Sports in Seconds: Ridiculing Yanks is always fun
Oh, how sweet it is.
I'm going to take this opportunity to take a shot at the New York (NY) Yankees, who had their $200 million ego deflated once again this October in the Major League Baseball (MLB) post-season.
Losing the American League divisional series to the Detroit Tigers in four games, the Yankees fell victim once again this year falling considerably short of the inevitable expectations placed on them and their bloated payroll.
What is even greater then watching $25 million a-year-man Alex Rodriguez and $19 million a-year-man Jason Giambi hang their money-grubbing-heads in shame after another disappointing loss, is the fact that many ex-Yankee players are still thriving in the playoffs.
Kenny Rogers arguably had his best performance of his career, besides his perfect game with the Texas Rangers in 1994, against the Yankees in game three of the divisional series. Rogers led the Tigers to a 6-0 victory, scattering five hits over seven 2/3 innings.
Rogers played for the Yankees from 1996 to 1997, but never quite thrived in the Bronx, despite winning a championship ring in 1996.
Another former Yankee flop, Jeff Weaver is currently doing an admirable job starting for the National League (NL) Central champion St. Louis Cardinals.
With a 2-1 post-season record thus far, Weaver's latest victory came in game five of the NL Championship Series where he out-dueled former Cy Young award winner Tom Glavine of the NY Mets.
Weaver was traded to the Yankees in 1996, and never seemed comfortable with the pressure and scrutiny placed on him in NY.
I'll bet the Yanks would have loved throwing Rogers or Weaver out there this year, considering they had to throw an injured, and aging Randy Johnson, who had discs bulging from his back, and chronically-injured Jaret Wright whose only decent seasons came in 1997 and 2004 with the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves.
To add icing to the cake, last season's World Series championship team, the Chicago White Sox, was led by two other former Yankee pitchers, Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez.
Although it is easy poking fun at the Yankees when they do not succeed, I couldn't help but point out the success many of the former Yankee players are having after they have moved on in their careers.
Maybe the Yankee's will eventually realize that no matter how much money you shell out to lure free agents - quality scouting, intelligent general managing, and player development are more integral to building championship teams.
So who knows, the Yankees could very well win the World Series next year, and stop all this bashing by the media, but one thing is almost certain if that does happen — A-Rod will likely still only bat a meager .125 with maybe one R.B.I. in that potential Fall Classic.
Don't feel sorry for the Yankees as you watch the World Series this year, just keep rooting for the team that knocked them out.
Go Tigers.
I'm going to take this opportunity to take a shot at the New York (NY) Yankees, who had their $200 million ego deflated once again this October in the Major League Baseball (MLB) post-season.
Losing the American League divisional series to the Detroit Tigers in four games, the Yankees fell victim once again this year falling considerably short of the inevitable expectations placed on them and their bloated payroll.
What is even greater then watching $25 million a-year-man Alex Rodriguez and $19 million a-year-man Jason Giambi hang their money-grubbing-heads in shame after another disappointing loss, is the fact that many ex-Yankee players are still thriving in the playoffs.
Kenny Rogers arguably had his best performance of his career, besides his perfect game with the Texas Rangers in 1994, against the Yankees in game three of the divisional series. Rogers led the Tigers to a 6-0 victory, scattering five hits over seven 2/3 innings.
Rogers played for the Yankees from 1996 to 1997, but never quite thrived in the Bronx, despite winning a championship ring in 1996.
Another former Yankee flop, Jeff Weaver is currently doing an admirable job starting for the National League (NL) Central champion St. Louis Cardinals.
With a 2-1 post-season record thus far, Weaver's latest victory came in game five of the NL Championship Series where he out-dueled former Cy Young award winner Tom Glavine of the NY Mets.
Weaver was traded to the Yankees in 1996, and never seemed comfortable with the pressure and scrutiny placed on him in NY.
I'll bet the Yanks would have loved throwing Rogers or Weaver out there this year, considering they had to throw an injured, and aging Randy Johnson, who had discs bulging from his back, and chronically-injured Jaret Wright whose only decent seasons came in 1997 and 2004 with the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves.
To add icing to the cake, last season's World Series championship team, the Chicago White Sox, was led by two other former Yankee pitchers, Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez.
Although it is easy poking fun at the Yankees when they do not succeed, I couldn't help but point out the success many of the former Yankee players are having after they have moved on in their careers.
Maybe the Yankee's will eventually realize that no matter how much money you shell out to lure free agents - quality scouting, intelligent general managing, and player development are more integral to building championship teams.
So who knows, the Yankees could very well win the World Series next year, and stop all this bashing by the media, but one thing is almost certain if that does happen — A-Rod will likely still only bat a meager .125 with maybe one R.B.I. in that potential Fall Classic.
Don't feel sorry for the Yankees as you watch the World Series this year, just keep rooting for the team that knocked them out.
Go Tigers.
