The Yankees: Putting the Bomb in Bronx Bombers

by user Ross K.

Jerry: What's a matter with you?
Kramer: Steinbrenner! He's ruining my life!
Jerry: Oh yeah, Steinbrenner.
Kramer: I don't think I can take another season with him, Jerry. He just trades away their best young prospects just like he did with Beuner, McGee, Drabek, McGriff.
Jerry: I know the list.

This is an exchange from "The Smelly Car," Episode 22 of Season 4 of Seinfeld.

With the current state of the New York Yankees, you have to think Yankees fans might be in the same state of anger Kramer was in '93.

The Yankees payroll is somewhere around $209-224 million. They're three games out of first in the AL East and only two games out of third place. They're six games behind the Chicago White Sox in the wild card race.

They currently have Robinson Cano, Darrell Rasner, Gary Sheffield, Tanyon Sturtze, Bubba Crosby and Hideki Matsui on the DL. Sheff and Matsui - obviously the two biggest names on the list - aren't expected to be back until September.

The Yankee's website is reporting that Yankee's GM isn't optimistic about bringing in any help. Their pitching stinks, they have no outfield. They're so desperate they just signed Sidney Ponson off of waivers.

"Nobody is untouchable unless you have a full no-trade clause," Cashman said. "There are certainly guys I have no willingness to trade, but that doesn't mean something surprising won't get thrown at me."

Cashman listed RHP Shawn Chacon (who was brought in to help the team last July), RHP Jaret Wright, RHP Scott Proctor, 1B Andy Phillips and OF Melky Cabrera as the Yankees official trading block. None of them will bring in anything special.

So the Yankees and their quarter-billion dollar payroll are pretty much sunk for the season. They're out of options and apparently have no where to turn.

So is this the end of the road for Steinbrenner? He's been plotting his retirement for years. Will he clear everyone out and try to quickly rebuild to go out on top? Or will he whimper off with his tail between his legs?

All I can say is...

I don't know, I don't care, all I know is the Yankees suck and I'm loving it!

Date

Thu 07/13/06, 4:19 pm EST

UfgatorsDiv-I Stud

1246 days ago

Score 1

yeah, I don't see too many clubs salivating over the chance to sign scott proctor, andy phillips, or jaret wright. Melky Cabrera is mediocre at best, and we have one legit prospect in our farm system (supposedly). what a waste of a fantastic season by mike mussina. this reminds me of the celtics and paul pierce's wasted great season.

Permalink | Reply

Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1246 days ago

Score 1

I hate the Yankees just as much as the next Sox fan, but I still wouldn't count them out... Steinbrenner still has a big thing on his side and that's more cash than he knows what to do with. Melky Cabrera and Andy Phillips may not look like much, but through a couple million dollars in and that could make some big time players on bad, low budget teams find their way to the trading block.

Permalink | Reply

Patrickburke1980All-American

1246 days ago

Score 1

Hey Yankee fans - this is what you get for being so damn arrogant from 1996 - 2000. I'm loving every second of it. No postseason for you!

Permalink | Reply

Anonymous Fanatic #1

1246 days ago

Score 0

"I don't know, I don't care, all I know is the Yankees suck and I'm loving it! "
you must be REALLY loving your Indians!

Permalink | Reply

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1246 days ago

Score 0

It's a bummer that the Indians are bad this year. But it happens with small market teams. It's just nice to see the biggest market team is SOL, too.

Permalink

Anonymous Fanatic #1

1246 days ago

Score 0

seriously, 3 games out of first...how is that sucking?

Permalink | Reply

Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1246 days ago

Score 1

For a team with that kind of payroll, it's sucking.

Permalink

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1246 days ago

Score 0

exactly

Permalink

Anonymous Fanatic #2

1246 days ago

Score 0

last time i checked, payroll isn't a factor in the standings

Permalink

Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1246 days ago

Score 1

It's not when you look at teams like the A's and Twins, but teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have just come to expect to win. Part of that expectation comes because they spend so much money to try to make their teams good. Anything less than playoffs or even the World Series is considered a failure.

Permalink

Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1246 days ago

Score 0

Actually they are only 2.5 games out now.

Permalink

CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer

1246 days ago

Score 0

This is a good sibling article to mine about Cashman. Keep up the good work.

Permalink | Reply

AWeiner18Varsity

1246 days ago

Score 1

Everyone hates the Yankees, which is clearly understandable, because they take their favorite players (Damon, Sheffield, etc.). You listed all of their injuries and you are saying they are sucking, but again they are three games out of first. Bobbyjim said for a team with that kind of payroll, it sucks. Even though a biased fan would consider the Yankees payroll too high, let's check out some other teams you should be writing about instead of the Yankees. The Chicago Cubs, with a 94 million payroll (7th in league), is stinking. The Angels (3rd) with a 103 million payroll, are under .500. At least the Yankees are in contention with the amount of injuries they have. Who would imagine the Yankees winning without those guys? I know the answer. The entire "I hate the Yankees" nation.

Permalink | Reply

The Widening GeierSoccer Kid

1246 days ago

Score 0

good morning-

Let me hit on a couple of things- 1) the yankees are one of 5 clubs who entered the break with 50+ wins. Thats right 5, Tiggers, both Sox, the Mets, and the Yankees 2) The only thing keeping the Yankees from a 3 game LEAD in the AL east was interleague, which is out of the picture for the 2nd half. their vs AL record is better than the Red Sox. 3) Take the # 2 and 3 RBI men of any team in baseball, regardless of the payroll. How good do the White Sox look without Dye and Konerko, the Red Sox without Manny and Nixon, the Mets without Delgado and Beltran? none of those teams lost their guys, and managed to win 50 games.

4)Sidney Ponson isn't desperation, its a low risk move with minimal salary implication for the Yankees, and he could plug a 5th starter hole, or provide long-relief/7th inning matchup stuff.

Permalink | Reply

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1246 days ago

Score 0

See, the fun of this whole thing is Yankees fans get bent out of shape and uber-devensive if you mention anything bad about their team. They can be in first place and you can mention the Yankees missing the playoffs and they'll go balistic. I realize that the Yankees still have a good shot at making the playoffs, but it's just fun to see Yankees fans in misery every now and then. Even when they're a whopping 2.5 games out of first.

Permalink | Reply

The Widening GeierSoccer Kid

1246 days ago

Score 0

There is a difference between going off if someone mentions the Yankees missing the playoffs and pointing out some potential holes in the assertion that the Yankees suck. i am comfortable playing the laid-back role on the Yankee debate. haven't dropped division title since 1997, don't figure to this year either.

Permalink

Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

1246 days ago

Score 0

getting a little defensive?

Permalink

The Widening GeierSoccer Kid

1246 days ago

Score 0

"So I dont say Im cocky, Im just confident, and when you tell me that I suck, thats just a complement"

Permalink

AWeiner18Varsity

1245 days ago

Score 0

I find it funnier how the Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948. Maybe Indians fans should get more defensive than Yankees because at least we have rings to prove who the real winner is.

Permalink

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1245 days ago

Score 0

Ah, but the Tribe faithful prove what real fans are.

Permalink

SashaDiv-I Stud

1245 days ago

Score 0

I don't like the Yankees but you wont here me say there bad they have been the one of the most consistent things in since I was born (I was born in '91) besides mabey the Braves and thats over. So O.K. I might say the Yankees suck some times but only in rage becouse they beat a team I like and you can beat I'm happy that my D-Backs wont play them this year.

Permalink | Reply