Uncharted Territory

It has never been this bad. Under Joe Torre’s leadership, the Yankees had never fallen to six games below .500; that all changed Wednesday night as the Yankees lost to Tampa Bay 11-8. For the second straight game, the Yankee pitching was abysmal, spotting the Devil Rays a six run lead, too big a margin for the Yankee bats to recover from. Rookie, Sean Henn, lasted only into the third inning and was victimized by a terrible defensive play by new second baseman, Robinson Cano, who threw a potential double play ball into leftfield.

The Yankee offense did manage ten hits, but could never get the big one, stranding twelve runners on the basepaths and allowing the Devil Rays’ pitchers to escape several jams. The lone bright spot was Tino Martinez who homered for the second consecutive game. Jason Giambi was hit in the head with a pitch and had to leave the game for tests. The extent of his injury and that of Bernie Williams, who will have an MRI on Friday, have not yet been determined.

At 11-17, the Yankees will fall into a last place tie with a loss on Thursday and have been completely abandoned by the experts who picked them to win 100 games a month ago. While it is hard to imagine this team could win 100 games, there is still a tremendous amount of talent on this club. Writing them off on May 5th would be a foolish thing to do. After all, the team that started this playoff run, the 1995 Yankees, was 20-29 on June 20th of that year, but found a way to rally.

Photo by AP/ScottAudette via ESPN

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By Peter Trinkle on May 5, 2005 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

sp

"for too long the Yankees have been used to long strings of success and World Series"

I get your point, but thats not entirely accurate. Before the start of the recent winning teams, the Yankees went through 16 years without a WS win, most of which they were absolutely horrible: from 79 to 95. and before that, it was another 12 years from 64 to 76.

The myth of the Yankees dominating the WS is from much further back in their history, and they have been riding the coattails of that hype for too long. The 96 to 00 teams were really the most dominant Yankees team since the 49 to 53 teams, that won 5 in a row. Of course it doesnt compare to what boston, and chicago (both teams) fans endured, but still, the Yankees have done plenty of losing in the last 30 - 40 years.

I am a lifelong Yankees fan, but even I get disgusted with the whole Aura and Mystique crap they keep trying to shove down our throats. If hey are going to win its not going to be thanks to ghosts, it will be from real talent, desire and clear minded management, all of which are lacking these days.

King Hippo

I thought this was a really good entry on the recent editions of the yankees. On my own, I never would've drawn a connection to Gattaca, but it's pretty apt.

JT

I honestly feel like despite all of this melodrama regarding their "downfall", they will bounce back to some degree. Not necessarily a winning season, but that they will manage to begin playing like their salaries suggest they are capable.

Perhaps this will create a bit of a ripple in the league as to the way business is done - for too long the Yankees have been used to long strings of success and World Series, and yet Steinbrenner seems to think that in order to keep having success, more money needs to be spent. There is a history of deception - players taking steroids and being rewarded with huge contracts (Giambi), players succeeding in other environments with other pitching coaches and then not performing (Wright), heck, even the money-chasing A-Rod who has ridden the inflated salary right to the Emerald City: the New York Yankees.

Part of me would like to see them at least perform to par, but maybe something good from all this might come: the Yankees reevaluate the way they build their roster.

magnatose

yes, included also would be Yhency Brazobán, who now has 9 saves for the Dodgers (filling in for Gagne). Braz was sent to LA in the Brown deal along with Weaver. Good riddens to Weaver, but if you remember correct we got Brown the day after losing Pettitte. The Boss really shoulda learned something from the farm. Righty-o man, righty-o.

(ps: dream Yankee IF based on past prospects/vets. Around the horn 1B - Tino and Nick Johnson (when healthy) 2B - Soriano SS- Jeter 3B- Mike Lowell. That's a team that can play. AROD and Giambi can be waived for all I care.)

sp

further proof that the "experts" are really just a bunch of blow hards. what get me is the fact that the yankees didnt learn anything from the rise (and now fall) of their 90's mini-dynasty. that dynasty rose from having some "veterans" but aside from o'neil and tino, they werent the centerpiece of the team: rather the rookies like bernie, jeter, posada, pettitte and rivera proved to be the core of those winning teams. They couldve perpetuated that when they had young and up and coming players like Soriano, and to a lesser extent Ted Lilly and Brandon Claussen, they traded them away. Basically, the Boss started meddling again and thats when it all started slipping away. I think this is going to be good in the long run. The entire Yankees organisation, and the fans too, was too cocky, too arrogant and was taking too much for granted. They need some lean years to get hungry again. I just hope the losing doesnt take its toll on players like Jeter and Matsui who still have many productive years left as long as they stay mentally focused...

magnatose

Also not mentioned: The 1995 team consisted of Don Mattingly, Paul O'Neill, Wade Boggs and most of the now veteran dynasty cast in rookie form. Those 90s teams had heart. All this team of has is hot-head(aches) like Brown and Wright, and winos like Giambi and A-Rod. To hell with with those guys. Long live Pettitte and Zimmer...and Lieber and Cairo for that matter.

T.A.

The 1995 Yankees also lost in the first round to the Mariners. Anything less than a title for this $200 million turkey will be unacceptable for the Boss. Let the implosion begin.