Though Aaron Boone’s bunch can still hit homers at will, these Yankees don’t live or die by the long ball, as five homers (four solo shots and one grand slam) accounted for only eight of the 23 total runs scored by the Bombers versus the Twins in the ALDS.
Yes, the Bombers outhomered the Astros in the regular-season 306-288, but the Yanks’ slash line of .293/.403/.525 during the division series is indicative of their new patient approach at the plate — and that was with a rusty Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela in the lineup.
However, back in 2017, Joe Girardi’s club, was at the time, considered young and upstart — perhaps arriving sooner than expected.