Anthony Volpe summed up his expectations for Saturday's American League Division Series opener in one word.
While the team practiced at the stadium, the Yankees shortstop told the Post he was “emotional.”
He would know.
Volpe attended several Yankees playoff games while growing up in Watchung, New Jersey. It was always a thrill.
“We were sitting with our backs on the upper deck,” said Volpe, 23. “We went to the Athletics wild-card game, the Twins wild-card game.”
We'll see a better view this October. Volpe spoke with some teammates about how different the playoffs will be. He wants to be ready.
The best advice he got was that there are two key components to the postseason: adrenaline rush and adversity.
“I'm very excited and I'm ready. This is what you play for,” Volpe said. “As a fan, it’s always exciting when the real season starts. From a flip perspective. [as a player]I think it's even cooler because sometimes as a fan, you take it for granted. If you're a player, you know all about what it takes to get to this point. ”
It was an inconsistent second season for Volpe. He got off to a hot start offensively and had a strong year defensively, but his numbers at the plate weren't all that impressive.
He finished with an impressive batting average of .243/.293/.364, 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, and an OPS of .657.
However, he appeared in 160 games and was reliable in the field, recording an above-average 15 outs for his position, according to Baseball Savant.
“Personally, I look at it through the way the team played. There were a lot of things I could have contributed more to, but at the end of the day, we were the best team in the American League,” Volpe said. “Despite my small position during the season and how I was perceived, I'm definitely happy to be a part of this team.''
Now Volpe can really make a name for himself.
The main reason why Derek Jeter was so respected by Yankees fans was his ability to make big plays during this period.
The Bronx is expected to win a title, but the Yankees haven't advanced to the World Series since 2009. This is forever for them.
If Volpe had a great month, no one would remember his mediocre regular season.
“That's what this game is all about,” he said. “That's what it means to be a Yankee, how to overcome and how to play in the playoffs. I'm really excited.”
