Home runs by sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira; a strong pitching performance by CC Sabathia; and Skipper Joe Girardi managing the first-place New York Yankees to another win.
You'd think it was 2009 all over again. Or even 2012. But not 2015—the year they were supposed to finish in third.
The aging Yankees were to struggle this season if you listened to early-season predictions from pundits—like myself. Instead, it’s mid-May and they’re on top of the AL East. The team has taken full advantage of turn-back-the-clock performances from a number of veterans to get there.
And it all started with A-Rod’s (surprising) early hitting.
The 39-year-old, who we all had written off as done before spring training even started, is currently tied for fifth in the league with eight home runs. Should he stay at this pace—while remaining healthy in the DH role—he’s projected to end up with 39 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 83 walks.
That would easily be his best year since 2010 and would help Yankees fans ease the pain of his ghastly $20 million-a-year salary.
