Sherman: Are New Yanks Tough Enough For NY?

From Joel Sherman:

I have heard many players say with confidence they have a plan for handling the pinstriped corner of New York. And then they get hit. And it is probably a lot like imagining how it might feel to take a Mike Tyson uppercut to the jaw and actually experiencing it.

You think you know what it will be like the first time the Stadium turns on you or talk show New York decides your manhood is a 24/7 subject or the backpage of this paper writes a scathing, huge headline that is a one-or-two-word kick to the groin.

Right now, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabathia have convinced themselves that they know what this is going to feel like, assured themselves that they will handle it professionally. But no one is in Texas or Toronto or Cleveland any more. The punch is different. Relentless. Remorseless. And seemingly ceaseless. It comes from so many directions, the media capital and an obsessed fan base forming a toxic brew in bad times.

So, the $423.5 million trio have said all the right words now, told us they essentially have a plan. Teixeira, for example, says, "I know I am going to get booed and have to talk to media in tough times, I am ready for that."

We'll see. He has a plan, but is yet to be hit.

I could understand false confidence, right now. The Alex Rodriguez soap opera allowed Teixeira, Burnett and Sabathia to, incredibly, waltz through their first Yankee camp. Talk about a false sense of comfort.

That under-the-radar thing's shelf life will last all the way until a few untimely 0-for-4s by Teixeira or a rough start or two by Sabathia or Burnett. Believe me Kenny Rogers, Jeff Weaver, Carl Pavano and a whole bunch of other folks all thought they wanted what came with being a Yankee, and not just the fat paycheck. They all thought they were emotionally built to handle it. What did William Shakespeare, the Bill James of his day, write? "To thine own self be true." Heck, A-Rod is probably out in Colorado right now convincing himself that he will handle New York better when he returns in May.

Without Rodriguez around, the Yanks will lean even more on their rebuilt rotation -- the new strength of the team -- and Teixeira's bat to survive. But in reality, this is an all-season thing, A-Rod or not. This well-paid trio is now on the clock. The Yanks, to some large extent, remain an old team. At least here, in the front part of their contracts, Teixeira, Burnett and Sabathia are prime-aged players.

That means they need to be players who carry this mega-team, not guys along for the ride. They each have gotten great early reviews as people and players. They have been all smiles in the first days at a new Stadium. It is good to smile now. They all had plans and they had all yet to be hit.

That will change and soon. And then -- and only then -- will we really begin to learn about this new trio. Glass jaws or steel jaws?

Look, I don't know how easily these new guys will adapt to the pressures that comes with being a Yankees, but I like what I've seen so far, especially from Teixeira.

Last night, in his first home game in the Bronx, Teixeira struck out in both of his first two at-bats and I swear I heard boos over the TV broadcast. A friend of mine who was at the game confirmed this. Not A-Rod boos, but still, he was booed in an exhibition game at home. Did I mention it was his first home game in the Bronx also?

How did Tex respond? He launched two homers today. Does this mean he can handle New York and all that comes with it? No. But it does mean that the those first few boos didn't faze him. Either way, I don't think Teixeira will be bothered by this city. In fact, I think he'll be a fan favorite by Labor Day.

As for the other two, they seem to understand New York, even if it's just from an outsider's perspective. I think they know that as long as they perform well they'll avoid the boos. If they don't perform I think they know what they're in store for, and knowing what's coming is half the battle.

Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic, which is rare for me, but I think these three will be fine.