Yankees take bow for title today
NEW YORK — A nine-month journey that essentially began under a crowded tent in Tampa, Fla., ends today in Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes for the New York Yankees.
The new World Series champions will be feted in an 11 a.m. ticker-tape parade to celebrate their 27th world championship. It's been quite a road to get to the steps of City Hall for the first time since 2000.
General Manager Brian Cashman was dealing with the aftermath of a 2008 season that ended with his club outside of the playoffs for the first time since 1993. So he got permission to delve into owner George Steinbrenner's famous checkbook and went to work.
CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira all came as free agents. Clubhouse cut-up Nick Swisher was also added. Sure, the Yankees can spend but they plopped a lot of dollars down in recent years for Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown, and what did it get them?
Then came Alex Rodriguez's stunning spring steroid revelations. On that February day in Florida, A-Rod said his mea culpas with virtually his entire team on hand watching.
He missed a month due to hip surgery and when he came back, there was no one better than the Yankees. They were 101-48 since A-Rod's return, counting the postseason.
"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me," Rodriguez said in the clubhouse aftermath of Wednesday's 7-3 Game Six win over Philadelphia in the new Yankee Stadium. "You don't forget that, and it's a great feeling to be part of a team like this that can call itself a champion."
This title was dedicated to Steinbrenner, once a giant figure in New York and in the sport and now reduced to a long-distance viewer due to ailing health at 78. His sons now run the club but there's no question The Boss was on everyone's mind.
"He's the reason why this team is together, why we're even in this stadium," said captain Derek Jeter. "We really wanted to win it for him. It's hard to win. It's not easy. We won three in a row [from 1998-2000] and nobody has even repeated since. But we feel the championship is back where it belongs now."
"This is what the Steinbrenner family has strived for year after year after year and has tried to deliver to the city of New York," said manager Joe Girardi. "George Steinbrenner and his family are champions. To be able to deliver this to The Boss, in the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here is very gratifying for all of us."
Audio slide show: Mike Harrington's analysis
Managing partner Hank Steinbrenner said his father was at his home in Tampa watching the game on television and that the final outs were particularly "emotional" ones for family members, both in the ballpark and in Florida.
"This means a lot to my dad, one of the most special," Hank Steinbrenner said on the field a few minutes after the final out. "We dropped there for a while, we had to come back and we had to rebuild."
The Yankees won the game, oddly enough, on the eighth anniversary of their most recent Series close shave. On Nov. 4, 2001, closer Mariano Rivera gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Arizona Diamondbacks ruined the Yankees' bid for a four-peat with a 3-2 in in Game Seven.
Rivera was untouchable in this series, getting two saves and recording the final two outs in a third win. Afterward, the 39-year-old had the crowd roaring when he said he wanted to pitch five more years.
Rivera had a four-run lead to work with largely because of designated hitter Hideki Matsui, who drove in a Series record-tying six runs to corral MVP honors. But it might be the final game in the Bronx for the sore-kneed 35-year-old, who is now a free agent.
"He is one of those all-timers," Cashman said of Matsui. "He represents exactly the type of player that you always want to gravitate to. He's a consummate pro. He understands tradition and respect."
In the Bronx, of course, it's always about what you've done lately. Now it's on to the quest for 28. Cashman has to figure out what to do with Matsui and Johnny Damon, who is also a free agent.
And the Yankees are back to square one with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes: Are they starters or relievers? Those decisions will certainly impact the offseason thinking. After all spring training is just three months away.
"Unfortunately, in my case and my staff's case our winter is all business but that's OK," said a smiling Cashman. "Everybody else gets the chance to let their parade last the entire winter. Not the front office. We'll get back to work."
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments