The New York Yankees are having an excellent MLB regular season so far. With Aaron Judge setting milestones like the one who was set before the MLB was even created, the franchise and the fan base are hoping to see what will happen with the team this year.
After falling short in the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, this year there are thoughts to think that the team will have a different destiny in 2025. With that in mind, the fans are hoping that the winning streak extends during the regular season.
Also, they are expecting so much from the team, as they are having 7-win lead in the AL East, after their victory over the Los Angeles Angels, and that haven’t happened in May since the 1998 campaign. That year, was one of the best moments in Yankees’ history, with a team that placed the greatest record in a regular season with 114-48.
It wasn’t the last time that Yankees were champions in the MLB, but that team entered in history with the record in the regular season, and because of his players like Tino Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams, among other big names in that roster, the fans are hoping to see something different this year, but some of them are criticizing hard the current season.
Yankees fans react to seven-game lead in AL East
The Yankees are riding high atop the AL East with a comfortable seven-game cushion, but fans aren’t exactly celebrating. Instead of focusing on New York’s success, many are pointing to the subpar performances from their division rivals.
“Our division is just trash this year. It says nothing about our record, but hey, at least we’re taking advantage of it!” one fan posted on X. Another chimed in, “So this is the worst the division has been since 1998?” The sentiment was echoed across social media. “It’s just crazy to me the rest of the East is struggling to play over .500,” another fan wrote.
Drawing parallels to the legendary 1998 Yankees
While no fans directly compared this year’s lead to the dominance of the 1998 Yankees, it’s hard to ignore the echoes of that historic season. Let’s take a quick look at what made that squad so remarkable:
- Unprecedented Dominance: The Yankees finished 22 games ahead of the second-place Red Sox, who still won 92 games, an impressive record in any other year.
- Balanced Brilliance: They led the majors in runs scored (965) and allowed the fewest (656), showcasing elite production on both sides of the ball.
- Depth Over Power: Without a single player hitting 30 home runs, the team still featured 10 players with double-digit homers. Bernie Williams claimed the batting title (.339), and Derek Jeter led the club in hits (203) and runs scored (127).
- Unrivaled Consistency: New York went 24 straight series without a loss and clinched a playoff berth by August—an almost unheard-of feat.
- ALCS Triumph: The Yankees overcame a formidable Cleveland Indians lineup to win the ALCS in six games.
- World Series Sweep: They then dismantled the San Diego Padres in a four-game sweep, capturing their 24th championship. Scott Brosius earned World Series MVP honors.
SURVEY Can the Yankees repeat their dominant 1998 campaign this season?
Can the Yankees repeat their dominant 1998 campaign this season?
already voted 19 fans
