Slow Starts For The Evil Empire

Alright, I hate the Yankees as much as anyone—but can we please have a little perspective? Even though they lost their first series of the season against the Orioles this week, it was still only a single series. Dropping 2 out of 3 is going to happen to every single team this year—and its going to happen to them more than once. Just remember, the best team in the regular season last year (Anaheim Los Angeles) lost 62 times last season. The World Series champs lost 70 times last year. It happens.

At what point are people going to realize that New York always starts the slow. Just as surely as the Mets will suck in September, the Yankees will suck in April. In fact, their 2 biggest acquisitions over the offseason usually start the season slow as well. So why is this a surprise?

The difference of their record in April compared to their final record is staggering. Over the last 5 seasons, their average winning percentage in April is .476. Over a 162 game season, that translates to a final record of 77-85.

Everyone gets off to slow starts for the Evil Empire

Now compare that to the record the Yankees end up with in October. Using the same 5 year period, their average winning percentage is .587. That means their average record over the last half decade is 95-67. To put the records in perspective, in April they play like the Texas Rangers or the Oakland A’s. By the end of the year, they look more like last season’s Boston Red Sox or Chicago Cubs.

When you take a look at their upcoming schedule, it’s not like they have a bunch of cupcakes they can pound on to help their record. After this weekend’s series with the Royals, the Yankees get to play: @TB, CLE, OAK, @BOS, @DET, ANA, BOS, and TB. That’s their schedule until mid-May. So it’s not like they’re going to have a spectacular April record this year either.

But people, stop saying the Yankees suck because they lost 2 out of 3 to Baltimore. I hoped they would go 1-161 as much as the next guy; but hasn’t the past taught us anything? They’ll probably start slow, and then they’ll catch fire in June and July to put pressure on whoever is leading the AL East.

There’s a saying that says: “The best predictor of the future is the past.” I’m going to subscribe to that theory and wait a few months before I bury the Yankees. As much as we hate to admit it, half a billion dollars will buy a decent team. Don’t worry, they’ll be around to hate all year.