Blogger: New York Yankees 2011 Post Mortem: Don't Restock, Reload

On the morning after the 2011 New York Yankees playoff exit, somber Yankee fans need to calm down, separate their head from their heart, take a hard look at what transpired this past season, think about the good and the not so good and look forward to again being among baseball's elite as they have been for the last 16 years.

On paper before the season, I'd think it's safe to say that most Yankee fans didn't think they'd win the American League division title and would have to fight like hell to even make the playoffs given the questionable starting pitching rotation and season-ending injuries to key relievers like Joba Chamberlain.

Given the patchwork effort by Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman to bring in older starting pitchers like Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, and with the unexpected emergence of rookie Ivan Nova, this team totally overachieved. Colon and Garcia gave the team a shot in the arm with quality starts, working deep into games and ably handing the ball off to one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Even though this team hit like a prototypical Yankee team and scored a ton of runs, think about the playoffs for a minute:

Quick! Who were the team's 3 most productive hitters during the playoffs?

Answer: Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada.

Quick! Who was the team's most effective starter in the biggest spot?

Answer: AJ Burnett (really, AJ Burnett?), yes, AJ Burnett.

Take note that these answers didn't include Mark Texeira, Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, Russell Martin and Derek Jeter.

Unlike most, I will give Alex Rodriguez a pass as he's still injured with a bad thumb and hip, he still played stellar defensively. Given the fact that he wasn't a tangible part of the team this year, any offensive output from him in the playoffs would have been considered a bonus.

And, for any Yankee fan who wants to trash him (granted he made $30M this year, so he is a natural lightning "rod" for criticism), you can send back any 2009 "World Champion" gear that you may own, because without Alex Rodriguez, that championship simply doesn't happen.

Granderson gets a pass as, even though he hit .250, his two amazing defensive plays in Game 4 saved 5 possible Detroit runs and ultimately AJ Burnett's hide.

The Captain also gets a pass as even though he hit a mediocre .250, he led the team with 6 runs scored and also played well defensively.

Onto CC Sabathia, who even though as the Yankees unquestioned ace, he seems to be a different pitcher in the playoffs. He was lights out and dominant much of the season through July, but seemed to falter a bit in August into September. He was overmatched by the heavily favored Cy Young candidate in Justin Verlander in Game 3, and essentially gave up the series-clinching run in Game 5 in long relief.

Catcher Russell Martin wasn't brought here for his offense, and did what he was asked, but he still should get a big hit in a big spot once in a while as his bat faded towards the this year.

That leaves Texeira and Swisher, who should seriously consider sponsorships or doing "Got Milk"? ads, because when it comes to the playoffs, those guys should be on the side of every milk carton in the tri-state area as they end up on Missing Persons reports every year.

Texeira, even though he is great defensively and is a major run producer during the season, has hit .091 in his last 9 playoff games and has seen a major drop in his batting average over the last 2 years.

With the landscape of the core of the team and seemingly infinite resources, the Yankees will be fine, as they will shed some payroll with the departures of high tag players like Jorge Posada, and will have to address the opt-out contract issue with CC Sabathia. That has to be resolved immediately.

Bright spots include Nova, David Robertson in middle relief, Gardner and the young catchers of Jesus Montero and Austin Romine, who may be able to be traded for a quality starter in the off-season. If Phil Hughes can develop some consistency and stay healthy, he'll be fine as he looked good in Game 5. The Yankees do seem to have a number of quality prospects who, like Nova, may be able to contribute in the upcoming years.

For the Yankees, it's all about big stars, bright lights and Broadway.

Regardless, the bright lights and Broadway will always be here. The big stars like Texeira and Sabathia making over $100M need to do what they were brought here to do, produce as leaders in the season and step it up in the playoffs.

And, one last thought: a thank you and a tip of the cap goes out to Jorge Posada, who was a great Yankee anchoring those 5 World Championships and a fiercely competitive player. Posada looks like he has played his last game in a Yankee uniform. I didn't always agree with his approach, but he was a monster hitter, a tirelessly charitable player and gave Yankee fans a lot to cheer about during his time here. Bayamon, PR has a lot to be proud of.

Remember this: Only 21 weeks until pitchers and catchers report.