October 09, 2006
The curse of the Giambino
You could not remove the smile off my face two years ago as my team defeated the New York Yankees in what is the greatest comeback in sports history.
That smile returned Saturday as I watched that same New York team get bounced from the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
They have let their fans down yet again, or at least one particular fan - George Steinbrenner. But instead of giving the Detroit Tigers any credit, most of the media has been circling the Yankee clubhouse trying to find out what went wrong and which heads will roll.
But how could a mightly lineup featuring an All-Star at nearly every position lose? How could a team featuring a .340 hitter in the ninth spot in the order lose? How could the team with the most wins in the regular season lose?
Some may first place the blame on Joe Torre, who has brought the team nine consecutive division titles. The rumors began to circulate before the first pitch in Game 4 that Torre would be fired if the team failed to win the World Series.
The New York Daily News' Mike Lupica says its time for Torre to exit Yankees.
Blame is also swirling around A-Rod, who batted a cool .071 and committed a huge throwing error. He too could be headed out of town. John Harper again of the New York Daily News says the Yankees need to solve the A-Rod problem. While DJ Gallo of ESPN defends A-Rod, well sort of.
Yes, heads will undoubtedly fall. To be replaced by even more uncertaintly. Can you say Sweet Lou? When is the last time he's won a title?
ESPN's Buster Olney has a possible scenario
But the real culprit may be an underlining curse that no one seems to discuss.
After winning the Subway Series in 2000 and failing to beat Arizona in 2001, George Steinbrenner felt an overwhelming need to fix a hole. Where could he find such a stud that could bring the title back to New York? Why not sign the - the biggest free agent available - 2000's MVP and 2001's MVP runnerup, Jason Giambi?
Giambi was more than willing to leave for more money and fame. Oakland was too small for such a big fish.
He got off to a ripping start homering left and right. So much so in fact, one Yankee announcer dubbed him Giambino. Once those words were uttered, the curse fell upon the storied franchise. Never again would the Yankees raise the trophy.
That signing doomed the pinstripes, forever. It was the first of many big-name signings and more are sure to follow. The Yankees have no other way. have you seen their farm system?
The addition of Giambi wasn't without merit, he has a career OBP of .413. He was an offensive stud and continues to produce runs to this date. But injuries and steriod use plagued him and the team. Although he has seemed to recover, the team apparently hasn't.
So another year goes bye-bye, another free agent signing is on the way and still the Yankees are stuck with their curse - The Curse of the Giambino.
Don't worry Yankee fans, it's only guaranteed to last two more years. Then you'll have to find another scapegoat.
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Burn...as my 11 year says....
The biggest culprit of them is Jeter.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/459943p-386970c.html The supposed captain could have deflected some of the pressure of Arod by accepting him, but he never did. Not like he did for Giambi after the testimony leakage. Giambi has a lot of pluck getting on Arod for his weak hitting in SI article, he hit .250 this year and was a no show in Tiger series..I'm not defending Arod, but Ed is right we should be talking about the awesome Tiger pitching, gritty players, and a real baseball manager...Torre had his day, the glory years off 1996-2000 when the Yankees merely outspent their competition by 40 Million but now he has to go, as does Mike "never won 20 in NY" Mussina, The "not so big Unit,"the two cheaters or Frick and Frack as I call them...Cashman has huge dollars committed to a pretty bad staff for the future and Jeter, Rivera, and Posada are all a year older...
Good times my friend...
C'mon salary cap for baseball
Posted by
October 9, 2006 03:54 PM
"I still think we're the best team," Johnny Damon said. "Sometimes the best team doesn't win."
Johnny Damon, NY Daily News
Posted by
MannyOctober 9, 2006 03:56 PM
Hmmm... Still haven't recovered from that 5 game sweep in Fenway, huh, Ed?
As a Yankee fan, I'll take a first round bounce-out over a September with nothing to cheer about any season.
Posted by
TimOctober 9, 2006 09:11 PM
Yes Tim, I am.
Detroit pitching is stellar and I appreciate the Tigers, especially Jim Leyland - easily the best manager of the year, perhaps the last decade - but did you really expect the Yankees to lose three in a row?
Please tell me your take?
Why did they lose? Is it a chemistry thing? Did Torre do wrong?
Are you excited by about Sweet Lou as the skipper? I don't see what he brings to the table that Torre doesn't have.
Posted by
Edward WalshOctober 10, 2006 10:38 AM
THE GREATEST FRANCHISE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HISTORY IS HISTORY. BASEBALL, THE GAME, DICTATES WHICH TEAMS WIN OR LOSE, ONE BIG PLAY OR ONE BIG BLUNDER CHANGES HISTORY. THE TALENT IS EVERY WHERE AND SMALL MARKET TEAMS DEVELOPE AND PITCH, HIT, RUN, CATCH, THROW THE BALL WELL. THE BEST TEAM CHEMISTRY AND A LITTLE LUCK ARE DEFINATE INGREDIANTS OF WINNERS, SPREAD IT AROUND.WAS BUCKEY DENT GOOD OR LUCKY? WAS BILL BUCKNER GOOD OR UNLUCKY?
STEINBRENNER CAN'T BUY HEART, CHEMISTRY OR CAMARADERIE, THAT IS THE INTANGIBLE ON OR IN A TEAM THAT IS A WINNER. HE'S BOUGHT THE INGREDIANTS OF TALENT, AND SOME TIMES THAT IS THE CURSE.
Posted by
JOHN REIDOctober 11, 2006 12:10 PM
FIRST ED IF BOSTON COULD BUILT A MAJOR LEAGUE SIZE BALLPARK THEY WOULD SPEND 300 MILLION TO WIN A WORLD SERIES NO MATTER IF THE YANKEES WIN OR NOT THEY STILL HAVE MORE CLASS THEN THE BLOWSOX
Posted by
JOE RICCHIOOctober 12, 2006 04:12 PM
Boy, I told my family the next best thing to the Red Sox or the Patriots for that matter, to win is to watch, the Yankees and the Steelers losing. It's so perverse, but I love it!!! Is that wrong?
Posted by
Jeff From GrayOctober 12, 2006 06:10 PM
To all those who say fire Torre - WHAT SO YOUR TEAM CAN HIRE HIM! Yes the Yanks did fall on their face against the Tigers but at least they made it that far, how may teams would give their first born to get that far ( 12 years in a row ) So what if A-Rod has not been able to produce in the playoffs YET, he will when constantly given the chance. A chance he'll yet again get next year as a member of the YANKEES, any team would love to have a player of his caliber on their team but your NOT GOING TO GET THE CHANCE so shut up and watch the NY YANKESS go to the playoffs again next year while your team is a home watching on TV
Posted by
Rich the Yankee FanOctober 19, 2006 06:59 PM
Weak farm system- do your research, cub reporter- Woody paige wanna-be ! The Trenton Thunder finished the season in first in the Eastern League. Ever heard of Jose Tabata, Tyler Clippard, Phil Hughes, Eric Duncan, J. Brent Cox. Obviously, the team with the weak farm system in the Red Sox. Okay, okay, I'll give you Papelbon, but Lester sucked, and Hansen was a bust. The only other two good prospects went to FLA for Beckett (giggle, giggle). Oh, and the Cla Meredith trade for old arse Doug Mirabelli- how did that turn out ? The Sox weak farm system was exposed when they were starting guys like Kason Gabbard and Julian Tavarez all through September. Stay in your lane, hillbilly !
Posted by
You are all hopeless homersOctober 20, 2006 10:13 AM
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