The Yankees: Victims of Their Own Success

For the first time really ever, The Yankees are just looking old. They don't look invincible. In fact nothing really makes sense in Yankee land.

Derek Jeter looks lost at the end of games while A-Rod looks like he is in heaven.

Mariano Rivera can't close out games.

Could this really be it for those pesky Bronx Bombers? The answer, of course, is that it is too early to tell. But what we have seen over the first 3 weeks of the season bodes well for those who hate the pinstripes. Notably, the Yankees appear to be on a downward spiral.

Their rotation is old and banged up. Mussina and Pettitte are in their mid 30's and not getting any younger. Carl Pavano may never pitch again. And even if they do sign Roger Clemens, that will be a short term solution for the 2007 and maybe 2008 season (when his good pal Andy's contract runs out).

I am not writing today to count the Yankees out of 2007. It is way too early and they are way too good.

But I am writing today to tell you that things in Yankee Land are about to change.

Three years ago it used to be that when one player got too old, the Yankees went out and signed a new player to replace him. It seemed like they had access to a vault of players and then when they were done, the rest of baseball had their turn.

It was because of the Yankees that baseball flourished. The Yankees ascension to dynasty levels built back baseball. For years, the game was tarnished by the 1994 strike. There was Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in the late 90's, but it was really the Yankees that had the staying power.

This country is dominated by Yankee fans and Yankee hats. The rest of baseball was OK with that for a time. As the Yankees' popularity grew so did their game and the bank accounts of the other 29 teams in baseball.

Which is what takes us to today. The difference today is that the Yankees can no longer dominate free agency. Other teams have too much money, money that they are now willing to spend. Combine that with the pressures of New York, the very public struggles of A-Rod and the rise of the Mets, and all of a sudden the Bronx is no longer THE place for a free agent to sign.

Which takes us to 2010. Jeter and ARod will be dinosaurs. Rivera, Pettitte and Mussina will be out of the game. Posada and Matsui will be after thoughts. And Johnny Damon will be remembered as that guy who came from the Red Sox.

And while players like Chien Ming Wang, Robinson Cano and Phillip Hughes could all be stars, the rest of the Yankees will no longer resemble an all star team.

If Kansas City can pay Gil Meche $55 mil and Toronto can pay Vernon Wells $126 mil then the Yankees will be in trouble.

I never thought the Yankees dynasty would end. I convinced myself that the Yankees would make the playoffs every year for as long as I live. (I also convinced myself that I would never drive a car in my life -- my convictions are easily changed).

And while it is not over yet and I still in my heart of hearts am pretty condfident that the Yankees will be playing in October, I don't know if I feel the same way about next year and certainly not 2009.

That's a nice thought.

VCD,
Sip

(Pics courtesy of mlblogs.com, espn.com, cnn.com)