Jazz Chisholm’s ‘best team in the league’ Yankees boast might now be true

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has a lot to say, which is especially welcome since most Yankees are either conveniently scarce or strategically dull during media hour and we’d otherwise be relying on the euphemistic stylings of Aaron Boone. 

We in the writing press need to remember to send a Christmas gift to Chisholm, the completely unbuttoned player on MLB’s historically most buttoned-up team. The annual Good Guy award alone won’t suffice for the de facto Yankees spokesman. 

It’s been a busy time for Jazz, even by his standards. He recently became only the third Yankee ever to go 30-30 (30 homers, 30 steals), joining Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Bonds, which is a heck of an accomplishment since he’s played only about three-fourths of a season due to injuries (124 games). So if he can log a complete season, 40-40 even appears doable. 

As the team’s resident news-making machine, Chisholm wouldn’t let that achievement suffice. He told beat writers the Yankees are “the best team in the league,” which initially sounded like an empty boast, coming as it did in the midst of an especially soft part of their schedule. But let’s be fair: Upon further inspection, he just might be right.