Phillies just taught Yankees a lesson on how a contender handles travel adversity

The New York Yankees proved plenty during their 12-game gauntlet against American League playoff contenders, going 7-5 and capturing road series in enemy territory in Boston and Houston. The one thing they still haven't proven is that they can adapt to less-than-ideal travel and rest conditions. If they'd like a further lesson on how a genuine contender deals with being uncomfortable, they'd do well to memorize the story of the Philadelphia Phillies' trip to Dodger Stadium, and how the East was won in an adrenaline-fueled barnburner.

On a Sunday getaway day following an afternoon game in Philadelphia against the Royals, Bryce Harper and the boys were grounded on the east coast, hanging onto a Magic Number of one. Amateur flight trackers charted their progress from afar, and estimated that they were due in Burbank at around 1:20 AM local time/4:20 AM on the coast they were vacating. Mechanical issues have plagued the Phillies' plane repeatedly this season, for whatever reason, and this particular bout of trauma put their boots on the ground about 16 hours before first pitch in LA. No off day. No mercy.

As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com wrote Monday night, "The Phillies landed in L.A. a little before 2 a.m. local time, several hours later than scheduled because they had another mechanical issue with their plane. (It has happened a few times this season.) But the Phillies had to play the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. PT, regardless of what time they landed and got to their hotel."

And, with all that on their shoulders, and a clinch looming, and the defending champions on their ledger ... not only did they win, but they shrugged off a 3-0 deficit and a game-tying Mookie Betts home run in the ninth to hold the Dodgers scoreless in the 10th and win an extra-innings game on the road by a sliver.

The Yankees have been dealt some inane schedule luck this year, to be sure. They've had back-to-backs when they should've had breathers. They've had Sunday afternoons turned into Sunday nights to benefit the national television monster. But they haven't seen anything like what the Phillies just went through — and when they've been faced with anything less than ideal, they've snoozed and wilted the very next day.

Yankees could learn a lesson from Phillies' gutty victory with no rest in Los Angeles

The Yankees flew to Minnesota late Sunday after a speedthrough SNB game at Fenway Park. They mounted a mid-game comeback against Garrett Crochet and showed their mettle, but ultimately fell short in a game that seemed somewhat simulated and unnecessary after they'd already proved their point Friday and Saturday. They got into Minneapolis late without an off day, but other than that quirk, they weren't facing any sort of distinct disadvantage against a 66-83 Twins team that sold its assets at the trade deadline. The Yankees have dominated much better Twins teams than this one. They'd have to get up for the game and keep themselves movivated, but otherwise, there was no reason to expect trouble.

And yet, somehow, they fell victim once again to their primary 2025 enemy: not the Blue Jays or Sox, but the "less-than-ideal night's sleep." They weren't just defeated by the Twins; they were shut out. They struck out 11 times in six innings against youngster Simeon Woods Richardson. Luke Weaver unraveled in the seventh. Jose Caballero flubbed a hotshot and a double play in the third. They looked lethargic. They rolled up like a tuckered-out team that had already clinched, despite a Magic Number of nine. They undid the two-game cushion they built over Boston on Friday and Saturday; in a blink, it's back down to one.

And, if they need a little nudge to get back on track, they need only look about two hours south to Philadelphia, where the busted Phils' plane may still be sitting on the tarmac. Sometimes, the conditions are frustrating. Sometimes, they're downright traumatic. But there's still a job to be done — and it doesn't get any easier to shrug off the outside noise and punishing conditions next month. That's a promise.