Change is scary and unsettling, especially when it is not by choice.
The 2010 off-season did not work out the way the New York Yankees had hoped. The franchise heads into a New Year having failed to acquire ace Cliff Lee or any other highly sought free-agent players.
Getting players to sing with the Yankees is not usually such a hard sell. The franchise is the most historical and successful in all of sports; New York City is incredible and players’ paychecks tend to have a few extra zeros on the end.
So, if anything, the Yankees are hurt, but humbled.
There is no denying that Yankee fans aren’t worried, as pinstripe haters are basking in what is deemed a non-contending group for 2011.
The team has enough experience and if they can learn from past mistakes, watch out and here are two reasons why:
REASON #1:
There are obvious holes in the starting rotation without adding Cliff Lee, and presumably sans Andy Pettitte.
AJ Burnett was a mess in 2010—but it is a new year, a new season and Burnett was more disappointed than anyone, so give the guy a break until proven otherwise.
CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes are as solid as you can get, but it still leaves two unfilled rotation spots. The hope is, or was, to fill one with Pettitte’s talents, but GM Brian Cashman has not given any reason to count on the southpaw’s return.
Cashman’s only choice is to head on down to a solid farm system that is filled with a ton of young talented arms. Two of the youngsters will get rotation spots, as there is no way Sergio Mitre should get another chance to lose games.
The alternatives are risky, but well worth the reward.
Just look at the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants, who were carried in September on the shoulders and the 1.13 ERA of a 21-year-old named Madison Bumgarner. Many claim that without Bumgarner down the stretch, the Giants might not have won the NL West, as Bumgarner followed his stellar rookie season in the majors with a heroic postseason.
Bumgarner shared the mound with the NL CY Young winner for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Tim Lincecum, age 27; Matt Cain, who is entering his seventh season at the age of 25; and Jonathan Sanchez, who just turned 27.
The Giants won with young, homegrown pitching, as the top four have never worn any other uniform or played by another bay. All the haters claim the above formula works, now it’s time to try it again. Order-up another Phil Hughes…
REASON #2
The Yankees could use some youngsters around so Yankee Stadium doesn’t turn into a nursing home, as a lot of people have written off Jeter, A-Rod and Rivera.
Just a warning to all the haters…. I wouldn’t count out the Core Three and A-Rod just yet.
Regardless of what they claim, they have heard the constant criticism for years now. Where does the best motivation hail from?
Well, you can ask New England Patriot Tom Brady because he sure knows the answer to that question. The New York Jets’ s***-talking ways got to the veteran, who is now a man on a mission. Brady is mainly playing with all youngsters, and a couple vets, but the guy is phenomenal and that started right after Week 2.
Please, don’t stop insulting the Yankees because if anything it adds more fuel to the fire. These players you claim are on the outs or need position changes ASAP, are some of the best ever to play the game of baseball.
Their fire will turn to blazing.
Remember who took home the highest honors on the biggest stage in 2010?
In case you forgot, it was a 36-year-old shortstop named Edgar Renteria, who was named the 2010 World Series MVP.
Get ready for a bold prediction: A-Rod and Jeter will have MVP-type years, but Robbie Cano takes the prize.
“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” – Vince Lombardi
When change works…..nothing in life is more gratifying except winning a championship—and telling everyone else to take that.
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