Why the Yankees Will Lose the Pennant—Again. Pt. II

 

Baby get it straight 

You got to roll me

And call me the tumbling dice...

—The Stones

The New York Yankees have enjoyed two stretches in our time when they were able to both Win Long and Win Short. Those were 1976-1981, and 1996-2001. What were the keys to their success? 

The 1976-1981 teams finished first 5 (well, 4 1/2) times, won 4 pennants, and took 2 World Series. The 1994-2001 teams finished first 7 (well, 6 2/3) times, won 5 pennants, and took 4 World Series. What did they do right?

Your crack research team here at IIHIIFII...c has identified three key elements—components that almost all World Series-reaching and World Series-winning teams possess. The lack of them on the 2024 Yankees is also the reason why our team will not reach the World Series this year.

They are, to begin with:

                                                                      PITCHING

This is not exactly a surprise. Pitching or the lack thereof is the key to everything in human affairs. Why did the Hanseatic League crumble? Why did the Japanese fail to establish the Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere in the 1930s and '40s? No pitching. What made Steve Gutenberg a star? Pitching. (Sorry, Mr. Groening.)

Pitching in the playoffs requires, first off, at least a couple of stud hosses for starters.  The Yanks' starters in 1976-1981 varied a good deal, due to injuries and free-agent signings, but they included Catfish Hunter, Doyle Alexander, Dock Ellis, Ed Figueroa, Don Gullett, Mike Torrez, Luis Tiant, Tommy John, Dave Righetti, and, above all, Ron Guidry.

A cadre of tough, effective, proven postseason pitchers, with a star on top who compiled one of the best seasons in modern major-league history. Plus...added bonus...Unknown Young Guy, Jim Beattie, who almost shut out the Red Sox down the stretch, then won his first complete game in the 1978 World Series. 

A good bullpen is also a necessity for long-term AND short-term success, and the 1976-1981 Yanks had a deep one for the time: Cy Young-winning Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Dirt Tidrow, Grant Jackson, and Ron Davis, among others. 

The 1994-2001 Yankees had almost an embarrassment of riches, when it came to pitching.

For starters, there were Jimmy Key, Dwight Gooden, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, David Cone, Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Hideki Irabu, and of course, El Duque. 

The bullpen, at its peak in 1998, was one of the deepest ever in the modern game, with Graeme Lloyd, Ramiro Mendoza, Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton, and The Great One. There were also assorted, sometimes useful individuals such as John Wetland, Randy Choate, Jason Grimsley, David Weathers, Brian Boehringer, and Allen Watson available.

The 2024 Yankees have nothing like this in terms of a pitching staff.

Sure, Gerrit Cole might actually benefit for having been injured much of this year—it's more than coincidence that the only time the current Dodgers dynasty won it all was in 2020, and they didn't have time to pitch out Clayton Kershaw before the playoffs. Carlos Rodon is capable of mediocrity-plus, and Luis Gil and/or Clarke Schmidt could—maybe—be the surprising new guy nobody's seen.

But Nestor Cortes was a big loss, starters go fewer innings than ever, and behind them is maybe the lousiest Yankees bullpen ever to bring in a first-place finish. Do we trust anyone in that pen to finish anything—assuming we even have a lead?

No, we do not.

So what are the other two keys to Winning Long and Winning Short?...