Is New York Baseball Cursed?

Randy Johnson throws a mean career

Randy Johnson will always be known for having the most dangerous fastball in baseball. Not to also mention that – at 6’ 10" – he’s a fairly intimidating guy to meet in person. All of that sounded mighty attractive to George Steinbrenner in 2005. After a trade, “The Big Unit” was supposed to be the saving grace of a struggling Yankees bullpen. His first day in New York City, he accosted a paparazzo who refused to leave him alone. That should have been the first sign that this relationship wasn’t going to work. Over the last half of the decade, the Yankees have focused attention on the free agent market versus a farm system. Johnson’s acquisition is a prime example of how big money and big names do not equal a championship. Randy Johnson’s two year stint with the Yanks was plagued with injuries; but when he was healthy, he could still throw a mean inning. But by the end, Johnson was traded back to his last team (The Arizona Diamondbacks) and the Yanks were still left without any championship seasons. Steinbrenner’s cutthroat business ethics – the same that once brought home six World Championships – was now backfiring on him.

"The team to beat."

It started in 2007 with the boast heard ‘round the world – “The Mets had a chance to win the World Series last year. Last year is over. I think we are the team to beat in the NL East, finally.” With that, Jimmy Rollins – shortstop for The Philadelphia Phillies – had reignited a long dormant rivalry between them and The New York Mets. Rollins statement angered a nation of fans, and seemed to strike cord through-out all of the National League. The Phillies were the team to beat? This was coming from an organization that hadn’t seen the playoffs since 1993. He was calling out the team that had dominated the division last season, had one more World Series title, and had been making semi-regular post-season appearances since its inception. Naturally, many Mets fans greeted “J-Roll” with a laugh, some a violent threat. Despite a bruising home opening series against the Phils, Rollins jibe seemed like an empty threat. That is, until, the Mets record began to run dangerously close to The Phils as the season closed in during September. Then, the unthinkable happened: a 12 game collapse where the Mets – who started the season 4-0 – said goodbye to the postseason. Who would go on to take their spot? The Philadelphia Phillies.

The obvious seems simple. The Mets desperately need to upgrade their middle relief staff. The Yankees need to invest in younger players and the farm system. But, how long could a possible bounce back take? The Yanks are dangerously close to a full decade without a title. Since their choke in 2004, things haven’t seemed quite the same in The Bronx. Similarly, the Mets now coming back from two late season collapses where their rivals went on to the playoffs and then to win the World Series. With the way things get done in New York, answers can be found. Or, both teams may just throw money at the problem. Either way, is New York baseball cursed? Does this misfortune go deeper? I’d like to think so. For the sake of something great to write about.

The Curse of Damon?

Johnny Damon is the new curse to The New York Yankees. If you stop and think about it, it fits perfectly into the folklore. Not unlike The Babe, Damon demanded a new contract after the memorable 2004 season in Boston. After a bitter defeat in the 2003 ALCS to New York, the Sox battled back in 2004, disposed of the Yankees in the greatest choke of all time, and won it’s first World Series in 84 years. The moon was blood red that night, and Damon and crew delivered. The post-season was a different story. As the Red Sox sought out to renew certain contracts, Damon was definitely among their priorities. However, his asking price and his extension exceed what the Red Sox were prepared to offered. Plus, there was also concern that at 32 years old, Damon’s career would soon be coming to a close. Despite professed loyalty to the franchise, Damon walked away from any offers Boston made and signed with the Yankees in 2005. Since “switching sides”, his career has been riddled with injuries – making just as many appearances on the DL as in the outfield. Also, his heralded acquisition has yet to pay off in Yankees championship. So, I ask again – coincidence?

Mets-Phillies Rivalry - a hatred to occasionally remember

The Mets-Phillies rivalry is one that has only of recent garnered any major attention. That said, it was enough to enthrall both fan bases to a new hatred for one another. Though always rivals, not until 2006 did the rivalry stir any contempt. After a season that concluded with the Phils missing the wild card and the Mets forcing Game 7 of the NLCS (they lost to St. Louis), 2007 was anyone’s game. In the last two seasons, The Phillies have not only given the Mets a run for their money, but have dominated when it comes to clinching the post-season. With the Phillies now World Series champions, you have to wonder how much more pain the Mets nation can take.

Goodbye Philadelphia, Hello DL

Billy Wagner was known for two things: saving games and shooting his mouth off. When he arrived in Philadelphia as a closer for the Phillies, he did both of those things. Wagner only played two seasons with the Phils, but didn’t make any friends by the end of his contract. Maybe that’s because he decided to tell the press in 2005 that he thought the Phillies had “no chance” of making the play-offs. Immediately, he came at ends with left fielder Pat Burrell and the rest of the team. After Wagner joined the Mets, he became one of the most dominant closers in baseball… before he blew his shoulder out in 2008. A year-long trip to the DL didn’t help the Mets keep momentum and they once again fell to the Phillies in another post-season bid.

Willie Randolph gets fired; Mets Collapse, Part II follows

Willie Randolph’s goose was cooked in 2008. Under his quick guard, The Mets had gone from NLCS contenders to NL East fodder in the span of two seaons. The 12 game collapse of 2007 seemed to dog the team into the new season. Whether Willie was buckling under pressure, or the team just lost its confidence, clearly the Mets stunk. So, the front office does what it needs to: they fire Willie, barely a quarter of the way into the new season. But that was only after a lengthy “Will they/Won’t they?” process while Randolph sweated and the Mets hit rock bottom. After Randolph was finally canned (via e-mail and mid-flight from a road game, no less), the Mets installed Jerry Manual as the new manager and suddenly, the team started winning again. Of course, Manual could only hold control for so long. By September, the Mets began to stagger again. Poor pitching led to poor morale, and before you knew it, the Mets 2008 season (almost achieving Cinderella status) tanked. Once again, they lost a playoff berth to The Phillies and watched as the Phils would go on to win their first World Series in 28 years.

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