So the Yankees failed to make the playoffs this year for the first time in over a decade. In the last season at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees simply couldn't match the consistent play of the Boston Red Sox and the surprising Tampa Bay Rays.
So why are people acting so surprised about all of this?
Hank Steinbrenner clearly thinks that it is unfair that the Yankees are missing the playoffs, while teams like the Dodgers are getting in simply because they play in a weaker division. How unfair! Hank Steinbrenner said that:
"The biggest problem is the divisional setup in Major League Baseball," Steinbrenner wrote. "I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multi-division setup to create more races, rivalries, and excitement. But it isn't fair.
"You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we're not. This is by no means a knock on Torre—let me make that clear—but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the AL East, it wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The AL East is never weak."
First it was unfair that Yankee Ace Chien Ming-Wang was injured while running the bases in Houston. Fine. But now holding the playoff and divisional structure accountable for the Yankees missing out on the postseason? Simply ridiculous.
You know what is unfair Hank? Having a team with the best player of our generation, the best closer of our generation, captain Derek Jeter, and various All Stars missing the playoffs in the last season of Yankee Stadium.
Maybe you should hold your players and their inconsistent play accountable for their failure this year. Just a thought. I miss George because like him or not, he spoke his mind and would critique the players that deserved it, not a division structure that has been around since the '70s.
Hank, for the good of the franchise, your father, and the team, just sit down and shut up. No one wants to hear what you have to say because 99.9 percent of the time it is baseless criticism that has no connection to the product you put on the field and are paid millions for.
You want to talk about what is fair and unfair? What is unfair is the fact that we Yankee fans have to listen to your idiotic statements.
It's also unfair how the media is reacting to the Yankees' supposed "demise." In a league where only four teams make the playoffs each year, a playoff appearance should be considered a success.
Now that the Yankees have (gasp) missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995, the media is writing obituaries for the franchise. ESPN has an image on their website that reads "New York Yankees: 1995-2008." I wouldn't expect anything less from the worldwide leader in entertainment...I mean, sports.
Do they honestly think that this is the end of the Yankees, or is this a marketing scheme designed to make the playoffs more compelling without them? ESPN has video vignettes running all day on Sportscenter and full articles trashing Yankee management and ownership, mere hours after celebrating the Yankees rich history Sunday night.
Most baseball fans would kill for a postseason appearance (Kansas City, Pittsburgh), but in today's "what have you done for me lately" atmosphere, the Yankees are being read their last rites for missing the playoffs for one measly year. One minute they are loved for having the best tradition, the next they are hated for not winning every year.
Detractors will say that it is thanks to the Yankees' ridiculous expectations that they are bound to fail, but if ESPN and the rest of the national media are reacting this way over one missed postseason, what does that say about their expectations for the Yankees?
34 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Anthony Evgenidis 9 months ago
This guy is must see TV, he is fully aware of who is is perceived and does what he wants. Without his statements this year the Yankees seasons would have been a complete non story. I know the Stadium is closing and the All star game but those are 2 incidents at different points of the year. On a daily basis he created interested in a pathetic team (by Yankees standards). Do I think he is crazy? A nutcase? Spoiled? All of these yes but he is also entertaining oh and the most important thing is he doesn't affect the teams success.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
hes clearly not affecting their success lol, and i dont think he creates interest in the yankees nearly as much as he creates more enemies for himself
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Tom McCartney 9 months ago
I completely agree with you. I'm a Yankee fan who can't stand Hank. However, your facts are off. The format Hank was bashing hasn't been around since the 1970s. He's knocking the expansion in 1994. Prior to 1994, there was the American League East and West. Now there's a Central and the wildcard. Hank was implying if the Central was broken up into East and West like it used to be, the Dodgers likely wouldn't be in the playoffs. It's a valid point, but a weak excuse.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
thanks for the feedback...i was just going based on his quote "i didnt like it in the 70s and I dont like it now"...thanks again for reading
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Mark Torosian 9 months ago
haha i just wrote one on him myself, good article my man
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Mark Bender 9 months ago
Hank is just a complainer. Can't stand being beat by a better team(s) in their division. Not only did the Yankees not win the Division, the didn't even qualify for the Wild Card. He (and the Yankees) are poor Losers!
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Mark,
I agree that he is a sore loser, but to say that the Yankees are sore losers is simply incorrect.
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Mark Bender 9 months ago
Yes, I may have overstepped the boundries a little bit when calling the Yankee Organization "losers".
It's the "baseball fever" kicking in, and the JOY of not seeing the Yankees in the playoffs "writing".
I can't wait to face Boston in the ALDS. Bring it on!
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Rory Davis 9 months ago
I could tell this was an awesome article after reading the following paragraph:
Hank, for the good of the franchise, your father, and the team, just sit down and shut up. No one wants to hear what you have to say because 99.9 percent of the time it is baseless criticisms that have no relation to the product that you put on the field and are paid millions for.
Good stuff..
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Rory,
Thanks a lot for reading and the comment...I just think its unfair that Hank is paid millions to be a jackass.
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Todd Jackson 9 months ago
I cant stand the way this guy runs his mouth. Its like he has the balls to say what is on his mind which is commendable but the problem is there is nothing of value on his mind. His points are valid. He just doesnt know how to get them across without sounding like an ass. We have all suffered from that at one point or another, just not in front of a national audience. Overall better teams have watched lesser teams play October ball before and it will happen again. Its the structure of the sport we love. Its not changing because Hanky says its not fair. Hey man, if we want to talk about fair, ask the Rays how they feel about our payroll and then ask them how it feels to beat us out in a division that we used them as a door mat for so many years. Fair? Who cares about fair Hank, who cares about half of what you say. He needs someone to police his mouth, some sort of filter or something. Hes not a baseball man, on the grandest stage in baseball with a checkbook and mic. I prefer Hals approach myself. He seems to be a great mix of his fathers prowess and his brothers mouth, which in the end he inherited from his dad also. At least his dad earned his way to the top and had the right to make an arse of himself if he so chose. Hank is a horse man and this isnt livestock were dealing with here. I hope they pull him out of the spot light soon for the image of teh great Yankees. Sorry about the War and Peace novel here, you struck a nerve. Great article and very accurate point.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Todd
Thanks for the comment bro. I do love the structure of the playoffs as well, and I think its great that the Rays are in the playoffs this year. Do I wish the Yankees made it? Of course I do. However, it doesnt change that you have to win the division or get the wild card to make it, something that the Yankees didnt do this year.
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Nino Colla 9 months ago
A.. Freaking MEN!
I couldn't have put it any better without screaming my head off first. I mean does this guy know when to shut his freaking mouth?!
I mean jeeze.. If something doesn't go his way, he proposes a solution that would make it go his way.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
and a solution that has nothing to do with the performance of the team haha...thanks for reading and for the comment!!
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Brandon Heikoop 9 months ago
Where in your quote from Steinbrenner does he mention that the Yankees SHOULD be in the playoffs? It sounds as if he is simply responding to critics who are suggesting the Yankees SHOULD be in the playoffs if they still had Torre and utilizing the Dodgers and their current playoff chances on his shoulders.
Steinbrenner has certainly been outspoken, but in this instance, he is correct. The division re-alignment in the 90s was ridiculous and unnecessary.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
hes saying its unfair that the Yankees didnt make it and the Dodgers did, even though the Dodgers had a better record.
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a collins 9 months ago
Good article. I too heard Hank's comments and you have to wonder what's up with him?. He's a pale imitiation of his father in the trash and burn comments that his dad used to make, but he bellows enough to get others to notice him, sneer and to laugh at him. I don't get the backhanded comments he feels the need to level at Torre and therefore insult the Dodgers also. I read a article on Torres comments on not being included in the stadium closings and Hanks comment regarding his possible playoff prospects and their records...and essentially was a polite I'm not going to go there. I thought again, Torre is a laid-back and classy guy. If they get into the playoffs the media will do all the talking for him and throw it into Hanks' face again and again. Oh Karma, sweet Karma.
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Byron Juan 9 months ago
I am a Yankee fan, but, personally, I don't like Hank. Be more specifically, I don't like what Hank says to the media. Some of the points you made from your article I could not agreed more such as why didn't Hank blames on his over paid players' inconsistent play this year. However, I think this time Hank is saying the truth. Look at the NBA system, it is exactely like what Hank sugested and it cause less controversy. I mean it's the idea that Hank said is right, but, the whole thing of Hank jump up to criticise the system is wrong. Hank him self has no position to critisise this system because his own team once took the adventage from this same system.
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Andrew Gallagher 9 months ago
The worst part about it is that he parades around like he owns the team but he doesn't.
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Nate Double 9 months ago
This is what happens when you're a coddled jackass growing up. I can just picture lil' Hank in a potato sack race in grade school. He loses miserably and then throws a tantrum. Because he's George's son and a loud mouth pain in the ass, the teachers relent and re-run the race including a new rule where everyone with the name Hank gets a headstart.
The rivalry didn't live up to the hype this year which sucks because I have tickets to this weekend's games which could consist of watching a bunch of call ups play.
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Todd Civin 9 months ago
Steinbrenner and his Yankees better get used to the unfair playoff system because Tampa Bay and Boston are built for the long haul and Toronto is on the way up. The Yankees need to rethink their whole strategy of over paying for All Stars, while teams with lower payrolls than theirs have won the last 8 World Series. Hank's Yanks are caught between going youth and going All-Star and may be looking at fighting it out with the Orioles as cellar dwellars while Hank is worrying about an unfair playoff system. The All-Aging Team of Jeter, Giambi, Damon, Posada, Abreu, Mussina, Petitte and Rivera aren't getting any younger (averaging 34 years OLD). The Yankees would be smart to dump Petitte, Giambi, Ponson, Mussina, Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez, and Damaso Marte, who could all be free agents, and go young and cheap. Poor timing since they are opening their new stadium in 09.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Todd
I couldnt agree more....the Yanees might have to bite the bullet for a year or two in order to secure a better future. Giambi, Pavano, Marte, I Rod, and Petitte will be gone although I dont like the idea of losing both Mussina and Andy. If this were my team i would sign moose and andy to one or two year deals in hopes of saving some money while shoring up the rotation. Hopefully, the pitching staff can step up next year and some young guys can step in and make things happen. Its a little scary, but I think that the yanks will be far from cellar dwellers anytime soon. Thanks for reading and for the comment though!
Ryan
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Todd Civin 9 months ago
Steinbrenner and his Yankees better get used to the unfair playoff system because Tampa Bay and Boston are built for the long haul and Toronto is on the way up. The Yankees need to rethink their whole strategy of over paying for All Stars, while teams with lower payrolls than theirs have won the last 8 World Series. Hank's Yanks are caught between going youth and going All-Star and may be looking at fighting it out with the Orioles as cellar dwellars while Hank is worrying about an unfair playoff system. The All-Aging Team of Jeter, Giambi, Damon, Posada, Abreu, Mussina, Petitte and Rivera aren't getting any younger (averaging 34 years OLD). The Yankees would be smart to dump Petitte, Giambi, Ponson, Mussina, Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez, and Damaso Marte, who could all be free agents, and go young and cheap. Poor timing since they are opening their new stadium in 09.
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Todd Civin 9 months ago
Sorry. Itchy trigger finger.
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Eddie 9 months ago
Good sound advice, Hank Steinbrenner should sit down and shut up and start concentrating on the 2009 season and beyond. Come next year, who ever will be playing wil be in an unfamiliar stadium, one that has no past, no history but a beginning. Only memories of what the team accomplished in the past. I'll give the New York Yankees credit, for no other team has come close to matching their records, accomplishments. So why complain about it being unfair? Who will pitch the first shut out? Who will pitch the first perfect game? Who will be the first to hit a single, double, triple and a home run? Will they improve in 2009 or will they finished worse off then what they did in 2008? Will the spirits/ghosts of past yankee greats curse the team for tearing down the house that Ruth built? How many years did it take the Boston Red Sox to finally win a world series title, after trading Babe Ruth? Changing sports, how many years did it take the Boston Celtics to finally be able to hang their 17th banner, after demolishing the old Boston Garden?
My question to Hank Steinbrenner, can you match or surpass your fathers accomplishments? If you do surpass his accomplishments, will it take you fewer years or even longer to accomplish his feat?
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Eddie,
Lots of great points here. I like to think of the 09 Yanks as a new beginning as well. Their business model since 2001 has simply not worked whatsoever. I really think that the 2001 world series hurt them immensely, because it started the trend of spend spend spend, completley eradicating the farm system. However, as stated earlier, I fully expect the yankees to make the playoffs next year, or at least fare better than this year. Who knows if the rays can repeat this season, we've seen cinderella teams before (Colorado). Sox will be there but the Yankees need to be more consistent if they want a chance at victory. Thanks for reading and the comment!
Ryan
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Al's Wingman 9 months ago
Hank looks like he will eat a big steak and then die immediately.
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kevin sheedy 9 months ago
buster olney's piece on the yanks fall..due to draft neglect..speaks volumes to the yanks troubles. the sox have youk,ellsbury,lowrie,pedroia..on the field almost every night..and they perform. take alook at who the yanks have had on the field .since 1997. hint...it's bad!!!
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Julian Rosario 9 months ago
As a die-hard Yankees fan, I am ashamed to know that Hank thinks he represents all of Yankee Nation with the crap he says. He's full of himself, and does not realize that he just makes us hated Yankee fans looks like retards. Hopefully he just shuts up and just do what a guy like him should do, and that is cut the check for Brian Cashman, keep Bobby Abreu and Mike Mussina, and extend an offer to Andy Pettite. That's what he should be focusing on.
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Josh Truelove 9 months ago
one season in 15 years...thats fine. theyll make it next year
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Marisa Scolamiero 9 months ago
I couldn't agree more. Hank doesn't know when to just keep quiet. I'm a Yankee fan, but I don't feel like things necessarily got better when Hank and Hal stepped up for the aging George. It's a lot easier to blame everyone else or the divisional structure for a bad season, but the truth is the organization did not do a good job assessing the guys they had (like Kennedy and Hughes) and making good deals in the off-season. Sure they got hit with a lot of unfortunate injuries especially to Posada and Wang, but for the last couple of years the team has needed to bolster their starting rotation and with Hank at the helm that has definitely not occurred. And I really don't like how one minute ESPN is saying what a great organization the Yankees are and the next they are writing them off. They're not dead... one year absent from the playoffs after 15 straight appearances isn't anything to be embarrassed about. Of course I'm disappointed that they'll be no October baseball in the Bronx especially with the stadium closing, but I don't by any means think that the Yankees won't be back in the playoffs in the very near future.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
Thanks for reading Marisa
I really believe that the Yankees will be fine next year as long as they can stay healthy. If we can pick up an arm or two this offseason it takes a bit of the pressure off of guys like Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy next year. I also believe that Joba has to start the season as a starter, no more of this in between crap. Whatever course they choose to take with Joba's development they have to stick with it 100 percent.
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Michael Hurley 9 months ago
He will never be his father and the harder he has been trying the more it has been obvious that his father was a far smarter baseball man than he will ever be. He needs to be Hank and stop trying to be George.
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Ryan Burns 9 months ago
I agree completley. All these rants seem to be him trying to inject his personality into the team, albeit unsuccessfully. I wish that before George goes, he realizes the possible negative effects that his son may have on this Yankee team.
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