What has transpired over the last 48 hours has been terribly painful for me. The New York Jets have run out of steam, and may be headed toward an even bigger collapse than the 2008, Brett Favre squad. Their schedule is not favorable, and they are getting closer and closer to our favorite phrase: “The Same Ol’ Jets.” A day later, it was announced that the prize free agent of the offseason, Cliff Lee, was rejecting the Yankees’ and Rangers’ offers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, creating, on paper, one of the greatest starting rotations in baseball history. Let’s not forget that these guys will be pitching in the National League East all season. There is a chance of having four 20-game winners, bringing back memories of the 1971 Orioles.
First, the thing that’s stressing me out more than anything else. The New York Jets. This should come as no surprise to anyone that has ever bothered cheering on “Gang Green.” The Jets are a joke, even with talented players and a popular coach. Despite starting the season 9-2, it was only good enough to remain tied with New England, and the Jets have gone into a downward spiral since. Sure, they have a two game lead in the AFC Wild Card, but take a look at their schedule! At Pittsburgh, At Chicago, and home versus Buffalo. We can only hope that the Buffalo game still means something. Pittsburgh is currently playing toward a bye in the AFC, and Chicago is leading the NFC North. Had the Jets beaten Miami, a playoff berth would have been all but locked up. Now, they will look for a miraculous win on the road, or they’ll be scoreboard watching for the rest of the season.
Mark Sanchez just isn’t good enough. He’s not Tom Brady, and we are not the New England Patriots. Until Brady retires, that just won’t change. Heck, even with Matt Cassel for a whole year, the Patriots went 11-5. The Jets have negative sentiments tied to their franchise. This is a chance for the entire organization to reverse the trends, pick up a big victory on the road, and head toward the playoffs for a second consecutive season. They have a chance, but it’s unlikely. With a young quarterback sulking on the bench, a deteriorated offensive line, and an aging running back, the Jets’ hopes look dismal. Like Yankee fans, Jets fans are impatient. The Jets loaded up for one season, and in reality, they won’t be able to keep Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes both on payroll next season. This year was supposed to be the year. Even if they make the playoffs, does anyone think they’re going on a run all the way to Dallas?
The Lee thing really hit home. Most readers of this blog know how I feel about the Philadelphia Phillies. I love the fact that they continue to embarrass the New York Mets, who must be feeling even worse than the Yankees today. However, I do not like anything that is Philadelphia. I have family and friends from Pennsylvania who I love very much. I just hate the sports teams. Why? Competition. Philadelphia and New York are comparable. Sure, the Yankees have won 25 more championships and the Eagles have never won a Super Bowl, but the fans certainly wouldn’t give you that impression. Phillies fans are unbelievably passionate, and expect success on the field every day. Sound familiar? My only gripe about Phillies fans are the ones you don’t hear from for years, but have come out of the woodwork since 2007. That, to me, is pathetic.
Are the Yankees at fault here? Probably not. They made Cliff Lee a lucrative offer, one that would allow him to pitch for the Yankees until the age of 40, but he turned it down. His wife doesn’t like New York, and I guess he doesn’t either. What can you do? In hindsight, it’s probably a good thing that catching prospect Jesus Montero was not traded for Lee in July, as Lee may have bolted for Philadelphia after the season anyway. Cliff Lee was the Yankees’ Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. They needed pitching help, and they normally get their man with a Steinbrenner check. This time, they didn’t. They sold the team, and I’m sure his buddy CC Sabathia tried to help, but he went back to Philly to join the greatest rotation in baseball.
Brian Cashman will have to figure it out between now and Spring Training. Andy Pettitte can laugh all the way to the bank as he now has the front office wrapped around his finger. The Yankees need him back, or we face another season with AJ Burnett as our number two starter. The signing of Russell Martin, I believe, is a positive thing. He’s been hurt lately, but he also posted two All Star seasons, and won a Gold Glove Award as a catcher for the Dodgers. He has potential, and if healthy, he is a clear upgrade over the aging Jorge Posada. It’s also positive because there has to be come plan waiting in the wings. Why do we need three catchers plus Posada? I’d rather see Jesus Montero stay in pinstripes, but if it means acquiring a pitcher of Felix Hernandez’s caliber, sign me up. A rotation of Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett, Hughes, and Mitre/Nova simply is not going to work in the American League. This team played sub-.500 ball after the All Star Break in 2010, so improvements are required.
Boston and Philadelphia have become very hypocritical over the past week and a half. With Boston’s acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez, and making Carl Crawford the highest paid outfielder in MLB history, they will no longer have the ability to call the Yankees the “Evil Empire.” Philadelphia can’t blame their two championships on their lack of money. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have big contracts, so do Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. Their team is not exactly built from the farm up either. The Yankees cannot be referred to as the “Evil Empire” after this current off-season. At this point, I’m just hoping they’ll still be relevant after the season gets underway.
