Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yankees' cockamamie season came to a fitting conclusion the other night in California. In a game that decidedly pitted the Baseball Gods against the Bronx Bombers, the Yanks lost one that they should have won. Give the Angels credit for being opportunistic and taking advantage of the Yankees' mistakes and blame New York for not playing their best ball when it counted most. Alex Rodriguez is getting killed here in New York, and he'll just have to take the hit. He's the teams' marquee player and he had a bad series, so it comes with the territory. It doesn't take away from his great season, but it sure was a lousy way to end it.
Still, as disappointing as losing to the Angels is, I feel curiously peaceful. The Yanks rebounded after a horrid start and played well enough down the stretch to win their divison and make the playoffs again. That is nothing to sneeze at. I've said this before but I think part of what distinguished the 96-01 teams was that they collectively appreciated how hard to was to win a World Series. It was a quality that made their run even more impressive because it wasn't lost on the players how special their accomplishments were. However, I think some Yankee fans began to buy into the sense of entitlement that is peddled by George Steinbrenner and think the Yankees had somehow patented winning baseball. Now, the Yanks are becoming more like the Braves with each passing season--and I don't mean that as a diss (or as literal comparison between how the two organizations are run). Ain't so easy to win it every year. And as the old refrain against Steibrenner goes, you can't arrange for success.
Yet as frustrating as the season was in many regards, it provided more moments to cheer than jeer. Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera had brilliant campaigns and Jeter, Sheffield, Matsui, Giambi and Flash Gordon were excellent. Chacon, Wang, Small and Cano offered some nice surprises. Course there won't be a dull moment moving forward; the Hot Stove League will be as busy as always this year. While much of the roster will return, the word is that Brian Cashman will likely leave. That would be too bad as Cashman is bright and hard-working. There is also a possibility that Joe Torre could be finished, though I don't think that will happen. Either way, there will be plenty for us to gab about through the cold winter months.
This has been the third complete Yankee season I've covered here at Bronx Banter (I started the blog in November of 2002). At the beginning of the year I knew that I was going to have a hard time maintaining the same pace that I did in 2004 because of my work schedule. I felt that bringing a co-writer on would be ideal and I found a great match in Cliff Corcoran. I knew that Cliff would be able to provide a different yet complimentary sensibility and that together we would be able to provide an even more well-rounded and thought-provoking take on the Yankees. I wouldn't have been able to do it on my own this year and want to publicly thank Cliff for the energy, conviction and insight that he brought to Bronx Banter. Our working relationship was as smooth as can be, and I looked forward to reading his stuff on a daily basis. I'm pleased that you readers responded to Cliff's work as I expected you would.
You know, it was very rewarding for me to read through the comments threads over the past two days. Those of you who wished us thanks, let me say, right back attcha. Those words mean a lot. And that's no joke. One person said that they often will get more caught up in a thread than they will in the post Cliff or I put up in the first place. At first my instinct was to take offense, but the truth of the matter is, I feel as if that comment was the ultimate compliment. When I began this site I called it "banter" for a reason: I like to hear conversation and wanted to create a forum where some intelligent back-and-forth could take place. Naturally, there is a lot of nonsense that can take place in the comments section during the course of the year, but there is also a good deal of bright, sensible exchanges as well. That's just the way I've always wanted it. I don't feel like any kind of baseball expert. I'm just an enthusiast who is dedicated to writing about my experiences as a fan following the Yankees. I want to soak up knowledge and ideas and observations as much as the next guy. I try and create a starting point for Yankee thought here and let the reader take it where it may. I'm proud of the Bronx Banter community and hope that you all keep coming back for more. We'll leave the light on for you.
And thank you much for the hospitality. My family are all football nuts who think baseball's boring, and my two closest Yankee fan friends recently changed jobs and moved away, so I've really appreciated this friendly oasis.
I loved this place, most of all, for the flavor of NY you gave this virtual neighborhood. In the midst of all the teeth-gnashing in the final weeks of the season, you'll never know how calming it was to hear your rhythmic take on fall in the city, or laugh at a story about big booty on the subway. Much more edifying than another war of statistics over MVP candidates.
And Cliff's reasoned analysis as the season wound down was always more refreshing (and more essential reading) than any tired morality play penned by the local rags on whether these Yanks would be remembered as heroes or zeroes.
Someone on another forum put together a 15 minute montage of video highlights from the regular season, and it's amazing to see just how many highs and lows and flat out exciting moments there were this season, from the multiple comeback wins from the brink, to real joy and laughter with Bubba's styling walk-off against the O's. You're right that we take too much for granted...I'm personally glad for the season that the team gave us this year, and I feel truly bad that they just couldn't quite make it over the hump.
Tough end to the season. Yesterday's posts were mostly very good and I'd just be repeating most of the words.
Sad today, I really had hoped to move on. Not angry (anymore), alittle tired, but mostly sad. There are very few things I "love" anymore as I get older, but the Yanks are near and dear to me. Plus it's another year without a ring, a year to say goodbye to Bernie, and Jeter/Mo are a year older....
Sad
http://www.deadspin.com/sports/blogdome/index.php#blogdoms-best-new-york-yankees-130594
You took the words right out of my mouth. How a grown man can feel such sadness over a game where no relatives are involved is beyond me, but I can't help it. I guess that's just part of being a fan.
I fear what is going to happen in the coming weeks. Just like there is no crying in baseball, there should be no shame in losing. They did not lose due to lack of preparation or effort or desire or "heart" or anything else of that ilk. They just lost. That happens in games like baseball. It is bitterly disappointing, but hopefully the players know in their heart of hearts that they gave all they had to give, and that's all anyone can expect.
I tip my cap to the entire team, and wish them peace as they prepare for the coming season.
Alex and Cliff - thanks for everything. I look forward to your insights and analysis during the hot stove season.
BP
And I didn't realize there were tons more Red Sox blogs than Yankees blogs. How odd.
I also have great anxiety about what Stenbrenner, with his perhaps declining mental faculties, and his cronies might do in the off-season that may be a lot more damaging to the team than helpful. I sort of expect Torre will be around, not because the Boss might not want to fire him and replace him with Pinella or someone, but because Steinbrenner has nightmares that if he lets Torre go he'll come back on another team and haunt the Yankees like the mythical Babe haunting Boston.
Many writers are referring to the Yankees blowing a decisive advantage in the series, referring to the Angels having to replace two starters at the last minute. I don't think this criticism holds any water.
AFAIC, if you had told me before the series that Lackey would replace Washburn and Santana would have replaced Colon, I would have told you that the Angels got the better end of those changes (even though Santana was hittable). I think we would have beaten Colon easily.
Lots of reasons to dump on the Yanks, but I do think (as much as it hurts to say so) that they got out-scrapped, and it's not just them. Ask the White Sox how they feel to have just lost to a team that made two cross country flights in 2 days and started their worst pitcher on short rest. But since the White Sox aren't the Yankees, they're not getting roasted nearly as much (not yet, anyway).
Congrats again, Alex and Cliff - and thanks. Anyone else going to watch 'Stros-Cards tonight and see how Pettitte does?
Slainte.
See ya again next year in the ALCS!!!
If I know Torre, though, he'll keep his mouth shut, cash his $13MM paycheck, and come back to manage next year, George and all.
i have been a long time cliff reader and i was skeptical when he said he was giving up the "big red blog" and setting up camp somewhere else in the blospehere; but i was dumb. this place is the greatest. it's the first tab i open when i launch firefox. reading you guys is just like having a stat guy and color guy. speaking of which, can cliff and alex call the games on TV next year? i would get cable for that... : )
Are you sure you're not a yankee fan in disguise? Did you read all the comments about what a "tool" frod is, how much everyone here hates the angels and their fans?
Besides, with your comments, you come off as classless, so maybe what I've heard about angel fans is true.
and speaking of hot stove (though it seems a bit early...):
Has anyone read Jon Heyman's "10 ways to fix the Yankees and make them World Series champs again" column over at Newsday? I guess he's shooting to increase payroll by about 20%.
check it out...
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spjon1012,0,4662476.column?coll=ny-yankees-print&track=rss
http://tinyurl.com/add4m
No end-of-year press conference from Torre, at least not today.
long-time reader (the very first article i read was the a preseason profile on bernie williams and derek jeter a couple of years ago...) first time poster...
just want to say thank you for this great site. it really has become part of my daily yankee habit. nothing beats having mlb gameday on on one window and the bronx banter comments on one window... it makes me feel like i'm "watching" the game with 200+ other rabid yankee fans!
more power and here's to an even more exciting '06 campaign!!
i still can't believe that we get this site for free... keep up the great writing! (hope this site doesn't go the way of espn with its "insider" nonsense)
A Red Sox fan lecturing an Angel fan on class. Priceless.
nyhalo fan, thanks for the sentiments. Your guys are really tough, and I hated losing to them, but I think they're going to go pretty far.
I didn't think "classless" was defined by saying this is the best blog on the web, the Angels lucked out winning against the Yanks (whom I love, I have homes on both coasts so people are capable of following more than one team) and we share a mutual hatred for Bo-Sox fans.
Send me your address and I'll send you a box of Jolly Ranchers, I'll bet your flavor is sour grape!
Look forward to an exciting Hot Stove season and reading more great Yankee Banter.
Once again, thanks, Alex and Cliff, not only for providing great insights on the games but also being the most gracious hosts to all kinds of fans.
The insight from Cliff, Alex, and the comments is leagues better than any print media or 99% of the websites. Thanks!
Earlier in the season, I remember hearing that bullpen coach Neil Allen was next in line. Wasn't he the Yanks' AA or AAA pitching coach before becoming the 'pen coach? Maybe that would make some of the young pitchers we all hope are coming next year feel more comfortable - or more likely to appear!
I'm not going to say any more - its really not worth it.
Anyone else know that Piniella is broadcasting the ALCS with Buck and McCarver? I remember the year he did games for MSG/Sportschannel - I thought he was pretty good. Wonder what he'd be like in the YES booth?
Just by virtue of the position, he'd be forced to comment on and/or second-guess every move Torre makes. That would seem to be a tightrope Lou has no need or reason to walk right now. Plus, the NY press vultures would be all over every broadcast looking for any morsel that could start a shitstorm, real or imagined.
And God forbid the Yanks drop three straight, they'd be calling for Joe's head and Lou's annointment — not that they wouldn't anyway, but with Lou literally and figuratively hovering over the situation, the scribes would have a field day. The team does not need that, there's enough distractions in The Big Apple as it is...
Kitty and Kenny would suit me fine all year long ;-)
The point here is that none of the umpires could have seen that, least of all the home plate ump Doug Eddings, who was viewing the play from behind. He could only assume that since Paul's glove touched the ground the ball must have hit the dirt (though Pierzynski claimed to hear the ball bounce, so perhaps that's what Eddings responded to).
More significantly, while Eddings' first jesture was indeed for a strike (arm extended out to his right, hand flat), once Paul stood up with the ball in his mitt, Eddings pumped his fist, suggesting an out call. I would like to hear an explanation of that fist pump, as, were it not for that, one would be tempted to blame Paul for not tagging Pierzynski. It would have taken very little effort for him to have patted A.J. on the back with the ball and it would have made the whole mess about what the call was moot. But given Eddings fist pump, one assumes that Paul thought that Pierzynski had been called out, which is Mike Scioscia's interpretation of events. All in all it's an unfortunate ending to an exciting game, though go figure that Kelvim Escobar, as well as he's pitched since returning from surger in September, couldn't get Joe Crede of all people to make some kind of out in that situation.
As for Crede, this is just my impression, from having watched a lot of the Sox this season, and isn't backed by any stats, but the guy seems to get a lot of big extra-base hit in the late innings, often to win games. Aside from Konerko and Iguchi, he'd be the last guy I wanted to pitch to with a runner in scoring position late in a tight game.
And like you guys, I was sad & disappointed (still am). Some of the posters here are right when they said it's really unexplainable how one can feel sad for people you're not even related to, & obviously whom doesn't even know you exist, but despite of, with losses like this, we still feel miserable like we actually played on the field. The woes of sports fans, I guess.
But believe me when I say it's actually sadder that nobody here in my part of the world, gets me for being a tad too emotional about the Yankees early exit.
That's why this blog is a blessing for me.
However, lest I be stereotyped as a "jumping on the bandwagon" kind of fan & be lambasted by all the insightful, rational & baseball experts posting here (whose posts I avidly read by the way), I haven't braved this section of this wonderful blog til now.
And I did now, only to express my deep appreciation for this site, which I completely have been dependent on & has become my first stop for anything Yankees.
I cannot let the season end without saying my big THANK YOU to Alex & Cliff for all their great work. You guys are the best. It's real fun knowing great Yankee fans like you.
Inspite of the bitter ending, it definitely was one heck of a ride that was quite predictable, yet, was still exciting until the last at-bat.
Hope we have an interesting offseason. And of course, looking forward to hopefully, a great season next year.
And, thanks to all the commendters for their interesting observations.
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