Ending an Era

I don't know if I've told you guys this but I've only really been a serious Yankees fan for a few years now. My fandom can really be traced back to one game, one very similar to last night's. In 2004 the Yankees also faced the Minnesota Twin in the ALDS and went into the Metrodome to win the clincher. With some heroics from Alex Rodriguez, they took the game and were headed to the ALCS to take on the Red Sox. I don't think I need to tell you the rest of the story, suffice to say that A-Rod and the Yankees haven't been the same in postseason play since. Their answer? Rebuild the rotation. Not with homegrown players though, instead spend big money on Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano, and Randy Johnson.

From 2005 to 2008 the Yankees slowly decomposed, getting worse and worse steadily. In 2005, it was the Angels that ended the Bomber's season. The dissapointment of Randy Johnson's performance, the outfield collision of Bubba Crosby and Gary Sheffield, and, of course, A-Rod's double play in the 9th inning of game five defined that series. It cemented A-Rod's reputation as a choker and the poor fundamentals and pitching of the aging team stood in sharp contrast to the Angels efficiency. Pavano missed most of the year, as did Jaret Wright. Neither were very good when healthy either.

Next came 2006, where the Tigers took their turn as the spoiler. This year the Yankees looked a little better than in 2005. They ran away with the division and Joe Torre's crew took the first game with an offensive explosion and a solid performance from Chien-Ming Wang. That was the end of the postive feelings though. The Yankees weak pitching staff was no match for the young, homegrown, flamethrowers that Detroit threw out there in Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, and Joel Zumaya. What everybody remembered though was watching Kenny Rogers pitch nearly eight shutout innings in Game Three. High priced Yankees stars like Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright, and A-Rod let the team down again. Pavano missed the entire year. Wright was gone after blowing the elimination game.

2007 with Cleveland was another awful four game series. Randy Johnson was gone but was replaced very adequately by Roger Clemens as the dissapointing former star pitcher. Chien-Ming Wang was crushed by the Indians offense in both of his games as well. The only Yankees pitcher to throw a good game was Andy Pettitte in Game Two. That was the Midge Game when Joba Chamberlain game up the one run lead in the eighth when swarmed by midges, they lost it inevitably in the eleventh with Luis Vizcaino. It was the end for Joe Torre and the only good thing to come out of this series was in Game Three when Phil Hughes came in for Roger Clemens in relief to pitch three and 2/3 shutout innings. Still no Pavano sightings.

In 2008 the Yankees didn't even make the postseason in the last year with baseball in the House that Ruth Built. They were plagued with injuries and just generally bad pitching. Wang's injury and Posada's were particularly important. The Yankees two superstars, A-Rod and Jeter, had down years and failed to bail them out the way the two had the past three years. Robinson Cano had a terrible year and Hideki Matsui was rarely healthy. Carl Pavano finally got on the mound for them but was gone after the year. Of "Generation Trey" only Joba Chamerlain put up results in his first year starting. Just a dissapointing debut for Joe Girardi's Yankees.

After 2008 though, Carl Pavano was gone. The last of those crazy three acquisitions of the 2004-2005 offseason was gone. The Yankees brought in three new free agent signings last offseason as well. The difference though, is that Mark Teixiera, A.J. Burnett, and C.C. Sabathia all have produced. They've been big parts of the Yankees first three playoff games of '09 and I'd bet on them being big parts in the future. These Yankees have looked different. They've had big walkoff wins and are relying on homegrown players more. They've got a lockdown back end of the bullpen and have three guys that can strike hitters out as the front three. They also managed to make short work of a gutsy Twins team in the first round. In short, these Yankees are different from the teams of Pavano, Wright, and Johnson. They don't rely on the three run homer all the time and guys are helping them win aside from A-Rod and Jeter.

Anything can happen in the randomness of a short seven game series. The Angels certainly look like they could be a team of destiny, as well. However, this time if they lose its not because they were rushed into a rash decision and spent millions on an aging, mediocre malcontent. These Yankees actually look like they have the right combination of pitching and clutch hitting to take on anything that anybody can throw at them. It feels different from any other year I've been rooting for these Yankees and this just might be the year they win it all.