Yankees Need to Keep Their Edge All Season Long

The New York Yankees were embarrassed by the Toronto Blue Jays all year long. It's nothing anybody could have predicted heading into last year, either.

In 2024, the Blue Jays won 74 games, and it seemed like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was headed elsewhere. Their meteoric rise, though, which thrust them to game seven of the World Series and nearly brought their first trophy to Canada since 1995, was a surprise to everybody.

If you were to give some truth serum to the Yankees brass, they likely would have admitted they thought that squad of grinders was a fluke, and the team was closer to the one who finished in last a year before. In private, they likely believed, things would even out, and the Yankees had time to recover from those ugly losses up north in June and July.

Jul 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam home run against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Michael Kay may have been speaking for himself when he said as much, but the Jays never let up. They kept winning and became the final nail in the coffin for an up-and-down 2025.

To be so thoroughly embarrassed at every step of the way was representative of taking the Jays lightly all year. In the end, that lackadaisical way of thinking cost them the division and made them susceptible to prolonged losing streaks.

A More Focused Team — So Far

While the front office was blasted all winter long for the perception that they lacked a sense of urgency, for, as some have put it, "running it back," the ones in the clubhouse have expressed different sentiments. They may have learned their lesson from 2025. Every game matters.

Six games into the season, manager Aaron Boone made mention of just how focused they are this season.

"What's been apparent with our guys from the start of spring is just their attention to detail," Boone said, according to The Athletic's Brendan Kuty. "And, again, not that they haven't been that way in the past. But, man, it's just been an über focus every day. Every little thing, the importance of all of it. There has been a lot of that. Judgey and those guys have really driven that, and they have been on top of stuff all spring."

Giancarlo Stanton, currently the team's hottest hitter and veteran Bomber dating back to 2018 when he was traded from the Marlins, conveyed similar views on the team as his manager.

"It's a hard game, but if we beat and finish the teams we're supposed to beat and finish, and not just be satisfied we won the first two (games) and come in like we won the series already," Stanton said, according to Kuty. "Because it's important. It's important clearly from last year, and we did a great job at the end of the year when we won, what, eight in a row or whatever — and it still didn't get us where we wanted. Take that energy across the whole year instead of, 'Here's the comparison and the numbers. Let's try to beat them now (and) catch up.'"

Apr 1, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Urgency

That win streak Stanton mentioned at the end of last year was too little too late. On paper, the Yankees and Blue Jays both win 94 games because of it, but Toronto took the tiebreaker. Had the Yankees won just one of those games last summer in which the bullpen handed back the lead, or they played tighter defense, they would have made a hell of a comeback and won the American League East last September.

Of course, talks of focus aren't just words from the manager and slugger. That's how these games have played out on the field. For instance, in game three against the Mariners, with Seattle mounting comebacks in the eighth and ninth innings, Boone stuck with his closer, David Bednar.

It didn't matter that Bednar was going to throw 40 pitches in early April. Sealing the deal and winning that game was paramount.

Boone stuck with Bednar there, even if he was shaky, because it gave the Yankees the best chance to win. It feels different from the way the Yankees would have operated in the past. It felt like a team that wasn't going to kick it down the line and say there's a lot of season left after a loss.

Of course, it is important to note that the season has been just six games long. They have played only one game in April and haven't even finished their first homestand. Still, as far as starts go for a season, this is about as good as it gets. Their captain, Aaron Judge, hasn't even started hitting yet.

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