RODGER’S QUICK TAKE

The Yankees have been a different team since the trading deadline. Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo have been nice additions, but they haven’t been the difference makers. When GM Brian Cashman made those moves, he sent a message through the clubhouse that he still believed in his team and wasn’t giving up on the season. Now the Yankees have won seven straight and are the hottest team in baseball. Not only are the Yankees going to make the playoffs as a wild card, they could still win the American League East. That’s not what we were saying on July 5 when they trailed the first-place Red Sox by 10½ games. Rodger Wyland is the sports director for Newschannel 13. Listen to him weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WTMM (104.5 FM, “The Team”).