MAD Bunch Finally Get One

The New York Yankees captured the 2009 World Series last night in their new digs, creating a new legacy and future history. Most of the buzz last night was about the four veterans that now have five world series rings. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada the nucleus of the past will forever be linked to being some of the best Yankees of all time. It has been nine years since the last Yankee championship. In the middle of those years there were doubts that the wealthiest team in MLB couldn’t reach the pinnacle again. However, bring in Brian Cashman (Met’s 85 W.S. GM) who tweeked the formula and brought in some missing pieces and the team made it happen.

The MAD bunch who sacrificed so much frustration, Matsui, A-Rod, and Damon finally got to hoist the big trophy. The three players endured so much criticism along with the other Yankees for their previous mediocre playoff heroics. A franchise with so much promise and expectations, it was not easy for these players with high payrolls to hide during the post season. The enduring of carrying that monkey would have driven most players away. So many years of great regular seasons to only falter in the playoffs.

Was it time to overhaul the whole team, was asked many times. Johnny Damon captured a title with the Red Sox in 2004. However he missed the next World Series Red Sox title along with his beard and mustache when he was bought by the Yankees prior to Boston winning it all in 2007. Hideki (Godzilla) Matsui, Japan’s bomber, brought an entourage of reporters from the rising sun and Alex Rodrigues the best shortstop counterpart to Derek Jeter was brought over from the Texas Rangers. All players had high expectations from the New York fans to help the veteran players win a couple of championships immediately.

For these three players there was much pressure to not only win but to win it all every year. The window was vanishing and closing on their careers as they aged. It looked like the elusive Yankee World Series Championship ring was not meant to be for them. In the 2009 series it was fitting, that the three MAD players produced the offense to complement the pitching and came clutch in this World Series. Matsui in game six recorded six RBI’s tying a New York record for RBI’s in a world series game. Matsui would be named MVP for the series as he hit over 600% and three homers . Damon was key in game three and four in getting on and stealing bases along with a homer. A-Rod, was on fire in the NLCS. However, once the world series started and he got off to a slow start, some doubters were exclaiming, “here we go again, another inept series for the Yankees”. Reporters would say, “good pitching but where’s the million dollar offense?” However in game three A-Rod let it loose and continued his tear again, bringing in a valuable game go ahead RBI.

It is hard to imagine the team winning without the MAD bunch. Next year Matsui and Damon may be gone through free agency. It is too bad most fans of the World Series never understood the value of these two players over the years. Most only got to see them or track them on their previous World Series performances. However, they played a huge part in helping the Yankees reach the playoffs almost every year. It’s been that kind of year for the Yankees. In with the new (Stadium, AJ Burnett, Teixeira, Sabathia), shine with the old (Matsui, A-Rod, Damon), and reminding everyone of the past. (Pettitte, Rivera, Posada, Jeter)