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August 31, 2007
"It's Not The Same Team"
Derek Jeter, back in October 2004, after the Yankees lost the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox:
"It's not the same team," Jeter said. "We've had teams that have been good at [winning in the post-season], but this is not the same team."
Guess what? It's again, now, not the same team - as it was in 2004.
Since that time, Chien-Ming Wang and Robinson Cano have joined the team. Melky Cabrera too. There's also Andy Phillips and Shelley Duncan.
Since that time, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte have returned. Oh, and, yes, some guys named Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy have joined the pitching staff as well.
And, that's not all the "new blood" - because you have to factor in guys like Luis Vizcaino and Wilson Betemit who have joined the team this year and guys like Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon who joined the team the year before in 2006.
In the last two to three years, there's been many new players added to the Yankees' mix. Perhaps, someday, we'll be talking about the Wang-Cano-Melky-Hughes-Joba "core" the way that people always talk about the Mo-Jeter-Posada-Pettitte-Bernie "core"? It may not be the same team - but, it may be a good team, nonetheless.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at August 31, 2007 09:49 AM
Comments
Did someone take over Steve's blog today? This almost seems too positive a post for me to even try and take seriously.
I keep expecting the post: "the Yankees suck because of this, this, and that".
Can't you go back to killing my joy?
Posted by: Garcia ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 31, 2007 11:47 AM
Hey, I've always said, give me something good to write about and I'll give you something positive. And, it's good times in Yankeeland today.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at August 31, 2007 12:06 PM
It is just so unbecoming of you. I guess beating the Sawx makes you all giddy, and of course taking over the WC lead.
Posted by: Garcia at August 31, 2007 12:42 PM
I hated that quote then from Jeter, and I hate it now. I don't know, it felt a little like passing the buck or maybe distancing himself from his teammates.
The problem with that team was the lack of pitching--my God, a broken down El Duque started a game, the injured and lying about it Kevin Brown started two games, and an injured and lying about it Vazquez and Loaiza were the other options (and in hindsight, Esteban should've had that game 7 start, he was the only one with the potential to catch lightning in a bottle---Kevin f'ing Brown). Lieber had a good year and series barring one pitch, but when you think back to him being the number two, it blows my mind. Actually, there's no doubt it, Loaiza should've started game 7.
Or, we can just blame A-Rod:)
Posted by: JeremyM at August 31, 2007 06:51 PM