OAKLAND – It’s not now or never. But in the Yankees’ universe, the current five-year run without a 27th World Series title feels like 50.
And it’s not just the perception of outsiders. When the Yankees returned to their clubhouse yesterday after a workout at dreary McAfee Coliseum, T-shirts – one gray and one blue – were draped over the back of each chair.
The message on the back of the gray shirt was: “1 team, 1 mission.” On the front was the interlocking NY over the number 27. On the blue shirt was “257 days, 37 weeks, nine months” above a printed schedule that started on the first day of spring training and ended with the last World Series game.
“Win the 27th World Championship,” GM Brian Cashman said when asked what the mission was. “I don’t need to explain it.”
Cashman refused to divulge whose idea the shirts were, saying it was an “organization decision.” However, the message was clear: It’s getting closer to now or never for this cast of immensely talented and highly paid bunch of players.
“There are a lot of clocks on,” Alex Rodriguez said. “There are contract clocks, age clocks. The urgency is at an all-time high.”
The road to “27” begins tonight when Randy Johnson faces Barry Zito. The game not only marks the beginning of another baseball season, one that will be dominated by steroid talk, but also the start of Johnny Damon’s career in pinstripes.
The centerpiece of the Yankees’ offseason moves, the leadoff hitter and center fielder who cost them $52 million over four years isn’t shy about what’s expected.
“We have pressure on us,” Damon admitted. “But it’s good pressure. We understand we have to play hard and let things take care of themselves.”
Because of a lineup that should flirt with scoring 1,000 runs, the Yankees are the popular pick to win the AL East. However, inside the clubhouse the goals are higher.
“Everyone in the room feels we can win a championship,” Damon said. “If we don’t win it, it will be a shame.”
Questions about starting pitching aside, the quest remains the same.
“When you walk into this clubhouse from Day 1, it’s to win the World Series,” Jason Giambi said. “It’s not to be good or win the division. If we stay healthy, I like our chances [to win the World Series]. It’s an All-Star team up and down.”
And one that according to Rodriguez is hell-bent on avoiding the sluggish start of a year ago, when the Yankees opened 10-14.
“We limped into the season a year ago,” A-Rod said. “We had an awful spring and we weren’t feeling good about ourselves. That led into a very poor April.”
While Rodriguez warned about visions of October dancing in the Yankees’ heads in April, nobody can get too far away from the only month that counts in the Yankees’ universe.
“Obviously October is something I need to improve on,” A-Rod said when asked what the reigning AL MVP can do for an encore. Rodriguez batted .133 (2-for-15) against the Angels in the ALDS. “But you can’t look at October on Opening Day.”
Yet, there is no avoiding it. The Yankees have won eight straight AL East titles and barely made a ripple.
So, the calendar reads April and tells us there are six months of games to be played before of the postseason. For the Yankees, that’s nothing but foreplay.
One team, one mission: win a 27th World Championship.
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YANKEES at ATHLETICS – 10:05 p.m.; TV: YES, ESPN2; Radio: WCBS (880 AM)
Weather: 57 Rain (30 percent chance)
Yankees lineup
HR RBI AVG.
1. Johnny Damon, CF 10 75 .316
2. Derek Jeter, SS 19 70 .309
3. Gary Sheffield, RF 34 123 .291
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B 48 130 .321
5. Jason Giambi, 1B 32 87 .271
6. Hideki Matsui, LF 23 116 .305
7. Jorge Posada, C 19 71 .262
8. Bernie Williams, DH 12 64 .249
9. Robinson Cano, 2B 14 62 .297
SP Randy Johnson 17-8 3.79
Athletics lineup
HR RBI AVG.
1. Mark Ellis, 2B 13 52 .316
2. Mark Kotsay, CF 15 82 .280
3. Bobby Crosby, SS 9 38 .276
4. Eric Chavez, 3B 27 101 .269
5. Frank Thomas, DH 12 26 .219
6. Milton Bradley, RF 13 38 .290
7. Dan Johnson, 1B 15 58 .275
8. Jason Kendall, C 0 53 .271
9. Nick Swisher, LF 21 74 .236
SP Barry Zito 14-13 3.86