The New York Yankees have just received their Christmas present in early May, acquiring pitcher Roger Clemens. It seems like a diamond right now, but will it turn out to be coal? In a bidding war involving future hall of famer Roger Clemens and his suitors, the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and New York Yankees, the Yankees came out on top. Contemplating retirement after last season, Roger Clemens decided to come back another year (dj vu), involving the three teams mentioned. He eventually chose the team that he thought had the best chance to win a World Series, the New York Yankees.
Many people, including me, wonder if the Yankees really have the best chance to win a World Series. Better yet, will they even make it out of the American League East?
As of May 6, the Yankees are only above the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in team ERA (4.74) in the American League. This is astonishing to me to think that Clemens chose the Yankees as the “best team,” especially when the Boston Red Sox have the best ERA (3.33) in the American League, next to the Oakland Athletics.
In the post season, many teams use only 3-4 pitchers. With Roger Clemens, the Red Sox would have had Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Curt Schilling, along with Clemens. That’s two hall of famers who have a lot left in them, a World Series MVP and one of the best young pitchers out there in Matsuzaka.
With this rotation in the post season, I do not see anyone getting past them, especially with their line-up intact. With the New York Yankees, you have good pitchers in Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina, but Mussina is hurt, and honestly, which team would you want to be on?
Everything will be found out in due time, say around October.