Halloran: Enjoy it now, Sox fans — Yankees will be back
If the Yankees are wondering where they are right now, all they have to do is ask the Red Sox. They were in the exact same spot three years ago. If the Yankees want to find their way out of their current predicament, all they have to do is follow the Sox.
Despite having won the World Series in 2004, the Red Sox decided it was time to reload and rebuild. In order to reload, they had to first unload championship contributors like Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz and Dave Roberts. The rebuilding began with cameo appearances from Kevin Youkilis and Jonathan Papelbon. But the replacement players were only able to help the Red Sox get to the postseason, where they lost in the first round.
The following year saw more reloading and rebuilding. Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Mark Loretta and Coco Crisp arrived. Youkilis became an everyday player, Papelbon moved the bullpen, Jon Lester was inserted into the rotation and Dustin Pedroia popped in for 31 games. But again the Red Sox took a step backward and failed to make the playoffs — just like the Yankees are about to do.
But in 2007, the Red Sox reloaded with both barrels, adding Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima. And the rebuild was nearly complete as the Red Sox got big contributions from Youkilis, Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester, Manny Delcarmen and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox were able to win the World Series the year after they failed to make the playoffs. Can the Yankees do the same?
Sure they can. The Yankees have talented young position players like Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera, though neither is having an especially good year. They also have highly touted young pitchers like Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes, who also haven’t performed up to expectations. If those pitchers look more like Lester than Clay Buchholz next year, and if the Yankees sign a free agent ace, they could find themselves right back on top.
So far their rebuilding doesn’t look as successful as the Red Sox, but their reloading could produce C.C. Sabathia. That would give them a potentially menacing top of the rotation of Sabathia, Chien- Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte. Money and smarts helped get the Red Sox out of a hole in a hurry, and the Yankees certainly have the money. Do they have the smarts? That’s the question.
Missing the playoffs for the first time in 14 years will be a good thing for the Yankees. They can’t kid themselves anymore. They’re in decline. Their key players are getting older. They play lousy defense. And their kids may not be as good as management thought. The problems are obvious, and that makes the solutions just as obvious. So, wait till next year, Red Sox fans. The Yankees will be back.
Bob Halloran is a sports anchor and reporter. He’s also the author of “Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward,” published by The Lyons Press.
