Tuesday, May 6, 2008

FROM HERO TO ZERO

One year ago today Roger Clemens made his famous appearance in the Steinbrenner's box. Like a dream come true to all Yankee fans. Whether he liked it or not, On that day Clemens tagged himself as the savior of a team who's future at the time was looking bleak.

I myself was ecstatic and thrilled from this news.
Even though Roger didn't necessarily put up the numbers that we all expected him to , I think we could all agree that he gave the Yanks the spark that was lacking and played an integral part in the Yankee playoff push.

Exactly one year later, Clemens is amongst the laughing stock in America. All of his Hall Of Fame credentials mean absolutely nothing.
Now the face of steroids is suddenly the face of the Rocket and no longer Ba"roid" Bonds.
You cant even go two minutes without hearing about another women saying they enjoyed the Rockets company in more ways than you could imagine.
Roger Clemens has done the unimaginable. In just one year he has made a transformation from American Icon to American Idiot.

I will always remember that Clemens played a vital part in the 99-00 championship teams, but its still hard to look at the guy with half the respect that his presence once commanded.

One thing will never change though, I will always see him as the guy who tried to literally kill Piazza on more than one occasion. If you ask me, no matter what a guy does after that , he always will be a true Yankee icon.

All kidding aside. In just one year. Roger Clemens has gone from "HERO TO ZERO".

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

In essence, the Yankees have been more or less a .500 ball club throughout the first month and change of the season. Im not just stating the obvious just because their 17-16 record indicates they are. I am looking at this team as a whole.

The Starting pitching asides for Wang and this rejuvenated Mussina, has been either inconsistent(Pettitte) or just down right lousy (IPK , and a "hurt" Hughes)

If not for the Dominance from the back end of what I think the best one two punch in the game (Joba and Mo) The bullpen has been suspect to say the least.
With the loss of the emerging Bruney, the Yankees are forced to rely upon the ticking time bomb in Kyle Farnsworth . Latroy Hawkins is having a hard time competing for the mop up role with the premature disappointment of the Yankees bullpen Ross Ohlendorf. I like what I'm seeing from Albaladejo and I'm also glad to see Edwar get another shot. But still, this bullpen over the last few years has just been mind boggling. For some reason the Yankees (and the rest of the league) cant find that formula they once had in there most recent dynasty with exception to guys like Gordon and most recently Vizcaino.

The most frustrating of all is the Yankee offense. Granted A-rod and Posada are shelved for a while. It just doesnt make sense to me that Guys like Giambi , Cano , Jeter and Damon couldnt hit a lick for the most of the early stages of the season.
I'm glad to see that Jeter and Damon have decided to wake up over the past few days but Cano and Giambi are no where to be found. (pop fly HR's aren't included)

If it weren't for the Matsui and Abreu doing what they are supposed to be doing and this Fluke season (I hope I'm wrong) out of the "Melk" Man, The Yankee offense would be in the cellar.

The Bench has been OK . Ensberg has been filling in adequately at best for A-rod and Duncan hasn't been getting the Ab's he was slotted for when the season started. The Catcher situation has been a mess with the loss of our first and second stringers.

If You look at everything at a whole , It doesnt good.
This is the exact reason why I think we are in good shape. Considering all the problems the Yankees have went through and they are only three games out of first. I think we are in pretty good shape.
I'm confident the Bullpen is going to start to take shape and this rotation is going to work itself out. The hitting WILL start to hit.
When the Yankees start clicking on all cylinders they will be a force to be recon with.
Just remember, April showers bring May Flowers.