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This 60-game MLB season is one unlike any we've ever seen before. Everything from how players move around in the dugout to the banning of spitting has been put in place to deal with the current coronavirus pandemic that has delayed the game of baseball for months.
But details have finally been ironed out, and there will be a first pitch everywhere around July 24. So how will these new rules and the overall shortened season impact one of the game's top World Series contenders?
The Yankees, like every other team, have to adapt to this new format. There are, however, a few advantages for the Bombers. Exploiting those will be vital as every game means so much more.
Think about it this way: we've fast-forwarded to August during a normal season, and every game from here on out determines whether or not New York will be in the postseason. With a star-studded lineup and pitching staff, they should make it there. But who really knows what to expect this year?
Here's how the shortened season could impact the Yanks...
Season schedule gets tougher
During a normal 162-game season, contenders enjoy those stretches where their opponents are, well, a tad easier. These games can give teams and players confidence boosters if they're going through a rough patch, or help continue a winning streak and pad some stats. In simpler terms: the Yankees should beat the Tigers on any given night.
Say goodbye to that this year.
It's not just the 60 games that add stress, but the Yankees' opponents will be their fellow AL East rivals and the loaded NL East. According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the plan is to have each team play their divisional opponents 40 times and the other 20 will be interleague foes in their geographical area -- that means the Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Miami Marlins.
While the Baltimore Orioles and Marlins are on the schedule -- the Yankees shouldn't have trouble with them -- the rest of the NL East, to go along with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, offers no easy victory.
Luis Severino's absence won't be too bad
Severino is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and was set to miss the entire 2020 season either way. But instead of 30-32 starts without the young hurler, it will be less than half of that.
And while Severino is out, James Paxton should be pitching at the onset following his own injury problem back in spring training. He will be the No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole, followed by the solid trio of Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and (most likely) Jordan Montgomery.
Of course, Severino's postseason experience can't be replaced. But having Paxton back, as long as he stays healthy, should help that absence in the long run. He settled in well during his first postseason last year.
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The Yankees' patented depth already on the roster
A man by the name of Jack Harlow once said, "I got options." Aaron Boone will be saying the same thing this season, even moreso than he was last year.
That's because his depth players who needed to step up when guys like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went down in 2019 will already be on the bench. Of course, the Yankees don't want to use them as replacement players. But the 30-man roster allows teams to have extra talent ready to go whenever, and the Yankees will benefit from this more than others.
Boone will have Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman and others on the bench to work with instead of one of them sitting in Triple-A. And in the bullpen, expect three more relievers to be available, too.
This will help preserve innings for starters and give some key players a break here and there without hurting the team. The Bombers relied heavily on their depth last season and it resulted in 103 wins. Most of those options will be available for Boone from day one.
Pray for health
First of all, let's just hope that no one contracts the coronavirus this season. There is a separate list of additional players available if/when a player does, and there is no set time frame for how long they have to be out. But fingers crossed it won't need to be used.
However, as we just got done praising the Yankees' depth, let's be real: Boone would rather Judge in the lineup over Frazier in a postseason series.
The Yankees have no time to have players go down with month-long injuries, as was the case too many times in 2019. The window to recover is very slim in those cases, and considering this team wants to live up to the expectation of winning a World Series, they can't afford All-Stars to be sitting on the Injured List when October comes around.
While Judge's status is still up in the air, the Yankees are lucky that players like Paxton, Stanton and Aaron Hicks will be good to go right away. Hopefully that injury bug flies, crawls or slithers somewhere else.
