We're officially putting Jayson Stark, ESPN.com writer, on our staff. His latest article (see link below) puts the Yanks futile playoff efforts into perspective. And, oh my, it's some great stuff...
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2006/insider/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2620662&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1
A few highlights...
1) The Yankees are the first team ever to win 95-plus for six straight seasons without winning a World Series in any of them.
2) These 2004-05-06 Yankees are the fourth team in the division-play era to win 95 or more three straight years without even playing in a World Series, let alone winning one.
3) So what have we established? We've established that these Yankees now belong in the same conversation as the most tragic October figures of all time.
4) Even the Red Sox have never had anything like this happen to them. And, of course, they never had A-Rod around, either.
5) Yankees just set a record for most consecutive postseason series in which they led the series at some point. If the Yankees have led in all those series, it means that, in each of the seven postseason series Joe Torre's Yankees have lost, they had to come from AHEAD to lose all seven.
6) You probably could have figured this, but the Yankees are now the first team ever to lose a postseason series in which they were ahead in six straight seasons.
7) The Yankees' streak isn't just a baseball record. It's a record for all four major North American pro sports.
Let's reflect on some of that fabulous info for a moment. The Yanks are actually building a case to be one of the worst postseason performers EVER, in any sport. Now that's quite a statement.
And you Yankee fans thought "The Greatest Choke of All Time" would be the worst it gets. Nope. It's almost to the point where we want the Yanks in the playoffs to see how bad it can get. Not to mention the building angst among Yankee fans...
Should I stay or should I go now? Torre is gone & then he's back...
Should we call in the clash on this one? First, Newsday reports he's gone then Georgie says "OK I guess he can stay". What an overwhelming endorsement. After so many seasons with a $200M payroll and playoff futility, the ax will eventually fall, maybe even by midseason 2007.
Cashman also claimed that A-Rod will not be traded. But his statement "We're going to figure this thing out together" is baffling. Figure what out? That he can't handle the pressure when it means the most? His 4 for 41 and no RBI in his last 12 playoff games speaks volumes, not to mention Torre moving him to 8th in the lineup. His regular season numbers are outstanding (aside from league leading 24 errors) and the downside is that he kills the clubhouse chemistry. He'll help get you to the playoffs but will fold like a house of cards once you get there. Not good from a "superstar"... (By the way, what's up with A-Rod asking for privacy while shopping in NYC?)
$urgeries?
Both the Big Unit (back) and Giambi (wrist) are both headed for the knife. Big Unit is probably entering his last season, and will be the #4 starter. It's almost like watching MJ in his last season for the Wizards, but worse. Giambi battles yet another injury. Guess that HGH can't fix everything.
Option$?
Looks like the Yanks will turn down the option on Mussina, but will renegotiate a deal for lesser dollars. Will they give him more than 1 year? Risky for a 38 year old with a history of breaking down.
Do they bring back Sheffield? He certainly can't play first, and even the Yanks won't spend $13M for a disgruntled 4th OF. Don't be surprised to see him in RF at Fenway next season...
Jaret Wright? They either pay him $7M to pitch for them or $4M to go away. He'll be back for the extra $3M, especially with the scarce pitching free agent market.
Rambling$...
Carl Pavano? Will the Yanks ever see him pitch? They still have to sort thru his "accident". Have any faith in the offseason conditioning program to prevent injury to his shoulder, elbow, back, and buttocks?
Will the Yanks pursue Zito (will vastly overpay) or Schmidt (damaged goods from NL)? Right now, the 2007 rotation looks like: Wang, Mussina, Wright, Johnson, Karstens (with Hughes waiting in the wings). Yanks fans should pray for Zito and bullpen help...
Yanks are still a very old team and Cashman has a lot of work to do. It looks to be a very interesting and long offseason...
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6 comments:
Theo Epstein and Sox ownership must decide whether to spend the big bucks this winter. Does Theo need to make a huge free agent signing to win back the trust of Red Sox fans?
Plenty of questions about the Sox bullpen.
Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen will have some experience under their belts, but Mike Timlin is another year older and the rest of the 'pen is up in the air with plans to move Jonathan Papelbon into the rotation. Constructing a bullpen has been Theo Epstein's biggest weakness in his years as Sox GM.
Could be another second place finish in the East!
The Red Sox must decide whether the team will increase spending on payroll and hence pay the hefty luxury tax that goes along with it next season. I don't think the Sox should increase spending levels to keep up with the Yankees?
This just in!
Former Padres Hitting Coach Hired by Red Sox. Dave Magadan's oficially On Board
I was actually looking for a baseball blog to have intellectual conversations with baseball fans, and all I could find are childish garbage like this.
I really miss 80's-early 90's baseball when people actually appreciated baseball and its players, no matter what team they played for. And when real fans sat in nearly empty stadiums to support their teams and players no matter what. Sure there were rivalries, but nowadays, fans take it way too seriously. The "rivalries" of today are simply among fans not players or teams anymore. To actually get more joy watching a team lose than your team win is not only obnoxious, but its not what baseball is about. (This website "NYchoke" is very classy too by the way. The total ignorance of fanbases today is out of control and this website is a perfect example.) I feel for those of you who jumped on somebody's bandwagon and will never know what we use to call "America's Favorite Pasttime", because its not anymore.
For example, all Boston/Ny fans want to do is put down Papi/Jeter because they have so much hate for the other team. Both are excellent ball players, and both deserve any award they win. And all the crying about Jeter winning the GG or the HAA proves my point that nobody appreciates baseball for what it is anymore. Managers and coaches have a little more knowledge about the game than any one of us do, and offense is not all about homeruns.(Hank Aaron said that himself) So in my opinion, Jeter was a good candidate for both of these awards, and if he wins MVP so be it!
This Boston/ NY rivalry is not what it use to be. I went to a game this year and arrived during batting practice. Players from both teams chatting and laughing with one another is one indication that they dont hate each other. So fans need to get over it. My advice would be to pipe down and try enjoying baseball, because its a wonderful sport with a lot of talent. Enjoy your team and dont obsess with another. (The person who started this website claims he's a red sox fan but is clearly obsessed with the yankees.) And I only hope that baseball can become what it use to be.
All my best,
A Red Sox fan, but more importantly, a baseball fan.
Holy crap George! Sorry that we're not up to your high standards.
This site (and NYchoke.com) is designed to be fun. How bout a nice cup of "lighten up"? A little good natured ribbing is OK. It's fun "hating" the Yankees, and for Yanks fans it's fun "hating" the Sox. We Sox fans finally have some ammunition. Just taking full advantage...
Get it bud? It's fun. It's a goof. Both sides enjoy.
We understand the players don't share the "rivalry". Once the season is over, how many of them actually think about it? It's the fans that obsess. Players have no loyalty, and success is dictated by dollars. Frustrating.
Your statement about the early 80's and 90's is baffling. How can you quantify this "appreciation". Your argument is filled with empty stadiums? Maybe you should have gone with expansion & diluted talent...
If you're looking for some serious discussions, check out the blogs on mlb.com - "The Red Sox Chick" in particular.
Don't take everything so seriously bud, you'll live longer...
Any suggestions are welcome...
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