Stop the presses (on those Red Sox "division champs" t-shirts) and start spreading the news: For the 42nd time since 1921 — and seventh year in a row — the Yankees have finished the regular season in first place.
That's just the first step, of course. We celebrate division titles like Bill Gates celebrates bonus checks. But out of 14 American League teams that went out every day from April through September looking to win, we won the most.
If it seems like 11 years ago when MLB playoffs were held without the Yankees, it's because it was. Back in 1993, we had reporters in Waco, Michael Jordan's first retirement, the Lorena Bobbatt trial, the final episode of Cheers, the Blue Jays were unstoppable, Jack McDowell led the led the AL in shutouts, Joe Carter was the game's highest-paid player at $5.5 million, and that asswipe wouldn't let me into Feagan's bar at Syracuse University because I was only 20. What a crappy year.
My, how times have changed. Congratulations to the Yankees for keeping the division title in the family.
Oh, and to all you Yankees-haters who posted comments all summer long about the exaggerated "demise" of the Yankees, choke on a fat one. I never count those chickens, and you shouldn't have either.
Highlight From Thursday's Post-Game Celebration: YES network reporter Suzyn Waldman tried to get a good quote out of Gary Sheffield by asking him, "How does this feel? It's been a long time for you." Yeah, it's been as long for him as it's been for Derek Jeter. The guy was on the Braves' NL East-winning team in 2003.
Other Sports Links:
• SI.com's George: Twins Will Win World Series — In introducing his latest power rankings, Dan George writes, "You heard it here first: The Twins will win the World Series." Uh-huh. Does he really, really think the Twins are the best option to win the World Series, having to go through either (and likely both) the Yankees and Red Sox just to have a 50-50 shot, at best, to beat the NL rep? If the 2004 MLB playoffs were played 20 times, would George pick the Twins to win the most World Series? No. A classic media move — make a bold pick that no one will call you out on if it doesn't work. And if you get lucky, you get to brag. Which is why you preface picks with "You heard it here first."
• John Donovan's Season in Review — SI.com's senior writer reflects on the biggest stories of the year. Strangely, the word steroids does not appear. What does appear, however, is a note that the Mets have the fourth-highest payroll in baseball. But, hey, if you wanna finish ahead of the Expos, it's gonna cost money.
• Fox Pre-Game: Read it and Weep — Not the most intriguing of Phil Mushnick's columns, but ya gotta give the New York Post media critic credit for taking FOX to task when he works for the same company (Newscorp).
• Cashman to the Expos? — Buster Olney on the possibility of the Yankees' GM going to work for the new Washington club, one that hasn't played baseball in 34 years yet still won a World Series (1924) more recently than the Red Sox (1918) or Cubs (1908).
• Madden 2005 Fantasy Draft Advice — An in-depth strategy guide on how to start your new franchise in the ultra-popular football video game. My advice is to load up on linebackers and safeties first, limiting your chances of ever having to play from behind.
• Freddy Sez Home Page — That old super-fan who carries a pan, spoon and colorful, optimistic sign to every Yankees game is online. He's also an Upper West Sider, though I don't think he lives in one of the Trump Place buildings down the block.
• The Greatest NFL Coaches Ever — An ESPN.com Page 2 list. I was surprised to see Bill Walsh as low as No. 6, considering he was not only successful but influential. But when you're comparing multiple-NFL title winners, you're really splitting hairs. A nice, little write-up on how great John Madden was on the sideline. The guy produced big-time.
Yanks and Cards in the Fall Classic? Things they need to do in order for that to happen.
-- Yanks just need to play strong. (an obvious comment..you would think I was John Madden)
-- Cards need to synchronize their hitting and pitching. Lately its been either one or the other.
Posted by Hallas at October 1, 2004 9:14 AM