Baseball Toaster: Mike's Baseball Rants : Buffalo Yankees

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Buffalo Yankees

2006-10-10 18:38

by Mike Carminati

Recriminations fester. The past can never change…Expectations come from both ends of the range.
—"Slit Skirts", Pete Townshend

The panic continues to set in for the most successful team in sport. Now, George Steinbrenner denies the rumor that Yankee manager Joe Torre is on his way out. (Could Brian Cashman have been deflecting criticism by casting aspersions on Torre?) Lou Piniella is not headed back to the Bronx to replace Torre.

Today, that is.

Of course, how the Yankees expect to address their deficiencies on the field is an open question. Some blamed Alex Rodriguez and demanded he be traded. Some blamed Yankee captain Derek Jeter for never embracing A-Rod, letting some ancient comments by him create a supposed rift on the team. Then there are the real holes, starting pitching and middle relief, which are on the back burner.

As a Phillies fan, all I can say is "Waaaaah!" (to quote Artie Lange) So the Yankees have lost in the postseason for six straight years—hey, I am still waiting for my team to make it to the postseason in six straight years, or even one straight would be welcomed. The most consecutive postseasons appearances for the Phils was three, and that was almost thirty years ago (1976-78). They have only made two straight appearances one other time (1980-81).

But is this a particularly arid period for the Yankees? In a word, yes. Before 2001, the Yankees had never lost in more than two straight postseasons, and in those instances the Yankees had at least one World Series appearance in the mix:

Tm	Yr1	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr2	Round	Opp	W	L
NYA	1921	WS	NYG	3	5	1922	WS	NYG	0	4
NYA	1963	WS	LAN	0	4	1964	WS	SLN	3	4
NYA	1980	ALCS	KCA	0	3	1981	WS	LAN	2	4

Of course, losing in six straight postseasons is merely a measure of success in the three-round era of the playoffs. The only two clubs to even reach the postseason in six straight seasons are the Yankees (1995-2006) and Braves (1995-2005) and both started their runs after the introduction of the division series.

The Braves, coincidentally, are also the only club besides the Yankees to be get ousted from the playoffs in six straight seasons (actually, 11 straight, 1996 to 2005, and twice to the Yankees in the World Series, 1996 and 1999), earning the nickname Atlanta Bills.

Here are the clubs that lost in the postseason 6 straight years:

Tm	Yr1	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr2	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr3	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr4	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr5	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr6	Round	Opp	W	L
ATL	1996	WS	NYA	2	4	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4
ATL	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3
ATL	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3
ATL	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3
ATL	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3	2005	NLDS	HOU	1	3
NYA	2001	WS	ARI	3	4	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3	2006	ALDS	DET	1	3

Now 5 straight:

Tm	Yr1	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr2	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr3	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr4	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr5	Round	Opp	W	L
CLE	1995	WS	ATL	2	4	1996	ALDS	BAL	1	3	1997	WS	FLO	3	4	1998	ALCS	NYA	2	4	1999	ALDS	BOS	2	3
ATL	1996	WS	NYA	2	4	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3
ATL	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4
ATL	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3
ATL	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3
ATL	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3
ATL	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3	2005	NLDS	HOU	1	3
NYA	2001	WS	ARI	3	4	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3
NYA	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3	2006	ALDS	DET	1	3

Four straight:

Tm	Yr1	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr2	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr3	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr4	Round	Opp	W	L
CLE	1995	WS	ATL	2	4	1996	ALDS	BAL	1	3	1997	WS	FLO	3	4	1998	ALCS	NYA	2	4
ATL	1996	WS	NYA	2	4	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4
CLE	1996	ALDS	BAL	1	3	1997	WS	FLO	3	4	1998	ALCS	NYA	2	4	1999	ALDS	BOS	2	3
ATL	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3
ATL	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4
ATL	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3
ATL	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3
OAK	2000	ALDS	NYA	2	3	2001	ALDS	NYA	2	3	2002	ALDS	MIN	2	3	2003	ALDS	BOS	2	3
ATL	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3
NYA	2001	WS	ARI	3	4	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4
ATL	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3	2005	NLDS	HOU	1	3
NYA	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3
NYA	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3	2006	ALDS	DET	1	3

Finally, three straight (with a cameo by my Phils):

Tm	Yr1	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr2	Round	Opp	W	L	Yr3	Round	Opp	W	L
DET	1907	WS	CHN	0	4	1908	WS	CHN	1	4	1909	WS	PIT	3	4
NYG	1911	WS	PHA	2	4	1912	WS	BOS	3	4	1913	WS	PHA	1	4
PHI	1976	NLCS	CIN	0	3	1977	NLCS	LAN	1	3	1978	NLCS	LAN	1	3
KCA	1976	ALCS	NYA	2	3	1977	ALCS	NYA	2	3	1978	ALCS	NYA	1	3
PIT	1990	NLCS	CIN	2	4	1991	NLCS	ATL	3	4	1992	NLCS	ATL	3	4
ATL	1991	WS	MIN	3	4	1992	WS	TOR	2	4	1993	NLCS	PHI	2	4
CLE	1995	WS	ATL	2	4	1996	ALDS	BAL	1	3	1997	WS	FLO	3	4
ATL	1996	WS	NYA	2	4	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4
CLE	1996	ALDS	BAL	1	3	1997	WS	FLO	3	4	1998	ALCS	NYA	2	4
ATL	1997	NLCS	FLO	2	4	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4
HOU	1997	NLDS	ATL	0	3	1998	NLDS	SDN	1	3	1999	NLDS	ATL	1	3
CLE	1997	WS	FLO	3	4	1998	ALCS	NYA	2	4	1999	ALDS	BOS	2	3
ATL	1998	NLCS	SDN	2	4	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3
ATL	1999	WS	NYA	0	4	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4
SLN	2000	NLCS	NYN	1	4	2001	NLDS	ARI	2	3	2002	NLCS	SFN	1	4
ATL	2000	NLDS	SLN	0	3	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3
OAK	2000	ALDS	NYA	2	3	2001	ALDS	NYA	2	3	2002	ALDS	MIN	2	3
NYA	2001	WS	ARI	3	4	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4
ATL	2001	NLCS	ARI	1	4	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3
OAK	2001	ALDS	NYA	2	3	2002	ALDS	MIN	2	3	2003	ALDS	BOS	2	3
MIN	2002	ALCS	ANA	1	4	2003	ALDS	NYA	1	3	2004	ALDS	NYA	1	3
NYA	2002	ALDS	ANA	1	3	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4
ATL	2002	NLDS	SFN	2	3	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3
NYA	2003	WS	FLO	2	4	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3
ATL	2003	NLDS	CHN	2	3	2004	NLDS	HOU	2	3	2005	NLDS	HOU	1	3
NYA	2004	ALCS	BOS	3	4	2005	ALDS	LAA	2	3	2006	ALDS	DET	1	3

Comments

2006-10-10 19:51:33

1. NetShrine

Mike - maybe you can answer this question from your research on this...

What manager holds the all-time record for the most 3-game losing streaks in post-season series where his team was not swept?

I know that Torre has four since 2002. Can anyone top that?

2006-10-11 06:05:38

2. rbj

As a Yankee fan, I thank you for the perspective, Mike.

Some of the fans' whining is embarrassing.

2006-10-11 09:45:19

3. Chyll Will

2 Yep. Sorry, but I had to impose a media blackout in my household the last few days, and I'm keeping up my boycott of the NY Daily News.

Hyperbole aside, at least the Bills made it to the Super Bowl when they blew it four times in a row. The Yanks have only gone twice in their current six-season run of futility; it's the payroll and the all-star-in-every-position thing that has most fans and media-types susceptible to freaking out.

2006-10-12 10:58:52

4. Brent is a Dodger Fan

It just goes to show that it is all a matter of perspective. ... "the lifestyle to which I am accustomed..."

As a Dodger fan, I measure things in terms of League Pennants and World Series victories, probably because the Dodgers have a handful of each, and the rival team in whose city I live have very few of those.

So viewed from one perspective, Yankee fans have been able to witness a recent period of great success: continual division crowns or wild card births. What Cubs fan would snark at the notion of 10 straight years of winning records and playoff chances?

But viewed from another perspective, one more accustomed to success, Yankee fans have been witnessing a recent period of failure: continual inability to win it all. Oh, for the glory days when we'd parade them through the streets after the victory! This team is just not like (name your year).

Add to this the fact that they spend more money on payroll than anyone else by almost double, and they still don't win it all? Viewed from that perpective, they should all be fired.

2006-10-12 11:36:16

5. Schteeve

It's asinine logic to think that by spending 2x what the next closest team spends on payroll, the Yanks should be assured of winning in the post season. The ability to write checks is not factored into RC or WS or OPS or anyother win driving metric that I know of.

2006-10-12 16:36:28

6. Brent is a Dodger Fan

5 I think "asinine" is a bit strong a word for your disagreement.

If I were a stockholder in a company that had twice the marketing budget of a competitor, and yet the company I was investing in was continually losing share to smaller companies, I'd take my money out of that company and back a winner.

But I'd like to stress that my point was about perspective. And you clearly have your own.

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