This is the most excited I have been for a Yankees season in
some time. The reason is pretty simple: youth.
Finally the Yankees are following the same formula that helped build a
dynasty, even if that formula is being used slightly different this time
around.
In 1996, the Yankees had a 22 year old rookie
shortstop, a 24 year old 2nd year starting pitcher, and a 26 year old 2nd year
set-up man. In 1998, a 26 year old catcher who was in his first year as the
everyday starter, a 26 year old 3rd year pitcher that made 14 starts, and a
three bench players with the oldest being 26 had over 60 at bats each, made
their debut. From 1996, the year of the first of four World Series, to 2000,
the last, the average age of the Yankees starters was 30.25. From 2001, where
in my opinion the Yankees losing the World Series gave George the feeling he
just HAD to sign Jason Giambi which in turn started the trend of over-paying
for older past-their-prime players, to 2006, before the recommintment to youth
with Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy joining the team in 2007, the average age of the
starters was 31.91.
That doesn’t look like such a big deal but 2001’s average
age was still pretty low and that was still a very good team, and 2006’s
average age was almost identical to the average age of 1999 with Cano, Melky,
Wang becoming prominent starters and Bernie not being counted as a starter
helped the team’s average get younger. So from 2002, with Giambi now part of
the team, to 2005 that average age was 32.36, more than a full 2 years older
than the World Series teams. This does cause problems when you consider that
the biggest culprit in that spike in age was the pitching. The line-up at times
did feature older veterans like Sheffield, Tino (the second time around),
Giambi, Tony Womack, and Rueben Sierra, the Yankees did sprinkle in some youth
with Cano, Melky, and Andy Phillips who at 30 could be considered young
compared to the rest of the line-up. But the pitching had no such successful
infusion, with Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens (second time around),
David Wells (ditto), Jon Leiber, and Al Leiter (for 10 games) part of the
rotation the Yankess tried to get some young arms in there like Javier Vasquez,
Jeff Weaver, Carl Pavano, and Shawn Chacon, none of them were really any good.
So now with a rotation that features three guys under 30 with Wang, Hughes, and
Kennedy, and another under-30 pitcher, Joba, possibly moved into the rotation
in the near future, the Yankees are injecting youth where they have failed to
do so for some time. They still need to produce but from what I have seen so
far, they all have the talent. This will be an exciting season because for the
first time in a long time I don’t have to worry about how old the team is.
yes it will be a exciting year!!! IF george and the boys keep their butts out of the dugout and the field ,for goodness sake you got rid of torre hired a new manager, now let him manage!!!!
eric'
Glad to see that there's still optimism there in the Big Apple. But as Mussina and Pettie goes so'll the Yankees' season. If either of those two go down for a prolonged period then your fate'll be sealed.
tophatal,
I will not disagree with that. Pettitte and Mussina are going to have to be effective for the Yankees to do much of anything this year. Even with the back injury and the steriod questions, I am alot more confident in Pettitte than I am in Mussina.
eric'
For me it's going to be all about the leadership of Jeter and A-Rod'll be bringing to the table. If these guys aren't on top o their game then they'll be doomed for the season.
And explain to me why it is that they didn't pull the trigger on a deal for Johan Santana ? Now Hank Steinbrenner is making a complete #### of himself with his inane rants about the Red Sox. He ought to be dealing with frailties of his franchise and the lack of heart that they've shown over the last few years. But that's the Yankees for you. They're always off the opinion that they ought to be ruling the roost even when they're not deserving of the accolades.
tophatal,
Having the Yankees' owner making an #### of himself is pretty much the standard behavior, unfortunately. But I am glad the Yanks didn't go after Johan. He is an awesome pitcher, but at some point the Yankees are going to have to hold on to their younger players. They put in way too much resources in the scouting department to just turn around and use these kids for trade bait. They have done so often that I feel those actions are one of the reasons the Yankees haven't won anything since 2000.
eric'
That may well be the case but why bit*ch and complain. If you're not prepared to do what it takes to make your team inordinately better. As is now the case with Hank Steinbrenner. If he's going to dole out criticism . He'd better be able to accept it in return. Instead he acts like a spoilt brat that'as had his candy taken away from him. . What's up with that ?
tophatal,
Well, I don't know what to say for good ole' Hank. He is currently the defacto owner, so he can basically say what he wants. Personally, he can say anything he wants as long as he is not making any decisions and just lets Cashman do what he does. I don't know how realistic that might be, but that is at least my hope.
eric'
Supposition here only. But what ought to happen should the Yankees either not make the playoffs ? Make the playoffs but lose in the ALDS ? Or just fail to make it to the World Series ? Casman goes or stays ?
The fact of the matters is that this'll be a make or break season for them. And they've got to get it done. 'cause if not the whole rebuilding process'll have to start. It's not good saying you've got the young pitchers when the bats aren't either doing their thing. Giambi, Damon, Jeter are beginning to get somewhat long in the tooth. And when it comes to leadership Jeter can't do it all by himself. A-Rod is as soft as a box of Charmin' and even though he tries to act tough. You know that he'd get his #### kicked by a boy scout.
tophatal .....
Last edited by tophatal on March 28th at 10:57 AM.
tophatal,
Well, as a Yankees fan that likes that the Yankees seem somewhat more committed to their famr system, I hope there is no overreaction if the Yankees don't make the playoffs, or lose in the ALDS or ALCS. I hope Cashman stays, and gets the authority to make the moves he thinks is best. As far as the team being long in the tooth, yes you better believe it, and thats exactly why the Yankees can't go back to signing old, overrated for players at insane salaries. They have a few of them already and you named two of them (Giambi and Damon both who I did not like the Yankees signing when they did). Let the young guys play and build, I can be patient with a team as long as they are doing what I think is the best for the future and can assure more sustained success.
eric'
I for one have often wondered how the Yankees would've fared had they not been in New York ? OK so we know the Steinbrenner's have money and they don't often spend it wisely. And that has been their primarily problem over the years.
If they don't get it done I seriously doubt that they'll still want Cashman around. Afterall he's been there since prior to '96 season. And thought they won 4 consecutive World Series and made it to another losing to my beloved Marlins . They've acquitted themselves well but as of late they've been an abject failure not meeting their lofty standards of success at all.
Yeah, the Yanks are looking good alright. So good, I'm having a hard time finding a reason to hate on 'em. Wait, they still have the most narcissistic player in the history of the league. He may be your jinx. Until A-Rod takes the team on his back when it counts ... the Yanks still may be nothing more than a bunch of mercenaries. Excluding the obvious Mr. New York and Jorge.
Poetry Man
A-Rod carrying the Yanks on his back ? He's had enough trouble as it is already trying to prove his machismo . He fights like a sissy and I don't doubt for a minute that not only in being politically correct all of the time he's nothing more than a wimp.
He may well be the most naturally gifted player of his era . But until he gets it done with a team and wins it all. He'll just be thought of as a player that puts up stats and not much else beyond that.
Big time sports fanatic who bleeds loyalty to all the teams mentioned as my favorites. Even though most of my focus for each league is centered on my favorite teams, I love to talk sports in general, and really get a kick talking to fans of rival teams.
