If it was guaranteed I probably would accept that, but then there's still a part of me who says, 'why can't we win both years?'
Feinsand continues,
Obviously it’s no sure thing that will happen, but the point is this: if Brian Cashman and Co. believe that their kids - Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, etc - are indeed the future of this team, would it be okay for the fan base to watch them take their lumps this year if it meant the betterment of the franchise for the next 5-10 years?Feinsand also mentioned the '06-'07 Red Sox who finished in third place in '06 and didn't trade any of their young talent for a quick fix, and then came back the next year and won it all.
Or, would missing the playoffs and snapping the streak of 13 straight years be too much for you to take, sending you into a winter-long depression? Even more importantly, would it send Hank Steinbrenner into a frenzy, prompting him to make wholesale changes to the team and the front office.
One thing the Sox had was a patient GM and more importantly, patient owners. I do think missing the playoffs this season could send Hank into a frenzy and lead to some irrational decision making, reminiscent of his father's actions in the 80's.
I also think there is a large portion of the Yankees fan base that would go absolutely crazy if the Yankees did miss the postseason, and yes, they'd fall into a "winter-long depression."
I should also point out that I do not consider this solely a rebuilding year. What I would call it is "rebuilding-plus." The Yankees have a good mix of veterans and youth, and I firmly believe that this team can contend and "rebuild" at the same time. If last year's team could make the playoffs, then so can this year's team. And I think they can do it without having to trade away a ton of young talent for a quick fix at the deadline. This may be foolish on my part, but this is how I feel.
So I pose two questions to you: Do you think this is a rebuilding year? And the same question Mr. Feinsand asks, "Would you accept missing the playoffs this year if it meant winning it all next year?"
3 Comments:
First of all I love Mark Feinsand and the Daily News 5th inning. Second of all, I mean besides those three pitchers I don't know how this would be considered a "rebuilding year." Next year we will still have Posada at catcher/1st base, Cano at 2nd, A-Rod and Jeter on the left side and at the least Melky, Johnny and Matsui in the outfield. With pitching who knows about Petitte, Moose will be gone hopefully, Wang, Hughes, Joba and Kennedy are 4 out of the 5 sure things. So I mean off season acquisitions aside I don't see how we would be much better next year with so many slots already filled for next year.
And the second is sort of a silly question, but I don't think I would take that deal. We haven't had this "good", if you could call it that start since 2003 when we were 18-3 at this point of the season. I don't see this season as being a wash by any means. If Wang and Petitte keep this up, Moose gives us 10 wins, Kennedy and Hughes 13 each, plus maybe a relief signing or trade before August and we're okay. I don't see a reason why we won't pick up the pace, it seems we always do, and if we're already at above .500 baseball with the poor play we've seen so far, it actually seems sort of nice to think what our record will be like when we start gelling and healthy.
Like I said, I also don't think it's a rebuilding year totally. The only thing they're rebuilding is the pitching staff. Which is why some people are looking at this like a rebuilding year.
I think they could sign two guys that will make them significantly better next year; C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. That will fill the two "holes" left behind by Mussina and Giambi. Not bad replacements if you ask me.
I agree with your second paragraph completely.
As a rabid Yankee fan, and also as a huge Dolphin fan, I know the trials and tribulations of once having dominant perennial success, only to finally decide to take a backseat to watch the action unfold elsewhere in your division.
That being said, in the true spirit of solely developing Hughes and Kennedy and Joba into three quality starting pitchers, I say go for it, lets take a mental sabbatical on Mission 27 this year and keep our hopes up for this dump of salary woes (Giambi, Pavano, Mussina, the like) and focus on that brand new season in that brand new stadium with a few brand new arms and a couple brand new acquisitions(Teixiera and/or Sabathia) and we can all flourish in 2009.
But the comparisons of Dolphin practices and Yankee lore end there... for I really cant imagine what Lil Stein will do if we get left without an october invite. Plus the whole pride factor comes into play as well. This season can still turn into something magical, and history shows we have every element to turn magic into reality this year, not next year.
But in order to do that. Something must be done with Jason Giambi.. Shelley Duncan has to strap on the proverbial number 25 this year while he still has a chance... and guys like Scott Patterson and Brett Gardner need to show their faces well beyond the rosters expand in September.
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