Last week, Brian Cashman cashed in, bringing the prize of the season, Bobby Abreu to the Bronx in exchange for two minor leaguers. As the trading deadline got closer, rumors swirled of Abreu being traded, but all that was discussed in every Philly paper was GM Pat Gillick only would take back top reliever Scott Proctor. Yet, when the trade was announced, Proctor’s name was nowhere to be found, making this trade a bigger steal than third base with Lou Brock on the field.

Since the deal, both the Yanks and Abreu have been on fire. The Yankes have pulled two full games in front of their arch rival, the BoSox, and in a few weeks, they add both Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield back into the lineup from the DL. Godzilla missed most of the year with a broken wrist, while Sheff had surgery on his shoulder. In their place, the Yanks turned to their farm system, for the first time since the ’96 year with Pettitte, Posada, Bernie, DJ, and Mariano, and the team has been playing with the youthfulness and energy of that group. Guys like Melky Cabrera, Andy Philips, and Nick Green have all played big roles, while the young pitching of Chien Ming Wang has catapulted the team into first, and Wang into Cy Young discussions.

But as everyone knows in New York, when your payroll is $205 million, and the next closest team in at $125 million, you are expected to make the World Series year after year, especially if you work for Mr. George Steinbrenner. Behind Wang, Mike Mussina, and Randy Johnson, the Yankees have the pitching to now go with the big bats of Giambi, A-Rod, Jeter, Abreu, and others. This has been by far the best season Joe Torre has ever had, winning one more game than the Mets this year in a year when the Mets have already been crowned king of the city and of baseball.

It’s a long year, but none of it matters in the Bronx unless you win the World Series.



A PimpWiz Exclusive By, Ryan Berger

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Labels: RyanBerger, Sports