Evil Empire Falls
The Empire will Strike Back!
That will be the headline for next year. But for today, the New York Yankees will be missing the postseason and breaking a streak of 13 straight appearances. That's the second longest consecutive postseason next to the Atlanta Braves' 14.
Many things have happened this year.
George Steinbrenner's sons now call the shots. Former manager Joe Torre did not accept the insulting one-year contract offered to him and moved on to manage the LA Dodgers. Fan favorite and former player and coach Don Mattingly, joined Torre in LA. Joe Girardi took charge of the Yankees. When Johan Santana was up for grabs, the Yanks did not trade for him and kept the young pitching nucleus of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, and outfielder Melky Cabrera. The team was decimated by injuries to Chien Ming Wang, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui. Even A-Rod was injured for a time. Captain Derek Jeter played despite having injuries but won't admit it. Pavano returned but wasn't much of a factor. The team couldn't drive runners in scoring position. Cashman is thinking whether to stay with the Yankees as general manager. The Yankee Stadium held its last game.
But there are a lot of good things to look forward next year.
Many contracts will come off the books, including Giambi and Pavano. This should make the Yankees very powerful in getting great free agents. Expect the Yankees to sign an ace, probably CC Sabathia. I'm pretty sure they'll be getting younger, more productive players and not re-sign older, not-so-productive ones like Pavano, and possibly Giambi. Girardi should be better equipped to manage the Yankees, having a one year experience. Hopefully, the trio of Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy will deliver. The new Yankee Stadium will open.
I've been a fan of the Yankees since 2001, when they lost against the Arizona Diamonbacks in the World Series. I'm hoping they win it next year.
That will be the headline for next year. But for today, the New York Yankees will be missing the postseason and breaking a streak of 13 straight appearances. That's the second longest consecutive postseason next to the Atlanta Braves' 14.
Many things have happened this year.
George Steinbrenner's sons now call the shots. Former manager Joe Torre did not accept the insulting one-year contract offered to him and moved on to manage the LA Dodgers. Fan favorite and former player and coach Don Mattingly, joined Torre in LA. Joe Girardi took charge of the Yankees. When Johan Santana was up for grabs, the Yanks did not trade for him and kept the young pitching nucleus of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, and outfielder Melky Cabrera. The team was decimated by injuries to Chien Ming Wang, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui. Even A-Rod was injured for a time. Captain Derek Jeter played despite having injuries but won't admit it. Pavano returned but wasn't much of a factor. The team couldn't drive runners in scoring position. Cashman is thinking whether to stay with the Yankees as general manager. The Yankee Stadium held its last game.
But there are a lot of good things to look forward next year.
Many contracts will come off the books, including Giambi and Pavano. This should make the Yankees very powerful in getting great free agents. Expect the Yankees to sign an ace, probably CC Sabathia. I'm pretty sure they'll be getting younger, more productive players and not re-sign older, not-so-productive ones like Pavano, and possibly Giambi. Girardi should be better equipped to manage the Yankees, having a one year experience. Hopefully, the trio of Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy will deliver. The new Yankee Stadium will open.
I've been a fan of the Yankees since 2001, when they lost against the Arizona Diamonbacks in the World Series. I'm hoping they win it next year.