Well well, we've got another World Series Championship for the Yankees. Can't say I'm happy, can't say I'm surprised.
What's worse? I think the Yankees will only go up from here. Yes, they are getting old, and the nucleus of Jeter, Posada, Rivera and Pettitte can't last forever - but while it does, I think they will continue to be interesting, and continue to break records.
Consider the following numbers:
Reaching 3,000 hits is an extremely rare feat in baseball. Only Rickey Henderson, Craig Biggio and Rafael Palmeiro (and Cal Ripken in the opening days of 2000) reached the mark this decade.
At last year's pace, active hits leader Ken Griffey Jr. would need to play 3 more years to get there - not going to happen.
So, amongst all active players, who are the most likely to reach the mark?
1. Derek Jeter
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Johnny Damon
Barring injury, Jeter should put up close to 200 hits again next season and should break 3,000 around June of 2011. And even if A-Rod continues to skip significant portions of the season, he'll break 3,000 with 4 more years of 120 hits each (projected by 2013 or earlier). Easy as cake. Damon may not be with the Yankees for the rest of his career, but even if he moves on, he should join that club with 4 years of 144 hits or more (and by the way, he's had at least that many hits each of the last 12 years).
There will be a few others amongst the top 20 active players who might come close. Pudge Rodriguez would need 3 more good seasons but I don't think teams will continue to put him behind the plate. 37-year-olds Garrett Anderson and Manny Ramirez are both 500 away, and I guess there's a chance one of them plays until they are 42, but I doubt it. Ditto Chipper Jones (also 37), who needs 600 more. Vlad Guerrero is more likely to be in a wheelchair before he collects 751 more hits... you get the picture.
Also, don't forget that the moment Griffey retires, ARod will be right on his tail on the All-Time Homerun list as well. And don't get me started on pitching - If Mariano Rivera can pitch two years longer than Trevor Hoffman, he'll probably become the all-time saves leader (Rivera is 39, Hoffman 41).
So, in addition to all the drama - ticket prices, Kate Hudson and the like - we'll have plenty of Yankee headlines on the forefront.
Sigh.
What's worse? I think the Yankees will only go up from here. Yes, they are getting old, and the nucleus of Jeter, Posada, Rivera and Pettitte can't last forever - but while it does, I think they will continue to be interesting, and continue to break records.
Consider the following numbers:
Reaching 3,000 hits is an extremely rare feat in baseball. Only Rickey Henderson, Craig Biggio and Rafael Palmeiro (and Cal Ripken in the opening days of 2000) reached the mark this decade.
At last year's pace, active hits leader Ken Griffey Jr. would need to play 3 more years to get there - not going to happen.
So, amongst all active players, who are the most likely to reach the mark?
1. Derek Jeter
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Johnny Damon
Barring injury, Jeter should put up close to 200 hits again next season and should break 3,000 around June of 2011. And even if A-Rod continues to skip significant portions of the season, he'll break 3,000 with 4 more years of 120 hits each (projected by 2013 or earlier). Easy as cake. Damon may not be with the Yankees for the rest of his career, but even if he moves on, he should join that club with 4 years of 144 hits or more (and by the way, he's had at least that many hits each of the last 12 years).
There will be a few others amongst the top 20 active players who might come close. Pudge Rodriguez would need 3 more good seasons but I don't think teams will continue to put him behind the plate. 37-year-olds Garrett Anderson and Manny Ramirez are both 500 away, and I guess there's a chance one of them plays until they are 42, but I doubt it. Ditto Chipper Jones (also 37), who needs 600 more. Vlad Guerrero is more likely to be in a wheelchair before he collects 751 more hits... you get the picture.
Also, don't forget that the moment Griffey retires, ARod will be right on his tail on the All-Time Homerun list as well. And don't get me started on pitching - If Mariano Rivera can pitch two years longer than Trevor Hoffman, he'll probably become the all-time saves leader (Rivera is 39, Hoffman 41).
So, in addition to all the drama - ticket prices, Kate Hudson and the like - we'll have plenty of Yankee headlines on the forefront.
Sigh.
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