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In the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast”, the hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman sat with Buster Olney d'Espn to dig into the question: where did all the dynasties go? Their conversation offers a glimpse of the legendary New York Yankees dynasty in the late 1990s – and why today's Superteams have trouble achieving similar domination levels.
The Yankees: the latest real baseball dynasty?
Buster Olney literally wrote the book on the Yankees dynasty: “The last night of the Yankee dynasty: the game, the team and the cost of grandeur.” As he explains in the episode, the Yankees of the late 90s were not only a collection of free agents at high prices; They were a product of patience, of intelligent management during a brief suspension of George Steinbrenner and a local nucleus which included Derek Jet, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams. Veterans and stars such as David Cone and Roger Clemens completed the list, but the key ingredients were sustainability and internal talent.
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OLNEY supervises Yankees 1998-2001 as the last “real” MLB dynasty, or as he says: “Perhaps the last dynasty that will win four world series in five years.”
What made Yankees so special? OLNEY underlines the “combination of local players and large stars that they added through the free agency”, in addition, above all, a culture that caused external stars to join: “Because they had such success, they have what the Dodgers have now, which is many players who come from outside by saying:” I want to be part “.
Why don't we see the MLB dynasties anymore?
So what changed? Olney, Mintz and Shusterman indicate that several major reasons why the dynasties have become almost impossible in MLB.
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The turnover of alignment and the free agency: with the players movement so much more common today, keeping a league nucleus together is extremely difficult.
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Wounds and luck: as Olney notes, “this is also luck, these are injuries, these are players who decide to leave.” Maintaining excellence during several MLB seasons is simply brutally difficult.
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Psychological toll: Olney makes a big point: today's social media era means that players are faced with much more noise, control and pressure than Ken Griffey Jr. in the clubhouse. “I think it weighs … The players used the constant comments.”
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Extended eliminatory series: more laps mean more opportunities for upheavals – a dynasty killer. As Mintz notes, “the playoffs are longer a turn … just another dice roll.”
The Modern Superteams: Dodgers, Astros, Giants
Every few years, a team emerges – think of the Dodgers, Astros or the Giants of the 2010s – and was scored with the “Make -up dynasty” label. But as the Bar-Cast crew explains, none has repeated the level of successful after-season Yankees. Olney praises current dodgers as “on paper, the best team I have ever seen”, but even recognizes that it is far from being given that they are embarking on a race at the level of the fine.
The frequent journeys of astros in the playoffs and the Trio of the Giants of the Gi Giants are impressive, but Mintz always supports: “I would probably discuss the two (being real dynasties).”
Will we never see another real dynasty?
All signs, according to the podcast trio, say “maybe, but do not hold your breath.” The hosts agree that due to all the factors appointed above, a race of four titles in five years resembles an artifact from another era.
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But as Mintz points out, it is not a reason to stop believing: “For those of us who love the drama, there is always a chance … and that's what maintains convincing baseball.”
For deeper dives in baseball dynasties and other debates, connect to “Baseball-bar-B-CAST” on Apple,, Spotify Or YouTube.
