Oh How The Mighty Will Fall

The New York Yankees will not win the World Series in 2009. They have the management. They have the coaching. They have the talent. What they don't have right now, is competition. A few weeks ago it was obvious that the Yankees could put on the afterburners and just coast into October. That seems to be just what they're doing. The Yankees are just walking into the postseason right now, and they will not win the World Series.

Sunday night I watched as Johnny Damon caught a fly ball in the outfield. He then proceeded to turn and throw the ball into the stands. This would have been completely acceptable if there had been three outs in the inning and it would not have allowed one of the Orioles runners to score from second base. Normally I would not think much of this. Damon has done this before, it's just a mental mistake that is part of his game. But there are a plethora of many things the Yankees are doing that are causing me to question their playoff spirit.

The next night Melky Cabrera cost the Yankees a run when he ran into Angels third baseman, Chone Figgins. Big bats got the Yankees through the game and eventually got them the win but the mental mistakes are beginning to add up, and this is not the time for that to happen.

The brawl from last night just about sums it up. If you're Jorge Posada you have to expect that you are going to get thrown at in that situation. Two of the Blue Jays players had just been hit, and the Blue Jays have nothing to lose. The Yankees on the other hand have everything to lose. An injury could have occurred in that brawl, your manager got punched in the face, and not to mention your starting catcher is going to be suspended. To me, having anything throw you off in the final two weeks of the regular season doesn't seem like a good thing.

The Red Sox (the team the Yankees will more than likely play in the first round) seem to have everything going for them, and the timing could not be better. With the strong outing from Daisuke Matzuzaka last night, and the incredible hot streak they have been on, matched up with the extreme pressure the Rangers are placing on them in the Wild Card Race, i have no doubt that the Red Sox will be geared up and ready to go for the Yankees in the American League Division Series.

The New York Yankees will not win the World Series.