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Simply put, Harold is a science teacher who loves baseball. Actually, he is a self described "baseball fan who became a science teacher because he couldn't hit or throw." He has been involved with the New York City Education system in various capacities since 1962 and he received his doctorate in science education from NYU in 1968. He credits Casey Stengel with being responsible for his first baseball "degree," and in 1998, Joe Torre and Don Zimmer saw to it that he received the advanced version. For that he says, "I cannot thank them enough." Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. David Wells, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera. They are all that's left. They are the remaining six players who helped make 1998 one of the Yankees' greatest seasons. They are the Yankees who helped win 125 games that year and they have been part of the Yankees' nucleus ever since, an "ever since" that has seen three more World Championships.ecially in something as competitive as baseball, and the 2003 Yankees have changed radically in recent years. The last two seasons can be viewed as rebuilding seasons despite winning the 2001 American League pennant and getting to the first round of the 2002 playoffs. Any season the Yankees don't win the World Series is followed by a winter of rebuilding. With the 2003 season rapidly approaching, it is hoped that the rebuilding is almost complete. How does
this team compare to the 1998 Yankees? That is impossible to
answer and that is why they play the season, but one can
evaluate the roster to determine the chances that this might
be a winning season, which for the Yankees, means winning
the World Series.
The Yankees bullpen is strong but suspect. Mariano Rivera has been great since 1996 but has suffered injuries the last two seasons. He must be Mariano Rivera in October for the Yankees to have a realistic chance of reaching their goal. Mike Stanton is now Chris Hammond, who is old and has been injured, but Hammond is coming off a great season in Atlanta, and Leo Mazzone, the best pitching coach in baseball, saved him from the scrap heap. He may help a lot. He may not help a lot. Steve Karsay sets up Mariano and he can also close. Another refugee from Atlanta, Karsay can be overpowering and should do well---again. Recently acquired Antonio Osuna throws hard and can be a dominating force when he is healthy. Juan Acevedo, signed to a minor league contract, may surprise a few people. Sterling Hitchcock can wind up in the bullpen or in another city. If he adapts to a relief role, he can provide the second lefty that is always needed. This will be his second season after serious arm surgery and his performance should improve over last year's. The pitching staff is capable of being the best in baseball. It is also capable of breaking down, forcing Hitchcock and Contreras to start many more games than they should, and giving up so many runs in October that 2003 will resemble last year more than 1998. Don't bank on that happening. The offense is powerful but inconsistent. The Yankees scored runs in bunches last season, but that is not always good because it means inconsistency. Winning 10-3 and 9-2 and then losing 2-1 results in winning enough games during the regular season, but a more balanced offense might mean winning fewer games by 7 runs and winning a few more, especially in October, by one run. There is no real lead off batter, but the lead off batter is an overrated concept because he is guaranteed to lead off only in the first inning, so Alfonso Soriano or Derek Jeter can bat lead off and not hurt the run production significantly. Their power can occasionally provide an early lead, which is what Soriano did a few times last season. Jeter and Soriano are fast, excellent base runners, and can turn a game around. Assume that Jeter will lead off and Soriano will bat second or fifth. Jason Giambi
is a great hitter and no elaboration is needed. Bernie
Williams does well in the regular season and is due for a
break out World Series offensive performance. Hideki Matsui
is an unknown quantity, but he is highly rated by scouts who
should have some ideas about his ability and despite
conflicting reports, he certainly should do as well as the
Spencer-Vander Wal combination did last year since almost
anything would be an improvement. Matsui might be the last
piece in the offensive puzzle if he can produce batting
second or fifth, depending on where Soriano bats, because
that allows Posada to bat sixth or seventh, not fifth, where
his strikeouts and doubleplays ended more rallies than his
home runs created last year.
Making it to October baseball is almost a given. The Yankees' division is weak. The Red Sox don't care about anything except beating the Yankees, which is something that they have not done in many years. The last time Boston won the pennant, the OTHER New York team handed them one of the toughest defeats in World Series history. The Blue Jays are a decent team but they and the Orioles will not win the division. The Devil Rays will improve because their new manager will make them improve, but they are still the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Joe Torre
has almost eight months to get his team ready for October
baseball. All seasons are full of unforeseen events and
players who surprise. The Yankees are the closest thing to
an outstanding team in baseball today. If they stay healthy
and if four of the starting pitchers are available in
October, and that includes Contreras, who may be the key to
the Yankees' World Series hopes, 2003 can get the Yankees
back to where they think they belong.
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How ya' doin? Best sites on 'da 'net! New York Yankees Mighty Yanks The Bombers Fast Facts: Betcha' didn't know Set the AL records for catching more than 100 games in 13 seasons, and for not allowing a single passed ball in 125 games. Set records for most grandslams in a season with 6, most homeruns in 7 consecutive games with 9, and most home runs in 8 with 10. "Have faith in the Yankees, my son." Ernest Hemingway The Old Man and the Sea Trivia: In 1929, the Yankees became the first team to make numbers a permanent part of the uniform. The initial distribution of numbers was made according to the player's position in the team's batting order. Who wore 1 through 10? Answer In Next Issue Have a trivia question? Email it to us and maybe we'll use it in an upcoming issue. |
