A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

[Pared]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

Great posts, all of you.

But why does it take a disasterous collapse for everyone to all of a sudden reflect upon how they "didn't like this year's team?"

[kodiak]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

Great posts, all of you.

But why does it take a disasterous collapse for everyone to all of a sudden reflect upon how they "didn't like this year's team?"

Its not that I did not like this team but there has been that hidden little thing that has been missing. The guys like Spencer, Sojo, Paulie, and even the relievers like Stanton and Nelson were all missed. Matsui might have been able to provide that if it were not for the language barrier. Yet again as I said earlier this series was squandered in 4 and 5. Both games the Yanks had an insurance run in scoring position with less than 2 outs and could not get that run home. Then factor in the walks in both games that led to the tying run and that sums it up. I also think that the Yanks figured the "ghosts" would show up and they never did. Relying too much on stigma and history will catch up to you eventually as it did for NY this year.

[kodiak]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

Great posts, all of you.

But why does it take a disasterous collapse for everyone to all of a sudden reflect upon how they "didn't like this year's team?"

Its not that I did not like this team but there has been that hidden little thing that has been missing. The guys like Spencer, Sojo, Paulie, and even the relievers like Stanton and Nelson were all missed. Matsui might have been able to provide that if it were not for the language barrier. Yet again as I said earlier this series was squandered in 4 and 5. Both games the Yanks had an insurance run in scoring position with less than 2 outs and could not get that run home. Then factor in the walks in both games that led to the tying run and that sums it up. I also think that the Yanks figured the "ghosts" would show up and they never did. Relying too much on stigma and history will catch up to you eventually as it did for NY this year.

[SPTO]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I've never liked the Yanks but have always been an interested observer. Most of what I want to say has already been mentioned. I thought that I would say tho that i've been tolling the bell for the dark days of the Yankees for the past two years. It finally seems I may be right. I hate to say that to the good Yankee fans but it's true.

The reason why the Yanks were so good the last few years was because they had a BALANCED team, not a team full of superstars and players with eroding skills. The Yanks were also a more patient hitting team who'd just wear out pitchers by waiting on just ONE pitch. I liked the core that they had in Jeter, Bernie, Mo, Brosius, Leyritz, Posada and Petitte. Even the guys they brought in who were in the tail end of their careers were quality people like Jimmy Key, David Cone and Wade Boggs. The Yanks today are comprised of guys who mostly think only about stats and themselves. I commend Joe Torre for keeping this team on the same page throughout the season.

The Boss' predilection for big bats over pitching really surfaced this year and it looks like they'll opt for pitching this offseason but most of the pitching FAs aren't that great or are in the tail end of their effectiveness. I have a feeling when Willie Randolph (or whoever) takes over for Torre we're going to see the days of the Bronx Zoo where Steinbrenner will be even more impulsive then ever especially since he's feeling his mortality now.

As for the question of who I would want to lead my team for the next ten years well it's obvious that it would be Jeter. Jeter is the consumate professionals in all of baseball. He's truly one of the nicer guys around and is the moral compass to all the craziness that surrounds the Yankee franchise. He's probably the last of his kind because I don't see how the Yanks are ever going to attract true good guys unless they bring them up the minors. So I say to Yankee fans to cherish every moment with the Captain as there won't be another Mattingly or Jeter to cheer on when Jeter's career is over.

A-Rod is a good player don't get me wrong but we really saw his true colours in the ALCS and this is one of the reasons why Seattle and then Texas has flourished without him. It seems that he may have been part of the problem for both franchises.

Anyways that's my story and i'm sticking to it!

[SPTO]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I've never liked the Yanks but have always been an interested observer. Most of what I want to say has already been mentioned. I thought that I would say tho that i've been tolling the bell for the dark days of the Yankees for the past two years. It finally seems I may be right. I hate to say that to the good Yankee fans but it's true.

The reason why the Yanks were so good the last few years was because they had a BALANCED team, not a team full of superstars and players with eroding skills. The Yanks were also a more patient hitting team who'd just wear out pitchers by waiting on just ONE pitch. I liked the core that they had in Jeter, Bernie, Mo, Brosius, Leyritz, Posada and Petitte. Even the guys they brought in who were in the tail end of their careers were quality people like Jimmy Key, David Cone and Wade Boggs. The Yanks today are comprised of guys who mostly think only about stats and themselves. I commend Joe Torre for keeping this team on the same page throughout the season.

The Boss' predilection for big bats over pitching really surfaced this year and it looks like they'll opt for pitching this offseason but most of the pitching FAs aren't that great or are in the tail end of their effectiveness. I have a feeling when Willie Randolph (or whoever) takes over for Torre we're going to see the days of the Bronx Zoo where Steinbrenner will be even more impulsive then ever especially since he's feeling his mortality now.

As for the question of who I would want to lead my team for the next ten years well it's obvious that it would be Jeter. Jeter is the consumate professionals in all of baseball. He's truly one of the nicer guys around and is the moral compass to all the craziness that surrounds the Yankee franchise. He's probably the last of his kind because I don't see how the Yanks are ever going to attract true good guys unless they bring them up the minors. So I say to Yankee fans to cherish every moment with the Captain as there won't be another Mattingly or Jeter to cheer on when Jeter's career is over.

A-Rod is a good player don't get me wrong but we really saw his true colours in the ALCS and this is one of the reasons why Seattle and then Texas has flourished without him. It seems that he may have been part of the problem for both franchises.

Anyways that's my story and i'm sticking to it!

[Stu]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I find it amusing that some Yankee fans went from:

"Haha we got Arod and you didnt"

to

"Arod isn't a true yankee"

Not saying anyone on this board is at fault. Just some yankee fans in general.

[Stu]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I find it amusing that some Yankee fans went from:

"Haha we got Arod and you didnt"

to

"Arod isn't a true yankee"

Not saying anyone on this board is at fault. Just some yankee fans in general.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I can't believe people are saying the Yanks should have resigned Andy Pettitte.

The Yankees knew that something was wrong with Andy. There's a reason they thought he was being absurd when he asked for 10 million plus dollars (even though rumor is the Yanks made a last hour push before Andy decided to go with Houston).

Now look at what happened to his season. Yea, it's easy to say now because we can see him hurt, but this was always expected. Throughout his career there was question about Pettitte's elbow and how it would hold out. The Yanks knew that throwing 10 million dollars at Andy would be ridiculous considering he might not even pitch for a majority of the contract.

(Of course, I say this and then they trade for Kevin Brown)

Anyway, the biggest hole the Yankees had was a lefthanded starter. There were none. The only starts made by a lefty this season was by Brad Halsey and Alex Graman (Graman is lefty right? Can't quite remember). While I think both could have nice careers (nice, not great or even good) that is still scary to know that. The Yankees have NEVER ever won a World Series without a true lefthanded starter in their rotation.

You know who would have pitched games 6 and 7 for New York? Wells and Pettitte. Those were the guys who would have gotten the ball if they were still around.

Now, why am I mentioning Petttite when I just argued that he was an unsafe signging? Merely because if he was healthy then he would have been huge for us. But, I don't blame the Yankees for ignoring his in the offseason. He was too much of a risk.

(As for Brown...It was more desperation to get rid of Weaver, who had one really bad year, then to get an extreme talent).

Regardless, I don't think Ortiz and Damon shoot off on the Yanks in Game 6 and 7 if the Yankees brought out two lefties to the mound in thsoe games. It was mandatory that the Yankees have at least two lefties in their rotation for Yankee Stadium. They didn't fill that void and now they'll be wondering why from home.


edit: Just want to bring this up.

Mueller
Ortiz
Damon
Bellhorn

Think about that for a second. I don't even have to mention why those names are so important in my argument.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I can't believe people are saying the Yanks should have resigned Andy Pettitte.

The Yankees knew that something was wrong with Andy. There's a reason they thought he was being absurd when he asked for 10 million plus dollars (even though rumor is the Yanks made a last hour push before Andy decided to go with Houston).

Now look at what happened to his season. Yea, it's easy to say now because we can see him hurt, but this was always expected. Throughout his career there was question about Pettitte's elbow and how it would hold out. The Yanks knew that throwing 10 million dollars at Andy would be ridiculous considering he might not even pitch for a majority of the contract.

(Of course, I say this and then they trade for Kevin Brown)

Anyway, the biggest hole the Yankees had was a lefthanded starter. There were none. The only starts made by a lefty this season was by Brad Halsey and Alex Graman (Graman is lefty right? Can't quite remember). While I think both could have nice careers (nice, not great or even good) that is still scary to know that. The Yankees have NEVER ever won a World Series without a true lefthanded starter in their rotation.

You know who would have pitched games 6 and 7 for New York? Wells and Pettitte. Those were the guys who would have gotten the ball if they were still around.

Now, why am I mentioning Petttite when I just argued that he was an unsafe signging? Merely because if he was healthy then he would have been huge for us. But, I don't blame the Yankees for ignoring his in the offseason. He was too much of a risk.

(As for Brown...It was more desperation to get rid of Weaver, who had one really bad year, then to get an extreme talent).

Regardless, I don't think Ortiz and Damon shoot off on the Yanks in Game 6 and 7 if the Yankees brought out two lefties to the mound in thsoe games. It was mandatory that the Yankees have at least two lefties in their rotation for Yankee Stadium. They didn't fill that void and now they'll be wondering why from home.


edit: Just want to bring this up.

Mueller
Ortiz
Damon
Bellhorn

Think about that for a second. I don't even have to mention why those names are so important in my argument.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I find it amusing that some Yankee fans went from:

"Haha we got Arod and you didnt"

to

"Arod isn't a true yankee"

Not saying anyone on this board is at fault. Just some yankee fans in general.

Agreed. It is ridiculous.

For some reason Yankee fans expected Alex Rodriguez to hit 50 homeruns and drive in 120 RBI.

It is more proof that at least 50% of the Yankee fans in this world aren't really Yankee fans because they love the team, but only because they win. In my opinion that's a crappy reason to like a team and I'd prefer they got up and left the stadium so that a true fan could sit in their seats.

Only one righthander has hit 40 homeruns while playing for the Yankees. Think about that for a second. With all the history and glamour of playing in pinstripes, only ONE righthander has hit 40 homeruns while playing for the Yankees. That Yankee was Joe DiMaggio. Not even Rodriguez or Sheffield could do the impossible. Because the truth is, it is impossible. Righthanders don't hit homeruns at Yankee Stadium. Yea, the lines are like 320, but once you get about 10 steps toward centerfield you are talking about 380+ feet of doom for a fly toward the gaps. That's about 20 feet extra than most righthanded hitting ballparks.

Alex Rodriguez did everything he needed and could do this year and he's going to put up similar numbers for the next 5 or 6 years while wearing pinstripes. Live with it because it's all you are getting from a righthander in this park.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

I find it amusing that some Yankee fans went from:

"Haha we got Arod and you didnt"

to

"Arod isn't a true yankee"

Not saying anyone on this board is at fault. Just some yankee fans in general.

Agreed. It is ridiculous.

For some reason Yankee fans expected Alex Rodriguez to hit 50 homeruns and drive in 120 RBI.

It is more proof that at least 50% of the Yankee fans in this world aren't really Yankee fans because they love the team, but only because they win. In my opinion that's a crappy reason to like a team and I'd prefer they got up and left the stadium so that a true fan could sit in their seats.

Only one righthander has hit 40 homeruns while playing for the Yankees. Think about that for a second. With all the history and glamour of playing in pinstripes, only ONE righthander has hit 40 homeruns while playing for the Yankees. That Yankee was Joe DiMaggio. Not even Rodriguez or Sheffield could do the impossible. Because the truth is, it is impossible. Righthanders don't hit homeruns at Yankee Stadium. Yea, the lines are like 320, but once you get about 10 steps toward centerfield you are talking about 380+ feet of doom for a fly toward the gaps. That's about 20 feet extra than most righthanded hitting ballparks.

Alex Rodriguez did everything he needed and could do this year and he's going to put up similar numbers for the next 5 or 6 years while wearing pinstripes. Live with it because it's all you are getting from a righthander in this park.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

Great posts, all of you.

But why does it take a disasterous collapse for everyone to all of a sudden reflect upon how they "didn't like this year's team?"

I can't speak for everyone else, but I haven't liked "this year's team" since they signed Jason Giambi.

I'm going to root for them because I love the Yankees, but it doesn't mean I agree with everything they do. Most of the time I hate everything they do.

[CMH]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

Great posts, all of you.

But why does it take a disasterous collapse for everyone to all of a sudden reflect upon how they "didn't like this year's team?"

I can't speak for everyone else, but I haven't liked "this year's team" since they signed Jason Giambi.

I'm going to root for them because I love the Yankees, but it doesn't mean I agree with everything they do. Most of the time I hate everything they do.

[nyisles16]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

essentially they were saying that this team was more about stats & such.. not playing as a true "team", like the Brosius, O'Neil, Tino teams.. i have also heard some people saying that Posada was not one of their "core" players because the Yanks had Girardi for several years .

[nyisles16]

Re: A-Rod blasted on Mike & Mad Dog... and my final thoughts of the 2004 Yankees.

essentially they were saying that this team was more about stats & such.. not playing as a true "team", like the Brosius, O'Neil, Tino teams.. i have also heard some people saying that Posada was not one of their "core" players because the Yanks had Girardi for several years .