Baseball: A Two-Way Player
Chapter 762 - 59: Rebuilding the Empire (Part 2)
After Girardi finished speaking, bench coach Rob Thomson stepped forward and blew the whistle, "Now start warming up, boys—the final step to the championship starts now!"
Not far from the training ground at the media section, as the Yankees players began to warm up, the camera lights started flashing continuously.
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"Dear viewers, we are currently outside Yankee Stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. From the shots, we can see that after a night's rest, the Yankees players have just regrouped to start training, preparing for the 2017 World Series Game 5 taking place tonight...
From the live footage, we can see that the Yankees players are in quite a relaxed mood. Lin, during his outdoor batting practice, was joking and horsing around with Aaron Judge beside him...
After the training, we interviewed Coach Girardi. He expressed satisfaction with the players' performance in training but still refused to discuss topics related to the World Series championship... We can understand this, although the Yankees are already leading 3-1, last year's lesson with the Cleveland Indians is still here, and the league-leading Dodgers still theoretically have a chance of a comeback..."
On the television at Stan Sports Bar, the latest sports news was playing, featuring footage of all the New York Yankees players warming up and training. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Although it's still morning, this "fan home" very close to Yankee Stadium has already gathered many people:
Most of them are season ticket holders who will be heading to the Bronx later today to witness the potential championship moment of the team;
As for drinking and chatting now, it's just appetizers before the formal feast begins.
"Damn it, is this reporter not local to New York? At this time, he's still talking about the possibility of a Dodgers comeback, which is just a buzzkill!"
Watching the reporter on TV incessantly analyzing the possibility of a Dodgers comeback, a veteran fan who often appears here at Stan Sports Bar was the first to fire back.
"That's right; anyone who's followed the team all the way this year truly believes we might be taken down by the Dodgers? We are not like those inexperienced hillbillies from Cleveland!"
"And besides, Lin is starting tonight! Do I even need to say anything about the game result? Lin hasn't lost a game since the playoffs began, and more importantly, he hasn't given up a single run! Not to mention, even if he did, he'd still be a powerhouse who hit 11 home runs... Anyway, I'm ready to get drunk after lifting the cup tonight!"
Clearly, in this Yankee fans' stronghold, "World Series Champion" has undoubtedly become the hottest topic in recent days, none whatsoever; especially as the team continues to win and seizes the match point, the enthusiasm of the fan base has only grown higher.
"So if we win the championship, how's the club going to celebrate?" someone asked this question, quickly drawing the crowd's attention.
Among the fans present, those who experienced the 2009 championship celebration were the first to speak: "Probably the same as last time—a parade starting from City Hall, along Broadway, passing Wall Street, the World Trade Center site, then through Chinatown, and finally looping back to City Hall for the celebration..."
Upon thinking of this, many Yankees fans present revealed happy smiles on their faces; however, some made significant complaints:
"Just hope this year's championship parade can be like the one in '96 and be held on Thanksgiving... I still remember that eight years ago, the parade was on a workday, and I sneaked out from my workstation to watch the celebration, only to get scolded hard by my boss afterward."
"Same here, I forgot to ask for leave that day, and had no choice but to go to work—guess what happened? I went to my workstation in the morning, and found out I was the only one in the office, even the boss took leave to attend the parade!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The topic was thus increasingly taken further by these Yankees fans in the bar, even gradually veering from the original tone:
"Sigh, I did some research when I was bored these past couple of days and found out the team has a lot of pre-arbitration contracts—Lin, Sevi, Aaron basically won't enter salary arbitration for the next two to three years, during which they're all under minor league contracts... After winning the championship this season, we just clear out those toxic contracts. As long as Cashman operates normally, I feel our competitiveness won't be low for many years ahead!"
"Haven't I always said this topic before: Honestly, if we win the championship this year, we can completely bet the remaining resources in the farm system, we can trade away all other talents except for Gleyber Torres..."
"And just think about it, this is only Lin, Aaron, Gary, Sevi's first full season, after they completely adapt, and mature in the following years, I think this team even has a chance to replicate the Yankees' glory from the '90s!"
"Are you saying... this Yankees team could also win three consecutive championships? Come on, man, let's not even mention we haven't won the first championship yet, ever since entering the 21st century, none of MLB teams have accomplished a back-to-back title defense!"
"Bro, I just don't like what you said—if others can't, why does it mean we can't? Who are we? We are the New York Yankees! The only team in the Major League to complete three consecutive championships twice, and we occupy three out of those four times ourselves... I support what that fellow just said, this team absolutely has the ability to win three consecutive championships!"
Seeing this discussion getting more intense, the fan leader in the bar finally stepped forward to cool things down: "Alright, alright, on such a joyful day, everyone can talk and make noise, but don't really get into a fight—everyone's intentions are clear to me, but talking about three consecutive championships is indeed too far away... Instead, I think we should save our enthusiasm for tonight's game and possible championship celebration, don't you think?"
Saying this, the fan leader standing in the center of the bar, with graying hair, raised his glass high, letting the golden beer spill freely, and slowly began:
"Folks, regardless of where you're from, whether you're white, black, or yellow, today we share one common identity—that is, being fans of the New York Yankees! Tonight, let's create the biggest uproar in the Bronx to cheer for our team, and let those little brats from Los Angeles go home!"
"Gentlemen, today is the time to restore the old glory of the 'Evil Empire', it's time for the whole of North America to remember the fear of being dominated by the Striped Legion!"
"This toast is for the entire Golden Age, for all Yankees players, for all of us who love this team deeply, let's raise our glasses for tonight's game!!!"
"Cheers!!!"
All the Yankees fans in the bar vigorously raised their glasses, the golden beer overflowing from their cups, like echoes from the entire golden era.
Watching all of this from behind the bar, the bar owner Louis Dene shouted loudly to the bartender not far from him:
"Give each Yankees fan present another drink—this drink's on me! Long live the Yankees, the Yankees are champions!"
Dene's gesture undoubtedly ignited the entire Stan Sports Bar, and under his lead, the fans present drank ecstatically and shouted in unison:
"Long live the Yankees!!! The Yankees are champions!!!"