So, after losing again in the first-round of the playoffs, are the Yankees done winning, is the dynasty over ?

 Well, since when have they even been a dynasty,  with no World Series titles since 2000 and a record of 4-13 in their past 17 post-season games.  Consistent winner and playoff team, yes, dynasty, not even close.

If the Yankee fans are looking for a goat this time, they need to look past A-Rod.  The clear goat is Chien-Ming Wang, with an 0-2 record and 19.06 ERA in the Cleveland series.  After back to back 19-win seasons, he gave up 12 runs in just 5.2 playoff innings.

 The fact of the matter is this -  no one fears the Yankees anymore.  They once had some sort of psych edge over some teams, but somehow, that has eroded in 2007.   Even the Orioles went 9-9 vs. New York and would have had a winning record but for those September losses when they were losing to every team.

It’s funny, but in a game that has all kinds of stats, there are no numbers to rank team chemistry, heart and character.  The Yankees used to score high in these categories, but no longer.   A roster that once included character guys like Scott Brosius, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, is now filled with money-first guys like Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens and A-Rod.

So is the dynasty over ?  It has long been over.  Is the winning over ?  No, not as long as New York can outspend every team.  Plus someone with that club (probably Brian Cashman) finally got wise and realized the team needed to start producing some young up and coming talent.  And so they have, with 23-year-old Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano, who turns 25 later this month.  Plus they have some good young pitching like Joba Chamberlain and Philip Hughes.

A 2008 Yankees team that loses key talent like A-Rod and Mariano Rivera could struggle to win 90 games.  If they are foolish enough to run off Joe Torre, they might find the next manager can’t handle the New York press and pressure.  As Baltimoreans, we can only hope the end of the winning is near.

Then again, New York will probably throw more money out there this winter and come up with even more talent.  It may even lead to another 95 or so win regular-season, but without those elements you can’t put a stat on, the Yankees will still be yearning for that October success which used to seem automatic for them.

Posted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 12:55 pm.
Categories: MLB.
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