Yankees players chugging beers at Rangers playoff game is energy 2022 needs

The buttoned-up New York Yankees?! Having a night on the town during their off day in preparation for a weekend series in the Bronx?! What is this, 1998?

Don’t let the boys get hot and start enjoying themselves, too! Fresh off an 11-1 stretch that has brought them to the top of MLB, nobody can touch the Yankees right now. Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo are two of the hottest hitters in the sport while DJ LeMahieu is among the best leadoff bats thus far.

To celebrate their early-season success, the trio attended Thursday night’s playoff hockey game between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates, with New York badly needing a victory to even the series after dropping Game 1 in heartbreaking fashion.

Judge, Rizzo and DJLM sure brought the energy and played a role in hyping up the crowd at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers took home a liberating 5-2 victory and the energy was at an all-time high.

Did Judge, Rizzo and LeMahieu chugging beers on live television tilt the scales? You tell us. Actually … when does this kind of partying not turn the tides?

The Yankees are in the house!! Side note: DJ’s gotta work on his ability to put back cold ones. He got lapped by Judge and Rizzo with less beer.

The Yankees partying at the Rangers playoff game was awesome

First it was manager Aaron Boone losing his marbles and getting ejected on Wednesday night, and now the players are taking a load off at an NHL playoff game. Play loose, baby! It makes all the difference.

Too bad Judge and Co. didn’t bring this same energy to the Nets’ playoff series. Whoops. Might’ve helped Brooklyn avoid the sweep.

Over the last few years, the Yankees have gotten off to slow starts and have seemingly dealt with motivational issues. Fans frequently complained about the lack of energy in the dugout, poor body language on the field, lack of accountability, and what felt like a tense atmosphere based on the boring/repetitive postgame interviews.

Sprinkling in a little fun early on might be the difference this season. The Yankees need to play like they’re not facing mounting pressure (even though they kind of always are). A more relaxed approach certainly makes it easier for players to live up to expectations, deliver in clutch situations, and focus on their game rather than get stuck in the mud with the vicious media cycle and rival teams possessing the mental edge.

Time will tell if this Yankees team is “different,” but early returns suggest the squad is trending that direction with their output on the field and ventures off of it. Hangover tanks incoming on Friday!

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