HOUSTON — You are a Yankee fan, so you worry.
You are worried about the Yankees’ fifth starting spot because of how horribly Ed Yarnall did this spring. But remember the Yanks broke camp last year without their fifth starter, Hideki Irabu, because
he kept forgetting to cover first and was called a “fat toad” by George Steinbrenner.
You are worried about the Yankees’ lefty might without the drug-suspended Darryl Strawberry. But the Yankees broke camp last year without Strawberry, who would soon be arrested, then suspended for further drug problems.
You are worried about the Yankee depth because you see players such as Wilson Delgado, Todd Erdos and Jon Zuber will probably make the roster. But the Yankees began last year with Clay Bellinger, Mike Figga and Jason Grimsley making the team from nowhere.
You are worried because Derek Jeter still has not signed that multi-year contract. But the Yankees, for some reason only known to the bizarre mind of Steinbrenner, did not have a long-term deal before last season with Jeter, who nevertheless went out and had his best year anyway.
You are worried because Orlando Hernandez is miffed following the finance-related departure of confidant and translator Jose Cardenal from the coaching staff. But the Yankees began last season without their manager, Joe Torre, and with the more tremulous leadership of interim replacement Don Zimmer.
You are worried because the Yankees are unsettled in left field and DH. But the Yankees have been unsettled at those two spots throughout Torre’s reign with Strawberry, Chad Curtis, Ricky Ledee, Tim Raines, Shane Spencer, Mark Whiten and Gerald Williams playing left and Strawberry, Raines, Ruben Sierra, Cecil Fielder, Mike Stanley and Chili Davis serving as the DH.
You are worried because Chuck Knoblauch’s throwing problems can resurface at any time. But with all the bounces and overthrows, the Yankees have not been bounced from the playoffs or overthrown from their perch atop the sport with Knoblauch as their second baseman.
You are worried because Roger Clemens and David Cone are both 37 and Hernandez is thirtysomething. But would you rather have them or all those promising young arms with the Marlins?
You are worried because there are all kinds of signs from behind the scenes that Steinbrenner is disruptive, destructive and deplorable. But, hey, what else is knew? This is the way Steinbrenner has been for 27 years and the Yankees have still won five titles in his reign.
And that includes last year with Irabu as a “fat toad,” Strawberry suspended for drugs, Grimsley finding a key role in the pen, Jeter on a one-year contract, Torre sidelined a quarter of the season by cancer, no left fielder starting more than 63 games, Knoblauch committing 26 errors, Clemens, Cone and Hernandez all in their mid-30s and Steinbrenner his usual lovable self.
“In some ways we are in better shape this year than last year at this time,” Cone said. “Chuck Knoblauch is more settled in. Jeter just keeps getting better every year. [Paul] O’Neill looks great. El Duque is an established top starter. Mariano Rivera is acknowledged as the best at what he does. Andy [Pettitte] seems as if his long-term contract really has settled him. And I think Roger is more comfortable.”
Sure, the Yankees have worries. But they are a good team. You know how you know that? Because at this time of year all the bad teams are figuring out how good they could be if everything goes right. The good teams are trying to figure out what can go wrong. And the Yankees are trying to figure out what can go wrong. So they worry.
You know another way to tell the Yankees are a good team? Open your eyes. Two weeks ago, the Yanks were losing a bunch of spring training games. Then the veterans, following their innate clock that the season was nearing, began to focus and play with more fervor. The Yankees had won seven spring games in a row before last night’s 6-5 loss to the Astros in the grand opening of Enron Field.
“We’re rolling now, huh?” Jeter said with a laugh.
They are. Jeter never seems to make an out. O’Neill has spent the last two weeks hitting ropes. Ledee and Jorge Posada have looked terrific at the plate. Knoblauch has begun to turn it on offensively without betraying any defensive problems. The established pitchers all have that glean of readiness for the season. There are no indications of self-satisfaction with the core group. Quite the opposite. Hunger, seriousness and professionalism are still overt. The health of the team is outstanding. The pedigree cannot be argued with.
These are champions. The rest of baseball is chasing the Yankees. The Yankees are chasing history.
“Everyone tries to knock out the defending champions,” Knoblauch said. “It is our title for everyone to go after. Yet, the attitude and the focus are as good as they have been the past two years.”
Tino Martinez said, “We know that anything short of a championship is not good enough.”
So they have worries as the spring nears an end. Their depth is more questionable, some of their leadership rock has been lost, especially with Joe Girardi gone, and there is a little more age all around. But the players who form the Yankee nucleus, who form a championship feeling, are still around.
It means the greatest worry should remain for all the other teams.