Yankees' intensity could be reason for postseason success

The New York Yankees have an edge to them this year. That extra smidge of intensity was on full display in the final game of the 2024 ALDS, and if the team stays in that collective headspace, they just might bring the franchise’s 28th World Series championship to the Bronx this year.

New York’s intensity began with game-four starter, Gerrit Cole. The Yankees ace may be a chill dude who enjoys downing IPAs with the boys — but only after he takes care of business.

After a subpar performance in the first game of the series, Cole entered the final contest with a competitive fire blazing in the windows to his soul.

"It's a piercing look," Jose Trevino, the Yankees’ backup catcher, told ESPN’s Jeff Passan . "And he had it [Wednesday] night, after the last out. I was like, 'I've seen those eyes before, Ace. I've seen those eyes before.' I mean, he was ready."

Cole channeled his ferocity on Thursday, giving up just one run on six hits over seven innings in the Yankees’ 3-1 ALDS-clinching victory over the Kansas City Royals. But the 34-year-old righty wasn’t the only Bomber playing with intensity. Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also showed fortitude when they got into a dustup with Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia.

Tempers flared on a rough tag play at second base in the sixth inning, when Volpe took a throw from first baseman Jon Berti and his momentum appeared to take his forearm into a hard-sliding Garcia’s face. Chisholm took offense to Garcia’s slide and made his feelings known. The benches cleared, but the two teams quickly resolved the situation and resumed play.

After the game, Volpe shrugged off the situation while letting the baseball world know he wouldn’t back down from a fight.

“Those things are hard,” the 23-year-old shortstop said, according to MLB’s Ian Browne . “Everyone is playing hard, everyone’s trying to win. They're playing for their season. He went in hard, but you’re always going to stand up [for yourself].”

Likewise, Chisholm stood his ground.

“I just felt like he tried to go and injure Volpe because he was being a sore loser,” said Chisholm, per Browne. “He was talking a lot on Instagram and Twitter and stuff. I do the same thing, but I'm not gonna go and try and injure somebody if they're winning a game, and I didn't like that, so I told him we don't do that on this side and I'm always gonna stick up for my guys.”

Another example of the Yankees’ new aggressive personality is Luke Weaver. Drafted to take over the ninth inning from struggling Clay Holmes, Weaver has brought a new level of intensity into high-leverage situations.

Weaver pitched a perfect ninth inning on Thursday, and the look on his face as the final out fell into Aaron Judge’s glove gave fans a glimpse of his passion.

“It’s just like a ferocious jungle cat comes out in me,” Weaver told YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits after the game. “You just feed into the energy. I think you tell yourself, you gotta be relentless, you gotta be convicted.”

Intensity alone won’t win games. However, the Yankees’ new emotive style of play could give them an advantage as they head into the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians.