As the MLB approaches the midpoint of the Championship Series, predictions, criticism, and armchair feedback has grown prevalent all across the realm of baseball. Similarly, in an interview from October 20, before the second ALCS game, Stephen A. Smith, spoke about his beloved New York Yankees.

He added the importance of not allowing the Astros to gain a lead, which will put the Yanks in a spiral along with a direct attack on the Yankee outfield, encompassing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in particular. However, these comments didn’t age well. And now, the Yanks are down 0-2 in the ALCS.

Stephen A. Smith vehemently attacks the Yankee outfield

While Smith starts off the interview hopeful that the Yanks will come back strong, after the lead Astros pitcher, Justin Verlander, is rested, he slowly moves into criticizing the Yankee outfield combination of Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. He said, “Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, I’m not letting them off the hook. Stanton, you’ve been around, and even though you’ve been injury prone, you’ve been around. Aaron Judge, you’ve been smashing home runs all regular season, breaking the single-season Roger Maris home run record.”

The analyst continued to criticize Aaron Judge, and questioned his whopping $300 million demand. He further stated, “You are a Yankee. There is a standard, okay. And we measure our success by postseason success, not by the regular season. The individual records in the regular season, that’s nice, but that’s not what you’re here for. That’s not why you demanding over $300 million.”

However, Smith concludes his rant with a ray of hope and niceness towards Judge. And said, “Aaron Judge has got to show up in this series. And I’m confident that he will.”

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As is visible, Smith’s comments didn’t age well, and the Yanks managed to go down 0-2 hole. However, after flying to New York, and a one-day hiatus, the Yanks have had a small gap to regroup and work on their misses. The ALCS will resume tonight, with the next two games in the iconic Yankee Stadium. Can the Pinstripes gather some significant home advantage and level the series?

New York Yankees vs Houston Astros: A one-sided battle

Even though the New York Yankees hold one of the best postseason, regular season, and World Championship records, their recent past hasn’t been an accurate display of that. And all through, the Yanks have stood against one common enemy, who has perpetually come in the middle of the Pinstripes and their World Championship dreams.

The Astros, who won their last World Championship in 2017, strongly hold their ground as the most consistent, competitive, and powerful American League team. And their postseason appearances, which include two World Championship appearances, two Championship Series visits, and one World Championship victory. And now, in 2022, where they’re walking past the Yankees in the Championship Series.

Before this year, the Yanks made two Championship Series appearances in 2017, and 2019. In both years, they ended up facing the Astros and lost.

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Will the Yanks be able to dictate a new story this time around against the reigning AL champions? What do you think?