Skip to main content

Yanks Back in the Series - Feelin' Like a Kid Again

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!

Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

The Pondering 10 - Yankees All-Decade Team for 2010s

I thought I would stay away from the "all-decade" shenanigans, but I got suckered in after all. Around here, end of year rankings, reviews, and reflections rule, so why not compose a list that embodies it all? And why not put together a list around my beloved Yankees? Especially in a decade in which they DID NOT win the World Series. Gasp! With all of that said, please see below not only my list of the Yankees All-Decade Team (because everyone can filter by position), but also by importance and contribution throughout the decade.
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...
Read more