Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Core Four No More

The inevitable has arrived. The Yankees Core Four, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada, are no more.

To be sure, after Posada retired after the 2011 season, there was really no more Core Four. Being a catcher, with all the wear and tear he took, it was impressive that he played at such a high level for as long as he did.

Now that Jeter is on the shelf for the rest of this year, with his fragile and damaged ankle, it's interesting and sad to note that Jeter has played his last game alongside Rivera, and likely Pettitte, too. Mariano will retire at the end of this year, and if the Yankees are going into a rebuilding phase, the likelihood of Pettitte coming back for another year is unknown.

Life goes on. It's been a great run for the Yankees, and they may yet sneak into the playoffs again this year. While I doubt that the Yanks will allow themselves any extended salary capped inhibition to putting a winning team on the field, clearly, it won't ever be the same. The Core Four all came up together through the Yankees farm system, and became homegrown superstars. How special that was will become clear when they are gone from the scene.

Joe DiMaggio said "I'd like to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee." I'd like to thank my father for making me a Yankee fan. 

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