Repeating is hard to do
Yankees quest for No. 28 will be an uphill battle

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi stepped to the podium to address the crowd of some 2 million fans that invaded Manhattan to watch his team take a ride down the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate the Yankees latest World Series victory. He told the adoring crowd he had spoken on the telephone to “the Boss,” George Steinbrenner.

“I want to tell you, I got a call from The Boss today. He told me this morning, 'The only thing greater than this celebration, is doing it two years in a row.' So he asked me to remind everyone - pitchers and catchers report in 96 days. Be ready to defend it."

Nice sentiment indeed, but in reality a very difficult task to accomplish. Just ask the Philadelphia Phillies who, before falling to the Yankees 4-2 in the 2009 World Series, were the defending world champions. The Phillies were attempting to become the first National League team since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds to achieve that feat. That is 33 years without an NL repeat winner.

In the American League the history isn’t so far removed. The last team to defend their world title was the Yankees, who not only defended it once, but defended it twice after winning it (1998-2000). They almost made it three defenses and four-in-a-row in 2001, but fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 7 games.

Between 2000 and 2009 there have been eight different World Series winners. The only repeats were the Yankees (2000, 2009) and the Boston Red Sox (2004, 2007). The other one-time winners were the Diamondbacks (2001), Anaheim (Los Angeles) Angels (2002), Florida Marlins 2003), Chicago White Sox (2005) and the Phillies (2008).

Not helping matters will be the lie of the land in the off season. The Yankees as do other teams have a number of free agents who will be looking for multi-year contracts worth millions of dollars. Depending on how long and how much will determine whom the Yankees will retain and whom they will cut loose.

At the top of the list are left fielder Johnny Damon and Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui. Damon just concluded the season playing out a four-year, $52 million contract and already his caustic, yet effective agent, Scott Boras is making noises that Damon is the indestructible man and worthy of signing a contract in the area of what Derek Jeter is being paid ($18.9 million average per year). Boras is also looking at, a minimum, another four-year contract for his client. According to Boras potential suitors shouldn’t look at Damon’s chronological age (36), but his biological makeup. Damon has played an average of 140 games over the past four years.

Here’s the fly in the ointment. Most sideline watchers are saying that the Yankees don’t want to offer Damon more than a 2-year contract, and that with their goal to cut payroll any raise Damon might receive will be well below what Boras is shooting for. Using another of his clients, Mark Teixeira, as a lightening rod Boras told the media the Yankees are known for paying players their “fair market value.” The problem is whose gauge for what is “fair market value” is correct? Unfortunately for Damon, the Yankees may be unwilling to meet Boras lofty expectations. So now the ball will be Damon’s court. Will he be willing to take a shorter duration contract to stay with the Yankees and a great shot at repeating a world title or will he listen to his agent and look for a more lucrative payday? Secondly, who else has got the kind of money the Yankees do who would be willing to part with that big a chunk for one player?

Ah, the joys of being a general manager.

Hideki Matsui is somewhat of a more complex situation. First off, this guy, in Game 6 of the World Series, completely dismantled the Phillies to earn himself the series MVP trophy. He single-handedly kicked in the door to the Yankees’ 27th world championship. If the Yankees were to release Matsui he would be the first reigning World Series MVP not to return to his team since Jack Morris won the award with the 1991 Minnesota Twins and was on the Toronto Blue Jays roster for the ‘92 season.

Matsui came to the Yankees from the Yomiuri Giants in December of 2002 when he signed a 3-year deal to play left field for New York. He quickly became a fan favorite and forever etched his name in Yankee lore when he became the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium. That same year Matsui came in second to Angel Berroa in the “Rookie of the Year” balloting. Many felt that the voters for the award didn’t vote for Matsui, because they felt he wasn’t a true rookie having played professional ball in Japan.

Matsui also became the first Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series when he did it in Game 2 of the 2003 series against the Florida Marlins. In his first 3 seasons Matsui played in every game while hitting an average of .397 with an average of 110 RBI (106, 108, 116) and 23.3 home runs (16, 31, 23). Those numbers earned Matsui a new four-year, $52 million contract.

In May of 2006 Matsui fractured his wrist while attempting make a sliding catch in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox. The injury severely limited Matsui’s playing time and he ended the year playing in only 51 games.
Matsui rebounded in 2007 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI to help the Yankees make the playoffs for the 13th consecutive time as the wild card entry.

Nonetheless, injuries continued to plague Matsui as he eventually underwent surgeries on both his knees. In 2007 Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after the season ended, because the knee limited his playing time in the field and he was used more prominently as a designated hitter in the latter stages of the season.

The following season Matsui’s arthritic left knee became a problem. The knee had bothered Matsui throughout his playing days in Japan where he played on artificial turf for 10 years. In September of 2008 Matsui had surgery on the knee to help reduce the swelling and the pain caused by the constant stress of playing on it.

The plan for Matsui during the 2009 season was to use Matsui strictly as a designated hitter, at least until the middle of the season. However, Matsui’s approach and value to the DH position made it impossible for the Yankees to move him out of the role and put him in the field. Matsui had another productive year by hitting .274 with 28 homers and 90 RBI.

The situation for the Yankees is this. In 2006 Matsui signed a four-year deal with the Yankees who projected him as their long term left fielder. Unfortunately, the injuries and surgeries to Matsui’s knees have relegated him to a full time DH. How much value do you assign to a productive designated hitter versus a productive full time position player? And, at 35, how long do you sign Matsui for? These are the questions the Yankees, Matsui and his agent Arn Tellem have to answer during the off-season.

More questions for the Yankees will also determine the direction they go in the off season. In addition to Damon and Matsui the Yankees also have to contend with Andy Pettitte, Jose Molina, Xavier Nady, Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr.

Nady, Hinske and Molina are probably the easiest players to deal with. Nady who was slated to be the everyday right fielder when the 2009 underwent “Tommy John” surgery on his throwing elbow and missed the majority of the season. Nick Swisher, who was contracted from the White Sox in the off season, took over and performed admirably, earning the everyday slot.

Molina is a great defensive catcher, but not much to write home about offensively. Francisco Cervelli, who spent time with the club during the season, and was on the post season roster has proven he is great behind the dish, handles pitchers well and can hit major league pitching. He is ready for the big time, full time. The enthusiasm he brought to the team was a big boost in the dugout. Figure Molina and Nady will be playing elsewhere next season.

The same may be said for Hinske. Hinske began his career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 where he hit 24 home runs while knocking in 84 runs. That effort earned Hinske the “Rookie of the Year” award for that season and it showed the promise of a productive career.

Sadly, Hinske never lived up to that promise. He only reached the 20 home run plateau one other time and that was when he played for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. He hit 20 round trippers and plated 60 runs.

In eight seasons Hinske has hit a pedestrian .254 while generating a .334 lifetime OBP and .438 SLG%.

However, in the post season Hinske has shined when given a chance. He has played in 3 World Series (2007-2009), winning with Boston and New York. In his limited appearances Hinske has hit .333 with a .500 OBP and a 1.333 SLG%.

Hinske can also play first and third bases as well as the corner outfield positions. The Yankees may want to keep Hinske around as a multi-positional utility player.

Whether or not Andy Pettitte comes back will be up to Pettitte. If he wants to return for another season the Yankees will do their best to accommodate him, because of all what Pettitte means and has meant to the franchise.

Hairston is in the Hinske camp. He is a multi-positional player who can spell the big boys a game here and a game there. He was an important pickup during the season and performed well in limited action.

Hairston is two years older than Hinske and with similar numbers and less playoff experience may be the odd man out.

Other factors loom for the Yankees as well as their in house players. Other free agents from other clubs could help the Yankees in winning their 28th championship. Chief among those players is RHP John Lackey who will most likely garner the most attention. Depending on which other teams are interested in Lackey services the Yankees may or may not be motivated to make a move for him.

The Yankees also have to look beyond next year. The biggest name the Yankees will have to contend with is Derek Jeter. Jeter will be completing a 10-year, $189 million contract at the end of next season and will be looking for a significant pay increase.

As the captain of the team, a five time World Series champion, a ten time all star, a World Series and all star MVP, a Rookie of the Year award winner, and as the face of the franchise the Yankees of the will be hard pressed to cry poverty when it comes to dealing with Jeter.

In addition, Jeter is the Yankees all time hits leader passing Lou Gehrig this season for the top spot in history. He will undoubtedly become the franchise’s first 3,000 hit player, which will be the ultimate accomplishment on a team that has had the names of Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra playing on it.

In the top seven offensive categories for the Yankees Jeter ranks in the top 10 in six of them. He is 5th all time in batting average, 10th in home runs, 10th in RBI, 4th in runs scored, 1st in total hits, 4th in doubles, and 7th in extra-base hits.

It will be a delicate balancing act for the Yankees. On the one hand Jeter will be 37 when his current deal runs out. How much longer can he play shortstop? Even one of the all time premier shortstops in major league history, Cal Ripken, Jr., switched to third base in 1996 at the age of 35. The only other option open to the Yankees is the outfield, because Alex Rodriguez is holding down third base and Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira are much younger than Jeter and play a solid second and first base respectively.

Over the past two seasons Jeter has seen the Yankees dole out obscene contracts to A-Rod, Teixeira, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. None of those players mentioned is even close to owning the resume Jeter brings to the negotiating table. As arguably the most popular Yankee in franchise history Jeter will swing a heavy hammer to get a deal done with Yankees.

Lastly, since the Yankees have once again ascended to the top of the mountain every other team in baseball will be just that much more motivated to knock them off. It is the same with every team who calls themselves “world champions.” Every other team from the Red Sox to the Angels to the Tampa Bay Rays will be looking to dethrone the champs.

This has forever been the law of the jungle. It is always, always harder to defend a championship than to win it.

28.

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited

This Is George’s Day
Yankee owner sees vision come true

Today the New York Yankees officially usher in a new era of baseball in the Bronx. Today, the $1.5 billion palace known as Yankee Stadium formally opens its doors to the throngs of Yankee fans who will descend upon the new edifice located at E 161st St. and River Avenue. Officially, today is known as Opening Day, but appropriately it should be called “George’s Day.”

This Opening Day is all about the man who made the day possible. It’s really all about George Steinbrenner.

The guy known as either affectionately or derisively as “the Boss,” has been the throttle behind the Yankees’ machine for more than three decades. In 1973, with 17 investors at his side, Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees lock, stock and barrel for $10 million from the Columbia Broadcasting System.

At the time of the purchase the Yankees were going into their ninth year without a championship.

After buying the team Steinbrenner, as principal owner, said at the time, “I won't be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all."

Apparently, George was a better businessman than a prophet, because that’s all he would do in the coming years; be active.

Under Steinbrenner’s leadership the Yankees wasted no time in getting back into the World Series picture. After posting an 80-82 record in 1973 the Yankees improved to 89-73, coming in second behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East the following year; missing the playoffs by 2 games.

It was during this period the Yankees temporarily closed the doors to Yankee Stadium to renovate and restructure the aging site. For the next two seasons the Yankees played their games at Shea Stadium in Queens.

When the doors opened for the 1976 season there were obvious and notable differences in the structure. Gone was the marbled wall with the double eagle seals rising up over Gate 4. The outer walls, with its cathedral windows, surrounding the playing field had changed as well. Inside the looks had been altered too.

The frieze or façade that ringed the upper decks of the old stadium had been reduced to a string of façade running along the wall in the outfield. The steel pillars holding up the various seating levels around the stadium had been removed giving fans better sight lines to the field of play.

It was a beautiful park that served the Yankees, its fans, and the City of New York well up until it closed its doors for the final time on September 21, 2008

Also in ‘76, and just three years after Steinbrenner took over the reins, the Yankees won the AL East Division, posting a 97-62 record. They went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals in 5 games to propel themselves into the World Series for the first time in 12 seasons. Unfortunately for the Bronx Bombers they ran into the defending World Series champion Cincinnati Reds who weren’t called the “big red machine” for nothing. The Yankees were swept out of the Series 4-0.

That didn’t dampen Steinbrenner’s spirit; it only fueled his fire. From that point forward the only successful season the Yankees could have using his standard of excellence was bringing home the World Series trophy. Anything less was deemed “failure.”

The next two seasons, with a cast of characters with names like Billy, Thurman, Reggie, Sparky, Gator, Bucky and Goose, the Yankees became world champions for the 21st and 22nd times. They beat their longtime World Series archrivals, the Los Angeles (old Brooklyn) Dodgers in doing so. The same two teams went at it again in 1981 with the Dodgers finally conquering their antagonists in 6 games.

In the process of establishing their identity the turmoil surrounding the Yankees led the New York sportswriters to dub Steinbrenner and the Yankees “the Bronx Zoo.” Steinbrenner was viewed as a tyrant who had an obvious bromance with manager Billy Martin. During their love-hate relationship Martin was hired and fired by Steinbrenner five times between 1976 and 1988.

Along with the chaos came failure. In his unquenchable desire to get his team to the World Series each and every year Steinbrenner spent oodles of money for players hoping to find the right combination of personnel to get it done. Although the team went 692-531 (.566) between 1982 and 1989 they never placed better than second (1985-86).

In the 1990’s the Yankees changed tactics and began to develop their farm system. Instead of buying players the Yankees brought players up through the system. Under the watchful eye of General Manager Gene “Stick” Michael the Yankees developed players like Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. They surrounded these young players with veterans like Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius who blended in well and proved to be a championship combination.

Between outgoing manager Buck Showalter (1995) and the incoming new manager Joe Torre (1996-2007) the Yankees embarked on an odyssey of dynastic proportions. From 1995 through 2007 the Yankees had an incredible 13-year run to the playoffs. During that period the Yankees won four World Series titles, six AL championships, 10 AL East Division crowns and made 3 wild card appearances.

But, even when things have gone well there has been disorder along the way. The common denominator has always been Steinbrenner. For better or worse since his first day as principal owner Steinbrenner has always done things his way. It has gotten him in trouble with Major League Baseball, the law and the fans. However, as with any landscape for every valley there is a hill.

Since their last World Series appearance the Yankees have been in a prolonged valley. Steinbrenner, the organization, the fans and the city at large long for another championship banner.

After two years in the making the “new” Yankee Stadium opens its gates to a new generation of baseball fans. Along with it comes the hope that in this new chapter the Yankees will find the same success they had at the old stadium. It will be a tough act to follow though. Twenty-six World Series championships is a standard that no team in professional sports has equaled. Only time will tell if the new stadium will witness the same accomplishments.

However, the new stadium with all its new amenities of the present and future, plus its design to incorporate the past, is a great way to start. The bridge of tradition is formally completed today. It is time to make new memories, while remembering the old ones. The Babe, Lou, Yogi, Joe D., Whitey and the Mick all played in the old stadium. Today, Derek, Andy, Jorge, Robinson, Mariano and their teammates play in the new one.

Behind it all is George Steinbrenner. It was his drive and his vision that enabled all of what the fans see and experience today to happen. Steinbrenner has always been and always will be about winning.

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next,” he once said.

The old stadium may have been “the House that Ruth built,” but most assuredly the new Yankee Stadium is “the House that George built.” In his 36-year association with the New York Yankees Steinbrenner has turned the organization into the most recognizable franchise in sports. It has gone from a $10 million investment to a multi-billion dollar empire. The new stadium is the crown jewel of Steinbrenner’s tireless labors.

So for those of you lucky enough to have a ticket for today’s game enjoy it, savor it and remember it as something very, very special. You’ll be able to tell your grandchildren “you were there” for Opening Day.

In reality, however, the day belongs to no one, but George.

© 2009 Yankees Talk Shop @ yuku.com

Redistribution, rewriting, rebroadcast, or republication of this story without the prior written consent of Yankees Talk Shop, Pride in the Pinstripes or its affiliates is strictly prohibited