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Jeffrey Maier, 10 years later
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| Jeffrey Maier, 10 years later
-- Sun, Apr 9 2006 11:36AM
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In the 1996 ALCS, the Orioles were robbed of a playoff win and quite possibly a trip to the World Series.
As for the Yankees, Jeffrey Maier may be the cheapest MVP they've ever had. The 1996 season marked the beginning of their current psuedo-dynasty and the gradual decline of the Orioles to somewhere between mediocre and a AAAA ball club.
Yes, the Orioles won the division in 1997, but they haven't had a winning record since that season and haven't finished within 20 games of first place since 2000. The Yankees, meanwhile, finished second in 1997 and then went on to win the division every season since 1998, grabbing 4 World Series titles in the process (including 1996).
Jeffrey Maier is now playing collegiate ball for Wesleyan University in Connecticut. His numbers are pretty good and he's 4 hits away from tying the school record. Steinbrenner at least owes the kid a shot in the Yankees' minor league system. And given that the Yankees don't so much develop their talent as buy it, I figure they can trade him to the Orioles for Tejada -- or something equally lopsided (Miggy could play 2B) -- and a few years from now maybe the O's will be back in the postseason and Maier can redeem himself by getting a series-winning hit (preferably against the Yankees).
I can dream, can't I?
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