There's Nothing Wrong With Celebrating Making The Postseason In Baseball

Michael Turner. Getty Images.

I probably have written this blog before, but it feels worth saying again —baseball is a sport built on silly celebrations. These guys LOVE to pop celebratory champagne and spray each other in the face. There's no other sport out there that celebrates as much as baseball players do. It's just what happens. The fellas accomplish goals and celebrate. You clinch a postseason berth, you celebrate. Division wrapped up? Party. Survive the wildcard round? Where is the champagne. Divisional round? Go to the World Series? Win it all. It's all a party. 

Last night the Yankees clinched a postseason berth with a win in Minnesota and afterwards let the party begin. 

Of course some of the response to this was "that's stupid" and the "Yankees should be focussed on bigger goals." "The Yankees aren't what they once were." Blah blah blah. 

Maybe I'm just getting older and as a result don't overreact to things like I used to, but I really just don't get up in arms about them celebrating a postseason berth like this. Do I think winning the division should warrant such a response? Yeah I wish they were in position to pop bottles for overtaking the Rays and earning a first round bye, but that doesn't mean you gotta be all buttoned up and ignore this.

My intention here isn't to paint the Yankees as an underdog story, but I think putting themselves in comfortable position for the first wild card spot despite missing Judge for four months and having one of the worst offenses in baseball for large stretches of the season is pretty impressive. Not to mention that starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Ryan Weathers, and Carlos Rodon have missed significant periods of time this season. Of course teams have suffered a swarm of injuries before, but they've had to deal with a lot of moving parts. To be 87-63 here is no small feat. Celebrate a little before you lock back in for the grind ahead. 

Ignoring the context of how difficult this year was for them, the baseball season itself is so fucking long. Everyone goes through lulls, some that feel permanent. You wake up everyday as a fan or player and just know the same bullshit is going to happen whether it be a bad starting rotation performance, inept offense, or a bullpen that can't hold a lead. No matter how good you are, you're going to deal with one of those runs where your team just can't get it going for a bit. That's why when you finally clinch a postseason berth you let loose for a few minutes and appreciate the journey. 

Sure they're the Yankees, but some of these guys have never experienced this before. Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. were playing for dead teams two months ago. Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. have grinded in the minors, watching from afar while previous year's teams tasted postseason baseball. This is their first time and they've earned the right to celebrate. 

The ultimate goal remains a World Series title and they all know it. You really think Aaron Judge is satisfied right now? You don't think that guy goes about his day thinking about what he'd do for a World Series title? If you believe that you're just dead wrong or trying to be an asshole. 

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I honestly believe now that they're healthy, with hopefully more bullpen reinforcements on the way, if they can just get through the wild card round this team is going to the World Series. A three game series against Boston's left handed starting pitching will be hell, but if they make it out I'll have full confidence they can beat anyone else. That fucking wild card round man. I wish they handled business better during the heart of the summer to win the division, but that's not how it unfolded. Nothing is ever easy with this team.