Nov 16 2009
J-Speaks: The 2009 World Series Champion New York Yankees
To become a champion of your sport, particularly in the pros, it takes a number of factors. Great coaching, a core group of players who take the team mantra to heart and expect the rest of the team to do the same, the emergence of a unknown player to the public but someone well known in the confides of the team, a well known player emerging at key moments when he has failed in the past and most important management who works behind the scenes to give the team the best chance to win. It is because of these factors that the New York Yankees, in their new stadium into the late night of Wednesday Nov. 4, reached their goal.
At about 11:49 p.m. in front of 50,315 fans and many others watching on television, the Bronx Bombers defeated the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 7-3 to win the Fall Classic 4-2 and claim their 27th World Series, the most in the four major North American professional sports. It was the team’s first champion crown since 2000 when they defeated the cross town rival New York Mets in five games.
One of the major reasons the Yankees were able to win their 27th title was because of the 2009 World Series Most Valuable Player, Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui.
In just Game 6 alone, the first full-time DH to win MVP hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning, a two-run single in the 3rd inning and a two-run double in the 5th inning. Along with his three hits in the contest, he drove home six runs, which tied a World Series record with Bobby Richardson in the 1960 World Series between in the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees. While Richardson captured MVP honors, the Yankees lost the series 4-3. This time around, the Yanks won behind Matsui’s who went 8 for 13 (.615) at the plate, three homers and eight runs batted in.
“It’s an awesome. It’s just unbelievable. I’m surprised myself,” Matsui said to FOX Sports’ Chris Rose after the game. “It’s certainly different. All I can say right now is I feel great. I’m so happy right now.”
Matusi who also won three baseball titles in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (1994, 2000, 2002) and became a free agent at the end of the series added, “I hope it all works out that way. I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here. I hope everything works out well. I’m just happy right now.”
Another big reason for the Yankees winning their first title in nine years is because of the “Core 4” that have been the anchor of the greatest franchise of professional sports, pitcher Andy Pettitte, shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera.
The fabulous foursome, who will one day be immortalized in Yankee lore and in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, each made solid contributions in the postseason and particularly in the World Series.
Jeter, who became the Yankees all-time leading hitter earlier this season, had a .344 batting average, hit three home runs and drove in six runs.
“It’s good to be back. This is right where it belongs. It is special,” said Jeter. “We heard a lot of predictions coming into this series. Our team went on the field. We played the game the right way and we deserved to be standing here right now.”
Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and closer Mariano Rivera each added another chapter to their glorious postseason careers.
With victories in Game 3 and Game 6 of the Fall Classic, Pettitte brought his record to 18-9 in the postseason. The 18 victories, by the 15-year veteran are the most of any major league pitcher in postseason history.
“I’m a benefit of all of the great teams I’ve been on. I’ve had a lot of postseason starts. I’ve had a lot of wonderful players surrounding me. Got a lot of people praying for me continuously,” said Pettitte who rejoined the Yankees in 2007 after three season with the Houston Astros and his first Yankee stint from 1995-2003.
“I tried to give it my all tonight; tried to get locked in. I felt like I shuffled again, but we got through it, we got a win. Mo [Rivera] closing it out. I got one for the thumb.”
Speaking of Rivera, in his four appearances in the 2009 World Series, he recorded saves in Games 2 and 4. His record in the postseason is 8-1 with a 0.75 earned run average. With his two saves in the World Series, he now has 39 saves in 44 chances. He has recorded 106 strikeouts and has allowed only 20 men to reach base safely on walks.
How important has Rivera been to the Yankees? They have had a four run lead, including Game 6 of the World Series, 204 times when Rivera is on the mound, they have lost just once.
“You can’t describe it,” Rivera said after the game. “It’s a rush that you go through your whole body and you know it’s over.”
A major cog in Rivera being able to keep batters off balance in the clutch is catcher and fellow 15-year veteran Jorge Posada.
It is because of him that not only Rivera has been great throughout his career, but he was a major reason that the new acquisitions from this past off season C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the winner of Game 2 that got the Yankees back into the series, were able to thrive.
“These guys did it. We did a lot of things well during the year. We got C.C. and Burnett here to really get us to where we are and that’s the reason why we won because of pitching,” said Posada.
While the “Core 4” once again showed they can shine in the bright lights of the MLB postseason, it was the emergence of Alex Rodriguez that helped the Yankees get back to the top of the MLB mountain.
The start of the 2009 season was one that A-Rod would have loved to put behind. At the beginning, he admitted to the use of steroids from 2001-2003 at a press conference at the beginning of Spring Training in Tampa, FL. This came on the heels of his agent Scott Boras announcing that the Yankees first baseman would opt out of the final year of his 10-year $252 million dollar contract, making him after the 2007 season. The announcement drew a great deal of criticism from many is that the announcement came as the Boston Red Sox were wrapping up their four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series and the fact that the they did not meet with Yankee management before the decision.
After admitting publicly to the use of steroids at a press conference, Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. It is the same hip that revealed a cyst from a MRI that was taken prior to the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Rodriguez was supposed to play in the classic with the Dominican Republic, but withdrew once what was revealed from the MRI.
The Yankees without A-Rod struggled out of the box starting the season at 13-15. Rodriguez returned to the lineup on May 8 against the Baltimore Orioles and hit a three-run homer on his first at bat. Eight days later, he hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11th that gave the Yankees a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, who they defeated in the American League Division Series.
When the season reached its conclusion, Rodriguez recorded his 12th consecutive season and 13th in 15 opportunities of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with Manny Ramirez of the Los Angles Dodgers Babe Ruth of the Yankees and Jimmie Foxx of the Oakland Athletics, Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Phillies for the most in MLB history.
The question remained, could Rodriguez finally deliver when it really counts in the postseason. Coming into the 2009 playoffs, A-Rod dating back to the 2004 ALCS, Rodriguez had been 0 for 29 at the plate with runners on base. In that hitless span, he stranded 38 runners in 61 postseason at-bats.
That all changed in Game 1 of American League Division Series versus the Minnesota Twins, when Rodriguez had 2 RBI singles, both coming with two outs and in Game 2, he added another RBI in the 6th inning and he hit a game-tying homer off of Twins closer Joe Nathan in the bottom of the 9th inning that tied the score at 3-3. The Yankees pulled away in dramatic fashion when Mark Texieria hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th that gave New York a 4-3 win and a 2-0 series lead. In Game 3, Rodriguez came through again as he hit a solo shot in the top of the 7th inning, which was followed by another solo blast by Posada that gave the Bronx Bombers a 2-1. They would add two more runs at the top of the 9th inning and Rivera came on to recorded the final four outs and the Yankees won 4-1 to sweep the Twins 3-0 in the final game at the Metrodome.
In Game 2 of the American League Championship series against the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim, Rodriguez came through again in hitting a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11th inning off of closer Brian Fuentes that tied the contest 3-3. The Yankees won 4-3 when Jerry Hairston, Jr. scored on an error at the bottom of the 13th inning.
The Yankees would go on to defeat the Angels 4-2 in the series and Rodriguez would go 9 for 21 with three homers and six runs batted in.
Rodriguez would continue his postseason resurgence in the World Series against the Phillies as his deep hit down the right field line off of a camera perched atop the wall was first ruled a double was changed to a 2-run homer that cut the deficit 3-2. The Yankees would outscore the Angels 6-2 over the final five innings winning Game 3 8-5 and taking a 2-1 series lead.
Rodriguez snatched victory from the Angels again in Game 4 as his drove in the go-ahead run off of Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge. The Yankees won 7-4 and took a commanding 3-1 lead.
Despite another strong performance by A-Rod, going 2 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBIs, the Yankees lost Game 5 8-6, but still lead the series 3-2.
The team would close the deal back home in Game 6 as Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with two walks and two scored runs, helping the Yankees finish the Phillies and finally garnering his first championship and helping the Yankees win their 27th.
To show how far A-Rod has come in this postseason as a Yankee, he posted 18 runs batted in, a new Yankees postseason record.
“I know when that when a lot of people ran the other way, my teammates, coaches and organization stood right next to me and now were standing here today as World Champions,” Rodriguez told Fox sports Chris Rose after the game.
He also said to ESPN’s John Shomby, “There’s nothing you do individually in this career that can compare to winning a championship with 25 guys that buy into one thing and that’s winning.”
While having great players who rise to the occasion in big moments, their willingness to be great in those moments does not happen with a leader who preaches those principles like team manager Joe Girardi.
If there is anyone who understand the importance of keeping your eye on the prize, what is truly important to the success of this franchise and the value of sacrificing your individual goals for what is important to the team is Girardi.
In his four seasons in pinstripes, the former catcher helped the Joe Torre lead Yankees to three World Series crowns. They won behind the beliefs of sacrifice, focus and willingness to want to be great and achieve the impossible which they did. They enjoyed being around one another, they respected each other and they accepted the challenge of being great, a challenge that not only comes from those in the media, but from within from ownership and the fans.
“I never got to stand up here before as a player, but as a manager, this one’s for the boss and his family. The job the Steinbrenner family did. Brian Cashman and his staff with putting this team together,” said Girardi, who became the 9th Yankee manager to guide his team to a World Series title.
“Well the guys have been through it so much and I think it’s the job that they do putting this club together, every year. Its unbelievable how this team came together in spring training and their willingness to be unselfish and play the game the right way and that’s why we won.”
Off the 27 Yankees championships that have been won, seven of them have come in the Steinbrenner era, led by George Steinbrenner. From the day the former Cleveland-based shipbuilder purchased the Yankees on Jan 3, 1973 for $8.7 million, the goal of the team was based on winning and a major part of that process was getting the players and coaches that could make that dream into a reality.
The Yankees won their first title in the Steinbrenner era in 1977 behind “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who signed from Oakland that off season and they signed former Yankee second baseman Billy Martin to be manager. They would repeat in 1978.
This past off season, the Yankees became very busy in free agency again signing Sabathia, Burnett to anchor the pitching and they signed Texieria and Nick Swisher. The result, Yankees back win another title.
While, George has not been as present around the team since 2006, as he has spent most of his time in Tampa, FL, his influence is still presence thanks to his sons Hal, who is the Managing General Partner/Co-Chairperson of the Yankees and Hank who serves as Senior Vice President.
“On behalf of the team, the organization, I got to thank all of you fans. You are the greatest in the world,” Hal told the fans after the Yankees beat the Phillies.
“You’ve been here day in and day out all year long supporting us. Without you this doesn’t happen and dad, I know you are at home watching with mom. This one’s for you.”
With their 27th championship won, the question is can the Yankees win back-to-back titles like they did 11 years ago. It all depends on what happens this off season. Can they resign Matsui and lead off hitter Johnny Damon? Can they score another big time free agent and can they stay humble and play the way they did in 2009? Only time will tell.