THIS is about the season the Yankees never saw coming. That no one could have seen coming. This is about Shawn Chacon and Chien-Ming Wang, about Robinson Cano and Bubba Crosby. And about a guy who is now 9-0 named Aaron Small.
Small made his worst start as a Yankee last night, and finally his teammates were as big a blessing to him as he has been to them. The Yankees won 12-9 over the Orioles. They are still on the wrong side of the playoffs looking in, still a half-game down to the Red Sox in the AL East and a half-game down to the Indians in the wild card race.
But where would the Yankees be without these unanticipated gifts? The team that spent $205 million is alive because of pennies from heaven. The Yankees are not the biggest financial bust ever – not yet anyway – because of the unsung members of the chorus.
“Most of the singers are on the disabled list,” Joe Torre said. “The ones that are unsung are here playing.”
To be fair, many of the heavyweights have done heavy lifting. Alex Rodriguez, owner of the majors’ largest salary, may win the AL MVP; and Mo Rivera may take the Cy Young. Derek Jeter could add 200 hits to his 120-or-so runs. Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield each will clear 115 RBIs. For the first time since Sheffield was installed as the DH after injuring his thigh, he looked like his old self last night, hitting a grand slam and driving in six runs.
Jason Giambi, who was on the verge of being a human money pit, reversed in time to imitate David Ortiz for three months. Between breakdowns physical and emotional, Randy Johnson has won 14 games. And Gordon is among the majors’ best set-up men.
But, with all of that, the Yankees were not surviving injury and ineptitude, especially in the rotation, without so many unexpected contributions.
Wang, Chacon and Small have been such revelations, not only because they have won, but also because they have exhibited a calm in their first pennant race, a serenity that veteran Johnson has not grasped.
Small battled his command, walking two, hitting one and yielding 10 hits in five innings. He now has surrendered 13 runs over 18 innings in his past three starts. Mike Mussina is due back from an elbow injury to start Thursday, and Small might be the odd-man out, 9-0 record or not. That might not be such a bad thing: The Yanks sure can use some middle-inning competence.
Last Friday night in Toronto, the Yankees nearly blew an eight-run lead because of the soft underbelly in the pen. Last night, the Yanks jumped in front 10-3, yet needed to use Gordon and Rivera, mainly because Scott Proctor and Alan Embree did too much damage. If the Yankees collapse in the last week, it very well could be because of all the unnecessary work put on the arms of Gordon and Rivera due to such shabby set-up work.
If the Yankees make the playoffs, you will have to take a look at how the unsung men have influenced what are now eight wins in nine games. The Yankees went 5-1 on a just-completed road trip, and Cano was the offensive star at Tampa Bay and the defensive star in Toronto. Wang and Small won at Tampa Bay; Chacon was a stalwart in a 1-0 triumph in Rogers Center. Wang provided eight stellar innings Monday against the Orioles; and Crosby launched a walk-off homer.
Crosby got a standing ovation, and so did Small coming off the mound yesterday, even after a trying start. The fans understand what he has meant to this team at this time. Kevin Brown and Carl Pavano abandoned the season long ago. Small stepped in as something close to a savior. In many ways, he symbolizes the kind of players who have helped the Yankees overcome their early season malaise. He is the leader of a vital group that has come up big.
The Small Men.