Bernie Williams wants one more year in pinstripes. The problem is, there's no place for him.
Today's New York Times reports that retirement is not an option for Bernie and that the 38-year-old outfielder wants to remain a Yankee. But with no starting job for him in the outfield and Melky heading up the reserve roll, it seems as if Bernie's 16 years in the Bronx are over. The only way he could contribute would be to play first base (and break up the ugly two-headed monster of Andy Phillips and Doug Mientkiewicz, potentially the worst first base combo in the history of the Yankees), but that's extremely remote.
This news isn't exactly shocking or unexpected, but it's still something I was reluctant to face. Bernie is the last link to the "bad years" and a list of names that only a true Yankee fan would remember. Guys like Alvaro Espinoza, Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens, Eric Plunk, Andy Hawkins and the man who almost sabotaged Bernie's career before it started, Mell Hall. Those Yanks were led into battle by Stump Merrill, a name that still cracks me up.
Yankee fans have become spoiled (myself included). The idea of not playing in October seems now incredibly foreign to me, but I would have given my right arm for just a glimpse of post-season glory in the late 80s and early 90s. Bernie was there with us. He persevered through the lean years when the upper deck of the stadium was empty and the team was 20 games out and nobody cared what the Yankees did. He was a guy who didn't taste success early, but battled his way into becoming an All-Star. He's the only player who really witnessed the best of times and the worst of times in New York during this current Yankee run.
But time marches on. Bernie's gone from the skinny kid with the glasses to the grey, old Yankee. If 2006 was Bernie's swan song as a Yank, he has nothing to be embarrassed about: .281, 12 HR, 61 RBI in 420 ABs. There's always the possibility that Bernie will move on to another team for the 2007 season. I really hope that doesn't happen, but it's hard to tell a guy when to hang up his spikes.
But that's OK. I'll always know where he came from.
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Ah, the good old days. You left out oh so many names.
I'm getting teary eyed thinking about the days of old when being a Yankee fan was a badge of honor.
Anyway, you may not want to say it, but I will. Just hang it up Bernie. It's time. Don't drag this out any longer. Don't go to the Mets or some other team. Play your whole career in the pinstripes, take your four rings and go play the guitar full time.
It's tough to see him go, but he really left a couple of years ago when, or at least his ability to play the game did.
You'll go down as my favorite outfielder who won gold gloves but threw like a girl.