Why the Yankees Will Retake the East
1. The Steinbrenners Need to Win: This used to need the more simple title of "George Needs to Win", but since it's Hank now and not George, a little change was needed. What didn't change is that the family is loaded and will do whatever needs to be done to put the best players on the field. That hasn't always translated into putting the best team on the field, but having the best is always a good start. Example A: Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. The Yankees dealt out four solid prospects to get these guys from the Pirates all in hopes of making the final push toward the end of the season. You can be sure that Hank's displeasure with how the first half of the season went had a lot to do with it.
2. Mariano Rivera: Now I understand that Mo is not as young as Mo once was. At the same time, however, he's having his best season in years, and considering how great he's been over those years, that's saying something. He's not putting up K-Rod numbers, but you only need a guy putting up those kinds of numbers when you're not blowing teams out. Personally, I'd much rather see the Yankees win by 10 runs every night. I don't know why Mariano Rivera is so good, but he is. His cutter is one of the nastiest pitches a hitter is ever going to see in the big leagues. Terry Francona had the respect to let him take the "closer" spot in the All-Star Game (even though the game would actually go on for another 6 innings), and personally, I'd take him over Papelbon any day of the week.
3. Tampa Bay Rays: You take the "Devil" out of your name, and POOF, you're a good team! Well, unfortunately, it doesn't really work that way, and the Rays magic may be running out. The Rays lost their last 7 games before the All-Star Break and have been a mere 6-4 since. Through July 26, 2008, the Rays have a total record of 706-1014 in their 11 years of existence since becoming a major league team in 1998 (that's a .410 percentage). They have also come in at the bottom of the AL East barrel, 9 out of 10 times. They've had four different managers in the span and have yet to have a winning season. All in all, history doesn't bode too well for these Rays. Maybe they'll prove everyone wrong and hold up as the division leaders, but until they do, I won't believe that they can.
4. The Boston Collapse: Before the fateful year of 2004, this was a sure thing. Before the unfortunate nature of 2007, it was pretty likely. Now after watching the Sox win it all twice since the last time the Yankees won the World Series, I can only be hopeful. Before the worst series anyone has witnessed back in 2004, the Red Sox never had what it took. It didn't matter how many games ahead they were. It didn't matter how poorly the Yankees were playing. You could always count on one thing: the Red Sox, for whatever reason, were going to collapse in the second half of the season and let the Yankees take the division. It was like clockwork. The team from Boston always did it, and from the perspective of a Yankees fan, it never got old. Since this theory has been disproven a few times in recent years, it's not a sure thing any more, but a man can hope! The Sox are a mediocre 5-5 since the Break, and the Yankees have been storming around winning games. From my standpoint, it's looking good.
I could go on, but we'll just leave it at four. Take my word for it, the Yankees are coming. I can't promise a World Series, but the division, definitely. And a word to Manny: keep being Manny. Watching a man flail around on the grass trying to find a baseball is a thing of beauty... as long as he's in a Red Sox uniform.
Published by Matthew Gworek
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6 Comments
Post a CommentUnfortuately I don't think the Yankees will make the play-offs this season. They have a real tough schedule ahead.
ok well first of all, im not saying they'll crack, im saying that they havnt proven anything ever, and the yankees have done more than their share. And second, i consider the last 10 years of baseball plenty of opportunity to prove themselves in which they havent even had a winning season, granted they havent had the opportunity to prove themselves in october, but thats no ones fault other than theirs, so just because they didnt crack early on like usual doesnt give any indication that they'll hold up till the postseason. I mean i really have nothing against tampa bay at all, i actually admire them by doing so great with such a low salary, but im going by the odds of what history tells.
Tampa Bay hasn't PROVEN they can do well in September/October. That's true. But that doesn't mean they can't.. They haven't been given the opportunity, and you're saying they will crack already.
Alright, well i see where both sides are gettin at here but i agree with the article because yea they're 5.5 games back but, truthfully, until the rays can prove themselves for a WHOLE season, you cant count on them to stay clutch as the playoffs arrive. And then you look at the yankees where time and time again, they're questioned as the all star break comes but they have made the last 13 playoff appearances and i just cant count them out to do it again. Look at just a week ago, in just a few days they brought themselves within 2 games of first place, they can explode at any time, and until the season ends, i wouldnt close the couffin.
That was a harsh comment. I won't be that mean but I have a few comments. Number 1 I think you're actually incorrect when you say Mo doesn't have the numbers K-Rod does. K-Rod has a lot of saves but that's all. All that means is his team wins a lot. This is actually one of K-Rod's worst seasons and one of Mo's best seasons but most people just look at saves and that's it. That being said I don't see how Rivera will make them win. If they were adding Rivera then maybe you have a point but they've had Rivera all season and what has that gotten them? 5.5 games back. The only way that the Yankees are going to catch the Rays and Red Sox is if somebody else plays well or a new acquisition steps up. Second the third point is pretty weak. The Rays are going to lose because their team was bad i the past? This team has nothing to do with past teams. The Mets were 394 - 737 when they won the World Series in 1969. The Marlins were 262 - 320 when they won the World Series in 1997
So because the Yankees used to be good, they are going to win a division over better teams? You know nothing about baseball, and have no business publishing about what you have no knowledge of. The Yankees are old, that's the difference between this year and past seasons.