Leigh Steinberg: It Isn’t How You Play The Game, Its Whether Or Not You Win

Hep up, Mitch Williams! Hitting, pitching and now desperation are contagious.

The stunning offensive collapse was so stunning that the Yankee fans were booing their own team and many failed to show for the last home game.

How is this performance possible with a talented and veteran group? First look to motivation of the players. Next to team chemistry. Clearly pitchers like Mark Verlander are overpowering, but all playoff teams have tremendous pitching. Most hitting is mental. What players tell me is necessary is a quiet mind-the ability to tune out all distractions and past failure and focus solely on the moment at head. Desperation can be contagious.

The Yankees have A-Rod under contract for five more years at premium dollars. After being benched in the most critical games can he fit back into the team structure. Will he want to? Will his teammates trust him? Will the harsh glare of New York fans and media make his continued tenure untenable? Would the Yankees absorb the financial penalty necessary to get another team to assume his contract in a trade?

The off-season for the Yankees will be as intriguing as their playoff performance. There is little tolerance for dramatic failure.