Can the Yankees Bring a Championship Back to New York?
Published February 24, 2008
The Yankees also signed Andy Pettitte to another year, Mike Mussina seems to be healthy, and the Yankees locked in Mariano Rivera for three years. It must be noted that the oft-injured Carl Pavano is expected to be able to pitch but no one is holding their breath on that since he hasn't pitched even 1/2 a season since signing with the Yankees. And what about the Yankee ace Chien-Ming Wang? He is coming off back-to-back seasons with 19 wins each, so let's just try and forget his postseason performance (19.06 ERA with 12 earned runs in 5-2/3 innings).
Of course though, last year the Yankees looked to have some pretty solid pitching but almost the entire starting rotation landed on the DL at the start of the season. Mussina, Pettitte, and Rivera are getting old. Mussina needs to bring some of his consistency back! Pettite, like Clemens, has been going through a lot of heat with the Mitchell Report and admitting he used HGH. Hopefully that won't distract him from pitching, but we all know the media is going to stay all over him like they are now. And the pitchers not caught in the Mitchell Report controversy need to say away from injury. I think with the boost of the young pitchers, the Yankees will hold it together and be more of a threat than last year.
After 12 years in pinstripes, Joe Torre will no longer be the Yankees' manager, having signed with the Dodgers. Instead, the Yankees have brought in a young manager, Joe Girardi. This is a very good move, I believe he brings in a new, fresh attitude that will push the team to succeed.
They also managed to keep their infield around for a while. The Yankees signed the biggest contract in baseball history this offseason with third baseman Alex Rodriguez, which pretty much guarantees he will be breaking all those records and retiring in pinstripes. Something like that is good when the Yankees move to their new stadium. The Yankees also re-signed catcher Jorge Posada to a four-year deal as well as young second baseman Robinson Cano.
Well, I sure can't wait to head down to Tampa to watch the Yankees play in Spring Training next month. 2008 is gonna be a great year.
- Can the Yankees Bring a Championship Back to New York?
- Published: February 24, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Baseball
- Writer: Kris Valdez
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They're already selling stuff with Joba Chamberlain's autograph in SkyMall. For what it's worth.
"Can the Yankees Bring a Championship Back to New York?"
What, again?
Haven't they already won the 'World' Series about 23,774 times?
They need to let some other teams have a go for a few seasons.
Can they win it? Not this season, that's for sure. their pitching rotation is even weaker than last season and they have the oldest starting 9 in baseball! Maybe once they move some of those old men they might start to compete with teh Red Sox but since teh Sox new owners took over in 2002 they have made all the right moves and left the Yankee in the dust. So much so now they have the Yankees chasing them in their philosphy of sticking with the young guys and spending wisely.
Look at another brilliant move the SOX just made, they just signed Bartolio Colon to a $1 million dollar non-guranteed contract. The just just won the Cy Young in 05' and the Sox are going to take a minimal chance on him. When was the last time the Yankees did something like this? LaTroy Hawkins? HA! How much will that cost?
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I don't think the Yankees will win the big one again for another 5 or 6 years. There are just to many other good teams out there. Plus, the Yankees have been very lucky. Well, there luck has run out for quite a while. Mark this day and you will remember.