It’s the 11th time since their last title in 2009 that the Yankees have entered the postseason only to fall short. The Toronto Blue Jays dismantled the Yankees in their own city. The Jays dominated them in the 3-1 American League Division Series, and outscored New York 34-19 over four games. The elimination was so brutal that the long-held belief in the Yankees’ special “lore” is not just being questioned—it’s pronounced dead.

In a recent conversation between veteran broadcaster Chris Rose and former player Trevor Plouffe, Rose declared, “There’s no lore with this franchise right now.” Rose recalled the ’90s when beating the Yankees was something else, but now, it’s just another win. So, he added, “I think Toronto is celebrating tonight not because they beat the New York Yankees, but because they’re moving one step closer to the World Series.”

Plouffe not only agreed with Rose’s thought that the days of the Yankees being baseball’s top dog are over, but also announced who has taken that place. “The Dodgers have taken that over and it’s not even close,” Plouffe declared.

He continued, saying, “There are probably three or four other teams that you would say are the best franchises in baseball. The Yankees are not on that top tier anymore.”  And the numbers back his claim.

Since 2010, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won 12 division titles compared to the Yankees’ 5. The boys in blue had 2 more postseason appearances than the Yankees. Their postseason record of 68-56 is also way better than Hal Steinbrenner’s teams’ 42-47. And they had 4 pennants and 2 World Series during this time. On the other hand, the Yankees had only 1 pennant and zero World Series titles in their only World Series appearances last year. The Dodgers’ record is way better in every category than the Bronx Bombers.

And it’s not just the Dodgers’ other teams, like the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, and the cross-town rival New York Mets, that dominated the Yankees in so many ways. And even low-payroll teams like the Milwaukee Brewers had better records in baseball than the Yankees in recent years.

So if the lore of being the best is gone, why do teams still celebrate so hard? Plouffe, who came up through the minor leagues, explained a deep-seated resentment for the “New York brand.” “The way they traveled was better than the way we traveled. The hotels they stayed in were better than the ones we had to stay in. Their facilities were better than ours. So there was always this, like, air of arrogance with their players,” Plouffe said. “And you f— hated it, dude. And you wanted to beat the crap out of them on the field.”

That lingering “Yankee Hate” resurfaces every time a team gets the upper hand. After their victory, the Blue Jays blasted Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” in the clubhouse. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. even chanted “Daaaaa Yankees lose!” on national television in front of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. And earlier in the season, the Miami Marlins trolled them by playing “Sweet Caroline,” the anthem of rival Red Sox, during a sweep.

Still, that mystique is gone, and Plouffe perfectly summarized, stating the lore is now “empty” and added, “New York fans know that. Like, it’s not the old Yankees. This is no longer the same franchise. It’s not.”

While Plouffe and Rose pointed to the league, the Yankees aren’t even the undisputed king of the AL East anymore. Their dominance has started to fade, and the cracks are most visible close to home.

Yankees’ struggles in their own backyard

Since Boston broke its curse in 2004, the historic rivalry has seen a dramatic shift in power. They have won their last three of their four postseason matchups against the Yanks. And in the 2025 season? The Pinstripes had a miserable 1-8 record against the Red Sox before their last series in the regular season.  And it’s not just Boston. The Toronto Blue Jays tied the Yankees for the division’s best record and won the division title before knocking them out of the playoffs.

So, what’s next for the team in the Bronx? After another early playoff exit, the franchise faced major decisions. Their bullpen was a major issue, ranking near the bottom of the league. And the starting rotation was gutted by injuries to Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt. In defense, former Gold Glove Anthony Volpe committed 19 errors and struggled offensively.

General Manager Brian Cashman has a tough job ahead. And he could look to their farm system, where prospects like Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez offer hope for the coming days. Manager Aaron Boone expects to return. But the pressure is mounting, not just because they have to compete, but because they have to rebuild an identity long lost due to their failures.