The Unit Leaves New York, And I'm Sad
If you've ever read this blog, you'll know I'm a big time Mets fan. So why would I be sad that Randy Johnson was traded from the Yankees? Because I'm a big time Yankee Hater too. I don't hate the Yankees as much as I love the Mets, and it's not a blind hate. A lot of it has to do with the cockiness of the fans I have to live around plus the way Steinbrenner moves and uses players. Therefore, when the Yankees hit their slump -- well, what's considered a slump for the Yankees -- I loved it. Randy Johnson epitomized the Yankees the last few years: Overpaid, washed up, and old.
No matter what was going on in my life, I always enjoyed watching a little bit of a Unit game. Just watching him blow for the Yankees after they paid so much for him brought a smile to my face. I took so much evil pleasure hearing my mother, who is a Yankee fan, complain as Randy blew yet another game. Remember when 3 out of 4 players in a row hit home runs off him in Chicago two years ago? That was a good one.
Well, the Unit is gone and that small pleasure in my life is gone. Worse, I'm worried it may be a sign of things to come with the Yankees. They're focusing on younger pitchers, like Chien-Ming Wang and their new young Japanese lefty Kei Igawa. They got mainly minor league relievers for Johnson, which would most likely help their rather thin bullpen last year. Plus, they didn't overpay to talk to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matzusaka. And the last move they made brought Bobby Abreu over to them, and he was a great addition.
It's a small start, but it could a sign that the Yankees aren't being huge dumbasses any more. And as a big time Yankee Hater, it hurts to watch.
