Jordan Montgomery, Joey Gallo quotes show 2022 Yankees could be special

A week after all hope seemed lost for a fanbase prone to forcing themselves into early hopelessness, the New York Yankees possess the best record in the American League and hold sole possession of first place in the AL East.

“It’s early”? Yeah, hotshot. But a hot start is better than a cold one, and for a team that far too often buries themselves and has to dig out of it, this stands as a solid April point of pride. After all, you know how many days they held onto first place all by themselves in a depressing 2021 season colored by an air of malaise? Zero.

In 2022, though, something seems to have awoken within the roster. Perhaps it’s Anthony Rizzo’s leadership permeating the group (the Bombers are 51-28 since his arrival last year). Maybe it’s Aaron Judge’s contract year. Or maybe it’s 28 guys who were trying just as hard last year, but are watching it click now.

Regardless of what lit the fire, Jordan Montgomery and Joey Gallo proved they’ve got it after Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Orioles, the Yankees’ fifth straight and eighth in 10 games.

Montgomery, who’s had a characteristically snake-bit season thus far and has dominated without a win AND opened his first start of the year by being drilled with a liner, was dominant yet again in what he left as a 2-2 game in less than ideal weather conditions.

Postgame, though, he couldn’t have cared less if it were cold or not. He’s preparing for October after all, isn’t he?

Yankees’ Joey Gallo, Jordan Montgomery are October ready.

He really spun that excellent Fan Bait answer out of literally nowhere, didn’t he? The reporter was probably expecting something like, “Eh, no big deal. I wore a turtleneck,” but instead, they got a declaration that the April Yankees are already thinking about October baseball.

Gallo caught up with Ryan Ruocco after the win — in which he homered for the second time in as many games — and further opened the door to the 2022 Yankees’ mentality.

The Bombers gave Gallo the silent treatment after his first dinger of the season on Tuesday, sending him wandering through the dugout alone dropping sarcastic F-bombs. When he drilled his second shot on Wednesday, the team dropped the pretense and just partied.

In case you were wondering if Gallo was comfortable or not while mired in his struggles, the answer is yes.

You take the best parts of the Rangers clubhouse — the table-setting Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the fan-favorite gamer Jose Trevino, and Gallo — and add a well-seasoned group of superstars and excellent coaches and … yeah, you just might find something that works.

So far, the 2022 Yankees are overflowing with pitching, learning to slug, and waiting for October. It feels good to get things settled early.

3 Yankees offseason missed connections that sting the most

These New York Yankees missed out on basically every big name they were connected to, butt these three ships passing in the night hurt the most.