Coming off of a three-game sweep of baseball’s sweetheart team in Washington, the Yankees have vaulted to the top of nearly every version of MLB‘s power rankings.
New York’s first 10-game winning streak since 2009 (the year they won No. 27) has put the Yankees back atop the competitive AL East by two-and-a-half games and has seemingly made them the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series.
But not so fast, Yankee Universe. Your team isn’t flawless.
Yes, the Yankees are undoubtedly the hottest team in the game at the moment. They lead all of baseball in home runs and fielding percentage. They rank in the top 10 in both runs scored and team ERA, and they have one of the strongest bullpens in the bigs despite an injury to the best closer the game has ever seen.
But I’m still not convinced. I am not yet certain that New York’s aging roster can hold off hungry divisional opponents in Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore and even Boston. I haven’t seen enough to tell me that, if they make it, the Yankees can beat the likes of Texas, Los Angeles or Detroit in a five- or seven-game playoff series.
Because nothing is decided in June.
But if the current date doesn’t convince you that it is too early to judge playoff contenders, then maybe some facts will.
Here are a few factors that separate the New York Yankees from greatness.