(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Earlier this year, Bareknucks featured a Yankees season preview article. Maybe we should have just held off on that for a while, because I think Monday’s game against lowly Baltimore may encompass what the Yankees are going to be all about in 2009.
The Yankee brass and their fans just couldn’t wait to show off their revamped lineup and pitching staff that cost them millions upon millions of dollars this off-season to accrue. After major signings such as C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees find themselves with $441 million in commitments. For a little perspective on that, consider that 13 other American League teams have $176.28 million in commitments—combined.
How did all that panic-induced spending do for New York?
Well, not so great to say the least.
The Yankees dropped their 2009 season opener 10-5 to a mediocre Oriole team. Prized ace Sabathia was out dueled by Oriole’s starter Jeremy Guthrie. Sabathia, who signed a seven-year, $161 million contract this offseason, threw two wild pitches in the first inning and wouldn’t make it through the fifth. His final line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 5 BB and zero strikeouts. Not exactly what you’d expect from a guy making over $20 million a year.
Guthrie on the other hand (facing a tougher lineup on paper) only allowed three earned runs through six innings, striking out three and getting the win.
And oh by the way, Guthrie is set to make around $1 million in 2009.
How about that other big signing, Mark Teixeira? Well he went 0-4 with a walk while getting mercilessly booed by his hometown crowd.
The Yankees’ bull-pen wasn’t much better yesterday, something they need to change if they want to contend in the AL East. Phil Coke and Brian Bruney combined to give up four earned runs while walking three in their two innings of work.
Get ready Yankee fans, because regardless of how much you spend, you’ll be lucky to make the playoffs this year. Yesterday’s game is only one game, but it should also serve as a wake-up call. There are a lot of holes in that roster and unless something changes quick, the Yankees will continue to be the laughing stock of the MLB.
You know Rays fans were smirking yesterday as the Yankees’ prized signing, who makes about as much as their entire roster, was smacked around by the worst team in the AL East. We can only expect much of the same when the Yankees play the likes of the Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays the rest of the way.
Hey don’t worry Yankee fans…you can always scoop up Matt Holiday and Jake Peavy for 2010!
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