Post by Anthony on Aug 30, 2008 19:38:13 GMT -5
Describing the 2008 New York Yankees is a difficult task to do. Being the huge Yankees fan that I am, it almost hurts to talk about this 2008 team. However, talking about this team does not nearly enough hurt by watching them.
Watching the 2008 New York Yankees is like watching you're relative slowly pass away in a hospital bed. You keep thinking to yourself that maybe, just maybe, this relative would heal by some miraculous feat. But then reality hits you... you begin to realize that whatever disease that has infiltrated your relative will not go away. Eventually, the heart monitor stops beeping; the relative takes their last breath before going to the unknown.
The 2008 New York Yankees was like a dying relative to me. They seemed to be on life support; in the back of my head I and the million of its fans thought they would make a miraculous come back and live to see another day.
But now the heart monitor has stopped beating. The last breath has been breathed. There is no more fight in them and in the back of your mind you say to yourself "at least they are at peace".
A lot of blame should go to several people on this team. The entire starting line up went cold. From 1 through 9 in the batting order, they all decided to just stop hitting together as a team. They were often defeated by under 500 teams or pitchers who had no business dominating the Bronx Bombers. They were unclutch, their big run producers freezing during big time situations.
Alex Rodriguez and his off the field drama is to blame. The man who single handily carried the 2007 Yankees to October was nowhere to be seen. In just the month of August, he has grounded into 11 double plays.
He has one RBI in the 9th inning all season.
Robinson Cano can be blamed. The second baseman was being compared to Hall of Fame player Rob Kurew. Cano was projected to be the future number three hitter for the Bombers because of his awesome offense; he was also projected to win multiple gold gloves at his position for his smooth defensive. That Robinson Cano did not show up all year long. Instead, Robinson struggled nearly all year and made errors that almost or even have cost the Yankees a game.
You can blame Derek Jeter, who has had one of his worst offensive and defensive years of all time. So bad, in fact, that esteemed sports writers wonder if this is the demise of the Yankee short stop.
But the one person the blame should really go to, the one person who should take all responsibility for how this team has performed is Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman.
He has the chance to trade for the best starting pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, a lefty pitcher who could have led the Yankees to a much better year. All Cashman had to deal in order to acquire this stud of a pitcher was pitching prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, along with Centerfielder Melky Cabrera.
However, Brian opted to stick with the young guns. The Yankees would no longer be the team to trade their young 'stars' for older veterans (despite the fact that Santana is only 30 years old). Kennedy, Hughes, Melky, and Joba Chamberlain were dubbed 'Generation Next'.
Kennedy, Hughes, and Melky are all currently in the minor leagues, their 2008 performance difficult to watch.
Despite all the Yankees injuries (there have been plenty), this team was not built to win. Instead, it was built to fail. There was NO reason to believe that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy would become anything. Granted, they are young pitchers who deserve another chance to perform. However, they failed to produce anything good. Together, they hold a record of 0-8.
Eight wins that Johan Santana could have easily brought to this team.
This team deserves to fail. This team deserves not to make the 2008 playoffs.
But then you realize a new team will be birthed next year. A new team, moved into a new Stadium, will take the field in early April.
Hopefully, the Yankees will learn from their mistakes. Hopefully, they will sign starting pitcher CC Sabathia. Hopefully, they will add important additions to their bull pen. Hopefully, they will sign Mark Teixeria to play first base.
Hopefully, Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy will never be seen in pinstripes again. Hopefully, outfield prospect Austin Jackson wins a spot to play Centerfield during spring training. Hopefully, Phil Hughes can stay healthy and contribute.
If the team is right, the 2009 Yankees can hopefully win it all.
Because if the team is built right, then Yankee fans can do all they can...
Hope.
Watching the 2008 New York Yankees is like watching you're relative slowly pass away in a hospital bed. You keep thinking to yourself that maybe, just maybe, this relative would heal by some miraculous feat. But then reality hits you... you begin to realize that whatever disease that has infiltrated your relative will not go away. Eventually, the heart monitor stops beeping; the relative takes their last breath before going to the unknown.
The 2008 New York Yankees was like a dying relative to me. They seemed to be on life support; in the back of my head I and the million of its fans thought they would make a miraculous come back and live to see another day.
But now the heart monitor has stopped beating. The last breath has been breathed. There is no more fight in them and in the back of your mind you say to yourself "at least they are at peace".
A lot of blame should go to several people on this team. The entire starting line up went cold. From 1 through 9 in the batting order, they all decided to just stop hitting together as a team. They were often defeated by under 500 teams or pitchers who had no business dominating the Bronx Bombers. They were unclutch, their big run producers freezing during big time situations.
Alex Rodriguez and his off the field drama is to blame. The man who single handily carried the 2007 Yankees to October was nowhere to be seen. In just the month of August, he has grounded into 11 double plays.
He has one RBI in the 9th inning all season.
Robinson Cano can be blamed. The second baseman was being compared to Hall of Fame player Rob Kurew. Cano was projected to be the future number three hitter for the Bombers because of his awesome offense; he was also projected to win multiple gold gloves at his position for his smooth defensive. That Robinson Cano did not show up all year long. Instead, Robinson struggled nearly all year and made errors that almost or even have cost the Yankees a game.
You can blame Derek Jeter, who has had one of his worst offensive and defensive years of all time. So bad, in fact, that esteemed sports writers wonder if this is the demise of the Yankee short stop.
But the one person the blame should really go to, the one person who should take all responsibility for how this team has performed is Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman.
He has the chance to trade for the best starting pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, a lefty pitcher who could have led the Yankees to a much better year. All Cashman had to deal in order to acquire this stud of a pitcher was pitching prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, along with Centerfielder Melky Cabrera.
However, Brian opted to stick with the young guns. The Yankees would no longer be the team to trade their young 'stars' for older veterans (despite the fact that Santana is only 30 years old). Kennedy, Hughes, Melky, and Joba Chamberlain were dubbed 'Generation Next'.
Kennedy, Hughes, and Melky are all currently in the minor leagues, their 2008 performance difficult to watch.
Despite all the Yankees injuries (there have been plenty), this team was not built to win. Instead, it was built to fail. There was NO reason to believe that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy would become anything. Granted, they are young pitchers who deserve another chance to perform. However, they failed to produce anything good. Together, they hold a record of 0-8.
Eight wins that Johan Santana could have easily brought to this team.
This team deserves to fail. This team deserves not to make the 2008 playoffs.
But then you realize a new team will be birthed next year. A new team, moved into a new Stadium, will take the field in early April.
Hopefully, the Yankees will learn from their mistakes. Hopefully, they will sign starting pitcher CC Sabathia. Hopefully, they will add important additions to their bull pen. Hopefully, they will sign Mark Teixeria to play first base.
Hopefully, Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy will never be seen in pinstripes again. Hopefully, outfield prospect Austin Jackson wins a spot to play Centerfield during spring training. Hopefully, Phil Hughes can stay healthy and contribute.
If the team is right, the 2009 Yankees can hopefully win it all.
Because if the team is built right, then Yankee fans can do all they can...
Hope.