Introducing Myself and the 2009 New York Yankees

To begin this blog I will introduce myself, my name is James Kraft and obviously, I’m a fan of the New York Yankees.  I have been a fan since I can remember but the first season I really started paying attention to baseball was Don Mattingly’s first stint in the playoffs that ended as quickly as it started.  I’ve watched, nervously, as Tino Martinez try to replace the immortal Donnie Baseball splendidly helping the Yankees win four championships. 

I watched Derek Jeter grow up right before me and become the 14^th captain (a disputed number) of the Yankees and proved to the baseball world that the Yanks can breed their own down on the farm.  I watched the first subway series World Series, I remember watching Scott Brosius jumping up and down after they swept the Padres. 

Watched David Cone drop to his knees and into Joe Girardi’s arms as the final out was made in his perfect game on Yogi’s return to the stadium in 1999.  I watched David Wells throw his glove up as he pitched a perfecto five days after my 14^th birthday.

I’ve watched the Yanks succeed so much in my lifetime that it is hard to watch them struggle.  It almost hurts to watch them not make the postseason with the payroll they have, but I think that was a season the Yankees needed.  There was a changing of the guard with Mr. George Steinbrenner moving over for his sons to take over, more like Hal Steinbrenner taking the reins of the organization. 

However, the new millennium hasn’t been kind to the boys in Pinstripes, big contracts to with little-to-no production…yes Pavano I’m looking at you.  The debacle of 2004 when the Yankees gave up a 3-0 in the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox, who went on to win their first World Series in about 600 years.  Then two seasons later we watched them win another one which really has sent the Yankee faithful diving for excuses or explanations, most of which end up with Yankees = 26 BoSox = 7.

I’m looking forward to the 2009 season with the additions of CC, AJ, and Tex.  It looks as though the Yanks are as strong as ever, but we’ve seen these additions not work out before, The Great Giambino comes to mind.  With veterans and up-and-comers sprinkled throughout the roster, can the Bronx Bombers make it back to the World Series and bring home their 27^th World Championship in 2009?