Two-time World Series Champion Jim Leyritz speaks on Yankees’ 2020 Season

Pitchers and Catchers have reported making the 2020 MLB Season just about underway. Spring Training is around the corner and there is much anticipation for the New York Yankees season. The addition of pitcher Gerrit Cole helped solidify the Yankees bullpen, which already was one of the best in baseball. After last season’s heartbreaking finish in the ALCS and all the noise about the Houston Astros cheating scandal, the Yankees have big expectations for this upcoming season.

This season the Yankees must at least make it to the World Series. The past few seasons have been close, but they need to get over the hump and bring home the World Series title.

Former New York Yankees catcher and two-time World Series Champion Jim Leyritz, spoke to me on the Dansportsnews and Friends Podcast about some of the expectations for the 2020 season. “I think unfortunately for the players, the expectations are no longer getting to the playoffs but winning the World Series again,” Leyritz said.

“It was kind of the expectations that the 90’s teams had late in the ’90s, it wasn’t just get there, it was you need to win this thing.” Leyritz talked about Gerrit Cole and how he helps improve the team. “I do love the moves that they made this offseason by picking up Gerrit Cole and solidifying their pitching staff. The team that they have only improved from their 103 win season by getting Gerrit Cole, and I think it is going to be a great and exciting year for Yankee baseball.”

Leyritz played eight seasons for the New York Yankees at catcher. He won two World Series titles with the 1996 and 1999 teams that beat the Atlanta Braves twice in the World Series. A lot of the biggest hits in his career came in the playoffs while wearing pinstripes. Most Yankee fans remember Leyritz for hitting a three-run home run in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series to tie the game in the 8th inning. He also hit a walk-off two-run home run in the 15th inning of the 1995 ALDS against the Seattle Mariners. Leyritz also hit the last home run of the ’90s in Game 4 of the 1999 World Series.

As a former catcher, Leyritz shared his thoughts on Yankees star catcher Gary Sanchez.

“He’s a work in progress every year, he had a very good season last year offensively, he started putting the defense together a little bit better. But he will be the first one to tell you that there is a lot more room for improvement on the defensive side. The encouraging thing is that he is getting better every year and he realizes himself that there is still room for improvement. He is going to continue to work on getting better, which is a positive sign for everybody.”

Only time will tell how the New York Yankees 2020 season unravels. There are many things to be positive about and the team seems to be headed in the right direction.