Cautious Optimism?
By rshellman
The more prudent YankeesSuck.com reader will pause before giving it to our misguided friends, family, and colleagues about paying 180 million for a team that loses two out of three to Tampa Bay. Yes, Mussina has an ERA of 11.00, but do can we really expect that to continue?
If it does, the evil empire will just pick up some serviceable starter from a team that needs money. (The Mets will have a ton of veteran starters ready to move once they are out of contention in late May.)
Do we really expect Jeter to continue hitting below .200? No, and even if it did, the Yankees could carry a .150 hitter for a long time before we’d notice a drop off in their offensive statistics. Does this remind the baseball historians among us of the 1960 World Series where the Yankees bombarded the Pirates by ridiculous scores in three wins and lost pitchers duels in four losses? Maybe, but look at how far the Red Sox got last year with an impressive eight hitters and one or two quality starters and a bullpen by committee; the Yankees of 2004 might be an interesting comparison to last year’s Sox team.
No, if you are going to needle Yankee fans today consider this - yesterday’ Yankee heroes - Sheffield and Rodriguez- both carry the stamp of Steinbrenner meddling - maybe he’ll think he knows more than his GM and start making more moves. Then we’ll get somewhere and stop cursing Aaron Boone.
