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May 15, 2007
Time For Yankees Fans To Join The Crowd?
I know that the Yankees and Red Sox have battled each other during the two seasons prior to this one – with New York coming out on top in the end. However, in both of those seasons, a Boston collapse was a big reason for the Yankees good fortune.
In 2005, the Yankees “comeback” was aided when the (first place) Red Sox lost 12 of 18 games from June 27th to July 18th. And, in 2006, the Red Sox lost 21 games in August (and went 8-21 on the month). Those 21 losses tied the all-time record for losses in a month by a team that started the month in first place. (Boston held a one-game lead over New York at the end of July 2006.)
At this exact moment in time, the Yankees are 8 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the standings. At this time in 2006, the Yankees and Red Sox were tied for first place. And, in 2005, at this time, the Yankees were 4 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the standings. Clearly, this season, as compared to 2005 and 2006, the Yankees are in a deeper hole when it comes to catching the Red Sox.
It’s also clear that New York needs another collapse by Boston (this year) to close the gap and overtake the Red Sox. Will it happen? Will Boston have an 18-game stretch (like in 2005) or a full month (like in 2006) where they lose just about everyday? It’s possible – if Boston’s starting rotation suffers a number of long-term injuries. At this junction, it makes sense for Yankees fans to get out their Sox voodoo dolls and start sticking the pins in them – as often as possible. New York needs Boston to start experiencing some pitching misfortune.
In any event, it also makes sense for Yankees fans to start looking at this season in a different way – given the extreme uphill nature of the way their team is challenged in the standings now.
It’s often been said that there are 162 “seasons” in the Yankees year – as each game is thoroughly dissected and subsequently celebrated or lamented in excess (as if it was a season by itself). This theory is meant as a shot at Yankees fans and the media covering the team – meaning those around the Yankees overreact to ‘just one game.’
However, given that the Yankees seemingly need some sort of perfect storm of Yankees success and Boston failure to get back into the race this year, perhaps Yankees fans should begin to look at each remaining game as a standalone event – and take that contest for what it’s worth in terms of pleasure or pain?
By this, I mean, instead of looking at the race for first in the A.L. East in terms of overall achievement and failure, Yankees fans should just take what they can get from each contest that the Yankees play – and leave it at that.
Maybe A-Rod, one day, does something in a game that’s never been done before? Maybe Matt DeSalvo pitches a no-hitter one day? If so, enjoy that moment – to the fullest – without thinking about how many games back the Yankees are in the standings.
On the flip-side, if the Yankees lose a game in the bottom of the ninth, or, if they lose a game because their pitchers stink or their hitters don’t show, Yankees fans should just write it off…because the next day is a new “season” and a clean slate.
In a way, it’s going back to the way a Yankees fan followed the team from 1982 through 1993. Why did many Yankees fans take this approach back then? Simple: It was a way to enjoy a year where you knew the Yankees had no chance to finish first. Heck, it’s the way most baseball fans follow their teams in a given season.
Perhaps this is the year that Yankees fans should just be like everyone else?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 05:47 PM
Comments
I was sure the Yankees were going to finish 1st all of the time during the 1980s, if you go by preseason expectations.
Even in 1989, even though we were coming off a 5th place season, we only finished 3 1/2 GB.
Posted by: Lee Sinins ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 15, 2007 06:11 PM
No. If this season ends with the yankees out of 1st and or the post season, then NEXT YEAR we can have discussions like this. These Yankees have come through too many times for me to throw them under the bus in May.
The Red Sox haven't won the div in like 15 years; It may happen this year but I'll believe it when I see it.
Posted by: TK_NYY at May 15, 2007 06:23 PM
Hey Steve,
Heard of the wild card? Tell you what, if the yankees win 95 games like 2005, i like their chances of making the playoffs, regardless of what the red sox do.
Posted by: Gabe at May 15, 2007 06:53 PM
I don't think there's anything wrong with tempering expectations, at least until we wait for the bad contracts to die on the vine. In fact, I recall doing just that in the 80's, watching each and every game just to see what Mattingly would do next.
Ah, to be a kid again, without the stress of whether or not Stump Merril is wearing out Tim Stoddard.
Posted by: brockdc at May 15, 2007 06:54 PM
FWIW, the Yankees run differential is better than both Detroit and Cleveland, as well. and is the second best in the American league. These things have a tendency to even out.
Posted by: Gabe at May 15, 2007 06:57 PM
Some sort of "perfect storm" to get back in the race? Come on! It is May 15th and this is the best team in baseball.
Stevo--Drop this fatalistic rhetoric at once! I will not stand for it. You are a great Yankees fan, now start behaving like one! :)
Posted by: Joel at May 15, 2007 07:08 PM
Steve, I like that approach.....
Let's go Yanks!!!! Win today...who knows if tomorrow will ever come, it's about today's game.
Mooooooooo-se!!!!!!
Posted by: Garcia at May 15, 2007 07:22 PM
That's good advice for you to take. I've been reading this blog and NetShrine for at least a couple of years and I can't remember you being happy for more than 2 days in a row.
Maybe this will get a little sunshine into your life.
Posted by: RICH at May 15, 2007 07:23 PM
Steve,
You bemoan the tendency of NY fans and media to overreact to one game or stretch of games and then proceed to do the exact same thing yourself. Let's go over this again: The season is not even a quarter over. The Red Sox will not play .700 + ball the rest of the way. There's zero reason to panic or concede anything. We have a very good team that is getting better and will be in it till the end. And as mentioned by others, if we lose the division there's still the wildcard, which is not a bad thing at all.
So feel free to behave "like everyone else". I will continue to maintain the highest of expectations for our Yanks.
Posted by: Josh at May 15, 2007 08:57 PM
talk about pessimism. is it out of the question that the Yanks win 9 more games the rest of the way than Boston? hardly. there's 126 to go.
Posted by: Travis G. at May 15, 2007 10:26 PM
~~~I've been reading this blog and NetShrine for at least a couple of years and I can't remember you being happy for more than 2 days in a row.~~~
Com'on Rich. I did a jig for 4 days in a row as recent as 8/18/06 to 8/21/06. [wink]
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:33 PM
~~~These Yankees have come through too many times for me to throw them under the bus in May.~~~
The last time the Yankees were this far back, at this point in the season, was 1984. They didn't come through then...why now? Remember, in the recent past, they were not 8+ games back. And, even then, they needed help. Eight games is huge.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:38 PM
~~~Come on! It is May 15th and this is the best team in baseball.~~~
It might be he highest paid team in baseball. And, maybe it's the most talented team in baseball. But, it's not the best team in baseball. The best team in baseball should not be under .500 on May 15th.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:40 PM
~~~is it out of the question that the Yanks win 9 more games the rest of the way than Boston?~~~
How have the Yankees played this season against teams other than the Texas Rangers? Is that team going to win 9 more games than Boston? Really?
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:42 PM
~~~the Yankees run differential is better than both Detroit and Cleveland, as well. and is the second best in the American league. These things have a tendency to even out.~~~
This just means that the Yankees pound bad pitching and play close enough to lose against good pitching. It's a story that we've seen in October for a while now, no?
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:45 PM
~~~The Red Sox will not play .700 + ball the rest of the way.~~~
Given that they have an 8 game lead, they won't have too.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 15, 2007 10:47 PM
I totally agree with you....I used to root my Taiwanese team crazily no matter they win or lose...Enjoy the season and Yankees may surprise everyone winning division again.I am still a Yankee fan even though they don't make it.
Posted by: Jessica Lee at May 16, 2007 05:16 AM
"The last time the Yankees were this far back, at this point in the season, was 1984."
What the hell kind of relevance do the 1984 Yankees have to do with the 2007 Yankees? Or 1994 Yankees? Or 2004 for that matter?
If the Yanks can take both games today and Julian Tavarez loses (it COULD happen ;) ) then the Yanks are 6.5 out. Just chip away.
Posted by: JJay at May 16, 2007 08:25 AM
Guys, just do the math. The Yankees are 8 back. This means, if Boston went 5-3 in their next eight games, the Yankees would have to go 8-0 in their next 8 games...just to gain 3 games and then would STILL be 5 games back. Like I said, 8 games is a huge cushion for Boston.
Basically, if Boston goes 15-9 in their next 26 games, the Yankees would need to go 26-0 in order to pass Boston.
Twenty-six and oh! Is that going to happen?
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 16, 2007 09:31 AM
I think that's a healthy and correct attitude to have regardless of whether we're in 1984 or 2007. No one's saying the Yanks can't make the playoffs or win the division by assuming this day-by-day attitude. Likewise, no one's conceding anything either.
I couldn't sleep last night so I watched Dave Righetti's no-hitter on "Yankee Classics" and I thought back to when I was a kid and how each game mattered to me but was never colored by thoughts of "dynasty" and World Series trophies. We'd all be a lot happier if we realized that winning every year is not our birth-right.
Posted by: MJ at May 16, 2007 09:37 AM
~~~~Basically, if Boston goes 15-9 in their next 26 games, the Yankees would need to go 26-0 in order to pass Boston.
Twenty-six and oh! Is that going to happen?~~~~
Why do we need to pass Boston in the next 26 games? It's a 162 game season. As JJay said, we just need to chip away. The math isn't hard. If we make up 2 games in the standings each month, we win the division. It's a simple as that. We don't need a 26-0 streak and we don't need the Red Sox to go 8-21 next month.
Posted by: christopher at May 16, 2007 09:53 AM
~~~I thought back to when I was a kid and how each game mattered to me but was never colored by thoughts of "dynasty" and World Series trophies. We'd all be a lot happier if we realized that winning every year is not our birth-right.~~~
Well said.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at May 16, 2007 10:07 AM
Terribly disappointed in your attitude Steve!
Giants over Dodgers 1951 after trailing bt 13 1/2 in July!!
Yankees over Red Sox 1978 (Bucky Dent) after trailing by 14 in July !!!
Sox in 2004 ALCS !!!!
Have some faith damn it!!!!
Posted by: Southern Yankee at May 16, 2007 10:45 AM