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Palladino: Yankees' Kids Bring Unexpected Excitement Into Orioles Series

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

As improbable as it seems, something wonderful is happening with the Yankees right now.

Just 24 days after they seemingly ran up the white flag to the season, a kiddie corps led by catching phenom Gary Sanchez and, most recently, by 23-year-old third baseman Ronald Torreyes has set the lineup a-vibrating.

And by doing just that, the children have led the adults into a position where this weekend's three-game homestand with the Orioles actually has serious wild card implications.

Oh, there will still be plenty of work to do. Even if the Yanks do engineer a sweep and push themselves to within an eyelash of the second wild card spot -- a position currently owned by said Orioles -- they still need help from several other teams.

But at least the likelihood of a spirited, hopeful September would await, especially since 27 of their next 33 games would come against division foes, with 13 of the next 19 of those at home.

The chances of October baseball are still a long shot, no doubt. But hope is hope, which is a lot more than the Yanks had when this youth movement started in earnest Aug. 1. At that point, the Mets had the better possibilities of making the postseason.

Technically, they still do despite their fade to .500 because of a weaker division. But now that their roster has been further weakened by Jon Niese's probable season-ending knee surgery and Jay Bruce's struggles before tighness in his quad forced him out of Wednesday's game in St. Louis, the Mets' hill looks as formidable as their pinstriped counterparts.

The difference is that the small amount of optimism now resides with the Yanks, and that is because of what the youngsters have done.

Yankees INF Ronald Torreyes
The Yankees' Ronald Torreyes hits an RBI double against the Mariners during the second inning at Safeco Field in Seattle on Aug. 23, 2016. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Sanchez, the 23-year-old catcher, has already become a rookie folk hero not only for his batting but for his veteran-like handling of the pitching staff. In Wednesday's 5-0 victory over Seattle, the completion of the fifth of six series wins, Sanchez coaxed seven innings of shutout ball from Masahiro Tanaka. That's in addition to the homer, double, and two intentional walks he, himself, generated.

In teaming up with Tanaka in his previous start in Anaheim, he guided the rejuvenated ace to 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, earning Tanaka's praise.

Sanchez, finishing the road trip at .424 (10-for-22) with four homers, three doubles, and five RBI, has simply performed above anybody's reasonable expectations, whether pitchers are still writing the book on him or not.

Torreyes, the much-traveled minor leaguer who has suddenly pushed veteran Chase Headley to the bench with his well-swung bat, has four hits in his last two games, not to mention the double play he started to help out Tanaka. The hitting, though, is what prompted Joe Girardi to state that if the rookie continues with more solid at-bats, he'll leave his manager no choice but to play him.

And that probably means more downtime for Headley.

Add to the mix 26-year-old Aaron Hicks, once an inconsistent bastman who has now hit at a .320 pace over his last 15 games. He's 5-for-10 over his last three starts, including two hits Wednesday.

And though he's tailed off a bit following a fast start to his pinstriped career, monstrous outfielder Aaron Judge, who is all of 24, has the ability to make an impact at any moment.

It has all made for an aura of excitement as the Yankees come back to the Bronx for this suddenly important homestand.

A sweep still won't guarantee them of a playoff spot. In the end, they may fall short of it.

But at least the kids are making a show of it.

They have given the Yanks opportunity.

They have offered hope.

And that's a heck of a lot more exciting than what existed less than a month ago.

Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino

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