Directed for us yankees?

Question

Ok I want us to be realistic because I know that no matter when I ask yankees fans will always say that we are gonna win the next world series, but lets face it guys we havent in the last few years. So im asking for a realistic answer as to whether or not you guys think we will win the world series this year. And do you guys think that losing the bid on Matsuzaka, especially to the sox, hurts us at all.

Answer 1

As a Yankees fan I have to be realistic and the 2007 doesn't look promising. Johnson should've retired after he won the series with the D'backs, Mussina is only good in the regular season, Giambi is fragile and then there's A-Rod,...A-Rod. I like that they're trying to build from within by bringing up Melky last year and bringing up Hughes next season. The Sheffield trade is good from the standpoint that they got a potential starter and two potential closers or set up men. Mariano probably only has two seasons left in him so he will need to be replaced soon. I think 2007 will be a set up for another major, late decade run at championships.
As far as Matsuzaka goes, he is unproven in the US major league format. He will probably have success early and then the league will catch up to him. The best thing about Boston winning the bidding is now they are exactly what they claim the Yankees to be, an evil Empire using their wealth to outbid every one else.

Answer 2

Another Sox fan here, but not from America so I am a bit objective.

Losing the Matsuzaka bid hurts the yankees, 1) no ace pitcher 2) hurts team morale because they lost, and lost to the Red Sox 3) stumps business growth in baseball.

I know yankees fans always think that the next year will be it, but its hard to see the yankees doing much next year. Sure the lineup is great but what about the pitching.

Wang is the only sure bet, the kid is good. Johnson is on contract, but he is slipping, who know what if anything Pavano could contribute, has not pitched in a couple of years, Hughes is still a kid, and is not major league ready, Mussina is not contracted.

Wang, Johnson, Mussina, who, else

Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka*, Papelbon, Wakefield

Think what the tigers have, white sox have, Angels, Oakland, Twins, and thats just in the AL.

Marlins will have a quality rotation and can make the world series, Dodgers and Padres have good pitching

The last few years have shown, you cannot slug your way to a world series, pitching matters, and the yankees are not looking all that great at the moment.. Don't think you can sign both Zito and Schmidt, and even if you do, I am not sure they change much.

Answer 3

I'm a die hard Yankees fan, and for the next 2 to 3 years, I dont see the Yankees doing anything. Here are the problems:

SP- There is none, after Wang and the Moose, there is nobody. Johnson's arm is about to fall off (one of my teacher's has a friend who saw the MRI last year...it doesnt look pretty...), Pavano is made of glass, we just traded Wright. Unless the Yankees sign Zito it wont be good (signing Schmidt would be a HUGE mistake).

RP- Well, Dotel is gone but he was never really here, we lost Villone who actually did not pitch half bad. Farnsworth is an awful set up man because he's either really on or really off.You cant have that in someone who is going to be pitching in tight spots. Mo is getting old

C- Posada is getting old, his offense is dropping, although I still think he is one of the best defensive catchers in the game

1B- Giambi cannot play first, his glove is awful, he has no range. They need to sign someone because as far as I know Andy Phillips is gone, so they need someone so Giambi can be a fulltime DH

2B- One of the few bright spots, Cano is going to be a stud

SS- Jeter is still amazing. I'm expecting his defensive range, which some have questioned already, to get worse and worse as he gets older, but his offense is still amazing and he is still the heart and soul of this team.

3B- Alex...well...I dont really think hes that bad. No where else would people boo a man who hits 35+ HRs, bats .290 and has 115 RBIs every year. If there wasnt the booing, he'd perform in the playoffs. People wont give the man a chance. And when you struggle at the plate, you bring it with you in the field. He used to be a defensive stud, now he cant field a grounder to save his life. Why? because you people make him afraid to fail. You cant play the game of baseball scared. It just doesnt work. For the love of God give the man a chance.

LF- Matsui is getting older, we'll see how he comes back from his wrist injury, I'm expecting a good year out of him

CF- Damon is bad defensively, he's losing speed, and I dont really think his bat is all that special anyway

RF- Bobby Abreau, good pickup last year, provides a steady bat in the heart of the order.

And now the problem I see most, this team is not built to win postseason baseball games. In the postseason its the best of the best, meaning each game will be tight and down to the wire. The 90's dynasty was built around unselfishness and chemistry. Now if you're down a run with a runner on 1st and 0 outs and your 8 hitter up, what do you do. You bunt him over to 2nd. What do you do if your 8 hitter is Alex Rodriguez? You let him ground into a double play, killing the rally and all hopes for a victory. This team has too many stars, yes a team can have too many. This team needs a Scott Brosius or a Shane Spencer to carry them in the playoffs. The playoffs bring out the stars from underneath. Legends are born there. Scott Brosius made himself a star because of the post season. Aaron Boone would no longer be in baseball if it was not for his HR in the ALCS. They need players who will play for his teammates, not for himself. Thats the main problem with the Yankees.

Answer 4

Every year some super prospect comes along that is supposed to change the balance of power but how often does that really happen? Let the Sox spend money that they don't have. They are so desperate to compete with our Yankees that they will do just about anything including bringing in an unproven pitcher. Remember this, every Japanese pitcher that has come to the majors has been average at best. I don't see this guy being anything else. Schilling is way over the hill and they don't have Pedro anymore, (who is also way over the hill). The Yankees lineup in just too strong and whoever pitches against them is going to lose more then they win. That's why the Yankees have to be the favorite. As far as the playoffs are concerned, it's a crap shoot at best. They just have to get it together before next October. I think they will.

Answer 5

I am not sure if the Yankees can win it next year. I think the offense will be solid, even though with the exceptions of Jeter and Posada, no one hit against Detroit.The Yankees pitching is a HUGE question mark. If you remember, the Yankees did not always score a lot of runs in the post season (remember Pettitte beating Smoltz 1-0 in game 5 of the Series in '96), but they had the great pitching to carry them. As of right now, it looks like Wang and Mussina are the only sure-things in the rotation, as Johnson is coming off back surgery, Wright is gone, and we don't know about Pavano. I think to win, we'll need some surprises, like Phil Hughes, who looks like the real deal. I think I'd be looking more at '08, when some of the young pitchers are ready, and some of the high-priced veterans, like Johnson are gone.

BTW,I wouldn't get too upset about losing Matsuzaka. He has never pitched in the majors, and I just read the bid was over $50 MILLION to acquire his rights and once he is signed the total cost of the bid and the contract will be over $100 million. That's an awful lot of pressure for a young pitcher in Boston. He'll need to produce right away. Could you imagine if it were the Yankees paying that much for him?? OUCH!! They would be getting killed in the media, by other teams, and opposing fans.

Answer 6

Lets face it, if the Boss wanted Matsuzaka he would have out bid the bean eaters. The Yanks are going to sign the top free agent pitcher already in the bigs. Matsuzaka is great in Japan but pitching over here is a challenge for Japanese pitchers. In Japan they only pitch once a week. As the season goes on who knows how he will hold up. The Yanks will be fine. As for winning the world series, they have the stuff. They need to get really hungary again.

Answer 7

Honestly, I hope a rotation of Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Papelbon, and Wakefield, with Lester for long relief, when he recovers, and Tavarez, Hanson, Delcarmen and Timlin in the bullpen, is sufficient to power the Red Sox past the Yankees. The Yankees have Johnson, who is aging, Wang, who was a sensation last year, Mussina, who can be great, or beatable, and then a fast drop off. The Yankees will be in the market for pitching. The three pitchers they got for Sheffield from the Tigers are still unknowns. On the other hand, Cashman always seems to come up with something.

Answer 8

Okay as a Sox fan I will answer this fairly, honest. The biggest problem with the yankees? George! Talk about pressure. These guys were awesome in the 90's. (yes I said it) But, you cannot expect a team, any team, to win the Series every year and he does. How many years have they won the division? He should be happy and proud that he has such a good team that does try. (hey they aren't behind a green wall doing god knows what ) Will they win in 2007 probably not, will they win before 2010, probably.
One last thing....ever heard of the curse of A-rod??? LOL

A RED SOX FAN!

Answer 9

Here's my take being a big fan of the Yankees...

Payroll... the owners don't seem to care, they make money off of George through revenue sharing. The players don't hate it, the Yankees, through free spending, drive up salaries... the fans ( of opposing teams) and the media, well they hate it... fans say the Yankees cheat and the media, well it gives them a million reasons to constantly bash and say "What went wrong"
I wish that the Yankees would give up on this free spending frenzy and concentrate on a building a team that has the chemistry of championship teams in the past. If the payroll ends up being the highest, so be it , but every big name that comes along? C'mon now.... concentrate on the fundimentals of what makes the game a game. It's like in football....DEFENSE wins games and pitching is what makes them. It was why I was so surprised that Cashman didn't bulk up pitching. Maybe now he sees what needs done.
OK.... enough on that.
About your question....
It's a long season, and anything can happen, but I believe that NY will again be in the thick of things but to win it all, the focus needs to be on pitching, not A-Rod. One main reason that I believe that the Yankees should encourage him to seek a trade and end the constant criticism that becomes the main focus of what this team is capable of. It's too much distraction. Go out and play ball!!! So, can we win? Yes we can win, but distractions aside.
Red Sox bid...Yes, the Sox have helped their team, but will it win them a championship? Again, they need to play as a team and I know that they had their share of problems... especially Manny (who I am not bashing, and feel that he is an awesome player)... he become somewhat of a sidestory last year with his no show to the All-Star game.

It should be interesting

Answer 10

I believe they are not going to win this year but they may later on. The truth is I LOVE the Red sox. Matsuzaka may not hurt the Yankees at all that is what is all about the money even though Boston has none and the Yankees are loaded but still it shouldn't bring them down.