A New Yankee Low

When the Yankees went on a big spending spree in 2009, the Yankees faithful believed it was time to go back to becoming baseballs best. The Yankees signed superstar first baseman Mark Teixeira, and two stud pitchers in CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. The Yankees and there fans were thinking large. 2009 turned out to be a great year as the Yankees did what they had to do, they won the World Series. They won it for the first time since 2000. Yankees fans were rejoiced and thinking repeat the next season. That did not turn out as the fans had hoped and the Texas Rangers eliminated them in the American League Championship Series. The following year the Yankees were thinking championship as they do every year. After another great regular season the Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. That was crushing, deflating the Yankees faithful after an early and disappointing exit.

2012 comes around and the Yankees trade AJ Burnett, and sign Hiroki Kuroda and Raul Ibanez. Also, Andy Pettitte makes his return to the majors after a year off. The Yankees were set for a title run except people doubted them because of their old age. Well the Yankees failed to disappoint as they had a ten game division lead,that crumbled by the wayside as the young Orioles shocked the world. The Yankees never relinquished that division lead and were the number one seed in the American League. They faced the resilient Orioles in the division series and barely got by winning the series three games to two behind a masterful game five performance by CC Sabathia. Then came the American League Championship Series.

The Yankees once again would face the Detroit Tigers. This time the Yankees came into the series with a struggling offense but great pitching. That offense just got worse. The Yankees pitching was masterful in the first three games but the Yankees offense fell quicker than Felix Baumgartner. This was one of the worst Yankees offenses in the postseason batting less than .200 as a team. Their big hitters were nowhere to be found and their captain went down. With Derek Jeter breaking his ankle in game one, the outlook of the series for the Yankees looked bleak. The series was still very much in their grasp but the offense had to pick it up. It didn’t. Alex Rodriguez was the center of all the criticism because of his ridiculous contract (probably the worst ever). But he does not deserve all of the blame. He definitely deserves some however because he batted .130 with no runs batted in, leading to Joe Girardi benching him in games three and four and his replacement, Eric Chavez, went hitless in the postseason. I was a huge advocate for the Yankees to play Alex as I was hoping he would break through. He did not even get a chance. Does this mean we have seen the last of A-Rod in pinstripes? Who knows but I do know that it is going to be extremely tough for Alex to return to half the player he once was.

Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson deserve equal if not more blame than Alex for this debacle. Nick Swisher has played his last game as a Yankee and he could not get out of New York quick enough. He batted just about .150 in the postseason and is 1-for-35 with runners in scoring position in his postseason career. Granderson could not hit the ball if it was the size of Prince Fielder’s stomach. He hit just around .110 with 15 strikeouts. Cano might have been the worst of the all. He was the best hitter in the world just a couple weeks ago batting .615 in nine games. This postseason? Cano is batting .080. The worst postseason showing I have ever heard of.

Without a doubt this is going to be a long offseason. This is no longer the Yankees team we witnessed in 2009. This was pathetic and every single player, coach, and staff member should be embarrassed. 

The Fall of Champions

The New York Yankees are going to enter one of the longest off-seasons in recent memory. This team looked old and slow in the postseason. They have a laundry list of free agents and guys they need to let go. Lets start with the big three free agents.

Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson have team options but will need to be re-signed. Cano is their best pure hitter and player and without a doubt will be a Yankee next season. It just depends on how long. I have heard rumblings of the Yankees offering Cano a ten-year deal. I sure hope that is not the case, as we know the history of players who receive ten-year contracts ala Alex Rodriguez. Cano deserves big money but after this postseason failure, he better not get what he really wants. 

Curtis Granderson will also most likely be resigned. I completely disagree with this statement. With Granderson, it is either strikeout or home run. That is not what the Yankees need. He does not deserve big money and his time in New York better be over.

Now we move to Nick Swisher. This guy should not even be offered a contract from the Yankees. He should be the first one out the door because just about every one in New York is fed up with him, including me. Swisher and Boras better wake up and realize that they will not be getting Jayson Werth money (7 yrs/$126 million). He has a thick head if he thinks he is getting that. If I were a contending team, I would not even bring him to my team because every one knows how bad he is in the postseason. I loved you Swish, you were a great personality and a lot of fun but it is certainly, as LeBron James has said, “about damn time” for you to leave New York.

Now the Yankees have some key free agents. Ichiro Suzuki should no doubt get a one-year deal to be a stopgap in right field for a season. Raul Ibanez is tough because he came up so clutch for the Yankees in the postseason but he has to go to. If he is willing to just come off the bench and DH once in a blue moon, then sign him for a season with no guaranteed money. Russell Martin is another free agent who I think will be back but again I disagree. He is a great catcher, defensively. But Martin just cannot hit the ball and is getting older. He needs to go to make way for the young catching prospects the Yankees have. Rafael Soriano is also another interesting decision. He will opt out of his contract and command big money, rightfully so. The Yankees cannot afford to pay him big money again and let him walk. Thank you so much though Soriano as the Yanks would be nowhere without you.

The final decision will be what to do with Alex Rodriguez. Him and his $114 million contract will be hovering over this team for five more years. They need to explore all options on the trade front whether it is with the Miami Marlins or the Los Angeles Dodgers. They will have to suck it up and eat probably around $100 million and take a bad contract in return. If this does not happen, well, the Yankees will be stuck with the “new” A-Rod. A person most Yankee fans have loved to hate.

This will be a very interesting offseason. The Yankees MUST get younger, faster, and smarter. No more of the old style of the Yankees where they just mash home runs. They need guys who will hit around .290 and steal bases and play sound fundamental baseball.

Cashman, please do everything possible to shed salary and become younger because if this Yankee team is the same for next season, fans are looking at a 70 win team. The Yankees need guys who can hit in the clutch and in the postseason. They need an overhaul of this team and need to start over because the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are going to be very good for a long, long time.