience, and watching Stanton ignore the haters - especially those from this (at times) insufferable fanbase - brought a smile to my face. Keep raking, Big G.
- Speaking of being happy for people - I would really love to talk honestly with Brian Cashman tonight. Again, to quote the great Kobe Bryant, "job's not done". But holy smokes, this guy won't nearly get the credit he deserves - if ever.
- Yankees fans remain insufferable. A good portion of the fanbase really is. There is a part of me that thinks some of them don't deserve this pleasure. But eh, good times and good vibes right now! Win or lose in the next round - sports radio will be filled with "fire Boone, "I despise this front office" and all sorts of other miserable takes.
- Juan Soto is just...generational. Pay the man. Back up the Brinks truck.
- The unsung hero is this Yankees bullpen. All of them. Every single dude pitched some gutsy innings thus far in both series.
- I'm confident we're seeing Gleyber Torres' final games as a Yankee. But again, he's really solidified that leadoff role that has been such a need.
And finally...
- Wrapping up my nostalgia point - the last time the Yankees and Knicks were both this good (and memorable) in my lifetime was 1999. The Yankees eventually won their second of what was to become three consecutive championships. And the Knicks? Well, they marched to the NBA Finals shocking the world as the #8 seed and eventually fell short to the San Antonio Spurs, led by some guys who are really good at basketball named Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
In 1999 - I was 14.
Yup, feelin' like a kid again.
Let's go Yankees!