Flashing Back 29 Years
The more I watch this 2009 Yankees team, the more they’re starting to feel like the 1980 Yankees to me.
In 1980, then Yankees manager Dick Howser took a team that had been somewhat pissy and turned them into Camp Happy…just like Joe Girardi has done with this current Yankees squad. In 1980, the Yankees brought in a new first baseman, Bob Watson, to provide offense and leadership. This season, the Yankees brought in Mark Teixeira for the same reasons. In 1980, Reggie Jackson managed to avoid the media glare spotlight – at least more than he did in the past. You can say the same about Alex Rodriguez this season. The 1980 Yankees also had a lot of moving parts – in terms of many different players making positive contributions to the team. And, we know that’s happening now for the Yankees.
It’s little things like that which make this connection for me. Oh, that, and, the fact that the 1980 Yankees won 103 games and out-lasted a Baltimore Orioles team that won 100 games too that season in the A.L. East. (and it looks like the 2009 Yankees will win that many games too this season).
But, what happened in the post-season of 1980? Their ace, Ron Guidry, got banged around in the first game of the ALCS. (This was before the days of the ALDS.) And, then the Yankees lost two close games and were booted out of the playoffs. (This was also when the ALCS was the best three out of five.) In that last loss, the ’80 Yanks blew a 2-1 lead in the 7th inning when George Brett took Goose Gossage deep for a three-run homer. New York lost that game, in the end, by a score of 4-2.
There’s a part of me who can see the same thing happening this October. I see CC Sabathia being too geeked-up and losing the first game of the ALDS. And, I could see A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte then pitching well enough to lose.
Also, in that 1980 ALCS, Bob Watson excelled for the Yankees – batting .500 in 12 ABs in the series. For what it’s worth, I could see Mark Teixeira doing the same for the Yankees this October – in a losing cause. And, in the 1980 ALCS, Reggie Jackson went 3 for 11, with 4 strikeouts, and only one extra base hit – a double. Doesn’t that sound like a typical Alex Rodriguez post-season series as a Yankee (since 2005)?
Anywho…maybe it’s just me? Or, is it? Anyone else out there worried about the 2009 “Camp Happy” Yankees getting into the post-season and then getting bounced, quickly, by someone – via some combination of bad performances by key players and a little bad luck?
Geez…Debbie Downer
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/111272/605855
Of course I’m worried, but I was worried with the 1998 Yankees. Anything can happen in a short series. That being said, this is clearly the best team in baseball, and I do not see any club better prepared for the postseason or profiling as a better team in a short series.
The whole cheery ‘ain’t we wonderful’ thing sort of worries me.
And, FWIW, the 1980 Yankees got fat going 10-2 vs. the Angels, 10-3 vs. the Red Sox and 10-3 vs. the Blue Jays.
The Angels and Jays sucked that year and the Sox were about a .500 team.
Sort of how the ’09 Yanks have beat up on the sucky Jays and O’s – and the near .500 Twins.
In 1980, then Yankees manager Dick Howser took a team that had been somewhat pissy and turned them into Camp Happy…just like Joe Girardi has done with this current Yankees squad.
Can’t say that I agree…
The biggest difference between 08 & 09? Posada getting more AB’s, Cano & Cabrera not playing with their heads up their butts, and Jeter having a nice bounceback season.
OPS+
09: 120
08: 101
07: 117
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
For frame of reference
OPS+
81: 108
80: 112
79: 99
78: 105
77: 115
ERA+
81: 123
80: 109
79: 105
78: 114
77: 109
What stands out during that time is the pitching of the Orioles. In 79 they were on average half a run better than the Yanks.
FWIW,
NYY VS KC
80: 4-8
79: 7-5
78: 5-6
77: 5-5
76: 5-7
It’s fine to reach back into history and look for analagous cases, but the two teams are not all that similar.
The 1980 broke slowly, but was in first to stay by mid-May, 5 games up by mid-June, and 9 1/2 up by mid-July. The Orioles then made a thunderous charge at them, beating them 5 of 7 in two series, and cut the lead to 1/2 game by mid-August. The Yanks finally put the division away by winning 17 of 19 from late August to early September. And although this year’s team appears headed for 102-3 wins, they might, in fact, get to 105, or even 107, if they keep going the way they’re going against their weaker opposition, and manage to split (or go 8-6) vs. the Angels, Rays, and Red Sox.
The 1980 team more balanced between hitting and pitching but was more dominant in pitching, not hitting. It led the AL in shutouts and saves, and was 2nd in ERA and K’s. They were 2nd in the league in runs scored, 2nd in HR, 2nd in BB, but were 8th in team batting average, below the league average, in fact.
The true jarring note of comparison is the one made by Raf above: the Royals outplayed a very good Yankee team over that year and the previous 4, much as the Angels have outplayed the contemporary Yanks in recent years.
The good news here is that unlike the Royals, who just had to win the division to get the Yanks in the ALCS, the Angels will have to get through their own bete noire, the Red Sox, to even get to the ALCS.
CC worries because of his past PS performance. Aj worries me because he’s been awful lately. Same for Joba. The only starter I’m not worried about is Andy.