The Yankees were lucky to win the World Series in the 2000 season. They won only 87 games during the season, and would not have made the playoffs if they had played in another division. Once in the postseason, though, they stepped up and won the championship. But there was no doubt that the core group of players that had won four championships in five years were in decline.
        What, then, to do? Most championship teams, at the end of their run, start rebuilding, replacing the older veterans with new young faces. The Yankees did start to replace some of the older veterans... but with expensive free agents who were in their prime. This year, it was Mike Mussina; a year later, it was Jason Giambi, and a year after that, Japanese superstar Hideki Matsui. Owner George Steinbrenner proved that he was willing to spend whatever it took to keep his team at the top of the league.
        This year, the Yankees won 95 games during the season, and won the pennant, and came within three outs of winning the World Series, before the Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off an amazing comeback against closer Mariano Rivera.

        When the Yankees acquired Roger Clemens in a trade in 1999, they were probably hoping to get one or two good seasons out of him. He was 36 years old at the time of the deal, and already had five Cy Young Awards under his belt. The Yankees won the World Series in both 1999 and 2000, but Clemens did not contribute a big season in either year, winning 14 games in 1999, 13 in 2000. But three years later, the Rocket rewarded Yankee fans with one of his most remarkable seasons; Clemens, at age 38, he began the year 20-1. After the season, he was rewarded with his sixth Cy Young Award.
        Clemens pitched well, but I don't think his season was among the very best in the league. He certainly did not pitch as well as he did in his previous five Cy Young seasons. I think that his teammate, Mike Mussina, had a better year than Clemens, but the Yankees scored a lot of runs while Clemens was on the mound, helping to pad his record. Mussina, on the other hand, was relatively starved for run support, and "only" won 17 games.
        Signing Mike Mussina was a no-brainer. The Moose had been one of the best and most durable pitchers in the league for a decade; he had had a rare losing season in 2000, not because of his own performance but because of the swift decline of the Orioles. Mussina decided to join the Yankees; he had a great year, and led them to the playoffs.
        Boston's Pedro Martinez pitched brilliantly for half a season, and early on looked like he might win a third straight Cy Young, before an injury ended his year. In Seattle, the Mariners won 116 games, and had the best team ERA in the league. Jamie Moyer, age 38, won 20 games; his teammate, 24-year-old Freddy Garcia, was even better, winning 18 games while leading the league in innings pitched and ERA. I think that Garcia had the strongest numbers across the board, and he is my choice for the Cy Young Award.
        The Oakland Athletics also had a terrific pitching staff, led by a young trio of outstanding pitchers. Tim Hudson had another outstanding season, and by season's end had a career record of 49-17. Mark Mulder had struggled in 2000, but this year came into his own, leading the league in wins and shutouts. Barry Zito, the youngest of the trio, started slowly but had a brilliant second half, finishing with 17 wins. All three were terrific, but I think that Garcia and Mussina were a little better.
        Joe Mays didn't get much attention during the season, and didn't get much support in the Cy Young vote. But Mays had a great season, and was the best pitcher on a Twins team that surprised everyone by winning 85 games. Garcia, Mussina and the three Oakland pitchers all pitched for great teams in pitchers' parks. Mays had to pitch in the Metrodome, a great park for hitters, with a young team that was learning to win for the first time. It is difficult to find much fault with Garcia's season, and I will stick with him as my Cy Young winner, but I will take Mays ahead of Mussina and the rock-solid Hudson.
        Supercloser Mariano Rivera set a career high with 50 saves. After several brilliant seasons and an almost perfect postseason record, Rivera was considered by many to be invincible. But baseball players, no matter how great, are still human. Rivera had a few bad games during the season, blowing seven saves; he was then an out away from clinching another World Series for the Yankees, only to have Arizona rally in Game Seven. Further proof that it happens to the best of them.