2020: The Year That Defies TRUE Yankees Fans
By James Yevin
2020: The Year That Defies TRUE Yankee Fans
Every year, we always want the New York Yankees to get their 28th title in Franchise history. It has been almost 11 years since we raised that trophy and I REALLY, REALLY want to see that trophy come back to the Bronx. I was born in 1995, where the dynasty was about to begin and I have been so spoiled as a Yankee fan of winning that sometimes I always forget what it is like to hit rock bottom. Every successful team in all of the 4 major sports have people who drive me nuts and those are called bandwagon fans. The Yankees have plenty of bandwagon fans who type out some of the most ridiculous posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even some crazy blogs. I watched the downfall of the Yankees in the 2010s from 2013, 2014, and the beginning of 2016 season. But in a pandemic shortened season, 2020 hits in a different way as a Yankee fan and not in a good way. We started off so well out of the gate going 15–5 to start the season with our entire lineup as healthy as can be.
But… Stanton goes down (not shocked by that at all), LeMahieu goes down (who still should be signed to a lifetime deal in pinstripes). Judge who was off to a torrid start, showing that he was back to his 2017 self and then he gets hurt again. Aaron Judge is the captain of the team and everytime he goes down there is a gigantic gap both on the field and in the clubhouse. Gary Sanchez who is having a lost season with the bat and looks like he’s losing confidence in himself in every at bat this season, Gleyber Torres is struggling since the start of the season, the pitching as a team has been dreadful and the injuries are starting to show in the lineup. They have been 5–15 in their last 20 games and slowly losing momentum going into the end of the season. I haven’t seen rock bottom like this in a very long time or ever so this hits differently. I’ve always been a Yankee fan seeing the shining moments, and ugly losses that I can still remember in my mind. Every year since 2009, I have always been disappointed in the ending outcome whether it was losing in the playoffs or missing the playoffs. But looking at the Yankee pages on social media makes me sick to my stomach. Hearing how they aren’t going to watch a Yankee game again or Gerrit Cole is overpaid or that Gary Sanchez needs to be traded. I can name it all and it makes me say to those people that you are a spoiled Yankee fan. A true fan supports their team no matter what and whatever the end result is and for me whether they miss the playoffs or make the playoffs and lose, you will still see me wearing those pinstripes until I die. Don’t let 2020 fool you with the crazy amount of events happening but 2021 will be better with hopefully a 162 game season and fans to come back (when it’s safe) and support our team.
James co-hosts a podcast called Life and Pinstripes. You can learn more about him here:
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