Here are some things I’m thinking about lately.
1. Is there anything the Yankees could do as an organization to make you completely stop rooting for them? I’ve had this conversation with fans about other teams, but never the Yankees. I know for instance that many fans would swear off the Knicks should Isaiah Thomas come back into power. I assume some Mets fans would do the same if they for some reason fired Sandy Alderson and put Omar or Steve Phillips back in charge. What about the Yankees? If they dumped Cashman for Murray Chass or Mike Francesa I might. I can’t think of many realistic scenarios where I’d swear off the Yankees though.
2. I was really interested by the Luis Castillo hullabaloo this week. Mets fans have been crying for his release for some time now and he was unceremoniously thrown to the lions this week, kicked to the curb on Friday. I understand why Mets fans wanted him gone. He’s an older player who should never have gotten that contract from Omar, who plays poor defense, doesn’t have power and somewhat worse, is a symbol of Omar Minaya’s incompetency these last few years. Also apparently he dropped some pop up. He’s not significantly better than their other 2nd base options but he probably is still the best option. Still I understand why Mets fans wanted this done. I think a strong majority of them would rather watch one of their homegrown 2B options struggle than see Castillo in that lineup every day (of course assuming he can stay healthy enough to fit into that lineup which is unlikely).
I always mess with Moshe about being emotional about sports but I think everyone would agree that emotional decision making is seldom a good idea. Is this an emotional decision? Yes. Is it the wrong one though? Will Luis Castillo really provide more value than any other 2nd base option for the Mets? Is that lost value going to keep the Mets from making the playoffs? Probably not. What’s more, I totally understand that fans would rather watch Brad Eamus scuffle at 2nd than see Castillo there at all. Before spring training started I said multiple times that I’d rather see struggle as the 4th starter than have to watch or Freddie Garcia tread water for the Yankees. As it turns out, I may have been wrong on multiple levels about that. However the stakes are a bit higher for the Yankees than the Mets at this particular point. But I’m sure many of you can understand that sentiment. How does everyone else feel about all this?
3. Reading the reports this week about being stuffed permanently in the bullpen probably gave every Yankee fan some uncomfortable flashbacks. What is it with these stories? In retrospect, I think the Joba situation was even worse than this. After all, Feliz is actually the closer- the Yankees put Joba in the bullpen to be the nebulous 7-8th inning man. I can’t even discuss this further; it’s like a bad acid flashback.
4. Someone said to me this week that they like the Astros for reasons that are beyond explanation. Of all the teams, the Astros? Ed Wade? The Astros? He doesn’t really root for them, has never been to a single Astros game or even own any Astros apparel. He just LIKES them. When I demanded an explanation, he just kind of shrugged and said, “I dunno. I just like ‘em”. Weirdly enough, I can totally relate to this. For as long as I can remember I’ve had this weird thing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. I have photos of me as a 10 year old with a Pirates hat on. I can’t tell you every player on their 25 man roster, I can’t tell you about “the glory days” and I haven’t even gotten around to reading that great Roberto Clemente biography. I just like them. I don’t watch them on MLB.tv, I haven’t seen that Pirates hat in years and I hate ’s batting stance. I can’t say I’m a fan of the Pirates; it’s something less than that. I just…LIKE them. Is that weird? Anyone else have anything like that?
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Nice points. I agree with you on the last point, for as long as I can remember I’ve just had this liking for the Rockies, not sure why but I just do.
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1-There is absolutely something that would make me either not root or not care about the Yanks anymore. If for some reason they stopped being completely dedicated to winning, whether it be from new ownership or new MLB rules that prevent them from doing so. Then they are no longer The Yankees with all that name invokes. I appreciate the fact that it’s really hard to win, even when you doing everything possible to try to win. But if the powers that be decide (their personal sense of) fairness should trump the individual desire for excellence, then I’m out. If everyone and everything is equal, I have no interest in sports anymore. It’s all too random at that point, and is therefore pointless. Winning doesn’t mean anything, it’s all just a product of luck.
2-Anytime you make a decision for irrational reasons, it’s a bad one. Bad teams are run that way, and surprise surprise the Mets are a bad team.
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Ken (O.R.) Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Steve S…
I concur with Numbers 1-2 as you put them down. I would like to add;
If all teams are equal, why keep score at all? Do like some little leagues do…NO winner and NO loser.
I say: if it ain’t fair (for your team), quit! Or sell to someone that will use the money (Yanks) are taxed for the team, by hire-ring good people to run the team well…it can be done, it is being done by may teams…Tampa Bay anyone!
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T.O. Chris Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Can’t say I agree, winning isn’t luck just because everyone is close in talent level. Even if they had some sort of cap not ever team would be the same, the Yankees just wouldn’t have an overwhelming advantage. While I wouldn’t be happy we didn’t have that advantage I can’t stop rooting for a team I’ve loved my whole life.
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I don’t forsee a scenario in which I stop rooting for the Yankees. Perhaps a colossal blunder might make me temporarily indifferent to ‘em, but otherwise…
As it so happens I’ve liked a bunch of teams over the years: early in the ’84 season I bet a friend a case of beer the Tigers would go all the way and win the WS. I really enjoyed those suds, let me tell you; Sammy Sosa made me purchase a Cubs jersey w/no.21; and I’ve owned an Indians t-shirt for a few years now. Once the Yankees were out of it, my allegiance was w/the White Sox in ’05; I rooted for the very impressive ’09 Phillies all throughout the year, until they showed up in The Bronx, obviously; Tim Lincecum is my favorite active player not in pinstripes, so this in turn put me in their corner the last few years and was very happy to see them win in 2010. (Went out drinking and wore a black and orange-striped tie that night.)
Finally, unless they’re facing the Yankees I really can’t root against the former NY teams: both Dodgers and Giants. Or even the Mets, for that matter. It’s a NY thing…
(Oh, and Andrew McCutchen is fun to watch.)
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1.If the Yankees blew up for thier farm systems like the Red Sox and Phillies have. Call me crazy, but Id really like to see a Yankee team of guys theyve brought along and made into players. They have the resources and money to do so but there will always be that sector of Yankee fans that wanna trade everyone for washed up Major Leaguers so we can win another championship.
2. Luis Castillo is close to signing with *drum roll* THE PHILLIES. AHAHAHAHAHA oh, the irony. Yankees are in more of a position to roll the dice with Garcia and Colon. Castillo and Perez have been the bane of Met fan’s exsistence for the past 2 years (my best friend is a die hard met fan) The Yankees have showed they have some answers in the minor leagues for when Garcia and Colon get hurt and or implode. Trust me if there wasnt guys like Nova, Brackman, Noesi, Warren, Phelps, Banuelos or Betances waiting in the wings. Some people would probably be screaming for Kevin Millwood right now.
3. I am in the camp that believes Joba should of been left in the bullpen. He deserved a shot to crack the team as a starter but his stuff clearly never translated to the majors as a starter. I think theyre making a good move with Feliz. Hes not an 8th inning guy like Joba would of been. Hes thier closer and a damn good one too. Electric stuff. He proved he can hold the position down. Every team needs a good closer to win in the Post Season *coughmarianoriveracough*
4. My “likes” usually are whatever team is doing really well in the NL. Call it a bandwagon thing but I get excited for teams when thier young players start contributing at the Major League level. The Red, Giants and Rockies were among the teams I latched onto the past few years. I am a relentless Yankee fan so I think I can be a bit of a bandwagonner when it comes to the national league/ other sports
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Post headline: “Trump to purchase majority control of Yankees.”
That’s what would do it.
Outside shot that “Vince McMahon to purchase majority control of Yankees” would do it.
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