With the start of the MLB playoffs, what better than for me to discuss my favorite team in the league, The New York Yankees, and why I feel they will be unstoppable this postseason. People think it might be easy going being a Yankees fan, but its not. The Yankees haven’t been in the World Series since 2003, haven’t won a World Series since 2000, and missed the playoffs for the first time in forever last year! Worst of all, the Boston Red Sox have won two, count em, two World Series since the last time the Yankees have. Back to this year, the Yankees come into the post season with the best record in the bigs and are playing for an MLB leading 27th World Series. I personally believe they will win and here’s why.
To start, you have to look at their lineup. Every hitter from the leadoff man to the 9th guy are just incredible hitters. Derek Jeter leads off and proved himself as one of the all-time greats by surpassing Lou Gehrig has the most hits all-time by a Yankee. He is arguably the best leadoff hitter not named Ichiro in all of baseball. Next up is Johnny Damon who is turning into a veteran of the league fast. He would leadoff on most teams in the league but bats second in this stacked line up. Batting 3rd in the order is Mark Teixeira who was tied for the A.L. leader in home runs and was the leading producer in RBI’s in the A.L. Don’t try and pitch around him because batting clean up is Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has been the league MVP is years past and was still at the top of the hitting charts even on an off year. Batting 5th in the order is Hideki Matsui who is the most accomplished Japanese baseball player of all time. He is at the top of the leader boards for just about every hitting category is a great DH. Following Matsui in the order is the veteran catcher, Jorge Posada. He is a classic hitter who always comes through in the stretch. Batting 7th is Robinson Cano who has had back-to-back amazing seasons that make him a prime candidate for the best second basemen in the league. And he’s batting 7th! The depth of the lineup is really shown when Nick Swisher is batting 8th. When he played for Oakland he hit 3rd in the order and with the Yankees he is producing big numbers at the 8 spot. Finishing up the order is Melky Cabrera who is a great, young, center fielder. Melky is has the best stats out of any 9th hitter in the league and that is why the Yankees have the best line-up.
Now, as many experts will say, pitching carries teams throughout October. The Yankees have a great starting rotation and an even better bullpen. Filling the role of the ace is C.C. Sabathia who put up Cy Young numbers with a league leading 19 wins. Other pitchers in the rotation include veteran Andy Pettitte, who is a great left handed pitcher, and A.J. Burnett, who is a great young pitcher that finally had a full season to put up good numbers. Joba Chamberlin is a pitching prodigy and even though he is on a limited pitch count, he is still able to give 3-4 shut out innings of pitching until Alfredo Aceves comes in to relieve him. Aceves actually has 11 wins out of the bullpen, which is more than most 3rd or 4th pitchers in the rotation. The bullpen of the Yankees is strong throughout, and if the opposing team is losing going into the 7th inning, they can write an L next to that game. This is because Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera will be in to close the game, which is the closest thing to an automatic save. So basically the Yankees are favored to win the World Series with their amazing hitting and pitching. Oh, and who needs fielding right?
This is a huge post about baseball! Compared to tennis, I feel like both sports are completely different. For some reason, it is confusing for me to understand and grasp the rules of different sports. This is why I stick to tennis. I try to watch baseball, but it is difficult to because I end up falling asleep! You seem to like baseball alot with all the details included in your blog. Hopefully you are right about the Yankees!
ReplyDeleteSam...this was a pretty decent blog except for one problem. The Yankees are going to choke again this year, like every other. :) haha. Seriously though, they may have an incredibly deep lineup, but they should since they spend more money than any other team in the majors. If they are spending money like that, they should be winning the World Series every season, which they clearly aren't. As much as I dislike the Yanks, I have to respect your decision on rooting for them. You do seem like a true fan, so I cannot hold it against you. But when it comes down to a true baseball team, there's no doubt in anyone's mind that it is the Cleveland Indians. HAHAHA! Sorry, but I had to lighten the mood by telling a joke. Go Tribe!
ReplyDeleteBeing a Yankees fan is hard...with your almost 10 year drought of championships. Yankees fans are so spoiled, and in NJ the Yankees are almost the enemy.
ReplyDeletePeople like the Mets around there, but the Yankees get a lot of love. I remember when the Yankees were killing it in the playoffs and winning titles when I was in elementary school. I was a big time Yankee fan because my teacher pretty much brainwashed me into loving them.
All I have to say is GO TRIBE! The Indians of the 90's were just spectacular, and they would do work all over these Yankees of today.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about baseball, but fielding seems kind of important to me.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the Yankees have more money than any other MLB team they better be good! They have so much more money to spend on their players than the Reds that it is sickening. I love watching the Yankees lose to teams that dont have as much talent. They should have lost Friday because that hit in the 11th inning was fair and the TWins would've/should've won
ReplyDeleteRommel's comment of a ten year drought made me chuckle a bit. I'm a huge Pirates fan. We have a fourteen year drought of any winning seasons. I like to watch the Yankees play because it's practically an All-Star team. However, it seems like New York has a big bandwagon following so you never know who the true fans are.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments! I'm glad my topic is a hit but to address the issue of the amount of money the Yankees spend. The Steinbrenner brothers are not selfish owners who spend a lot of money on their team. The more they spend, the more appealing the team becomes to the fans who are the people that load the stadium every home game and willingly pay $100's for seats, $6.50 for a hotdog (It was the best hotdog I ever had), and close to $100 on jerseys and merchandise. All the money comes from the fans which allows the management spend it on the team and not keep it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I applaud your courage for posting an all about yankees, and I can relate. I'm a steelers fan. I guess we can share our love for a team that isn't so popular in Ohio :)
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