Sunday, October 8, 2006

G'Bye, Yankees!!

                 After a postseason where he hit .071, will Alex Rodriguez (right) be dealt? It could be tough considering he has a no-trade clause.

I know this seems like a "Yankee Hater" post....but it really isn't.  Well, sort of.  I don't really hate the Yankees....but I don't really like 'em either.  They've never personally done any wrong to me or my favorite team [the Cincinnati Reds blew thru the Yanks in the 1976 World Series].  But, like many others, have grown tired of watching and hearing about them. 

One decade ago, in 1996, I was rooting for the Yankees.  They were playing the Atlanta Braves in the World Series....and I loathe the Braves.  So I was very excited that the Yanks made that great comeback and beat Atlanta in the Series.  I rooted for them again in 1999 when they faced Atlanta again in the Fall Classic.  So I don't really hate them.

But, I must admit, there is some glee in me to see [whoa, I'm a poet and didn't know it] the Yankees fall flat in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.  In the decade since the Yankees won that magical 1996 World Series, we've all had to sit in front of our TVs each October and be beaten over the head with New York's finest.  Yes, being good means you are there....and no one is really taking that away from them.  Of course, they play in a division which features an expansion team hellbent on staying that way [Devil Rays] and the poorly run franchise in all of baseball [Orioles]....but they still won it.  Sure, their payroll is obsenely more than anyone else's....but you spend money when you make money.   Trust me, I get it!

Would I trade the Reds last decade for the Yankees???  Heck yeah!  But the Reds had that already - it was called the 1970s.  Of course, that Reds team had built up an outstanding team thru their farm system and then watch them all leave via this new thing called "free agency".  In the 30 years since that Reds-Yankees World Series....the Reds have been to the World Series just once....winning it in 1990. 

The link in there??  Paul O'Neill was on both the Reds and Yankees during their title years in the 1990s. 

Of course, the Reds don't have a $200M payroll and house a team that would make any fantasy baseball player jealous.  The Reds weren't really in the running when A-Rod was on the market.  Or Bobby Abreau.  Or Johnny Damon.  Or Jason Giambi.  Hideki Matsui wasn't interested in Cincinnati when he came to the States. 

And that is why me....as well as many other baseball fans.....are happy to see the Yankees fail.  It's hard to feel sorry for any of them [well, Derek Jeter].  Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid player ever...and he goes a robust 1-for-14 in this series and is hated by his own fans.  So?  It comes with the territory.  And don't tell me that the Yankees don't secretly wish that they had Alphonso Soriano back instead of A-Rod.  Heck, they tried to deal for him back.  They can do that.  They are the Yankees.

Meanwhile, my Reds made some deals too.....getting wishy washy bullpen guys and trading two of their better hitters to do so. 

The Detroit Tigers....who were a laughingstock a few years ago as they were flirting with the worst record in baseball history...took out the mighty Yankees.  The same Tigers team that spent last weekend being swept by the Kansas City Royals as they were fighting for the division title.  The same Tigers team that went 19-31 down the stretch.  Detroit is a darn good team now [aside:  is there any doubt about Pudge Rodriguez being one of the best catchers of all time??  He turned the Marlins pitching staff into WS champions and may do so with this Tigers staff]. 

At least it was the Tigers that beat the Yankees...and not the Red Sox.  Thank God it wasn't Boston.  At least Yankee fans don't have to say "Hey!  I'm a Yankees fan!!" every time you see them.  Of course, I can just say "Tony Perez" and they usually shut up....or drone on about Carlton Fisk's home run.  Yeah, until 2004, the greatest moment in Red Sox history was in a World Series they lost. 

And that just bends up Boss Steinbrenner so much that he is firing Joe Torre.  Why not?  I mean, he's only led you to the playoffs every season even though you meddle in his affairs andmake him manage bad chemistry guys.  Stocking the pitching staff with guys 35 and over doesn't really equate to success.  Meanwhile, everyone else in the playoffs [well, except the Mets] throws out there some young pitchers they've developed. 

Instead, it will be the Tigers and A's fighting for the AL title....two teams that have been around forever too.  Of course, the Athletics' last title was during an earthquake and led by two major roided figures [Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco]....and the Tigers last title was by beating the Padres who wore those gold and brown jerseys.  Ugh.  Of course, Sparky Anderson was the manager of that Tigers team....just as he was the manager for the Big Red Machine.  Oh, and the last A's pennant was in 1990....the year the Reds swept them. 

At least Reds fans have that: a 9 game World Series winning streak.  And they way it looks....we'll have that one for quite a while.

So, Yankee fans....go back home and pine.  Watch your owner throw a spoiled fit like Veruca Salt at Willy Wonka's factory and fire every coach and player he can point at.  He'll attempt to fix it by trading for more big names and big egos and big problems...then blame Lou Pinella [the rumored replacement for Torre] when it goes wrong.  It is never anyone else's fault.  Rich guys think that throwing money at problems makes them go away.

"When it goes wrong" will probably be in October again....as the Yankees will bulldoze thru the season and then run into a better team in the playoffs. 

Maybe A-Rod will be batting 9th then?

Meanwhile, the crosstown Mets will be playing in the NLCS and will be the odds on favorite to win the whole thing.  And won't that make The Boss mad.....the Mets first title in 20 years?  Whomever wins it will have been waiting for a while [A's-16, Tigers-22, Cardinals-21, Padres-never].

And that will be fun.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow Sportz , that was a great post.  I agree, but I HATE THE YANKEES!  I am so glad that my Tigers beat them.  Shove that 200 million payroll down their throats.  Yeah, Boss will go home and cry and do exactly what you said.

Nick "Sports Nut"
http://journals.aol.com/redwingsnut93/blog