The Yankees
Yes, you probably hate the Yankees. I get that. I understand that. I can, in some ways, sympathize with that. Nevertheless, I LOVE to cheer for and follow the New York Yankees. I get asked all the time, "How can a guy who grew up in west Texas love the New York Yankees?" Well, for a lot of reasons. First, I've never liked cheering for the team everyone else cheers for. In the early 90's I liked cheering for the 49ers because they were the Dalls Cowboys' arch nemesis, and everyone in west Texas cheered for the Cowboys. It's not because I particularly liked San Fransisco, but I wanted to keep from doing what everyone else did.
When it came to baseball everyone in Texas cheered for either the Rangers or the Astros. I've seen them both play. I've been to the old Rangers stadium and to The Ballpark. I saw Kevin Bass and Jose Cruz (Sr.) play in the Astrodome and I've seen the more modern Astros play at Minute Maid Field (although when I saw them it was still called Enron Field).
So who was it that everyone despised in the baseball world in Texas? Why the New York Yankees of course. And why? "Because they buy their championships" is a popular answer. Let's examine this mindset, shall we?
What teams in baseball have "bought" their championships? Most people only associate the Yankees with this, but let's look at the World Series champs from the past five years starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. The DBacks beat the Yankees in 7 games, winning it all on Luis Gonzalez's now-infamous bloop single off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th. This was perhaps one of the greatest World Series' ever, because most of the games were won in either the 8th or 9th innings by the home team. Who were the co-MVP's of that series? Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson for the Arizona Diamondbacks. And who were two of the top three paid pitchers in 2001? Why Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson of course. And now, in the year 2006, do either still play for their World Championship team? NO!
2002 - Anaheim Angels - This is perhaps one of the only exceptions to the rule. Anaheim won their Ring with no-names like David Eckstein and Garrett Anderson. They won by reviving the small ball game (which is the BEST way to play baseball) and by having a lights-out bullpen. However, since their World Championship season, the Angels have been included in the same breath as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as the only teams having the financial capacities to land big name stars.
2003 - Florida Marlins - In 2003 the Marlins also won with a lot of small ball. Perhaps the best story from that season was young rookie Josh Beckett who sealed their championship with a complete game victory over the Yankees in Game 6 in the Bronx. But who was a vital key to the success of the Marlins? Pudge Rodriguez. How long did he stay in Florida? He left the following year after only one season. More on Josh Beckett to follow.
2004 - Boston Red Sox - Yes, the infamous year when the Yankees choked, the Bambino was forever put to rest, and the Sox finally won it all. It was exciting and great for baseball (although one of the most painful years for myself). But, who once again keyed a postseason victory over the Yankees? Curt Schilling. His performance was legendary in Game 6 in the Bronx. He pitched through enough pain to make Kirk Gibson shutter, and he dominated the Yanks. But Schilling is not the story of the Sox "store bought success" in 2004. Instead, that award goes to one Orlando Cabrera. The Red Sox, with the 2nd highest payroll in MLB by the way, sold the soul of their team - Nomar Garciaparra - for a shot at a championship. It all began with a trade that never happened for Alex Rodriguez. Nomar found out about the possible trade while watching SportsCenter on his honeymoon with Mia Hamm. Talk about a slap in the face. He'd been the face of the Boston Red Sox for years, and just like that they're willing to sell him out for THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Yet no one seems to ever comment about the fact that, had that trade gone through, the Red Sox would have had the top TWO highest paid players in MLB - ARod and Manny Rameriz. But, evidently only the Yankees buy their teams.
2005 - Chicago White Sox - Like the Anaheim Angels, the White Sox escape this rule. They won just as Anaheim did, with small ball and an incredible bullpen. Much love goes to the White Sox for winning the old fashioned way. However, in the offseason they went and outbid every other team for Jim Thome. We'll see where that leads them.
So, all this to say, the Yankees get blamed for "ruining" baseball. But, their string of championships from 96-2000, was a product of home grown talent - Jeter, Rivera, Tino Martinez, Posada, Pettitte, Bernie Williams, etc. They had cast-offs from other teams like Chuck "Can't Throw From 2nd to 1st" Knoblauch, Scott Brosius, Paully O'Neil, and the like. Their championships came from also returning to a small ball approach. But, no one seems to remember that. And, since adopting the buy now, pay later mentality, they've yet to win it all. But, no one seems to mention that either.
Another reason I love the Yankees is because I really appreciate where baseball has been, specifically in the old school eras of the 20's and 30's. If you're into that age of baseball, you can't help but at least admire the Yankees for their history and their contributions to the game of baseball.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Yanks will be a force to contend with for a long, long time. Not only do they have guys like Jeter, Posada and Rivera still around (although they are getting long in the tooth), but they have guys coming up the pipe like Chien-Ming Wang, Melky Cabrera, Andy Philips, Scott Proctor, and Philip Hughes. Perhaps their spend-happy ways are a thing of the past and we can all just get back to building your team from Single A up, the way it's meant to be. But, if not, the Yankees will continue to dominate the American League because of their commitment to winning and their dedication to acquire that next Ring.
LET'S GO, YANKEES!!!!
When it came to baseball everyone in Texas cheered for either the Rangers or the Astros. I've seen them both play. I've been to the old Rangers stadium and to The Ballpark. I saw Kevin Bass and Jose Cruz (Sr.) play in the Astrodome and I've seen the more modern Astros play at Minute Maid Field (although when I saw them it was still called Enron Field).
So who was it that everyone despised in the baseball world in Texas? Why the New York Yankees of course. And why? "Because they buy their championships" is a popular answer. Let's examine this mindset, shall we?
What teams in baseball have "bought" their championships? Most people only associate the Yankees with this, but let's look at the World Series champs from the past five years starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. The DBacks beat the Yankees in 7 games, winning it all on Luis Gonzalez's now-infamous bloop single off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th. This was perhaps one of the greatest World Series' ever, because most of the games were won in either the 8th or 9th innings by the home team. Who were the co-MVP's of that series? Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson for the Arizona Diamondbacks. And who were two of the top three paid pitchers in 2001? Why Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson of course. And now, in the year 2006, do either still play for their World Championship team? NO!
2002 - Anaheim Angels - This is perhaps one of the only exceptions to the rule. Anaheim won their Ring with no-names like David Eckstein and Garrett Anderson. They won by reviving the small ball game (which is the BEST way to play baseball) and by having a lights-out bullpen. However, since their World Championship season, the Angels have been included in the same breath as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as the only teams having the financial capacities to land big name stars.
2003 - Florida Marlins - In 2003 the Marlins also won with a lot of small ball. Perhaps the best story from that season was young rookie Josh Beckett who sealed their championship with a complete game victory over the Yankees in Game 6 in the Bronx. But who was a vital key to the success of the Marlins? Pudge Rodriguez. How long did he stay in Florida? He left the following year after only one season. More on Josh Beckett to follow.
2004 - Boston Red Sox - Yes, the infamous year when the Yankees choked, the Bambino was forever put to rest, and the Sox finally won it all. It was exciting and great for baseball (although one of the most painful years for myself). But, who once again keyed a postseason victory over the Yankees? Curt Schilling. His performance was legendary in Game 6 in the Bronx. He pitched through enough pain to make Kirk Gibson shutter, and he dominated the Yanks. But Schilling is not the story of the Sox "store bought success" in 2004. Instead, that award goes to one Orlando Cabrera. The Red Sox, with the 2nd highest payroll in MLB by the way, sold the soul of their team - Nomar Garciaparra - for a shot at a championship. It all began with a trade that never happened for Alex Rodriguez. Nomar found out about the possible trade while watching SportsCenter on his honeymoon with Mia Hamm. Talk about a slap in the face. He'd been the face of the Boston Red Sox for years, and just like that they're willing to sell him out for THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Yet no one seems to ever comment about the fact that, had that trade gone through, the Red Sox would have had the top TWO highest paid players in MLB - ARod and Manny Rameriz. But, evidently only the Yankees buy their teams.
2005 - Chicago White Sox - Like the Anaheim Angels, the White Sox escape this rule. They won just as Anaheim did, with small ball and an incredible bullpen. Much love goes to the White Sox for winning the old fashioned way. However, in the offseason they went and outbid every other team for Jim Thome. We'll see where that leads them.
So, all this to say, the Yankees get blamed for "ruining" baseball. But, their string of championships from 96-2000, was a product of home grown talent - Jeter, Rivera, Tino Martinez, Posada, Pettitte, Bernie Williams, etc. They had cast-offs from other teams like Chuck "Can't Throw From 2nd to 1st" Knoblauch, Scott Brosius, Paully O'Neil, and the like. Their championships came from also returning to a small ball approach. But, no one seems to remember that. And, since adopting the buy now, pay later mentality, they've yet to win it all. But, no one seems to mention that either.
Another reason I love the Yankees is because I really appreciate where baseball has been, specifically in the old school eras of the 20's and 30's. If you're into that age of baseball, you can't help but at least admire the Yankees for their history and their contributions to the game of baseball.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Yanks will be a force to contend with for a long, long time. Not only do they have guys like Jeter, Posada and Rivera still around (although they are getting long in the tooth), but they have guys coming up the pipe like Chien-Ming Wang, Melky Cabrera, Andy Philips, Scott Proctor, and Philip Hughes. Perhaps their spend-happy ways are a thing of the past and we can all just get back to building your team from Single A up, the way it's meant to be. But, if not, the Yankees will continue to dominate the American League because of their commitment to winning and their dedication to acquire that next Ring.
LET'S GO, YANKEES!!!!
posted by CoryJones at 1:43 PM
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