What was the best post dynasty (96-01) yankee team?

[R.V.47]

After 2001, the yankees have had a lot of different players and a lot of different style teams. Which was the best?

[Hobie]

'09 Yankees

[THEBOSS84]

I think the 2002 team was the best - without looking at #s.

[teknetic]

2003.

The Weaver-Torre debacle still lingers. Giambi put up two monster years and then got tossed to the wolves, unappreciated.

[Hobie]

I think the 2002 team was the best - without looking at #s.

Yeah, I'd have to agree there...I'm just hoping (as we all are) that the correct answer to this thread will be the '09 team.

114 OPS+
114 ERA+

That's one hell of a solid team.

[R.V.47]

Im going to say 2003, 4 pitchers who went over 200 IPs and a very good offense although Giambi dropped off some this year. The 2009 team should be better though.

[NYYRules#1]

Tough call. The 2002 Yankees were fantastic, and coming into that season were arguably better on paper than any of the dynasty teams, except for 1998, but couldn't come up in the playoffs (me thinks if we weren't facing Anaheim, who had our number throughout the dynasty, there'd have been a different result - the offense was not a problem in that series, it was just terrible pitching that did us in). The 2006 Yankees were very strong, and I'm still not sure what the hell happened in the ALDS that year. 2004 also had a great team that happened to fall apart when it counted most.

However, I'm going to go with 2003 as the best post-dynasty team. That team had it all together. And they also were solid on the postseason, unlike basically every other team since the dynasty.

If I had to rank them, it'd go something like this:
1. 2003
2. 2002
3. 2004
4. 2006
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2008

BTW, this is an interesting yet often forgotten fact - the only team to win 100 games 3 season in a row in Major League history is the 2002-2004 Yankees. The 100-win mark was only reached once during the dynasty - 1998. The only other times it has been reached in Yankee history in seasons not resulting in World Championships were 1954, 1963, and 1980.

[nnysiny]

2003 was such a strong team

[NYYRules#1]

2003 was such a strong team

Indeed. It was better than the 2000 and 2001 teams, if you ask me. I'd say the same for the 2002 team.

(In fact, I'd say that the 2004 and 2006 teams were better than the 2000 team as well, and maybe even the 2005 team. Looking at regular season record, 2000 remains the worst for the Yankees since 1995, and is even topped by 1993, but I think the record is a bit worse than the Yanks actually were that season, thanks to the September collapse. Still, that was not as strong a team as many of us think of it as.)

[bigjf]

I would leave out the current team because it's not fair to put them in with what we already know as history. I'd say it's between '03 and '04, giving the slight edge to '03 because they made the WS, even though the '04 team came within an inning away from making it as well.

[NYYRules#1]

I would leave out the current team because it's not fair to put them in with what we already know as history. I'd say it's between '03 and '04, giving the slight edge to '03 because they made the WS, even though the '04 team came within an inning away from making it as well.

Agreed - if I were to rank the current team, on paper, it's as good as the 2002 team, if not better. But you can't compare a team that hasn't even played a game yet, much less played out the entire season, to teams that are now a part of history.

[Yankees13]

The 02-03 Yankees were a great team, we really should have won the WS one of those years. The 06 Yankees were pretty damn impressive but lacked the pitching needed and the "Murder's Row and Cano" lineup went cold. The 04 Yankees were flawed, but were extremely close several times to winning the pennant and probably the WS.

[NYYDragoon]

I'm gonna go with '03. Coincidentally, it was also the last team to make the WS.

[mjdlight]

02, with 03 a close second.

Effing Angels!

[DEADSOX]

Offensively I'd say 07 was our best team, but overall I'd go with the 03 Yankees. If the 07 Yankees had the 03 rotation, that would have been ideal.

[YanksFan1992]

I said 2007.

We rebounded from a tough start, and just dominated the league in the second half. We just had a few breaks go Cleveland's way in the first round, which was our demise (the bugs, Wang being terrible in both outings, Posada's potential home run in Game 4 going just foul).

[grizy]

I said 2007.

We rebounded from a tough start, and just dominated the league in the second half. We just had a few breaks go Cleveland's way in the first round, which was our demise (the bugs, Wang being terrible in both outings, Posada's potential home run in Game 4 going just foul).

I went with 2007 for all the same reasons as well.

If Wang's sinkers sank or if Torre called the game when midgets (I know they aren't) started bugging Joba we might be dreaming of 28.

[diehardyankeefan]

I say it goes

2003 (best pitching out of all these years)
2002 (very good team too)
2004 (a year I like to forget)
2007 (wished the team clicked like the 2nd half)
2006 (see above)
2005 (that team got kind of lucky with Small and Chacon)
2008 (this team would of ascended a couple ranks if all the breaks didn't go against the Yankees)

[Melan-cynic]

For me it's 2003 without a doubt.

[grizy]

I've gotta say... Aaron Boone homer was just amazingly sweet and I remember it even more clearly than all the WS rings we won before that.

[Melan-cynic]

I've gotta say... Aaron Boone homer was just amazingly sweet and I remember it even more clearly than all the WS rings we won before that.

Maybe the greatest game I've ever seen. I can still remember the exact place I was when he hit that first pitch off Wakefield.

[YanksFan1992]

I've gotta say... Aaron Boone homer was just amazingly sweet and I remember it even more clearly than all the WS rings we won before that.

I called that home run. My dad was a huge Claussen fan, so he completely despised Boone, and was talking negatively about him the entire game. So when it was announced that Boone was up next, my father goes, "Oh great," and I go, "Watch him hit a homer here." And the rest was magnificent history.

[BxBomber44]

I've gotta say... Aaron Boone homer was just amazingly sweet and I remember it even more clearly than all the WS rings we won before that.

that's when my obsession began. before then, i was a fan but that brought me to the next level.

[R.V.47]

I called that home run. My dad was a huge Claussen fan, so he completely despised Boone, and was talking negatively about him the entire game. So when it was announced that Boone was up next, my father goes, "Oh great," and I go, "Watch him hit a homer here." And the rest was magnificent history.

I also called that home run, but only because in that series Boone had hit 2 or 3 bombs off Wakefield that went foul before that.

I think 2003 is the model the yanks are going for this year, experienced starting pitching with a circular lineup. I think 09 could be better though because the lineup is better, the bullpen is better. The rotation definitly has a chance to be better, I think it could because its a younger less injury prone starting 5 this year with guys more in their prime. Also we know Clemens and possibly Pettitte probably had a little outside help that year

[Rocketbooster]

I went with 2007 for all the same reasons as well.

If Wang's sinkers sank or if Torre called the game when midgets (I know they aren't) started bugging Joba we might be dreaming of 28.

You could say the same (as far as Wang is concerned) about every team who's top pitcher crapped out. That's not what I call a bad break, just bad pitching, and the Yankees were not good enough to overcome it. They didn't hit Carmona and they should have hit Sabathia, who struggled somewhat in the first game. The midges were a bad break, but the Yankees basically got lousy starting pitching in the series - and they didn't deserve to move on.

[grizy]

Google is awesome.

Boone sends Yankees to Series
Home run in 11th beats Boston, wins AL pennant

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

"That's the greatest ever, to have him step up and hit that pitch, that turns a struggling series into a great one," Giambi said. "That's all people will remember -- him getting us to the World Series with one swing of the bat."

[27IsNext]

On paper, the '09 team is, so I voted for them. However, for teams that actually played a full season, '03, followed by '02.

[BroadwayBomber55]

I say 2003.

I was yelling to the top of my lungs and said this after Aaron Boone's HR: SAY NO MORE. PROUD YANKEE, AARON BOONE.

After that emotion 2003 ALCS, the Yankees just ran out of gas.

[ajra21]

2003 was such a strong team

i think you are right. not just because we reached the WS but we played well all year. that rotation was good, despite weaver's poor showing and el duque/contreras' lack of innings for different reasons.

[BillBuckner]

1.) 2003
2.) 2006
3.) 2002
4.) 2004
5.) 2007
6.) 2008
7.) 2005

[mrmike98]

None of these years matter because we didn't win the World Series. I'm in agreement with the organizational mindset.

Do you think fans of the Skill Sets in Flushing were happy (I was!) when Beltran struck out in 2006?

[Melan-cynic]

My dad was a huge Claussen fan, so he completely despised Boone

Ah, good ol' Brandon Claussen. I was a big fan too, but that's the thing about prospects...

A solid 2005 followed by oblivion.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clausbr01.shtml

[b_joseph]

Toss up between 2003 and 2006. People underestimate just how good that 2006 team should have been.

Collective wetting of the bed was a female dog.

[NAceK]

2003, with a sigh for 2006 wasted talent. Amazingly, I still feel more comfortable calling Aaron Boone more of a "True Yankee" than A-Rod. One swing cemented his place in Yankee lore as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, I very much am still hoping for great things out of A-Rod in terms of eventually establishing himself with a championship ring as a Yankee.

[Rocketbooster]

2003, with a sigh for 2006 wasted talent. Amazingly, I still feel more comfortable calling Aaron Boone more of a "True Yankee" than A-Rod. One swing cemented his place in Yankee lore as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, I very much am still hoping for great things out of A-Rod in terms of eventually establishing himself with a championship ring as a Yankee.

oy vey.......Aaron Boone is a "true Yankee", but Alex is not? How I hate that term - I don't even know what it means.

[R.V.47]

Toss up between 2003 and 2006. People underestimate just how good that 2006 team should have been.

Collective wetting of the bed was a female dog.

I give the lineup edge to 2006 although, the years Jeter and Cano had were off the charts and the production from Damon at the top of the lineup was great not to mention the "down" year from A-Rod in which he drove in 120 runs. Pitching though gives 03 a big advantage.

[NAceK]

oy vey.......Aaron Boone is a "true Yankee", but Alex is not? How I hate that term - I don't even know what it means.

I came off the wrong way in my post. As far as I'm concerned, Alex Rodriguez IS a Yankee, and as a Yankee fan, I want him to be the league stud he undoubtedly can be/has been. But no one can deny the lack of acceptance by certain circles of the fans, and the media for that matter, but forget the media most importantly the fans. As far as throwing around the term "true" Yankee, which even though I just used it I will agree it is pretty ridiculous, I think the more universally accepted names in the Yankees universe are often attributed to one or more defining moments in their Yankee careers. SPECIFICALLY, their Yankee playoff careers. Boone didn't lead the team to a world series, but tell me that was not one of the greatest moments in the modern Yankee era, or any era for that matter, as a fan. Delivering the deciding blow in a championship bout, in the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Arod obviously has had plenty of individual defining moments in his career, which in turn obviously helps the team, but all I was trying to get at earlier was that a defining moment in the playoffs I think would solidify his place in Yankee lore for many people. Although certainly not all, as we cannot dismiss the fact that he is the highest played player and will most likely get criticized to some extent for any shortcoming, even post world series ring.

Anyway long story short, Arod is a Yankee, nobody can dispute that, and if in some parallel universe I was presented with the option to pinch hit for Boone with Rodriquez in 2003, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't pick Arod 10/10 times.

[Snatch Catch]

The 2006 offense was insane. That team was the clear favorite going into the postseason.

I voted for 2009, though. I like this team a lot.

[BaylorBearYankeeFan]

I also vote for 2009. I think all of the pieces are there, unlike in prior years. I look at the rotation, the bullpen, the lineup and think to myself "Woah...is this fantasy baseball!?"

[CoyoteYankee]

I voted for 2006. I remember feeling so confident about that year and going into the post season -- more confident than I had in recent memory at the time. I was really surprised that they crapped the bed so badly in the ALDS.

[Ynkcpt23]

I loved that '03 team. After dispatching with Boston it was painful to watch them flame out against the d*** Marlins.

[BillBuckner]

I voted for 2006. I remember feeling so confident about that year and going into the post season -- more confident than I had in recent memory at the time. I was really surprised that they crapped the bed so badly in the ALDS.

That's why I have them at #2 on my list behind '03. They looked unbeatable until Game 2 of the ALDS. And then thanks for nothing RJ and Wright. And ughh, Kenny Rogers. Are you kidding me?

[Gusto]

The 2009 team has more overall talent and more general depth than any of those years. How that translates to success is yet to be seen, but '09 is the better team.

[ojo]

'03. glad torre's gone.

[hellonewman]

2003 for the starting pitching. I'm also still impressed that they put together a scorching April (our last hot start, really) with Erick Almonte at shortstop and Juan "The Ass" Acevedo (and his pointy hat) at closer.

2009 is potentially better but I can't vote for a team that hasn't played a game yet.

[Tyler Durden]

oy vey.......Aaron Boone is a "true Yankee", but Alex is not? How I hate that term - I don't even know what it means.

It's definitely a term that has been overused lately (Boone? C'mon), but I think is valid, given this organization's proud history of great players. In my mind, defining a 'True Yankee' is a lot like defining pornography... difficult to describe, but you absolutely know it when you see it.

As for the poll,my vote is for the 2003 team. While the 2002 team may have been better on paper, I still have the happiest memories from '03 when compared to every post dynasty season since. I still remember the look on all the Red Sox fans' faces when "Cowboy Up" turned into "Cowboy Down & Out". Priceless.

[Rocketbooster]

I came off the wrong way in my post. As far as I'm concerned, Alex Rodriguez IS a Yankee, and as a Yankee fan, I want him to be the league stud he undoubtedly can be/has been. But no one can deny the lack of acceptance by certain circles of the fans, and the media for that matter, but forget the media most importantly the fans. As far as throwing around the term "true" Yankee, which even though I just used it I will agree it is pretty ridiculous, I think the more universally accepted names in the Yankees universe are often attributed to one or more defining moments in their Yankee careers. SPECIFICALLY, their Yankee playoff careers. Boone didn't lead the team to a world series, but tell me that was not one of the greatest moments in the modern Yankee era, or any era for that matter, as a fan. Delivering the deciding blow in a championship bout, in the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Arod obviously has had plenty of individual defining moments in his career, which in turn obviously helps the team, but all I was trying to get at earlier was that a defining moment in the playoffs I think would solidify his place in Yankee lore for many people. Although certainly not all, as we cannot dismiss the fact that he is the highest played player and will most likely get criticized to some extent for any shortcoming, even post world series ring.

Anyway long story short, Arod is a Yankee, nobody can dispute that, and if in some parallel universe I was presented with the option to pinch hit for Boone with Rodriquez in 2003, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't pick Arod 10/10 times.

Ok, I see what you mean and I feel that one of these days, A-Rod WILL have his defining moment.

[DEADSOX]

It's definitely a term that has been overused lately (Boone? C'mon), but I think is valid, given this organization's proud history of great players. In my mind, defining a 'True Yankee' is a lot like defining pornography... difficult to describe, but you absolutely know it when you see it.

As for the poll,my vote is for the 2003 team. While the 2002 team may have been better on paper, I still have the happiest memories from '03 when compared to every post dynasty season since. I still remember the look on all the Red Sox fans' faces when "Cowboy Up" turned into "Cowboy Down & Out". Priceless.

How in the world is defining pornography difficult?

[grizy]

I've met parents that think Sailor Moon cartoon is pornography.

[BonusCantos]

The 2009 Yankees have a reasonable chance to be the best on that list, as I think this is the best team on paper that the Yanks have fielded since the dynasty, but until that point, it's the 2003 Yankees. 2002/2006 Yankees tied for 2nd.