Written by Greg Fertel
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31 March 2007
I don't think that I've ever been this anxious for opening day to begin. I've been a baseball folllower all my life, but didn't really become a fanatic until the begining of the 2002 season. I had casually watched the Yankees in my youth. I was in the Stadium when Tino hit the huge grand slam against the Padres in 1998. I listened to the crowds scream "We want the Mets!" in 2000 against the Mariners. I became a fanatic watching the 2001 World Series against the Diamondbacks. More specifically, I became a fanatic in Game 4 when Tino Martinez hit the game tying home run against B-K Kim, and the whole city of New York went insane.
But going back to where I started, I don't remember ever being this anxious for the season to start. I've recognized this anxiety for awhile, but I couldn't pinpoint it's source until last night.
After 2001, the Yankees seemed hungry for another win. Obviously they would, because they had just won three straight and lost in the final inning of game 7. After 2002, the disappointment of losing in the first round brought fire to the Yankee's eyes. After 2003, the disappointment of losing to a young, upstart, largely inferior team in the World Series, and the infusion of new talent brought a lot of change. After 2004, the embarassment of a loss to the Boston Red Sox put a chip on their shoulders. After 2005, the grave disappointment of Randy Johnson provided some kind of blame, or excuse, for the loss.
However, I get a feeling of
acceptance heading in to this year. I could image the Yankees in their clubhouse saying "Hey, we can't win them all". And I
hate that. I can't take it. I'm a pretty competitive guy - ok, an obsessively competitive guy. I feel the emotional swings with my team when they win and lose. I want the Yankees to be bashing water coolers when they strike out. I want the Yankees to feel an empty space in their heart after every loss that doesn't get filled until they win again. I want them to feel crushed when they get eliminated from the playoffs, and come in to camp with an inward anger to turn loose on the league. I want them to do everything in their effort to win 162 games.
Am I unreasonable? Maybe. But I miss the good old days when the entire league shrunk in fear when they played the Yankees. I miss being the unquestionable favorite to win every playoff series. I miss watching a team that did not just set a goal to win the World Series at the begining of every year - they
believed that they would.
The front office of the team is getting smarter. One of the reasons that a guy like me is in business is that Brian Cashman has become dedicated to developing young players. Phil Hughes, Jose Tabata, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Austin Jackson will be the next Pettitte, Jeter, Bernie, Mariano, and Posada. Or at least we hope they will.
The Yankees enter camp as the betting man's favorite to be the strongest team in the American League. Baseball Prospectus has it right. All we need now is a little Hope and Faith.
The minor league season is still a short distance away. My plan is to make this blog the absolute best one stop shop for New York Yankee minor league news, commentary, and analysis. Take that Mike! And Fabian! These guys may be better writers than I, but I shall take them down through sheer force of effort and volume! Ok, probably not... but I can promise to try my hardest for you guys.
