The Power--And Pressure--Of the Pinstripes

Newswise — Conventional wisdom suggests the mighty Yankees should have no trouble overwhelming Florida after dispatching their tortured nemesis, the Red Sox, with a mythic, 11th inning blast into the Bronx night and advancing to their 39th Fall Classic since the Curse of the Bambino took hold in 1920. But Temple sports psychologist Michael Sachs says the Marlins--a bunch redolent of the upstart Angels, who unseated the Yankees en route to an improbable world title last season--are no pushover. The Marlins, says Sachs, have staked their postseason reputation on playing carefree, relaxed baseball, a stark contrast from the weight of history the Bronx Bombers bear. "Every player feels the expectations and pressure to perform when they pull on those pinstripes," Sachs says. "They're under a microscope in New York constantly, and the over-the-top intrusions of George Steinbrenner are a steady distraction for the players. For Florida, it's easy to get up for the Yankees. They don't carry that burden of pressure. No one expects them to win."