Yankees already have Astros on the mind in March

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker recently insisted he isn't thinking about the New York Yankees ahead of the upcoming season. 

The Yankees can't echo Baker's comments. 

"It was incredibly painful," Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. told Steve Serby of the New York Post about the American League Championship Series four-game sweep at the hands of the Astros last fall. 

"It’s the team that’s beat us every time we’ve got into the LCS. I feel like we gotta get over that hump to get there. Them celebrating and sweeping us in four games was like a dagger, so hopefully, we can change that around this year."

New York starter Luis Severino said in February that he doesn't "hate" the Astros over the sign-stealing scandal linked with Houston's victories over the Yankees in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the ALCS. Severino may have spoken the truth that day, but it seems some within the team are already dreaming about yet another postseason rematch. 

"It’s good to see," reliever Michael King told Serby about watching Houston players celebrate on the Yankee Stadium infield last October. "Sucks to see, but it’s good to have that motivation." 

King added that he and his teammates cannot take satisfaction in merely winning the AL East this time around. The phrase "World Series or bust" wasn't uttered but is clearly hovering over the franchise that hasn't played in a Fall Classic since it was the last team standing back in 2009. 

Baker meant no disrespect when he said he only worries about "them Yankees" when the Astros "get there" to such a postseason matchup. The skipper of the reigning World Series champions understandably wants to first concentrate on divisional opponents. 

However, some Yankees players such as Clarke Schmidt cannot help but reflect on the last game of the 2022 campaign. 

"When you get swept at home, it’s never a good feeling," Schmidt admitted to Serby. "It leaves a sour taste in your mouth for sure. It puts a little bit of hunger in your butt and makes you want to put a lot of work in to come back there and be able to come back the next year and do it to them. It definitely motivates us a lot."