Andrés Giménez is prepared for the lively challenge of Yankee Stadium.
“It’s a mindset,” the Cleveland second baseman said through a translator before Monday night’s AL Championship Series opener. “It’s just this sense of belief we can do it because we know we can play baseball the right way.”
Cleveland is in the ALCS for the first time since 2016 and will send Alex Cobb to pitch against the Yankees’ Carlos Rodón in the start of this best-of-seven series for a chance to compete for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets.
Cleveland is aiming for its seventh AL pennant and first since 2016, looking to win its third World Series title after 1920 and 1948. The Yankees are chasing their 41st pennant and 28th championship, with their rich history making any year without a title seem like a failure.
“What makes the Yankees the Yankees is winning and winning a World Series,” said New York shortstop Anthony Volpe, who grew up as a Yankees fan in Manhattan and New Jersey.
“I had a way better view now than I did when I was a fan. There were times when we were basically sitting with our backs against the upper deck top row and it felt like the stadium was going to come down shaking.”
AL Central champion Cleveland defeated Detroit in a five-game Division Series, while the AL East-winning Yankees beat Kansas City 3-1. The Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers have the top three payrolls at over $266 million, while the Guardians are 23rd at $109 million.
“We’re confident in who we are,” Guardians first-year manager Stephen Vogt said. “All we can control is us.”
Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil will follow Rodón in the Yankees’ rotation, and Tanner Bibee will start Game 2 for the Guardians.
A chill in the air caused some players to wear ski caps during Sunday’s practice.
“I’m sure Yankee Stadium is going to be rocking tomorrow night,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It looks like cooler weather is moving in for these first two games, so it’s going to have that October feel to it.”
