Yankee Wins Are Yankees Wins! But Here's Some Real Talk

Did I see this coming? Not even a little. Well, maybe alittle… it’s the San Francisco Giants.

If you asked me a week ago how the Yankees would look on Opening Week—against anyone—I wouldn’t have predicted this kind of showing. And honestly, them proving me wrong might be the most enjoyable part so far. Still, let’s not get carried away: I’m not suddenly convinced this roster has everything it takes. But credit where it’s due—there are some clear reasons they pulled off the sweep.

First up: adrenaline. This team came out like it had three espressos and a point to prove. Opening week, West Coast trip, fresh season energy—it all adds up. Everyone’s locked in, everyone’s hyped, and for now, it’s working. Good for them.

Then there’s the pitching. Flat-out dominant. The starters set the tone immediately, giving up just one run across the entire series. That’s not just good—that’s borderline ridiculous for the first week of the season. When your rotation is dealing like that, you don’t need a dozen runs a game to win.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the Automated Ball-Strike system. I’ll be honest—I hate it. This isn’t me being anti-Yankees; I want them to win. But ABS? It feels like baseball with training wheels. For over a century, bad calls were part of the deal. You argued, you got tossed, you moved on. Now we’ve got challenges flipping key moments that used to be final. It might be “accurate,” but it doesn’t feel authentic. That said, the Yankees used it well—and under the current rules, that’s just smart baseball.

Meanwhile, the Giants looked… rough. Sluggish, out of sync, and allergic to clutch hitting. They barely generated offense and couldn’t capitalize when it mattered. Double plays killed any momentum they tried to build, and overall, they just didn’t look ready.

And then there’s the managerial situation in Tony Vitello. I’ve got to say it—hiring a college coach to run a major league team is a wild gamble. Energy and charisma are great, but experience matters. The jump from college ball to the big leagues isn’t a step up—it’s a leap across a canyon. Leadership at this level requires seasoning, not just swagger. If you don’t think that played a role in how this series went, you’re ignoring a big piece of the puzzle.

Now, about that “Keep Hating on Us” energy from Cam Schlittler the other day—easy there. I get it, confidence is part of the game, but let’s not start writing Cy Young speeches after one strong outing against a struggling lineup. There’s a difference between swagger and self-awareness. Act like you’ve been there Cam… or at least wait until you’ve actually been there.

To be fair, it wasn’t all dominance. The Yankees didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard every inning that came that Schlittler pitched. There were moments where run support was thin, and they had to rely on timely power to get it done. That’s fine—it worked—but it’s something to keep an eye on.

So where does that leave us?

The Yankees could be legit this year. I hope they are. But let’s not confuse a hot three-game start with a season-long identity. There will be tougher teams, rough stretches, and reality checks along the way. That’s baseball.

Be excited. Enjoy the wins. Just don’t start planning the parade route in March.

One game at a time.