Yankees Repeat as 2016 season draws to an exciting close

Ditto!

Yankees repeat as world champs, defeating Pirates 4 games to 2

(PE)Dee Gordon MVP with .550 batting average over six-game series

Just three weeks ago or so, on November 21, things looked bleak for the defending champion Yankees. The Reds had already clinched their division—and their wild card hopes were fading quickly. Already in the clubhouse at 44-36, they watched as the Giants and Red Sox met for a five-game series to conclude the regular season. The Yankees’ only path to the post-season at that point was for the Giants (41-34 at the time) to go 3-2 against the Red Sox (42-33) in those final five games, which would result in a three-way tie for the wild card at 44-36. Any other outcome and the Yankees were done. 

We know what happened, of course. The 3-2 outcome happened, opening the door a crack. And the Yankees stormed through. First they took the round-robin tie breaker to claim the wild card, beating both the Giants and Red Sox in the first round. Next they swept the Moe Division champion Reds 4-0 in the divisional playoffs, setting up a World Series rematch with the Pirates. 

For the second year in a row the Yankees defeated the Pirates 4 games to 2 in the championship series, completing a post-season run (including the round-robin) of 10-2. Dee Gordon claimed MVP honors after batting .550 in the World Series, although many Yankees could have a valid claim to those honors.

Congratulations to the Yankees—again! Great season everyone. See you at Christmas time in February! 

World Series

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Dee Gordon

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Pirates win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Manny Machado

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 0
MVP: Anthony Rizzo

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6. Mets
7. Reds
8. Pirates
9. Yankees

**Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker

Final Regular Season Standings and Post-Season Madness Update -- December 7, 2016

(Updated December 9, 2016)

It's a rematch of the 2015 World Series this year as the Pirates and Yankees square off for the title. In the divisional series, the Pirates stormed back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat the Mets 4 games to 2, while the Yankees swept a Reds juggernaut 4 games to 0.

And the Yankees jump out to a 2 games to 1 lead in the 2016 World Series! 

World Series

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees lead series 2 games to 1.

Series to resume -- and conclude -- Monday, December 12.

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Pirates win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Manny Machado

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 0
MVP: Anthony Rizzo

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6. Mets
7. Reds
8-9. To be determined

**Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker