Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 392

homegrown stars. But the foundation of this dynasty was actually an incredible pitching staff.

During their pennant run, the rotation at various times boasted eight pitchers who'd go on to win at least 185 career games; Roger Clemens, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Jimmy Key, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Kenny Rogers and David Wells; plus a ninth, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who won 126 in Cuba before adding nearly 100 more in the Majors.

"They all have ability to turn it up a notch," catcher Joe Girardi told the New York Times in 1998, the year the Yanks won a then AL record 114 games and posted a collective 2.42 ERA in the postseason.

And we can't forget Mariano Rivera, who retired with 141 innings, an 8-1 record and a 0.70 ERA in the postseason. When he reached

34 postseason saves, it was more than double anyone else's total, and he fittingly finished his career with 42.