Is the storied New York Yankees team about to miss the 2023 playoffs? We dissect their challenges, losses, and the odds against them. Is there a comeback on the horizon?
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Key Takeaways:
- The New York Yankees face unfavorable betting odds for playoff entry, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Despite winning 99 games last season and leading the AL East, the Yankees are currently at the bottom of their division.
- The team has been struggling on both the offensive and defensive fronts, raising questions about their playoff viability.
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The Betting Odds Paint a Grim Picture
It was almost unthinkable just a year ago, but the numbers are now unavoidable: The New York Yankees are on the brink of missing the playoffs this year. As sports betting insiders like Chris “The Bear” Fallica of FOX Sports have pointed out, the odds are telling a tale of impending doom for the Bronx Bombers. The DraftKings Sportsbook sets them at -10000 for a “No” on making it to the playoffs, and a rather optimistic +2500 for a “Yes.”
[su_quote]That’s not very nice… pic.twitter.com/OMvDHcG7PM
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) August 19, 2023
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Last Season’s Triumph Makes This Year’s Decline Even More Shocking
Think back to last year. The Yankees not only clinched the AL East but did it with flair, leaving the Toronto Blue Jays trailing by seven games. They racked up 99 wins, making them one of the top-performing teams in the entire Major League Baseball. With such a spectacular run, you’d think they’d be a shoe-in for another playoff appearance, right? Well, that’s where this season’s story takes a somber turn.
As of now, the team is languishing at the bottom of the AL East with a 60-63 record, trailing their forever rival, the Boston Red Sox, by a full five games. The Yankees’ recent form is even more disheartening; they’ve dropped seven straight games and lost eight of their last nine. During these losing streaks, the opponents outscored them 45-15. To add salt to the wound, they’ve managed just four runs in their last four games.
Players and Analysts Are Running Out of Words
After their recent 8-1 trouncing at the hands of the Red Sox, Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole found it hard to articulate his thoughts. This is a man who is often outspoken, yet he was nearly speechless. It’s been a while since the Yankees faced such a crisis; the last time they missed the playoffs was back in 2016, which was part of a bleak period between 2013-2016 where postseason play eluded them more often than not.
Dexter Fowler, a former All-Star and World Series champion, provided some brutal analysis on FOX Sports about the Yankees’ current season. According to him, “This is worse than rock bottom… they’re not playing the game the right way. When it’s bad, it’s really, really bad for them right now.”
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I think this is worse than rock bottom.”@DexterFowler describes the Yankees poor performance this season pic.twitter.com/SW6eu4BzqC— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 19, 2023[/su_quote]
What’s Next for the Yankees?
Despite these setbacks, the New York Yankees still have the talent and potential to turn things around. But as the clock ticks and the odds stack against them, the question remains: Can they pull off a miracle comeback or is this season already a lost cause?
It’s hard to be optimistic given their current standing, but in baseball, like in life, surprises happen. What we can say is that the remaining games are not just another day at the ballpark; they are do-or-die situations that will either spell a miraculous turnaround or confirm a season of despair for one of MLB’s most iconic teams.
In conclusion, while the odds are increasingly against them, the Yankees still have games left to play. Whether they’ll use this time to rewrite the story of the 2023 season remains to be seen. But for now, the dream of playoffs is drifting further and further away, turning what was supposed to be another triumphant year into an unsettling nightmare.
