Early exit
The Yankees took the AL East with 97 wins but lost in 5 to the Tigers in the ALDS, leaving their 2011 season to be viewed only way: as a failure. Joe Girardi now has hit for an inconsistent managerial cycle across his first four years: missed the playoffs in 2008, won the World Series in ’09, got destroyed by the Rangers in the 2010 ALCS before last year’s first-round defeat.
Such up-and-down performances would have placed Girardi in George Steinbrenner’s cross hairs. But son Hal is a big Girardi supporter and Girardi has two years left on a contract so it’s a non-issue going into 2012. However, if the Yankees fail to reach at least the ALCS this coming season, the question will be a fair one.
3,000 hits in surreal fashion
Things may never be good between the Yankees and captain Derek Jeter after ugly contract negotiations following the 2010 season. However, for one brilliant Saturday in early July at a packed Yankee Stadium, everything was perfect.
A leadoff single in the first inning against Tampa’s David Price put Jeter one hit away from 3,000. In the third, Jeter homered to left off Price. He added three more hits, including the game-winner in the eighth. Jeter finished the season with 3,088 hits and a .297 average, after batting a career-low .270 in 2010.
Sultan of save
Mariano Rivera didn’t need the all-time save record to establish him as the best closer in history. Yet, on Sept. 19 against the Twins at the Stadium, he hurled a perfect ninth to preserve a 6-4 win. It was his 602nd career save and nudged him past Trevor Hoffman into first place all-time. At 41, Rivera converted 44 of 49 save chances.
A-Rod’s body breaks again
Four the fourth straight season, the Alex Rodriguez landed on the DL. This time, it was for knee surgery, but an ensuing bruised thumb was likely more bothersome. Rodriguez appeared in 99 games — fewest since 1995 — and batted .276 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs.
He will be 37 in the middle of 2012 and the very serious question is this: How much of a toll have injuries extracted? Rodriguez struggled against the Tigers but had company because Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira were awful.
Dead offseason
The Yankees avoided a sticky situation with CC Sabathia when they extended his contract before the ace opted out. Yet, as January approaches, that was the only major move made by the Yankees, who admit they would like to upgrade a rotation that wasn’t the problem against the Tigers.