Guest Article from Michael Ruda / @DaTuna725 on Twitter

Here we go, Another Yankee fan piece filled with excuses and belly-aching about why the “Chase for 28” fell short.  Not from this guy.

The 2018 New York Yankees were built to win a championship. That’s the expectation of the franchise every year. Building off of the surprise early success of this new core of homegrown talent the 2017 Yankees fell just 1 game shy of reaching the World Series. Joe Girardi was shown the door in favor of a youthful/players manager in Aaron Boone, Mixed with seasoned veteran leadership from the likes of Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia, young rising stars in Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez ,and the offseason acquisition of the reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton the sky was the limit for this 2018 club.

Greg Bird, another highly touted “Baby Bomber” (Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar being the others) disappeared. He was given every opportunity to hold down this first baseman job and hit a disgusting .199, eventually losing his job, and not even making the postseason roster.

So what exactly did the 2018 New York Yankees accomplish. Yes, they set a MLB record with 267 homeruns as a team. They had 12 players with 10 or more homeruns. An amazing feat. They won 100 games, No walk in the park. This season felt like a grind. Losing Aaron Judge for 8 weeks played a factor in the division race, but Brian Cashman put all the pieces in place at and after trade deadline. Acquiring J.A. Happ, Zach Britton, and Andrew McCutchen to fill in the holes this team had and ensure that injury would have minimal effect on what we were expected to accomplish.

Ultimately 2018’s expectations beat the 2018 New York Yankees. Yes, the Red Sox had an amazing regular season season winning 108 games, but were ripe for the pickin’ in the ALDS. A shaky Red Sox bullpen, a gem by Masahiro Tanaka,Tying the series heading home for games 2 and 3 should’ve meant another trip to the ALCS. Luis Severino was not the ace we needed in that spot, and didn’t look right in the second half of the season. Again expectations too high, too soon. We need to remember that this team WILL eventually win the World Series. This core of talent will lead us to many years of success and post season moments as the likes of Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera,Posada, and Bernie did. They need to learn how to handle the pressure. This year was that lesson.

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Tags: Aaron Boone, Aaron Judge, Andrew McCutchen, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Greg Bird, JA Happ, Joe Girardi, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Miguel Andujar, Yankees

One of the best times of the year is upon us, Opening Day! It's been a long and relatively quiet winter for the New York Yankees. That can be seen as a blessing or a curse depending on who you ask. No major free agent additions as we've seen in years past but some notable trades made the team stronger. Again, depending on who you ask, the additions of Starlin Castro from the Cubs and Aroldis Chapman from the Reds can be seen as a negative.

I expect the same sort of reaction when trying to predict what the Yankees will give us in 2016. They can be really really good or really really bad. Personally, I don't know what to expect. I can see it be as good as the first four months of the 2015 season where they were cruising to an 7 game lead on the July 31 trade deadline or I can see the lifeless group that gave up the last two months. Many analysts and experts are saying much of the same.

The Good:

Everyone plays to the back of their baseball cards. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner get on base, steal the next and score a batter or two later. Mark Teixeira continues from where he left off in midst of a MVP caliber season. Alex Rodriguez proves that last season was no fluke and he can hit another 30 Home Runs and drive in 90-100 RBIs. Carlos Beltran provides the clutch hitting and productivity he was carrying the Yankees with in August and September. Brian McCann continues to be one of the best hitting catchers in the game. After a shaky first season in pinstripes, he rebounded well for '15 and was consistent threat in the middle of the lineup. Something that will be asked of him once again in '16. Chase Headley figures out what went wrong last year and does the exact opposite. His defense was the real eye opener last season, by far the worst of his career. Better defense should be on the menu, with that better approaches to the plate in the batters box and better results. Starlin Castro is the stud the Yankees think he is and adds stability to a second base position that has been struggling since Robinson Cano left for Seattle. Didi Gregorius showed he was a force at the bottom of the lineup and at shortstop once he made some adjustments to his game during the year. Him and Starlin provide a new youthful dynamic double play combo that should excite Yankee fans everywhere.

The rotation of Masahiro Tanaka , Luis Severino, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi , and CC Sabathia can be the absolute best in baseball. Yes, in baseball! Tanaka goes out and pitches like the ace he was in the first season he was here before he injured his elbow, not many people are going to touch his stuff. Sevy has the ability to be just as electric, if not more. At 21, he seems ready to be a power arm reliable of handling the ball in big situations. Big Mike much like Sevy has electric stuff. Mothers Day last year he struck out 16 and for a period of time he was untouchable and was the ace of the staff. With not of the "ace" burden on his shoulders he can go out and just pitch. When he does, oh boy it's a site to see. Nasty Nate dazzled in first year in the Bronx winning 14 games before his injury. His stuff is filthy and is the hardest thrower in the rotation. If he can bring that same poise he had last season into 2016, expect a big year.  Sabathia is the 5th starter and just needs to be a reliable get me to the 6th inning kind of pitcher. His best days are behind him but he can contribute and he had a solid September after getting a knee brace to help him stabilize his delivery.

The three headed monster at the end of the bullpen with Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances will leave everyone in awe in what they're witnessing. 100 strikeouts by each, dominance across the board and they will lead the Yanks into the postseason with a great chance of winning.

The Bad:

You saw what happened in August and September last year. That could very well end up being the 2016 Yankees. Injuries and old age finally catch up and it'll be a long season in the Bronx. Every night was so frustrating to watch those final two months. The Yankees are putting a lot of stock into a lot of question marks, we can only hope that this isn't the case.

Final Prediction:

92-70 1st place in the American League East and a trip to the ALCS.

OR

83-79 3rd place in the American League East.

My gut leans to the latter.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, Brett Gardner, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Jacoby Ellsbury, Luis Severino, Mark Teixeira, Michael Pineda, Starlin Castro

It's Easter Sunday and the anticipation is finally at its peak! No, not the treasure hunt for Easter eggs but for Opening Day! Tomorrow we officially make the transition from Winter to Spring as the sun will be out, it will be 65 degrees and Yankees Baseball will be back in the Bronx! The 2015 Major League Baseball season has arrived.

It seems like only yesterday we saw one of the greatest moments in sports history play out in the Bronx when Derek Jeter decided to say farewell in dramatic fashion by getting the game winning hit in his last ever at-bat at Yankee Stadium. While that was a tremendous way to say goodbye, it was bittersweet because the Yankees missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. With the old guard now officially gone, we turn our attention to the new and current crop of players wearing the pinstripes.

2015 will ALL hinge on the team's health. I can't remember the last time the fate of the team couldn't be determined or predicted. This team has the ability to be really good or really bad. So many question marks surround the Yankees so let's look at some of the major questions followed by my predictions.

Can Masahiro Tanaka remain healthy enough to be the unstoppable ace he was last season?
--- This is the biggest concern the Yankees have this year. Without Tanaka healthy, the Yankees don't make it to October. The guy has quickly established himself as a stopper. He'll stop losing streaks, keep the rhtymn of good quality starts going, and be able to pitch in big game situations. He finished 13-5 last season after missing a few months in the middle of the year because of the tear in his right elbow. He was well on his way to a 20 win season, but he was also well on his way to Tommy John surgery. Thankfully he avoided the surgery (for now) and as long as he can take the ball every fifth day, I like the Yankees chances of making it to October.
My Prediction: 16-7 2.96 ERA , one stint on the DL.  / 8-4 3.45 ERA Tommy John surgery in the 2nd half of the season. I know, it's two different predictions but it can go honestly either way. Sadly, I think I'm closer with the latter prediction.

Which CC Sabathia are we getting in 2015?
--- This spring CC's velocity is back up to the mid 90's. That's huge (no pun intended). Why, because CC will need his velocity up so he can mix in his offspeed pitches and create a wider timing variance for the hitters. Bottom line, he couldn't get by with his subpar 89 mph fastball the last two seasons and he hasn't developed into a "pitcher" who relies on location and mixing in pitches. He's been a thrower and now maybe we can get a little bit of both. The most concerning thing this spring with CC was the locating of his pitches, While at times he's looked good, he's had glimpses of looking really bad. Maybe it's because he's missed most of last season and it'll take him some time to get into his groove. Sabathia is a notoriously slow starter so I don't see this as a worry....yet.
My Prediction: 13-9 4.23 ERA one stint on the DL, Yanks 3rd best starter behind Tanaka and Pineda.

Can Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeria return to form?

--- Both played TERRIBLE last season and that was because of health issues. So the good news is, they both can't possibly play worst than they did last year. The bad news, is they're broken down aging players so just how good is their best? Two switch hitting middle of the lineup sluggers need to be a huge threat in the lineup. Just plain and simple. Both have to hit 25-30 home runs with 100 RBI. Both have made it through Spring Training with no health issues and appear ready to go to open the season so let's just hope they play to the back of their baseball cards.
My Prediction: Beltran: 271 26HR 92 RBI two stints on the DL / Teixeria: 265 32 HR 95 RBI no DL stint.

What's left of Alex Rodriguez?

-- The guy everyone wants to go away but don't want to admit we need. A-Rod has been the Yanks best hitter this spring. He hit 3 homeruns and his bat speed has looked good. He's had a good vision of the strikezone so he'll put together quality at-bats. After a year and a half away from the game and the nonsense that followed him, I truly believe A-Rod will be a fully focused baseball player in 2015. He has A LOT to prove. The Yankees want him to produce, Alex wants to produce, the fans want him to produce so there's nothing left to do but just play baseball. Hopefully the black cloud has left Alex and he can be a vital part of the lineup. I think he can do it and I think he will.
My Prediction: 275 18HR 73 RBI solid player in the lineup and fills in at 3B and 1B with no problem.


How do the 2015 Yankees finish?
-- The bullpen is strong, the starting rotation is strong IF healthy, the lineup should be solid. There's a lot of flexibility with this team as opposed to years past. I see a team that closely resembles the '96 Yankees. Small ball, timely hitting, just decent starting pitching and just enough depth to compensate any injuries (except if Tanaka goes down for the year).
My Prediction: 90-72 2nd AL East, Wild Card berth gets them into October.

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Tags: Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Opening Day, Spring Training, Yankee Stadium

Sometimes our curiosity just gets the best of us. For better or worst we cant control the fact that we love controversy and we love seeing something that is out of the norm. As long as it's not us on the end. In this case, you clicked on this article because the name in the headline has controversy all over it.

Alex Rodriguez is no stranger to the spotlight, negative or positive. So here we are in the middle of March and A-Rod so far seems to be avoiding the spotlight. Such a polarizing figure, yet A-Rod seems to be on the backburner of baseball related questions surrounding the Yankees. With questions surrounding seemingly the entire team, A-Rod's productive spring has lead to eyes focusing on the pitching staff and other hitters in the lineup.

Major injuries to other overpaid under-performing superstars CC Sabathia, Carlos Beltran, and Mark Teixeira have gained much of the focus so far this spring. Mix that in with the $155 million investment in Masahiro Tanaka's right elbow and Alex flies under the radar...for now. That's because he's hitting at a .300 clip and so far so good defense in the limited time he's been at third base.

In his tv interviews he's been saying the right things, saying he feels like he's a rookie again, he's been humbled, he can't wait to play for the greatest fans in the world at Yankee Stadium and he feels great playing with his teammates.

"Some of the things that he told us still is some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten as a hitter, just as far as professional baseball went." Yankees prospect Greg Bird on A-Rod

If this can continue all year long, the Yankees will be happy. Will the fans be happy? I would. If he hits .300 and contributes to a winning team then no need for headlines and controversy. Although many people will bring that to the table no matter what just because its..well Alex Rodriguez.

There are a lot of what-if's this season for the Yankees. Alex is just one of many what-if's. He is so polarizing that you have to watch, you have to buy tickets to see just what he's gonna do. Whether you want him to fail or succeed, there is no denying that all eyes will be on A-Rod all season. The best thing he can do is be a reliable option on offense. The Yankees need offense in the worst way. Alex won't hit 50 homeruns anymore, but if he's got 15-20 in him and can drive in 70-90 runs this year no one will complain.

Opening Day is 19 days away and I'll reserve final comment on A-Rod once we get there and I'll see how Alex finishes up his spring.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Masahiro Tanaka, Spring Training, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

A sight Yankees fans haven't seen in quite some time. Both men played in an instrumental part of the 2009 World Championship but in 2015 both will have to be "productive" and healthy for the Yankees to have a shot at October glory.

 Alex Rodriguez has had a good spring, better than most expected while CC Sabathia had a decent outing last night in his spring debut.


“I haven’t been around much the last two years, so it’s hard to think about how these guys feel and what they’re doing. But I know CC’s always a big part of what we do, and he’s part of our DNA. And I thought the ball exploded out of his hand today just from third base.”  - Alex on Sabathia

Sabathia said he’s not worried about whether he gets the ball on Opening Day. He’s done it 11 times in his career and said he’s focusing on making sure he’s available in September (and for Game 1 of a playoff series).

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Spring Training, Yankees

The Yankees placed "ace" lefty CC Sabathia on the 15 day DL on Sunday. CC's 3-4 record and 5.38 ERA has many concerned as what the future might hold for the once dominant ace. The results from the MRI scheduled will give the Yankees a better idea of what to expect going forward.


 Is the knee injury the reason for CC's subpar numbers? I don't think so, as I think there is still an issue with his surgically repaired elbow. We'll know more as the results are made public.

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Tags: CC Sabathia

Here we are in the middle of Janurary and Spring Training is about a month away. Most of the big moves have already been made this offseason but there is still one big name out there, Johnny Damon. As good as he would fit in the Yankees lineup this year, I still don't see him returning to the Bronx. As for the 2010 Yankees, I think improved from their 2009 World Championship team. Let's see how..

Curtis Grandersen will the Yankees CF in 2010 and he is a defensive and offensive upgrade over Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner. Curtis can give you 30 HRs, 90 RBI (100 depending on what spot in the lineup he's hitting) and 20-30 steals. He also is a solid defender and while he doesn't quite have the arm Melky has, he does a good one. Melky was traded to Atlanta in the offseason but he's best suited to be a fourth outfielder. It'll be interesting to see how he does with the Braves.

Javier Vazquez was acquired in the afermentioned Melky Cabrera trade with Atlanta. Javy had a nice first half with the Yanks in 2004 but it ultimately ended in disaster in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when he came out of the bullpen and Damon hit the first pitch Vazquez threw for a grand slam, thus cementing the historic Yankee collapse that season. He is a strong option for a fourth starter replacing Andy Pettitte's spot in the rotation. Pettitte will take the number three spot in the rotation replacing Chien-Ming Wang's spot. The pressure will still be there for Vazquez to perform but with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Pettitte ahead of him in the rotation, the lights might not be so bright for him this time around. He essentially is replacing Wang on the roster and if the Yanks won without Wang, they can certainly win with Javy being a solid pitcher and winnning around 12 games.

The losses of Damon and Hideki Matsui will hurt the Yankees as they are losing a lot of offensive production but Grandersen and Nick Johnson can help fill most, if not all that void. Vazquez as the projected fourth starter gives the Yankees one of the best rotations in baseball.

So are the 2010 Yankees better than the 2009 Yankees that won the title on November 4th? It's debatable, but I think so. Of course, the season will have to be played to get the answer to that. Until then, the Yankees are STILL the World Champs of baseball!

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, Curtis Gandersen, Hideki Matsui, Javier Vazquez, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Nick Johnson, Yankees

It has been a couple days since the Yankees finally reclaimed their position as the best team in baseball and won their 27th World Championship. Although, somewhere on the streets of New York, people are still celebrating.

Why not, it took 9 years to return to the top of the mountain. For most cities, that's nothing, but in New York, it's an eternity, if you're a Yankees fan. People are still spending their hard earned money on World Series Championship merchandise. Soon enough, the money spent as a result of winning the World Series will be enough to pay for the 2009 Yankee payroll.

Now that most of the dust has settled and most of the celebrating is over, it's time to reflect on this season. There's a lot you can write about this season but not enough space here. You can write about big moments this year all the way to spring training but I'm not going to do that. What I am going to do is say, congratulations to the 2009 New York Yankees for winning their 27th World Championship and say thank you. As a fan who follows the team on a day-to-day basis and fights with the Yankee-haters of the world, I say thank you. I always knew you were the best team in baseball, I said it all year, but I guess it takes a piece of hardware and a parade down Broadway to shut certain people up. For that,I say thank you.

Johnny Damon had one of the greatest at-bats in World Series history in Game 4, in the top of the 9th. Then stole 2nd AND 3rd on the same play! Alex Rodriguez then continued his month of clutch hitting and drove in the winning run of that game. If he wasn't a real Yankee before, he is now. A bunch of clutch hits, homeruns and a World Series ring does that for you. CC Sabathia was everything you ever wanted this year. He stepped up when the Yanks needed him most. Even on short rest, even against the Angels. Mark Teixeria didn't hit much in the postseason but he got a couple big hits, homeruns to be exact. His defense all year long reminded us of the good old days when Tino used to dive and pick 'em like no other. AJ Burnett was great, then he was bad, then he was great, then he was bad. Right now, because of his greatness in Game 2 of the World Series with his team down 1-0 and in danger of going 2-0 going to Philly, he pitched the g ame of his life. He is now a World Champion.

Because of the pies in the face, because of the Championship belt given to the MVP of every Yankee win this year, because of GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi believing in their youth, and heck, even because of Kate Hudson, the New York Yankees are once again Champions of the World! 2009 was a special year for so many reasons....for that, I say thank you.

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Mark Teixeira, World Series, Yankees

Here we go again. The Yankees are again, one win away from winning the World Series. This time, if they do reach their goal, it'll be in the comfort of their own home and in front of the best fans in the world...at Yankee Stadium.

The image of the Yankees celebrating in the new home is something many people want to see and were rooting for all along in this series. Now, the time has come for it to happen.

Tomorrow night, the Yankees have Andy Pettitte going against the Phillies Pedro Martinez. As if this game didn't already have enough buzz, the matchup of Andy vs Pedro reminds us of the classic battles between the Red Sox and Yankees in the 2003 and 2004 ALCS'. Both of which had their historic moments. Tomorrow is no different. If Andy can deliver in Game 6 the way he did against the Angels in Game 6 of this year's ALCS then the new home of the Yanks will be fully christened. If Pedro can reach back and show us the Pedro of old, then Thursday night, there will be a Game 7. And from there, it's anyone's game.

A Game 7 on Thursday night means CC Sabathia comes back on 3 days rest. It means he comes back for the 3rd time in the Series. It means that Phillies Game 3 loser Cole Hamels gets the ball with everything on the line. It means EVERYONE on both rosters is avaliable. It means Mariano Rivera might have to be ready to pitch 3 innings. It means the Yankees might see Cliff Lee again, maybe in the 7th or 8th innings, coming in to put the nail in the coffin,much like Randy Johnson did for the Diamondbacks in 2001 in Game 7 of that World Series (Johnson came into Game 7 in the 9th to limit the Yankee offense so the D-Backs had a shot to make a comeback and win.....a half inning later they did.) It means ANYTHING can, and WILL happen. It doesn't matter if you're in the Bronx or in Philly. Game 7 has a life of it's own and along come moments that will etch in stone for years to come. The Yanks DO NOT want to see Game 7, the Phils would.

That's why tomorrow night, in the Bronx Andy Pettitte needs to be Andy Pettitte. That tough, gritty, give-it-his-all mentality that defines Andy needs to be there. It needs to take the ball and deliver home a World Championship. Tomorrow night is why Andy came back. One more chance to become a champion. One more chance to show the whole world why he is one of the greatest Yankees of all-time. One more chance to prove to himself he can still be one of the very best at what he does and finally...one more chance to show what it means to be a true Yankee.

The numbers don't suggest Andy will be on his game tomorrow night but at this time of the year, numbers don't matter very much. The only numbers that do...the Yanks are 1 win away from their 27th championship in franchise history. Those are the only numbers we care about. It's the only ones Andy cares about. Hopefully, after all is said and dont tomorrow night, no. 46 delivers no. 27 to the Bronx.

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Tags: Andy Pettitte, Baseball, CC Sabathia, New Yankee Stadium, Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies, World Series, Yankees

Today, we await a game that EVERYONE in New York will be watching. Today, we take in the game we witnessed last night. Today, the New York Yankees can become World Champions.

Last night in Game 4, CC Sabathia took the mound on 3 days rest and he pitched good. He kept us in the game and left in the 7th inning with the lead. Granted Chase Utley hit his 3rd HR of this World Series off of him, but the Yanks still led 4-3. Joba Chamberlain was lights out until that 2 strike pitch to Pedro Feliz. Feliz hit a ball into the left field stands to tie the game at 4, with 2 outs in the 8th. But then, DESTINY made an appearance in the 9th.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge got Hideki Matsui and Derek Jeter for the 1st 2 outs, then got to a 1-2 count on Johnny Damon. Damon then put together one of the best Yankee at-bats of the season. He got the count to 3-2 and proceded to foul off pitch after pitch from Lidge. (This sounds alot like Paul O'Neill's at-bat against the Mets' Armando Benitez in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series. That game, because of O'Neill's at-bat, got the rally going for the Yanks to tie the game and eventually win. They later went on to the win the World Series.) Back to Damon, he got a hit to left field. Then stole 2nd and stole 3rd because no one was covering 3rd as a result of the infield shift given to Mark Teixeria. Tex gets hit with a pitch and Alex Rodriguez gets a hit to score Damon and the Yankees took off.

A-Rod has been amazing in the clutch this October and if they are able to finish the Phils off, Alex will be a World Champion. Something that has elluded him his entire career. Now, he is 1 win away from further cementing his legacy. He was brought in to the Bronx in '04 to win a championship every year. Not easy to do, but if the Yanks do win this series, A-Rod will be a BIG reason why.

Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada did their part to help the Yankees win Game 4 last night, just like they've done for the last 4 Yankee World Championships. Is there time for another one? You bet ya!

AJ Burnett takes the ball tonight on 3 days rest with the chance to win the World Series. This is why they shelled out $80 million for him last offseason. CC has held up his end of the agreement, now AJ needs to. If he doesn't, then old reliable Andy Pettitte will be waiting in the wings on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium against Pedro Martinez.

Today, will be the day the Yankees win the World Series. Today, the Yankees become World Champions!

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Philadelphia Phillies, World Series, Yankees

I really like this matchup. Both lineups are evenly matched and can go blow for blow with one another. It should be entertaining, but the big difference is the pitching. The Yankees have it, both starting and in the bullpen. Pitching wins championships, and this will be no different. Cliff Lee has gotten knocked around by the Yanks in the past, but if he does hold up, he's still going against CC Sabathia. After Lee, who else can you really rely on? The Yanks have more reliable options in Andy Pettitte and AJ Burnett. The Yanks also have Mariano Rivera in the 'pen to close out as many games as possible. If he has to go 2 innings, he will. 3 innings? He will. Phillies' Brad Lidge is good, but not that good. That's all you need to know there. Advantage Yankees.


World Series Prediction:

Yankees in 6. It will be a good series but ultimately the Yankees are the better all around team and it will show in this series as it has in the previous 2. A-Rod and CC continue to have a great postseason. Meanwhile the depth of the lineup will come through and pick up where Alex cant.

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, Philadelphia Phillies, World Series, Yankees

Game 1 tomorrow night is going to be special. It's the first World Series game in the Bronx in 6 years. For some cities, that would be great, but not here in the boogie down. We're used to having it every year here but times have been rough in recent years so the World Series took a leave of absence. Now, it's back and everyone will be watching.

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys are set to perform their hit "Empire State of Mind" before Game 1 Wednesday night. Many people, myself included think that is the Yankee anthem for this postseason. Derek Jeter uses it as his walk-to-the-plate music so it has to be cool. The World Series in Yankee Stadium is not like anything else you've ever seen. There's alot of history there. Yes, it is a different stadium but the ghosts from Postseasons past made the trip across the street. They will be in attendance tomorrow and Thursday.

The fans will be going wild, the lights will be bright and all eyes will be on CC Sabathia, the Yankees ace. He is 3-0 this October in his 3 starts. He has given the Yanks everything they could've ever asked for. Big pitches in big moments in big games. He was named the ALCS MVP, rightfully so. He will be asked to put the Yankees ahead in a series where they might be meeting their match. Who knows, but one thing is for sure, if Sabathia is on his game tomorrow night, there is no beating the Yankees. If he comes back for another start or two and he comes up big again...there is no beating the Yankees. The Yanks will be your world champions.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves but it sure feels good to be a Yankee fan these days. It's been a long time since we've gone this far, so let's enjoy it as much as we can for the time being....because this might just be a prelude of things to come. If it is, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys may be performing on Broadway next week while the Yankees go down the Canyon of Heroes.

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Tags: Baseball, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, New Yankee Stadium, World Series, Yankees

The Yankees will play Game 6 tonight after they were rained out last night. You could sense the disappointment in everyone's voice when you told them last night's game was postponed. It's the biggest Yankee game around here in 5 years.

This Game 6 feels like a Game 7 for the Yankees and their fans. Why? Because the Yanks have to win this game. You do NOT want CC Sabathia pitching tomorrow night in Game 7 with everything on the line. Not that I don't have confidence in him to send us to the World Series but that same confidence would be better suited for Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

I have faith in Andy Pettitte and feel he can get the job done. We were so close on Thursday night...and quite frankly we should've celebrated...but we didn't. So now, tonight, in Game 6 the Yankees will try to reach the World Series for the 40th time in history, 1st since 2003. Everyone will be watching. The anticipation is at it's peak, but that's ok, Pettitte and the Yanks have been here before and look to get the job done, otherwise tomorrow night the city will stop, it will drop everything they're doing and watch CC on the mound, pitching the game of his life.

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Tags: Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Yankees

Yesterday the Yankees clinched the A.L. East, Home-field Advantage and best record in baseball with their 4-2 win over the Red Sox at the Stadium.


The Yankees are returning to the postseason for the 14th time in the last 15 years. Last season the Bombers missed out on October baseball for the 1st time since 1994.


Newcomers Mark Teixeria, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Nick Swisher got their 1st taste of what it really means to be a Yankee. They all know their is certainly more work to be done before all is said and done.

After starting the season 0-8 against Boston, the Bombers have won 9 of their last 10 against their divison rivals, a team they very well might be playing again in the ALCS in just a few weeks.


The sweep of the Sox also comes after the Yanks took 2 of 3 from the Angels in Anaheim, a demon they wanted to overcome.


I'd say these Yankees are ready to roll into October and right to a 27th championship. This team is as good as any team that has been here in recent memory, let's hope they can follow through with all the expectations and deliver New York a World Series title.

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, CC Sabathia, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teixeira, New Yankee Stadium, Nick Swisher, Yankees

With the trade deadline about a week away many people are wondering of the Yankees are going to be active in the trade market. I don't think they will be. I believe they have all the pieces they need to take the division and go deep into October.

The starting rotation seems pretty good at the moment but it might be a cause for concern once Joba Chamberlain reaches his innings limit, assuming the Yanks stick with it. I find it hard to believe they would take Joba out of the rotation in the middle of a pennant race. Chien Ming Wang might be lost for the season so after CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett the rotation is up in the air. Andy Pettitte will still be a contributor but I think he's not as reliable as he once was. So maybe picking up a no. 4 or 5 starter will be in the works.

The bench seems ok at the moment but there is room for improvement. Eric Hinske was added for some flexibility and some pop and he has been just that. Ramiro Pena is in the minors getting some outfield experience so if the Yanks choose not to add any bench help, Pena can fill in at mulitple positions and provide stellar defense.

The bullpen has also been steady in recent weeks. Adding another lefty could be something the Yanks do but with Damaso Marte returning soon, the answer might be within. Everyone has assumed a role in the bullpen and know their duties. Joe Girardi has done an excellent job establishing his bullpen and it shows.

The Yanks will be in the race until the very end and they have the pieces to win it all right now. A little tinkering here and there might not hurt but isn't necessary. They're playing well now and are at a season high with their games over .500 and with their lead in the AL East, that's not by accident. It's because they are that good and everyone is performing up to their standards (minus Wang). Look for a quiet week from the Bombers as the trade deadline approaches.




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Tags: AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Damaso Marte, Eric Hinske, Joba Chamberlain, Yankees

Before the season started I made some predictions, at the halfway point lets see how they've played out so far.

Starting Rotation:

MY PREDICTIONS
Sabathia: 18-9 4.32 ERA
Wang: 17-8 3.89 ERA
Burnett: 15-9 3.43 ERA
Pettitte: 13-11 4.45 ERA
Chamberlain: 12-7 3.34 ERA

Burnett and Joba miss some time with injuries with Hughes filling in more than expected. Hughes makes around 8-12 starts.

CURRENTLY:
Sabathia: 9-6 3.66 ERA
Wang: 1-6 9.64 ERA
Burnett: 8-4 3.81 ERA
Pettitte: 8-5 4.85 ERA
Chamberlain: 4-2 4.25 ERA

Burnett and Joba didn't miss any time because of injuries (cross fingers) and as expected Hughes has made an impact. He has started 7 games but has been lights out since joining the bullpen. Wang has been nothing more than a burden for the team and he obviously will not match the 17-8 I had him going for this year. Joba may end up in the 'pen before it's all said and done and Pettitte may very well be on his last legs. It's still a good rotation but not as strong as we once thought it would be. If the Yanks somehow can land Roy Halladay then the rotation will be a wrap, the Yanks will have the divison in their hands.

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Yankees

Coming off the the holiday the Yankees find themselves 1 game behind the Boston Red Sox and have won 10 of their last 11. They are playing well all around again, much like their run back in May. The Yankees idlily would like to finish the first half strong and ahead of the Red Sox in the standings. At this rate, that shouldn't be a problem to accomplish.

Here are my thoughts on some of the things going on with the Yanks right now:

Phil Hughes:
This has been the biggest issue lately. What do you with the young 23 year old? I'm grown to liking the phrase "whatever helps the team" and in this case, Hughes is best in the bullpen. He's been lights out since getting there, so keep him there right now. Does he belong in the 8th inning? Well so far, he's done the job in the 8th as we've seen in recent days, so yea give him the ball in the 8th. He can let the ball go around 95, 96 and mixes it up well with a nasty curve. Reminds you of Joba Chamberlain in '07, just without all the flash. The need for Joba was in the 8th inning that season and this season, the need for Hughes is there as well. Let him rock there and see what happens, if he falters t hen you send him to the minors and stretch him out again, that simple.

Chein-Ming Wang:
Boy this guy can't catch a break. It looks like he's headed to the DL for the 2nd time this season just as he's starting to turn things around. It's a shame he's had such a down year but it's better this happens this year when the Yanks have so much depth in the rotation, rather than it happen when he's the top guy in the rotation (oh, wait that happened last year). Point is, this is going to be his down year no matter how you slice it. It's a good thing the Yanks spent all that money on CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, they're a combined 14-9, nothing spectatular, but better than the likes of Darrel Rasner and Sidney Ponson, the guys the Bombers threw out their last year in Wang's absence. Let Wang get his issues straight no, so when the strecth run comes, he's ready to go.

Alex Rodriguez:
Despite being out for the first 5 weeks of the season, Alex has pretty good numbers in terms of HR and RBI. It appears he has turned the page after having just an awful June. His production means the rest of the lineup will see better pitches to hit. Hideki Matsui has been the beneficial of A-Rod's recent surge. Robinson Cano has been hot also, but can't hit with runners in socring position. Alex has also played expectionally at 3rd base. He is the kind of player that can be hot for weeks and if this is one of those streaks, the AL East is trouble.

Mariano Rivera:
Congrats to him on recording his 500th save last week against the Mets. The best reliever in Major League history notches another milestone under his belt to further cement his place in baseball history. His class and professionalism, mixed with his dominance and consistency easily puts him in a class of his own. Though he has been shaky this season at times, he's still one of the game's best. His presence on the mound and in the lockerroom means so much, as always he is a key contributor in every run of Yankee success.


Time to take over the AL East and run away with it. Ok, that's a little premature but whenever the Yanks ride a streak like this it does get you excited. Good times in the Bronx.


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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Mariano Rivera, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano, Yankees

Yankees 10
Indians 3

Sabathia throws another gem and the Yanks build their first place lead over the Red Sox. Quite an impressive run by the Yanks the last few weeks. They've won 14 of their last 17 games. CC has won his last 4 starts dating back to May 8 in Balitmore. He's been a completly different pitcher since A-Rod's return. He goes 7 in his first start in Cleveland since last season's trade. You have to like watching this team play right now.


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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians, QuickCap, Yankees

The Yankees are having a homestand for the ages. They have 4 walk-off wins and have had some memorible moments. Who says this Yankee Stadium doesn't have any history?

We saw 3 walk-off wins in a row last weekend. When did you ever see that? A-Rod has been hitting HR's left and right. That's all he's hitting right now but we'll take it. Mark Teixeria is hitting anything and everything. Robinson Cano remembers how he hit in 2007 and so far isn't breaking stride. CC Sabathia is finally the real CC. Melky Cabrera has been money in the clutch. I mean things are clicking on all cylinders now.

What makes this homestand so great is that you can see how the Yankees are finally loosening up. Pies in the face by AJ Burnett, crazy haircuts by Nick Swisher, a WWE Title awarded to the MVP of each game by Johnny Damon. This stuff is great. Where has all this been the last few years. The relaxed Bombers are a fun team to watch. It's been a pleasure to watch. I'm glad to see the chemistry is finally coming along.

The presence of Alex Rodriguez was thought to be sort of a distraction but it hasn't. If anything he was the right man at the right time coming to a team who deseperatly needed him. He's contributing and so is everyone around him. How long is this little run of coolness going to be around the Bombers? I'd say all season but it's going to be one long summer so anything can happen. But remember...the Yankees will get healthier, Jorge Posada, Xavier Nady,and Chein Ming Wang are all expected to reclaim thier roles in the next few weeks. What happens then? Who knows, but for the time being, this is the best team to watch, beacuse if you don't, you're gonna miss something amazing.



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Tags: AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Xavier Nady, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

What a week it has been for the Bronx Bombers. Here's a recap of the insane week the Yankees have had to this point so far.

Monday:
Twins 6
Yankees 7

Teixeria and A-Rod delivered first inning homers and the Yanks never looked back. They completed a 4 game sweep of Minnesota.

Tuesday:
Orioles 1
Yankees 9

A-Rod homers in his fourth straight game! CC dominates again through seven and gets his third win in as many starts. Yanks roll to their seventh straight!

Wednesday:
Orioles 4
Yankees 11

No stopping the Bombers, as they win their eigth in a row. Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera hit three consecutive homers in the second inning. Phil Hughes struck out a career-high nine over five solid innings.

Thursday:
Orioles 4
Yankees 7

Streak hits nine as Cano hits another homer. The story of the game was the Yankees bullpen as they held down Baltimore in relief of Joba who left the game in the first after being hit by a line drive on his knee. First nine game winning streak since June of 2007.

Friday:
Phillies 7
Yankees 3

The World Champs came in and ended the winning streak via the long ball. The Phils hit four homers in the win. The Yanks did their best with three of their own, by Jeter,A-Rod and Tex but it wasn't enough to pull out number 10.

Saturday:
Philles 4
Yankees 5

A-Rod does it again! He hits another late inning homerun when the Yanks need it the most. Down 4-2 in the ninth and Alex sends a Brad Lidge pitch into the seats in right. This sets up Melky Cabrera's 3rd walk off hit this season. The Yanks are finding ways to win games, a sign of a team clicking on all the right cylinders.




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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Balitmore Orioles, Baseball, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, Minnesota Twins, Nick Swisher, Philadelphia Phillies, Robinson Cano, Yankees