The evidence seems to reveal an inarguable “yes” — they are the defending American League champions and back among the final four of the AL in 2025.
But a claim to the contrary made last month is heating up what already promised to be an intense AL Division Series between AL East rivals Toronto and New York. The series begins Saturday in Toronto.
“The Yankees, they’re not a good team,” former Toronto catcher and current Blue Jays television announcer Buck Martinez said during a broadcast on Sept. 9. “I don’t care what their record is.”
The Yankees were 80-64 when Martinez gave his review. They’re 16-5 since, including a three-game AL Wild Card Series win against the Red Sox.
That gives the Yankees and their manager, Aaron Boone, plenty of ammunition to refute Martinez’s remarks.
“Contrary to some thoughts up here, we’re a really good team,” Boone said in a press conference on Friday.
Boone later unveiled his opinion.
“I know Buck had some thoughts,” Boone said. “That’s all I was responding to. He’s wrong, but it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to go play, and we’ve got to go perform, as everyone does this time of year.”
If the passion on the field matches the pregame hype, their first playoff series could be one for the ages.
“I’m sure it will be raucous,” Boone said. “I’m sure it will be a great environment. We’ve played in a lot of important regular-season games up here and know how passionate it can get. I would expect that in overdrive tomorrow as they’ve kind of been waiting through the Wild Card Series to start their own series.
“So [it’s] something our guys relish and look forward to, and I’m sure it’s going to be a fun environment to be involved in.”
