Saturday, September 13, 2008

Bern, Baby, Bern



Bernie Williams, a fixture in centerfield from 1991 through 2005, and a key member of the Yankees' '96, '98, '99, and 2000 championship teams, turns 40 today. A quiet leader a la Don Mattingly, Bernie has proven irreplaceable since his playing time was curtailed in 2005. Johnny Damon is a marginally better hitter and baserunner, but his throwing arm is as weak as Bernie's had become. Melky Cabrera has a great arm but doesn't hit well enough to stay in the major leagues.

1 comment:

Graham Powell said...

The Yankees have spent a lot of money on some pretty good players, but they've never had the success they enjoyed when there best guys were Williams, Paul O'Neill, and Derek Jeter. The A-Rod/Giambi/Damon generation just ain't cutting it.