Were the NY Yankees most eligible to win the 2024 World Series? While the majority voiced support for the Dodgers after their thumping win, there are also a few opposing views. Nestor Cortes Jr., the veteran pitcher who was with the Yankees last year voiced out how the Yankees were ahead of the Dodgers, last year. So what went wrong with the Yankees, despite being the arguably better team between the two? And how exactly does Cortes fit into the picture?
Nestor Cortes is still remembered for his debacle in Game 1 of the World Series last year where he tried his hand as a reliever and got pounded by Freddie Freeman. That not only cost the Bronx-based outfit their ring but also ended with Cortes getting traded to the Brewers. The Dodgers ultimately took the game away from the Yankees by 4-1, and that’s enough to convey the dominance shown by them. How then were the NY Yankees ahead of the Dodgers? Was it a fluke for the Dodgers then to get over the Bronx last year? What the fans can expect from this year’s World Series?
Clash of Titans: Bronx vs LA
The Yankees vs. the Dodgers is the ultimate clash that can happen in MLB today, amplified further by their age-old rivalries. A total of 71 World Series have been played between these two teams, among which, 38 have been in favor of the Yankees, cementing the traditional dominance of the Yankees over the Dodgers. However, the tide has started to turn in the last 10 years when the Yankees had no World Series to their name, while the Dodgers won in 2020 and 2024. “The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America,” said the then Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, frustrated at watching New York throw a fortune at yet another marquee name in 2003. But the evil empire is no longer evident in the MLB circuit.
Under their owner Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees are now fiddling behind the Dodgers, while the latter is considered the new evil empire. So, does Cortes’ opinion matter, when he said of the results of the 2024 World Series: “We were the better team. I see it that way, and I’m sure everybody in that clubhouse sees it that way”?
Nestor Cortes Jr. recently commented on the result of the 2024 World Series…
“We were the better team. I see it that way, and I’m sure everybody in that clubhouse sees it that way.”#Yankees pic.twitter.com/mesHR2IwpA
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) February 25, 2025
Yes, at least on paper. For the unversed, in last year’s World Series, the Dodgers had a BA of .206, while the NY Yankees had .212. The Dodgers’ ERA was 4.80, while the Yankees was 3.83. The Yankees had more hits, homers, SBs, and walks. But New York’s downfall came another way. It’s just that they didn’t catch the ball and play defense, which ultimately cost them the ring.
The Yankees Vs. Dodgers: 2025 scenario
2024 is over – and with it have gone both the Yanks title hopes and Cortes’ place on the team. But what will happen in this year’s World Series? The Dodgers have not put a stop to their spending this offseason, putting the onus on their pitching rotation. They got Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and resigned Clayton Kershaw to name a few. The Dodgers too went all out for this year’s roster, and it would be a sad miracle if they can’t bring back the ring this year. On the other hand, the Yankees have been all about smart acquisitions, with Aaron Judge leading their charge. Rookies are the bet for the Yankees; for instance, Jason Dominguez is placed at 3B.
As the Dodgers hope to repeat as World Series winner entering this season, bear in mind that going back-to-back in MLB has proven difficult in the history of the sport. Meaning, although the Dodgers are favored to repeat their success from last year, it will by no means be easy. The Yankees were the last team to win consecutive rings when they won in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Last year, the Yankees were ahead of the Dodgers on paper, but the result came otherwise. This season too, perhaps the underdog luck might play out – albeit for a team other than the LA-based ball club. Who do you think will excel in this year’s World Series? Tell us your picks below!
The post Despite His Unceremonious Exit, NY Yankees’ Former Star Comes Out to Defend Bronx from Dodgers’ Attacks appeared first on EssentiallySports.
