Lost Without You

The lyrics to the Robin Thicke song, “Lost Without You” come to mind to describe how much I’m missing baseball season already this year. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting behind home plate, beer in hand, watching Joba Chamberlain spike a flag into the dirt in celebration of the Yanks just winning the World Series. A month has passed and it seems as though I may never hear Frank Sinatra sing “New York, New York” again.

Tonight, my NY Jets destroyed the Indianapolis Colts’ perfect season to keep their playoff hopes alive, which means I’m planning the tailgate bash of the century for their last regular season game at the old Meadowlands stadium. So, obviously, I have other things to think about. Yet, I can’t seem to get the Bombers off my brain. Anyone who knows me, knows that I live for the NY Yankees and Jets, but for some reason spring training can’t come fast enough this year.

With my Spring Training vacation plans in the works, the Yankees are making it so that I may not recognize our team when I arrive in Florida. With the trading block open for business, I was prepared for some of my guys to be gone next year. We would all love to have the same team re-signed for one more year to give the World Series another shot, but that’s just not how baseball works. However, the trades thus far have been baffling to me and most other hardcore Yankees fans. I have faith that Cashman knows what he’s doing, but I’m not sure that, without anything up his sleeve, he’s making the team better.

Halladay goes to the Phillies which almost guarantees that they have a shot at going to the World Series for the 3rd year in a row. Lachey goes to Boston. The Yankees who are criticized for buying all of their winning rosters get who?
Our major pick-up this year so far is Granderson, who I agree, will probably make us better. He’ll probably hit 30+ home runs next year, but if we’re planning on replacing Johnny Damon, he’s no 2nd spot hitter. His OBP is nothing compared to Damon’s and when he’s not smashing those 30 homers, how many times is he going to strike out? Or get walked?

Next, our World Series MVP Matsui gets traded to the Angels, in order to free up our DH position. Ok, I get that we can then rotate the rest of the team into that position and Matsui is getting older with bad knees. However, where the hell did the Angels come from? I was sad to see Matsui go, but I understand why they traded him. Until we picked up Nick Johnson. Really, are you kidding me? Nick Johnson? We already had him and got rid of him. Now we’re paying him $5 million to be our DH. Matsui went for $6.5 million- he wasn’t worth and extra mill over Nick friggin Johnson, come onnn Cashman.

The next trade is really what has kept me up at night, though. Melky Cabrera gets traded to the Braves for Javier Vasquez (along with one of our top pitching prospects and some cash.) ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! Does anyone remember screaming and throwing things at the television when Vasquez was pitching for us the last time? Because I do. Forget “Pride. Power.Pinstripes.” “Been There, Done That. You Sucked.” should be the Yankees motto this year. Granted, Vasquez supposedly got better. His ERA is sick and his numbers are impressive, but he is a National League pitcher. Melky had an unbelievable year this year as the “Walk-Off King,” and his arm is arguably the best in the league. Because he had such a great year, it’s understandable why they would want to trade him. Because if he didn’t follow up, we’d probably be stuck with him. However, for us to trade him, a top pitching prospect, and cash for Vasquez is a complete insult.

I hear that Swisher might be the next to go, and if Damon doesn’t stop drinking Boris’ Kool-Aid, he might be gone too. So, we will be left with virtually no outfield. Cashman, what are you planning??

Although I don’t see the bigger picture yet, I’m sure the Yankees know what they’re doing and I’m counting down the days until I hop on that flight to Florida. Because “I’m lost without you. I can’t help myself. How does it feel? To know that I love you [Yankees].”