This is part one of a two part series, looking back on the drought years of 2002-2008. Today we look at the position players, while tomorrow we look at the pitchers.
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| Our feelings exactly. |
After the Yankees embarrassed the Mets by celebrating on their own field, the Yankees would not win another World Series for eight seasons. Some called it
the curse of the rings, since following that 2000 World Series the Yankees organization didn't give out rings to certain scouts and front office personnel. But the real reason behind not winning a title was poor
choices by the front office. In the early part of the 2000's the Yankees traded away prospects, the same way they were spending cash on aging veteran players. Eventually the Yanks began to build up the farm system, starting once Brian Cashman took over control of the entire organization. The reckless spending continued, but it looks like that too has caught up to the Yankees, who vow to no longer hand out ridiculous contracts. But here is to the all reckless spending/ poor trades team from 2002 to 2008, with the worst team money could buy.
Catcher: Wil Nieves- This is a tough one since Jorge Posada spent alot of time behind the dish during this time. But Nieves was suppose to be the back up catcher in 2007, but he was so bad the Yanks instead played Posada to death and eventually traded for Jose Molina. During his time in pinstripes Nieves hit just .141.
First base: Travis Lee- The immediate Question is what?!?! Well Lee was paid $2 million bucks to play in just seven games. He had just two hits during those games, and then got hurt with a torn shoulder labrum.
Second base: Tony Womack- Womack had a nice 2004 season, so the Yanks decided they would go with him to fill the void left by Miguel Cairo. Womack was so bad at second that the Yanks sent him to the outfield to bring up Robinson Cano. Womack hit for no power, a poor average and still played poor defense in the outfield. All that for a WAR of -1.7 and $2 million in Tony's pocket.
Third base: Todd Zeile- Some Yankee fans would like to see Alex Rodriguez in this spot. Sure A-Rod had his postseason struggles, and signed an enormous extension that looks awful, but he did win a championship in 2009. Zeile was just plain awful, he hit at the mendoza line and was eventually released.
Shortstop: Erick Almonte- Jeter was always at shortstop except for that short time in 2003 when Almonte had to fill in for the injures shortstop. Almonte held his own, but this is to wishing that Jeter never gets hurt again.
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2005 ALDS Game 5
A low light for Sheff and the Yanks. |
Right field: Gary Sheffield- How can a guy who had over 30 homers and 120 RBIs in his first two seasons with the Yankees be on the worst list? Well the Yanks could have gone after Vlad Guerrerro who was the better play from the start, but Sheffields decline in pinstripes began in May of 2006 when he hurt his wrist and would miss most of the season. During that time the Yanks went out and traded for Bobby Abreu, once Sheff returned from injury, he wasn't too pleased that Abreu had taken his spot, but he moved to first base and did his best at the position. Sheffield Struggled once he returned and the Yanks eventually would trade him that off season. After leaving Sheffield bashed Joe Torre and the Yanks organization, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of Yankee fans.
Center field: Kenny Lofton- Bernie Williams was getting older and the Yankees felt that Kenny Lofton would be a good fit to play centerfield. The two were suppose to split time, but Bernie would gain more time once Lofton would spend time on the DL on two separate trips. Lofton never seemed to buy into the platoon role, and when he left he made sure to knock Joe Torre and the Yankees.
Left field: Xavier Nady- The Yankees were falling fast in 2008 and needed something to save them, they called on former-Met, Xavier Nady. Nady was actually pretty good during his time with the Yanks in 2008, and was set to be the starting rightfielder in 2009, but he blew out his shoulder. What looks so bad is that the Yanks traded away Jose Tabata, Daniel McCutchen and Ross Ohlendorf for Nady and Damaso Marte, two players that didn't help them in 2008 and were hurt in much of 2009.
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| We will always remember the mustache. |
Desingnated hitter: Jason Giambi- Let me start off saying I always like Giambi personally, when the Yankees first signed him in 2002, I admit I rooted against him cause I was a big Tino Martinez fan. But over time I began to like "The dancing bear", with that said Giambi did have a tough Yankee career. He battled numerous injuries, including a benign tumor in 2004, he also apologized for taking steroids, but never actually said what he was apologizing for. Giambi was labeled as a guy who could hit but not play defense, and after his first two seasons that held true. The Yanks were always looking to find someone to replace him in the late innings for defense. Giambi may have been a nice guy, but was over paid and didn't live up to the hype.
Come back tomorrow for the best/ or worst (depending on how you look it) pitchers from 2002-2008.
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