Hank Steinbrenner Blames Injuries for Yanks 2008, Guarantees Danger, Delusion in 2009

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The above headline is a bit misleading. While Hank Steinbrenner (who has been eerily quiet recently) did actually blame injuries for the Yankees troubles this year, he did not actually guarantee danger and delusion next year. He just merely exhibited delusion across the scope of his quotations, one of which involves the Yankees being dangerous.

"I'm not writing off this season," the Yankees' co-chairman said Tuesday in Tampa, Fla. "They're trying hard to win. There's only so much you can do. They're not supermen."

[...]"I think it's very simple, we've been devastated by injuries," Steinbrenner said. "No team I've ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team. Imagine the Red Sox without [Josh] Beckett and [Jon] Lester. Pitching is 70 percent of the game. Wang won 19 games two straight years. Chamberlain became the most dominating pitcher in baseball. You can't lose two guys like that."

[...]"We're going to win it next year," he said. "If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year, we'll be extremely dangerous."

I'm sure the Yanks will be scary. C.C. Sabathia, Manny Ramirez, Ben Sheets and Mark Teixeira are all going to be on the market, and I'd be surprised if at least one didn't land in New York.

But is Joba the "most dominant pitcher in baseball"? And does Hank really have zero clue that part and parcel of Wang's 19/year wins came from the redonk offense New York is sporting? And is pitching actually 70 ... oh, nevermind.

Point being, Hank hadn't spouted off at the mouth for a little while, what with the Bombers actually making some headway in the East, and now that it looks like time is creeping on them, he's playing the role of angry, flummoxed meathead. And frankly, I enjoy it.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-13-2008 @ 3:49AM

Carmine said...

I have been a Yankees fan all my life, all the way back in the 70's and 80's. I am kind of happy that the Yankees and Hank are losing, I always hated when George opened his mouth and now Hank. The disrespect that they showed Joe Torre was disgusting and if anyone believes in Karma they had this coming to them.

8-13-2008 @ 4:18AM

Feruw said...

Hank makes his dad look the greatest baseball mind ever conceived, by comparison.

He has the balls to jerk a middle reliever to a starter who blows his arm out in less than 2 months. That's not dominance. If he thinks thats dominance, then we should have already renamed the Cy Young award to the Joel Zumaya award.

8-13-2008 @ 10:34PM

ralphgmiami said...

Remember it's still not too late for the Yankees to win the AL east or even win a wildcard spot. How many of you remember the 1977 Yankees as in the movie the Bronx is burning? I was a kid and went to every home game when I lived in NYC. I also went to every home game when the Yankees were 14 and a half games back in 1978 to overtake the Red Sox. Wakefield is out for the PaleHose. Longoria has a broken wrist for the Rays. The Rays other great player, Crawford is out for possibly the rest of the year with a torn finger ligament. Time is right for the Yanks to make a move. Usually veteran teams start getting hot at August 20th. Last year, the Mets collapsed in September to let the Phils win the NL East.

8-14-2008 @ 10:17AM

Jerry said...

Been a Yankee fan for many years also, just tough to watch them lose the close games were they use to win. So now hank says IF we need a top pitcher we will get it NEXT YEAR! what happen to this year? I'll always be a yankee fan but its mind blowing the way ownership has just given up on the dream. Lets all hope were not giving up completely on a team that has given us all alot of wonderful years.And if anyone has to win I say go Rays anyone but the blow sox's.