Yankees' Cody Bellinger: The Drive to Win in the Big Apple
Cody Bellinger, a seasoned baseball player with a championship ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now aiming to bring that winning spirit to the New York Yankees. In an interview with MLB Network Radio, Bellinger expressed his desire to win in the Big Apple and bring a parade back to the city.
"Every single person in that locker room shows up, and we're all there to win a World Series," Bellinger said. "I think that the guys we have in this locker room are hungry. I really do feel like it is the pinnacle to win a World Series in this city. A parade in New York City is what I'm chasing, and it's something I really want and definitely a dream of mine. I show up every day wanting to win, and so does everyone else in that locker room, and it's just a fun environment that we have there."
Bellinger also discussed the challenges of the American League East, where the competition is fierce. He noted that the Blue Jays won the division by a small margin last season and that it's a gauntlet where every team is out there to win.
"Ultimately, the AL East is a gauntlet," he continued. "Every team is out there to win. And just to be in this kind of environment, it's what you ask for. When you're all said and done, you want to be the best. You want to be a part of that."
The pressure to win is nothing new for the Yankees, as fans and media have become accustomed to players and members of the front office taking on that championship burden. The ghosts of past championship teams loom over the current players, from the iconography of past accolades plastered around Yankee Stadium to the fans themselves who grew up in the '90s.
However, Bellinger and his teammates have yet to live up to the standard they set for themselves, with the last parade taking place in 2009. It's time for them to overcome their ghosts and achieve their championship aspirations, just as Sam Darnold did.
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