The Yankees missed the playoffs one year ago. They got a taste of what it felt like to miss out on all the October fun while division rivals Boston and Tampa Bay jumped right into the swing of things.
This year will be different. New York will make a valiant return to the postseason. But according to The New York Post, the Bombers are taking nothing for granted. They're not settling for a playoff berth; they want more. That's why they won't be celebrating when they likely lock up a playoff spot sometime in the next few days.
New York's magic number to clinch a postseason berth is two, but its real magic number — the number of Yankees wins or Red Sox losses needed to lock up the AL East — is 10. That's the number the Yanks are focusing on.
"We are still trying to win the division," Derek Jeter told the Post.
So nobody in the Yankees clubhouse will be popping champagne this week. They're saving that for later.
"We are still hoping to get the best record," Johnny Damon said. "We are going to be happy [when we clinch a berth], but we still need to keep playing for the best record."
