Yankees Soar To 9-2 With Win Against The Pirates

The Yankees upped their Spring Training record to 9-2 with a win over the Pirates today by a score of 3-2 at Boss Field.

The Yankees are on a Spring Training roll. It doesn’t mean anything, but it means everything as this team is getting used to the idea of winning. And it doesn’t matter that the games “don’t count.”

Today, Masahiro Tanaka took the mound for the start, this time tossing three innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. He has yet to allow a run this spring.

Offensively, today was another example of someone stepping up to lead the team. Today, it was little known, Pete Kozma, who went 2-2 and drove in a run.

Aroldis Chapman, Tyler Clippard, Chance Adams, and Luis Cessa all made appearances in the game, and all, with the exception of Adams, were effective in shutting down the Pirates.

Matt Holliday, Gary Sanchez, Chris Carter, and Gleyber Torres all chipped with hits. Torres is now batting .545 for the spring.

But It’s Not About Those Stats

Putting aside all those stats from today’s win, though, is that the Yankees are quietly putting together a winning formula that results from contributions may by everyone who steps on the field that day.

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Moreover, and not to get giddy about it, they are getting used to the idea of winning. And beyond that, they may be even expecting to win on any given day. Derek Jeter, in his own way, was the instigator of that way of thinking. You come to the ballpark expecting to win, and when the game is over, win or lose, you come back the next day expecting to win.

Given the grind of a 162 game season, and with the younger guys who have never experienced it, that “feeling” cannot be overestimated. Some would say it’s arrogance that prompts that feeling. But others would say that it’s confidence, not only in your ability to contribute but in knowing that if you fail on a particular day, someone else will be there to pick you up.

The Yankees Will Get Boston’s Attention

Needless to say, but it’s going to take a mini-miracle for the Yankees to overcome the powerhouse team that the Boston Red Sox are putting on the field for the 2017 season. But, you have to start somewhere.

And the Yankees, this spring, haven’t wasted any time in establishing themselves as a team to be reckoned with.

Next: Four Take Aways From SpringTraining So Far

In this game, you take one day at a time, and you don’t look too far ahead because as Sachel Paige said, “Someone might be gaining on you.” The Red Sox might begin to take notice of that because the way things are looking, it’s gonna be the Yankees right behind them all the way. And from there, who knows?