Yankees Win World Series: What Did They Do Right?

The New York Yankees, after a dominating regular season, have won their 27th World Series with a likewise dominating playoffs run. What were some important factors that contributed greatly to the team’s success during the playoffs?

1. Consistently strong starting pitching

Joe Girardi turned to a 3-man starting rotation during the playoffs which consisted of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Andy Pettite. This turned out to be a very effective strategy as all three starting pitchers, in general, performed effectively throughout the playoffs. Sabathia was especially impressive as he posted an ERA of under 2 for the playoffs. He never gave up more than three runs in a single game. The Yankee starters, excluding Burnett’s Game 5 start against the Phillies, were able to go deep into games. Although the setup pitchers like Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain seemed shaky at times in the playoffs, the Yankees often did not need to turn to them as the starters were able to pitch effectively late into the game. It was obvious that the Yankees had the strongest offensive lineup in the game. The question was whether or not the pitchers will be able to perform. They did, and the Yankees won.

2. Comeback Victories

Throughout the playoffs, the Yankees showed that you can never count them out of the game. In six of the Yankees’ eleven wins during the playoffs, the opposing team scored first. A number of games were characterized by big hits in the late innings, many of them by Alex Rodriguez who successfully overcame a history of poor playoff performances. In a number of those comeback wins, the Yankees overcame deficits in what seemed like a rather effortless manner. It can be demoralizing for a team to work so hard to manufacture a run to take the lead only to see the lead disappear in a few swings of the Yankee bats. Furthermore, it was beneficial to the pitching staff to simply know that they had a lineup backing them up that could overcome any deficit.

3. Offensive Production

Throughout the playoffs, the Yankee bats produced big. Furthermore, this production did not come from a few select bats. Rather, everyone in the lineup contributed. It takes much pressure off batters if they know that they do not always have to hit well – everyone else in the lineup will have his back. Not only did the established hitters like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez produce, Hideki Matsui had an outstanding World Series and Johnny Damon also came up with huge hits late in the World Series. Even Andy Pettite managed to come up with an RBI hit. Mark Teixeira, the Yankees’ biggest offensive producer during the regular season, performed rather inconsistently during the playoffs. That did not matter in the end, as the rest of the lineup had his back and produced when he didn’t.

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4. The Greatest Closer in the Game

Mariano Rivera once again performed brilliantly in the postseason, giving up only one run in sixteen innings pitched while getting five saves. He showed that he still had the ability to have extended outings, as he pitched more than one inning on six of his twelve appearences. He was utilized not only to close out games but also to get out of late-game jams – a role in which he performed effectively. When Joe Girardi sent this long-time Yankee great to the mound in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the World Series with the Yankees up by four runs, the Phillies’ season was essentially over.

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The Yankees are often critcized of their big spending policy with which they acquire big-name players. However, this, in the end, paid off for them as they were able to form a team capable of both great hitting and great pitching. In the end, the team that came out on to during the regulars season also came out on to during teh playoffs, as the New York Yankees won their 27th MLB title.