by TomSiebert » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:38 pm
I grew up a Yankees fan, and still kinda like them, but I have to say I took perverse pleasure in watching this All-Star team go down to the scrappy Tigers. It just goes and proves the old adage never stops being true: Good pitching beats good hitting. Tigers staff went after the usually patient Yankees, and it worked -- far fewer walks than you usually see from the team.
Others point it out in the press, but the fact is that the Yankees are a team full of Big Game Losers now: ARod, Giambi, Mussina, even Randy Johnson except for that one year when Schilling inspired him to World Series greatness.
Does anybody really think ARod will be New York next year? I know he's got veto power, but I can't imagine George wanting him, nor can I imagine him wanting to stick around. He's going to get crucified in the NY press for the next week and for all the off-season. I don't know who's going to want to eat that salary or accept the divisive figure he apparently is in the clubhouse, either.
Yankees losing makes the post season a lot more interesting. A's-Tigers has lots of good storylines, between the young and aggressive Detroiters and the hard-luck Moneyballers. I'm really fascinated with the revived Frank Thomas storyline, too.
tws