Let's look around the Inter-Google this morning and see what is being said about our New York Yankees. Oh, and I promise to make this about something other than who will play left field.
Bugs & Cranks ranks the four best catchers in Yankee history, and leaves Thurman Munson off the list. My guess is that upsets you, just like it upset me at first glance. B&C's Landon Evanson makes a solid argument for why Elston Howard gets the fourth spot instead of Munson, even though I am still not sure I agree with him.
How could we leave such a respected, accomplished and crucial Yankee off of this list? Let us explain. Even though Thurman Munson had a higher batting average, scored more runs, collected more hits, posted a higher on-base percentage and drove in just 32 fewer runs despite hitting 48 fewer homers than the man who burst his bubble for the fourth and final spot on our countdown, those weren’t the critical determining factors.
Historical significance and winning outweighed everything else.
Granted, Munson won the MVP as he led the Yankees to the pennant in 1976, which ended a streak of 12 years without a World Series appearance for the pinstripers. And though Munson was named the first Yankees captain since Lou Gehrig, the stocky catcher qualified for just three post-seasons over 11 years, and made fewer All-Star appearances (7) than Elston Howard’s nine.
Your thoughts on that?
Talking Chop thinks the Atlanta Braves should hurry up and trade newly-acquired Melky Cabrera. Hey, maybe .... oh, sorry, almost broke my own rule. No left field talk.
David Pinto of Baseball Musings is doing a 'Players A to Z' series this off-season. Since he just got to A.J. Burnett, no way he makes it all the way through the alphabet before Spring Training. Oh, yeah, Pinto does think A.J. will better last season's 13 victories in 2010.
The New York Daily News is out with lists of the 10 best and worst New York athletes of the decade. There are, of course, several Yankees on both lists.
We know the Yankees had a better 2009 than the Boston Red Sox. The top moment of the Yankee season, of course, being the 27th World Series title. The Red Sox top moment? Over The Monster has chosen Jacoby Ellsbury's steal of home off Andy Pettitte. Yep, that's really the best they could come up with.
Mark Feinsand breaks down Yankee player salaries in an effort to figure out how much they might still be willing to spend.