The latest barrage of mega-salary commitments made by the Yankees has the baseball world a-buzz: “How can we compete?” is the newest mantra of Hank Steinbrenner’s executive competition.
New Yankees include C. C. Sabathia, A. J. Burnett and M. A. Teixeira, all superstars with superstar bank accounts. How dare any team think they can compete with the 2009 version of New York’s pinstripes?
Well, they won’t have retired Mike Mussina. Mussina won 20 games last season, Sabathia won 17; no gain there for the bad guys. Burnett won 18 games, with an ERA over 4.00; a rotation spot gain for the bad guys – IF A. J. can stay off the DL, something he regularly has failed to accomplish throughout his career.
The big stud, M. A., is a legitimate star and undoubtedly makes the Bronx Bomber lineup better; but by how much? Tex hit 33 homers last season and drove in 121 runs; departed Jason Giambi went 32 and 96. Defense is another matter; Teixeira plays it, Giambi doesn’t. So, OK, the team in improved with the addition of Teixeira, but light years improved, maybe not.
Derek Jeter is a year older, and how many years ago did his performance peak? Mariano The Great is a year older, and how much longer can the magic act do tricks. Jorge Posada is a year older, and mediocrity tends to become a trend. A-Rod is a year older, and he can’t get much better. There are no gains in this paragraph, and the opportunity for losses.
Bobby Abreu is gone. The Yank outfield is mediocre at best. Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady, Melky Cbrera and Hadeiki Matsui? Please. “How can we compete?”
Joba Chamberlain may become a star; Phillip Hughes may not. Robinson Cano was supposed to be a star; he may not be one. The bullpen is likely a middle-of-the-pack bunch. On the bench? Is Bernie Williams making a comeback? How about Paul O’Neil?
I suggest the rest of the American League wait until the Yankees have beaten them soundly before crying wolf. My Minnesota Twins have a better team, and a better future than the big-bad Yankees. They’ve resigned Nick Punto and finally captured R. A. Dickey after two years of searching for the allusive knuckleballing middle-reliever. See, the Twinks can compete with the Yanks; and so can a majority of other teams.
