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Last page update, January 23, 2000

My boys, the New York Yankees have repeated as World Series champs. Yes, Yanks were not as dominating this year in the regular season as we saw a drop off of 16 games from the '98 juggernaut that finished an astounding 75 games over 0.500. The '99 version finished a more modest 44 games over, but was as dominating in the playoffs [actually, a game better at 11-1, and we swept an arguably better team in the Braves instead of the Padres]. So, that's 3 series in 4 years, 25th in the last 76 years.

Where do the '98/99 Yankees [yes, we have to refer to them in that term, like the '27 Yankees, from now on] rank historically? I think that this is the best team of all time on an absolute basis. It is difficult to compare across generations. Players are stronger, bigger, and faster now than ever before. Babe Ruth was an imposing figure at 6'2", and was within 1 inch of being the tallest man on the '27 Yankees. Derek Jeter, a shortstop, is 6'3". So, even though the '27 Yankees get my vote as the most dominating team, relative to their peers, of all time [Ruth had more homers than any other team, and the Yankees had 4 of the 8 men who had 100 RBIs that year!! Absolutely astounding!!], I think that the '98/99 Yankees would beat them, or any team in history, ie, over a season, have a better than 0.500 record. The win-loss record says it all: no team is within 7 wins of them and that team did not win the World Series ['06 Cubs].

On a relative basis, ie, dominance relative to their peers, I would rank the '98 Yankees behind the '27 Yankees, and the '39 Yankees. Also in consideration are the '06-08 Cubs, the '02/'09 Pirates, the '31 A's, and the '61 Yankees.

Now, this is all for one season. It may be more relevant to discuss teams' record over a 3 season period. This one is clearer. The '36-'39 Yankees [I threw in an extra year] won 4 World Series in a row with a combined record of 16-3, sweeping the last 2 years. The '39 team had the largest run differential in history [411], even better than the '27 Yanks [376, #2 all time, '98 Yanks had a run differential of 309, the 5th best ever]. Included would have to be the '26-'28 Yankees. Yes they lose points for only winning 2 Series, losing one, but they were very dominant. Then the '49-'53 Yanks. FIVE Series in a row, and 7 in 10 years -- probably never happen again. They never crushed like the '27 team or '39 team, but just went at winning in a professional way and had one of the best and most under-rated CF of all time, Mickey Mantle. The '06-'08 Cubs had the best three-year regular season record stretch ever, but did not do well in the Series. The '96-'99 Yankees have proven themselves to belong in the top 3.

Here are some good web readings that discuss the '98 Yanks' place in history. CNN: Yanks '27 vs '98, '78 vs '98, '96 vs '98, Robert Creamer's all time Yanks lineup, SI's Yanks covers over the years. Visit CNN's post-season site for great multi-media and more stories.

The NY Times: Yanks as covered by the NY Times through the years, Yanks page, Yanks year in review, Best ever?. Visit the NY Times for the latest breaking news from the wire.

Yanks as covered by the other NY press: the Daily News and the Post.

The official World Series site.

ESPN: All the World Series results ever, main playoff page, Greatest ever debate 1, and 2. ESPN is my first choice for sports news and scores.

Check out my miscellaneous baseball stats for some weird stats and Yankees trivia. My Yankees page with links to all the post season and all time results. Also, here's a great database of sortable / queriable stats. It's not free, but a good reference tool.

11/99 2000 preview: here are the players that we do not have under contract. Coney [fa], Paulie [we have an option at $6.5], Chili [we have an option at $4.6], Girardi [fa]. Clemens has the right to demand a trade. Leyritz [fa], Stanton [fa], Strawberry [we have an option], Sojo [fa], Watson [fa]. I would bet that George S will sign Coney since I think that Cone would take a slightly below market contract in order to stay with the team. I think that the desire to win another RING is still within him. Look for a 1 or 2 year contract at about $9.5 mln per. Also, Steinbrenner would like to hang on to Coney so that David goes to the hall of fame as a Yankee. Same to with Clemens. Don't think he'll want to test the fa market after such a poor regular season, and since the lowlife Boston fans have deserted him, I would think that he would also enter the hall as a Yankee. Look for Roger to have a great bounce back season next year. Chili I think is gone, he lost so much bat speed over the season that it would not behoove him or the club to bring him back. Barring a big signing [like Shawn Green], which I don't really expect, Leyritz / Spencer / Strawberry will platoon the DH position. Paulie also I think is gone. It's a fitting end for a great warrior, but his production has gone way down, and while he is still clutch, I don't think that A] his value over a season is all that great anymore, and B] his desire to play will be there after his dad's death. Paulie played game 4 for his father and will propbably leave it at that. Girardi may or may not come back. I still love him for the triple, but he's just not that good. Torre loves him, so he's got that going for him. If he does return, I would think a paycut is in order as $3.4 mln is too high. Spencer has hinted about wanting to be traded so he can at least try to play everyday. Shane is simply not an everyday player. As to the others, except for Stanton, none are big losses.

Our core appears to be intact for 2000. Arbitration raises are in order for Mo & Jeter. And that'll cost the Yankees plenty. Should have locked them in last year instead of going to arbitration huh? Well, it's not too late to do it for Mo. He's 30, and the most consistent closer in the last 5 years [I know he has not been a closer for all the last 5]. I think he'll sign for $45 mln over 5 year. Jeter [25] will probably not lock himself in just yet...

HotStove Update: Wow, so Derek will signs the big one. As predicted, Cone stays, Chili retires. Also, Paulie, Leyritz, Stanton, Straw, and Watson will stay. Girardi, Sojo, Chad are gone.

I was surprised by the Sox's ability to stay close in '99 but can't see them to beat out the Jays next year. The O's are a mess but still have a lot of talent. Still, we'll repeat in the east. Cleveland still a write in for the pathetic central. And watchout for the A's in the West.

For player profiles and stats, go to ESPN's database or CNN's. You can get the Yankees' playoff history.

Enjoy this moment Yankee fans, this is a team for the ages. I would doubt that we can see such brilliance in baseball again in our lifetime. Unless you are talking about 2000!!!

You can still sing along to Sinatra's New York, New York. Oh yeah!

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