Earlier this season, the Minnesota Twins revived their offense with the lucky charm of a summer sausage. But the New York Yankees pitching staff has benefited all season from their own talismans, which are much more pleasant – especially in terms of aroma – without concerns about rot or spoilage.
Candles have taken over the Yankees clubhouse this season, as reported by Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated. Aromas like caramel, citrus fruits and bamboo now take over the locker room, thanks to the team’s starting pitchers.
Enthusiasm for scented candles was ignited by Marcus Stroman, who brought his taste to the Bronx when he signed with the club.
“A few years ago, he started lighting a candle before every match. He burns them all the time at home, he says, and wanted to bring that sense of calm to his workplace. the reserve bank. He prefers a strong scent – bamboo, for example, or palo santo – so his companions caught wind.”
Even so, everyone else in the initial rotation has adopted bringing their favorite candle on the days they launch. Initially, players’ wives helped choose specific scents. Clarke Schmidt’s mother, who runs a boutique in Atlanta, was once a major caterer.
But pitchers now take pride in selecting their own candles, even taking group trips to local stores to get their fix.
Refreshing scents or the zen feeling that can come from lighting a candle obviously had a positive effect on the Yankees. The team has the best record in the American League at 46-21 as of Monday’s schedule, while the pitching staff’s 2.90 ERA is the best in MLB. And only the Philadelphia Phillies rotation has a better ERA than the Yankees’ 2.85 mark.
