Yankees' "Core 4" Are Even Better In '09 Than They Were In '98

When Mariano Rivera got the Angels' Gary Matthews, Jr. to swing at strike three to clinch the Yankees' 40th American League pennant, he didn't jump in the air or do a war dance on the mound or fall to his knees. He simply walked slowly off the mound and embraced catcher Jorge Posada, both sporting grins a mile wide. It was an utterly graceful moment that seemed to last forever while I was watching it -- the subdued celebration of two old friends who have done this sort of thing many times before, and are savoring it once again.

Rivera and Posada, as well as Game Six's winning pitcher, Andy Pettitte, and team captain Derek Jeter are all making their seventh trip to the World Series in pinstripes (Pettitte also appeared in the 2005 Series as a member of the Houston Astros). The "Core 4" all came up at roughly the same time, getting their first cups of coffee with the Yanks in 1995. In this era of free agency, when a lot of the game's detractors say fans are "rooting for laundry" -- cheering the uniforms rather than the transients wearing them -- such stability and longevity is mind-blowing. I can't think of a team since the Dodgers of the '70s and early '80s whose core stayed essentially the same for so long. And for the Yankees, you'd have to go back to the pre-free agency Mantle-Ford-Berra dynasty, which won nine pennants between 1953-63.

The 2009 Yankees are probably the best team the franchise has fielded since the record-shattering 1998 crew that won 125 games and swept the World Series against San Diego. But here's what I find truly astonishing -- not only are the same four players at the core of both teams, but all four have also had seasons that were equal or superior to their performances in '98.

Andy Pettitte went 16-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 1998. This year, he was 15-9 with a 4.16 ERA. He had more strikeouts in fewer innings this year, as well as a lower WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). Derek Jeter had a higher batting average and on-base percentage this year than he had eleven years ago, and his fielding, which had been in decline for several years, rebounded to late '90s form. Were it not for the Twins' Joe Mauer, Jeter would be a strong candidate for this year's American League MVP.

Jorge Posada, playing exactly the same number of games as he did in '98, hit more home runs, drove in more runs, and had a higher batting average, OBP and slugging percentage. And Mariano Rivera had one of the best seasons of his Hall Of Fame career. Compared to 1998 -- when he was already one of the premier closers in the game -- he pitched more innings, recorded more saves, gave up fewer earned runs, got more strikeouts, and allowed fewer walks and hits.

The rest of the team may not have been around as long as the Core 4, and free agent signings like CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixiera played a huge part in sending the Yanks back to the World Series for the first time in six years. But it's not like this team is a bunch of mercenaries brought together for a year. Hideki Matsui is in his seventh season with the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez is in his sixth year. Robinson Cano has been in pinstripes for five seasons now.

When you get right down to it, however, the Yanks wouldn't be cleaning champagne off the clubhouse floor if it weren't for the holdovers from the last Yankee dynasty, which last tasted a World Series victory in 2000. This foursome has been so consistent, for so long, that it's hard to imagine a Yankee lineup without them in it. But all four are clearly on the back nine of their playing careers.The youngest of the four, Jeter, is 35. Rivera, the oldest, will turn 40 in November. Pettitte has been thinking of calling it quits for the last few years, and if the Yankees go all the way this year, he may not be back in 2010. Rivera has hinted that next year will be his last.

So I'm savoring this return to the Fall Classic -- who knows if it'll happen again for these very special players. Although the way these guys can step up their game, I'd think twice about betting against them even when the opponent is Father Time.

Follow Tony Sachs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RetroManNYC

Comments

[masonfyks]

Nice swipe at Michael Kay..."rooting for laundry"! I listen to him every afternoon and that got my blood boiling! I'm sorry, but players don't change yearly, and good players usually stay with a team for a while. As is evident in your story. Kudos to you!

[Democrab]

My eldest son is a Yankees fan, but I forgive him even when he dresses up the kids in those disgusting little pinstripe outfits. But alas, storebought championships are a way of life in the Big Ampule.

[Aramingo]

I think I can speak for Philly fans everywhere when I say:

Booooooooooooooo!

Booooooooo­oooooooooo­!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[oldgeek1]

Hating the Yankees is like my hating the tall, long legged skinny super model who does not have to diet and looks like a billion dollars.

Those attributes that some say give the Yankee's an unfair advantage need to look no further than the Met's or if they want to look at the left coast look at the Angles and Dodgers.

What has made the difference over the years for the Yankees is great management who has made the rest work.

A competitive team drawing 4 million fans who are loyal and knowledgeable is apparent. The sour grapes is just jealousy. It is not over till its over as Yogi said, but it does look like the Yankees are going to chalk up another championship. Hard work, talent and good management, is there really a surprise.

[anotherSaturdaynight]

Of course it's sour grapes! Absolutely, it's jealousy! We want the money you have; we want to see what would happen if this was actually a fair competition.

Yep, it looks like the Yankees may chalk up another championship. The biggest payroll in baseball. Is that really a surprise?

[Cosatjockomo]

Of course its ok that the Celtics bought themselves a championship, the Red Sox bought a championship and the Pats bought a championship. Its only wrong when NY does it.

[Tony Sachs - Huffpost Blogger]

It's nice to see all the Yankee-haters out in force -- not that it takes much to bring you guys out of the woodwork.

Yankee hating is a grand baseball tradition that started way back in 1920, when the Bronx Bombers became the Bronx Bombers by buying Babe Ruth from the Red Sox for a whole lotta money. Since then, except for a couple of dry spells, the Yanks have pissed off baseball fans everywhere by being really, really good and really, really successful. And somehow, baseball is still thriving. Crazy, ain't it?

So, all you haters out there, keep up the good work. Meanwhile, the Yankees will be happy to help give your teams' attendance a boost every time they come to town, and they'll gladly pay a luxury tax so your owners can pocket the money and not put it back on the field, the way the Steinbrenners do.

[anotherSaturdaynight]

A couple of corrections:
1) We Yankee-haters were never in the woodwork; we've always been right here in full view! Besides, I'm pretty sure hating the Yankees is the law in 49 states.

2) Except for a couple of dry spells, the Yanks have pissed off baseball fans everywhere because they can afford to buy the best players while the rest of the teams cannot.

[BlackJAC]

Fenway's been selling out every game for the past five years--say, did you know today is the fifth anniversary of Curse Reversal?--so your presence is merely gravy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVC9b0K1Iis

[Pot]

You sound like a Yankee fanboy which is the opposite of a "hater" LOL. No offense though, just pointing out for every hater there is a fanboy so it evens out. But anyway, not a Yankee hater here. I like the Yankees, but I am a fan of the Phillies more as PA is where I live. Should be a good World Series though.

[Shake-A-Spear]

Let's take a moment to remember Thurman Munson as we get ready to catch game #1 of the 2009 World "Serious." (That's how I used ot hear it in my Brooklyn years when the Dodgers were still resident in the borough.)

[jasper48]

I've read a large portion of the comments, here, and I understand the feelings of betrayal regarding what baseball has become,and what it was that it meant to us as kids.
S here is what I remember;

So many warm Summer days of listening to Mel Allen, Red Barber, Bill White and Phil Rizzuto fill my memories with Kubek, Richardson, Skowron double plays; Having "triples" of Mantles '56 MVP card among my Topps collection (Don't ask me); Mickey Mantle home run trots; Yogi Berra bad ball hits, including homers just clearing the fence; Amazing outfield catches by Hector Lopez (The fact that he caught it was the amazing part); Listening to the Yankees lose the 1960 World Series on Bill Mazeroski's walk off homer in the ninth inning, as I was getting my haircut by the "Shiek" (Like many adults I knew in my Italian neighborhood as a kid, I never knew his real name), from whose barber shop I used to get my best girlie magazines by secreting them in the sleeve of my jacket.
These are the things that I remember, and it's all wrapped up in Yankee Blue.

I was born a Yankee fan. I'll leave this Earth the same way.

[anotherSaturdaynight]

Being a Yankees fan is akin to being a fan of the obnoxious rich bully down the street. You remember him; the kid who could afford better things than everybody else and then had the extremely poor taste to gloat about it. I never liked that kid. It's hard to understand why an unfair advantage is something to be proud of..... unless, of course, you're a native New Yorker. If that's the case then this gross error in judgment can be (grudgingly) overlooked. Come to think of it, if you're a New Yorker and you're NOT a Yankees fan you would be considered suspect (Mets fans excluded) since disloyal fans are nearly as insufferable as Yankees fans.
Yeah, the Yankees might win. Much as it pains me, I'll be the first to congratulate them on the successful purchase of another World Series.

[Guylephat]

I think you meant ; "that generous young man down the block that gives his money away like a drunken sailor"...when other big market teams have similar payrolls and are run like the TV kiddie hour..not a peep ....when the brewers and royals etc... all make bank on the games the yankees come to town...not a peep....when the yankee organization gives millions in revenue sharing to all these other teams whos' owners put it in their pockets...not a peep. heck even the comissioner's family is guilty of this one (brewers)..when the 200 milion dollar red sox win the world series....not a peep....so why is it that the yankees buy their world series but other teams just win them?....i think you need to drive whatever hatred you have of the yankees and start placing it where it belongs.....on the owners and general managers that don't see winning as the bottom line...they see $$$$$.....for the YANKEES WINNING IS THE BOTTOM LINE AND ANYTHING LESS THAN A WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP IS FAILURE....that's why they win....that's why they are the preeminent franchise in sports.....that's why the steinbrenner's get the players they do and no it doesn't always work....it's been a few years since the yankees last won...but those players put on a good product and that's why they draw 4 mil plus every year...so the next time your team sucks don't blame the yankees

[anotherSaturdaynight]

"Why is it that the Yankees buy their World Series, but other teams just win them?"

Oh, I don't know... I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess.... Could it be because they have more money than any other team and can afford to buy the best players?

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!!!!!!!!!!!

[iamjones]

wednesday here we come! go yankees! last night was awesome....

[PaulLev]

Perceptive article about the Yankees - good for you. For the Yankee haters here - congratulations, you're in league with the biased Fox sportscasters. http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2009/10/yankees-travelers-and-langhorne-win.html

[DatelessNerd]

Yeah, the Yankees are the best team money can buy.

MLB will continue to be a joke until it institutes a salary cap. Imagine if NASCAR allowed one driver to have a car with four times the horsepower of other cars. The only time he'd lose is when he crashes the thing.

And more often than not, the Yankees have crashed their $200 million machine. They're nothing to be proud of.

[lisakaz2]

How is that a comparable analogy versus one team fielding 11 players and the other 9 or only one team having a DH?

[jasper48]

Money means nothing. You still have to play the game, and win.
The Marlins beat the Yanks, a few years ago (2003) with a dime store payroll,
so that alone kills your theory . With the luxury taxes paid by the high payroll
teams, at least a little closer to parity, is attained. The true difference, IMHO
though, is the farm systems. For all the money the Yankees have spent over the
years, their core four players are all home grown, Pettite, Jeter, Posada,
and Rivera.

[MetalMelissa]

Good article, Tony. It was a very sweet win. It's going to be a tough series but we've dealt with worse.
Go Yankees!

[chavo]

Phillies in 6.

[jasper48]

They're good...they ain't that good. Yankees in seven.

[BlackJAC]

Phillies in 4, for the Yankees will choke once again.

[Guylephat]

I am a yankee fan ....but don't count philly out they are an american league team in the national league and they can bring it.... should be a great series with great match ups (rollins v jeter...lee v sabbathia (those old indians...btw how crappy does cleveland feel?)....lots of great players on both sides and moslty class acts too (a few exeptions on both sides). i just hope fans outside of the east coast will watch....... i think this one's gonna be one of those classics that folks will talk about for years to come not sure who'll win but i've got to pick my yanks in 7

[bobbybee]

Tony -
You're taking a lotta heat hear for cheering on the Yanks. I was gonna chime in, but I think you're getting enough. The problem is that most people don't like rooting for the Big Boys (unless they're MY Big
Boys), and so when you toot the horn for the Yankees, it rubs all the rest of the fans the wrong way.
Still -
While it's easy to spend millons and not win the pennant - not only the Mets prove that, but the Yankees for most of the last 8 years - having that kind of largesse to throw around gives you a fighting chance to stay in the chase. And it allows you to keep your 4 best players forever while also pursuing any top free agent (or free-agent-to-be) that comes on the market.

[lisakaz2]

Is he really cheering for the Yanks or paying homage to the 4: Jorge, Derek, Mo and Andy?

[jasper48]

You tell 'em, Lisa. What all these whiners fail to give credit to, is that the "Core Four" are all home grown, through the farm system, players. That is really where the Yankees excel. They are now in a situation where they have not paid enough attention to that system in recent years, and they need to change again, but it has generally been their strength.

[Heisenberg]

I'd definitely take the Phightin Phils in this one. The Series will be played out in the top 2 HR ballparks in the game. Yankees will have a tough time at home because their place favors hitters who hit into right field-which the Phils do consistently. Also, the Yankees pitching is very fastball centric while the Phils hit better off fastball pitchers than junk ball pitchers. Lastly, the Phils can score and score big even if one or two of their batters are cold (Utley presently). Phils win game one and win in five.

[vividnature]

Here's the thing some of you are missing. Spending the most does not guarantee winning, but it absolutely gives you a far, far better chance of it. Look who they picked up recently for a lot, Texiera, Sabathia, Burnett. Look at what they have done to help this team win. The deck is and always has been stacked in the Yankees favor, as their revenue is so much more than other teams. They are pretty much guaranteed to be in the playoffs every year.
It is not a fair situation. A real salary cap, like in football or basketball would be more fair. But New York would still have an advantage in getting players, with its big stage, just like the Lakers do.
But really, it seems kinda absurd to me to be too bothered by "injustice" in sports, grown men in costumes running around on a field, when there are so many actual injustices throughout this world. Bad health care, Darfur, people struggling and dying in Afghanistan, and on and on.
But sports is a fun diversion, and it is fun to get worked up about, as it truly does not matter who wins or loses.