Yankees Conclude Regular Season--Playoff Baseball Now

The Yankees won their season finale, to bring them to 103-59 for the season. The Yankees did not need to win the game because they had the best record in MLB locked up, but it was good for their psyche to end on a win. Not just a win, but a dominating win. One that was highlighted by a 10 run inning accounting for all 10 runs they scored in the game. 7/10 runs scored were driven in by Alex Rodriguez, both on Home Runs. Damon led off with a double, Tex walked, and then Arod hit a 3 run bomb. The inning continued and then Damon came up with bases loaded and got a 2 run double. The Rays elected to intentionally walk Tex to face Arod with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Arod meanwhile came into the game with 28 home runs and 93 Rbi. After the home run earlier in the inning Arod was at 29 and 96, needing a home run and 4 rbi to reach 30 and 100 for the 12th straight season. Arod seemed to understand he needed to hit a Grand Slam to accomplish that feat as well as tie Mark McGwire for 8th on the all time home runs list with 583. Well Arod delivered with a second a-bomb in the inning and put the Rays away for the final time this season.

The Yankees went on to win 10-2 and got a good performance from starter AJ Burnett and Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the regular season. Now the interesting talks begin, the postseason. This is what it is all about. The stats, the wins, the comeback walk offs, the dominating performances, the nailbiters, the records (Jeter most Yankee hits, Yankees most HRs in a season, Melky Cycle, etc.) all mean jack shit if the Yankees can't go the distance. And when I say go the distance, I don't mean win in the first roun for the first time since 2004. I mean go all the way and win the World Series, because this team has known since July that they were destined for bigger and better things. This year is the year of the Yankees and they brought in guys just for this. CC, AJ, Tex, Swisher, they all know what it means to be a Yankee by now, but do they know this is where they earn their pinstripes? The 19 regular season wins from Sabathia will soon be forgotten if he throws another stinker in October. Tex is likely to finish top 3 in the MVP voting, and all things considered the best FA signing for the Yankees since I can remember, but again he better bring it this week.

2 Weeks ago I'd have told you this team was 100% going all the way, but some things came up and now as likely favorites as they are, their is cryptonite to their Superman skills. CC Sabathia pitched yesterday and has his worst start of the year. Yea you could chalk it up to one bad start and forget about it and remember the game meant nothing to the team, but I can't do that. It was the first chance in his nice career where he could achieve 20 wins, and you best believe that was on his mind. He pressed and was a little edgy and resulted in failure. This isn't anything new to CC, he has a 7+ era in the playoffs and again showed he does not have the big moment juice in him. Anyone else concerned for Wednesday's playoff opener? Also the Yankees don't really have a 4th starter. For the first round they won't need to use a 4th starter but in the next rounds, they will have to decide between Gaudin, Joba, or Mitre. I think Gaudin will likely be the starter and JOba will come out of the Pen, but it doesn't seem like that is the case or you would see Joba in the pen in the first round as well. Instead it appears as if he will be left off the roster for the first round. Either way we are putting a lot of stock in AJ and Andy to carry some serious loads. I have faith in Pettitte as he's come through in the playoffs countless times before, but it's been years for him and I hope his age has not caught up with him. I doubt this is the case, but one can only wonder when the last time he won a playoff game was and hope he is still the big game pitcher Andy Pettitte we once remembered.

The first round will feature the Sox and the Angels but the Yankees are yet to know their opponent for the first round. The Tigers and Twins are currently tied for the division lead and so will need to play a one game playoff on Tuesday to determine the winner. The Tigers are a little bit more intimidating on paper, with a very strong pitching staff, but they are cold lately and don't measure up with the Yankees well. The Twins on the other hand don't seem like a playoff team. They lost Morneau for the season and their pitching staff is inconsistent and average at best. However, they are the hotest team in the league bar none. They were about 7 games out for the division lead as of 3-4 weeks ago and have seemingly not lost in weeks. They continue to swing hot bats, get good starts from their pitchers, and the pen seems to hold the game each and every time. I can honestly say about 3 weeks ago I was nervous about the Tigers. Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson in a short series could be trouble, but given the play lately of both teams, I am praying the Tigers get a mircale W on Tuesday and we play them. Verlander pitched today so he wouldn't go until Friday and Edwin Jackson will pitch on Tuesday so he wouldn't go until Sunday. That means Porcello in game 1 and Porcello if the series gets dicey, I like those odds, a rookie in Yankee Stadium when it's rocking in rocktober. The Twins however threw Blackburn yesterday, Baker on Friday and Pavano today. They have Duensing as well. I don't see any pitcher being clearly better than any other, but Baker is likely their ace and I think we'll see him Tuesday and so that counts him and Pavano out for game 1.

Either way the playoffs should be interesting and exciting. I have high expectations for the Yankees and I don't see anything other than a ring satisfying my thirst. When it all comes to a close win or lose, I think I will shed a tear. This may sound weird and distrubing and maybe it is, but I have become so attached to this team. The length of this season with the early downs to the recent ups have excited me greatly. This team has accomplished so much and have been the most fun team to watch, beyond any other team in any other sport that I have seen. 103 wins, 15 walks offs, a cycle, a possible cy young, 2 possible mvps, record breaking hits and homers, a near perfect game, 9 wins in their last 10 games vs Boston, 34 straight saves, and some remarkable offensive & defensive plays. They have overcome injuries and adversity to become one of the best all around teams in baseball history. I will greatly miss watching this team, but hopefully they cap it off the right way. Let's hope for the best, and good luck to the rest of the league in the playoffs.