The End of an Era?: The New York Yankees moving forward

The New York Yankees have been a superior team for the past few years. In the past 20 years, they have won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. In the past 100 years, they have had 51 playoff appearances and 40 pennant wins and a total of 27 World Series Titles. However, this trend could be coming to a close.

Throughout this 2013 year, the Yankees have seen nothing but trouble. Their 13 time All-star, Derek Jeter, missed most of the 2013 season due to an injury. Their 14 time All-Star 3rd Baseman, Alex Rodriguez missed most of this season due to injuries and steroid suspension.

Girardi said, "I think I'm tired of steroids. I'm tired of that. Just do things the right way, bottom line. Everyone should do things the right way, but that's not the world we live in. You get tired of talking about it. There's a lot of guys that are doing it the right way and I respect those guys."
"Jeter, 39, has only played in 17 games this season, batting just .190. The Yankees began noticing earlier this week that Jeter did not appear to be running right, but Jeter never said a word." said Andrew Marchand ESPN New York writer.

Trying to keep the faith, "I don't think you will ever get him to concede," said manager Joe Girardi, who lifted Jeter after watching him run awkwardly down to first base. "I believe that one of the things that have made him great for so long is his ability to fight through things and to find a way to get it done even when it has looked like he might be too nicked up."

"This [year] is probably his worst one ever for him -- to have to live through this," Girardi said. "You could probably go back to when he was 6 years old because he loves to be out there and he loves to compete. And this is the time where he probably likes being out there more than any, and it has been difficult."

Jeter finally returned just before the All-Star Break in July, but lasted just one game with a quad injury. He returned from that injury for a short period, only to go back on the DL with a calf strain.

"I know he is frustrated," Girardi said. "He wants to be out there. It is tearing him up inside. But as much as he doesn't like it and wants to be out there, I think he understands. We are trying to give it a couple of days to calm down."

That's not all that has happened to this club.

The Yankees finished 85-77 and 2nd to last in the AL East, a now difficult division. The AL East consists of the Boston Red Sox, the American League Champions in 2013, the Tampa Bay Rays, an AL Wild Card winner, and the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, both good teams. The Yankees are falling behind.

Two top tier pitchers of the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettite retires following the 2013 season. These are both big losses for the Yankees. Without them, their rotation and bullpen become  much weaker and much less intimidating. Mariano Rivera could be considered the best Closing Pitcher in MLB. He set the MLB record for saves. Andy Pettite is the Yankees' all time leader in strikeouts.

The Jeter-less and A-Rod-less Yankees are not an impressive team. This year is their worst season since 1995, Jeter and Rivera's rookie season, where they went 79-65.

Yankees Manager, Joe Girardi says, "I don't see any reason why he couldn't do it next year, I don't. He's made it pretty clear that he doesn't want to [return], but I always say, you know, January rolls around and sometimes you have a different feel about what you want to do." Girardi wants Rivera to return again because who wouldn't? "I'm sure I'll talk to him at some point in the offseason," Girardi said, "and ... I'll tell him when the season's over, 'Take a month. Take a month and a half, two months, and make sure this is really what you want to do. Because once you do go, it's hard to come back.'"

"I told you guys already. I don't know why we're talking about this. I've already made my decision [to retire at the end of the season]," Rivera said after earning his 40th save of the season by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning in the Yankees' dramatic 6-4 victory over the White Sox.

The other players that the Yankees have accumulated in the past few years are also getting older. Ichiro Suzuki, 40, is reaching the end of his career soon. C.C. Sabathia and Mark Texeira, two accumulations of the Yankees' dominant 2009 offseason, are both 33 and dealing with injuries. Curtis Granderson, 32, also dealt with an injury starting the 2013 season.

It might be safe to say that the Yankees are going to need some successful offseason soon. If they don't, I don't see them going anywhere but downhill. Their players are getting older. Their coaches are getting older. Their division is getting better and stronger. Hopefully the Yankees might be able to get some players to replace their old ones, but good luck to them.