Take it Easy

Nearly every Yankees fan on the planet knows the Yankees are in very good shape to make the postseason and are poised to make a playoff run. But, one thing to remember: IT IS STILL ONLY AUGUST!

Anything can happen during the last few weeks of the season. With two weeks to go in the 2007 season, no one thought the Colorado Rockies had a shot at the playoffs. No one thought the Mets would relinquish their lead in the NL East. But what happened? The Rockies made it to game 163 and won the NL wild card while the Phillies took the NL East division.

The key for the Yankees – and their fans – is to take it slow. Do not overlook any series. If the Yankees overlook a series with low importance, they might falter and wind up losing a few games, when a team like the Red Sox starts to be seen from the rear view mirror. The regular season is still going on, and every game counts, but some more than others.

Yankee fans learned their lesson in 2007, when they were matched up against the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 ALDS. The common thought was that the Yankees were 6-0 against the Tribe entering the ALDS and the Yankees would head into the ALCS smoothly.

Well, what happened? The Yankees lost the first two games in Cleveland and ended up losing the series in four games.

The key to success for the Yankees is to take things slowly and not assure anything. Come playoff time, fans everywhere make playoff predictions by simulating each series up until the World Series. The Yankees, if they do in fact make the playoffs, need to focus on the series they play first and foremost and not look ahead. If they look ahead too soon, it will be a distraction to the current series and they might lose focus.

For instance, if the Yankees were in the ALDS and supposedly face a game 5. Do they use their ace or try to save him for game 1 of the ALCS? The smart thing to do would be to start him in the must-win game 5 to even think about having him pitch in the ALCS.

I have heard fans already penciling in some teams for the World Series, when those teams may not even make it to the playoffs in the first place. I have even heard of some people projecting the 2010 roster for their favorite team when their favorite team is in the midst of the 2009 pennant race. It’s absurd.

C’mon people, you should know better than that. Wait until the season is over to make those predictions.