Reasons for Yankee Fans to Laugh, and Cry

As we whiff the freshly cut grass of George Steinbrenner Field, the best named and most  grandiose of all the Spring Training Complexes from Tampa to Tuscon, Yankee fans have much to be happy about. Despite a sub-par end to the season that saw the club miss the playoffs for the first time since I was learning algebra in the 6th Grade, the Yankees have re-tooled and spend enough money to bail out the economy of Costa Rica on AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Texiera. This should effectively shore up two major problems that the club had last year- namely run production and starting pitching, and, unless you’re hallucinating vividly, the Yankees are certainly a bona fide title contender any way you slice it given these moves.
 
But not so fast.
 
These aren’t the Paul O’Neill/ Bernie Williams Yankees that were able to gel as a cohesive unit no matter who, or what befell them (see Wells, David). Not in the least. If the Yankees are to win this year, they need to learn to be selfless and help each other, not act as the most expensive, ego-driven assemblage of baseball talent in the Universe. If there is not a serious alteration in the way the Yankee clubhouse is run, I am still worried about the team I have spent an inordinate of time watching, analyzing and defending for my entire adult life.
 
It is for this reason that I like what Joe Girardi is doing with his centerfield situation, and to a less extent, with his bullpen. With the rest of the lineup pretty much established, and Jasper’s favorite ballplayer Phil the Phranchise destined to at least begin the season in AAA, a bona fide position battle might, at the very least serve to invigorate.
 
In one corner, you have Melky Cabrera, who, despite flashes of brilliance, has not been able to hold onto the job since the reigns were handed to him last season. Melky has shown a penchant for untimely strikeouts and poor plate discipline combined with the occasional defensive gaffe that got him demoted last season. Too much palling around with fellow slacker Bobby Cano might have something to do with that.
 
In the other, you have Brett Gardner, who reminds you of Rey Ordonez without the jaw-dropping defensive acumen. In 1923, Gardner would have been a great asset to any team- a classic slap and dash hitter who plays good defense and is tough on the basepaths. In the 2009 Al East, I’m not too sure. This kid has one thing on his side- he hustles like there is no tomorrow. That’s something you can’t teach, not matter how hard you try.
 
But at the very least, these two guys duking it out will hopefully serve to remind us all of the spirit of friendly competition that makes baseball great. On a team of highly compensated megastars, this can sometimes seem lost. Maybe if everyone can channel some of their inner Brett Gardner, I would feel a little better about the 2009 Yankees.