Yankees playoffs: Baby Bombers prove all things possible for they who try

Home Runs and Heroes

Brett Gardner came in having performed well, hitting .250 for the series. He left having shown his successors the tenacity needed for late-game, postseason at-bats.

Every player says he wants his team to continue on in the playoffs. And they say they know to never give away such an important AB.

Then they need to stay up there and fight as Gardy did. Keep fighting until you get something to hit, or get a free pass to the first base bag because to win the games, you have to win the important AB’s.

That at-bat will play like a loop in their young Yankees’ heads in every big postseason AB from now until forever.

He Made Us All Euphorious

But no player had two bigger at-bats than Didi Gregorius. His defense, demeanor and OBP coming into the game had all helped the Yankees arrive at Game 5. And his home runs in successive at-bats ensured they would advance to the ALCS.

Remember it was his second home run that stands as the game-winning hit. And like Bird, Judge, and Sanchez, he put his name even above some Yankees legends: No pinstriped shortstop ever hit two home runs in one playoff game.

Again, the lesson learned is that every game, every at-bat, in the postseason is a chance to have a moment; a chance to be a hero. If enough Yankees have even a single moment in the ALCS, rise up and take their shining moment of glory in the sun, then the team can conquer. And advance.