It’s better to be lucky than good. It’s an old saying. The first time I heard it was from Tommy Lasorda in 1988 when the Dodgers beat the heavily favored Mets and then the A’s to become World Champs.
I’ll go one further–it’s better to be lucky and good. The Yankees have won three straight games by the score of 2-1. Andy Pettitte, not wanting to be the odd man out, picked up where Joba Chamberlain and CC Sabathia left off, and threw a fine game last night.
Sure, there has been some luck–how did Jose Molina manage to keep that snow-coned ball in his mitt last night?–and if they’d been losing games 3-2 we’d be moaning about the lack of hitting. But they’ve been winning and so we are heppy kets for the moment.
Win it all, or else. That’s the philosophy in the Bronx. Championship or mud. Sometimes it is difficult to appreciate what you’ve got when you live by this motto. Sure, the World Serious is the thing. It has to be. But the Yankees give us more pleasure than disappointment, no matter how much more pleasure we demand from them. (At these prices, they had better win.)
They are tied for first place now. There is still a long way to go. We haven’t hit the dog days yet. The latest set-back for Chien-Ming Wang presents a problem. But they are playing well and right now, the breaks are going there way. Time to stop, take it in, and appreciate what we’ve got. There is no guarantee that it’s gunna last.
But after seeing Godzilla hit a game-winning homer last night I bet there are a lot of fans around the country cursing, Damn Yankees.
I once heard someone say that "luck is when preparation meets opportunity."
The Yanks are able to capitalize on the good breaks because they are a very good baseball team.
Thing is, in the years when the Yanks were winning the WS, they were plenty lucky. This is one of those intangibles of baseball, and call me crazy, but this team seems to have the same kind of luck as those teams did. I'd say it's a pretty darn good sign.
But they still need to go get another starter.
its been looong journey, and now they are 18 games above .500. we should appreciate that. I have a very good feeling about this team.
Alex - didn't it looked like maybe Molina used the ground to shove the ball back into his mitt after (or before, or while) making the tag?
If so, that's pretty incredible poise and presence of mind. And pretty incredible luck that the guy didn't kick it out of the mitt.
Agreed with, all. This team sure does have some mojo. This late-inning stuff is fun!
I am rather partial to this saying with respect to luck and sports...
"The harder I practice, the luckier I get." - Gary Player
: )
That runner, Izturus, should have been FINED, first for not scoring on Roberts' double and then for not kicking that ball out of Molina's glove--and yeah, it did look he trapped it.
[2] I'd say in 96 and 99 the Yanks were lucky. in 98 they were pissed about 97 and destroyed everyone in their path. 2000, well the Mets were lucky, and... they're the Mets ferchrissake >;)
I appreciate Jeter, perhaps this is his renaissance and last year of being Capt. Clutch Mr. November Jeter. Same with Mo, who exemplifies the truest professionalism in all baseball. I appreciate what Matsui's given to this team since he's been here, as this is his last hurrah. Jorge will probably never be Hip-Hip Jorge again. Easy to overlook Andy Pettitte this year, too. I'll miss those guys when they hang it up, and they're doing better than we expected.
But I also appreciate what I've seen from the new kids; Pena and Cervelli, and nice bounce-back from Melky, not to mention great speed from Gardner like we haven't seen in a long while; that has to count for something. And hey, we'd dreamed about CC and Teixeira being Yankees from time to time. Guess what?
I appreciate the looseness that A.J. and Swish have brought to the team. I appreciate Molina's defense. I hope to see Ajax and Monstero later this year. And Robbie has never looked better starting and turning 2.
Joba is learning, and hopefully he's starting to settle down. Phil has been lights out in the 8th, and I hope he'll come back to the rotation soon. Aceves has been a revelation this season, and Coke has been better than anyone could expect. The rest of the group has contributed, and that has been appreciated more often than not as indicated by the good record we actually have.
Lastly, Rodriguez. I'll admit it, I'm glad he's here. And I'm glad he's finally learning to just play the blasted game. No, people are not gonna leave him alone about anything, but since he's been back, he's STFU and played. That's all I ask, and that's what he's done. I appreciate that. >;)
[7] i always thought 99 was when they were best
@ #7: Well said!
[8] I agree--on paper I thought the '99 team was stronger than the '98 team. winning 150 games or whatever in '98 required a good bit of luck, but that only means they ended up historically awesome instead of just awesomely awesome.
[8] Yes from a "Overcoming Adversity" standpoint, they completely gelled as a team; rallying around stricken and grieving comrades and galvanizing the fans, something they repeated in 2001 after the attacks. If they had held on to the comeback in 2001, that likely would have been the best, and perhaps extended their run a couple more years.
[1] "Luck favors the prepared mind." I thought that was a Branch Rickey saying, but Google tells me it was Louis Pasteur. I'll take it.
[7] Indeed. Good to have you opining on such things, Chyll!
[2] et al. I think 2000 was all about luck - luck involved in Cashman getting Justice, luck in the Yanks winning the division with only 87 wins (try that now!), luck in beating the A's, and perhaps most importantly, luck in winning Game 1 of the Serious.
I've always wanted to ask Billy Beane if it was the 2000 or 2001 loss to the Yanks that made him say his famous line about the playoffs.
[12] Thanks; every now and then I like to think I do justify my presence on this illustrious board >;)
"The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck." - Hector Berlioz
This team seems to have a talent for luck...and catching pies in the face.
[7] Good stuff, Chyll.
there's a ton of good luck sayings. hard to say who actually said them.
"You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky...to hold front position in this rat-race you've got to believe you're lucky." - Stanley Kowalski, A Streetcar named desire
"Diligence is the mother of good luck." - Benjamin Franklin.
i do think in sports you can make good luck, so to speak.
as to the fans cursing damn yankees, i have to admit i would love to rub it in to rsn - especially my former dean and his bullshit updates that are supposed to be about the graduate school but that account for how many games back the yankees are.
[13] no doubt chyll.
and since you were appreciative in [7] - i definitely appreciate having the banter to come to, win (or lose) and have so many interesting people to banter about the yankees with on top of the illustrious writers. even though i have escpaed rsn - i find myself wanting to talk yankee baseball at the banter more and more.
"How did Jose Molina manage to keep that snow-coned ball in his mitt?"
It seemed to me that the runner's foot actually forced the ball back into Molina's glove and held it in there.
I'm even more amazed by the play on the wild pitch - the pitcher missed the tag with his first stab then just barely got him a microsecond before he touched the plate.
They've been playing good defense all year. I think a lot of it is Teixeira - his ability to scoop up almost anything gives his infielders all the confidence they need to make plays, knowing that if they can just get the ball anywhere near first, Tex will find a way to catch it. Plus, Jeter really does have improved range to his left, and Cabrera/Gardner are doing a very good job in center.