New York Yankees - Sentimental Favorites (1 Viewer)

[LarryDavenport]

No offense, but the Yankees still suck!
Before last Tuesday, if you asked fans around the American League (and the National League for that matter) what team they reviled the most, the answer was most likely to be the New York Yankees. Nothing personal (though maybe personal for Red Sox fans) but I think the average baseball fan had grown tired of these perennial winners. Come the September trading deadline, it wasn't uncommon for owner George Steinbrenner to go out and overpay for most of the available talent, even when they didn't need to (example, Jose Canseco in 2000). This takes nothing away from the skill of the Yankee players. They were indeed the best when they won those 4 series in 5 years. But it's not hard to field the best team when you out pay your nearest competitor by 40 million dollars a year.
Since the attack on the WTC last Tuesday, I have heard many commentators, and read many columnists say, "Now the Yankees are the sentimental favorite to win the ALCS and the World Series." I call shenanigans on that. I have the utmost sympathy for those who lost there lives in NYC, at The Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, and not an hour of a day has gone by since last Tuesday that I haven't grieved for those poor souls and their families. I can't imagine their pain. I hope I never have to experience it. But that has nothing to do with the Yankees.
I am a Mariners fan, and as a Mariners fan I have a history of disliking the Yankees (I wouldn't say I hate them. I reserve those feelings for the Braves).
Personally, I hope that the Yankees win the East (I can't imagine the Red Sox making a comeback with all the turmoil and injuries they've suffered), and I hope the Yankees beat the A's in 5 (the M's haven't played the A's since before the All-Star break, so who knows how they stack up). Hopefully the Mariners continue their momentum and face the Yankees for a rematch of last years ALCS. And hopefully, Al Martin won't be dropping 2-out fly balls in left field, and Arthur Rhodes won't serve up lobs to David Justice again, and my Mariners will win and beat whomever in the World Series (I'm hoping for SF or Arizona).
I have tickets for the playoffs and the Series and am looking forward to going. I truly hope we get to face the Yankees and that we see some good games. And I look forward to booing Paul O'Neil, because despite what happened last week at the WTC, he's still a whiny little wuss.
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These chicks know how to party! - MoJo JoJo

 

[brentl]

I'm just hoping tha they don't win again. It' been along time since the Jays won one, an I wonder why...
Oh wait ...not enough money!
I's one thing to field a team of nonames and make a winner out of them. It's another to throw lots of money at it just to win.
I don't think this would be considered a legacy if their payroll is %40 higher than the next mearest competitor.
LL cool B
Not sure of exact %s by the way

 

[PatrickM]

I hope the Mariners win too but not because I like them. Actually I hate them but I do love going to Safeco to see them.
I want them to win so they can stuff it up A-Wad's butt. I don't blame him for taking the money but if your going for the money just say so and don't give us this BS about wanting to win. Do like Manny Ramirez did. He said he was going for the bucks and he did.
I'm a Blue Jays fan and there's no way their going to win one soon with the payroll they have (and the pitching).
Patrick
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My DVD Collection

 

[Rob Willey]

Ha! "New York Yankees" and "Sentimental Favorites". Two phrases I never thought I'd see together.
They'll never be "favorites" to me. Of any kind.
Rob
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"That suits me down to the ground."

 

[Robert Crawford]

They'll never be "favorites" to me. Of any kind.

Rob,
Remember, you're riding with me in LA!

Crawdaddy
New York Yankees Fan
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[Ricky Hustle]

I'd say that the New York Mets were the sentimental favorites. Nice gesture by the players to wear NYPD and NYFD hats for their first game back.
Ah heck, any New York team winning is OK by me, I was born in the Bronx.

[Edited last by Rick Gregorio on September 19, 2001 at 06:14 PM]

 

[Patrick_S]

Crawdaddy
New York Yankees Fan

Just goes to show that nobodies perfect.
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[Robert Crawford]

Just goes to show that nobodies perfect.

Only if they're not Yankees fans!

Crawdaddy
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[Dana Fillhart]

Yanks' magic # is down to 7; I believe that no matter what happens after that, it's practically a sure thing they'll be fighting Seattle.
While my heart and soul go to NY, my rational mind must say that Seattle at this point in time has a better team, and may very well whup my beloved Yanks.
But then, the Yanks always do seem to "turn it on" in October, so...we'll see!
Go Yanks!

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[John Thomas]

A few comments first:
I'd agree that the Mets are the sentimental favorites. I suppose it has something to do with the news coverage of them/John Franco and that the staging area for the rescue was from Shea Stadium. Imagine the Mets actually winning the NL East. They've actually fought back into contention and are only 5 games behind the Braves at this point.

"Success breeds contempt": I don't care for the Yanks either, but damn, I respect what they've done. Any team that can consistently win deserves respect. The Chicago Bulls of the 90's, Lakers/Celtics of the 80's, Cowboys (GOD I hated them) of the mid 90s; whether you liked them or not, they won and that's why they play the game.
The American League just isn't all that exciting now. All the divisions are pretty much wrapped up with Yanks, Indians and Mariners going into October with Oakland being assured the wildcard. The National League, however, is going down to the wire. My beloved St.Louis Cardinals are atop the Wildcard as of today (2 games ahead of the Giants). Right now, I'd say they are the strongest team in the NL right now and would go to the World Series if the playoffs started tomorrow.
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The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. -Franklin D. Roosevelt.
My Top 10 of 2000 My Top 10 of 2001
[Edited last by John Thomas on September 20, 2001 at 03:02 AM]

 

[McPaul]

GO METS!!
-- from a Mariners fan.
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THAT'S just EVIL!!!! and EVIL is WRONG!!!!!

 

[Brian Perry]

The Mariners are simply incredible! They are now 106-40 and need to go "only" 10-6 to tie the all-time record for most wins in a season. It's amazing considering this is a non-expansion year, and that Seattle plays its unbalanced schedule in arguably the best division in the American League.
On top of it all, they seem to be a classy group of players and coaches. I respect the Yankees (especially the coaches) but would love to see Seattle knock them off this year.
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Home Theater Pictures
[Edited last by Brian Perry on September 20, 2001 at 05:37 AM]

 

[James RD]

Hmmm. Who was the Yankees toughest playoff rival last year? Who will they most likely meet in the first round? Go A's!!!

 

[Rob Willey]

Rob,
Remember, you're riding with me in LA!
Crawdaddy
New York Yankees Fan

That's OK, Crawdaddy, I'm not prejudiced.
Rob
Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics Fan

 

[Seth Paxton]

Poor Crawdaddy, stuck with a Dodger AND Red Sox fan. Ughhh.
I love the Yanks, but I can certainly understand why so many have had enough of them. I would like them a lot more if they didn't have Clemens and Knobby, no matter what they have done for the team.
BUT, don't tell me that if the Yanks won and it came back to a ticker-tape parade situation that it wouldn't be seriously emotional for the whole country.
BTW, sorry M's fans. I enjoy the team (I drafted Ichiro for my fantasy team and had the mania even in pre-season - plus Edgar and Suzuki as well), I got to see them play the A's (and lose) about a week before All-Star break (great park btw), and I am impressed with what they have done. The A's just look red hot right now. I see them as the current favs coming out of the AL actually with the way they are playing right now.
It's a tough call between D'backs pitching and the Astros hitting, although baseball instincts tell me that Arizona has the advantage there. However, the Stros have been playing some great ball.
A's/Astros. I just can't imagine that. But I can't imagine the M's in a World Series at all, so go figure. I'm torn between my instincts of who is hot versus what teams "normally" get to the WS.
It sure will be a damn shame if Sammy and Barry both get shut out of the playoffs.

 

[Patrick_S]

quote: BUT, don't tell me that if the Yanks won and it came back to a ticker-tape parade situation that it wouldn't be seriously emotional for the whole country.[/quote]
Sorry but I'll be the first to tell you it wouldn't. It would if the Yanks hadn’t won in years but since they have dominated recently, even with the tragedy of this year, a series championship wouldn't be the type of emotional story that would captivate the whole country.
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[Edited last by Patrick_S on September 21, 2001 at 03:12 AM]

 

[Robert Crawford]

Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics Fan

Rob,
Trying to cover all your bases?????

Crawdaddy
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[LarryDavenport]

We'll see how the M's do against the A's this weekend. I understand why Lou gave all the starters off yesterday, the day after they clinche the West. But they need to show that they can dominate this weekend (plus they need to continue their streak of not having lost an away series in more than a year).
I also think that it's a mistake to autmatically give Aaron Sele the third start in the playoffs/series when Abbott and Pinero have pitched so much better. Since the fiasco against the Indians (will ESPN stop showing that ?!?) Sele hasn't pitched very well.
I am crossing my fingers so the Twins will come back and win the Central so we don't have to see that damned clip again, and so I don't have to see that whiny Little O again.
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These chicks know how to party! - MoJo JoJo

 

[Rob Willey]

Rob,
Trying to cover all your bases?????

Nope, just providing my bona fides why I'll never look on the Yankees in the role of favorites.
Really, it's just a coincidence that all three of my teams have rivalries with the NYY.
Rob
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"That suits me down to the ground."

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

I'd say that the New York Mets were the sentimental favorites. Nice gesture by the players to wear NYPD and NYFD hats for their first game back.

It was an even nicer gesture when they donated their approximately $500,000.00 payroll from Friday night's game to a fund for the victims' families. Of course, no gesture this week topped what the Braves did. For those of you who tuned in late and missed the opening ceremonies, the Braves demonstrated the ideal of national unity and the spirit of harmony between all of the ethnic groups that make up this great country, by burning John Rocker at a stake on the pitcher's mound during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Regards,
Joe