In a message dated Thu, 4 Oct 2001 11:41:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Gautam Mukunda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Bob Z wrote this > Random thougth about the Bosox. People have talked about how screwed up the > players are on the team (the whole not standing for GBA discussion). But > from the perspective of a Yankee fan, I think the real problem si is > management, specifically Dan Douquette (sp?). Jimmy > Williams does a phenomenal job given injuries to his two best players. > Without Pedro or Nomar they hang in there and then he fires Williams. Why? > Because Williams won't accomodate that psychopath Carl Everett? The players > are totally disenchanted with management. > > Me: > Certainly they are, and who wouldn't be if your GM was Dan Duquette? The > man has the people skills of a five year old. On the other hand, let's give > him some credit - the man who engineered the Pedro Martinez trade is clearly > doing something very right, and I think he signed a good contract with Manny > Ramirez as well. He let Roger go because he thougth he was over the hill. He let Mo Vaughn go even though he was a key to the emotional health of the team. He signed and kept Everett. His stupid moves outweigh his good ones. A team with Pedro (at his peak, the best pitcher ever), Now wait a minute young man. Best ever. How about Gibson, Kofax, Guidry (at his peak) Roger himself, Whitey. Give me a break. He is the best active pitcher not doubt about it. But the best ever? > Nomar (second best shortstop in the majors, and second to the best shortstop > _ever_) He isn't even the second best right now. Hands down to Jeter. It isn't just the stats it is what a player does for the team. Arod may be the best ever in terms of all around skills but if you had to choose another short stop amoung active players most would go for Jeter. He is just the most complete most professional guy around. A true leader. Manny (best rightfielder in the AL) Not in the second half of the year by a long shot. amazing run of bad luck with injuries, plus the Sox's idiotic insistence on overworking Pedro, I think they'd have done fine. They've still got a great shot next year once they've dumped dead weight like Dante Bichette. The dead weight they have to dump is Duquette. They also have to get rid of Everett. God even Nomar is digusted with the team. And it is important to realize that Pedro is like many pitchers who dominate during the season. They wear down. I think Roger is doing that now. Maddox always does. Guidry did in his phenomenal years. They pitch so much, their teams rely on them so much that they are physically and emotionally spent by the playoffs. I think the key for the Yankees will be Hernandez because he is fresh and if he is healthy he will do fine and Musina who has quietly been as dominant as a pitcher can be over the past two months. Without the pressure of carrying the team. Roger and Petit have been the stalking horses but the other two are just rock solid. Me: > What about the Mariners, who are only putting together one of the best > seasons of all time? While I have great affection for the A's - the best > run team in MLB by a very large margin, in my opinion - I think that between > them and the Mariners it's pick 'em. Yankee pitching is good, but it's not, > statistically, as good as that of the A's or the Mariners, and the offenses > aren't even close. The ball always bounces in the Yankees favor, and the > umps always make mistakes on their behalf (I'm not claiming conspiracy, just > a one-century run of good luck :-) but even that won't be enough when they > have to beat not one, but _two_ clearly superior teams. The NL > representative in the Series is probably going to be road kill, though. A > 7-game series is always going to be nothing more than a flip of the coin, > but I just can't see any of the NL teams beating either the Mariners or the > A's, although I think Houston, the Cards, and maybe even the Diamondbacks > might be able to handle the Yanks. > You have made this arguement before. I do not pretend to know what will happen but to argue that the Yankees have been lucky is just foolish. What is their won lost in the playoffs over the past 5 years 70/30. No way luck sustains you for that long againstt that kind of competition. This is a special team. One for the ages. Like the Yankess of old, like the Celtics, Bulls and the UCLA in bball, like the Islanders on their great run. Your grandchildren will be asking you about this team. You don't want to look down at their expectant eyes and tell them "The Yankees were lucky". The Yankees are great. Winners classy winners, team winners. The ideal, the real deal. Go bombers.
