Maybe it’s just me, but I still don’t understand why Brian Cashman and many others in Yankeeland are still trying to act like the Cliff Lee rejection is no big deal. It’s also amazing how the No. 1 player in the free agent market has become a bum, according to some of the fanbase, now that he’s not going to be a Yankee.
It’s one thing to have been concerned over the number of years he wanted, or the money he was going to cost. I get that. But when I hear some fans, like Squawker reader Uncle Mike, say stuff like “I fail to see how not getting Cliff Lee is a minus for the Yankees” and “Cliff Lee going to the Phillies is a plus for the Yankees: They don’t waste a lot of money on a guy who would be their 3rd-best starter,” I just have to laugh over these shameless attempts at revisionist history. Cliff Lee would be the Yankees’ 3rd-best starter? C’mon now. Put your Yankee pom-poms down already.
Cashman said yesterday that “I don’t think we have a lot of holes.” Really? The current Yankee starting rotation is CC Sabathia (great, but coming off surgery), A.J. Burnett (terrible 2010; needs to turn it around), Phil Hughes (wore down during the stretch last year), Sergio Mitre (horrible pitcher), and Ivan Nova (untested rookie.) Andy Pettitte may retire. Is that a great rotation? Other than CC, absolutely not. And I’m not going to put on Yankee blinders and say it is.
Other than Mariano Rivera, the Yankee bullpen is a mess, too, with Joba Chamberlain flailing, David Robertson being inconsistent, and Kerry Wood likely going elsewhere.
Granted, the Yankees still have a very good team, but to pretend like they don’t have issues is simply denying reality.
Anyhow, the Daily News’ Bill Madden features more spin from the Yankee camp:
[A]s one Yankee operative, no doubt in reference to Lee signing with the Phillies and the Red Sox bagging Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, noted Tuesday with a trace of sobering resignation: “The team that wins the winter doesn’t usually win the next season. In recent years, we’ve come to know that better than anyone.”
In 2008, the Yankees paid $423.5 million on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeiria. And guess what? In 2009, all three had great years and helped the Yankees win their first ring since 2000. To act so blase about what free agent signings can do pretty much flies in the face of what really happened in recent years. Looks like Derek Jeter isn’t the only one who needs a nice healthy dose of reality potion.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
