With 27 World Series titles under his belt, there's no doubt about it. New York Yankees are a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball, but owner Hal Steinbrenner believes they have a lot to learn from them. Toronto Blue Jays.
Since the Jays' founding in 1977, no other team has won more than New York, capturing seven World Series crowns and 21 division titles, while Toronto has won two and seven titles, respectively.
But this year, it was the Blue Jays who looked like the team that set the bar.
For the first time in MLB history, two division rivals met in a postseason matchup, with the Jays winning the American League Division Series 3–1, giving them an 11–6 record against the Yankees, including the regular season.
Speaking during the offseason on Monday, Steinbrenner was asked if his club could adopt Toronto's approach moving forward, focusing on a more contact-heavy, defensive style of play.
“I think balance in life is everything,” Steinbrenner said. “They hit the ball too. It's not just putting the ball in play. They definitely hit the ball. Hitting hard, especially in the air, it's not like you're trying to hit the ball over the fence, but in the air, statistically speaking, the results speak for themselves, when you do that, you have a better chance of success.” Steinbrenner said, according to Mike Petriello of MLB.com.
When asked about Toronto's growth and what sets them apart from his team this season, the Yankees executive praised the Jays' all-around approach.
“You can't just be a weak team that runs home. They had a great year. I'm curious to see how well they do next year with this lineup, assuming it stays mostly intact, but they're a great team,” Steinbrenner continued. “They definitely played better than us, they hit better than us, they hit the ball and put it in play better than us, and they served better than us, and that’s why they won.”
The next chapter in this growing rivalry continues in May when the Blue Jays travel to New York for a four-game series at Yankee Stadium, a matchup Steinbrenner is sure to be watching closely.
