THE IMPERFECT TEAM
We coined the New York Yankees as the “imperfect team” because they managed to win 94 regular season games despite not playing the most fundamentally sound baseball. Somehow, they overcame baserunning and defensive mistakes to make it all the way to the World Series. That’s a credit to their talent and resiliency but you had the feeling it would catch up to them. Therefore, as cruel as it was, last night’s 5th inning was a fitting way to cap off an incredible, turbulent, entertaining, but ultimately disappointing 2024 season.
THE BOSS WAS WRONG
George Steinbrenner said if the Yankees don’t win a World Championship, that season was a failure. This concept was foreign when he first uttered those words in the 1970’s but it caught on. The NBA’s Pat Riley said there were only two things, “winning (a championship) and misery”. Tiger Woods said winning is the only thing that matters and the Boss’ final captain Derek Jeter echoed those same sentiments in every year other than the 5x he won the World Series.
I have referred to this as the “Steinbrennerization of Sports” and I never meant that in a good way. Sports is the spirit of competition, the drive for excellence, the pursuit of team victory and the sportsmanship you show along the way. Speaking of the 1970’s who can forget the iconic line “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”, from the opening for ABC’s classic “Wide World of Sports”? IF you are young and confused, search on YouTube.
No one WANTS to come in 2nd place (or 3rd place for our Mets fans), but you are not a loser because you didn’t win. That discounts the journey. The Yankees won the AL East, the ALDS, the ALCS and were playing in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. If that’s failure, what about the other 28 teams watching on TV?
Until the Yankees, or any other team that fails to win a championship, is willing to refund all the monies earned through ticket sales, advertising, concessions and merchandising, stop calling the season a failure. The Yankees entertained their fans for 9 months including spring training, it was a fun journey and a great season that ended in disappointment.
Disappointment is not failure.
JUAN SOTO
Speaking of pet peeves, I’m not a big fan of “all-in” trades. In general, Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman are not either, which is why it felt like a bold, yet out of character move when the Yankees went “all-in” for Juan Soto last winter. Now I can see why they made an exception.
Soto is one of those rare players who is more important to his team than the stats indicate. With Soto, that’s saying something as he has, at the age of 26, compiled stats that rival first ballot Hall of Famers.
Soto’s mere presence in the Yankees lineup changed everything. Every at-bat is must-watch TV, and I can only imagine the number of Little Leaguers working on their Soto shuffle. He brings enthusiasm, intensity and toughness to every game. Plus, word is that he is just as infectious with his teammates in the clubhouse as he is with the fans out on the field.
The Yankees went out and got Soto, and he responded by teaming with Aaron Judge to create the greatest one-two Yankees punch since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. AND… he helped lead them back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Regardless of what happens this winter, it’s already a great trade.
IF the Yankees can get his signature on a new contract, it becomes an all-timer.
GERRIT COLE
The 2023 Cy Young Award Winner didn’t make his first start until June 19th and seemingly was playing catch-up all season, until he finally hit his stride with a 9 inning, 2-hit gem against the Oakland Athletics on September 21st. He then finished strong with his last regular season game against Baltimore, both games in the ALDS against Kansas City, a gutty performance in the ALCS against Cleveland and two quality starts against Los Angeles. I know it’ll take a minute to forgive the egregious mistake of not covering first base in the faithful 5th inning of game 5, but the greater body of work proves that Cole remains the Yankees ace and one of the best pitchers in baseball.
You may have read elsewhere that if Cole decides to opt-out of his remaining 4 years at $36m annually, the Yankees will let him walk. That’s simply crazy. All it will take to keep him is to extend his agreement one year at his same $36m salary to keep him off the market. The Yankees face so much uncertainty due to free agency in the bullpen and 1B, 2B, LF and, of course, RF. They will lock up their ace.
