Early Winter

Back in June I pondered whether the Yankees would challenge Boston for the Eastern Division title or settle for the wild card spot.

Well, they settled.

At that point we Yankee fans were just happy they had made it to the playoffs as Detroit and Seattle gave them a run for their money for that wild card berth.

Four games later and the Yankees were packing up their stuff and emptying their lockers.

Was I surprised?

Not really.

This was a team that had no pitching except for Andy Pettitte, the new phenom, Joba Chamberlain, and Mariano Rivera. The Yankees went so far as to lure Roger Clemens out of retirement for $1 million per start.

Chien Ming Wang did well during the season, but fell apart in the playoffs. Joba faltered as well. Clemens' body is 90% scar tissue and he needs to stay on the golf course permanently.

But the worst was the lack of hitting in the post season.

The Yankees looked scared, as if they had only played the game in the minors before facing Cleveland.

Gnats not withstanding, they weren't good.

Does Joe Torre take the fall and fade into the past or maybe take a front office job? Will those whose contracts expire be back next season? Whose necks will end up on the block?

It should be an interesting off season.