Yankees prepare for regular season home-run brigade with Spring Training warm-up

The New York Yankees were on a rampage on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, hitting six home runs and showing that with a healthy lineup they could break the MLB record they set last season with 267 collective home runs.  Please note that this was without Aaron Judge for a month or without Gary Sanchez both physically and productively.

The Yankees got a head start in Spring Training with a dominant 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.  Brett Gardner started off the barrage with a leadoff home run.  Aaron Judge followed that with a home run of his own.  The two teammates went back to back and this was just the beginning.

Brett Gardner hit his second of the game in the second inning, and Gary Sanchez joined in on the fun in the third.  Aaron Judge hit one of the strangest home runs we’ve seen, a line drive that hit off of the glove of the Tigers’ right fielder and into the stands.  That drove three runs home.  Spring Training invite Isiah Gilliam rounded out the home run brigade with the longest shot of the day in the bottom of the 7th.

It was an impressive display made by the Yankees and from what it seems it’s only the beginning.  Considering this was a split squad game, the Yankees didn’t even have half of their heavy hitters.  If Judge, Stanton and Sanchez can combine for 100 home runs they’ll beat the record no problem.

Is the home run record something to strive for?  Not necessarily, as the Yankees were destroyed by the Red Sox in the ALDS thanks to lots of strikeouts in big situations and clutch hitting by Boston.  If the home runs are a product of success, that’s fine.  However, the Yankees need to stay focused on winning a World Series, not a meaningless record.  Either way, they’re well on their way to doing so with a hot start in early March.