The Yankees still need six more wins to secure their first World Series title since 2009 (and the 28th in franchise history). But in Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s view, the Bronx Bombers already have it in the bag.
“We’re World Series champions. No other doubt in my mind,” Chisholm told ESPN’s Jeff Passan prior to Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Cleveland on Thursday.
This isn’t the first time the third baseman has expressed his confidence in New York’s chances this October. After the team dropped Game 2 of the AL Division Series to the Royals at Yankee Stadium, Chisholm remarked that Kansas City “just got lucky.” He doubled down on that stance on social media.
Chisholm was met with consistent boos from the Royals faithful after the series shifted to Kansas City, a response the 26-year-old embraced wholeheartedly. His confidence was rewarded when the Yankees went on to win the series in 4 games.
Chisholm, who has gone 3-for-23 (.130) with a homer and a double in his first postseason with the Yankees after being acquired from the Marlins at the Trade Deadline, could face a similar reaction from Guardians fans at Progressive Field after his latest proclamation.
Time will tell if Chisholm goes down in the annals of New York sports history with other athletes whose championship guarantees famously paid off -- alongside the likes of Joe Namath, Mark Messier and Plaxico Burress -- or if he'll go down the path of, say, Patrick Ewing.