For the the third year running the Yankees have NOT won the World Series, falling to Josh Beckett’s complete game shutout (his second of the postseason), which is cause to celebrate regardless of any other considerations.
This is the 100th anniversary of the World Series, and the Yankees domination of the Fall Classic over the last 80 years is nothing short of obscene: 26 championships in 39 World Series appearances, almost triple the appearances (15) and wins (9) of the second most prolific team, the Cardinals. My Indians have won two in five tries.
Money has built the Skankee tradition and the tradition is self-perpetuating as the best players are lured by the team’s unlimited funds and high probablility of success. Who doesn’t want to play for a habitual winner?
The big question now is will Steinbrenner’s ego allow him to forgive Joe Torre for this dry spell? How dare he allow his team to lose in the World Series twice and the playoffs once? Oh, and I really do feel for the poor Yankees fans – yes, I FEEL that if they don’t see another winner for the next 1,000 years, that will still be too soon.
Hats off to the crazily overachieving young Marlins, by the way, and to their aged manager Jack McKeon! Go Tribe!