OMG – It’s A Race In The A.L. East
Is it too late to beg the Yankees-gods for forgiveness on being a non-believer this season, twice?
Yes, back on June 28th, when the Yankees were double-digits back of first place and near double-digits back in the Wildcard chase, I thought the 2007 season was over. Then, on August 13th, after the Yankees played .707 baseball over their past 40 games while the Red Sox played .550 baseball in their past 41 games games, I confessed that I was wrong to assume the worst at the end of June.
But, then, on August 27th, after the Yankees had fallen another four games back of Boston, I said that New York had little hope of catching the Red Sox and that the Wildcard was the Yankees only hope, at that point, for 2007. Further, as recent as four days ago, I repeated that the Yankees had no hope of catching Boston.
However, in the last three days, the Yankees have won three games where the Red Sox lost each day. Now, at the close of today, the Yankees are two games back of the Red Sox, in the loss column, with 11 games to play (while Boston has 10 games left).
Yes, it’s a race in the A.L. East, between the Yankees and the Red Sox. It’s been a roller-coaster ride to get here, but, it’s a race – no question about that now.
Sure, over the next three games, this could turn the other way – just as quickly as it turned this way since Sunday. Nonetheless, it will not change the fact that the Yankees have a chance to win the A.L. East this season – at a point where there’s just 11 games left to the year. When you consider that New York was 14 1/2 games behind Boston on May 29th, it’s impressive that they are now just two back in the loss column, 16 weeks later.
O.K., while it may have taken sixteen weeks for me to totally sign-on to the notion, from this point on, please, but me down as a believer.
Hey, there’s a dozen days left to the season. Better late than never, right?
Some may say that I’m being a fair-weather fan here. But, I would contest that notion. Anyone who has read this blog over the last three seasons would know that I feel pain when the Yankees struggle as much as most deep-rooted Yankees fans feel it. You can’t be a fair-weather fan when you care that much over your team not doing well.
I just wanted to tack that statement on to this one, here.
Hey Steve, if the Yanks happen to win the division where would this rank in terms of all time chokes in baseball history in your opinion? You don’t need to analyze every choke, but just ballpark it, if you could. This would have to be considered one of the biggest chokes right?
Hey Steve, you were just calling them as you see them. But yet again, one can NEVER count out a team with the likes of Jeter, Posada, Mo, Rocket, Andy, et. al.
As for the chokes, I unfortunately don’t think this season-long swoon for Boston would be as bad as our ridiculously impossible failure in 2004. That is devastating, even today, for me.
No, of course not Jaggie. I was just curious as to where it would stack up. Or even if it makes the “all time worst chokes” list.
If the Yanks surpass the Sox this season, I would think it would be a top 5 choke for sure. 14.5 games? I don’t care how long ago we were that far back, that’s crazy. But yea, Steve is good at running the numbers, maybe he can make a SOTD for that kind of list? Or is that bad karma?
Written off for dead at 21-29 with the tabloid and talk radio vultures hovering over Mr. Torre.
With a barely concealed glee, pronounced a non-factor by the journalistic and sabremetic elite at the All-Star break.
66-35 over their last 101 games.
We forgive you Steve, we forgive you. Another Gagne implosion. A Mussina gem. Unreal. Joel kind of stole my thunder here but we have been the best team in baseball over the past 100 games. The fact that we now have a legit shot at winning this division is a testament to how fully we have turned things around and (yes you Torre haters) to Joe and the front office. The ones who should really apologize are the Shermans and the Maddens – who both floated the ludicrous idea of trading A-Rod during the season – and all the others in the bonehead media who pontificated on the Yankees demise.
And speaking of choking – how bout them Mets?
Why is that basically every year I wonder why the Blue Jays don’t have a better record than they do?
I’m sorry, but I am really enjoying the Gagne stuff. Nothing personal against the guy, but the way the espn idiots carried on really put a sour taste in my mouth. Melky and Kennedy for him? Are you kidding me?
As far as the Mets, what the hell is going on over there? Unreal. What a strange season.
‘Is it too late to beg the Yankees-gods for forgiveness on being a non-believer this season, twice?”
No, it is not too late to beg them.
I think they will extract a price though. A little penance in the form of self-examination, as to why it was that you were so eager to write off this team, and to puncture the optimism of your fellow fans.
I’ll get in the spirit and ask forgiveness for having written some nasty comments to you occasionally. Hope you just understand that some of us, especially those who have been watching baseball for decades, felt that there always was a race for the title playing out. The fact that it was a long hard road made it more intriguing, and potentially much more satisfying.
To see some talented writer who we otherwise enjoy reading, seemingly obsessed with being first to write off the team just seemed bizarre and frustrating. Anyway, the lesson is pretty clear – never give up the fight. Hope to be reading you more in the future.
Oh, BTW. My personal opinion is that Torre has done an absolutely superb job this year. Some may argue about the bullpen, but I see that as the pitching coach’s responsibility, as much as the managers. The core job of a manager, in any field, is to keep his people focused, ready to compete, and to get the best out of them. Torre was the exact opposite of a quitter this year, and he calmly and resolutely infused that attitude into the players.
Whether they win the East or not, the big story this year is NOT some meltdown by the Sox, it is the consistent excellence of this team, since June 1. Torre has played a very important role in that.
~~~Hey Steve, if the Yanks happen to win the division where would this rank in terms of all time chokes in baseball history in your opinion? ~~~
It’s tough to top the ’64 Phils, in terms of the all-time choke. But, if the Red Sox lost the A.L. East this season, it would be in the top five or six all-time el-foldo’s, for sure.
But, the bigger story would be that this would be the third season in a row where the Red Sox were in first and then blew it to the Yankees. That’s worth rooting for…because it does take away some of the sting of the 2004 ALCS.
If the Sox blow this year, you have to start looking at 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and saying that maybe 2004 was just a freak thing and the team really is still a classic choke artist franchise.
Of course, this is getting way ahead of things. They still have a 2 game lead with 10 games to go (for them). The Yankees are still probably going to need to go 9-2 over the rest of the season to try and sneak in there. It’s possible – but, it’s not a lock.
A week from now is the time to really start looking at who choked or not.
And, yes, the Mets are making this a really interesting month for New York baseball.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: blowing a 14.5 game lead in the standings, by end-season, completely eclipses 2004. If this does happen, the Sox won’t be able to bring up 2004 ever again.
It would just be real nice to shut up “Red Sox Nation” if the Yankees win the division. I’m not holding my breath on it happening, though.
I don’t see how anything could eclipse or diminish what happened in 2004. It remains the biggest playoff collapse of all time in any sport and it is further heightened by the fact that the Red Sox went on not only to beat the Yankees but to sweep the Red Sox and do the one thing — win the World Series — that had eluded them for the better part of a century.
Although I’m not on board with Steinbrenner’s ridiculously obsessive “win or die” motto, I do think that since the Red Sox humiliated New York in that way, no division title can take away the sting of that 2004 defeat.
Of course, this is entirely subjective. I happen to feel that Boston can hold 2004 over our heads for all eternity which royally sucks.
the Red Sox went on not only to beat the Yankees but to sweep the Red Sox and do the one thing — win the World Series — that had eluded them for the better part of a century.
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I’m a dumbass…that should’ve been “Cardinals”. A team can’t sweep themselves; at least I don’t think so.
Of course, I think the only real way it eclipses 2004 is if the Yankees go on to win the World Series…beating the Sox in the ALCS on the way.
A division title collapse, followed by an ALCS smackdown, leading to a Yankee World Series victory, I think, will shut them up for good. “2004″ will be replaced by the many chokes of the Sox over the years: “2003″, “2005″, “5-game sweep” and “2007″.
I kinda think that outweighs one fluke year.
The actual, direct, quote that Larry Lucchino made back in January 2005:
“We have a slogan around here: ‘Any group of schlemiels can win once.’ We gotta win more than once….”
If the Sox blow this one, and then want to bring up 2004, you should always remind them of what Larry said.
2004 was nothing but the law of averages catching up to the Yanks.
2004 was nothing but the law of averages catching up to the Yanks.
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Even still, doesn’t erase what happened.
It’s why I’d never buy one of those “Do the Math” t-shirts they sell at Stan’s across from the ballpark. I’m proud of my team’s historical accomplishments but the past several years have taught me that history only carries you to a point.
>> Of course, this is entirely subjective. I happen to feel that Boston can hold 2004 over our heads for all eternity which royally sucks. >>
Can you say ‘fluke’?
I always do.