I'm still in shock. It seemed like a better team this year -- last year, I was upset that they lost in the last inning of the last game of the World Series, but the Yanks had basically gotten there on a wing and a prayer as it was. This year seemed like a more solid team, but I never saw them play as sloppily this year as they did against the Angels. The thought crossed my mind more than once while watching today's debacle that they were throwing the game -- that's how badly they were playing. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but they just didn't seem to have it this postseason.
I think they played like a team, who simply wasn't hungey enough, to want to win. After all, Mondesi said this past week, he will be retiring after making $13 million in 2003. That doesn't sound like something Paul O'Neil would say. Now does it?
Just my opinion, but Jeff Weaver seems like he could care less what's happening. Injuries to Rivera, Clemens and Pettite really hurt the pitching staff. And Karsay is a bum.
Bottom line. There are not many Yanks, who have the killer instinct and that desire to win. Aside from Jeter, whose a leader on the Yankees? Berine? No. Soriano? No. Posada? No. White? No. I already said Giambi, Mondesi and Ventura aren't leaders either. Think about it. And pitchers aren't usually looked at for team leadership. Inspiration and field domination, yes. But leadership, not really.