MLB Head to Head - New York Yankees Sports Apr 1, 2001, 08:33 By Nick Wyldewood and Jim Geraghty http://www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com

Should you bet on the Yankees to repeat their
Subway Series heroics, or has their time passed?
See which of our pundits you agree with.

2001 will not be the year for the New York Yankees.  They will not win the World Series.  Why Not?
Because they just don't have enough steam to make it happen again.  This aging team is showing signs of slowing down and it will take more than a few trades to reinvigorate it.  This team was ripe to win in 2000, but will be overripe in 2001.

The Yankees have been taking on water, offensively and defensively from a number of key positions over the past few seasons.  These positions include 3rd base (Scott Brosius), 1st base (Tino Martinez), Right field (Paul O'Neill), and 2nd base (Chuck Knoblauck).  Combined with the aging pitching staff, including Roger Clemens and David Cone, the team is simply not what it used to be.

I am sure that you know the poignant argument than an aging roster is not as important in baseball as it is in other sports and that experience is still better than youth.  You will also hear that even with the current roster and the deficiencies it has the Yankees still won when they needed to.  You will hear that the Yankees with their unlimited budget will buy new players to replace the ineffective ones.  You will hear that Joe Toree is one of the best managers in baseball and will be able to lead anyone to victory.  All true.  However, what those arguments do not take into consideration is the strength of the rest of the league.  The Yankees were fortunate to make it into the playoffs this year after a disastrous end to the season.  They finished with the worst record of any division leader in the league; in fact they finished with the worst record of any team in the 2000 playoffs.  Many of the other teams are hot on their trail with youth and experience and will certainly be putting up a better show next post season than they did this past one.  The end of the season can be used as a trend line for the Yankees, and this trend is in a downward direction.  It is becoming clear that this team is losing its energy and drive, while younger teams who have not tasted victory as much are more driven each day to beat the Yanks.  It is clear to every team in the American league who they should be gunning for.  The Yankees will be lucky to end the season with a winning record this year.  Right now they are the target on the MLB range and it is just a matter of time before they are shot down.

You can take your pick which teams will be in the playoffs and what two teams will be in the Worlds Series, just don't expect another Yankee championship, however don't be surprised if the championship does stay in New York.

The New York Yankees are still the team to beat in Major League Baseball and will be for years to come.  I think the Yankees will make it four in a row when they grab the title again at the end of the 2001 baseball season.  In today's era of free agency and big money contracts, many say it is difficult to keep a quality product year in and year out as the Yankees have been doing, but I disagree.  If you have the means to give the players what they are looking for and allow them to compete for the title each year, where else would they want to be?

The Yanks are one of the few teams in baseball with the dowry to compete for the high-priced talent in Major League Baseball.  Combine that with the most respected staff of scouts in baseball and a proven coach and general manager, where will they go wrong.  Sure injuries to key players could cause the Yanks to stumble, but they'll quickly regain their footing.  One of their strongest footholds is the Yank's farm system that has done an excellent job producing talent in the past as evidenced by Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.  You can be sure that the Yankees will continue to maintain one of the best farm systems in baseball.  This focus on developing players will keep the Yankees on top for years to come and bless them with the ability to nurture talent and develop players to offer in trade without hurting the nucleus of their team.  So many teams go out and grab high priced vets only to get caught without young talent to develop and or trade to boost their line-up.  The Yanks have the best of both worlds and Big George likes it that way.

Steinbrenner has put together a quality organization that any sports franchise can model itself after.  Of course they are in the number one market in the country with a television contract that is second to none.  Sure this allows them to pay the big dollars, but it doesn't bring championships.  That is due to a quality management team and scouting staff.  Look at all the other teams that have tried to buy championships in professional sports.  They always seem to come up short.  Every year the Dodgers bring in a new big-time free agent only to miss the playoffs by a fraction.  The Yanks understand that development cannot be ignored and that having a well-rounded team in all areas rather than a few superstars, wins championships.

The end is nowhere in sight for this outstanding organization that has won three consecutive World Series and four of the last five.  We all know how outstanding an achievement it is to win a championship in professional sports, let alone to do it three in a row.  With the rate of injury being less of a factor in baseball than in other major sports, the Yankees have an excellent chance to be right in the hunt again and possibly win four consecutive World Titles.  I certainly wouldn't bet against it!