Why Melky Cabrera Should Be the New Face of the Yankees

Nikil Ramanathan by Correspondent Written on May 24, 2009
NEW YORK - MAY 02:  Melky Cabrera #53 of the New York Yankees at bat against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Yankee Stadium on May 2, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

I have always been a fan of the New York Yankees. I loved them through the dynasty, through the early 2000s, and I still love them today. But sometimes you just get frustrated with an organization, especially one that is inarguably the greatest franchise in all of sports.

Yesterday's win against the Phillies epitomizes everything that is right with the Yankees and yet everything that is wrong with them. This is a star-powered offense that can't hit for eight innings, but breaks out against none other than Brad Lidge.

And while Alex Rodriguez came up with the clutch two-run home-run that tied the ballgame, it was truly the young Yankees that WON it for them.

First, Robinson Cano hits a single. Then he steals second, and keep in mind this is just Cano's second stolen base of the year. And then Melky Cabrera hits a looping single into right-center to seal the deal.

Melky Cabrera has been a great addition to the Yankees since they brought him up over a year ago. Here's a guy that has brought back the idea of winning baseball games with small ball. He's a guy that has given them great defense in the outfield.

He has five walk-off hits in his career, more than any other Yankee in that span. It is quite incredible to even think that the hero behind many of these Yankee wins has been Cabrera, particularly when you think about who else is on their team: the Jeters, the A-Rods, the Teixeiras, the Damons, the Posadas, etc

Now this is taking nothing away from any of them. Jeter has earned his pinstripes from day one, as has Posada. A-Rod has been incredibly clutch in the regular season, though his postseason struggles and his steroid use will still always dominate his image. And Damon has been the sole producer for the Yankees this year from April to now.

But the Yankees teams of the late '90s were never about having the big names, and hitting home runs. They were about great pitching from "good" pitchers. They were about big hits from "good" players. They were about winning games, no matter how they do it. And they were about team chemistry.

Think about the great innings the Yankees got from guys like Moose and Clemens. Guys like David Cone, and David Boomer Wells. The great production all year from Andy Pettitte.

Then think about the clutch guys. Paul O'Neill. Tino Martinez. Bernie Williams. Derek Jeter. Jorge Posada. Scott Brosius. The list goes on and on. These weren't guys that they had to PAY to play. These were good players that became great, perhaps legendary when they played TOGETHER.

Think about the farm system of the Yankees. Now look at it today. There is no comparison. The fact is no one was complaining about the Yankees spending money when they won any of their 26 world series championships. But now, ironically, when they can't win, they are getting complaints about buying their teams.

The farm system is what made the Yankees great. It was never about buying players, it was about growing them up to become great. Nowadays the Yankees are quick to sell out young talent if it means getting a "big name" player.

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written on May 24, 2009 Opinion

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