Like a Rubik's Cube in the early '80s, the 2008 brand of the New York Yankees is a puzzle I just cannot figure out.
Just what is it that gives the men in pinstripes a pass this year? Is it the fact that they FINALLY found a way to rid themselves of Joe Torre? Is it the fact that they FINALLY found a way to rid themselves of the best pitcher of this era? Is it that they FINALLY found a way to push the best owner in the bigs onto the back burner when every team in the American League is improving?
Don't get me wrong, the Yankees have been the class of the big leagues since the start of the divisional playoff era. Since the playoffs expanded to eight teams in 1995, the Yankees have made the postseason every year, winning six American League pennants and four World Series titles.
Year in and year out, the Bronx Bombers lead the majors in payroll, ranking themselves among the top contenders each and every year.
So does this give them a free pass?
In a year where the AL East is stronger than ever with the Red Sox looking better than ever, the Blue Jays being regarded as one of the biggest sleepers in the league, and even the Tampa Bay Rays making strides toward being competitive, it's hard to believe the Yanks are well on their way to a 14th straight postseason berth.
As usual, New York has put together a potent lineup with emerging players like second baseman Robinson Cano and center fielder Melky Cabrera, surrounded by the household names of Jeter, Rodriguez, Damon, Posada, Matsui, Abreu, and Giambi. A lineup like this could be the envy of upwards of 25 teams across the majors.
Looking outside the box, however, there is the potential for many questions to be brought up.
Will A-Rod perform at the level he did last year now that there is not $200+ million hanging in the balance?
Will the inconsistencies of aging stars Matsui, Giambi, and Abreu worsen?
Can the youth continue to rise and carry the team through rough spots?
Realistically, it is hard to believe that the entire offense would collapse this season, which turns the ship toward the Yankees' largest yet seemingly ignored hole: the pitching staff.
While the opposition can roll out Beckett, Bedard, Sabathia, Verlander, and Halladay, the Yanks rotation relies on the still-budding Chien-Ming Wang as the ace to go along with two unproven starters and two over-the-hill aces.
In Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees have a power pitcher who was enough to sweep Yankee Nation by storm last year. If it weren't for a run-in with insects off the Erie shore, he could have helped them to a deep playoff run. However, Chamberlain's major league experience features a grand total of 24 innings pitched—hardly enough to be considered the next savior.
Phil Hughes was marketed as the centerpiece in a deal to bring in Johan Santana, but never really caught the Twins' eyes enough to consider the Yanks as serious players in the deal.
In my eyes, Mike Mussina is one of the most underrated pitchers in the past 20 years. He has 250 career wins, but Moose has been in a steady decline for years now and at 39 years old is far from a reliable starter.
Then comes everybody's favorite pseudo-hero. Andrew Eugene Pettitte is now praised for his honesty for being one of the few to admit to using performance enhancing drugs. Also in the latter years of his career and fighting off injuries, it's hard to believe Pettitte will be able to return to previous form. It's hard to believe Andy will not be the center of attention this year every time kingpins McNamee and Clemens make a move, creating another media circus around the Yanks.
Pitching wins in the big leagues. Ask A-Rod—who was part of a very potent lineup in his Texas years—how far the pitching staff took them. This begs me to ask the question: When did the Yankees put together a formidable pitching staff?
Leading up to this season it seems the Bombers have their free pass once again to set up another push to October. But this year with the American League and more specifically the AL East as strong as ever, it's time for the Yankees' regular-season dominance to end.
It's sad...but true.
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7 months ago
Just to let you know, Chien Ming Wang, Josh Beckett, and Justin Verlander have the EXACT same career ERA at 3.74. That is better than both Sabathia and Bedard, and just 0.11 worse than Roy Halladay's career number. If you're betting an entire league on one pitcher from a few teams, I'd say that is a risky position to put yourself in. Every team you mentioned has pitching problems. The Red Sox, with Curt Schilling now out, will rely on Clay Bucholz, a highly prized pitching prospect who threw a no hitter in just his second major league start. However, if you're doubting Joba Chamberlain because he only threw 24 innings, you should probably give the same amount to Bucholz, who threw 22 and 2/3 innings. The Red Sox will also be relying on Tim Wakefield, who could self destruct at any time. The Mariners have a great 1-2 punch of Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez, but would anyone be surprised if the threesome of Carlos Silva, Miguel Batista, and Jarrod Washburn fall flat on their face? Silva should have gone to a NL team, where his groundball prowess could've helped him reach an ERA in the mid 3's. Now he'll have to pitch in Safeco, with its short right field of 326 ft. He'll also have to pitch against the Angels 4 or 5 times a year, and in the bandbox that is The Ballpark in Arlington. In 2006, Jarrod Washburn had an ERA near 4.70, as did Miguel Batista with the D-Backs. Also, their lineup is not on the same level as the Yankees, Tigers, Red Sox, or Angels. As for the Tigers, yes, Justin Verlander had a great 2007 campaign, going 18-6 with a 3.66 ERA. However, the four men lining up behind him are shaky at best. Dontrelle Willis, acquired from the Marlins along with Miguel Cabrera, will have heaps of expectations upon him. For a pitcher switching leagues, who compiled a 5.17 ERA last year, this could get ugly. However, it could just be a case of changing locations to get the D-Train back on track. Jeremy Bonderman threw just 174 1/3 innings last year, and also had an ERA over 5 at 5.01. He has to prove he can be healthy, and once he's healthy, he has to be consistent. Kenny Rogers battled thoughts of retirement last off-season, and then battled medical problems all season, leading to Rogers compiling a 3-4 record with a 4.43 ERA in just 63 IP. The fifth starter, Nate Robertson, went 9-13 with a 4.76 ERA in 177.2 IP. Finally, the Blue Jays, a team who are supposed to be a sleeper every year now, haven't broken through yet. While Roy Halladay is one of the best in the game, he is injury plagued, and there's no other way to say it. The Jays' number two, A.J. Burnett, will probably have a good year, but only because he is able to opt out of his deal at season's end. The 3 and 4 starters, Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, both haven't seen full seasons as starters in the majors yet either. Look, I'm not trying to show you up, or tell you you're wrong, but to predict the demise of the Yankees based on what you said is a little premature, when every other team you mentioned has the exact same problems. The don't just go away because you choose to ignore them.
7 months ago
Just to let you know, Chien Ming Wang, Josh Beckett, and Justin Verlander have the EXACT same career ERA at 3.74. That is better than both Sabathia and Bedard, and just 0.11 worse than Roy Halladay's career number. If you're betting an entire league on one pitcher from a few teams, I'd say that is a risky position to put yourself in. Every team you mentioned has pitching problems. The Red Sox, with Curt Schilling now out, will rely on Clay Bucholz, a highly prized pitching prospect who threw a no hitter in just his second major league start. However, if you're doubting Joba Chamberlain because he only threw 24 innings, you should probably give the same amount to Bucholz, who threw 22 and 2/3 innings. The Red Sox will also be relying on Tim Wakefield, who could self destruct at any time. The Mariners have a great 1-2 punch of Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez, but would anyone be surprised if the threesome of Carlos Silva, Miguel Batista, and Jarrod Washburn fall flat on their face? Silva should have gone to a NL team, where his groundball prowess could've helped him reach an ERA in the mid 3's. Now he'll have to pitch in Safeco, with its short right field of 326 ft. He'll also have to pitch against the Angels 4 or 5 times a year, and in the bandbox that is The Ballpark in Arlington. In 2006, Jarrod Washburn had an ERA near 4.70, as did Miguel Batista with the D-Backs. Also, their lineup is not on the same level as the Yankees, Tigers, Red Sox, or Angels. As for the Tigers, yes, Justin Verlander had a great 2007 campaign, going 18-6 with a 3.66 ERA. However, the four men lining up behind him are shaky at best. Dontrelle Willis, acquired from the Marlins along with Miguel Cabrera, will have heaps of expectations upon him. For a pitcher switching leagues, who compiled a 5.17 ERA last year, this could get ugly. However, it could just be a case of changing locations to get the D-Train back on track. Jeremy Bonderman threw just 174 1/3 innings last year, and also had an ERA over 5 at 5.01. He has to prove he can be healthy, and once he's healthy, he has to be consistent. Kenny Rogers battled thoughts of retirement last off-season, and then battled medical problems all season, leading to Rogers compiling a 3-4 record with a 4.43 ERA in just 63 IP. The fifth starter, Nate Robertson, went 9-13 with a 4.76 ERA in 177.2 IP. Finally, the Blue Jays, a team who are supposed to be a sleeper every year now, haven't broken through yet. While Roy Halladay is one of the best in the game, he is injury plagued, and there's no other way to say it. The Jays' number two, A.J. Burnett, will probably have a good year, but only because he is able to opt out of his deal at season's end. The 3 and 4 starters, Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, both haven't seen full seasons as starters in the majors yet either. Look, I'm not trying to show you up, or tell you you're wrong, but to predict the demise of the Yankees based on what you said is a little premature, when every other team you mentioned has the exact same problems. They don't just go away because you choose to ignore them.
from 7 months ago
Very well put, as everyone knows theres two sides to an argument and you have the converse, thank you
7 months ago
Ignore the re-posting
7 months ago
It will most likely turn out all right for the Yanks. The kids are young but they are that good. They are not like some budding stars that need years to develop...those three ....Kennedy, hughes, Chamberlain, Have some good stuff. They are above the average. Girardi has them doing a lot of Cardio. Which the Yankees slacked on for years and did not build steam until the All Star Break. Look for this year to be a good one for the Yanks and remember who won more games against the Red Sawx last year...It was the Yankees.
This year Curt Schilling's arm is going to fall off...The Sawx are going to end his career. Dice K is not a Cy young winner and Wakefield is injury prone and has a difficult delivery which keeps him injury prone. So they have Beckett and the new kid. Two good starters .Even if all things dont pan out two of the three will most likely so that leaves the Yanks with four starters. Wang, Pettitte, And two of the kids. Dont forget Karstens and Rasner and Ohlendorf and Hawkins . I am a Yankee fan, yes, but I think that Cleveland will have an ok year with a bit of a slide back to reality, and the Blue Jays will be trouble . Giambi and Abreu are lighter than they were at the end of the season and so is Damon.....and again, they are doing cardio which will actually keep them from being injury prone this year...this is Giambi and Damon's year to bust loose as their contracts dwindle. The Yankees will be be aggressive this year...Remember Grandpa Joe is out to pasture....and we now have a guy with more killer instinct......and something to prove as well.
7 months ago
Dude you are on the money. Dontrell Willis has what is called a complex delivery and has bulked up and aged and it really is a bad mechanical situation for him., He no longer has the flexibility due to age that lets him throw like he did a few years ago...i dont hate the guy...or anything, I just think it was a bad trade all around unless Cabrera loses 40 pounds. D train has to change his whole delivery to continue pitching or will end up destroying his arm completely. I think also that Tampa got rid of thier party boys...Dont forget the D Train's DWI and Cabrera gaining weight AND playing a sport outside in the heat of Florida. Kinda like when the Yanks blew off Soriano and the Mets with Millidge. I could be wrong.........:)
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