Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day. And Neither Will The "New" New York Yankees Be Either.

The term “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is the usual English translation of a French phrase first known from Li Proverbe au Vilain (c. 1190), and listed in John Heywood’s A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tougue (c.1538).  The meaning of this proverb is:  All things take time to create.  And great things like the city of Rome take a very long time.  So we shouldn’t expect to accomplish something or achieve success immediately.  I know this isn't the traditional Yankee way, but it should be the new mantra of the New York Yankees, because after watching this weekend’s Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees’ series, it’s very apparent that the Yankees and their fans are going to need to be patient before they are great again.   

The Yankees were sweep this weekend by their arch rival, the Boston Red Sox, and have lost 6 straight games in a row, including tonight's game against another division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays.  Yes, it's only May 16th and I know the benchmark for determining whether a team is for real or not is the 4th of July, but this is the New York Yankees folks.  Every series, every game, every pitch is held to a benchmark.   

What is cause for concern though is that there are no signs of the ship turning around.  The Yankees don't have a regular starting position player batting over .286 and as a team, are only batting .249.  Hitting staples like Derek Jeter (.255), A-Rod (.242), Jorge Posada (.165), and Mark Teixeira (.252) are all not playing to the back of their baseball card.  And underlining stats like Derek Jeter hitting the most ground balls in all of baseball and Posada having the lowest batting average in the league for a player with more than 100 AB's is mind-boggling to anyone, let alone manager Joe Girardi.  The fire is getting hot, and Rome is in it's path. 

Their pitching is also not a pretty sight as well.  C.C. Sabathia is having a decent season posting a 3-3 record, 5 quality starts, 7.54 K/9, and an ERA of 3.47.  But he is only one pitcher, and he only gets the ball every 5th day.  The other four Yankee starters:  A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and when he comes back from the DL, Phil Hughes, aren't having stellar seasons.  Burnett has proven that he can't be counted on, Ivan Nova is young and is in his first full season so I will give him a past and won't embarrass him by giving you his numbers.  But another young arm who is proven however, Phil Hughes, has an ERA of 13.94 in 3 starts, a 2.61 K/9 rate, and is on the DL for dead arm.  Not good!!  And if the Yankees expect to go into the playoff race with Big Fat Bartolo Colon and washed up Freddy Garcia, Rome is definitely on it's way to being burned down.   

The Yankees credit much of their success in recent years to going out and spend, spend, spend.  Their strategy for success has been to out-spend the competition and have the highest bid for the high-price free agents.  They (Yankees) for a long time completely ignored their minor league farm system and have instead either traded away their highly talented prospects for proven veterans, or have conceded their draft picks for type A and B free agents.  This had been a formula for success that proved to work, as the Yankees were consistent in winning division titles, and eventually a World Series title in 2009.  It is frequently referred to as "reloading" on the run; trying to build back Rome in a day, or offseason.  But now, with the current make-up of the New York Yankees' roster, and the potential 2012 free agent class, they may want to take a good look at the true meaning of “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and take it to heart. 

In looking at the 2012 potential free agent list, I don't see how Rome (the Yankees) can be built in one day.  First, the crown jewel of the free agent class is Albert Puljos.  I don't see Puljos wearing a New York Yankee uniform.  I don't think he wants to go their and be a DH or platoon with Teixeira for first base duties.  The Yankees could sign Prince Fielder and DH him, but he is on the wrong side of 275, and I don't mean his batting average.  Do the Yankees really want to spend $16m plus for an overweight DH?  We are going to assume that the Yankees will pick up the $14m club option on Robbie Cano, so second base is covered.  Jose Reyes would be an intriguing signing and quite frankly a good one for them, but are you going to tell Derek Jeter that he will not be the every day shortstop, especially after signing him to a 3 year deal?  Third base is locked up for the Yankees with A-Rod for the next 7 years.  The outfield market isn't filled with any world beaters as well.  The only three outfielders worth giving a contract to is Ryan Ludwick, Carlos Beltran, and Grady Sizemore (assuming the Indians don't pick up his option).  But Beltran and Sizemore are coming off major knee surgeries, and all are on the downswing of their prime.  I'm going to spare you the list of potential starting pitchers and move to the closers, where there is pretty good players available.  Heath Bell, Jonathan Papelbon, and Francisco Rodriguez are all free agents.  However, Rivera is still Rivera, and if they choose to sign one of these guys, they would be asked to be the closer in waiting, as the Sandman is still putting opposing batters to sleep.  Plus, the Yankees just spent $9m on Rafael Soriano to be their closer in waiting.               

The Yankee I believe have seen the writing on the wall, and have quietly for a while.  They have been trying to build Rome back up, and not just in one day, like they have in the past.  As of this year, according to Keith Law of ESPN, the New York Yankees have the 9th best farm system in baseball.  Everyone knows Jesus Montero is their catcher in waiting and have foregone trades involving Cliff Lee and others, because they believe in his talent.  But if they have to move Montero to other position or via trade to acquire a veteran, Gary Sanchez is another highly-rated catching prospect they can play.  Andrew Brackman, Manny Banuelos, Hector Noesi, and Dellin Betances are nice pitching prospects, and if Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlian, and Phil Hughes live up to their potential, the Yankees could have a nice pitching staff and bullpen when mixed in with their ace, C.C.  Robbie Cano is still only 28 years old and Teixiera is 31 and still has hits left in his bat.  The sleeper could be Eduardo Nunez, who in is very short career is batting .286, and seemingly ready to take over at short.  Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner are still young (Granderson 30, Gardner 27) and not going anywhere soon.  Slade Heathcott is a promising outfield prospect who needs a lot of polishing, but has the tools. 

The Yankees' return to dominance lies in the hands of these young prospect, but it won't happen in one day.  They will need to be patient with them, bring them along slowly, and let them develop to their potential.  The Yankees will see some lean years ahead, but with those lean years, comes high draft picks, and if the Yankees draft well, it will only further speed up the process.  But patience is the key to success.  It's like the proverd said, "All things take time to create, and great thngs take a very long time."  The Yankees have seen this play out before in the mid-1990's when they originally drafted and signed young prospects in the likes of Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Williams, and Pettitte.  This core group propelled the Yankees to their dominance in the mid 1990's and early 2000's.  The Yankees have built Rome once before, and there is no reason they can't build it again.  They have the blueprint.                      

I do not consider myself a New York Yankees fan, however I do root for them to winning and respect the tradition and history that comes with them.  I have no problem with the way they run their organization, nor do I blame them for the current state of Major League Baseball, like most baseball fan like to do.  To most people, they are the Evil Empire, much like Rome was.  But to me, they are smart business men, capitalizing on their good fortune.  They are playing within the rules of baseball and fans of small market organizations resent them because their own organization can’t do the same.  You can argue that through revenue sharing and luxury taxes, they (Yankees) are single handled keeping the bottom 1/3 of Major League Baseball organizations in business.  However, all good things must come to an end.  The Yankees' run of dominance will soon come to an end, but it will be back, and strong than ever.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  And neither will the new New York Yankees be either.    

Mr. Armchair Speaking