Pretty clutch homer for A-Rod in the 9th. Too bad Tampa had to pull that reliever. He was doing his best to give the game away.
You answered your own question. How many other teams can claim the postseason run we can? Beyond that, how many teams whose run finally comes to an "end" can actually be hopeful that just next year will be the start of the next run? Obviously I'm unhappy with how this year worked out, but I'm not going to forget that there are teams who haven't been in as many World Series as the Yankees have won in my lifetime.
It had to come to an end at somepoint, we thought it might end last year and they had a great comeback. I won't officially give up until we are eliminated but it's pretty much over. I can take a year off as long as it doesn't become a trend.
I was hoping that the season would end with the victory No. 4 of the WS at Yankee Stadium. I guess miracles do not happen nowadays.
Agreed. The silver lining I find with this season is the overall picture. When you think about it, there are a few guys on the roster who are overaged, and no longer worth large contracts. With those contracts coming to an end, and an outright miss of the playoffs, it's the perfect excuse to not get suckered into bringing them back, but rather replacing them. It's going to be a pretty good market this winter too. I wouldn't be surprised if we look back on this season in a couple years as the "dark before the dawn".
The funny thing is, I can see them bring back Pettitte, Mussina and Giambi (if they can't get Teixiera) all on short term deals. Even if they get Sabathia that will only give them two starters for next year. Giambi hasn't had a half bad year. For 8-10 million he might be worth another year or two unless they can find somebody else. Then we have Abreu. All the talk is he isn't coming back but just who will they replace his bat with?
Wang and Sabathia are all they have (if they sign him). Pettitte and Mussina's contracts are up, Chamberlain won't start next year, that has already been announced and I doubt Rasner is in the plan. I won't even talk about Hughes.
They didn't say Joba wouldn't start. They are simply trying to figure out a way to get his innings up slowly. He'll be a starter for at least 4 months of next year. Pettitte will be back. I think that's without question. Moose may have earned himself another contract. How long either he or the club will commit to will be the question. Not discussing Hughes is just silly. He'll be in the rotation on Opening Day. The only reason he's not starting up here now is because Scranton is making a legit playoff run. If Giambi comes back, I'll probably revolt and not watch next year. He has had a half-bad year. He was good most of the first half, and dismal in most of the second. Unless Abreu is commanding ridiculous money, I think it's insane not to bring him back. He's been the most consistent hitter on the team all year. They need to dump Matsui. The guy went from never hurt to oft-injured overnight. Besides, the one thing the Yankees never suffer a need for is DHs. I'd like to part ways with Damon too. Yeah, he's a good leadoff hitter, but it's time. I'd like to trade Cano too. I really can't stand him. A big question is catcher. Can Jorge still play it regularly? I don't regret re-signing him yet, but any more of this long-term injury business and it's going to be a terrible move in 20/20 hindsight. So anyway, as I've said before, my big targets on the first day of FA for the Cashman are: Sheets, Sabathia, Teixiera, in that order. After that, I'd go after Manny as long as Posada looks to be on the road to a full recovery, otherwise Jorge is a 3-year DH.
Not discussing Hughes is anything but silly. I wouldn't even count on him being on the team by next year. You certainly can't count on him for the rotation. He has missed as much if not more time than Pavano over the last two years. They have definitley said Chamberlain will not be in the rotation at the beginning of next year and as I said Mussina doesn't have a contract. That leaves 1 starter as of right now. Matsui and Damon each have a year left. They are probably untradeable and besides who is there to take their place? Cabrerra and Cano are tradeable but for what? That would pretty much gut the system. You would be left with 1 pitcher, Jeter and Arod. Oh, a broken down catcher or two.
Yes, they've said Chamberlain would not start the year in the rotation. That's for the same reason as this year, to get his inning count up. It'll be late May or early June when he rejoins the rotation full-time. Not that big a deal. As for Hughes, you're making crazy talk my friend. He hasn't missed anywhere near the amount of time Pavano has. In fact, before Pavano returned a couple weeks ago, Phil Hughes had pitched in exactly the same number of games for the Yankees as had Pavano (19). Pavano now has started 3 more games than Hughes as a Yankee. As I said, Hughes would pitching in the rotation (and we wouldn't have to suffer Rasner) if Scranton weren't making a playoff run right now. The organization decided to let the young guys have some fun that they earned, since the clowns making the money couldn't get the job done. I'm actually happy to see that. It's the right message to the players. However, it's generating this same reaction from a lot of Yankee fans that are saying "Well, where is Hughes?" I assume you mean Wang? Well, I've already said that we can be all but sure Pettitte will be back. Then you have a strong possibility of Moose pitching at least one more year. Add in Joba for 3/4 of the season. Early on, they can fill that spot with someone from AAA. Then there's Hughes. Add Sabathia and/or Sheets, and there are really no questions about the rotation going into next year. Matsui may be tradable for a prospect or two to a team looking for some Japanese revenue. As for Damon, I have no problem releasing him. Someone will pick him up. A Metrocard? Honestly, this is just my irrational "I don't give a shit, just get rid of his lazy ass" thing. Cano pisses me off, and I've been saying it since long before anyone else jumped on the "he's lazy" bandwagon. That's totally wrong. First off, we have a left fielder for the foreseeable future in Nady. Then, as I said, I want to bring back Abreu. I've been adamant about getting Teixiera in here. I want him to be a Yankee. The only guy I'd want more than him is Pujols. Posada will in all likelyhood be the catcher. I think this year was a fluke, and he'll heal fine. He's not going to be gunning guys down, but he'll get by. I've discussed the pitching above already, so no need to repeat it. That leaves second base and center field as the question marks. Obviously Cano isn't going anywhere, so second isn't really anything to worry about either.
Actually he has made 5 in the last two years and I know Hughes made more. The point is Hughes canbot be any more depended on than Pavano and even when Hughes pitches, he sucks. At best he may be a 5th starter,
We aren't disagreeing. It's just that none of what you are suggesting is done. Right now we have 1 starter. Signing Teixiera won't be easy with Boras. Everybody else except Giambi and Abreu are still here and position players aren't plentiful this year.
