SPORTS: Post Season Over Before It Began

It's a sad day in New York for Yankee fans as the Detroit Tigers have choked the life out of the Bronx Bombers 8-3. The post season is over, and what can be said to improve the situation for next year? I've said it before I'll say it again, pitching. Damnit Brian Cashman, It's THE PITCHING!! After watching this train wreck over the last few days I've come to understand that the Yankees don't have any pitchers who can do what Verlander, Rogers and Bonderman just did to them in this playoff series. After the first spectacular game which I crowed about on Wednesday, the Yankees then went on a 20 inning slump where they scored nary a run. From Damon's three run homerun on Thursday till Matsui hit an RBI Fielder's Choice to put the Yankees on the board with a run in the seventh on Saturday. Pathetic, sad, frustrating. Yes this is certainly what I am feeling, and it didn't help that the Fox announcers were just bad. They lorded over the fact that the most powerful sluggers in baseball were getting their asses handed to them, yes thank-you ass hole for pointing that out. Also, I'm sure many Yankee fans would agree with me that comparing the Yankees to Globo-Gym from that stupid movie Dodge ball is worthy of a face stomping. I understand that if you are not a Yankee fan you more than likely hate them and think they are the evil empire or something. Okay fine but for an announcer to call my guys when they come up to bat the bad guys. That's it the gloves are off. Deep breath. In out. In out.

The season is over now what to do. Usually I have found that Steinbrenner overreacts to these situations and we end up getting rid of the wrong person. There is no question heads will roll but whose head will it be? There is no question in my mind that Sheffield is done. We just made Abreau feel very comfortable with a pay raise so it makes sense to me that we won't re-sign Sheff. Of course there is speculation after speculation about Joe Torre and A-Rod. The reporters smell blood in the water. Jon Heyman and John Donovan of Sports Illustrated are absolutely convinced that Steinbrenner is going to probably can Torre and Rodriguiez in favor of Lou Piniella and pitcher Barry Zito from Oakland or maybe nab Andy Petitte from Texas. That would be nice to pick up a great pitcher like that but I would be surprised if Oakland gave him up, especially now that they are in the ALCS. I love Lou Piniella, but this kind of talk is premature. Steinbrenner is unpredictable and he likes to give his favorite players and coaches’ second chances. It is fair to say though that Joe's job may be uncertain. The Yanks have lost consistently in the first or second round of the post season for three straight years now. He also made some very stupid batting rotation changes in this post season that seems to have everyone stumped, including myself. Personally if the Yankees were to entertain such an idea I hope they don't just up and fire him. Hopefully, if this happens he'll just resign or retire. I can't forget the 4 World Series Joe won for us a while ago.

The general manager, Brian Cashman, has not publicly stated the course of action for next year's season. Everything is up for grabs. The Yankees could end up trading Mussina and possibly some of the relief staff. Personally I think it's time we traded Mike Myers and Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth has a great arm and may do well somewhere else I don't see why we can't get a great to good pitcher for him. I think we can use Andy Phillips, Aaron Guile, Jaret Wright, Cory Lidle and maybe even Johnny Damon as trade bait to get more pitching. I think the Yanks need to decide now whether or not they want to make Melky Cabrera a full time member of this team cause I think it's time. He's got a better arm than Johnny and he wants to be in center so I don't see why it can't be an option. This in no way is a sleight on Damon, I think he's a good clutch player and he, like Posada and Jeter were the only ones to really come through in a pinch in this miserable series, but we have too many guns and not enough positions and someone will have to go. Johnny Damon is going to be 35 in November he ain't no spring chicken anymore. Melky is what, 23 or 24. This team has to get younger next year. I appreciate the veterans but they can't go on forever. Cabrera, Cano, Proctor and Karstans at this point are the future of this Yankee ball club. There has to be more young blood and soon, otherwise, I fear that my Yankees will suffer another humiliation in the post season next year.