Ohh Daniel San! MY ARM!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Ok, it's really not funny.
The pic above is of Hideki Matsui shattering his wrist last night in a loss of the Red Sox. As most of you know I am a card carrying member of Red Sox Nation, which I am trying to get classified as a form of mental illness, but I hate to see this happen to anyone, even if they do play for the Evil Empire. Get well Matsui, but not this season.

Now to my point. The Fall of the Yankee Empire.
Being a lifelong Red Sox fan and in turn a life long Yankees hater, I find it interesing how the worm has turned over the past 5 or so years. The dreaded Yankees have turned into the Red Sox, and the Red Sox have turned into the Yanks.

What do I mean? Look at all those really good Red Sox teams pre 2000, really pre the John Henry ownership group. Here was the team template. Lost of overpaid, end of their career free agents who could hit homeruns. One maybe two good starting pitchers and a bullpen I could hit against. There were some exceptions, 1986 was a extremely good team, that should have one, but alas for that dreaded curse.

Now look at the Yankees. Yeah they could hit, but the had awesome defense and superbe pitching . . . some of those 1990's Yankees teams were amazing.

Enter John Henry, who brings with him Larry Lucchino et al. They shock the world and hire 28 year old Theo Epstein, who is a Bill James disciple (who Epstein immediately hires). If you are not familiar with Bill James and his philosophies (Sabermetrics aka Money Ball) do a google search on it. They take a few years to build what they want. 2003 Grady Little gift wraps a World Series appearance for the Yankees, but even Yankee fans admit the Sox took it to them, Grady gone, they bring in their man Francona, 2004, the rest is history.

Look at the modern version of the Yankees, don't they remind you of those old Red Sox teams (Canseco, Mo Vaughn)? They can hit the cover off the ball, but they can't hold a lead. They have all the all stars, but nothing in their farm system. They have the Curse of A-Rod. They have constant age related injuries.

And analyze this years Red Sox, don't they remind of those 1990's Yankees teams (with O'Neil and Brosius).

I am Malach and I am metally ill.