09/21: The New York Yankees: 2006 AL East Champions
Posted by: Jason
Today is a day for celebration. That title has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
The Yankees won the AL East for the ninth straight time last evening. As a fan, I would like to thank the entire Yankees organization for its commitment to excellence.
How many other organizations (in any field) explicitly proclaim that any outcome other than #1 is a failure?
And it seems like yesterday that it was June 1st and "another outcome" seemed quite probable. The loss of Godzilla and Detective Shaft. The 1,000 runs scored hype dashed. As I've written before, I live in Boston and I heard the "Yankees are done!" taunts many times in the early summer.
But the Yankees demanded to be relevant. Mussina, Jeter and Giambi carried the team in the first 4 months of the season. A jerry-rigged outfield rotation of rookies, career minor leaguers, Kansas City castoffs and a pretty good jazz guitarist :) held the line, and the Yankees stayed on the AL radar screen.
Suddenly, Cashman struck like an angry rattlesnake at the deadline. Bobby Abreu was the catalyst that propelled the team for the last 60 days. Also, don't forget Damon. Remember Damon, the big gamble? The jealous protection of Phil Hughes? Brian Cashman is the best GM in baseball. I am remarkably comfortable typing that.
Yes, Boston's 5 game Waterloo (With the Yankees playing the Duke of Wellington) will remain in the forefront of everyone's mind, and rightly so. Please do not lose track of the other 80-odd wins that were not against Boston. Recall those huge early sweeps of Detroit and the White Sox?
So: Be magnanimous in victory. Shake a Boston fan's hand and wish his team good luck next year. A famous Ancient Roman once wrote: He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest, conquers himself.
And go Yankees in the playoffs!
The Yankees won the AL East for the ninth straight time last evening. As a fan, I would like to thank the entire Yankees organization for its commitment to excellence.
How many other organizations (in any field) explicitly proclaim that any outcome other than #1 is a failure?
And it seems like yesterday that it was June 1st and "another outcome" seemed quite probable. The loss of Godzilla and Detective Shaft. The 1,000 runs scored hype dashed. As I've written before, I live in Boston and I heard the "Yankees are done!" taunts many times in the early summer.
But the Yankees demanded to be relevant. Mussina, Jeter and Giambi carried the team in the first 4 months of the season. A jerry-rigged outfield rotation of rookies, career minor leaguers, Kansas City castoffs and a pretty good jazz guitarist :) held the line, and the Yankees stayed on the AL radar screen.
Suddenly, Cashman struck like an angry rattlesnake at the deadline. Bobby Abreu was the catalyst that propelled the team for the last 60 days. Also, don't forget Damon. Remember Damon, the big gamble? The jealous protection of Phil Hughes? Brian Cashman is the best GM in baseball. I am remarkably comfortable typing that.
Yes, Boston's 5 game Waterloo (With the Yankees playing the Duke of Wellington) will remain in the forefront of everyone's mind, and rightly so. Please do not lose track of the other 80-odd wins that were not against Boston. Recall those huge early sweeps of Detroit and the White Sox?
So: Be magnanimous in victory. Shake a Boston fan's hand and wish his team good luck next year. A famous Ancient Roman once wrote: He conquers twice who in the hour of conquest, conquers himself.
And go Yankees in the playoffs!
Patrick wrote: