Yankee-in-waiting
Curtis Granderson
MLB
In the movie “The American President,” the Michael J. Fox character exhorts Michael Douglas as the President to break his silence regarding the long and loud criticisms leveled at him by a political rival. “People don't have a choice but to listen to him,” Fox says. “He's the only one doing the talking!"
Well, right now, in the AL East, the New York Yankees are the only ones doing the talking.
The Yankees today agreed in principle to a three-way trade with the Diamondbacks and Tigers to bring Curtis Granderson to the Bronx. Granderson, of course, is a stellar fielder and solid hitter who will strengthen an already strong lineup. The Red Sox, for their part, so far have reinforced their roster by signing righthanded reliever Scott Atchison, shortstop Marco Scutaro, and utilityman Tug Hulett – decent players all, no doubt, but none with Granderson’s pedigree or likely potential impact.
To this point, therefore, it does seem appropriate to wonder if/when the Sox finally will answer back.
GM Theo Epstein rightly speaks of the need to avoid making decisions just to counter moves made by other teams, especially the Yankees. But the Granderson acquisition, following as it does last year’s signing of C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixiera, tilts the balance of power in the division like an NFL lineman on a see-saw.
Could it be that Epstein is OK with this? It is true, after all, that the real point of playing the season-long schedule is to earn a post-season berth. So maybe it’s all right to build a roster that isn’t good enough to finish ahead of the Yankees but outperforms everybody else. Sounds a bit off-center, but the best team, in fact, usually doesn’t win it all.
Either way, Sox fans today are growing increasingly nervous given the loud noises they’re hearing from the Bronx and the relative silence they’re experiencing at home. They know that merely retaining Jason Bay – if that even can be done – will not be enough to rebalance the power because it merely maintains the status quo, while getting Granderson advances the Yankee cause.
So how about it, Red Sox: a whole Nation would like to hear you do some talking too!
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Comments
Yes, we as Sox fans get uneasy when loud noises come from the Bronx, but I'm more concerned about whether players are hearing enough from the Sox re: their interest. We've lost some good players in the past when they felt more pursued by the Yanks...remember when Johnny Damon said "They {Yankees of course!) came after me hard" as if he was being swooned against his wishes! Okay so he was likely a goner anyway but some guys will choose to stay here if the Sox are more vocal in their interest!
As a Yankee fan I gotta say that we can rrpet it again and again and again we r still going to get best players cause the Yankees r #1 and always will be go Yankees let's get Roy so the red sox can't boston sucks Boston sucks
Since when does a .249 avg with 141 SO's make Sox Nation nervous? Good for the Yankees. I may not be a fan, but I respect them as an organization. But if the Sox signed Granderson, I wouldn't be happy, much like the Yankess fan I saw at the gym yesterday staring in disbelief at the TV showing the trade, then walking away swearing.
Since when does a .249 avg with 141 SO's make Sox Nation nervous? Good for the Yankees. I may not be a fan, but I respect them as an organization. But if the Sox signed Granderson, I wouldn't be happy, much like the Yankess fan I saw at the gym yesterday staring in disbelief at the TV showing the trade, then walking away swearing.
Hey, 27 Time World Champs - What happened, convince your mom that you were sick and stayed home from the 4th grade today? Because you write like a fourth grader!
The Yankees are only #1 because they just happen to be in a market where more dollars are had. If your team can afford the best talent in the league, of course you're going to win it all. But in the end that championship is hollow. What shows a team's true mettle is how many of your players are developed from your team's minor league system (a la Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lester, Clay Buchholz et al). Any team can buy a championship, but few can build a true championship team from within. That is something the Yankees will never achieve.
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