Still Champs. Regardless.
I’d like to put an end to this. I’d like to put an end to the talk radio and media chatter that declared the Yankee dynasty; the “Golden Age of the Yankees” DOA on that November night in 2001 that left me sprawled out on my future father in law’s pool table, not really knowing what to do. Because that is preposterous. The golden age is alive and well, and arguably, the dynasty with it. Sure they haven’t won since 2000, but you could argue that this is a body of work that spans ten years, 1995-2005 (so far). That body of work has produced 6 pennants, four world championships, and an unbelievably near miss on a pennant just months ago. The golden age was on display tonight at the Stadium. The Yanks are drawing a capacity crowd in May for a game with their AL East rubber duckies, the Bosox. I was listening to the sportstalk radio on the way to the game, and the consensus was that this series just didn’t seem to match up to what it was in prior years. I have news for you. That rivalry is one of the best things about professional sports. Now, more than ever. The current began to snake through the crowd before Randy Johnson took the mound. The anticipation was high, the excitement was definite. And as the game wore on, the Yankees showed why they are deserving of this lofty palace in pop culture. They once again explained why they are feared and respected more than any other sports franchise. Why anyone who truly follows this team, who believes in the Yankees like kids believe in Santa Claus, knew that the terrible start was merely a precursor to a great story. The results could be measured by the sheer voltage that charged through and around the stadium. Tonight was simply another story in the golden age of Yankee baseball.
It started a bit late (for me that is). I was stuck in the BQE in some Memorial Day weekend traffic, so I was a bit late in picking up my ticket from the secret hiding place where Acc leaves it. The LT shot me an e-mail telling me he would stop by section 24 during the game. Turned out we had a seat empty, so he sat with us. And when Vino called around the 7th inning, we fit him, his boy Dave, and two girls who were with them in the seats around me, the big boy, Big Ange and Cousin Bobby. So we had a good crew by the time Mo did what needed to be done.
I was reminded of a few things tonight. The Yankees are a better team than the Red Sox. It’s as simple as that. There is a reason the Red Sox have finished second to the Yankees for seven straight years, a baseball record. Sure they eked out a victory in the ALCS last year, but let’s not forget that that feat wasn’t without a healthy dose of luck. There’s also a reason no one had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. You need some hardcore luck, on top of skill, perseverance, and perspiration, all of which the Red Sox provided in large doses. But that doesn’t change the fact. The Yankees are better then the Red Sox. They were last year, the year before that, and they still are.
One thing that gets glossed over is the job Joe Torre does managing a team. It’s no wonder his protégés end up calling the shots around the majors. The Red Sox ran themselves out of an inning tonight. Up by two runs, and already with five hits in the sixth inning against Randy Johnson, with four of those in a row, they get themselves thrown out at home plate on consecutive plays. The first one was awful. Womack had the ball in his glove by the time Bellhorn’s foot touched third, and they sent him home. Whoops. The next play was another single, this one by Ortiz, but the ball doesn’t make it out of the infield. So Damon tries to score from second. Whoops again. And he’s got a ridiculous haircut….. Do you blame the coaches or the players on those missteps? Maybe both. One question I do have about Francona. What were you working on when you were supposed to be managing this game? It must have been something, because your game management was making no sense. Talk about just sitting there. Even though Tim Wakefield’s numbers looked good through five (0 runs, 2 hits), there should have been some flags raised when Timmy walked the bases loaded in the fifth. So Francona lets him start the sixth? And then he walks the leadoff hitter, and still nothing? Then Robinson Cano stamps his Yankee employee card with a game-tying bomb. Finally, Francona relents? No he doesn’t. One more batter. Base hit by Jeter, of course. Then they yank Timmy, just in time to charge three runs to him and make him the hard luck pitcher of record. That’s a shame, Timmy. So Francona starts to match up lefties with Embree – unless he just wanted to see what Embree was going to give him in a big spot – and he ends up facing Gary Sheff. Sheff hit a ball that would have stuck in the Daily News sign, had it been over a little.
Contrast that with Torre. Everyone was expecting Gordon in the eight to face a pinch hitter. Torre has Sturtze go back out to the mound. Francona counters with Trot Nixon to pinch hit. Torre than walks out to replace Sturtze with Groom, the lefty. Nixon k’d. Brilliant game management from Torre. The Yankees are better.
But the Red Sox are not as bad as all this. 2 wins in their last 10 road games. Losing five in a row on the road. They’re better than that, but how much better? I’m not sure.
Of one thing I am sure. Allow yourselves to enjoy this team. Don’t get caught up in the hype around the money they make, or the reputations they are supposed to live up to. Watch them channel their magic when the games get important, and watch them continue to surprise you. Just watch them play, and watch them win. Because that’s what they are going to do most of the time.
I’ll be back Wednesday night. I’m on vacation/at a wedding. Let me know what I miss.
Bleeding Pinstripes 