Flashing Back 13 Years
So, now, I’m starting to wonder if 2010 could turn out like 1997 did – in Yankeeland.
You know, 1997 was the season after Joe Torre got the Ring Monkey off his back. And, 2010 is the season after A-Rod got the Ring Monkey off his back.
Granted, Alex Rodriguez is not a platoon of Charlie Hayes and an ancient Wade Boggs. And, Robinson Cano is not some sort of Mariano Duncan and Luis Sojo combination.
But, the 1997 Yankees had a lot of things go right for them. The outfield, the bullpen…all looked good. And, their first three starters had nice numbers for the most part. Yet, one week into September, they found themselves quite a few games out of first place – and only made it close, in the end, with a big closing push.
If anything, I guess you could say that the biggest issues with the 1997 Yankees were the following:
1. They got off to a somewhat slow start – going 29-25 in the season’s first two months.
2. The team they were chasing, the Orioles, got off to a blazing start – going 36-15 in the season’s first two months.
3. They never had a 5th starter that they could trust.
4. Their fourth starter, Kenny Rogers, did not pitch as well as he did the year before – or as well as he did before coming to New York – and basically melted.
Could this all happen again in 2010? Could the Rays (or the Red Sox) get off to a hot start? Could the Yankees be slow out of the blocks? Could A.J. Burnett in 2010 be like Rogers was in 1997? Could Joba/Hughes/Ace/Mitre/Gaudin be a mix of trouble at the end of the rotation?
To me, the answer to all these questions is: “Maybe?”
Of course, none of it could happen. Or, maybe some of it could happen. But, for sure, no one can say that all four of these things happening is impossible, right?
On the bright side, the 1997 Yankees made the post-season (as a wildcard). And, even if these four things happen in 2010, I’m pretty confident that the Yankees have enough going for them that they would also make the post-season (in the end).
Yet, to be candid, 1997 – even with all the great stuff that happened – seemed like such a disappointment. Would 2010, if it went down the same, feel the same?
it all can happen, its baseball. they play the games on the field for a reason. it could all happen to the red sox or the rays as well. you never know with this sport thats why its the best in the world.