The way I see it, the Yankees really are the most talented team in baseball. We have amazing closers, the best player in baseball at third base, the best shortstop, and a deep lineup of veterans. That said, it seems like forever since we have been in the forefront of the race for the title. Last year, I watched as global warming slapped around the Yankees by sending swarms of bugs into the face of young Joba Chamberlain, causing him to loose control of the ball and squander away a Yankees lead, and ultimately the series. It just seems like things aren't going in favor of the Yankees these days, a claim I've heard many times made loudly by Boston Red Sox fans in the late 1990s.
It's no secret that the Yankees starting rotation is a huge downfall of the team, but like many other analysts, I think a larger problem is the lack of unity on the team. As in all sports, it is often not the team that boasts the most individual talent but the team with a couple of stars and sseveral key roleplayers that walk away with the title. When the Lakers recently had Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Peyton, it seemed like an unstoppable forsome. But the lack of teamwork caused the Laker's downfall and put an end to Karl Malone's search for a championship to end his career. We have also seen the Florida Gators win back to back college basketball titles, not with the most first round draft picks, but with essential role players who knew when to step up and weren't in search of the spotlight.
I am all for aquiring star players, but it is clear that something is not clicking with the Yankees and its been going on for years. Perhaps the new change in manager and a new generation of Steinbrenners in control, the Yankees team can make a turn around. But even at this early juncture in the season, it looks grim. A drastic change clearly needs to be made to the roster. There cannot be anymore "rebuilding" years, and we cannot become satisfied with making it to the playoffs and being knocked out early. The Yankees are the ultimate sports franchise. They are a powerhouse and cannot loose that status. As the years go by, the threat of playing the Yankees has become almost a joke, and I, like all other Yankees fans, cannot bare to watch any more of it.
Keywords: Yankees
Comments
I don't really have a baseball team anymore, but as one of those people who instinctively hates the Yankees, I can happily tell you to suck it up :)
Speaking of Karl Malone, you really haven't known misery until you've been a Jazz fan (Red Sox, White Sox and Cubs fans can relate). In fact, the Jazz are actually doing worse than those teams percentage-wise: the Utah Jazz have been in the NBA since 1974, and have 0 championships. 100% of their existence has been an ultimate disappointment. At least the Soxes and Cubs have a couple rings.
Anyway, if you can remember the last time the Yankees won the Series, you're not doing so badly. Once it becomes too distant to remember, then you'll have problems.