Earlier this season, the Minnesota Twins revitalized their offense with the lucky charm of a summer sausage. But the New York Yankees pitching staff has benefited all season from its own talismans, which are much more pleasant — especially in smell — without the worry of rot or spoilage.
Candles have taken over the Yankees’ clubhouse this season, Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein reports. Scents like butterscotch, citrus and bamboo are currently filling the air in the locker room, thanks to the team’s starting pitchers.
The enthusiasm for scented candles was sparked by Marcus Stroman, who brought his preference to the Bronx when he signed with the club.
“A few years ago, he started lighting a candle before every start. He burns them at home all the time, he says, and he wanted to bring that sense of calm to his workplace. He blows out the wick just before he goes in the dugout. He prefers a strong smell, for example bamboo or palo santo, so that his teammates can breathe.
Still, everyone else in the starting rotation has chosen to bring their favorite candle on the days they pitch. Initially, the players’ wives helped select certain scents. Clarke Schmidt’s mother, who runs a boutique in Atlanta, was once a major supplier.
But the throwers now take pride in being able to pick out their own candles, even taking group trips to local stores to get their fix.
Refreshing scents or the zen feelings that come with lighting a candle have clearly 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 highest in the MLB. And only the Philadelphia Phillies rotation has a better ERA than the Yankees’ 2.85.
