Last week I wrote a post detailing the kind of players the Yankees had during their great run of championships in contrast to the players that they have had since 2002. It probably is not random that one core had nothing but success and the other has fallen flat on its face in postseason play. As the Yankees ponder their potential offseason moves, they should consider which players fit this mold and which do not, making changes to their roster accordingly. As with the last post, this list is hardly comprehensive. Most players do not fit all categories. It is a broad overview of which players fit the general mold.
Guys who fit:
Derek Jeter: El Capitan tops the list of players who fit the listed description. He was on those great teams so it is only natural that he would be a part. Jeter is a very patient hitter with some pop. He plays good defense. Beyond that, he is a great leader who embraces big moments. With Jeter a game is successful if he is 0 for 5 but his team wins. A game is a failure if he is 5 for 5 but his team loses. He can be counted on because he always plays the game hard and never makes excuses, even when he is playing through pain or having problems personally. Derek is everything that one could ask for in a baseball player.
Mariano Rivera: Mo is another guy who thrives under pressure. He will pitch as often and for as long as the manager asks. He is extremely durable and has shown no signs of letting up as he has aged. Mariano is the greatest closer ever. His dominance was one of the top reasons that the Yankees built a dynasty. New York had a huge edge pitching him in close games. Mo made sure that the Yanks did not give away big games in late innings. He was perhaps the most important cog in the dominant pitching formula. He has never shied away from big situations and has been a great locker room presence.
Jorge Posada: Jorge is yet another member of the championship core. He has quietly been one of the best hitting catchers in the history of the game statistically during his career. Jorge is a leader in the clubhouse who brings the win or nothing mentality to the table.
Bernie Williams: The final member of the core of four is the venerable Williams. Bernie has clearly slowed down as he has aged. However, he played a valuable role for the Yanks as a bench player in 2006. His defense has slipped badly, but Williams still does not fear pressure and provides a great example in the locker room for youngsters like Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera. He still can swing pretty well from the right side of the plate. This is not a guy who can carry the load anymore, but he still can contribute both on the field and off.
Hideki Matsui: In a clubhouse of stars, Japan’s most popular player blends in nicely and does his own thing without generating big headlines. Hideki swings a good bat and has a good eye at the plate. Matsui is a terrific situational hitter, doing what is needed to get runners home. Godzilla has not been a huge slugger in America, but he is capable of hitting the ball out of the park when he has to. He also grew up playing for the Tokyo Giants, the Yankees of Japan, so he knows how to handle the spotlight of New York.
Johnny Damon: Damon showed that he is a gamer in his first year with the Yankees. He constantly was in the lineup despite several nagging injuries. However, Damon seldom said a word about any of them. Johnny is fearless on the field, whether it means throwing his body around or helping his team overcome eighty-six years of bad karma. Playing in Boston prepared him well for the experience in New York. Both cities make their baseball teams into circus acts, but Johnny has adapted well. He kept his dynamic personality even when joining the corporate Yankees clubhouse, adding some needed life and loosening things up. Other people have tried too hard to fit in the past, changing themselves. Damon did not.
Bobby Abreu: Abreu fit in well after his move to New York. He likes being out of the spotlight, which was impossible for him in Philadelphia. Bobby thrived because he did not want every bit of attention focused on him, and he got his wish with the Yankees. Abreu much prefers being one cog in a cohesive unit. He plays great defense and wears opposing pitchers down with his selective eye. Bobby’s power numbers have diminished, but he still hits for average and drives in runs.
Robinson Cano: Cano is one cool customer. It cannot be easy for a 23 year old to thrive with all of the pressures that come with being a Yankee. However, Robbie has done just that. He could be a lot more selective at the plate, but if he maintains a high batting average, that will not be a major issue for him in the future. Cano’s defense has progressed very well as he has developed. In the near future, he could easily become an elite defender. Robbie also has sought out the sage advice of Bernie Williams so it is clear that he understands the influences he needs to surround himself with. This is a stark contrast to the Alfonso Soriano-Raul Mondesi friendship of the past.
Melky Cabrera: Melky is another young guy who thrived under the pressure of New York and become a fan favorite. Cabrera has a good eye at the plate and has been terrific in important situations. He never stopped battling in key at bats against elite pitchers in big games. Melky also emerged as a top defender in the outfield in terms of both range and arm.
Chien-Ming Wang: Wang has been a consistent pitcher since he was called up from the minors in 2005. In 2006, he emerged as a legitimate ace. Joe Torre could count on Wang to pitch a good game every fifth day. He was the kind of frontline starter that the team has tried to find by spending a ton of money on in recent years. However, Wang makes the baseball equivalent of slave wages.
Scott Proctor: Proctor always had the ability to become a solid pitcher. In 2006 he finally put it all together, sacrificing some velocity on his fastball to add a lot of movement. Proctor was incredibly durable, leading baseball in innings pitched by a reliever. Many pundits waited for his arm to tire out. However, it never happened. Proctor’s finest hour this season came in the five game series in Boston when Joe Torre called on him time after time to get big outs, and Scott never showed any fatigue. There clearly is the chance that this season was a fluke and Proctor will regress next season. However, given his durability this year, it is worth the risk to bring him back. If he can duplicate his 2006, the Yankees will struggle to find something as valuable in return. Good, cheap relievers are hard to find.
Mike Mussina: Moose put together a big year for New York. He is not an ace at this point of his career, but he is still a capable starter who has delivered for the Yanks in big spots. He is a creature of habit. Mike is still tougher than the general perception of him is. The Yanks have a solid starter in Mussina.
Sal Fasano: The Yanks couldn’t ask for much more in a backup catcher. Fasano kept his mouth shut and provided capable defense when called upon. He handles a pitching staff very well.
Miguel Cairo: Cairo did not have a great season statistically. However, he provided competent defense at all four infield positions. He also provided a number of big hits along the way. Miguel did not have many hits, but the ones he did have were significant. He is a better hitter than he showed in 2006, not nearly as bad as his numbers indicated.
Brian Bruney: Bruney is a youngster with a power arm. He did great things after his August callup, earning Joe Torre’s trust in some big spots.
Mike Myers: Myers does what is asked of him. His primary job is to get lefty hitters out in big spots, and he is adept at doing so. Mike is also a durable pitcher, capable of saving the bullpen by pitching in mopup situations.
