PICKING YOUR POISON
Twins, Angels and Red Sox All Prove They Have What It Takes To Beat Yanks




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 5, 2004

Once again the New York Yankees finished the division race in their customary position, first place. However, the road to the top of the first mountain peak wasn’t as easy as the 101-61 record would indicate. In a topsy-turvy season that saw a revolving door between the clubhouse and the disabled list the Yankees put on their shoulder pads, their helmets, lowered their heads and crashed through to the division title. A SEVENTH straight division title I might add. No small feat even for a team as highly decorated as the New York Yankees are.

In Joe Torre’s eight seasons with the Yanks his teams have averaged a little over 98-1/2 victories per season. They have won the division 8 out of 9 years. They have won six AL Championships and four World Series titles. No team and no manager can even touch those achievements. This year they did it with a team who’s pitching staff ERA was a disappointing 4.69 and a batting average of .268. Looking at those two numbers alone you’d have to think what in the world are these guys doing here? Well, it’s not so much the numbers that matter. It’s what they did in the context of those numbers.

The Yankees led the major leagues in home runs (242 – tied with Chicago White Sox), and were second in the majors with 863 RBI. Boston led the majors with 912 RBI. The Yankees made the most of their opportunities. They were third in OBP and fourth in slugging percentage. The Boston Red Sox lead in those two categories. Plus they had a better staff average with a team ERA of 4.12. So how did the Yankees end up three games in front of their arch-rival? From a statistical standpoint I have no idea. To take this a little further the Yankees trailed all the AL playoff teams in team ERA, WHIP, hits allowed and strikeouts.

This team is an enigma to be sure. Their star first baseman has been on the shelf with a plethora of injuries throughout the year. In fact, Jason Giambi will not be on the playoff roster. Who would ever think that a playoff team with Jason Giambi on its payroll would leave the former MVP and 2004 All-star off the list? The Yankees also landed Alex Rodriguez in a trade that sent popular second baseman Alfonso Soriano to the Texas Rangers. After the Yankees landed A-Rod most observers thought with Rodriguez, along with a line up of Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada, the league should just shine up the World Series trophy and hand it to the Yankees.
However, that’s why you play 162 games.

Now that the playoff match ups have been set the Yankees set out to take on the Minnesota Twins and their all-world pitcher Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS. Santana is in a dead heat with Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox for this year’s Cy Young Award. He is 20-6 with an amazing 2.61 ERA. He has allowed over one-half a run less per start than Schilling. Santana has faced the Yankees twice this season, gaining a 1-1 split. He lost at Yankee Stadium on September 29th 5-3. However, he only gave up three hits and one earned run in five innings of work. The Yankees will counter with Mike Mussina. Mussina has had his own problems this year. He started off the season very slowly. Mussina, who has been a model of consistency throughout his career, went a deceptive 9-6 with an ERA of 5.20 before landing on the DL with elbow problems after July 6th. He came back and pitched on August 18th, losing 7-2 to the Minnesota Twins 7-2. His opponent was Johan Santana. Mussina then went on a roll going 6-3 and lowering his ERA to 4.59. He won his last five games, beating Santana and the Twins on September 29th 5-3. It appears the Moose is back and if he can avoid early trouble Game 1 of the ALDS should be a doozy of a pitching match up.

If the Yankees get by the Twins, the next round won’t be any easier. Either of the two potential winners in the other ALDS series poses problems for the Bombers. The Anaheim Angels beat the heavily favored Yankees in the 2002 ALDS three games to one to go on and win the World Series as a wild card entry for their first world title. The Yankees would love some payback. However, that might prove harder than they’d like. The Angels after losing four of six games on the both coasts the Angels traveled east in August to sweep the Yankees to take season series 5-4. The Angels have always proven to be a nasty thorn in the Yankees’ side. The Boston Red Sox, should they win won’t be an easy task either. Last year the Yankees and Sox played a seven game classic in the league championship series, which ended on Aaron Boone’s 11th inning solo shot into the left field seats off Boston’s Tim Wakefield. In head-to-head playoff competition the Sox have never bested the Yankees. Could this be the year the worm has finally turned?

The Sox started off the year blazing hot besting the Yanks six out of the first seven games. Since that hot April start by the Sox the Yankees have taken seven of twelve from Boston. However, the Sox took the season series 11-8. For the first time since the Yankees have started their remarkable post-season run they are underdogs to make it to the big show against the eventual National League champion.

Let’s remember a couple of things. A little word association if you please. What do October, playoffs, mystique, aura, curse and history have in common? Those are all the things the Yankees have going for them in the post-season. Until some team officially buries them during this year’s playoffs never count them out. Remember the Aaron Boones, Bucky Dents, Scott Brosius’s and Tino Martinez’s in this world. The Yankees always seem to pull something out of their hats. It’s the most exciting time of the year folks. In the words of Bette Davis, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

PLAY BALL!



?© 2004 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story is prohibited without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop and it's affilitates