(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Before the 2023 MLB season started, most people had the New York Yankees as a lock to make the postseason.
After all, they had the reigning AL MVP in Aaron Judge, phenomenal complementary pieces in Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, and others; and a very solid rotation on paper, headlined by Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon.
Well, it’s fair to say things have gone south.
They are now 60-64, last in the AL East and a whopping nine games behind the last Wild Card spot.
After dropping their last eight games, the Yanks are in real danger of finishing their first season with a losing record since 1992.
Just like the Yanks were expected to be World Series contenders before the season, the Washington Nationals were almost a lock for last place in the NL East.
That one is happening so far: they have a 57-68 record and while they are close to the New York Mets for fourth place, the Nats have been the worst team in the NL East as of Monday afternoon.
However, check out this bit of data by Cespedes Family BBQ: the Nats are actually closer to holding a playoff spot than the Yankees.
The Nationals are currently closer to a playoff spot than the Yankees
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 20, 2023
Wait, what?
It’s true!
The Nats are eight games behind the Chicago Cubs for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
They are closer!
Neither team will make the postseason in all likelihood, but it says a lot about how bad the Yanks have been of late.
It’s a matter of perception and preseason expectations: the 2023 campaign has represented progress for Washington, but a disaster for the Yankees.
The post Comparison Shows How Far The Yankees Have Fallen In The Standings appeared first on The Cold Wire.