Yankees Best of the Season
by Brandon C. on Dec 31, 2009 9:00 AM EST
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintWe all obviously know how well the Yankees season went. A few adjectives to describe it would be disappointing, embarrassing, and dreadful. (Kidding) In all seriousness, the Yankees won the 27th World Series in team history. So, why not look back at the best of the championship winning season? Let's go!
BEST PLAYER:
1. CC Sabathia: I took a long time to decide between CC and Teixeira, but when it came down to it, pitching was more important this season. The Yankees might have been able to win the championship without Teixeira in the lineup, but without CC Sabathia coming out and dealing every five days, I seriously doubt the Yankees would have won it all.
2. Mark Teixeira: Simply the best hitter on the team this season. MVP type numbers and gold glove defense were refreshing things to see from a first baseman.
3. Mariano Rivera: People may want me to put Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez here, but to me Rivera was huge. Sure, Rivera did only pitch three outs a game most of the time, but he shut down the best offenses in baseball nearly every Yankees close win. Without him the Yankees likely would have blown a few important playoff games.
4. Alex Rodriguez: Without A-Rod the Yankees were looking like the 2008 team that missed the playoffs. With A-Rod the Yankees looked like the Championship-Caliber team that they were.
5. Derek Jeter: The leadoff hitter and captain of the World Champs lived up to his expectations. He put together an MVP type season.
HONORABLE MENTION: Alfredo Aceves. Seriously.
BEST REGULAR SEASON MOMENTS:
1. May 15th-17th A-Rod returns to the Bronx, walk-off weekend ensues: Self-explanatory. A-Rod made his return after a month off and made an immediate impact. The Yankees would never look back.
2. June 28th Mariano Rivera 500th Save: Underrated moment of the season. Rivera gets an RBI and his 500th Save and the Yankees win the season series 5-1 over the Mets.
3. April 16th Home Opener: I have erased the score from my memory. All I can remember is a Posada home-run and some great pre-game ceremonies.
4. August 7th Yankees Win Amazing Game: A-Rod hits a walk-off home-run in the 15th after 14 scoreless innings in the Bronx.
5. September 27th Yankees Beat Red Sox, Win the AL East: Self-explanatory once again. Yankees get the job done against their rivals.
HONORABLE MENTION: August 7th Melky Cabrera cycle.
BEST PLAYOFF MOMENTS:
1. November 4th Yankees win the World Series: Obviously. I was in Philadelphia the day of this game and the fans looked deflated. The season wasn't even over and they looked like they were down and out. They soon would be.
2. November 1st Johnny Damon Double Steal: Damon tricks the Phillies and steals two bases on one play. Yankees go up 3-1 on the defending champs.
3. October 9th Yankees Win on Walk-Off by Teixeira: I was at this game, greatest game of my life. A-Rod tied the game up in the 9th with a two-run shot and Teixeira walked off with a laser beam line drive.
4. October 17th Yankees Win Another Walk-Off: Jerry Hairston Jr. is the hero. His single and run on an error by Maicer Izturis gave the Yankees the win and 2-0 series lead.
5. October 25th Yankees Clinch Trip to World Series: Yankees win in 6 over the Angels, advance to the World Series.
HONORABLE MENTION: October 29th Yankees Tie up World Series at 1-1.
BEST RANDOM PLAYER: (Player who came up when it mattered, delivered unexpectedly)
1. Alfredo Aceves: We knew he was good. We didn't know he was THIS good. 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA? Can't wait to see what he does in a full season in 2010.
2. Francsico Cervelli: Sorry, Cervelli lovers that Cervelli is not #1, but he did come up clutch. The game that comes to mind is CC Sabathia's 4-0 shutout over the Orioles in Baltimore. Cervelli was hitting .192 in Trenton when he was called up. He may have won himself the backup job for 2010. Also, don't forget Cervelli was a huge part of an instrumental game in Atlanta. Big momentum builder.
3. Damaso Marte: How about Marte in the playoffs? Now THAT was impressive!
4. Jerry Hairston Jr./Ramiro Pena: Filled the utility role perfectly. Got the job done and for that, they earn spots.
5. David Robertson: Did we really expect him to be that good?
WORST RANDOM PLAYERS OF THE SEASON: (Player who came up when it mattered, faltered)
1. Chien-Ming Wang: Did anyone expect him to be THAT bad?
2. Angel Berroa: Can't believe he was allowed to wear pinstripes.
3. Jose Veras: See #2
4. Anthony Claggett: 33.75 ERA. Now on the Pirates. Enough said.
5. Cody Ransom: People don't seem to hate him as much as I do. Here's to hoping the newest Phillie doesn't come up in a rematch in the World Series and get a big hit!
Thanks for reading and lets hope for an even better 2010!
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Nice list
I would add A-Rod’s dramatic 3 run home run and CC’s complete game on May 8th to the list. Thats the game that began to turn the Yankees season around.
Another one I would add is the game Brian Cashman showed up in Atlanta. Girardi threw a fit, got tossed, and then CERVELLI hit his first ever HR, A-Rod got hot, and the Yankees began to cruise.
I’d add those two. I know they are on the paragraph about Cervelli, but I think they should both be on the best regular season moments as well, because they were two very key moments in this season.
Also, on Veras, I’m not mad that he was ever allowed to wear pinstripes. He was terrific in 2008- one of the Yankees top relievers. He was bad this year because he couldn’t throw strikes anymore. He was very bad, but I don’t think that he didn’t “deserve” a chance to pitch this year, because he did.
And believe me, everyone on PSA hates Cody Ransom just as much as you do, if not more.
I think that Cashman visit, laying down some laws for Joe G. on how he was allowed to use Arod, was a turning point in the season- Arod before and after was shlub to MVP.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
My Bad
Totally forgot about the Cervelli/Girardi/Cashman game. I am actually thinking now that that could be in the top 3, I know someone is going to complain about the home opening loss being on the list, but that game is still going to be one of the most important in Yankees history due to the historical reasonings.
As for Veras I just plain don’t like him. Especially after what he did home opener.
As for May 8th I know that was hugely important, but the Yankees lost the next game. I figured the walk-off weekend was more important, as it was part of a 9 game winning streak.
Any other complaints/ideas anyone?
Nice
Good list. I’d like to see a list of the Decade’s Best by position. Meaning the best year, statistically, by position. For example, who had the best year during the decade at left and in what year? and so on. I’m sure that would trigger some debate. A little twist on the All-Decade Team.
As much as I love that idea
talk to someone else about it. I am really not statistically sound enough to be fair to all players in the decade.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley.
"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
It's a good idea
Might still be able to do it in January. We’ll see.
by Ed Valentine on Jan 1, 2010 12:43 AM EST up reply actions
It was a great year.
Cervelli was clutch. Thinking back to when Posada and Molina were hurt and Cervelli and Kevin Cash were the catchers. They both came up big, especially Cervelli. Could have been disastrous.
I was also at Game 2 of the ALDS, and it was incredible. I could not believe how lucky I was to witness a game that exciting in person.
I don’t know where/if it fits, but Andy Pettitte deserves some mad props. I thought there was a good chance he would be a hot mess in 2009, but he was so important to the team both in the regular season and of course in the postseason. Not only were his pitching performances essential, but I believe the guidance and leadership he brought to the pitching staff were irreplaceable. I think that his presence will have a lasting effect on CC, AJ, Hughes, and Joba and will hopefully influence the team long after Andy has retired. Where would the Yankees have ended up had Andy not accepted that contract last January? I really don’t want to think about it.
How do you leave off
Game three of the ALDS? Come from behind win against (gasp!) Carl Pavano? A-Rod and Jorge HRs, Jeter throwing out Punto, and Mo shattering Mauer’s bat as icing on the cake?
"I'm just tryin' to be the great, tryin' to get a piece of cake
Take it offa your plate, eat it right in your face" --Lil Wayne
Sorry
Which game would you choose it over?
Writer for Pinstripe Alley.
"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
It's impossible
to remember every highlight, and fit them all in a short list. These are subjective, and are really just a way to spark a little conversation.
by Ed Valentine on Jan 1, 2010 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
Great stuff
Probably 4 or 5 different posts in all of this.
I think you need to put Robertson ahead of Marte, if only because Marte was terrible until the playoffs.
I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque
by LateInningRelief on Dec 31, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions
Brett Gardner's Inside The Park Home Run...........
The most exciting play in baseball, anytime. On May 15, 2009, in a game so heavy with irony, you’ll have to read about it here:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290515110
Down no balls and two strikes in the count, with two outs, and New York behind 4 to 1, Brett blooped one down the left field line off Twins reliever Jesse Crain that got by left fielder Denard Span and then rolled into the left field corner. Only Brett Gardner (amongst the Yankees) could have turned this triple into a home run.
Relive it here as I have, over and over again (annoying Windows 7 ad notwithstanding):
I was at that game
it was part of walk off weekend
Writer for Pinstripe Alley.
"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
by Brandon C. on Dec 31, 2009 1:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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