Bobby Abreu & David Justice
On the morning of June 29, 2000, the Yankees were barely a .500 ballclub…with a record of 37-35. At that time, they were 3 games back of first place. Later that day, the Yankees traded for David Justice.
Justice would go on to be the Yankees most valuable batter that season – and lead the Yankees into the post-season.
On the morning of July 30, 2006, the Yankees were a 60-41 ballclub…and were 1 1/2 games back of first place. Later that day, the Yankees traded for Bobby Abreu.
Abreu would go on to be the Yankees most valuable batter for the rest of that season – and lead the Yankees into the post-season.
The year after the Yankees acquired Justice was a different story than 2000. David batted .241 on the season – and was a terrible 2 for 12 in the 2001 World Series…with 9 strikeouts. After the 2001 season, the Yankees removed Justice from the team.
This year, one year after the Yankees acquired Abreu, so far, has been a different story than 2006. Abreu is presently batting .243 on the season…very close to what Justice hit in 2001.
Are we seeing a repeat of David Justice 2000-01 now in Bobby Abreu 2006-07? We’ll know for sure, in about five months. And, if it happens, you can bet that the Yankees will remove Abreu from the team at the end of the season. Or, at least, they should make that move.
This is more than Yankee coincidence. Other players who have gone the route of short success
(good half season downhill next season) include
Justice as Steve says, Cecil Fielder, Ruben Sierra and Raul Mondesi.
There’s a big difference between them.
With the exception of Justice’s 1997 season and Abreu’s “poor” 1998, the best years of Justice’s career would be the worst years of Abreu’s career.
JUSTICE–BEST YEARS
1) 1997: 55 RCAA
T2) 1990: 33 RCAA
T2) 2000: 33 RCAA
4) 1993: 27 RCAA
5) 1992: 22 RCAA
ABREU–WORST YEARS
1) 1998: 29 RCAA
2) 2006: 37 RCAA
3) 1999: 38 RCAA
4) 2001: 43 RCAA
5) 2000: 49 RCAA
Steve, you are obsessed with historical comparisons.
Do you have “eternal recurrence” tattooed on your forehead?
I’d post more often, but the regular snide remarks towards you act as a deterrent Steve.
There’s a difference between debating someone and just plain being rude, and I think that line gets crossed a lot here. You’ve always been respectful towards them in return and I think that’s why I keep coming back; if only to read. I really appreciate the amount of time and effort you spend on this blog. You’re a very good writer. I hope you don’t let the complaints deter you because I intend to keep on reading as long as you’re writing. 
P.S. There are also some really funny, passionate and intelligent Yankee fans here who really give it to you sometimes and that’s a lot of fun to read too!
ShakesPeer, you obviously have no idea what “eternal recurrence” is a reference to, and don’t have the intellectual capacity to get the joke.
But if my occasional jokes deter someone from using frowning smiley faces in the comments section of this blog, I guess it’s coming to a certain amount of good.
See what I mean Steve? Later guys. : )
baileywalk – I don’t mind what you say about me, but, please don’t question the “intellectual capacity” of other readers. That *is* rude. Do I do that to you when you say things about me? No, because I respect your right to have an opinion…can’t you try the same?
This is completely irrelavent, but ShakesPeer–that’s a great username. Well done.