The “MLB at Field of Dreams” game took place yesterday. The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox played a game inside an Iowa cornfield, much like in the 1989 film, Field of Dreams. It did not disappoint.
There were eight home runs hit and multiple late, dramatic lead changes. Two of New York’s big boppers in Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge carried the offensive load, combining for seven RBI. Eloy Jimenez and Tim Anderson were the White Sox’s main contributors, particularly the latter, who mashed an oppo walk-off bomb in the bottom of the 9th off Zack Britton.
It was all around a great day for baseball, complete with classic nostalgia, modern-day flare, and a climactic ending. It seemed baseball fans across the country enjoyed the spectacle.
All except Yankee fans, whose minds exploded.
Big Picture
I think a big part of the reason Yankee fans were so perturbed by the ending of the “Field of Dreams” game was because of the stage. Had it been an ordinary August game in which they lose a close one to the 1st-place White Sox on a walk-off, there’s not as much to talk about. Instead, they lost in front of a national audience, and in a once-in-a-lifetime event, no less. That’s what adds salt to the wound.
The Yankees have been playing some good ball, though. They’d be out of the playoffs if the season ended today, but they’re making a solid push. They’re 8-4 in August so far, and are just two games out of the second Wild Card spot. The Blue Jays sit just a half game behind them, but the Red Sox are in a tail spin. New York plays Boston at home in a three-game series next week; they have to be happy with the direction they’re heading in compared to the Sox.
But…
There’s still plenty of reason to worry. The bullpen needs to pick it up while Aroldis Chapman, who has plenty of problems of his own, is on the shelf. Newly-acquired Joey Gallo and Andrew Heaney have sucked since they put on pinstripes. The team also need to get over its COVID-19 issues. Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, and D.J. LeMahieu have another gear that they haven’t reached yet this season. Yes, the past few weeks have been nice, but they’re far from safe. Matter of fact, they’re pretty freakin’ unsafe.
So yes, Yankee fans overreacted to the “Field of Dreams” loss, as Yankee fans are wont to do. But at this point in the season, every L can be seen as a missed opportunity for the Bronx Bombers, especially as the Red Sox fizzle.
Thankfully I’m not a Yankee fan though, so the “Field of Dreams Game” was just good, clean fun for me.
