The New York Yankees are the first team to advance in the postseason this year with their 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins, who will spend another long, cold winter trying to figure out what went wrong again.
The Yankees dominated the Twins in all aspects of the game and appear poised to retain their title as World Series Champions.
While our seasons in Seattle have been dismal as of late, I have a hunch the Twins fans actually have suffered more over the last decade than us. The Twins always put a quality team together and yet always seem to look more like the Mariners once they face the Yankees. Hard to say if the lack of slugger Justin Morneau would have made the difference this year as the Yankees just have too much talent and confidence for most clubs.
The Texas Rangers, who lost today 6-3, conceivably have a strong enough offense to take down the Bronx Bombers, but they still have to get by the scrappy Rays before we can have that discussion.
I would be lying if I was to tell you I hate the Yankees like most Seattle fans. Yes they beat us in our last trip to the ALCS in 2001, and yes they have way to much money, but I love the excellence that they represent.
My grandfather Gordon “Dusty” Rhodes made his debut with the Yankees in 1929 and was traded halfway through the 1932 season before the Yankees went on to beat Chicago in the Series where Ruth made his famous called home run.
I could be bitter, but the Yankees did vote a thousand dollar share of the World series money to my Grandfather in the middle of the depression when a thousand bucks was no chump-change, and for that my family has always been grateful.
So yes it is official, I am on the Yankees bandwagon for the rest of the postseason. My heart goes-out to Ron Gardenhire and the Twins for another valiant effort, but I am going back to my Yankees roots for the rest of the way.
Yes, I know the San Francisco Giants are interesting with native son Tim Lincecum and the young phenom “Buster Posey” (what a great baseball name!) but after the loss to the Braves in the 11th on the homer by Rick Ankiel, I just don’t see the Giants making it to the Big Dance. If they do I may be a little more open-minded on the subject, but I love the Core Four and their supporting cast from the Big Apple.
On a final note I have noticed that my already marginal fan base has dropped like a rock since the Mariners finished their season. In fact I went to a Sports Bar tonight to watch the game and had to plead with the staff to get the Yankees game on. When they say Seattle isn’t a baseball town, I guess this is what they mean.
Now, I am not saying that everyone needs to root for the Yankees, but there is some great games being played with more to come. Perhaps it is a case where most folks just personalize their home team with some sort of ego attachment and don’t really appreciate or love the game in its purest form ie the postseason. This is a sad commentary on us here in “Mayberry with skyscrapers” and makes us look so provincial.
So if you are reading this, call a friend and get them over to watch this next couple weeks of baseball, I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
http://jeffsmariners.com
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