Told my dad a few years ago "The Dark Days are coming..." I've grown up a Yankee fan, Mattingly was my hero, I remember Mike Pagliarulo and the phenom Kevin Maas (until he saw a CB) the flash of Andy Stankewicz, Pat Kelly, Roberto Kelly, and the many others. 34 now and still a fan.
Think it started when Mattingly was let go. Maybe he wasn't ready to manage but he was a true Yankee. When the Yankees got A-rod we lost our Blue Collar approach. We don't have the Charlie Hayes, Scott Brosious, Louis Sojo guys any more. In the several years we won, we had those kinds of guys. Look at the Braves when they made their run, they had those guys.
Next problem is Girardi. I don't think he holds the players to a high enough standard of team. We have 2 innings with Texas we had the bases loaded and nobody out and got one run. The Rangers had a two run inning on no hits (HBP,BB,PB, 2 groundballs and they have 2 runs.)
We need guys who hit consistently. Cano is productive because he hits all the time. Texeria puts up numbers over the year but in a series a .260 hitter ain't doing much!
Age is upon us! When is the last time we had a kid come up and really be a factor, other than Hughes and Cano? Fortunately the Yankees are the Yankees. Of the 600+ MLB players, I'd bet 90% of them grew up in the back yard hitting that game winning homerun in Game 7 of the WS for the Yankee win...they will come to the Yankees.
One thing everybody forgets---The Boss is not making the decisions any longer---things may not be the same within The Evil Empire
And, the Yankees nearly lost Cano. He was exposed as one of the choices the Yankees gave to the Rangers in the A-rod trade...and unfortunately, the Rangers didn't make him part of the trade!
Many Yankee fans assume that the Yankees can't go too long without a World Championship but they forget it wasn't that long ago when they went from the early 1980's to the mid 1990's without a playoff appearance. Poor management could lead to another dry spell despite the money available if the Yankees tie themselves up with too many long term contracts or get too sentimental about older players. They walk a fine line. With the money available now it is doubtful things would go for such a long time and the old man directed all decisions in those days. The one thing I cannot understand from the last few years is why they gave ARod more money than he opted out of, when they had him over a barrel and he was practically begging to stay in NY. I would have cut the offer 50 million and used him as a example to Boros of what happens when you disrupt the World Series with individual concerns. I bet he would still be in a Yankee uniform, but at a lower price because no one else was rushing up to sign him. One of the few times when ruthlessness would have served the team and made fans happy too.
I remember a radio commentator saying there's no such thing as a diehard Yankee fan. They have no idea what it's like to die hard. At least not until 2004.quote:self-absorbed Yankee fans aren't watching
The Yankees entered the season weak in the bull pen and outfield.
In a winning year, the Yankee outfield will have at least one 30 Home Run, 100 RBI guy.
An old timer would say that they were weak up the middle, a curse for any team.
I'm picturing Jeter. Mo, Posada and ARod all retiring as Yankees in a few years.
Jeter is near 3000 hits.
ARod is chasing 700 home runs.
Mo is still great as a closer or setup man.
Posada has to stay healthy , continue to hit from both sides and develop the next Yankee catcher.
Posada has great potential also as a possible pitching coach and future manager.
All four retiring on the same night would be a Yankee extravaganza.
In a winning year, the Yankee outfield will have at least one 30 Home Run, 100 RBI guy.
An old timer would say that they were weak up the middle, a curse for any team.
I'm picturing Jeter. Mo, Posada and ARod all retiring as Yankees in a few years.
Jeter is near 3000 hits.
ARod is chasing 700 home runs.
Mo is still great as a closer or setup man.
Posada has to stay healthy , continue to hit from both sides and develop the next Yankee catcher.
Posada has great potential also as a possible pitching coach and future manager.
All four retiring on the same night would be a Yankee extravaganza.