Yanks Lose: More Grist for the Mill

Touch pearls, the Yankees lost. Although I would have preferred to see them win on Opening Day, I can't get too excited about yesterday's beat down. There are still 161 games to be played, and I like the Yankees' chances of winning more than their fair share. You wouldn't think that, though, judging from this morning's papers, which have all but eliminated the Yankees from playoff contention. Here are some of the more hysterical reactions from the press, both local and national. 

John Heyman, SI: 

Between Sabathia and Teixeira, the Yankees got zero return on their $341 million investment. 

Bill Madden, New York's Daily News: 

Game One of 2009 seemed all too familiar to 2008, beginning with the starting pitching. This wasn't what anyone envisioned.

Madden's colleague, Anthony McCarron: 

A few more games like this and the Joba Chamberlain-to-the-bullpen clamor will begin anew because the two relievers the Yankees are hoping take over the eighth-inning duties did not perform well.

Joel Sherman, New York Post: 

In a down economic climate, the Yanks invested $341 million on just [Sabathia and Teixeira]. They are not going to feel bad about those decisions at 0-1. However, no one wants to make a bad first impression as a Yankee because the hole is always a little deeper, so deep that many never truly escape.

Mike Celizic, nbcsports.com: 

It’s a good thing for the Yankees that you don’t draw broad conclusions from one game, because if you did, the conclusion would be expressed in two words: they stink [...] the first person whose backside is going to be on the line is the manager, Joe Girardi. This team, built at the Yankees’ customary obscene expense, is build to win now. And in the Yankee worldview, 'now' doesn’t apply just to full seasons. It applies to every game.

The Yankees will try to salvage their season tomorrow night. Until then, take a look here and here for a more reasonable take on yesterday's loss. 

Yankees Skipper Hopes Players' Misspent Youths, PEDs Will Carry Team to the World Series

The talk of Spring Training yesterday was how Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, a longtime enemy of fun and whimsy, cancelled practice and took the team to Peabody's, downtown Tampa's finest strip club (Ed. Note: pool hall) to shoot some 8-ball. Girardi said the outing was planned to help bring the team together, and to give the guys a little break from the daily grind of baseball-related matters.  "There's a lot of other sports that do these types of things," said Giradi, who spilt the team into pairs for two separate two-on-two tournaments. "We can get away from the park and enjoy each other off the field and get to know each other."

Girardi's publicity stunt seemed to have worked, too. At least until the team has to face opposing pitchers. Gushed Johnny Damon: "Today is one of those days that, as a ballplayer, you'll never forget." 

Newly minted Mark Teixeira agreed with the hyperbolic Damon. “That was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in spring training in my whole career." Unfortunately, Tex's enthusiasm lasted until he was paired with Alex Rodriguez, who lived up to his ever-sinking reputation by failing to get out of the first round. Once Tex got rid of A-Rod, however, he advanced to the round of 16 with partner Robinson Cano. 

Mariano Rivera won both tournaments-- first with Phil Coke, and, later, with Andy Pettitte. In addition to demonstrating his keen cue-handling abilities, Rivera also showed off his casual, Obama-inspired outfit.  

Girardi, who admitted he wasn't as approachable or even as likable as the unflappable Joe Torre, took a page from Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin, another notorious hardass who traded in his red-faced intensity for a sunny-side-up demeanor, an attitude adjustment a number of Giants later credited for helping the team win the Super Bowl. That and the emergence of Justin Tuck. 

While I'm all for team-building exercises, I wouldn't put too much stock in yesterday's pool outing. The baseball season is long and grueling. No matter how many field trips the Yankees schedule between now and October, it won't make a lick of difference if the starting rotation fails to deliver, or A-Rod once again withers under the intense media spotlight.