HBT: Introducing the Yankees Doom Watch

I noted last week that people seem to be underselling the Yankees quite a bit. I?m seeing more and more of it. So much so that I?m getting the sense that one-dooms-manship of the Yankees will become a pretty prevalent meme between now and April. A contest of sorts between who can be most extreme in selling the Yankees short and predicting the ignominious end to the Jeter dynasty.

So let?s keep track of them, shall we? We?ll call it the ?Yankees Doom Watch.?

Now, I?m not talking about merely being somewhat circumspect about the Yankees? chances. ?It?s totally rational and fair game to note that the team has some issues heading into the season. They don?t have a catcher. They?re relying on Kevin Youkilis to rebound way more than a contending team should be relying on a brittle and declining veteran to rebound. Everyone is getting older. There?s a decent chance that this team, like any other successful team, could crater. It?s a tough division. All have their strengths and all have their weaknesses and any of the five teams could reasonably win it or lose it.

No, I?m talking about examples of Yankees pessimism that go beyond the circumspect and tread into the dire. Conclusory predictions of futility that overstate the challenges they face. Failure to acknowledge that the team won 95 games last year. ?Failure to acknowledge the weaknesses of the other teams in their division. Treatment of the 2012 ALCS as though it were the entire 2012 season. References to this team being like the 1965 Yankees are always a plus.

I?ll make an?inaugural nomination: Bill Madden in this morning?s Daily News:

You have to go all the way back to 1992 for a spring training of lower expectations than this one for both the Yankees and the Mets, where in both cases, our locals have a better chance of finishing last than finishing first this season.

I?ll buy it for the Mets, but the Yankees? Really? Better chance of finishing in last place? ?OK.

Last week Madden reported that A-Rod would never wear pinstripes again. This week he?s saying the Yankees have a better chance of finishing in last than first. What are the odds of a mea culpa on Madden?s part if A-Rod comes back midseason and leads them to a division title? You probably don?t want to bet your first born on that one.

Anyway, this one is definitely worthy of notice by the Yankee Doom Watch. ?Please apprise us of any other examples you see between now and Opening Day.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/10/introducing-the-yankees-doom-watch/related/

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