Thus ended the New York Yankees, as we once knew them.
Within five minutes, Boston was dancing on our graves, and we were as dead as any bargain basement team ever assembled in the sweatshops of Houston or Miami. Dead, dead, dead. We just didn't know it.
Six nights ago, if you had told me we'd lose the next five of six, including two out of three to the cupcake Blue Jays, I would have laughed. But here we are: the ultimate Tomato Can of Cupcakes.
We will have six months to reflect on how we spent $236 million to reach fourth place in a five-team division. But short of spending another $300 million on free agents - who, frankly, won't be there - we are mired in a quicksand of mediocrity with a looming shadow of unanswered questions.
Why in God's name did we sign Ichiro to a two-year contract?
What is the point of having Vernon Wells return, regardless of whether the Angels pay his salary?
Who will tell Derek Jeter that he's not covering enough ground to play SS at age 40?
If A-Rod is banned for 75 games, do we once again turn to the David Adamses and Alberto Gonzalezes of the world?
Is there any one pitcher we would designate next year our "ace?"
Is the definition of good management - for a $200 billion operation, not counting the value of the YES network - relentlessly combing the scrapheap for castoffs, who give us two good weeks before reverting to the form that originally got them waived? (Or should we just continue to assume the other teams are stupid, and when they waived the player, they didn't know what they were doing?)
If we are determined to cut payroll to some magical $187 million figure - which will bring long term savings on luxury tax - how in hell do we can keep Robinson Cano, the only all-star caliber player in our lineup?
And if we break the bank and keep Cano, what was the point of the austerity program that was invoked all season when two-year contracts were considered? (And, remarkably, this was ignored for Ichiro.) It's like the Yankees are being run by a five-old, who is being home-schooled by the Tea Party.
What happened to all those departing free agents in 2013-14 who were likely to give us first round picks next summer? Looks to me like we won't extend qualifying offers to Phil Hughes, Joba or even Granderson - though that's a quandary in itself, eh? They'll walk, and we'll get nothing.
If we lose Cano - and who cannot help but see that as a burgeoning possibility - what part of our team - outfield, infield, battery, starters, bullpen - looks to be playoff caliber?
In one week, we have become completely undressed. Six years ago, the plan was to build a farm system and spend our money wisely, ensuring the Yankees would always contend. Now, we're looking at 1988 all over again. What an inept, horrible franchise. Will anybody answer to our predicament?
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2 comments:
Heads should roll -- Cashman's should be mounted on a pike, I say.
Probably won't happen, although I don't see why. For complete failure to achieve any of the goals for which he was hired, Yankees should move on.
Seems like a no-brainer to me, but maybe that's because I don't have much of a brain: If you've put together the highest payroll in the sport, maybe you should be held accountable if your team doesn't make it to the sham Wild Card playoff.
Just sayin'.
A response to the last two questions you pose: bring back Alberto Gonzalez to anchor the pitching rotation. He had the best ERA of anyone on the staff, as I have mentioned already too often. Let's give this fine young Venezuelan infielder a chance to compete for the Cy Young Award next year. A final note- if WE are disappointed, just think about how Hiroki Kuroda must feel. A losing win-loss record (as of today) and an ERA under 2.00 for games pitched at home. The guy might have been a 20-game winner this year.
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