THE 2013 YANKEES? WE HARDLY KNEW 'EM

We had 18 inches of snow in Victor last night. Brian, and Don were out with their snow blowers helping neighbors dig out. No out of town papers were delivered. Picasner is on vacation and, as always, ‘urged’ that I put up a post or two while he’s away. Under those circumstances, thinking about the current Yankees’ state of affairs could only lead to yesterday’s rant. 

It is a very big whoop that A-Rod is breaking down. He will always be remembered with the questions, ‘Was steroid use a causative factor in his physical breakdown?’, and ‘Was it worth it?’

He will not be judged alone. A-Rod will always be remembered as a Yankee, and they’re complicit in any blame. The Yankees knew everything they needed to know, everything, before they paid him the largest player salary in history. That’s disappointing.

Signing Kevin Youkilis, of course, is not about whether the Yankees become a bit more homely, but they do, both figuratively and literally. And its Kevin Youkilis starting at 3^rd base for the Yankees.  That’s really disappointing.

Of course its ‘good business practice’ to sign ageing players to a single year contract if you can. But for this team, it’s a clarion call that the last links to recent Yankee greatness are short timers who will be gone soon. That’s painfully disappointing.

And, most disappointing is a front office that has made it abundantly clear that reducing payroll is the organization’s primary goal, not reaching and winning a World Series.

The Dodgers moved west in ’57 leaving many Brooklyn faithful with little interest in New York professional baseball until Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris staged their remarkable drama in 1961 and their championship run through 1964. No team since the Cardinals’ Gashouse Gang provided more entertainment than the dysfunctional Billy Martin-led late 70’s mob; then, nearly 20 years of mediocrity before the emergence of the young, homegrown stars Jeter, Rivera, and Pettitte, all who will be soon leaving. They will all finish playing for an organization not committed to the elite level of baseball they provided throughout their historic careers, marking mediocrity’s return.

So, this season, I’ll watch Andy Pettitte starts, our local high school team and mourn the last gasps of “Yankee Baseball”.