The Yankees’ ALDS exit gave Big Papi exactly the kind of opening he lives for.
David Ortiz, working Fox Sports’ postseason desk, leaned right into New York’s loss with a fresh twist on the “Yankees lose” chant that went viral in 2025. This time, he didn’t have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beside him to help deliver the bit, but he still found plenty of ways to poke fun at the Yankees and their fan base.
Ortiz’s segment, called “Chilligan’s Island,” framed the Yankees as a team heading off to rest and relax now that their season was done. The set featured life-size figures of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter in Yankees uniforms, turning the whole thing into a full-on roast of Ortiz’s FOX colleagues.
He kept the jokes coming with tequila shots and repeated his “Yankees lose” line more than once. Rodriguez and Jeter took it in stride, though Jeter passed on the tequila.
For postseason viewers, that crew is part of the fun. Kevin Burkhardt, Rodriguez, Ortiz and Jeter usually don’t dominate the MLB season the way they do in October, but when the playoffs roll around, the group becomes appointment viewing. The previous night even included Justin Verlander as a special guest.
The Rays had their own celebration lined up after beating the Yankees, and they didn’t miss the chance to pile on. In the locker room, goggles came out, alcohol was sprayed and drunk, and Frank Sinatra’s “New York New York” played in the background.
The players, drenched and packed into a circle, swayed together and sang along to the famous track.
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Rays Just Created An ALCS Edge Fans Will Argue About
The Rays spent the ALDS doing what they do best, keeping the Yankees from ever finding a foothold and moving through the matchup in a clean sweep. By the time they wrapped up on Oct. 7, Tampa Bay had already put itself in position to sit back, reset and wait for its next opponent, whether that ends up being the Guardians or the White Sox.
That pause matters in a postseason where every bullpen decision gets magnified, and it could leave Tampa Bay with a real edge when the ALCS begins on Monday at Tropicana Field. The Rays did not have to lean hard on their pitching staff in the first round, which means the group should be fresher than the club waiting on the other side of the bracket, and that is the sort of advantage opposing fans will debate right away if the series starts going their way. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Young Bats Are Showing Why October May Not Be Too Big
Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda did not play like young hitters blinking under October lights during the Rays' sweep of the Yankees in the ALDS. Both turned in notable offensive contributions, helping Tampa Bay control a series that could have felt bigger than their age or experience level, and manager Kevin Cash pointed to the work they had already banked earlier in the year as part of the reason they looked so steady.
The World Baseball Classic gave them a setting with real edge and real pressure, and Cash credited those games with helping prepare them for the postseason atmosphere. For a Rays club that leaned on youth and needed immediate production, the sight of Caminero and Aranda looking comfortable in a playoff setting offered more than just a nice October subplot, it hinted at how little stage fright this group may carry into whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Catcher Search Keeps Pointing To One Familiar AL East Name
The Rays have spent the offseason reminding the rest of the AL East how quickly roster-building can pay off when the right mix of trades, a Rule 5 Draft swing and a targeted free-agent addition come together. It was the sort of formula that helped fuel their run to the ALCS, and it is also the backdrop for any club around the division looking for ways to solve a weakness without overcommitting long term.
Bostons search for catching help has already taken one familiar path through the division, with Hunter Feduccia once a Red Sox target before landing with the Dodgers and settling in as a backup. The Orioles, meanwhile, could be heading into their own bullpen churn, with Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin both in line to reach free agency and Akin still working back from Tommy John surgery, a reminder that the AL Easts roster chessboard never stays still for long. [Read more 🡒]