CHAMPS!

Here are some of thoughts to consider on the heels of our 27th World Series Championship.

• Give Brian Cashman his credit – not only did Cashman bring in the right free agents but he also made the right trades and, more importantly, passed on the right trades as well.  Not only do we have a 2009 World Series title but we still have Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Melky Cabrera, Jesus Montero, etc.  Winning and rebuilding simultaneously is one of the hardest things to do in sports and, after a few years of coming up short with this plan, Cashman can finally shake the haters off of him.
• Speaking of haters….- they’re going to be out in droves talking about money this, money that, buying championships and the same noise that we’ve been hearing since 2002.  I’m not going to apologize to anybody for spending the money that we need to acquire the pieces necessary for us to make a run at championships.  However, it is nice to finally hear people use that knock against us after we actually do win a championship.
• Home grown players – obviously the signings of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira overshadowed everything leading into the season and they made huge contributions all season.  Even with the presence of our new toys, you can’t overlook the contributions from our young guys like Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Dave Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Coke, Alfredo Aceves, Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner; guys that came over in trades such as Nick Swisher and A-Rod (despite his mongloidious contract, we still needed to send over Alfonso Soriano, a home grown player, to acquire him); and, of course, the “core four” of Jeter, Pettitte, Posada and Mo.
• 2004 – they say time heals all wounds.  Winning certainly doesn’t hurt either.  With the win last night, we can erase a significant chunk of the pain that remains from the 2004 ALCS.

Even though we, as fans, don’t get a fat ring drowning in diamonds or a check with a couple of commas, it is still hard to downplay the excitement that comes with your team being No. 1.  Now we sit back, enjoy the off-season and get ready to repeat.

Tags: Brian Cashman, World Series Champions