How the Yankees missing last years playoffs changed everything

For the first time in 15 years, the American League season was over, but the Yankees weren’t.For the first time in 15 years — five of them ending right there in the AL Championship Series — Yankees officials and players were not going down what had become an all-to-familiar checklist:—We were a championship team that did not win a championship.—The fans deserved better.—We will redouble our efforts to get back to the World Series.Perhaps the Yankees were the last team standing in the AL this year because they didn’t even get to make those statements in the previous postseason.They went home with the rest of the dregs, pre-October.

Is it possible that missing the playoffs entirely was the best thing that could have happened for this franchise?Because some organizations might celebrate 82-80, a 31st straight winning season for the Yankees.Some franchises might lean on just a fifth missed playoff campaign in three decades as protection.

The Yankees treated 82-80 like toxic waste.They reacted worse — far worse — than the White Sox just did in losing an MLB record 121 games.Hal Steinbrenner called the 2023 season “awful” and Brian Cashman termed it a “disaster.” Then they put actions to words — and so did their players.Steinbrenner, who said it was unnecessary to have a $300 million payroll to win, approved a franchise-record payroll of over $300 million.

Cashman would not leave the Winter Meetings without Juan Soto.The Yankees offered $300 million to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and, when spurned, invested in Marcus Stroman.

Five prospects went at the trade deadline for Jazz Chisholm and Mark Leiter Jr.And beginning well prior to spring training, the attendance at the Yankees’ minor league facility not only swelled like never before, but word began circulating about a difference in body and soul.That was a leaner Carlos Rodon and Giancarlo Stanton.

That was a more block-out-the-noise credo — everything said good or bad was immaterial … only ...