<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=43wsB5_0w6ZB5KU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=43wsB5_0w6ZB5KU00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Giancarlo Stanton needs to come up big against the Guardians if the Yankees are to make it to the World Series. AP</figcaption></figure>NEW YORK — I watched the Dodgers destroy the <a href="https://www.nj.com/mets/">Mets</a> Sunday night, wondering if the 9-0 rout was a sign of things to come in the NLCS. It’s possible, if not probable.The Mets have been running on magic for a month, but the Dodgers have the better roster. Riding an impossible streak of three straight shutouts in the playoffs, they’re currently more dangerous than any team. That includes the <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/">Yankees.</a>There’s a long way to go in both leagues, but my crystal ball — back from the repair shop — sees the Dodgers and Yankees in the World Series. That’ll disappoint the Subway Series fetishists, but this would be a classic showdown between the leagues’ two best clubs.Why am I betting on the Yankees? That’s a reasonable question. <a href="https://www.nj.com/sports/2024/06/yankees-aaron-boone-has-a-new-post-win-tradition.html">Aaron Boone</a> was right when he said the other day, “We’re not perfect.”The ‘24 Bombers had a good season. Early on they looked like a Joe Torre-era team. But only a fool would mistake their 94 wins for powerhouse status. Somehow, the Yankees prevailed, mostly because their most important gambles paid off.Want to bet on MLB?I’m thinking about Boone, who clung to <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/08/with-swollen-face-yankees-dj-lemahieu-gives-update-on-freak-injury.html">DJ LeMahieu</a> too long and almost did the same with <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/09/whats-in-store-for-yankees-clay-holmes-after-franchise-tying-13th-blown-save.html">Clay Holmes.</a> But managing without a contract for 2025, Boone didn’t make any rash decisions down the stretch to save his job.<a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/10/yankees-juan-soto-reacts-to-blue-jays-weighing-astronomical-offer-after-eventful-game-3.html">Juan Soto</a> lived up to his billing. So did <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/10/yankees-aaron-judge-now-a-pure-hitter-will-beat-teams-with-hrs-and-singles-its-the-law-of-averages.html">Aaron Judge</a>, at least until October rolled around. More on that later.Obviously, the calculus starts all over in Game 1 of the ALCS. It should be a compelling six or seven game series. The Guardians won’t roll over as easily as the Royals did in the Division Series. So brace yourself.Until that first pitch is thrown, it’s worth remembering how the Yankees got here. This isn’t the ‘98 team — obviously — and not even the 2019 squad. But Boone and Co., had a decent batting average with those gambles,Here’s a sample of the menu.<h2>Soto would soak up attention in Bronx</h2>And how. Soto is a heck of an actor if we find out this winter he was faking his friendship with Judge. No, I suspect Soto loves everything about the Yankees and is looking for a reason to stay.That’s up to <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/11/yankees-hal-steinbrenner-doubles-down-on-brian-cashmans-tirade-too-many-false-narratives.html">Hal Steinbrenner,</a> but Judge will play an important role in the coming drama. Soto knows that standing shoulder to shoulder with the game’s best all-around talent will only enhance his legacy. Plus, Soto likes and respects Judge personally.That made it easier for Soto to live up to his end of the bargain. As the anti-Josh Donaldson, Soto put on the pinstripes and matched all his career numbers.<h2>Luke Weaver could make on-the-fly conversion to closer</h2>Boone could’ve done the Yankees a favor by identifying - and acting on - Holmes’ crisis sooner. But he sure landed on the right guy to get the last three outs.Weaver not only has the velocity to close – his 96.9-mph fastball is quicker than Holmes’ and even Gerrit Cole’s - he has the resolve as well.Unlike the more fragile Holmes, nothing seems to bother Weaver. He’s as fearless as anyone in the clubhouse.And talk about claiming the ninth inning as his own: since replacing Holmes, Weaver hasn’t allowed an earned run in 15.1 innings, walked only three while striking out 29.The Guardians still have the edge in the closer role, thanks to Emmanuel Clase, the industry’s best. But Weaver isn’t far behind. And that’s saying something.<h2>Aaron Judge, fully recovered from 2023 broken toe, has best year yet</h2>As they say, it’s complicated. Judge walks to the plate with thunderous chants of “MVP! MVP!” filling the Stadium. No American League player did more to help his team than No. 99.Since voting for this award is based strictly on regular-season stats - the ballots have to be returned before the start of the post-season - Judge should win the crown walking away.Yet, the captain’s 58-home run season, great as it was, will be memory-holed if he doesn’t break out of his slump against the Guardians. It’ll feel even worse if the Yankees fail to make it to the World Series.Judge, who finished with a career-best .322 average, fell to .154 against the Royals in the ALDS. He’s only a career .207 hitter in October. It defies explanation.The only plausible reason for the drop-offs is fatigue, especially this year. Judge played 158 games in 2024, 117 of them in the field.It wouldn’t be an issue for a 20-something player. But Judge is 32 with cranky knees, something that Bernie Williams, a four-time Gold Glove winner, discussed with me in spring training.“Centerfield drains you so much more than right field,” Williams said. “I wonder if that’s going take a toll on (Judge’s) conditioning later in the season.”Those words seem like a prophecy today. Judge may very well be running on fumes. But don’t bet against him.<h2>Giancarlo Stanton would prove haters wrong come October</h2>Most of my friends are Yankees die-hards. They inevitably ask about Stanton, who’s just aloof enough on TV to be interesting.My answer is that Stanton is as emotionally self-sufficient as Alex Rodriguez was needy. No one cares less about the fans’ opinions than Stanton.To be clear, he has no animosity towards the ticket buyers. Not even the ones who’ve savaged him with insults and epithets for years. Stanton has immunized himself to the noise.That’s why he’s succeeded in the post-season, because unlike other athletes, he turns off the voice of panic in his head. Stanton instead lets the adrenaline take over.He was 6-for-16 against the Royals and now has 12 homers in 128 at-bats in the postseason.Think about that: the only Yankees with better playoff OPS are Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson.That’s a pretty heady company for a streaky slugger that YES viewers wanted to ship out of town a year ago. Stanton never blinked.And now he just might take the Yankees to the World SeriesBob Klapisch may be reached at <a href="mailto:bklapisch@njadvancemedia.com">bklapisch@njadvancemedia.com</a>.</div></body>

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Yankees are a lock to flatten Guardians, but only if ... | Klapisch

NEW YORK — I watched the Dodgers destroy the Mets Sunday night, wondering if the 9-0 rout was a sign of things to come in the NLCS. It’s possible, if not probable. The Mets have been running on magic for a month, but the Dodgers have the better roster. Riding an impossible streak of three straight shutouts in the playoffs, they’re currently more dangerous than any team. That includes the Yankees.

Yankees are a lock to flatten Guardians, but only if ... | Klapisch

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