Veteran pitcher, elimination game, win or go home. Veteran pitcher gets blasted early, bullpen unable to stop the bleeding, no chance to ever come back, season over. Yankee fans lived out this nightmare in 2004, when in Game 7 of the American League Championship series, Kevin Brown gave a pathetic performance in the biggest start of his career. His final line read 1 1/3 innings pitched, five earned runs, four hits and two walks. The pitcher who replaced him out of the bullpen, Javier Vasquez, threw two innings and gave up three runs while walking five. The Yankees fell behind 6-0 and barely made the Red Sox sweat.
Flash forward three years, final game of the 2007 regular season for the New York Mets. 300 game winner Tom Glavine takes the mound in the biggest game of the year for his team. After recording just one out, Tom Glavine left the mound having given up five runs and handing Jorge Sosa a bases loaded situation. Sosa promptly gave up a two run double to give the Marlins a 7-1 lead that they would not give up.
After 2004, the Yankees rid themselves of some of the main culprits of their demise. Kevin Brown, Javier Vasquez, Orlando Hernandez, Jon Lieber, and Felix Heredia. Unfortunately the only thing the Yankees did not do following 2004 was immediately change their team building strategy, as busts like Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright were signed and traded for leading to further early exits in 2005 and 2006.
Now the Mets find their team in a similar situation. When the Mets heading to Port St. Lucie in 2008, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, Paul LoDuca, Billy Wagner, Lastings Milledge, Luis Castillo, Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green should not be part of the team. This may sound like a massive undertaking, and it may make for a long 2008, but for the future long term health of the franchise, these are necessary steps. Glavine sounded like a man who just didn't care about losing. El Duque broke down in 2004 for the Yankees, and couldn't beat the Red Sox in Game 4. He's broken down in 2006 and 2007 now as well. He is no longer a reliable option in a rotation. Paul LoDuca and Billy Wagner talk a little too much for guys who never come up in the big spot. Lastings Milledge basically told Willie Randolph to go to hell. There are rumors that Luis Castillo is responsible for the "carefree" attitude that Jose Reyes has suddenly brought to the field, jogging to first and swinging for the fences every at bat. Delgado is old and decrepit. Shawn Green is useless. Get these guys off the team, find some bullpen help, and give Willie Randolph some guys that have a little class in their bodies.
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