This concept is foreign to many Yankee fans, especially those who have come to age in the past dozen years. For older Yankee fans, the 2007 season is drawing comparisons to 1982, and even 1965.
In an effort to see how Yankee fans are coping with this sub par campaign, I canvassed many of them to get their points-of-view. For good measure, I even spoke to a few Red Sox fans.
Bill Spahr of Newburgh, New York has been a Yankee fan since 1964, and he isn’t terribly surprised that the team is losing. He says, “I've thought this team was overrated for several years (since 2005) and was pleasantly surprised by the results in 2005 and 2006. They remind me a lot of the early 60's when the team won five straight pennants and then crashed and burned. In hindsight, the last two pennants of the dynasty years (1963 and 1964) were last gasps of a rotting organization. Same with 2005 and 2006.“
John Lagan of Sandy Hook, CT laments the lack of offense, ”I find it surprising that the hitting hasn’t been stronger overall. Jeter & Rodriguez are having huge seasons, but most everyone else is just muddling along which I didn’t expect. Posada has been a pleasant surprise.”
Mary Laharte of Far Rockaway laid it on thick: “This sucks. My husband can’t eat. The evenings are somber. The losing is wilting. When does football start? “
So who is to blame for this mess?
New Jersey’s Frank Russo is adamant. (By the way, check out Frank’s website at http://www.thedeadballera.com.) He exclaims that “90% of this I blame on Cashman. He built this team. He decided not to sign any free agent pitchers other than Pettitte, and went with a suspect Pavano and an unproven Igawa. He didn’t want to give Bernie a contract. He gave Sheffield away for nothing. And worse, he refuses to do anything right now for fear of adding payroll. He is coming across as arrogant and pompous.”
So yes, you can add anger to the list of emotions that Yankee fans are feeling:
“I will be [expletive] if I am going to [expletive] go see these [expletive expletives].
That was the eloquent statement from Hank Seeborn of Yonkers, who insisted that I quote him directly.
Glad to oblige, Hank.
So what to do about this mess? Fans have no end of ideas for the Yanks.
Paul McGirty of Allentown PA. wants to deal A-Rod while the Yanks still can. “Why let him walk? The team is going nowhere. Get something in return.”
Ah… there’s no doubt Paul is a “4-ringer. “I promised not to editorialize in this article, but Paul has to be a few bubbles shy of plumb. From where I sit, the Yanks need A-Rod.
Bill Spahr had a great idea, one that is becoming more in vogue among Yankee fans: “I would sit Derek Jeter down in the winter and say to him that his days as an elite shortstop are winding down. Given his superior athletic talents, first base would be a natural spot for him. Ernie Banks did it, no reason Derek couldn't. And A-Rod wouldn't have to be the shortstop, either. Pick up another younger shortstop to eliminate any of the media carping about A-Rod taking over Jeter's spot.”
Frank Russo pipes in, “I would go get a first baseman that can hit, and get Eric Gagne. I would also shore up the bench, which is terrible.”
Ricky Rios, of the Bronx, wants Bernie back. “Cashman and Bernie need to kiss and make up. Bernie would be getting 400 at bats this year.”
Both Spahr and Missy Renrick harken back to the Gene Michael days. Spahr says: “Use Gene Michael's experience to its fullest extent. The man helped to rebuild this team when George was away from 1990-1992, he should be leaned on by Cashman to do it again.” Renrick adds: “Michael is the architect of the dynasty. Let him build another.”
And how about Red Sox fans? What do some of them think of the Yanks’ woes?
Tim D. from Boston feels something is missing from Yankee/Red Sox rivalry. “Something is just off about the landscape in the AL East right now. A lot of fans have felt that the true quest for the Sox since they won it all has been the division. Seems like they are in good shape to run away with it right now, but to do so without having to actually wrestle it away from the Yankees themselves just seems wrong.”
Eric S. of Southington, CT has another view:
"The Yankees will reload when teams are dumping salaries and eventually take over the Wild Card...then everything changes...memories of last summer's 5-game sweep by the Bronx Bombers will be revived and whispers of the collapse 29 summers ago the Sox blew a 14 game lead....the ghost of Don Zimmer still haunts Yastrzemski Nation…No lead is too safe!"
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