In a recent appearance on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly expressed his critical views on the New York Yankees following the Dodgers' World Series success against the Bronx Bombers. Kelly described the Yankees as a 'sloppy' team that played 'bad ball,' indicating a significant mismatch between the two teams in the championship series. He elaborated that, if playoff rankings were reassessed, the Yankees would likely be positioned as one of the lower-ranked playoff teams, potentially even eighth or ninth.
Kelly further emphasized that other teams, such as the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves, deserved higher rankings based on their performances. He noted that the Braves, in particular, encountered misfortune, which affected their playoff potential. While Kelly acknowledged that the Cleveland Guardians had their struggles, he claimed they displayed superior defense and overall play compared to the Yankees.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded to Kelly's remarks, acknowledging the team's poor performance during the World Series, particularly during Game 5, where numerous errors led to a collapse from a 5-0 lead. Cashman conceded that the team's best effort did not materialize when it was needed most; however, he suggested that Kelly's comments may stem from personal feelings rather than a collective assessment of the Yankees. Notably, despite Kelly's strong critique, he did not participate in the World Series due to a shoulder injury, which left him off the postseason roster. His previous tenure with the Boston Red Sox from 2014 to 2018 may also contribute to his vocal sentiments regarding the historic rivalry between the teams.
