Being a Yankee fan during the Steinbrenner years meant knowing what was coming. You could anticipate rash, unpredictable moves but knew that money was never an obstacle in getting George what he wanted. Now, with all this talk of the Yankees wanting to get under the salary cap in 2014, the team has scaled back and they’ve become something different. What they are, or what they are going to become, is unknown. We might not know who the post-Rivera, post-Jeter Yankees are for three or four years.
It feels as if they are willing to sacrifice a few seasons in favor of a more reasonable payroll. That certainly was never a concern for The Boss. Spend first was his motto. It’s funny, the Yanks have always been criticized for outspending everyone else and I’m certain that once they tighten the purse strings, they’ll be knocked for that too.
Where it’s all going is anyone’s guess.
Here’s a Day Three recap from MLB Trade Rumors, and Chad Jennings.
The Yankees have sustained excellence from 1994-2012. Some of that on George's watch and some of it not. I don't want them to start crying poor, but this group has earned some slack on how they build a team.
And for all his free spending, George never approached this kind of run on his own. If we break George's reign into two parts, pre- and post-suspension, it wasn't until the post-suspension phase that he found any consistency. Pre-suspension was a roller coaster ride. A rapid assent, a short drop to the middle, a short plateau, and then a steep drop to the bottom.
Report...Yanks make an offer to Youk: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/06/the-yankees-offer-to-kevin-youkilis-is-12-million/
I can't wait for the first Yanks/Sox series if Youk signs with us. You think they might hit him a few times? Also if he plays in Beantown as a Yank, it will be hard to distinguish the booing from Youking.
Youk's title from Moneyball as the "Greek God of Walks was great."
As you point out, not sure what the Yanks will be going forward, but they will be a more interesting team to watch with Youk in the mix. He was always one of the Sox players that I hated seeing at the plate. I loved to root against him, and I guess he is a bit of a prick, but you can't (unless you are a misguided Bobby V), second guess his will to win.
some cringeworthy Sterling possibilities:
It is high, it is far, it is... gone! Kevin Youkilis with a 3 run home run to right. You-kill-us ... but you slay the (name opponent). The Yankees take a 3-2 lead.
or
Youkilliptus! The soothing ointment. You-can't stop, Kevin Youkilis. It's a 3 run home run, and the Yankees take a 3-2 lead.
can I get an oy vey?
For what it is worth:
https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/276715319643484160
3) You can second guess his ability to stay healthy, though, and to still be a productive ballplayer.
It's too much money, but I could definitley hang with Youk at 3b for a year. Let him split time with Nunney. Not the best platoon idea since they're both righthanded hitters, but Youk and Nunney would probably both be better off with less than fulltime fielding duties at the hot cornah.
7] Word. Youk wouldn't have been my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice. I prefer to root against him, but I think he is the best of what's left.
Surprising that they didn't try to lock up Chavez for 1 more year? Or maybe they did and Chavez prefered to be a backup in AZ and closer to home. Chavey might realize his limitations, and if the Yanks overuse him in the 1st half, he might be on the DL by May.
[1] Interesting that you mention consistency... The site was down earlier, so I couldn't post my hypothesis that it's been the lack of consistency that has been affecting the Yanks the last few years, or if there is consistency, it's been a steady downgrade of hitting and an over-reliance on bench/cheap OPP.
9) One of the things I read was that yeah, Chavez wanted to be close to home in AZ.
We always used to hear that the Yankees' front office was dysfunctional because of George Steinbrenner, but I think they may have reached a new level of dysfunction without George. You have ownership that doesn't want to spend money anymore and a downcast general manager who doesn't seem to have any creativity or gusto to get things done.
I'm longing for the days of Big George, Gabe Paul, and Clyde King.
[12] He does have that Droopy Dog look about him, doesn't he?
[4] Omg. Speechless. Words fail.