Young Yankees take experience into another ALCS with Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Aaron Judge was a rookie slugger who swung and missed a lot in his first postseason, as did several of those Baby Bombers who were just getting started with the New York Yankees.

And they still came oh so close to getting to the World Series, losing Game 7 of the 2017 AL Championship Series at Houston in a matchup when the home team won every game.

Now they face the Astros in the ALCS again, starting Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

"Once you get experience, now you're comfortable in those situations and then it's just time to roll," Judge said Friday.

That 2017 postseason was also the first for catcher Gary Sánchez and outfielder Aaron Hicks. While shortstop Didi Gregorius played in the 2015 AL wild card loss at home against Houston, that was his only playoff game before 2017.

The group has experience now, including a three-game sweep over Minnesota in the Division Series after a 103-win regular season.

New York still smarts over last year, when the Yankees beat Oakland in the wild-card game, then lost to Boston in a four-game Division Series.

"I don't think you have to lose to learn how to win," said 39-year-old pitcher CC Sabathia, one of two holdovers from the Yankees' last championship team in 2009. "I just think that experience is going to help us this year."

That 2017 postseason was also the first time in the playoffs for Alex Bregman. Then 23 and finishing his first full season in the big leagues, Bregman now hears chants of "MVP!, MVP!" from Astros fans twirling those orange rally towels.

"I think both teams have more experience," Bregman said. "Both teams have matured a lot ... and both teams have added big pieces."

Houston, in its third consecutive ALCS, added big league strikeout leader Gerrit Cole in January 2018 and 2009 AL Cy Young...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Young-Yankees-take-experience-into-another-ALCS-14516611.php