The Yankees victory in game five sent them to the World Series, what should rank among the best 4-1 series ever. The Yankees outscore the Guardians 29-20, all games decided by two or three runs. All the line scores showed some late runs, with the last three games all decided in the last AB, two of them going into extra innings.

The Guardians went somewhat against form in the ALCS, out-walking the Yankees 26 to 22. While the Guardians put plenty of men on base, they did not deliver well in that situation, going 20 for 88 with a .375 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, the Yankees went 19 for 68, with six of their ten home runs, for a .603 slugging percentage. Power moves runners around the bases, and In the end New York’s home runs (10 to 5) made the difference.

Stanton won the MVP for his four hits, all home runs, and seven RBI. Soto was actually better in the series, and hit the series winning home run, but it’s somewhat a spur of the moment decision, and four home runs is remarkable.

I am once again sad for Cleveland. They are the only team of the sixteen that made the modern era not to win a World Series in my lifetime. It’s a young team coming into their primes together with Jose Ramirez as their anchor. They have a two or three year window to win it all with this group.