Wednesday, May 23, 2007
What the Yankees Need
I could have talked about the Subway Series, I could talk about the Red Sox series, I could even talk about the recent drama with Jason Giambi and his steroid admittance, but there is one story even more pressing that needs to be discussed.
The Yankees are having a poor season, we all know that and Red Sox fans are rejoicing. I have went through every scenarios already trying to figure out how the Yankees can improve. Nothing worked. Only one thing remains.
Fight.
Not brawl, but fight to win. Slide hard, break up double plays, run like hell on every ground ball, take chances on the base paths, knock down the catcher.
In 1978, the Yankees had a very gritty team which led them to a World Championship title.
Lou Pineilla was a fierce outfielder and had a great bat.
Thurmon Munson cared about no one when he was running. He even got in to a famous brawl with Sox catcher Carlton Fisk.
Reggie Jackson gave the Yankees the right about on controversy to keep them rolling as the self proclaimed "straw that stirs the drink".
Billy Martin, the on-and-off manager of the Yankees always stood up for his players to umpires and the boss George Steinbrenner himself resulting in numerous firings and suspensions.
Where are these guys now? Where are the hard sliders, the knock-down pitchers, the fiery managers?
The Yankees need them now more than ever.
Nowadays players are too scared to throw chin music, spike fielders, and charge through the catcher.
Paul O'Neill was the last grit player for the Yankees. He always played hard and provided the right amount of determination to win. His helmet throwing, water cooler bashing antics may have seemed immature, but it worked. With him, the Yankees won four World Series titles.
Yes, the Yankees have clutch with Jeter, Rodriguez, and Posada working in that department, but where are the ones who will still play hard when down by ten in the ninth?
Joe DiMaggio was once asked, "Why do you play hard everyday?" To which he replied, "Because there is one person who has not seen me play."
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Posted by Steve Kenul at 4:39 PM
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