Sox/Tigers game from 6/3/09.  Your boy Rick Sutcliffe on color commentary.  Beckett working on a no-no.  Sutcliffe and his partner (not sure who) start waxing poetic on Jason Varitek's "intangibles" and "grit."   They even go so far as to say, "Beckett and Varitek take a no-hitter into the seventh inning!!"

Tek's next at-bat.  Sutcliffe starts worshipping at the altar of intangibilty.  ESPN shows the famous clip from 2004 when Tek scuffled with A-Rod after Arroyo plunked him. 

Sutcliffe (paraphrased): "You see here, A-Rod wants to get to Arroyo, and Varitek is saying "No."  Varitek is not letting it happen.  And..when you stop and think about it; the Yankees have not been to a World Series since."

Far be it from me to argue with someone who is paid to bring me their informed opinion.  Especially a man who got drunk during a live baseball broadcast and started talking about George Clooney and the war in Iraq.  But I think there may be OTHER reasons for the Yankees failure to reach a World Series since then.  Objective reasons.  Reasons that can be backed up with statistical evidence.  But hey, I may be wrong.  Maybe Jason Varitek scrapping with Alex Rodriguez IS the reason the Yankees have failed to reach the World Series lately.  In fact, there have been some other things that have happened since 2004 that may have factored in. 

In 2004, Ken Griffey Jr. joined the 500 HR club.  Greg Maddux "won" his 300th game.  I also got a job at Bloomingdale's in Manhattan working in the luxury linens department.  One other thing happened...no World Series for the Yankees.

In 2005, Chone Figgins led the AL in stolen bases.  The Houston Astros led the NL in Hits Allowed and still made it to the World Series.  The Taiwanese government called on 1 million Taiwanese to demonstrate in Taipei, in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China. Between 200,000 and 300,000 attended the walk.  And Lo! there were no Yankees in the World Series that year!

In 2006, Kevin Bacon passed on "Hollow Man 2."  Do you remember seeing the Yankees in the World Series that year?

In 2007, some other stuff happened, and the Yankees didn't make it to the World Series that year either!

In 2008, Charlton Heston died.  One day I was walking around Manhattan, thought about buying a copy of that month's GQ, but didn't.  I think everyone knows who didn't make it to the World Series that year!

In 2009, ?

So...maybe Rick Sutcliffe is on to something.  Maybe there is some correlation between Tek mushing Arod's face and the Yanks not reaching the Fall Classic.  Maybe it has more to do with subjective garbage and ghosts and curses and grit.  And maybe it has less to do with the Yankee's joke of a bullpen the last few years, a collection of aging players and some unfortunate injuries.  Maybe...Rick Sutcliffe IS a genius...