All season long, I struggled to make sense of the most disappointing 95-win division champ in the history of baseball. I guess that label pretty much sums up the uniqueness of the New York Yankees franchise and its 2005 squad.
And I'll give it a shot at a wrap-up...
My Thoughts on the Season:
• A quick headline explainer: If the Angels win the World Series, they'd have a pretty good claim to Team of the Decade, with two titles and four seasons to go. If not, no team at the end of 2005 would tally more World Series wins (1), league pennants (3) and division titles (6) than the Bombers from 2000-05. How's that for a silver lining?
• Jim Caple, Bill Simmons and Dan Shanoff are probably circle-jerking over the Game 5 box score right now.
• That the Yankees drew an AL-record 50,499 fans per game in a season in which the team was altogether confounding and sometimes embarrassing is a testament to either our fan base, the team's marketing department or both. I thought the fans were absolutely tremendous this year, and the Yanks posted MLB's second-best home record at 53-28.
• Should Joe Torre go? Fire a guy who's won nine division titles in 10 years? It seems incomprehensible, but it's fair to ask how much of that success has been attributable directly to him. The Yankees lacked a lot this year — defense and middle relief being the most prominent — but I also thought they lacked a certain fire. Could Lou Piniella help turn that around? Or am I, and many others, overreacting to a 95-win team that lost a deciding playoff game on the road that, in part, was decided on bullshit hits?
• Could Randy Johnson have been less intimidating this year? A complete enigma who pretty much defined the season. Dominating one start, inexplicably lit up like a Christmas tree the next. No $16-million-a-year player has ever sold less merchandise. Long offseason for him, though he pitched great in Game 5. Of course, if he pitched that way in Game 3, there wouldn't have been a Game 5.
• Could Alex Rodriguez have had a worse ALDS? Those who say he never comes through in the playoffs should do their homework, but a .133 average, that huge error in Game 2, that ninth-inning DP in Game 5? Jesus. Barry Bonds used to do that every year in the postseason.
• Kevin Brown may have had the worst Yankees career among, oh, about 5,000 players who put on the pinstripes.
• If there's a "What the Fuck?" moment in a game, Robinson Cano is involved. Usually three times a night. Loved his effort this year, though.
• There was a mound meeting during Game 5 in which Johnson, A-Rod, Cano, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada — who command $85 million in annual salary — were present. Those six players alone made more than all but about 10 entire teams this season.
• For 20 years I've owned only two players' shirts: No. 23 MATTINGLY and No. 51 WILLIAMS. Bern, baby, Bern! He will be missed.
• How come Mel Stottlemyre got absolutely no credit for Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small combining for 17 regular-season wins?
• The YES network did a show called Ultimate Road Trip, in which four Yankees fans attended all 162 games this season. A brutal, draining season. And then they didn't even send 'em to the playoffs. How fucked up is that?
• Did we really win the AL East? I still can't believe it.
• I'm drained. Long, long season of ups and downs. Go Giants!
what a terribly weak loss that was. i don't even feel like they were beaten by a an equal team. just pathetic. i don't ever want that loud mouth piniella here. i wouldn't have minded seeing torre leave after last years debacle which i almost totally attribute to his terrible managing in games 4-7. but this year i can't blame him, though it seemed like starting crosby in an elimination game was nuts, but he actually had an rbi so whatever. it did seem like he called for hit and runs at bad spots, like cano getting thrown out in what seemed like a hit and run to everyone except bernie, or when he didn't give the take sign to sheff or matsui when they both had early at bats against a struggling santana and later escobar and were ahead in the count 3-1 with a man on, but they swung away and each popped up. what was that! i say let matsui walk, save the money, why not for once. get even younger in center and left, add some speed and obviously d at each spot. when i see a-rods, matsui's and sheffs stats for this series i am amazed we made it to a game 5. a-rod, under no circumstances can he hit into a double play in the 9th, just killer! and what happened to our power, we hit 5 solo homers, just sad!! hopefully next year will involve a younger, hungrier, healthier team. and if torre goes, just hand t to girardi. plus no way cashman comes back from what is going around. a shame, because the tampa syndicate that has georges ear are all clueless. later bud.
Posted by robjules at October 11, 2005 2:07 AM