Yankees Post Season Wrap!

My hats off to the Detroit Tigers.

Their win over the heavily favored, New York Yankees was inspiring. They clearly made believers out of many people who doubted their ability to win, including yours truly.

The championship series against the Oakland Athletics will be one to watch and should be a classic. Good luck to whomever wins!

Now on to the topic at hand.

I AM STEAMED!! I’ve never been so pissed off in my life over the play of my Yankees in the Divisional Series.

For Christ sake! What the fuck were the Yankees playing for, a trip to Iraq? After 162 games, the longest season of any team sport, you shouldn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that you bring your “A” game to the big dance!

The Yankees didn’t bring their “A” game. They were outplayed and out-pitched against a young Tigers team who were hungrier to win.

This team is clearly unmotivated, uninspired and filled with a bunch of overpaid underachievers.

I would have been more resolved to see the Yankees lose in the ALCS or the World Series. At least you have some dignity left knowing you came this close. But this is two years in a row they haven’t been able to get out of the first round!

I’d like to send a letter to General Manager, Brian Cashman and “the Boss” himself, George Steinbrenner and give them a list of what needs to be done! Maybe then, we can win the whole thing in 2007.

1. Get rid of the deadwood! – A $220 million dollar payroll and this is what they have to show for it? “The Boss” should consider not paying another red cent until they look at their team as a whole. Who’s producing and who isn’t. Then clean house and start from scratch. Let Bernie Williams retire. He’s had an incredible career and should be able to hold his head high. Gary Sheffield should be given his walking papers as we got a bargain for Bobby Abreu. Carl Pavano should have his contract rescinded for not disclosing his injury. If he didn’t want to pitch here, he should have said so! Once they do that, they’ll be able to get better production from who they need.
2. Pitching, Pitching, Pitching! – “Over-the-hill” starting pitchers are not going to give the team what they need! Randy Johnson isn’t the answer. If they do keep him, he shouldn’t be considered the centerpiece of the franchise. Middle relief badly in need of repair. Kyle Farnsworth was worthless down the stretch, Ron Villone just plain ran out of gas and Scott Proctor was inconsistent. Cashman needs to address this pitching problem now by finding healthy pitching, before next season starts.
3. Look to your Youth! – Youth should be and it’s right in front of their eyes! Darrell Rasner and Jeff Karstens should be considered for starting jobs on the staff next season. Like Andy Petitte, these two are farm-grown prospects. Seriously think about giving more playing time to Melky Cabrera. He’s young and certainly ready. The Yankees should have given him more time in the Division series. It’s a shame to see him being wasted. They need to remember what made them successful in 1996.
4. Trade Alex Rodriguez! – I said it before and I’ll say it again, no one is worth $200 million dollars. NO ONE! That kind of business practice where selfishness is more important than team work makes me want to puke! He’s turning into a regular “Mr. June”! (Dave Winfield already has the nickname “Mr. May.) The regular season is one thing, but not hitting in the clutch in the post season really says it all! This experiment with A-Rod at third base was a complete failure! He’s more suited to shortstop and they should consider trading him to a team that needs him. The Yankees need a real third baseman that knows how to be there when the going gets tough!
5. Keep Joe Torre! – Getting rid of him is not the answer! It’s not Torre’s fault if the offense doesn’t execute when it’s supposed to. He’s done an incredible job with teams who should never have been in the playoffs in the first place. Please consider keeping him next season. He does have one more year left. Give him one more chance to prove what he’s done in the past.

Now that the Yankees chances have vanished into thin air, I can only feel nothing but a sharp pain in my stomach from watching the end of the series. Maybe it will go away next season. I guess I can only do the next best thing, watch football!!

GO GIANTS!!