Will The Real Yankees Story Please Stand Up…
We may need Orson Bean, Peggy Cass, Kitty Carlisle and Bill Cullen to help us with this one…
When I look at the Yankees season, to date, I see it in the form of two sets of numbers. Here’s the first set:
At this moment, the Yankees record is 63-55. They’re 8 games over .500 – and only 4 games back in the A.L. Wildcard chase.
Thus, despite numerous injuries this season, New York is still a post-season contender with 44 games to go.
And, here’s the second set:
At this moment, the Yankees record is 63-55. They’re 8 games over .500. However, the Yankees are also 6-0 this season against the Seattle Mariners. These are the same Mariners who, at 45-73, have the worst record in the league and who are just one win better than the worst team in baseball – the Washington Nationals.
When you take away those Seattle games, it means the Yankees are just 2 games over .500 in the 112 games they’ve played this season against all teams not called the Seattle Mariners.
Tough one, huh? Which set paints the true snapshot of the Yankees achievement to date? Are they a team who has battled, hung in there, survived setbacks, and is a legit post-season contender? Or, are they a team that’s really no better than a .500 ballclub whose current place in the standings is a mirage caused by six games where they beat up on what’s probably the worst team in baseball?
What do you think?
So you’re taking out games? That seems stupid. Every team faces bad teams.
Look, the Yanks are not this great this year. Then again , they are not that bad either. It happens to every team, look at Cleveland and Detroit. Cleveland was on the verge of going to the World Series and Detroit was picked to go all the way. Once again, the Rays factor comes into play. The Sox, Yanks and Jays were supposed to compete for the AL east this year NOT the Rays. The fact that the Rays are doing so well makes the Red Sox, Yanks and Jays look bad. So the Yanks are not alone.
In my opinion, the 2008 Yanks are more like the first set BUT they have moments of great mediocrity. Isn’t Jeter behind Overbay for most GIDPS this year? Arod is back to his old RISP problems. Cano didn’t really hit worth anything in the first half. Melky? He’s become a AAAA player. Is there reason for concern? Of course, since this year they have to work hard to win the wild card against 4 other teams while the division is probably going to the new heavyweight of the AL East, the Rays.
Forget silly motto’s like “Pride, Power, Pinstripes” & “The Final Season” (Though the second is very telling about this season). The Motto for the 2008 Yankee season should be:
“A 2008 Bronx Tale – The worst thing in the world is wasted talent.”
The Yanks are a .500 club. Ive been saying that since April. Here is a good list of reasons why.
- They have only 2 guys batting over .300.
- They have a badly injured starting rotation and an inconsistent bullpen.
- They have an offense that goes to sleep at will.
- They dont hit in the clutch thus making them one of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to hitting with RISP (Arod batting under .230).
- They lost massive production from Melky, Jeter, and Cano.
- They traded for Pudge who has ate up the pitching staff.
- Mo Rivera can NOT come into a game that is tied.
- They can NOT hit teams that are running out a rookie starter.
- They are streaky, rattling off 8 wins in a row then losing a series to a team like Baltimore.
- They have a glass jaw. Opponents score first, games over.
- They have Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes. ’nuff said there.
- Their relying on Dan Geise.
- Their relying on Darrel Rasner.
- Their relying on Sidney Ponson.
- They play with no confidence ane it shows.
- There appears to be no clubhouse leader.
- They routinely allow great starts go into the trash. (See Geise vs Angels most recently).
- They consider Melky a bat off the bench late in a game, instead of letting Christian bat.
- They have been decimated with injuries from damned near opening day.
: Posada
: Matsui
: Arod
: Jeter (briefly)
: Wang
: Joba
: Kennedy
: Hughes
: Brnuey
: Abeladeyo (sp?)
: Damon
: Pavano (haha! but still…)
- They are NOT the 1996-2001 Yankees anymore.
Thank god football season is about to start!
lets not forget the 2003 world series team now..
Corey usually people leave out the 2003 because that is the post Tino, post O’ Neill Yank era. That team had Steinbrenner Sr prints on it. I think 2003 is usually left out because of the 2002 defeat at the hands of the Amgels. In someways, that was a more defining defeat to the Yanks than the Diamondback defeat in the World series. As of 2002, the Angels have become a major Achilles heel.