::Sunday, October 16, 2005::
DAMN YANKEE
.. I would have to agree with Mark Starr on this one. The Yankee who is most responsible for the team's spiralling post-season performances is non other than George-Greedy Steinbrenner. He abandoned the formula that made the Yankees win three straight World Series - cultivating young homegrown talents and combining it with steely veterans who have the heart to win nevermind the individual accolades. The Boss' impatience made the Yankee organization unwieldy and brass, anointing themselves the right to win again and again and forgetting that you need to play the game smart. Except for the Yankees' loss to the Diamondbacks in 2001 amid the backdrop of 9/11 that took its toll emotionally not only of the city but also of its beloved team, the subsequent post-season losses culminating with this year's collapse to the Angels were all self-inflicted by top management that forgot team cohesion is the secret to winning.
What else can possibly account for the sacking of Contreras, Soriano, Delucci, Juan Rivera who have yet to mature and prove themselves to the team by further exposure? Now these players have anointed themselves official Yankee killers in their respective ballclubs, teams who have allowed them to confidently show their true talents. What could possibly explain giving up on reliable veterans Pettite, El Duque and Clemens who have demonstrated the ability to play with grace under pressure and still deliver a win but impatience and a misguided claim on baseball destiny?
The fans have been deluded into thinking by top management pronouncements that the Yankees exist to win. Baseball is like life. There is no guarantee that you will succeed everytime but you have to persevere. You have to show some heart. Unfortunately, Yankee management has forgotten to play and applied simple bandage to what appears to be a gaping wound in strategy.
Link
What else can possibly account for the sacking of Contreras, Soriano, Delucci, Juan Rivera who have yet to mature and prove themselves to the team by further exposure? Now these players have anointed themselves official Yankee killers in their respective ballclubs, teams who have allowed them to confidently show their true talents. What could possibly explain giving up on reliable veterans Pettite, El Duque and Clemens who have demonstrated the ability to play with grace under pressure and still deliver a win but impatience and a misguided claim on baseball destiny?
The fans have been deluded into thinking by top management pronouncements that the Yankees exist to win. Baseball is like life. There is no guarantee that you will succeed everytime but you have to persevere. You have to show some heart. Unfortunately, Yankee management has forgotten to play and applied simple bandage to what appears to be a gaping wound in strategy.
Link
