The 2024 MLB season officially came to a close this past week as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games after a very disappointing series, if you aren’t a Dodgers fan.
While this highly anticipated matchup was projected to be one of the most cinematic series of all time, it most definitely wasn’t. Most experts and baseball fans had predicted the series going seven games and coming down to a winner take all matchup. However, the series lasted just five games as the New York Yankees struggled to maintain leads and finish games. In Game 1 in Los Angeles, the Yankees were one out away from winning, as LA Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman hit a walk off grand slam, setting the Dodgers up with an early advantage in the series. While watching, I questioned Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s decision to bring in Nestor Cortes Jr to pitch the bottom of the 10th inning, after not pitching for over 30 days prior with an arm injury. I thought some other options out of the bullpen such as Tim Hill, who had been perfection in the postseason for NYY could have worked out better.
In Game 2, the Dodgers dominated as Freeman homered once again as Yankees SP Carlos Rodon struggled, lifting the Dodgers to a 2-0 advantage in the series as it headed back to New York.
In Game 3, the Yannkees came out flat. In the first World Series game held in the Bronx in over 15 years, the offense looked dead, with Dodgers All Star 1B Freddie Freeman dominating once again, giving the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead with his third home run of the series, which the Yankees never recovered from. I was at this game and after Freeman homered, the crowd lost all of its energy and life got sucked out of the team. No team in MLB history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a series, setting the Yankees fan base up for either the greatest comeback of all time, or one of most disappointing finishes ever.
In Game 4, the Yankees offense finally showed signs of life. Amid Freeman homering once again (his 4th of the series), in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Yankees SS Anthony Volpe did something even his childhood hero had never done… hit a grand slam in a world series game. This catapulted the Yankees offense to an 11-4 victory turning the series to 3-1 and giving the Yankees fans signs of hope that maybe the impossible really could be done. This was probably one of the coolest moments I have ever seen as a Yankees fan, along with many other Gen Z fans.
With Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on the mound in Game 5, the Yankees had a chance to send the series back to LA for a Game 6 and potentially Game 7. After jumping out to an early 5-0 lead with homers from Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr, and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees defense completely collapsed in the top of the 5th inning, notting 3 errors and ultimately letting the Dodgers tie the score at 5 and later giving the game away. The Dodgers went on to win the game 7-6, winning the World Series and their 8th title in franchise history. It was a disappointing finish for the Yankees, as this offseason a lot of work needs to be done. I think the main priorities should be re-signing OF Juan Soto, adding a few relief arms, and tightening up the defense, which proved to be a massive issue in the World Series.
