2004 New York Yankees season

The 2004 New York Yankees season was the 102nd season for the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees opened the season by playing two games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Japan on March 30, 2004. The team finished with a record of 101–61, finishing 3 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The 2004 season was the Yankees third straight season of 100+ wins, the first such instance in franchise history. New York was managed by Joe Torre. In the playoffs, the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins, 3 games to 1, in the ALDS, before losing to the wild card Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 3, in the ALCS. The 2004 Yankees are notable as the only team in MLB history to lose a 7-game playoff series after taking a 3 games to none lead. This was the fourth straight year in which the Yankees lost to the eventual World Series champions in the postseason. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016–19) have duplicated the same feat.

Offseason

October 27, 2003: Luis Sojo was released by the New York Yankees. December 16, 2003: Nick Johnson was traded by the New York Yankees with Randy Choate and Juan Rivera to the Montreal Expos for Javier Vázquez. December 23, 2003: Buddy Carlyle was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. January 6, 2004: Kenny Lofton signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. February 5, 2004: Mike Lamb was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for Jose Garcia (minors). February 16, 2004: The New York Yankees sent Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later were sent to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Alex Rodriguez. The New York Yankees sent Joaquin Arias (April 23, 2004) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.Alfonso Soriano Statistics Baseball-Reference.com March 25, 2004: Mike Lamb was traded by the New York Yankees to the Houston Astros for Juan DeLeon (minors). Signed Gary Sheffield

Regular season

Season summary

July Derek Jeter dives into stands chasing and catching a pop up in the 12th inning of a 3 to 3 game against the Boston Red Sox, the play was later named the dive.

August On August 31 the Yankees had their worst loss in history by run differential, losing 22–0 to the Cleveland Indians.

September On September 30 the Yankees clinched their division.James B. (2004). The Bill James Handbook 2005.Chicago, Il: ACTA sports

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 7, 2004: Phil Hughes was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 2004.Philip Hughes Statistics Baseball-Reference.com July 22, 2004: Donzell McDonald was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. July 31, 2004: Esteban Loaiza was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for José Contreras and cash.Esteban Loaiza Statistics Baseball-Reference.com August 3, 2004: John Olerud was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.John Olerud Statistics Baseball-Reference.com August 17, 2004: Shane Spencer signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.Shane Spencer Statistics Baseball-Reference.com

Roster 2004 New York Yankees Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches (hitting) (bullpen) (bench) (third base) (pitching) (first base)

Game log Legend Yankees Win Yankees Loss Game postponed

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || March 30 || @ Devil Rays || 3–8 || Zambrano (1–0) || Mussina (0–1) || — || Tokyo Dome || 55,000 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || March 31 || @ Devil Rays || 12–1 || Brown (1–0) || González (0–1) || — || Tokyo Dome || 55,000 || 1–1

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 6 || @ Devil Rays || 4–9 || Zambrano (2–0) || Mussina (0–2) || — || Tropicana Field || 41,755 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 7 || @ Devil Rays || 3–2 || Brown (2–0) || Abbott (0–1) || Rivera (1) || Tropicana Field || 31,669 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 8 || White Sox || 3–1 || Vazquez (1–0) || Schoeneweis (0–1) || Rivera (2) || Yankee Stadium || 55,290 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 9 || White Sox || 3–9 || Garland (1–0) || Contreras (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 45,965 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 10 || White Sox || 3–7 || Buehrle (1–0) || DePaula (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 47,911 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 11 || White Sox || 5–4 || Mussina (1–2) || Wright (0–1) || Rivera (3) || Yankee Stadium || 37,484 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 13 || Devil Rays || colspan=8|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 14 || Devil Rays || 5–1 || Brown (3–0) || Hendrickson (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 37,914 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 16 || @ Red Sox || 2–6 || Wakefield (1–0) || Vazquez (1–1) || — || Fenway Park || 35,163 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 17 || @ Red Sox || 2–5 || Schilling (2–0) || Mussina (1–3) || — || Fenway Park || 35,023 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 18 || @ Red Sox || 7–3 || Quantrill (1–0) || Lowe (1–1) || — || Fenway Park || 35,011 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 19 || @ Red Sox || 4–5 || Timlin (1–1) || Gordon (0–1) || Foulke (3) || Fenway Park || 35,027 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 20 || @ White Sox || 11–8 || Quantrill (2–0) || Buehrle (1–1) || Rivera (4) || U.S. Cellular Field || 32,034 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || April 21 || @ White Sox || 3–1 || Vazquez (2–1) || Garland (1–1) || Rivera (5) || U.S. Cellular Field || 26,154 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 22 || @ White Sox || 3–4 || Schoeneweis (2–1) || Mussina (1–4) || Marte (2) || U.S. Cellular Field || 34,030 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 23 || Red Sox || 2–11 || Lowe (2–1) || Contreras (0–2) || — || Yankee Stadium || 55,001 || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 24 || Red Sox || 2–3 || Foulke (1–0) || Quantrill (2–1) || Timlin (1) || Yankee Stadium || 55,195 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 25 || Red Sox || 0–2 || Martinez (3–1) || Vazquez (2–2) || Williamson (1) || Yankee Stadium || 55,338 || 8–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || April 27 || Athletics || 10–8 || Osborne (1–0) || Mecir (0–2) || Rivera (6) || Yankee Stadium || 33,191 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 28 || Athletics || 5–1 || Contreras (1–2) || Mulder (2–2) || Gordon (1) || Yankee Stadium || 44,325 || 10–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 29 || Athletics || 7–5 || Brown (4–0) || Zito (2–3) || Rivera (7) || Yankee Stadium || 35,651 || 11–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || April 30 || Royals || 5–2 || Vázques (3–2) || Anderson (1–2) || Rivera (8) || Yankee Stadium || 43,237 || 12–11

|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || May 1 || Royals || 12–4 || Lieber (1–0) || Villacis (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 54,103 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || May 2 || Royals || 4–2 || Mussina (2–4) || Affeldt (0–3) || Rivera (9) || Yankee Stadium || 49,208 || 14–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 4 || @ Athletics || 10–8 || Osborne (2–0) || Bradford (1–1) || Rivera (10) || Network Associates Coliseum || 35,081 || 15–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || May 5 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Quantrill (3–1) || Rhodes (0–1) || Rivera (11) || Network Associates Coliseum || 43,227 || 16–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 6 || @ Athletics || 4–7 || Harden (1–2) || Vazquez (3–3) || Mecir (1) || Network Associates Coliseum || 38,417 || 16–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 7 || @ Mariners || 2–6 || Franklin (2–2) || Lieber (1–1) || — || Safeco Field || 46,491 || 16–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || May 8 || @ Mariners || 6–0 || Mussina (3–4) || Meche (1–3) || — || Safeco Field || 46,454 || 17–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 9 || @ Mariners || 7–6 || Quantrill (4–1) || Soriano (0–3) || Rivera (12) || Safeco Field || 46,589 || 18–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 11 || Angels || 8–7 || Gordon (1–1) || Weber (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 36,706 || 19–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 12 || Angels || 2–11 || Sele (2–0) || Vázquez (3–4) || — || Yankee Stadium || 49,954 || 19–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 13 || Angels || 7–4 || Lieber (2–1) || Lackey (3–4) || Rivera (13) || Yankee Stadium || 41,089 || 20–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 14 || Mariners || 9–5 || Mussina (4–4) || Villone (3–2) || — || Yankee Stadium || 49,653 || 21–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 15 || Mariners || 7–13 || Guardado (1–0) || White (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 54,531 || 21–15 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || May 16 || Mariners || 2–1 || Brown (5–0) || Piñeiro (1–5) || Rivera (14) || Yankee Stadium || 54,732 || 22–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 18 || @ Angels || 0–1 || Shields (3–0) || Quantrill (4–2) || — || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 43,660 || 22–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 19 || @ Angels || 4–2 || Lieber (3–1) || Lackey (3–5) || Rivera (15) || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 43,742 || 23–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 20 || @ Angels || 6–2 || Mussina (5–4) || Colon (4–3) || — || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 43,810 || 24–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 21 || @ Rangers || 7–9 || Benoit (2–1) || Brown (5–1) || Cordero (14) || The Ballpark in Arlington || 49,195 || 24–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 22 || @ Rangers || 3–4 || Almanzar (4–0) || Gordon (1–2) || — || The Ballpark in Arlington || 49,458 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 23 || @ Rangers || 8–3 || Vazquez (4–4) || Dickey (4–4) || — || The Ballpark in Arlington || 50,241 || 25–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 25 || @ Orioles || 11–3 || Lieber (4–1) || Bedard (1–2) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 42,846 || 26–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 26 || @ Orioles || 12–9 || Sturtze (1–0) || Ryan (1–2) || Rivera (16) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 37,610 || 27–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || May 27 || @ Orioles || 18–5 || Contreras (2–2) || Ponson (3–5) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 46,282 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 28 || @ Devil Rays || 7–5 || Vázquez (5–4) || Waechter (2–5) || Rivera (17) || Tropicana Field || 20,627 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 29 || @ Devil Rays || 5–3 || Brown (6–1) || Hendrickson (2–5) || Rivera (18) || Tropicana Field || 25,692 || 30–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 30 || @ Devil Rays || 6–7 || Zambrano (5–4) || Lieber (4–2) || Baez (8) || Tropicana Field || 26,098 || 30–19

|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || June 1 || Orioles || 8–7 || Mussina (6–4) || Ponson (3–6) || Rivera (19) || Yankee Stadium || 38,012 || 31–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || June 2 || Orioles || 6–5 || Prinz (1–0) || DuBose (4–4) || Rivera (20) || Yankee Stadium || 50,502 || 32–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || June 3 || Orioles || 5–2 || Vazquez (6–4) || Parrish (3–2) || Rivera (21) || Yankee Stadium || 44,020 || 33–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || June 4 || Rangers || 7–6 || Brown (7–1) || Powell (1–1) || Rivera (22) || Yankee Stadium || 49,372 || 34–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 5 || Rangers || 1–8 || Dominguez (1–1) || Lieber (4–3) || — || Yankee Stadium || 51,910 || 34–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || June 6 || Rangers || 2–1 || Mussina (7–4) || Drese (2–3) || Rivera (23) || Yankee Stadium || 54,092 || 35–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 8 || Rockies || 2–1 || Vázquez (7–4) || Fassero (0–6) || Rivera (24) || Yankee Stadium || 51,852 || 36–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || June 9 || Rockies || 7–5 || Quantrill (5–2) || Kennedy (4–4) || Rivera (25) || Yankee Stadium || 38,013 || 37–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 58 || June 10 || Rockies || 10–4 || Contreras (3–2) || Jennings (5–6) || — || Yankee Stadium || 41,586 || 38–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 11 || Padres || 2–10 || Eaton (3–6) || Heredia (0–1) || Otsuka (2) || Yankee Stadium || 49,855 || 38–21 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 12 || Padres || 3–2 || Lieber (5–3) || Tankersley (0–3) || Rivera (26) || Yankee Stadium || 54,280 || 39–21 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 13 || Padres || 6–5 || Heredia (1–1) || Beck (0–1) || — || Yankee Stadium || 52,754 || 40–21 |- bgcolor="bbffbb"