Gotta earn pinstripes to match ’98

Not so fast. On this 20th anniversary of the Yankees’ recordsetting 1998 season, it’s natural to compare that squad’s talent to that of this 2018 Yankees team. Yet while the now-retired members of the earlier group are happy for their pinstriped descendants, they aren’t quite ready to tip their collective caps.

“Not yet. The season isn’t over. It’s way too soon,” said David Wells, who hosted a Manhattan gathering Thursday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his 1998 perfect game and benefit his Perfect 33 Foundation. “At the end of the year, the record will speak for itself, but they’ve got a hell of a team right now.

“… They’ve got the ability to do it. They’ve got the strength. They’ve got the manpower. But it’s the pitching that’s going to win you ballgames. If you don’t have the pitching, it’s hard to score five, 10 runs a game. But if the pitching is solid, they’ve got a hell of a chance.”

The 1998 Yankees set a then-American League record with 114 regular-season wins, and they proceeded to win the World Series. These Yankees, with a 28-12 record entering Friday, are on pace to finish 113-49.

Bernie Williams, like Wells, noted his Yankees team finished the job, whereas this team must complete its task. “Ask me that same question at the end of the season,” he said. “I’ll have a different answer.”

Added Jorge Posada, whose foundation also benefited from the event: “We had a hell of a pitching staff. They have a hell of a pitching staff. The bullpen is amazing. I think this bullpen is probably better than the ’98 team. I’m looking forward to later. Hopefully October comes around and everything keeps clicking and gets hot and everybody pulls for each other, the pitching staff can compete against them and it’ll be a lot of fun.”