The Magic Carpet

NFL Playoffs/Quarterfinals/ C-4!

2010-01-15T03:20:10Z

By Matthew Storey

I usually don't read prognostications from other writers, and don't watch ESPN...

But I always do when I know what the deal is, and want to hear others make fools of themselves.

I've seen Eric Allen (Eagle) and Chris Carter (Eagle/Viking) explain for three consecutive weeks why the Cowboys are not the team we've watched these past years or past weeks. A lot is made about mythology in Sports, and in Politics, and in Economics..

But not by smart people.

Smart people root, fight, fuck, pray just as hard as idiots.

They do so, however, not based upon fantasies or mythology, but upon D-A-T-A.

Not just stats, not just trends. Data. Stats, Trends, Anecdotal.

Anecdotal data is NOT mythology.

Here is the difference.

Anecdotal data is the Observation of Derek Jeter playing Shortstop. Watch him play and you see a guy who impacts Defensively on almost every game he plays, who has a gun and may retire having thrown out more runners from the outfield grass than any SS in history, who might have tracked down pop-ups over a larger range of ground than any SS, who is brilliant on the Double Play.

Statisticians disagree.

None of them ever played the position.

Luckily, for YOU.

Guru did.

Onward.

The NFL Quarterfinals are upon us, and lo and behold, these might be the most impressive Eight NFL teams since the early '90s and the Pre-Cap Era - after a long adjustment period and ahead of an uncapped year, its apparent, the NFL is back on the cusp of a Golden Era.

Thank Asimov!

Here's the breakdown:

Saturday January 16, 2010

Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) #4 Seed (10-6) at New Orleans Saints (NFC South) #1 Seed (13-3)

Arizona is better in every facet, and they will advance.

Baltimore Ravens (AFC North Wildcard) #6 Seed (9-7) at Indianapolis Colts (AFC South) #1 Seed (14-2)

A much more interesting game, between two evenly matched teams.

I like the Colts because their most important players are seasoned, the same reason I like the Chargers.

But on TALENT. Tough one to call.

I made mine.

Sunday January 17, 2010

Dallas Cowboys (NFC East) #3 Seed (11-5) at Minnesota Vikings (NFC North) #2 Seed (12-4)

The Cowboys are better in every phase of the game and will advance.

New York Jets (AFC East Wildcard) #5 Seed (9-7) at San Diego Chargers (AFC West) #2 Seed (13-3)

Despite the stench of being #2 (thanks Steve!), the Chargers are the best team in the NFL, courtesy of an 11 game winning streak and their game against an in-form Cowboy team in which they won and looked like the better squad despite the score (20-17) and the flukish circumstances (Boys missed chippie FG with since-released injured K and failed to register ANY points despite driving down the field relentlessly and going oh-for-final yard.

The Jets are the dominant team of the AFC East present and, a future conqueror of these Chargers.

That ain't now.

Sick #4

2009-12-28T14:39:54Z

By Mary Hannington

Vagabond Guru was once one of the most constant and prolific sportswriters on the planet... well, okay sometimes he went off the deep end, but he ALWAYS came back? Right?

It is my sincere wish and one that I'm sure that you share with me that he come back to us whole and full of that great insight of his.

Since I have been examining my own psyche these days and like Guru I have tormenters (good and bad) of my own that keep me from doing what I wish. I've noticed that Freud's death instinct applies to me. Freud divided the Id into two categories. "Life Instincts" (Eros) - Food/Sex and "Death Instincts" (Thanatos) - the wish to end the struggle for happiness, essentially the desire to escape from reality. Lately, there hasn't been much of a chance for indulgence - no time for food (I can't even count the skipped lunches over the past few months) and sex? What's that?

So I start looking for peace, for some escape, the more I am thwarted the angrier I get - it's classic "Death Instinct".

Armed with this knowledge we have concocted a little experiment on our beloved Guru.

We're figuring if we can keep him in a state of aggression for longer periods of time that eventually he'll go all haywire and concentrate more on the food, the sex and oh yeah, the SPORTS!

Me? I'll just go back to Yoga.

But before I do... the Facebook hackers have taken over a lot of my friend's profiles and my In Box is again full of links to "Fuck Buddy" sites, maybe I'll have just a little peak (freudian slip) er peek...

2009 New York Yankees: 'Everyone knows they play to win!'

2009-11-06T17:36:25Z

By Matthew Storey

'Here come the YANKEES
Let's get behind and cheer the YANKEES
They're gonna learn to fear the YANKEES
Everyone knows they play to win, cause...

They're the New York YANKEES'

Yankees theme song, 1966.

When I was a kid, this song used to signal the start of the Yankee games on WPIX, channel 11, and I learned its lyrics and knew them cold by the end of the 1970 season.

But my Yankees, those Yankees, didn't 'play to win' or win much of anything, the New York Mets were the World Champions and the talk of the town. I loved the Yankees though, so I read about Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe D, MIckey and Yogi...and I learned that being a Yankee fan wasn't about this team, this year - it was about the FRANCHISE, about all the Yankee teams over all the years.

They had three glimmers of hope on those teams, a classy Center Fielder named Bobby Murcer and a fiery Ohio kid catcher who was the 1970 Rookie of the Year, Thurman Munson and a left handed Closer with a bushy mustache they got from the Red Sox. Murcer was a connection to Mickey and past glory, Munson and Sparky Lyle, the first cornerstones of future glory.

In 1973, George Steinbrenner bought the team and began to live up to the song. He made it clear, from the start, they're the New York Yankees and they WILL play to win. He tore down the beaten up old ballpark I loved and put in a state of the art version, hired '50s Yankee hero, Billy Martin, to manage, traded for talented young players on the rise (Graig Nettles, Chris Chambliss, Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers, Lou Piniella, Ed Figueroa, Mike Torrez) and a big Free Agent pitcher, 'Catfish' Hunter, by 1976, their first year in the New Yankee Stadium, they matched the accomplishment of the 1923 Yankees who opened the original, by winning the AL Pennant on a 9th Inning Walk-off HR by Chambliss.

They got swept that year in the World Series, by the incredible Big Red Machine and Yankee fans hardly cared, they were young and exciting. But Steinbrenner cared, the hadn't WON. He went out and signed the best power hitter in Baseball, Reggie Jackson and added ANOTHER closer, Goose Gossage, to their existing Cy Young winner, Sparky. Fans all over baseball cringed - this was overkill.

The Yankees won the next two World Series, Goose and Reggie are in the Hall of Fame. Steinbrenner, who bought the team for 10M in 1973, had a brand new ballpark, a two time champion and the best brand in the game by 1978, a year when the Yankees stormed back from 14 1/2 games behind to catch the Red Sox and defeat them when a guy named Bucky Dent went yard and Yaz popped up into Nettles glove.

Munson died in a plane crash the next year, 1979 and George flew into a rage when his 103 Win 1980 team got beat on a George Brett HR off Goose, and fired Manager Dick Howser. They went to one more series, in 1981, but lost this time to the Dodgers. Winfield was the new Free Agent, Don Mattingly the next homegrown hero, but the team stumbled through a series of missteps in the '80s, Steinbrenner eventually pushing too hard and getting suspended for two years. The break gave him a chance to take a step back and that 1970 Yankee Shortstop, Gene 'Stick' Michael, used the opportunity to stuff the Yankee pipeline with draft picks and young talent. Yankee lifer Buck Showalter was brought in to teach fundamentals and captain Don Mattingly was joined by Paul O'Neill from the Reds, David Cone from the Blue Jays and the Yankees were back in the Playoffs. But, the Boss was back now, and when the Seattle Mariners ousted the Yankees, that was not winning. Close don't count.

Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada all came up from the system. Tino Martinez took over for the broken down Mattingly, veteran Catcher Joe Girardi was brought in to handle the pitching staff and a guy who'd never won anything took over for Showalter.

Guy named Joe Torre.

Yankees won it all that year, lost the next, won 3 more, lost one in brutal fashion with a 9th Inning blown save in 2001 and then lost to a young talented Marlins squad in the 2003 World Series. Red Sox came back to beat them in the 2004 ALCS, they won division titles in 2005 and 2006 but lost first round playoff series, then settled for a wildcard in 2007 and saw Torre depart. Former Catcher, Girardi came in to replace him and suffered through a playoff less 89 win season in 2008. The Steinbrenner family looked at the lost season and decided, Girardi, the Yankee core and the Yankee homegrown talent was strong enough to handle the bullpen and the lineup, but they needed more starting pitching and a 1B to replace Jason Giambi. They signed CC and AJ and Tex, got big years from Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Pettitte and newer Yankees, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and aging free agent winners Johnny Damon and a Japanese superstar named Hideki Matsui.

They started cold, got superstar Alex Rodriguez back from injury and went on to win 103 games, sweep the Twins, beat the Angels in six and the Phillies in six more.

World Champions. Number 27 for the franchise, and #7 in the Steinbrenner era.

After all, they're the Yankees.

Everyone knows, they play to win.

2009 World Series Preview: NY Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

2009-10-28T17:45:17Z

By Matthew Storey

Finally!

After an interminable five seasons with no World Series for the Yankees, the Bronx Bombers put together a terrific 103-59 regular season, spotting the rival Red Sox and defending AL champion Rays some ground early but blowing by mid-season and finishing with a flourish. They took out the red-hot Twins in 3 well contested ALDS games and overcame some shoddy play to defeat long-time nemesis, the LA Angels, in 6 for the ALCS and the 40th Pennant in 90 Seasons (an ASTOUNDING 44%).

So, with 110-61 in the books, it is time for the new Yankee Stadium to do what the first two did (Stadium opened in 1923, Yankees won World Series, re-opened after 2 season renovation in 1976 and Yankees went to World Series for first time in 12 years, got swept but came back to win the next two) and host a World Series in its first year.

For their part, the defending World Champion Phillies ruined the dream matchup of Yankees/Dodgers, with all the built in magic of Joe Torre, Manny Ramirez and Don Mattingly returning to NYC, but they did so honestly, by thrashing the Dodgers convincingly for the 2nd straight year. LIke the Yankees, there can be no doubt these Phils earned their slot.

Competitively, the Phillies are lacking in NYC story lines (Pedro being the one interesting player from an AL standpoint) and are a genuine NL Power - they play that chippy, competitive style that will remind Yankees of Red Sox - they chatter (already Jimmy Rollins has called for Phils in 5) and all of that hoped for mutual respect we'd have seen from Torre/Girardi is lost. Charley Manuel is a comical figure, a cocky hick who makes for a tough root in these parts, but he's done one hell of a job in a place where men like Terry Francona and local legend Larry Bowa could not break through, Reliever Brett Myers is a redneck jackass who punched his wife on a Boston street but has a big arm when healthy and throttled the Yankees in May, Shane Victorino is like Nick Swisher, an attention seeking showman, but his energetic style makes things happen for the Broad Streeters...and all-time creep, '80 Manager Dallas Green actually was a Yankee manager for a year or so, probably the lowest moment in Franchise history...its a team who aren't much like the Yankees, don't have much history with the Yankees and want to grab the spotlight and the aura of winning from the Yankees. If the Phillies get under Yankee skin and draw them into confrontation, that will be to their advantage. For the Yankees, the key is to treat the Phillies as if they are anonymous, punch the clock, do your thing, ignore the opponent - that's the Yankee way and was instrumental in helping them finally overcome the Angels.

If its a fight, advantage - Phillies. If the games are played low-key, the low-key Yankees will thrive.

And there it is...the best team in the AL and the best team in the NL, what a World Series is supposed to be.

Similar construction, opposite personalities - should make for a classic!

Lets take a look at the individual matchups;

Ryan Howard, Phillies LH
The engaging and majestic presence that is Ryan Howard is heading to First Ballot Hall of Fame status (as is the man who plays next to him and maybe the entire Infield on the other side), his frightening power to all fields and newfound agility on the basepaths and in the field make him a better player than the Howard who already has an MVP and a World Series rings and leads all MLB in HR/RBI since 2005. However, Howard is a dreadful hitter against quality LH pitching (.207 overall) and the Yankees will throw Southpaw starters in 4 or 5 of the potential 7 game series, one of them might be the best LH in MLB and the other one has more Postseason wins than any MLB pitcher in history, LH OR RH. He will have to stay patient and wait for a mistake and hope that the ones he catches up with will find J-Roll, Victorino and Utley on base. For all this thump and expanded fitness, Howard is an all-or-nothing sort who will strike out - look for Yankees to alternate Coke and Marte in late inning situations trying to find an advantage against him as they do with Papi in Boston.

Mark Teixeira, Yankees, SH
Teixeira is a rare commodity, a 1B whose glove is so dynamic it changes game outcomes, he saves errors, throws out runners from anywhere and is always in the right place (witness that Melky to Jeter to Teixeira relay that caught Bobby Abreu off of 2B in the ALCS). That Defensive brilliance has been in full evidence this postseason, but, at least for the first 7 games - his powerful, switch hitting Bat was absolutely NOWHERE to be found, the way it was back in April. He did get a huge 3 Run 2B late in Game Five and then was effective in Game six as well, so may be coming back to form - he needs to if the Yankees have a chance with the Phillies. For Mark, like several Yankees, he can become too HR conscious and too dependent upon catching up to a Fastball. Both the Twins and the Angels feature starters who are not flamethrowers, but who can throw strikes with off-speed and breaking stuff. Teixeira and Swisher both saw an endless series of 70 MPH slow curveballs and 80 MPH change-ups and the Philly staff is built upon similar lines - Mark needs to cut back on the power stroke and give himself a chance to stroke singles off of the junk he will be CERTAIN to see in a heavy dose from Lee, Pedro, Hamels and Blanton.

Robinson Cano, Yankees, LH
Cano is a terrible cold weather player and was shut down effectively for the two freezing ALCS games in The Bronx, making two horrible errors on easy chances, but otherwise played his typically jaw-dropping Defense throughout this postseason. He has incredible range to either side, and a gun for an arm as well as the best damn pivot in MLB on Double Play balls - something that accounts greatly for Andy Pettite's resurgence. Offensively, Cano too was undone by the junk ball and the swinging for the fences mindset early on, but he is a more flexible hitter than either Swisher or Teixeira and was back to spraying effectively all over the field by the tail end of the ALCS. Cano is capable of carrying this Yankee team if he gets hot, and should be effective against all Philly starters since he is equally adept with LH or RH, heat or junk. The key for Robby is to swing at STRIKES, not expand the zone chasing and let them walk him - as they are likely to prefer pitching to Swisher and Melky hitting behind him.

Chase Utley, Phillies, LH
Utley is the only MLB 2B who probably has even more ability than Cano, but the 2009 version of Utley is a great player who is nursing some injury problems. He made two uncharacteristic errors on Double Play attempts that were costly to the Phillies and would have been devastating in a more tightly contested series, the Yankees proved against both Minnesota and the Angels, teams that might be the two best fundamentally in MLB, that if you give them extra outs - they will beat you. Utley is an all-time Great and is capable of dominating, he just doesn't appear to be moving well or driving the ball with as much authority as usual. He is still a .300 hitter with huge thump against either LH or RH pitching and requires rapt focus on every plate appearance by Yankee pitchers.

Jimmy Rollins, Phillies, SH
J-Roll is the Phillies leader, his charisma, all around game, energy and smarts light up the ballpark and his trash-talking Bay Area chatter is never delivered with ugly undertones - he's not a guy to hate, or even to dislike, he wants to beat you, says so and plays hard as nails. Pure respect from the Magic Carpet. But he is not Derek Jeter, who hit a full 85 points higher, stole one fewer base in four fewer attempts and hit 3 fewer HR's, 3 that he's hit so far in the postseason, for all of his switch-hitting, dynamism and presence, Rollins hit .250 with a pathetic .296 ON-Base percentage in 2009 and the Yankees will challenge him to beat them. He can run into a pitch, as he did to open up the interleague series back in May against AJ Burnett and give the Phillies the dramatic extra-base hit as he did to defeat the Dodgers in the NLCS, but at-bat to at-bat, he is not a consistent threat this season.

Derek Jeter, Yankees, RH
Jeter is displaying his all-world ability in this postseason, maybe even more so than in previous years, which is saying a bit for a guy with 4 rings, 3 Gold Gloves, 7 seasons above .320 (11 times .300+), the alltime SS in hits, alltime Yankee in hits, alltime MLB postseason player in hits, 3rd alltime in postseason HR's, 1st in runs...he has made three game altering defensive plays thus far with sheer mental awareness, hits for big power or slap hitting situation with equal dexterity, has the big arm and makes all the plays and stole 30 bases for the 4th time (in 35 attempts) at 35. Jeter has cut back on his strikeouts since moving into the leadoff role and had an on-base percentage over .400 for the 4th time in his career, .112 points better than Rollins, which means something as leadoff men in front of the power. Rollins will engage the fans and the Yankees, psyche himself up. Jeter will remain above the fray, chilly, and waiting for the one thing that can beat the Phillies.

Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, RH
Those of us who watch every inning of every Yankee game, year after year, know that Jeter and Alex carried the Yankees when those around them were being schooled by soft tossing pitching or tightening up in pressure playoff atmosphere. Its rare when two players are so locked in at the plate, on the field, on the bases at the same time and that those two would both be First Ballot Hall of Famers playing side by side only adds to the majesty. Alex was at his very best in the first two rounds and his best is in the short conversation for the best that's been seen on a Baseball field. His bat speed is at the best its been since his freakish MVP year of 2007 and he is running the bases like Alex for the first time all season after the Hip Surgery turned him into more of a stationary type from May through August. Enormous power all over the field, base running, smarts, big glove, bigger arm. The Phillies cannot afford to let Alex beat them and figure to stay away and let him take walks or try and make him chase out of the zone.

Pedro Feliz, Phililes, RH
One of the great fielding 3B in all of Baseball, Felix is the weak link amongst both lineups in terms of Offense, but he still managed to drive in 82 runs and does make contact, which is important on a Philly team that has huge power but several guys who strike out an inordinate amount of the time (Ibanez, Werth, Howard). In a series where both teams are going to live over the wall, it is the team that hits them with men ON BASE that will prevail and the Yankee On-Base percentage dwarfs that of the Phillies and they proved in rounds one and two that they can beat small-ball teams at their small-ball game.

Raul Ibanez, Phillies, LH
Of all the much ballyhooed HR power witnessed in the New Yankee Stadium in its inaugural year, none was more prodigiously struck than the 477 foot BOMB Ibanez hit off a hurt shoulder Chien-Ming Wang in May. Ibanez is one of those MLB players who has gotten better and better as he has gone (Werth is as well) and until being hurt this season, he was right there for NL MVP, but groin and abdominal injuries have greatly reduced his game (.232 with 12 HRs in 2nd Half). Yankees need to right after Rollins, Utley and Ibanez and tread carefully with Howard and Werth, this will result in some long fly HR's from those capable bats, but should keep them off the bases for the most part of the series. Ibanez injuries likely will have him at DH for tonight and tomorrow, with Francisco in LF.

Johnny Damon, Yankees, LH
Like Ibanez, Damon is two different players, when his calves are hurting and his vision is bothering him, he can be easily handled, especially by LH starters, but when his body is cooperating he can devastate teams as he did the Angels in the ALCS with huge HR power and critical RBI hits. He also has played an inspired LF, chasing down balls, diving for critical grabs and making smart throws in the playoffs. He is a marginal fielder overall, but a hustler whose legs are still good enough for 12 of 12 stolen bases in 2009 and is hot right now, if he stays hot, tough to see NY losing this series.

Melky Cabrera, Yankees, SH
Melky looked a little tight in the ALDS, striking out on the same sorts of junkballs that have bedeviled Swisher and Teixeira, but came roaring back with a big ALCS (9 for 23, 4 HUGE RBI). He plays a terrific CF and his big arm catches baserunners, even Bobby Abreu, who played next to him for two years and should have known better. The Phillies will test him and he will throw them out, look for such a play in game one or two and say 'Guru told me so!'. the same Guru who told you this switch-hitting 25 year old would have a big year and was still improving, he is confident now and should have a good series at the back of the Yankee lineup.

Shane Victorino, Phillies, SH
Victorino is as extroverted and self-promoting as Melky is relaxed and team focused, a quirk of personality that leads many to consider him a far better player. The numbers tell a different story, as their power numbers are similar (Melky hit 3 more HR, drove in 6 more runs in 135 fewer at-bats). Both are switch hitters with some thump who can go get it in CF, but Victorino lacks Melky's big arm and Yankees will go 1st to 3rd on him. Victorino is an agile and successful basestealer who will put pressure on Yankee catchers if he is on base. He is also a proven Postseason winner. Still the numbers say he and Melky are similar, Melky hits 9th and Shane 2nd.

Jayson Werth, Phillies, RH
For Guru's money, this is the player the Yankees have to work around to have success in this series. Yankee LH starters will limit some of the damage from Howard and both Utley and Ibanez have physical problems, Rollins will get his if he is feeling it, but Werth is the RH bat with serious thump who could make the Yankees pay for working cautiously to Howard, he singlehandedly destroyed the Dodgers and his game has come so far in such a short time it can be easy to look at him through a previous season's eye - this aint that guy. Werth is a classic mistake hitter with awesome power all over the yard and must be pitched carefully or walked to avoid crooked number-itis. He also showed a big arm in the series back in May. If Werth is in the running for MVP, this is going to be a Philly repeat.

Nick Swisher, Yankees, SH
Nicky, Nicky, Nicky...its a good thing he is such a genuinely nice guy. Like Teixeira, Swish is a power hitter from both sides who works the count and gets on base. Also like Tex, Swisher can be fastball happy and lacks the fluidity in his swing to adapt during at-bats, he takes a stiff arm hack like an axe wielding chopper and if he guesses right on pitch/location, he can send a ball into the stratosphere or tweak it neatly down the opposite line. But he is purely a guess hitter who is likely to be exposed continually by smarties like Lee, Pedro and Hamels. He is an agressive and enthusiastic RF with an average arm.

C
Jorge Posada, Yankees, SH
Jorge was clutch, big power from both sides, great defense in the ALDS and ALCS. He controlled the Angel running game and came through with the bat time and time again. He's caught 23 World Series games, more than 100 postseason games (by FAR, the most in MLB history) and is a sleeper in this series. Amongst veteran Yankees, Jorge is a fighter and an emotional leader on a business like squad, he is most likely to get into with old nemesis Pedro and some of the chattier Phillies.

Carlos Ruiz, Phillies, RH
Many analysts are calling this matchup 'even', I am not sure what they are talking about. Ruiz is a nice player who has made himself a much better hitter, but his career HR total of 22 is one more than Jorge hit in 383 at-bats during 2009. He makes great contact (more walks than strikeouts) and can thump (he hit a huge 3 Run HR to beat Yankees back in May). A nice player matched with a legendary one.

Ben Francisco RH and Matt Stairs LH, Phillies
Francisco is a 5 tool sort with big potential who the generous Indians sent along to the Phillies, believing the gift of a reigning Cy Young winner was not enough! He has limited playing time in his MLB career but has shown flashes of big power and a big arm in the OF (he will play LF for Ibanez in AL park). Yankee pitchers have to avoid relaxing deep in the Philly lineup or they will get lit up by Francisco, Ruiz and Feliz. Stairs is the veteran LH thumper, very similar to Yankee reserve, Eric Hinske, he takes tough at-bats and buries mistakes from RH pitchers in the seats.

Hideki Matsui, Yankees, LH
The great Matsui has surged and been dominant this season when his surgically repaired knees have been drained and feeling strong and the two days off will do him a great deal of good (his best game of both earlier rounds came off a break between them). Yankees will probably benefit from the rest he'll get in Philly without a DH as the Interleague break helped him to a huge year (28HR/90 RBI) in 2009. Unflappable, experienced and huge power, Matsui will lay in the weeds and strike if ignored following Tex and Alex.

Rotation

CC Sabathia LH, AJ Burnett RH, Andy Pettitte LH, Chad Gaudin RH/Yankees
Yankee starters have been dominant thus far. CC has shut down the Twins once and the Angels twice with a minimum of threat and benefits from extra rest and a LH heavy Philly lineup, as well as the desire to make up for a terrible NLDS start in 2008 when he was asked to pitch on 3 day fumes for the umpteenth time in a row, his '09 performance is as good as it gets and shows the difference of not overusing a horse. He has ample rest to pitch three times, but Yankees are likely to throw Gaudin in game 4 unless trailing and desperate. Gaudin is a reliable 4-5 inning type who get strikeouts and need to avoid walks ,but might be a HR magnet against Phillies in their yard for game 4. AJ Burnett is a maddening enigma, who choked horribly in his ALCS start against the Angels, surrendering 4 runs before a single out and then putting two runs on base after his team had stormed back to take a 6-4 lead late. In between however, his dominant fastball and sharp breaking curve shut the Angels down cold - which his ability can do in any start. The season long sample says he will be great once and mediocre once if he gets two starts. Andy Pettitte has been lights-out, winning his all-time record 16th Postseason game, closing out his all-time record 5th series. He has been better than anyone could have imagined and guaranteed himself a job for as long as he wants one in MLB.

Cliff Lee LH, Pedro Martinez RH, Cole Hamels LH, Joe Blanton RH or JA Happ LH/Phillies
In one sense, the Phillie lack of power pitching is a concern - they are not strikeout types and may allow some baserunners here and there, but the Yankees are a fast ball centric sort of Offense who punish the sort of hard throwers who come right after them. Cliff Lee, Pedro and Cole Hamels all have the ability to throw changeups and breaking pitches for strikes in any count and keep Yankee sluggers swinging at air - meaning they WILL be strikeout pitchers! (did you follow all that?). Yankees will pummel Blanton and Phillies will pummel Gaudin, making game 4 the right one to bet the 'Over', Happ is a terrific young LH pitcher, but after Saunders twice with the Angels, Lee and Hamels, he will up against a lineup who has seen every type of LH starter and has 4 everyday switch hitters. Key for Phillies is Yankees being over aggressive, if the Yankees are swinging for fences, the Philly starters will thrive, if they relax and play small-ball, they can break them and feast on fastballs from the pen.

Bullpen

Ryan Madsen RH, Chad Durbin RH, Chan Ho Park RH, Scott Eyre LH

As indicated above, Yankees handle hard throwers better than any team in MLB and Madsen, Durbin and Park figure to get lit up if used for multiple innings. They need 7 innings per start to win.

David Robertson RH, Brian Bruney RH, Damaso Marte LH, Phil Coke LH, Joba Chamberlain RH, Alfredo Aceves RH, Phil Hughes RH

Yankee pen is a power pen, big arms and big velocity, strikeout stuff. Robertson has had some arm issues of late, but was terrific when called upon, Bruney got some needed rest and will be up close to 100MPH, can he throw it over the plate? Marte and Coke give them two different LH looks. Aceves, Hughes and Joba were the keys to the plan and all struggled at times in the playoffs, seemingly more with their nerves than with their stuff. Yankees need regular season like dominance from Aceves (10-1), Hughes (1.44 ERA as reliever, 5-1 K/BB ratio) and Joba (dominant and mediocre in maddening variety).

Closer

Mariano Rivera RH
The best. The numbers are ridiculous, not going to belabor them here for the 1,000th time. If he's in the game and the Yankees have a lead, bet Yankees.

Brad Lidge RH
Exactly the sort of pitcher that Yankee bats thrive against (Joe Nathan), and they beat him at the Stadium in May on an Alex Rodriguez HR and Melky Cabrera line drive. If the Philies have a one run lead, its 50/50.

Yankees are strong where you NEED to be to defeat Phillies with LH pitching and several slumping Offensive players who appeared to be coming out of it late against LA. If Jeter and Alex stay hot and are joined by Cano and Teixeira, there isn't anything the Phillies can do to stop them. Says here we'll be bundled up for a parade before we bundle up for ANOTHER parade in Manhattan this November. hold back those SuperHero floats for Thanksgiving and give us pinstripes in six.

2009 ALCS Preview: NY Yankees vs. LA Angels

2009-10-16T17:02:23Z

By Matthew Storey

Five long years for the Yankees. Four for the Angels.

In 2009, both are BACK in the ALCS.

NY returns after choking on the 3-0 ALCS lead, historically, to the Boston Red Sox in '04, winning AL Eastern Division titles the next two years only to be bounced '05, by these Angels and '06, by the Detroit Tigers, than managed to close out the Joe Torre era with an '07 Wildcard and another 1st Round ouster at the hands of the Cleveland Indians and the wings of Lake Erie fauna.

The Joe Girardi era sputtered to an 89 Win opening in '08 when kid Starters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy spit the bit and stud rotation stalwarts Chien-MIng Wang and Joba got hurt and joined Jorge Posada on the DL.

In '09, they reworked their bullpen in season and found a deep group of converted starters and homegrown power pitchers, overcame Alex's hip surgery, Chien's failure to recover, Joba's regression and a blown out elbow to Abreu's handpicked successor in RF, Xavier Nady. The Newcomers all contributed, the oldtimers all did as well, homegrown role players and veterans alike played their roles to perfection and it combined for a magical, best in MLB Regular Season of 103-59 and a first round Sweep of the red hot Minnesota Twins.

For their part, the Angels have also dominated their AL Western Division regular season but have failed to advance to the World Series since winning in '02. They lost to Boston in '04, '07 and "08 and to the White Sox in '05, their last shot at the ALCS. This season they weathered the emotional tumult of kid Pitcher Nick Adenhart's death, injuries to Vlad, Lackey and Scott Shields and a season long renaissance from the Texas Rangers to grab the West and sweep away the nemesis Red Sox.

It's time to get it on. Yankees. Angels. Best of Seven. The Bronx.

Tonight. It'll be 40 Degrees, damp, windy, 50,000 screaming neurotic New Yorkers.

Yes!

Lets take a look;

Infield

NYY
1B Mark Teixeira
Tex replaced Giambi ('08/32HR/96RBI) with (39HR/122 RBI) and played sterling 1B, with wild range to either side on grounders and into RF on pop-ups, soft hands on all throws and hit balls, and a QB arm that can throw runners out in any situation, at any base. He combined with Switch-hitters (Posada, Melky, Swisher) to give the Yankees a lineup that is never vulnerable to pitcher shuffling by opponents. He played in LA last season, knows the personnel and the pitchers well, and has enjoyed playing in Anaheim throughout his MLB career.

LAA
1B Kendry Morales
After Angels lost Mark, they promoted Kendry and he made it pay off with a huge 1st season as 1B starter (Yankees have a similar, ready to pop, Cuban defector in 1B Juan Miranda who, like Morales, only needs a chance to play, having dominated AAA and now blocked by Teixeira). Like Teixeira he hits for average and power from both sides of the plate (both have more power from LH side) and joins his OWN group of Angel Switch Hitters (Figgins, Aybar, Izturis with WIllits, Matthews as well) to give the Angels flexibility against any pitching. Defensively, he is less fluid and has a less powerful throwing arm than Teixeira and is a free swinger who will walk less.

LAA
2B Howie Kendrick
2B Maicer Izturis
Kendrick platoons with Izturis, both of them are capable offensively, but Kendrick absolutely KILLS the Yankees (along with Figgins) to the tune of .426 in his career! Both will play in the ALCS and are contact .300 hitters with occasional pop (Kendrick had 10HR, Izturis 8), they will avoid big swings against Yankee strikeout pitching and put the ball in play. Both will run in the Angel scheme. Izturis is the better 2B with a glove.

NYY
2B Robinson Cano
Cano had a huge year (.320/25/85) and is probably the most complete 2B, offensively and defensively in the AL. He has line to line pop, can pull a big HR and makes all the plays with a big arm at 2B. He has struggled, however, in cold weather throughout his career and in the 1st Round was a non-factor.

NYY
SS Derek Jeter
Jeter hit .334, ran well (30 of 35 SB) with pop (18HR) and is amongst all-time Postseason leaders in hits (1st) and HR (t -4th). Made only 8 Errors in 150 Games at SS. Always thinking 2 steps ahead, as he proved again in the Twin series, baiting Nick Punto into trying to score and then relaying to Posada to snuff out their last chance. Jeter likes to make early noise coming into series and will be looking to hit the first pitch from Lackey over the wall tonight.

LAA
SS Erick Aybar
Angels let longtime SS Orlando Cabrera go in the offseason with plenty left (as he proved in Oakland and Minnesota) but promoted dynamic defender Aybar who plays a terrific SS and has proven to be a serious Offensive player (.312/93B) he will run a bit (14 of 21 SB), but does not have HR pop.

LAA
3B Chone Figgins
The Angels tablesetter is a Yankee killer, who does everything on a baseball field well. He was a Gold Glove OF before settling in to play Gold Glove 3B, steals bases (42, but caught 17), hits .298 with a good eye (.395 OBP) but strikes out too often (as does Jeter) with 101 Ks. He has no pop to speak of.

NYY
3B Alex Rodriguez
The hero of the 1st Round, Alex has been positively killing the baseball since mid-August and destroyed the Twins with clutch Power. His big arm and SS range make him a premier defender at 3B, he runs the bases well despite the loss of speed from his hip surgery (14 of 16) and has unmatched thump. Beat him to cash if you're the Angels.

Outfield/DH

NYY
LF Johnny Damon
If this series was played a month ago, Damon would have been considered a Yankee strength, but for the second straight year, struggles down the stretch turned a BIG year into a good one and he was horrible all September before bombing out of the Twin series with 1/12 and 4 K's, looking like a guy battling his vision as he struggled with at times in the regular season. Damon's resume and early season thump provide him with room to get the job done, he has pop (24 HR) and still runs well (12 of 12) in situations. He is an awful LF at this stage with no arm at all and will be replaced by Melky late, who will move from CF with Gardner into CF, OR Guzman in LF with Melky staying put.

LAA
LF Juan Rivera
Former Yankee farmhand, Rivera, has had a nice career in Anaheim, which was cemented when they went out and resigned him this offseason despite an embarrassment of OF riches. He has serious thump on a team that is not really power oriented (25HR/88 RBI) and has a big arm. Doesn't strike out OR walk, puts it in play and doesn't run at all (the only such Angel).

NYY
CF Melky Cabrera
A terrific season for Melky, who plays Gold Glove quality Defense at all three OF slots, has occasional pop (13 HR) and speed (10 of 12). He tends to hit in binges with multi hits and power from both sides and then sliding off for awhile, he looked overmatched at times in the ALDS. He had a huge HR in the '07 ALDS as well as 4 OF assists, the Angels will try and run on him and he will throw them out.

LAA
CF Torii Hunter
The charismatic Hunter is a Gold Glove CF with pop (22HR/90RBI in 119 games), who does everything well on a Baseball field or an interview show and is a leader for the Angels in the clubhouse.

LAA
RF Bobby Abreu
The great Abreu came to the Yankees in mid '07 with whispers about his decline and has proven those to be idiots doing the whispering (Billy Wagner...). He left a productive year and a half in The Bronx for LA and has continued to be the high On-Base, occasional pop (13 HR), RBI guy (103) with speed (30 of 38). He is an indifferent RF with a big arm, who can make a big error or throw out a runner at home.

NYY
RF Nick Swisher
Forced into the starting job when Nady was injured, Swisher carried the Yankees in April, leveled off and surged again late. Hits for power from both sides of the plate (29HR) with no speed, but takes lots of pitches and gets on-base (97 Walks). A big effort, low grace OF who hustles but lacks arm strength.

NYY
DH Hideki Matsui
Big power, Matsui hits bombs against RH or LH pitching, drives in runs in bushels and can hit to all fields. WIll also take a walk in any at-bat.

LAA
DH Vlad Guerrerro
The former superstar is still dangerous (as the Red Sox learned) and can hit any pitch over the wall. He can also be struck out and will not walk, unless the pitcher intends him to be.

Catchers

LAA
C Mike Napoli
C Mike Mathis
C Bobby WIlson

Napoli has serious thump and might be the best power in the LA lineup. Mathis is a Molina like backup, who handles Lackey tonight. Wilson is unknown by Guru, with only 12 at-bats this year. Neither of the two who have played have done a good job with baserunners and Yankees can be expected to run as often as possible.

NYY
C Jorge Posada
C Jose Molina
C Francisco Cervelli

Posada bounced back from '08 shoulder surgery to post a big season of power from both sides, solid throwing out runners and clutch (game winning HR in Game 3 versus Twins). Molina is strictly a defender who will catch AJ Burnett. Cervelli is a great defender who can handle the bat if he plays.

Bench

NYY
OF Brett Gardner
OF Freddy Guzman
UT Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Gardner and Guzman are the fastest men on the field, either can steal a base at any time asked. Hairston in capable at any position on the field if an injury occurs, has some pop (10HR) and deep experience.

LAA
OF Reggie Willits
OF Gary Matthews, Jr.
OF Robb Quinlan

Good defenders WIllits and Matthews, both can run. Quinlan is still waiting to impress.

Rotation

NYY
LH CC Sabathia
RH AJ Burnett
LH Andy Pettitte

Solid all season, dominant in round one. They will strike out more Angels, Burnett will walk a few, hit a couple, throw a wild pitch or two. CC is the only sure thing. AJ has been erratic, but dominates hitters when well. Pettitte has been terrific in 2nd Half and his pickoff move controls running game. Angels will put guys on with contact hitters and look for the big hit and the running game to score.

LAA
RH John Lackey
LH Joe Saunders
RH Jered Weaver
LH Scott Kazmir

Strike throwers here, which negates Yankee patience but may play into Yankee power. All go deep, have postseason success on their resume and can shut down any offense.

Bullpen

LAA
RH Ervin Santana
RH Matt Palmer
LH Darren Oliver
RH Jason Bulger
RH Kevin Jepsen

Santana is the key here, if right, he can dominate Yankees bats and HAS, and if called on for length, his starter's stamina will come into play. Bulger had a big year (6-1) and has power arm (68 K in 65.1 IP), Jepsen surrendered only 2 HR in 54 IP. Oliver is just a guy, and Palmer is a junkballing starter.

NYY
RH Alfredo Alceves
RH Joba Chamberlain
RH Phil Hughes
LH Phil Coke
LH Damaso Marte
RH Chad Gaudin
RH David Robertson

Gaudin did a nice job against the Angels in a September start and will get the Game 4 start if CC can't go on short rest. Aceves is the long guy here, who had a great year (10-1) but got touched by LA a bit - he's a strike thrower which hurts against Angel aggressiveness. Robertson has been a strikeout machine and came up huge against the Twins, Joba and Phil Hughes can dominate in the later innnings with power, breaking stuff and presence. Marte is the last man here, erratic from LH side. Coke is better and will get first southpaw call, but vulnerable to control problems and the longball.

Closer

NYY
RH Mariano Rivera
Angels have serious slap hitters, like the Twins, and they will get some hits. He will limit power, throw strikes and do his job. At his best in postseason. If he comes into the 9th Inning with a 1 run lead, the Angels will threaten, but Mo will close them out.

LAA
LH Brian Fuentes
If Fuentes comes into the 9th with a 1 run lead, the Yankees will beat him. If its 2 runs, they will tie.
Ask Joe Nathan.

Two balanced, terrific teams feeling good about themselves, great managers who have rings as players and hardware as managers. Great, great matchup.

Angels will string hits, steal bases, capitalize on mistakes. Throw strikes and dare Yankee power to beat them.

Yankees are 65-11 when their starters give them a Quality Start (6 Innings/3 Runs or less), against LA, they will need to keep it under 4 and pitch into the 7th where Yankee bullpen is loaded. Yankees are in any game with power and strikeouts, run slightly less but with more precision and are just too good.

Yankees in six games.

If you want to go to Heaven, you'll have to Slay some Angels...

2009-10-12T16:18:59Z

By Matthew Storey

The mood this morning, in Manhattan, amongst Yankee fans I have spoken with so far is pleasure.

For sure.

But not ecstasy, somewhere between 'Good Job, Boys' and ''Bout Fuckin' time!' is where I'd peg it.

And, of note to those of you not of this Nation, I have yet to speak with a Yankee fan (not saying they don't exist) who mentioned the Red Sox demise in either a gloating fashion or as a pleasurable on-field result.

The Yankees and fans would have preferred the Red Sox to play, on the East Coast in familiarity with 9 of the last 10 providing confidence. Failing that, it would have been nice to see Boston extend things a couple of games, use up Angel pitching and soften up a touch.

Yankees rooting for Red Sox didn't work out. Unsurprisingly, and, to be genuine, if they want to be World Champions they need to defeat the Angels, who have owned them like no other team. They spotted Boston 8 games and blew past them to win the AL East by 8, they have nothing to prove there.

So, the Yankees play the Angels best of 7, in the American League Championship Series.

Oh, well.

So we aint jumping up and down over here, but we are pleased. Its been five years since they won a Postseason series and the pitching was sensational, as was the power and the clutch. They were at no point playing their best ball and still swept a terrific Twins team who only need a power starter to be right back again.

Still, outside of the rotation, Alex, Derek and Jorge - this team did not play especially well. Those three stalwarts managed a combined 13/32 (.406) with 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI and 9 RUNS. The rest of the lineup was a combined 10/70 (.143) in the three games facing honest, but modest pitching, with the notable asterisk belonging to critical HR hitters Mark Teixeira, Game 2 Walk Offian and Game 1 Godzilla BOMB.

Outside of them, however...

Johnny Damon is clearly struggling with his eyes (check him out when he steps out and blinks), he lost a flyball when his eyes freaked on him earlier in the year and wasn't right for weeks. He was in a career year back in a torrid August, with a career tying 24 HR and 77 RBI. But he closed with no HR and only 5 RBI for the Month of September/October and managed 1 for 12 in the ALDS, with 4 strikeouts. Ouch.

Nick Swisher had a big, game winning 2B in Game 1 only to fade to Damon's level at 1/12, 4 K's. Melky had 5 K's to go with 2/12 and Matsui, Teixeira and Cano were ALSO 2 for 12.

So this Offense was carried by Alex, Derek and Jorge and the pitching was CC, AJ and Andy. Joba was OK, Mariano was just OK and Phil Hughes was his shakiest since joining the Bullpen.

Plenty of room for improvement there, and they will need everybody on board to challenge the Angels who are a similar scrappy, competitive, risk taking sort of team to the Twins but healthier (Morneau is a huge loss for Minnesota, obviously), more experienced and with far superior pitching.

We'll look to the Specifics of Yankees/Angels later in the week, before Game 1 on Friday night in The Bronx.

Until then, we'll savor this one and relax for the first October in longandlong.

It aint yet time to drink. It certainly isn't time to have a Parade, all that is still available however and dreaming is permitted all around. A noble season has certainly been crafted and a deeper pool of playoff teams has never been assembled in my memory, the vanquished Cardinals and Red Sox could easily have been World Champions in another year, the Phillies are deeper on the hill, weaker in the pen, better with Ibanez than Burrell. The Dodgers and Yankees look magical, and the story lines for Manny, Torre and Mattingly are too delicious...you can see how these two teams might reprise '77-'81 and play multiple times for the prize.

Or not.

Because the Angels are formidable and so are the Phillies. Work to be done (heck even the Phillies have not yet cast off the Rockies....), so the work here?

It can wait.

2009 New York Yankees/ Season Review/Playoff Preview

2009-10-07T16:45:39Z

By Matthew Storey

Eight months ago, on February 20, Guru published his 2009 Yankee Pre-Season preview, with this;

...'(if) the calamities of early seasons recent don't rear their ugly heads - the Yankees can avoid spotting their rivals the first two months of the season and get off strong early. If they do, and are well positioned on June 1, it should be a magical first season in the new Palace in the Bronx.'

As it turned out, the next few weeks DID produce calamitous events. Alex Rodriguez, fresh from his Steroid funfest had major surgery on his Right Hip and was out for the first six weeks. Mariano Rivera's surgically prepared shoulder did not loosen up right away and he struggled in April until it loosened up. RF Xavier Nady, coming off a huge season and in his contract year, blew out his surgically repaired elbow and was lost for the year. Set-up RH Brian Bruney, coming off a broken foot struggled with his mechanics, hurt his arm and was back and forth all season (he's been left off the ALDS roster, despite his strong September). Worst of all, RH Ace, Chien-Ming Wang, counted on to be part of a dominant Starting Rotation struggled incredibly coming off HIS broken foot, going from 54-20, 3.63 to 1-6, 9.64 and then, just as he was finally looking like the stud of old - blew out his shoulder and may have pitched his last Yankee game.

By May 8, Yankees were at 13-15 and were on their way to being smoked like Sturgeon by the rival Red Sox, who would go on to win the first E-I-G-H-T games in their season series. That 'magical season' already looked iffy...

But Alex came back that day, in Baltimore, and hit the first pitch he saw for a 3 Run HR. New 1B, Mark Teixeira, who had struggled in April, went on a heroic tear and the Yankees had a huge May to make up some of the ground on the Sox. When June 1 did come around, Yankees were actually in 1st Place by 1 game, a lead they'd soon squander as Alex faded from overuse and Wang's struggles continued. They were swept in Boston on June 9-11, and Guru published a column on June 13 'Swept Away! Yankee/Red Sox comparisons' in which, I noted:

'The Red Sox are more competitive than the Yankees will ever be, so are the Angels, the Indians, Twins and Rays. If it was a war, these are the squads like the Confederacy, the Taliban, the Viet Cong, WW II Japanese - dedicated, small fire, innovative, never-say-die...such competitors thrive on close combat, that's why the Mujahadeen are so incensed the Americans don't want a 'fair fight' - they've internalized Western customs that ran from the Crusades to the Victorian Age.

America don't play that.

Neither do the Yankees.

Better resources, better roster, the long slog.

Is there any Red Sox you'd trade for?'

And went on to do a position by position comparison that claimed the 8 times vanquished Yankees actually had more in their dugout and would be likely to reverse the situation against the Red Sox in the coming months, especially since, despite the 8 losses, they trailed by only 2 games in the AL East.

Yankees sputtered for two more weeks, particularly in interleague play, but on June 24, Brian Cashman traveled to Atlanta to see the team and sent a message 'We have all we need in this clubhouse'. Manager Joe Girardi got tossed early, Rookie Catcher Francisco Cervelli slammed his first MLB HR and the Yankees went on a tear.

Coming into the All-Star break, the team sputtered against familiar antagonists, the LA Angels, getting swept in their final first half series to close at 57-41. Yankee hating Universe nodded their heads and said 'solid record, but can't beat Boston OR Los Angeles'. On July 16, Guru published 'Comprehensive 2nd Half Look' in which I noted:

'Yankees have answers at Bat, on the Hill, on the Bases and in the Field and control their own destiny.'

And they did. Beating the Red Sox 9 of 10 second half games to tie the season series at 9-9 after spotting them the first 8, taking 3 of their final 4 from the Angels to tie THAT season series at 5-5 and finishing off a 7-0 season sweep of the other AL Playoff team, AL Central Winner and ALDS opponent, Minnesota Twins. Overall they put up a phenomenal 2nd Half record of 46-18 (.719) to finish as AL East winner and #1 Seed in MLB, 103-59 (.636).

So that was that. Its over.

Onward.

Playoffs beginning as I write, so without predictions about results, I will note my favorites for the various series.

NL

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

I despise Dan O'Dowd and the Colorado evangelical emphasis, as regular readers know. I would root for the Iranian team against this bunch. Give me the Phils.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Manny Ramirez is one of my favorite players of all time, finally free of the 'B' and the creepy supporting cast/fan base - he's easy to root for and Joe Torre is the Godfather of the Yankees, who has removed the LaSorda stench from the Dodger blue and created in its place a dynamic mix of young talent and agreeable veterans.

St. Louis aint my kind of place. Tony LaRussa, brilliant as he is, strikes me as a pompous ass, an 'Anti-Torre' sort (he replaced him in St. Louis), but he has a balanced, brilliant team several notches better than the one he won the World Series with in 2006. Cards can pitch it and hit it and catch it and a case can easily be made for them winning it all.

But not here, I am rooting HARD for the Dodgers/Yankees renewal, a respectful Baseball -only series to echo the Subway series tilts of Torre's youth and bring Brooklyn Joe and Washington Heights Manny back to The Bronx for a love-in/may the best team win sort of affair.

AL

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

These teams play it differently than Torre/Girardi style. They like to BATTLE (see comments above from earlier in season) and scrap, and tense energy should be in the air. Sox have handled the Angels year after year in Playoffs, so tough to see that changing, but Angels are loaded everywhere and no result would shock. From a Yankee perspective, which Guru, obviously, comes from - give me the Red Sox and let NY avoid the dangerous Angels who've bounced us regularly.

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 6 of 6 in 2007 Regular Season and proceeded to get bounced in 4 games. That should take away any complacency against the 0-7 Twins on the Pinstripe part and remove arrogance from even the stupidest Yankee fans (impossible, I know!). Yankees match up well with Minnesota in their lineup, their rotation, their defense and their bullpen. But, as Twins backup Catcher, Mike Redmond noted - they don't play games on Paper (actually, the Twins play on Plastic!). You can break this series down 200 ways, but you won't be able to come up with a statistical basis for a Twin victory. What you CAN note is the Twins have been on a high for the last month of the season, overcoming a seemingly insurmountable 7 game deficit to catch the Tigers on final weekend and then prevailing in last night's thrilling one game, extra-inning playoff. They have momentum and will feed off emotion to balance out disparity in talent.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are a team (as previously noted) built for methodical excellence. They work to channel emotion safely OUT of their play and to focus on taking pitches, grinding through at-bats, making the plays, get 6 solid from starters and shut it down with their bullpen. The challenge from Minnesota will be energetic, they have chippy talkers in Carlos Gomez (who fought twice with Mark Teixeira this season), Alexei Casilla, Denard Span, Delmon Young and Manager Ron Gardenhire...they will take out fielders, strut, chatter, celebrate and try and fluster the Yankees with competitiveness. If they get under Yankee skin and turn it into a fight (the Red Sox, Angel, Ray recipe), they might just have a chance. They have the best player in the AL in C Joe Mauer, a great closer in Joe Nathan, terrific suite of two way players in Span, Cuddyer, Orlando Cabrera (who has beaten the Yankees against big odds as a 2004 Red Sox). Jason Kubel has swung a big bat and the Yankees will avoid Mauer and challenge him to beat them. Twin starters are solid, strike throwers without the dominant Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano of previous Playoff battles.

Yankees can only blame themselves if they lose, as it will come from a loss of composure long before it shows up on the field. Keep their cool, do their thang, ignore Twin chatter and this should be 4 games.

A look at Yankee Players individually:

1. Derek Jeter SS/RH

Derek hit .334 (3rd AL), the 4th best of his illustrious career, made only 8 errors in 150 games (career best) and was the ideal leadoff hitter all season with .406 OBP, 212 hits, 107 runs, 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts and occasional pop (18 HR). Has done it all, seen it all. Nuff said.

2. Johnny Damon LF/LH

Johnny had another big year, but a quiet September. He had a similarly slow July and responded with a huge August, so no reason to doubt his ability if he is feeling well. He's been worried about his future since the 2nd Half started and no doubt the likelihood he is in his last few weeks as a Yankee, where he has expressed a desire to finish his career is/has been weighing on him. But he is well known for being a gamer and a winner, and (if hot) can carry the Yankees. He has power (24 HR) still can run (12 of 12 steals) and will catch it in LF without even a wet noodle for an arm.

3. Mark Teixeira 1B/SH

Best 1B glove I have seen, and Mattingly was incredible. Switch Hitter with huge power. Solid citizen type who loves being a Yankee on the big stage. Tied for AL lead in HR with injured Carlos Pena (39) and led in RBI (122). Tough to really find a weakness in his game and he hit .467 in his only playoff appearance for the Angels last year.

4. Alex Rodriguez 3B/RH

Had the surgery, missed 28 games, sat out for rest another 10 and put up 30 HR/100 RBI while stealing 14 of 16 bases (hello! Hip surgery?) and making only 9 errors all year at 3B. Big arm, huge power, relaxed like never before and hottest Yankee coming into the Playoffs. Unless he chokes on his own expectations, he will dominate modest Twin pitching.

5. Hideki Matsui DH/LH

How great must this guy have been in his prime in Japan? From the moment he got to Yankees, he has done everything right. Now limited to DH by two surgical knees, he gave them 28 HR/90 RBI. Hits RH/LH, Road/Home the same and is a consummate Pro.

6. Jorge Posada C/SH

The feistiest Yankee, whose chippy persona and grumbling about playing time sometimes detract from his incredible production. Came off Major surgery and put up 22 HR/81 RBI in only 383 At-Bats, sluggging .522 at 38 years old. He's as good behind the plate as ever, throwing out 28% of baserunners (twice as good as either Red Sox C, not as good as Mauer). He will bitch about Molina catching Burnett, but will be a vital lineup cog.

7. Robinson Cano 2B/LH

Dustin Pedroia hit .326, slugged .493 and hit 17/83 while playing terrific 2B in '08 and got an MVP, Yankees got more from BOTH middle infielders in '09. Cano hit .320, slugged .520, with 25 HR/85 RBI and a dominant Gold Glove 2B. He is the leading MLB hitter in September/October in the past FIFTY years! (and only 26). He's hot and he's great and he hits 7th in this loaded lineup.

8. Nick Swisher RF/SH

Moved into a starting role when Nady got hurt, Swisher is an average but hard trying RF, but he produces Giambi like Power (29 HR) On-Base (97 Walks) and personality in the clubhouse and with the fans. Like the rest of these guys, he LOVES being a Yankee and it shows.

9. Melky Cabrera CF/SH

The 4th Switch-Hitter in the everyday Yankee lineup, Melky helps make the Yankees invulnerable to pitching matchups. He hit for the cycle in August, hit equally well at home/road, LH/RH and played sterling Defense at all three OF spots. Hits clutch, uses whole field from both sides and can hit LONG HR when overlooked by pitchers seeking a breather from the rest of this gang (had a BLAST in '07 Playoffs off Fausto Carmona). Has GUN in CF to cut down baserunners (through out 4 Indians in 4 ALDS games in '07).

Backups

Jose Molina doesn't hit, handles AJ Burnett extremely well in Game 2.

Brett Gardner hit .270, stole 26 of 31 bases and is a terrific OF.

Jerry Hairston, Jr. plays all positions, knows the game, can run or hit with pop.

Not sure if Eric Hinske (LH power), Ramiro Pena (IF Defense, switch hitter) or Freddy Guzman (pure speed) will be the last guy on the bench.

Pitchers

1. CC Sabathia LH

Ace. Certain. CC pitches deep in almost every start, which becomes a luxury for NY since they feature a deep bullpen. In the playoffs, this should allow them to throw CC for only 6-7 Innings per start, which should free him up for additional starts. When you factor in the extra off-days in playoff series (which is ridiculous since these players are accustomed to playing every day for six months), there is little reason for the Yankees to worry about a 4th Starter even if they make it to the ALCS and the World Series. CC, AJ and Andy are all big, powerful, experienced guys who can go deep and work on short rest. CC has been untouchable in the second half (poor final start against Tampa Bay, however) with a combination of his high '90s heat, wicked slider and terrific change-up. His only vulnerability is a tendency to fly open and leave the fastball high and away to RH hitters (high/inside to LH), when he can't throw the heat for strikes, he has to come in with breaking stuff and change and can give up loud hits. IF the fastball is in the zone, the slider darts out of the zone for swing and miss and the change-up makes 'em shit and go blind.

2. AJ Burnett RH

Ace-like, without the certainty. High '90s fastball? Check. Knee breaking curveball? Check. Stamina, experience, ability to deal with running game (picked off Ichiro twice in one game)? Check. Check. Check. AJ can struggle with his fastball mechanics like CC and when he does, he has a tendency to throw fat, hittable mid-zone strikes that go a L-O-N-G way or walk bushels full of hitters (led AL in Walks). He also gets lazy when he is coasting and can leave pitches in the middle out of nowhere (Porcello did this last night and gave up a HR to Kubel). He also has so much movement on his fastball to LH hitters that it can flow back over the plate for damage. The biggest issue, however, is his composure. Where CC is unflappable in every situation and can control a game with nothing stuff just on his mental command, AJ pouts and turns mild rallies into blowouts at times. Girardi needs to be quick with a chat or even a hook in this circumstance.

3. Andy Pettitte LH

Andy threw the ball better in the 2nd Half then I think anyone in MLB believed he still could. He likes to remind folks that he is 'only' 37, and his 78 K's in 97 2nd Half innings speak to that truth. His cutter has been darting in on RH hitters, his curve has been painting the outside of the plate and he can throw a 4-seamer at times as well. He has unmatched Playoff experience and moxie (trails John Smoltz by 1 win for All-Time record 15-14). He can pitch all day, has the best pickoff move in MLB and is a worthy #3 in a playoff rotation.

Long Men

Alfredo Alceves RH

'Ace' led all MLB relievers with 10-1 record, throwing long, short, spot start (1). He has modest stuff but an endless variety of pitches, all of which he can throw for strikes (16 walks in 84 innings!). He is the ideal picture of composure in all situations on a mound (something young Yankees like Joba and veterans like AJ can learn from, IF they can learn!). Girardi knows Ace will not let things blow up on him, will control damage, will throw strikes, will give him length...not much more you can ask for from a middle guy. A great find by Cashman in the Mexican league, Ace is only 26 and can pitch in MLB as long as he can lift his arm, and probably will be in pinstripes as long as Girardi is.

Chad Gaudin RH

A nice pickup off the scrap heap by Cashman, Gaudin has been a terrific performer for NY since coming over. He has strikeout stuff and limits damage (3.43, 41 hits in 42 Yankee innings). Like AJ, his problem can be control (20 Walks) and he too can then leave fatties in the middle (7 HR). He is deep in the back of pen in a short series, but capable if called upon and earned the spot over longer term Yankees like Brian Bruney.

Middle Men

Phil Coke LH

Coke shuts down hitters (44 hits in 60 Innings) but, stop me if you've heard this...walks too many guys (20) and then gets burned with long balls trying to throw fat strikes (10 HR). He is capable of dominating LH hitters in situational use, but erratic control makes Yankees queasy. 27 and homegrown with a chance to be a Yankee for a long time.

David Robertson RH

Robertson is a strikeout machine, leading ALL AL Pitchers with 13 K's per 9 Innings (63 in 43.2 IP), like Coke he walks too many (23) but does not surrender the long ball (4). He had some arm fatigue late in September, which would be the only worry about this terrific young pitcher. Another homegrown mid '20s guy who, like Coke, was a minor league starter with several pitches and can give length if called upon.

Late Innings

Joba Chamberlain RH

Joba was erratic in the last two months after being dominant first three starts of the second half. He struggled with his fastball command, his control and his concentration at times as he moved in and out of various schemes the Yankees devised to limit his innings. His velocity, 101 MPH two years ago, was at 91-94 for most of his late year starts, which probably indicates a bit of fatigue in his first full year as a starter. But he dominated Boston in several starts (including next to last of the year) and will be asked only to air it out as a reliever in the playoffs, which he did in blowing away Tampa this weekend with a 7 pitch inning at 97 MPH. He gives the Yankees an incredible 7th Inning asset, especially with the depth of this pen. Can obviously give multi innings, but unlikely to be asked to do that with all the other options for length. Joba is homegrown and just turned 24.

Phil Hughes RH

Phil had finally found himself as a Yankee starter this June, when Chien-Ming Wang came back from rehab stint and reclaimed his spot in rotation. Yankees put Hughes in the Bullpen and no single move had more to do with the 103 win season. Hughes was Mariano-like in the 8th Inning, striking out 65 to 13 walks and a 1.24 ERA in relief. Another homegrown power pitcher, Phil is 23.

Mariano Rivera RH

Talking about Mo's surgery in the February preview, I noted that even if he fell off 'by 20%, his ERA would only be 1.68'. Mo fell off by less than 20%, saved 44 of 46 chances, struck out 72 to 12 walks and his ERA did 'soar' all the way to 1.76! The only knock on his season was an uncharacteristic spate of HR's (7 in 66.1 IP, the worst of his career). Mo is the all-time Postseason closer with an absurd 0.77 era and 34 saves, but he has also been the victim of some memorable Postseason comebacks (Cleveland '97, Arizona '01, Boston '04).

Guessing the Yankees will take their chances on him, however.

And that's that. 35 minutes to first pitch, enjoy the Yankees in ALDS, we'll update after its over.

Tony Romo: The Crush that lets you down...

2009-09-21T17:06:50Z

By Matthew Storey

Did you ever love a person who was really, really HOT. You couldn't take your eyes off them, and the more you looked, the more you liked. Right away, without even realizing what is happening...you start assigning desirable traits to them, and fit them into your favorite fantasies and life scenarios... sigh...

Franchise QuarterBacks can be a lot like that for a fan. Ask a Cowboy fan the best thing about life in the 1970's, the list won't hit many spots before, #12, Roger Staubach, comes into the conversation...accompanied by a glassy look back and a smile.

Roger and the Cowboys were the best team for a few years, but they were also the team who 'couldnt win the big one', but on January 16, 1972, that all changed, the Heisman winning, square jawed scrambler with the big arm and big will stopped being the 'crush' and became 'The Man'. Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3, Super Bowl VI to the star and Roger on his way to immortality and an eternal spot in your heart.

There was another Super Bowl, two 4 point losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers juggernaut who laid claim to the Decade, and then the concussions took Roger the Dodger away from us, too soon.

But there was hope, a younger QB with a rocket arm of his own. Danny White was going to be 'The Man' now and the Championships would continue to flow between the Red River and the Rio Grande. White threw Touchdowns, threw for big yardage and Cowboys chewed up NFC rivals each Regular Season like the '70s squads had.

NFC Championship Game in 1980 versus the Eagles? Cowboys and White favored, Eagles win.

NFC Championship Game in 1981 versus the 49ers? Cowboys and White favored, 49ers and 'The Catch'.

NFC Championship Game in 1982 versus the Redskins? Cowboys and White favored, Redskins win.

There were other games for White, Pro-Bowls, passing records, lost playoff games.

No Cowboy fan thinks of White. A crush that faded when it became apparent there wasn't any there, there.

Then, the Dark time...

A new owner, a new coach, a 1st Round QB arrived.

Learning pains. Progression. Three Super Bowls in Four years with his best play in the one year they did NOT win.

Troy Aikman was the crush who went to 'The Man', never wavered, never failed to come through.

Ask a Cowboy fan who met the love of their life and had two kids in the '90s what they remember about that time?

Troy, Emmitt, Michael. Oh, and...them.

Once again, the concussions took The Man prematurely, the rules got changed, the team got weaker, a decade passed...

The Cowboys got a new crush, and he hasn't yet finished three full seasons on the job.

But he's got it goin' on, for sure. Passes fly around to waiting receivers, pass rushers fly by, unable to get a hand on him, the defense parts like hot butter when he is in charge. Speaks well, throws big, wins late.

He took the job, wowed the league, went to the Playoffs, had a win right in his fingers...

..and dropped the ball, the kick wasn't to be, the Cowboys lost a Playoff game they dominated.

It's cool, we said. He isn't a HOLDER, he's a QB!

And so he is, the next season was a revelation, 13-3, #1 seed, domination of the Giants for a half of the playoff game...complete collapse in the 2nd half, a loss to a team they'd beaten twice.

Wags talked about Blondes and Cabo. Nobody talked about 'choke'...

Last year was THE year with THE man. He got hurt, they struggled late, they MISSED the playoffs after being the consensus #1 coming into the season. In the final game, with everything on the line, the QB and team were dominated by a team they'd dominated months earlier, by a Defense they knew and Romo looked lost...

He said the right things afterward...

And then, yesterday, Sunday night against the Giants, the new Cowboys stadium debut, the only true test in the early part of their schedule, a chance to open a season 5-0 and have a stranglehold on the NFC East going into the bye, week six.

Tony Romo was the focus of the offense in previous years, Running Backs were the contrast, Running Backs were hurt. Tony threw it and if he could avoid turning it over, we won.

But yesterday, with a running game that can only be dreamed about and a Defense that could not be run against, Tony Romo finally had a chance to be a QB who didn't have to be heroic, only to manage the game, limit mistakes and let his team roll.

He couldn't do it. He threw the ball over his Running Backs and into the hands of a bystander Defender for a INT/TD, he threw the ball behind his Tight End, off his foot, into the hands of a bystander Defender for a INT/FG, he threw the ball so far over the head of a wide receiver and into the hands of a bystander Defender for an INT/FG, so FAR over his head it was described as a 'punt'. With Marion Barber running over people, Felix Jones running around them and Tashard Choice running through them and receivers all over the field, Tony Romo just could not manage himself. In a big game, the big talent was a liability instead of a winner.

Again.

And, as with Danny White, after awhile it stops hurting. High expectations built on reasonable probability are the ones that get fans off, the ones that make being a fan such a glorious expectation. Once a player has repeatedly performed at a lower level than the worst you could have imagined, those expectations evaporate and are replaced with 'faith' - which is a code word for 'no idea how this guy is ever going to come through, but we are stuck with him and have to believe or go crazy!'

Tony Romo is a good guy. He said all the right things, he usually does.

'...we'll keep clawing and going forward and I'll improve and I'll fix this. We'll be better tomorrow. I'll be better. We'll go forward'.

And you still believe, because he's only in his 42nd NFL Start this week and he has all the tools....

But, somewhere in your heart, you've detached. The losses in big spots have become so commonplace that the victory, if it comes, will be more about relief than joy.

Tony Romo came to Dallas and we thought we had Roger or Troy, Sunday night, we got Danny.

But we can dream...sometimes a dream is all you have, what you don't have, as a Cowboy fan is a compelling reason to remain engaged with the 2009 Cowboys. Head Coach Wade Phillips seems earnest, for sure, and he knows what he is doing. But, after 30 years of NFL experience, he has never won, at all, and his team continues to underperform in every big spot, with big turnovers, big penalties, crucial mistakes. Maybe it ISN'T his fault, but that is what happens...Romo means us well, will thrill for weeks and put us back in position...but what then?

This is a team who can grab our interest in only one way, and that won't be here for three months.

Until then, the NFC season has become a formality, a non-event. In week two!

2009/10 NFL Preview - Questions Abound

2009-09-12T12:36:50Z

By Matthew

Once you have saved your post remember to add keywords separated by commas.

Welcome back, NFL fans.

And, if this is your first visit to The Magic Carpet, you will soon understand that I am talking TO certain fans and will infuriate others. Because no matter what is happening in the Country, Major League Baseball and the NBA are Democrat sports and Football is the GOP Game.

A Free Enterprise Democrat like Guru LOVES a players league where the best talents make the coin and drive the interest - that's Baseball. In Baseball, once you've proven your value - you are in line for a pile. The GOP types pull their hair out over the love for Manny, Alex and the Yankees and cannot understand why the Schillings get blasted instead of championed by other players and urban media. City people in Blue Places fill Baseball stadiums, rural folks in Red ones bitch about steroids and pine for the 'old days', but as in all of their nostalgia, those old days featured even MORE winning by the Yankees and top dollar talent flowing towards places where it got paid. Democrats LIKE strong unions, strong opinions, diversity, foreigners in on the party and wave after wave of young talent flowing in on the schedule that talent creates. Free Enterprise lovers LIKE meritocracy, businesses that thrive or fail based on productivity and a straightforward path to wealth for talent.

A Feudalist Republican PREFERS an owners league, staffed by subjugated employees who have to stay healthy to get paid, have their salaries 'capped' by men who have vast fortunes/generate massive revenues from the Sport who pool their interests so nobody loses from not winning and everybody wins as long as the TV money flows in (and Jerry has to share his apparel revenue!) In Football, the Pile is there for a select few BEFORE they've proven a thing and the established talent are taunted and gimmicked to keep their cost down. When a player moves into a higher echelon of compensation in a lot of NFL places, the implied message is 'home team discount' and, if that don't fly the whispers start about attitude and that guy will be shipped, regardless of production, rather than PAID what he's earned - that money, of course, goes instead to talent who come from only ONE source the 'system' from college Football, under league restraint. Those kids who wander off of Dominican fields or Japanese Company leagues onto MLB rosters don't exist in the NFL. Feudalist don't really dislike socialist principles, they only dislike them when they benefit the employee and they think Capitalism means what is good for Capital (meaning them), not economic dynamism that generates quality. The NFL is the auto-industry of the '60s, they want to keep things JUST THE WAY THEY ARE and, with no competition, they can keep it going.

In Baseball, the best players who ever played - play now. In Football, the parity means teams flare up and down and that is the draw, not the quality.

Jones is the NFL Steinbrenner, and like him, the players all want to wear his uniform, live like kings and be the center of attention and the other owners and fans despise him for not walking in lockstep on 'us' versus 'them' and the demonizing of minority loudmouths. Here its the Warners who get the L-O-V-E and the TO, Chad and Romo who are the 'bad guys', Tedy Bruschi is his coaches hero for being a selfless overachiever but Assante Samuel and Richard Seymour get banished for having the balls to think they should command top dollar for their HOF skill levels.

A season after the collapse of Cowboy health and leadership took the consensus NFC Champs all the way down to 9-7 and a playoff-less season with a trashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles and NFL fans watched in HORROR as the cretin Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals, they of no tradition, no fan base, and a 3-7 Regular Season record against the actual NFL (6-0 against the NFC Western chump change - Rams, 49ers, Seahawks)...

One thing is clear. There is only one way for things to go and that is UP.

For Guru, the NFL has been a diminished commodity since the establishment of the Salary Cap in the mid '90s and each season has generated a little less excitement. Last year, on the heels of the thrilling Giants/Patriots Super Bowl and the possibility of a truly great Cowboy team that would generate the sorts of interest only the Cowboys can...the excitement crept back in. But Brady was hurt in week one. Romo was hurt in week 4. Teams nobody cares about like the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons rose from nowhere behind rookie QBs and Arizona made the case against salary cap sports emphatically.

Perhaps the worst year in NFL history.

BUT...there was some good news, The Pittsburgh Steelers, behind terrific young coach, Mike Tomlin, are compelling squad of stars on both sides of the ball, who play for energetic fans and stress team and players, not 'system'. Like Chuck Noll, the legendary Steeler Coach who created the dynasty of the '70s, Tomlin avoids the sideline/interview spectacle of Bill Cowher and keeps the focus on the FIELD. With Big Ben Roethlisberger at QB and holding 2 Rings in his pocket, Polamalu and Harrison leading a dynamic defense and Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Heath Miller catching flies - the Steelers are as compelling a Champion as Arizona is disheartening.

The good and bad of the NFL.

Over the winter the bad boys got a lot of ink, Pacman lost his Cowboy gig and may or may not wind up in Canadian football, a Tennessee prison or a Reality TV Series on VH1, Terrell Owens lost HIS Star and ended up in the frozen wasteland of Buffalo (enjoy!), Michael Vick is free and ready to spread his Eagle wings and restore his place as a fan thrilling attraction ON the field, Shawn Merriman celebrated his Steroid use with a choke-hold on his 4'11" girlfriend, who is ALREADY a Reality TV star - so no need for a development effort, its all readymade. In the Meadowlands, Plaxico got 2 years of Jail for waving a gun around and plugging himself in the thigh, but wingman Antonio Pierce the anchor of the Defense avoided time and stud DE Osi Umenyiora went AWOL but returned in time to play his heart out for the openly despised Tom Coughlin, who vies annually with Parcells in Miami, and his various proteges - Bellichick in New England, Mangini in Cleveland and Josh McDaniels in Denver for the title of NFL's biggest JERK (McDaniels has had such a strong start, this category may be the easiest to predict in 2010!).

Brett Favre, who collapsed physically and mentally and sabotaged an 8-3 Division Leading J-E-T-S in the stretch drive of '08, got the call and the cash to lead the Minnesota Vikings to....where exactly? Perhaps the Vikings took note of those OTHER veteran QB's who looked useless and washed up in the Meadowlands, before resurrecting their careers (to the chagrin of people of taste) at the expense of exciting young QB talent in Arizona (Warner, with his James Dobson politics and sickening spouse over Matt Leinart the charismatic SoCal stud) and Tennessee (Kerry Collins, bigot pickup guy over Vince Young, who might have been the most exciting rookie to lead a team when he arrived but has had some growing-up pains since). There is nothing worse than watching retreads with terrible histories in place of compelling kids with bright futures, its a league killer and Favre is the latest example of the trend. Like Bellichick/Parcells and the top-down 'system' of faceless role players ascendant and the punishment of captivating personalities (Chad OchoCinco was AWESOME chewing up the bigot moron Joe Buck on HBO) the No-Fun league seemingly never loses a chance to market itself to the lowest common denominator in American society and push what was once the greatest player league into Reality TV every Sunday afternoon.

So, you get it. A 40 year NFL fan who is down, down, down on the NFL product and has spent less time with the league since the Super Bowl than in any off-season since the Era of the St. Louis Rams (and Warner!) first turned off the joy a decade ago. Accordingly, the in-depth previews of past seasons just isn't possible this year, but Guru WILL look at each division and pose questions for fans to answer.

And as for Jerry Jones, who pours himself into his team, his brand and his league and is adored by players and Cowboy fans for it and despised by all those who think everything would be 'perfect' if those players did not care so much about Money, if the high talent skilled minority athletes would be the faux humble, Tio Tom routine perfected by Albert Pujols in Baseball instead of being who they are, unapologetically. These folks think that America is the land of FREEDOM, of course, as long as everyone acts like a suburban, Megachurch attending, caucasian, heterosexual who doesn't carry a library card but proudly carries the NRA card. Jerry doesn't care who you fuck, what you do to party, or that you want to make as much money as possible - SO DOES HE, and he knows that players want owners to WANT them to make coin and grab attention, that his fans expect top dollar talent, high exposure regardless of the results on the field - the point is to leave no stone unturned to make everything the best it can be for the player and the fan - the product and the customer. Meanwhile Woody Johnson, who inherited billions of dollars and owns the Jets sticks his fans with a tenant status in 'Giants' stadium and plays hardball with the union while bragging at the GOP Convention that he is against 'limits' on wealth, that is he is against limiting HIS Wealth!

AFC East

New England Patriots
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills

New England Patriots

New England is a mystery as well. Their consistent excellence leads all to expect great things upon Brady's return and there is little doubt they will be the better prepared, better constructed squad in games against their AFC East opponents, who are all in various states of flux. But a look at the Patriot roster and questionable moves of recent years (letting 25 year old stud CB Assante Samuel walk and trading DE Richard Seymour) make it hard to determine how they are going to effectively run the football (underachiever Maroney, aging Fred Taylor, doing it with mirrors Kevin Faulk) or Defend elite teams (after Mayo and Thomas, which Patriot defender impresses?).What IS worth loving is watching the incomparable Brady and Moss do their thang, if it comes along with Bellichick and Faulk, well nothing is perfect!

New York Jets

Jets are on the come, Eric Mangini wore out his welcome with that crusty Parcells act and his former players are jumping through hoops to have the engaging Rex Ryan in town (who seems to have none of his father Buddy's jerkiness). Ryan has brought along stud ILB Bart Scott to join a group of dynamic young defenders in a scheme that will allow more athleticism and energy. On Offense, the kid QB from USC, Mark Sanchez, gives the Jets exactly what those fans in Arizona, Tennessee and Minnesota do NOT have - a chance at a future with a young QB worthy of development (sure worked in Atlanta and Baltimore), Jets have Cotchery to catch it but a list of suspects behind him and unsettled roster situation at RB, but they will be on the right road in '09.

Miami Dolphins

In Miami, the 1st Place schedule, Jet improvement and return of Brady in New England will usher them out of the playoffs this season. Parcells organizational skill and Tony Sparano's quality coaching gave them a pop in year one, just as the Tuna popped in Dallas on arrival, but you can only go so far with that and it will take time for the young talent to emerge - a step back for Phins.

Buffalo Bills

I have no idea. At one point last year, I thought the Bills were becoming the Cowboys of the AFC (or Chargers of the East) with an exciting bunch of athletes whose penalties and turnovers sabotaged them weekly. They have pieces on Defense, a young QB of quality (Trent Edwards) and a stud RB (Marshawn Lynch) but injuries and disarray have dominated so far in preseason and its tough to know what they have going on.

Accordingly, The Magic Carpet sees no Playoff wins for the Patriots, who are the Eastern champions by default and a possible Wild Card tease from the young Jets falling short this season.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Speaking of Tio Tom! The ultimate phony uncle, Tony Dungy (sliming his pious arm around Michael Vick the way fellow homophobe, GOP, uncle-tom Reggie White used to 'adapt' troubled players made Guru puke!) is gone and while he may be faux as a man, he was one hell of an NFL coach. Colts are past the Championship window in terms of their core talent, but with Peyton and some key Defenders at full health, they can still pop if more talented teams crumble in on themselves (San Diego, Pittsburgh).

Tennessee Titans

I like Jeff Fisher, but I loathe Kerry Collins. Titans play tough on both sides of the ball, but lack the sort of game changers who win titles. Solid, candidate for Wild Card, but not a Ring.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Two years ago, I thought Jacksonville was RIGHT there under coach Jack Del Rio, but they had a suite of injuries to their top defenders and Byron Lefwich hurt his foot and was replaced by backup, David Gerrard, who is 'just a guy' and now, the Jaguars? They are 'just a team'. Yawn.

Houston Texans

Hate their city. Hate their owner. Hate the way the slimed the Oilers out and got this team as a 'reward'. LOVE their defensive kids and think they can jump up and make something happen, but who cares?

Colts rule, Titans and Texans might flip in the second half, neither can win a playoff game.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin looks like he is settling in for a decades long Steeler coaching career, they got the right guy - again. Big Ben has two in the pocket and only a bike crash and internal surgery has stopped him as a pro, the Defense is young, gifted, relentless. The Offensive line remains a concern, opening holes for the run-heavy offense and protecting Ben, the franchise being so critical and that keeps the Steelers from bring presumptive choices for a repeat.

Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco freaked on arrival and the Defense held up despite age concerns, but Rex Ryan and Bart Scott depart, signaling a team moving from a Defense rich/QB poor version to a QB dependent/average Defense group. The change in stylistics doesn't change the fact that they are simply not in the Steelers class.

Cleveland Browns

Eric Mangini is a decent guy, I think. I thought he was growing up and improving with the Jets, but Favre's collapse killed him there and subsequent comments from players indicate he was not moving away from the Parcells script after all. All of which has been proven in a paranoid circus Pre Season in his debut with the Browns. Brady Quinn is terrific and young, he should be the guy. The problem in Cleveland is Defense. 3rd place.

Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Lewis has failed year after year and still has a job. Carson Palmer looked all-world for awhile, but is settling into Bledsoe avenue...Chad is a big market guy in a small minded whole. Bengals DEFINE last place.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers

Great talent. Merriman, Rivers, Tomlinson HEALTHY would make things hum. Norv Turner makes one believe that no matter how much talent, however, they will run into a well coached obstacle in the AFC Playoffs and head home.

Oakland Raiders

More talent. Raiders have drafted early and well in recent years and made a key trade to reel in stud DE Richard Seymour from NE, but the coaching carousel and non-stop Front office intrigue always seem to undo this squad and Seymour is holding to get paid, understandably, before risking his health unprotected on an Oakland squad with high-school level coaching, since no coach with resume would deal with Davis. Davis will pay Seymour and the talent will lead to .500.

Kansas City Chiefs

Ugh. Matt Cassel, all of one season in a stacked deck gets the big deal (see preamble) and then gets hurt. Thigpen was actually playing OK later in '08 and Edwards left some Defenders in his time. KC is rebuilding for next two years.

Denver Broncos

If there is one team, other than the NY Mets, whose fans must want to slice the old wrists over - its the Broncos. They fired Mike Shanahan, a control freak who choked players so tight they played tight and hired Josh McDaniels, a third generation control freak who instantly alienated the most important person in any American males life - a franchise QB with a big arm in his 20's. I cannot imagine how it felt to watch Jay Cutler walk away and Kyle Orton walk in, it can't be a good feeling for sure and Brandon Marshall is only being logical in trying ANYTHING to get the hell out of this place. The AFC version of the Arizona Cardinals, an instant root-against.

San Diego should win and be deep in the AFC Championship against the Steelers, but Norv has failed before and until the talent shows up when it counts, they seem like paper chargers.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams

Arizona Cardinals

I like the coaches, from the Steelers. I like the talent they have on both lines and at WR. I dislike the QB and can't be objective, easily the best team in the West.

San Francisco 49ers

I like Mike Singetary.

Seattle Seahawks

I dislike all Hasselbecks. I dislike all Moras. I dislike this team (but I love Julius Jones!).

St. Louis Rams

Good new coach, but same old Bulger.

Nada from this crew.

NFC North

Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears

Bears look good to me. I think they will have some similarities with the Ravens in moving from a Defense team to a QB team, but I think the Defense will be better than expected and the talented wing guys will finally LOVE their QB. I like the Bears to challenge in the NFC.

Green Bay Packers

Cheeseheads have good young talent on both sides of the ball and Aaron Rogers is terrific and improving, they will push the Bears all year in a classic 'Norris' division tussle that could go either way or end with both in the Playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings

Favre was brought in for ticket sales, not on-field success. That is like Roger Clemens coming back to the Yankees in 1997 with nothing left - its called 'wish theory' and those wishes aint gonna be answered.

Detroit Lions

Got a new Coach and a new QB and hope for better in the future, the future is not now, however.

Bears, Packers NFC elite. Vikes to underachieve, Lions take first steps back.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Atlanta Falcons

Everything fell horribly wrong for the birds in '07, the franchise QB went to jail for something out of left field, the hot college coach bailed during his opening act and they looked dead. Enter new coach, new QB and new hope, now add another year of Defensive shoring and Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs and the Falcons look best here.

New Orleans Saints

I think Drew Brees is a stat guy who will never be a winner and will change my mind when he proves me wrong. This is a scoring machine but not a scary opponent physically, and while they will challenge for the division and the wild card, I see them short on both scores.

Carolina Panthers

I love John Fox and despite the fact his roster show no reason to believe, he has always found a way and has enough running game to stabilize if things break badly up above for more talented Falcons and Saints. Can finish anywhere on the board in the South.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Changing everything all at once, too old is out, too young is in. Good in spurts but not competitive in '09.

No NFC Playoff wins from this crew.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas has the best roster in the NFL, top to bottom. They have a Defense which blew away the rest of the NFL in sacks and has added more weapons, they have the fastest starting CB duo in the NFL, both healthy and a terrific depth they've lacked in secondary previous years when they were shallow and slow. They have a great inside LB in Bradie James and the best Defender in the NFL outside in Ware. Romo is only 39 starts into his NFL career, free of TO and Jessica distractions and has the running game all QB's dream of with Marion Barber back from his toe problems, Felix Jones, the NFL's fastest offensive player and Tashard Choice grinding yards through and over defenders. They lack names at WR, but Miles Austin is a blur with gifts and Roy WIlliams should handle things mid range, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett are an embarrassment of TE riches. Offensive line is suspect against elite coached Defenses, but Romo is quick and elusive and the RB Game unstoppable, so they should be OK there.The main problem is the Head Coach, Wade Phillips, like Norv with the Chargers, has never won or had a team play crisply - Dallas leads all NFL in penalties, turnovers and finding ways to lose games they control and to get blown out when they face a well prepared unit. NFL football depends upon coaching and precision, and this team is built more for highlight reels than Rings. Enjoy them, then watch them crash again late.

New York Giants

The Giants have some terrific young Defenders and a terrific young QB, a bruising RB combo and a balanced, effective Offensive Line. They have some interesting young receivers from the draft as well. But. Manning is not Romo (check the numbers, they are not close) and Dallas has consistently handled this team when Romo and Barber are both healthy and seem to have moved ahead with the blinding DB speed and RB talent. Giant DL is still solid, but the gap between the team in Sacks is tough to see being closed, given the rosters, Giants USED to have Strahan and Umenyiora on the wing, now they don't and their depth took a hit in the preseason. They are hurt but will heal and be better in second half.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have come from nowhere the last two years to playoff, against all odds. They have Westbrook and McNabb and the best coach around the division in Andy Reid. They have great tackles on the line and DB talent as well, but they are not as gifted as Dallas and will struggle with division opponents on the road. Choosing amongst these teams is like sorting out the AL East this Spring, I saw it NY/BOS/TB and it came down, here its DAL/NY/PHIL so we'll see.

Washington Redskins

They don't defend well enough to scare their divisional opponents and Jason Campbell is inconsistent. Also, I hate the Redskins and always put them last!

Cowboys win the division, lose in the playoffs? Giants claim Wild card and win in the playoffs? That was 2007, is it that way again? We'll see.

2009 New York Yankees: How the AL East was Won

2009-09-08T16:39:56Z

By Matthew Storey

Yesterday, the Yankees swept the Rays in The Bronx in a Labor Day Doubleheader. In so doing, they took a Nine Game Lead over the Boston Red Sox for the AL Eastern Division and a Six and a half game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for best record in the American League.

With an 89-50 record, and 23 games to play, it is time to declare victory in both races.

Congratulations to the 2009 New York Yankees, American League Eastern Division Champions for the 8th time in the Decade and first time since 2006.

Congratulation to the 2009 New York Yankees for the best record and #1 Seed in the American League, which, with the American League victory in the All-Star Game insures that every series they make will begin at Yankee Stadium and, if needed, play a deciding game there as well.

Those are the only things that can be accomplished in the Regular Season and they took care of their business.

On to the next challenges. Everything is relative. Yankees won 87 games in 2000 and notched their 3rd Straight World Series, they won 103 in 2002 and were ousted by the eventual champion Angels in the first round. Although they have lapped the rest of MLB in the regular season, Manager Joe Girardi, closer Mariano Rivera, starter Andy Pettitte, Shortstop Derek Jeter and Catcher Jorge Posada all played on the 1998 Yankees and the 2009 version would have to win out its last 23 and sweep 11 playoff games to match that team's 125-50 season.

Before we look ahead, lets look at what has transpired since our last update;

Yankees through 116 Games were 73-43 (.629) in 1st Place by 6.5 over Red Sox

Since then, in Games 117-139, they have played 16-7 (.696) and lead by 9 games with an overall record of 89-50.

As we are focusing on the future and a SUMMARY of the past, I'll abandon my usual game by game summary, which can easily and more completely be found on Yankees.com (remember, you should all be spending at LEAST an hour a day there anyway! With NFL starting, MLB playoffs, Breeders Cup, NHL and NBA on the way (and some of you College Football, which Guru doesn't follow) NOW is the time to assess your friends, family and acquaintances for those relationships that can be abandoned or sent over the edge, which will free up the time you need for sports.

Accordingly, here is a player by player look at the Season that has been and a projection forward.

Manager Joe Girardi

Joe put Derek Jeter, the definitive #2 hitter of the previous decade into the leadoff spot and Johnny Damon, on the short list of best leadoff hitters in that decade in the two hole. Both guys have turned in superior seasons and have complimented the change in roles perfectly. Joe put the CF position into the hands of Melky Cabrera, coming off the worst season of his career and Brett Gardner, an unproven pinch-runner who struggled with MLB pitching in 2008, both have played Gold Glove defense, have stolen bases, shown complementary offensive talents (Melky switch hits with some power, Gardner's speed unravels defenders). Joe had to juggle personnel to make sure Hideki Matsui's knees, Alex Rodriguez's hip, Jorge Posada's shoulder, Mariano Rivera's shoulder, Johnny Damon's wheels all held up and their numbers and vigor speak to how effectively he has done that. Joe had to adjust on the fly when Wang, Bruney, Veras, Marte, Ramirez, Melancon and now, perhaps, Joba ALL blew out body parts or performed beneath expectations and he inserted former starters into the pen, and has watched Phil Hughes (1.08 ERA as reliever), Alfredo Alceves (10-1 in relief), Phil Coke, David Robertson all strike people out, work multiple innings and keep the Yankees in ballgames. Now, with Marte, Albaladejo and Melancon up and getting a chance to show what they can do, Joe has an ideal preview for Playoff Bullpen considerations. Joe has balanced out the loss of Wang, and struggles of Joba by spotting Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin in places where they can win and do no harm to Yankee plans. Joe has found time for Eric Hinske, Jerry Hairston, Jr, Ramiro Pena, Francisco Cervelli all to play and gotten terrific play from all of them. After a tough first year with NY media, Joe has been a straight shooter and established where he will and will not go with player discussions, and peace has reigned throughout the Yankee kingdom. Alex has Kate Hudson, but no drama. Alex, Derek and Mariano periodically take over the spotlight because of some silly Hall of Famer they need to pass statistically, they do so in style, everyone claps and smiles ear to ear and they all move on. The are workmanlike, which defines Girardi, their stars, their role players and their new arrivals and that has always been a winning approach in Pinstripes.

Starting Pitchers

LF CC Sabathia

CC has been the Ace he has always been. He is always calm, always around on the bench in games he isn't pitching and you can see how effortlessly he leads and sets a tone. He is pure professional on a hill, in front of a microphone, in the community. He dominates about half the time, and finds a way to stay close the other half, he seems to have 4-5 tough starts early each year but Yankees haven't seen that in months.

RH AJ Burnett

AJ has been a great TEAMMATE, the aloof, sniping AJ has not been seen much in NYC. He is emotional and will continue to benefit from the company he is keeping by controlling the swings better. On the hill, he also dominates about half his outings, but has a difficult time controlling damage and remaining focused on EVERY pitch when he is not on top of his game, and that has led to some bad losses. He needs to do better and be more consistent and needs to cut the Walks WAY down. But his big arm and obvious joy at being in Pinstripes make him an easy guy to root for. He was terrific last night in 11-1 victory over Tampa Bay.

LH Andy Pettitte

Andy was pretty good for the 1st Half last season and sitting at 12-7, before things fell apart in the latter months. It took months for the team to bring him back, but he has made that decision pay off big time, with a 13-6 season and a sub 3 ERA in the 2nd Half, Andy is firmly in the Playoff rotation and has put himself in position to get a 2 year extension in the offseason if he pitches well in October. He is a Yankee, who loves being a Yankee and takes an active role with all his teammates, he can be seen with other starters, with old friends, with new arrivals, always friendly, always open, never a jerk towards opponents or teammates. Andy is a Texas Evangelical who has nothing but positive vibes for The Bronx and The Bronx for him, and that is saying a lot.

RH Joba Chamberlain

Next to the devastating loss of Chien-Ming Wang, Joba has been the Yankees biggest disappointment and a genuine concern has to exist within the organization as to whether or not he is ever going to be the sort of pitcher, physically and mentally, that he was prior to straining his shoulder August 4, 2008 against Texas. His fastball is anywhere from 5-8 MPH slower, his slider has fallen off, his control has been terrible, his ability to pitch out of jams or put hitters away goes missing for several starts. He gets chance after chance to right himself and take advantage of the flexibility the Yankees situation affords to either sit out and pull together or step up and perform, and for the last six weeks, he simply has not been able to do so. He may be tired, he might be hurt or may be dealing with things in his personal life. At only 23, it would not be surprising if all three are going on, but for the Yankees to WIN, he has to be better than he is right now.

RH Sergio Mitre

Tough call. Sergio has stuff that is similar to Chien-Ming Wang's 'B' arsenal, not the crackling mid '90s sinker but a low '90s dropper with decent control and other pitches. He is no front of the rotation type, but he has shown flashes of being a dependable #5. He is still in his first year after Tommy John surgery, so he will be better in the next couple of years and has shown enough to keep the Yankees interested. With just a few more starts this year, he needs only to show health and improvement to be a Bullpen piece in playoffs.

RH Chad Gaudin

Chad is a perfect example of a guy who is not going to be a Yankee for long. He has been on multiple teams with little success in his brief MLB career, got dumped on the Yankees from the lowly Padres and has chafed at being used in a spot starters role since arriving. He is decent in relief or starting, but is being counted on to play a supporting role and seems not to be able to play that way. He wants to be a starter somewhere and will need to go elsewhere for that chance. In the meantime, he is filler for the next 23 games.

Bullpen

LH Damaso Marte

Marte came up lame after the World Baseball Classic, took months to heal, struggled in the minors and managed to lower expectations into the underworld before being called up in late August. And then, he has pitched terrific baseball since arriving. He is throwing in mid '90s, slider is nasty, control is there. He is perfect used as a LH specialist and never in the role they put him in last year of set-up for both RH and LH and multi-inning.

RH Jonathan Albaladejo

A role player in the Bullpen, Jonathan is not a flame thrower but he throws strikes, gets ground balls and chews innings and has avoided being fuel for big innings since his return from minor leagues.

RH David Robertson

A strikeout artist, Robertson has an impressive 61 K's in his 41 Innings (13.4 per 9 innings!) and is an ideal bridge to the set-up guys.

RH Brian Bruney

A tough two seasons for the Yankees set-up man, who has battled injury and rehab, but has pitched better of late. Brian still has stuff that take a backseat to nobody, with 97 mph heat, wicked breaking stuff and guts. He just needs to pitch more than the Yankees can give him now, and that effects his control and his mood in negative ways. With Hughes going back to the rotation in 2010, Bruney will still have his chance to be the full time set-up guy next year if he manages to keep it together through the rest of this frustrating year and contribute in the playoffs.

LH Phil Coke

Coke can pitch a ton of innings and games and be effective. He strikes people out, dominates LH hitting, throws hard, throws sliders...his hits per inning is low and his spirit is positive. But...he gives up a LOT of HR's and that is not a good long term strategy for a Yankee reliever (see Farnsworth, Kyle, Proctor, Scott). He has to get a handle on that serious flaw and will then be a long time Yankee asset.

RH Mariano Rivera

39 of 40 saves, 35 in a row, the year after 39 of 40. 63 K's and only 51 Baserunners in his 56 innings. Had a mild groin strain that cost him a few days, but was his normal self yesterday picking up the save. As long as he can strike out six times as many people as he walks, give up less than a runner per inning and save almost every game, you are covered. All of the sudden, he is going to be looking at ANOTHER contract. Amazing. Maybe the most amazing of all team sports athletes.

Infield

1B Mark Teixeira

Gold Glove Defense, all-world hustle, big power and clutch from both sides of the plate, a passion for being a Yankee and embracing his team, manager, tradition, fans and goals. A perfect signing.

2B Robinson Cano

Cano played Gold Glove defense for the first four months of the season, combining his unmatched range and cannon arm with the sure hands and concentration he sometimes lacks, but has fallen back of late as Yankees have begun to coast a bit. That said, he is still a great, great Defensive 2B who will blow an easy ball periodically (10 errors). Offensively, he is back to the player he was in '06 and '07, with 23 HR/76 RBI/.316 AVG/ .516 SLG and is second in MLB in total bases to Pujols, all at only 90%.

He is the most gifted combination of defensive and offensive skills of any 2B and has numbers, but STILL lacks the whole maturity that could make him a HOF type. He will surely be given a decade or so to find that next gear by the Yankees.

SS Derek Jeter

The great Jeter, who has merely spent his summer becoming the ALL-TIME hits leader for Shortstops and now is on the brink of becoming the ALL-TIME hits leader for the Yankees. He is Derek, at bat and in the field, on fire for two months, leading the team, making the right play, getting the big hit, saying the right thing. What he has avoided this season that has cost him in recent years is that twisted leg, pulled muscled, smashed hand that keeps his production merely mortal. Hitting .330, will have 20 HR to match is 20+ steals, outstanding defense, unmatched presence. ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

3B Alex Rodriguez

Alex has had to fight his surgical hip all season, and their were times in the Summer when he looked like it was really slowing him down, sapping his power, reducing his speed. But he is feeling great of late, has managed to steal 10 of 12 bases anyway, play strong 3B and moved his average above .280. He can reach 30 HR/100 RBI if he stays hot, despite the missed time and the reduced flexibility. He seems relaxed and happy and, on this years team, he is just a guy not a savior, which he has proven is too large a role for him. Idea situation for both parties.

UT Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Jerry doesn't really do anything better than the man he replaced, Cody Ransom, but he is a 3rd Generation MLB player whose brother is also in MLB and he is comfortable in his role and confident in his ability. Both men can run, play infield or outfield with skill, pop an occasional HR or drop a bunt, but Jerry believes in Jerry and its his job now.

UT Ramiro Pena

Some guys come up to the Yankees and play tense, overwhelmed by internal expectations and the setting. They usually need to go elsewhere to be the best they can be. Ramiro came up from Double A, played tremendous SS, hit the ball effectively from both sides of the plate, doesn't ever get rattled, runs the bases well. Ideal utility player.

Outfield

RF Nick Swisher

Really Nick has had two seasons. At home, for whatever reason, he has struggled (.206 AVG/ .311 SLG, 3HR/20 RBI) and on the road, he is an MVP candidate (21 HR/55 RBI/ .614 SLG). He plays an enthusiastic RF, with glimpsed of both excellent and porous play, but is a consistent Giambi style On-Base machine and a well liked teammate who would be even more valuable if he could match up his road work with home cooking and move himself into the star orbit of his teammates.

CF Melky Cabrera

At 25, Melky has had the bounce-back year only Guru expected him to have (bow here, done). He's hitting above his career high of .280, has already surpassed his career best in HR with 12, slugging .430 and playing that tremendous Defense in CF, LF or RF with the rifle arm. He's stolen 10 of 12 bases and won a bushel full of games on walkoff hits. A fixture in The Bronx now.

LF Johnny Damon

Johnny has battles with his calves and his eyes at times, his shoulder is shot and he still plays like a LB (colliding with Melky yesterday and giving Hershey squirts to Yankee fans) but he catches the ball wherever its hit and has given the Yankees .288 AVG/ .510 SLG/ 24HR/76 RBI/ 10 of 10 stolen bases, clutch, loves being a Yankee, knows how to win...

RF Eric Hinske

Hinske showed up in The Bronx with a smile on his face, has been the epitome of a class act and good teammate and smashed 7HR in only 69 at-bats for a cool .580 SLG. An ideal LH power bat on the bench.

DH Hideki Matsui

Knees killed his glove. Full time DH has eerily similar stats to about 6 teammates with 23 HR/76 RBI/ .505 SLG. He carried the Offense in August and has cooled off some since, but always an asset in the lineup.

C Jorge Posada

Broken record numbers....20HR/ 72 RBI/ .533 SLG, Jorge has come back from surgery to lead the staff from behind the plate, throw out runners, hit for power and average and clutch from both sides of the plate on a team and lineup with few weaknesses, he is yet another strength.

C Jose Molina

Great defender, great with pitchers, great arm, great guy, poor offensive player (best game ever with 3 hits ,2 walks yesterday). Does his job.

C Francisco Cervelli

The youngest and best defensive catcher on the Yankees, pitchers love him, runners fear him and he handles himself well at the plate. His HR against Atlanta in mid-June was the catalyst to a Yankee season to remember and a long career in pinstripes.

And that is enough of that! We'll recap the season and preview the playoffs in about four weeks.

2009 New York Yankees: Dominant, Again.

2009-08-15T22:24:50Z

By Matthew Storey

When last we spoke, we'd looked at 2009 New York Yankee games through Game #98.

At that point, the Yankees were 60-38, a record they've added to by going 13-5 in Games 99-116, which break down as follows:

Game 99 - @ Tampa Bay Rays W 11-4
Game 100 - @ Tampa Bay Rays L 6-2
Game 101 - @ Tampa Bay Rays W 6-2 (New York leads Season Series 6-5)
Game 102 - @ Chicago White Sox L 3-2
Game 103 - @ Chicago White Sox L 10-5
Game 104 - @ Chicago White Sox L 14-4
Game 105 - @ Chicago White Sox W 8-5 (Chicago leads Season Series 3-1)
Game 106 - @ Toronto Blue Jays W 5-3
Game 107 - @ Toronto Blue Jays W 8-4 (New York leads Season Series 7-2
Game 108 - Boston Red Sox W 13-6
Game 109 - Boston Red Sox W 2-0
Game 110 - Boston Red Sox W 5-0
Game 111 - Boston Red Sox W 5-2 (Boston leads Season Series 4-8)
Game 112 - Toronto Blue Jays L 5-4
Game 113 - Toronto Blue Jays W 7-5
Game 114 - Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 (New York leads Season Series 9-3)
Game 115 - @ Seattle Mariners W 11-1
Game 116 - @ Seattle Mariners W 4-2

Through 98 Games - Yankees 60-38 (.612)
Games 99-116 Yankees 13-5 (.722)

Leaving them at 73-43 (.629/1st Place/AL East 6.5 Games over Boston Red Sox)

They are on a pace to finish at 102-60. They have gone 22-6 (.786) in the Second Half and 35-11 (.761) since losing the 1st of 3 against the Atlanta Braves on June 23. They've won 38 come-from-behind games, lost only one game they were leading after the 7th Inning. They lead MLB in Runs, HR, RBI, Slugging Percentage, On-Base Percentage and are 2nd in Batting Average. Since Phil Hughes went into the Bullpen, the Pen has an ERA of 2.06.

What Has NOT Gone Well...

Chien-Ming Wang is done for this year and next and may never again be in Pinstripes, a sickening blow to lose a Pitcher in his prime who came into this year 54-20.

Mike Mussina, retired, after rejuvenating his career with a 20-9 2008 Season and discovering a way to dominate with control and change of speed.

Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu, who combined for 52 HR and 196 RBI were let go.
Xavier Nady blew out his elbow in week one, ending his Yankee career.

Damaso Marte, who came with Nady in a 2008, trading deadline deal with Pittsburgh which cost the Yankees prime OF prospect, Jose Tabata, signed a 3 year offseason deal with the Yankees, then blew out his arm in the World Baseball Classic and looks like he may be done.

Brian Bruney, who suffered the same 2008 broken Lisfranc injury to his foot that ruined Wang, has also gone through dramatic reduction in effectiveness and two protracted stints on the Disabled List, forcing the Yankees to move Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves to the Bullpen, and thus leaving the Yankees with retread arms, Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin in the 5th slot in the rotation and as spot-starters for use when Joba Chamberlain is skipped a turn to keep him under a pre-established Innings Limit. Aceves and Hughes have been dominant in the Bullpen, Mitre and Gaudin represent the Yankees Achilles Heel in the Rotation.

Alex Rodriguez had Hip Surgery and has been playing at 2/3 of function all season and has only two HR (albeit critical game-winning types in the recent Red Sox series) in the last month.

What HAS Gone Well...

The Glory of the Middle Infield

In 2006, Derek Jeter hit .343 and Robinson Cano hit .342 and the Yankees used an August sweep to blow past the Red Sox on their way to a runaway in the AL East. In 2009, both are hitting .318, and have combined for 32 HR and 110 RBI with Derek Hitting leadoff. Defensively, Jeter has 6 Errors and Cano 4, playing middle infield every day with six weeks left in the Season. Jeter also has 20 Stolen Bases.

Beaten Up Outfielders on the Final Year of Big Deals...

4 years ago, the Yankees signed 30 year old Johnny Damon to be their CF and resigned 29 year old LF Hideki Matsui to identical 4 year/52M contracts. Both have hit consistently well throughout the ensuing years, but Matsui has been injured in every season and required knee surgery after both 2007 and 2008, which reduces him to a full-time DH Role. For his part, Damon lost the starting CF job to Melky Cabrera in 2006 and has played LF/DH since, and has seen both his Stolen Base and Defensive Ball Tracking skills go from elite to mediocre in 2009.

So, there was little reason to believe these two players would produce much Offensively in the final year of contracts, with beaten-up bodies. Damon, with the weak arm and reduced ball tracking ability is a part-time OF at best and a full-time DH in waiting. Matsui is one knee from Retirement.

Here is what they have done Offensively:

Damon .286 Average/ .367 On-Base/ .526 Slugging 22 HR/67 RBI/ 8-8 Stolen Bases

Matsui .266 / .361/ .509/ 19 HR/58 RBI

These old men can flat out RAKE!

At 35, Damon is on a path to 3,000 hits once someone signs him to another long term deal as DH/Parttime OF/Fultime WINNER. You can never say enough about this guy and, while it still seems unlikely the Yankees would keep him, given Melky/Gardner/Jackson and Damon's Defensive liabilities, what he brings Offensively and in the clubhouse is going to be extremely hard to replace.

Also 35, Matsui's Physical limitations make his retirement seem a certainty.

But, even with TWO bad knees, his Power, Plate Discipline, Baseball IQ and ability to perform in the Clutch are all still at Elite levels. If there is ANY player I wish I could have seen in his prime, it is Matsui, whose ability at this stage and career in Japan make is clear he would have been a Hall of Famer if he had played his whole career in MLB. A great, great player and a sayonara reminiscent of Mussina's glorious goodbye in 2008.

The New-Style Yankee Kids...

For decades, the Yankee system has consistently produced one-dimensional Power Hitters, who played OF/1B/DH and whose Defense and Base Running was secondary and below-par. Players like Steve 'Bye-Bye' Balboni, Hensley Dan Pasqua, 'Bam-Bam' Meulens, Kevin 'No' Maas, Shane Spencer, Shelley Duncan come immediately to mind, as does that big Power Hitting they traded to the Reds, who was traded to the Red Sox who was traded to the Nationals, who had as much Power as ANYONE ever has and had so little else to offer, I can't remember his name!!!! (Wily Mo Pena!).

This is NOT to dismiss the top level talents they have produced, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Alfonso Soriano, Robinson Cano...only to note, that when they swung big, they overemphasized raw power. Jeter was can't-miss, Posada is driven, Soriano and Cano are freaks overlooked by scouts who are seduced by false hustle and showy athletes and miss the natural flow of perfect motion. The same scouts, in another era, missed on a player named Joe DiMaggio.

Watch BJ Upton move after a fly ball and you don't need to look at his statistics. - you know what he can do to you. And yet scouts and many media and fans have been doubting these players half decades into their careers, while celebrating lesser lights with grunting styles. What we New Yorkers saw in the Mid '80s when the absurd debate about who was superior between FBHOF Rickey Henderson and wall-charging, chaw dipping, roid raging good ole boy, Lenny Dykstra, like Dustin, the plucky lil' fella got himself an MVP and a WS run. Rickey was MVP back in Oakland, and won a WS there, then went to Toronto and did it there, then played another decade ending it first ALL-TIME in Walks, first ALL-TIME in RUNS SCORED and first ALL-TIME in Stolen Bases, by 500 or so.

The Yankees, in the days they were developing the Bashers who moved like Glaciers of the World, sent Rickey away in his prime to get those HR, SB, RUNS, WALKS elsewhere and win World Series elsewhere.

And Yankee fans, like Guru, said...what if we KEPT THE TRANSCENDENT TALENTS, kept the instinctual types who excel on Defense and situational baseball and signed players in their prime who had the ability, work ethic and desire for NYC that would not be denied.

2009 is that year.

Melky Cabrera, 25, is a switch-hitter with a huge arm who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense at all three OF positions, has hit for the Cycle, and .350 after the 7th Inning. Ramiro Pena, 23, is a switch-hitter who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense at SS and solid at 3B and 2B, Francisco Cervelli, 23, is a Catcher, who plays Gold Glove caliber Defense and handles the bat like a veteran (think Kurt Suzuki, Jason Kendall). Injured 25 year old OF, Brett Gardner, has Carl Crawford speed, hits .280 and catches everything hit.

These are not transformational players, the Yankees have those all over the field. But they are young, agile, smart, fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball and do the things that teams need to win.

Run. Throw. Catch. Think. Compete. Speedster, Gunslinger, Utility Infielder/Switch-hitter, Utility Outfielder/Switch-hitter. Backup Catcher with complete Defensive game.

Unlike the machismo and random efforts of the past, these are precise, surgical moves to fill holes and complete a diverse roster that can win. Cano is a star, Melky is a role player, but their contributions are equal on this team. That is scouting, that is development, that is planning.

The Newbies

Mark Teixeira has been Alex Rodriguez in a year that Alex is hurt and cannot carry the Yankees. He is a switch-hitting, Gold Glove, HR hitting, clutch machine who plays like a man on fire and dreams in Pinstripes.

CC Sabathia has been a Horse, a LH power pitching, 98 MPH, devastating slider, a knee-breaking change-up, deep in games, low-hit, dominant-in-big-games, instant charisma, zero drama, team leader.

AJ Burnett has been a dominating, intimidating, strikeout inducing, deep game pitching, Yankee loving, Pie in the face breath of fresh air in the rotation and clubhouse.

Nick Swisher has been a switch-hiting, power hitting, league leading walk getting, charismatic, Yankee loving, clubhouse transforming, good guy goofball just happy to be a Yankee.

Jerry Hairston, Jr. came over at the 2009 Trading Deadline, he plays 3B and LF, runs well, hits well, knows the game. An ideal Utility veteran.

Jose Molina and power hitter, Eric Hinske are both honorable Veterans with good, solid games (Molina is a Defensive catcher with a gun for an arm, Hinske hit 5 HR in his 1st 20 at-bats. But Pena/Hairston/Cervelli/Gardner is an ideal, versatile, athletic bench and inter-changeable, versatile pieces like Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher back up both OF slots and 1B. That should be your playoff bench.

Oh, by the way, the Yankees Pitching Staff, has more strikeouts than any other and, since 6/1 the best Batting Average against, most saves, lowest ERA of any Bullpen.

A team managed by and led by players with multiple rings who were on a 113 win team in 1998.

A team that is on its way to a strong postseason.

Take a bow, Brian.

Wow!

Wang, a healthy Alex, Nady, Marte, Bruney...would have made this one of the greatest teams in Baseball history.

Without that, they are on their way to a Division title, with the best record in Baseball.

Quite a season, thus far.

The Arms from the Farm...

Joba Chamberlain is 23, he gets a lot of press because of the variety of rules associated with his development. The Joba Rules are always fodder for debate. Joba dominated in the Bullpen, he has been the Yankees best Starter in his first two years in the rotation. But he hurt his arm last August and seemed to sag in June. Verlander was 101 and dominant in his 2nd year, 2007, and was 91-92 in 2008 before bouncing back to his previous form this season. The Yankees have good reason and the effect is he will miss 3 of his last 9 starts on a team in comfortable position. Non-story. Like the one that USED to follow Joba, something about the Bullpen? (97 MPH)

Phil Hughes turned 23 in June, in the Pen through no fault of his own as Chien-Ming Wang moved his .700 ass back in. Phil had put 8 innings and zero runs on the Twins just ten days earlier. He went into the pen, has thrown (97 MPH) and has a 1.35 ERA two months later. Rotation in 2010 for the as long as his arm is healthy.

Phil Coke is a bit of kid, he gets too pumped up, follows up strings of strikeouts with fat strikes that get smacked.
But...he is a power LH (95 MPH), strikeout machine, low batting average against, strike thrower who can go multiple innings or be a LH specialist, and is 26.

David Robertson is 24, he has the best Strikeouts Per 9 Innings of ANY MLB PITCHER in 2009. He is inexperienced, walks too many and is a work in progress, but his ERA is 3.24 and those 47 K's in 33 Innings are a nice way to start a career in Pinstripes (95 MPH).

Alfredo Alceves, 25, the one Bullpen stalwart who does NOT possess a big arm. All Aceves can do is start, long relieve, short relieve, close, strike people out, get double plays, pop people up, throw strike in every situation, keep hitters off balance. A gem, a find, a long term solution.

Then, there are the FREAKS!

Jorge Posada is 38 on Monday, has been a regular catcher since 1997, playoffs every year from 1996-2007. He was lost early in 2008 to Shoulder Surgery (the same Surgery that Chien-Ming Wang has just had, one year after having the same surgery as Brian Bruney). He has 15 HR/50 RBI, hits .285, slugs .500, throws runners out. Leads.

Andy Pettitte, 37, was the kid LH star of the '96 World Series, yesterday he struck out 10 Mariners and has a 2.04 ERA in the Second Half. He just became the all-time MLB pickoff leader. He will be a rotation regular somewhere as long as he wishes, possibly back in The Bronx.

Mariano Rivera will turn 40 during Thanksgiving football. He has saved 73 of 75 opportunities the past two seasons, has a CAREER WHIP of 1.02, has 132 Strikeouts and 13 Walks (10/1) last two years, over 120.1 Innings.

Drama Chameleon

2009-08-08T11:33:31Z

By Larsen B

I am both completely abhorred and abominated at what I read when I logged on to the Sporting News today. It's maybe more about what I didn't read, so to speak, and the void left a putrid taste in my mouth, nose, and an oriface to be named later. All this concocted, conjured drama again... I'm sure you know what I'm speaking of, or rather 'typing' of. I realize that verbiage is just splitting hares (watch your back, Easter Bunny, don't you push me again) but I like to be all properly syntaxed and/or grammarlicious.

In case you've had blinders on, I'm gonna spell it out for you what's been going on right here, right now:

Out of the 10 top news items that fill the homepage of TSN, not ONE of those items is currently about Brett Favre.

Mike Reiss from the Boston Globe on May 10th wrote:

What is it about Brett Favre and his seemingly annual flirtation with retirement or returning to play that turns media coverage of the NFL on its head? Last Thursday, a reporter from NFL Network delivered a live report from Favre's front lawn in Hattiesburg, Miss., and told viewers, among other things, that he watched Favre's wife leave to run errands.

I'm frickin' dying here, omg. OMG! The media is, like, totally slacking... I sooooooo need to know if he wants surgery, does he NOT want surgery, is his bro-mance with Eric Mangini affecting his final vasectomy decision, what's in store for his future- is he gonna co-coach the Colorado Avalanche with Patrick Wah, join the cast of Dancing with the Stars, and if so and they invite his wife- will ABC change the name of the show to 'Dancing with the Favres," does his truck get good gas mileage, when the sun hits just right, can he see the shimmer of my binoculars from the tree branch down the lane, does he change not only his own oil but the filter too, how does he rationalize the extra $10 to get the teatree shampoo package at Supercuts in this economy, when he wipes himself does he fold the TP neatly or scrunch it up into a little ball, has he eaten pork chops since learning of the swine flu epidemic, who's his favorite Jonas brother, why doesn't he return any of my text messages, when he hears the phrase "gung-ho" does he immediately think 'asian hooker,' when he sees the new dos equis commercials does he scoff at how anybody else could possibly be referred to as 'the most interesting man in the world' even if it involves a fictional character in a fictional setting designed and perpetrated only to increase the sales of a second-rate malt liquor, does he use the same diva sparkle spray as I do, does he really wear Wrangler Jeans in real life and if and when they get washed do they get hung to dry on a clothesline that may or may not be within striking distance of a cleverly hidden crazed fan on foot, what does he think of the new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, did he too have a crush on Julie Andrews aka Fraulein Maria upon first viewing 'The Sound of Music,' will he return to football as a Viking, a Brown, a pylon, an Argonaut, a Somali Pirate, how much longer will he stay ambiguously retired and on the last nite before training camp opens this year will he be riding around in the back seat of a white bronco driven by Sterling Sharpe followed by tens of dozens of media vehicles and police lying across the backseat repeatedly pressing the nose of the football against his forehead wishing someone would just tell him what to do?

If I had a dollar for every time I've been there...

I'd still be just as broke, but that's not the point.

I'll tell you what to do, Brett. To quote the mother of Navin R. Johnson, "the lord loves a working man." The economy needs you, Brett, whether it be as a football player, a personal advice columnist in a home decorating-themed magazine, a live bait salesman, a mystery shopper, a lumberjack-ish paper towel icon, whatever....just get a job, man. And you slacker media types better let me know the second he does.

Here's some more drama in my life:

Went to the liquor store earlier in the week to pick up some crisp and cold Canadian brew and they were all out of Labatt's Blue LIGHT. I'm finally down to one freakin' love handle, and now this happens. Nothing accentuates the NHL playoffs like a few frothy beverages from hockey's heartland, so I sucked it up and got the regular Labatt's. I'll just do a few extra crunches, ummm, tomorrow, yeah, tomorrow!

That's it from my sporty camp today. Stay cool, and stay thirsty my friends!

You Tube Link

L.B.

2009 NY Yankees/Orioles and A's/Games 92-98

2009-07-27T16:25:40Z

By Matthew Storey

Summer in the City...temperatures have been milder than normal, making for 80 degree days in the Sun that can't be beat and the Yankees have been taking care of business.

Through 91 games - 54-37

Game 92 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 2-1
Game 93 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 6-4
Game 94 Win versus Baltimore Orioles 6-4 (win series 3-0, lead season series 11-4)
Game 95 Win versus Oakland A's 6-3
Game 96 Win versus Oakland A's 8-3
Game 97 Loss versus Oakland A's 6-4
Game 98 Win versus Oakland A's 7-5

Games 92-98 - 6-1

Overall through 98 Games - 60-38 (Ist Place AL East by 2.5 Games)

Since Alex Rodriguez came off the DL after hip surgery on May 8 and hit a 3-run HR on the first pitch he saw, the Yankees are 47-23 for a cool .671 Winning Percentage. They've lost their regular RF and their #3 Starter to season-ending injuries, but Alex is stable, Posada is Posada, Mo is Mo, and even Brian Bruney seems to finally be rounding into form. They lost 4th OF/speedster, Brett Gardner, to a broken thumb this weekend, but he will be back in a month for the stretch drive and they have added Hinske (and perhaps Shelley Duncan from Triple A, where he has put up 25 HR/75 RBI in 2/3 of a season?) so they have plenty of depth in the OF (they may choose to bring up Ramiro Pena for pinch-running/backup IF and use Cody Ransom in OF).

The key to the surge has been the pitching. Yankees came into the season with a strong bullpen on paper and that bullpen fell apart early, with Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras and Jonathan Albaladejo walking the ballpark and serving up HR's when they had to throw middle-of-the-plate strikes. Set-up stalwarts Damaso Marte and Brian Bruney both went on the DL...and Yankees were losing game after game in the bullpen.

Brian Cashman brought up former starter Alfredo Aceves and Joe Girardi gave a larger role to former starter, Phil Coke, then when Chien-Ming Wang went back into the starting rotation, they placed starter Phil Hughes in the bullpen.

Aceves has given them 26 appearances, 46.2 Innings, 39 K's and only NINE walks to the tune of 6-1, 2.89 (coming off his worst effort as a Yankee to blow the game Saturday and actually inflate that ERA). Overall, Aceves has a 2.70 ERA in 76.2 Innings.

Coke has now pitched in 59 games as a Yankee, over 57.1 Innings to a 2.98 ERA with 48 K's and only 16 BB's while surrendering only 37 hits.

Hughes, of course, gave up a 2 run HR to Kevin Youkilis in his 2nd relief inning and now has thrown 23.1 scoreless innings and has an overall 0.70 ERA as a reliever, with 31K, 6 BB and only 13 hits in 25.2 Innings.

Add to the bullpen's sterling work with the consistent length the Yankees have received from CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett and post All-Star Break work of Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte and you have the guts of a prolonged winning streak. Chien-Ming Wang is out, he needs surgery, and Sergio Mitre is simply a 'filler' at the #5 slot, either Aceves or Hughes could slot into a rotation slot with success, but the stability they've brought to the Bullpen can't be messed with in-season, which makes it likely we'll see the Yankees make a minor move for a #5 Starter along the lines of the Late Cory Lidle's pickup at Deadline day back in '07.

In the lineup, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira have been consistently excellent. Jeter, hitting .321 with 11 HR and 18 SB out of the leadoff slot leads the AL in Batting Average against LH pitching (.441) and has played sterling SS (4 errors in 363 chances). Cano is at .309/14/52, hitting .326 against LH, mirror numbers at home and on the road and a Gold Glove 2B with his rocket arm, unparalleled range (3 errors in 462 chances). Teixeira is a magician with the glove has a strong, accurate throwing arm that has cut off runners at 2B, 3B and home from every angle and in critical situations. He has 25 HR/72 RBI, hits for average from RH side (.314) and power from the LH (20 HR) and has 1 error all season.

Outside of those three, the Yankees have been streaky. Nick Swisher (14/50), Hideki Matsui (15/44) and Johnny Damon (16/55) all have put up representative power numbers to go along with Jorge Posada's strong return season (.287/13/45/.525 Slugging). Alex is not 100%, running at about 2/3 speed and not as versatile offensively, but his Defense has been there and the power is a given (19/55 despite missing 31 games). Melky rounds out the everyday lineup at .287/8/37 from both sides of the plate, slugging a healthy .434. Molina is back at backup C, providing effective defense, as does Ransom in the Infield. Eric Hinske has been on a power surge (4 HR) in limited time since joining the Pinstripes three weeks ago.

In the just completed homestand, to begin the 2nd Half, the Yankees got 10 successive solid starts from their rotation through two turns, with AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte and Sergio Mitre all giving the team a chance to win.

Now it is on to Tampa Bay for the Rays who have put on their own surge with comeback win after comeback win and trail the Yankees by seven games in the Loss column. The Rays need a bump from this series and will counter AJ, CC and Joba with Shields. Kazmir and Garza. It should be exciting baseball and we'll catch you back here when it is completed.

2009 NY Yankees: Detroit Tigers/Games 89-91

2009-07-20T16:45:37Z

By Matthew Storey

Yankees opened the 2nd Half of the 2009 Season at home against the AL Central Division Leading Detroit Tigers at the new Yankee Stadium, and the two teams put on a clinic with three well-pitched, nail-biting ballgames. Coming into the break, the Yankees had squandered some of the momentum of a 13-2 stretch that brought them into a first place tie with a sweep at the hands of the LA Angels in Anaheim and renewed questions about the back end of their rotation, which lost Chien-MIng Wang just as he found himself again and has seen an ineffective Andy Pettitte struggle with good lineups. With the rest of four full days off for the bulk of the squad (SS Derek Jeter, 1B Mark Teixeira and Closer Mariano Rivera were All-Stars), New York was hoping to get off to a strong 2nd Half start.

Game 89

NY Yankees 5
Detroit Tigers 3

Winning Pitcher: Phil Hughes (4-2)
Losing Pitcher: Joel Zumaya (3-3)

HR: Granderson (19)
Teixeira (22)

AJ Burnett was the Yankees most reliable starter in the six weeks leading up to the All-Star break, with a 5-1 record and 1.74 ERA, but he struggled mightily with his control in his start against the Tigers, walking 5 against only 1 Strikeout. Still he managed to limit the damage to 3 runs over 6 innings, getting critical help from Melky Cabrera in CF who threw out Miguel Cabrera from the RF wall trying for a 2B and completing a DP on a sinking liner to RCF that looked like the start of a rally, only to end a threat. Burnett, for all his travails, did what Starters need to do to give the Yankees a chance to win. Trailing 3-2 after 6, Yankees brought in Phil Hughes, who closed the 1st half on a roll, with 16 scoreless innings, and he kept that up with a dominating two innings of 97 MPH gasoline, surrendering three hits on curveballs but retiring six of six outs on Strikeouts.

For Detroit, Rookie LH starter, Lucas French, befuddled the Yankee bats with an assortment of 88 MPH 'fast'balls, curves, changeups and stayed in the strike zone to give the Tigers a major boost and hand over a 3-2 lead to his bullpen in the 6th Inning, which Reliever Fu-Te Ni of Taiwan held through an adventurous 2 hit 6th Inning. The Tiger bullpen unravelled in the 7th, however, when fireballing Joel Zumaya came in and the Yankee bats, who'd been chasing the junk of French and Ni all evening, got a chance to see some heat and took advantage with a Derek Jeter single, a Johnny Damon double and a Monstrous 3-Run BOMB into the 2nd Deck in RF from Mark Teixeira to move a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead, a lead that held up when Hughes finished off the 8th and All-Star closer, Mariano came in and closed it out for his 24th Save. 5-3 Yankees win.

Game 90

NY Yankees 2
Detroit Tigers 1

Winning Pitcher: CC Sabathia (9-6)
Losing Pitcher: Justin Verlander (10-5)

HR: Rodriguez (18)
Thames (10)

This was a gem of a Baseball Game. The sort of pitcher's duel that lives up to the billing and makes for a thrilling watch. Yankee Starter CC Sabathia faced off against All-Star Jason Verlander and fought through his own early wildness to give the Yankees 7 shutout innings. For his part, Verlander worked through his own 6 shutout innings, before leaving a fastball over the middle of the plate to leadoff hitter, Alex Rodriguez, which he deposited into the first row of seats behind the RF Wall for a 1-0 Yankee lead. Verlander, who came into the game stating that he was unconcerned about the short RF porch in the new stadium, flashed a broad grin when the ball went out and proceeded to get a bit rattled as he allowed a couple of baserunners and a Nifty deke by Nick Swisher on a soft ground ball to SS Adam Everett allowed Melky Cabrera to reach 1B with the insurance RBI as Robinson Cano came home for a 2-0 lead. Alfredo Aceves came in for the 8th Inning and sandwiched Strikeouts of Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez around a HR to DH (and former Yankee) Marcus Thames, which also landed in the 1st row of seats, this time in LF for a 2-1 game. Mariano Rivera came on for his second consecutive save (25).

Game 91

New York Yankees 2
Detroit Tigers 1

Winning Pitcher: Joba Chamberlain (5-2)
Losing Pitcher: Edwin Jackson (7-5)

HR: Rodriguez (19)
Teixeira (23)

Another gem. All-Star Detroit starter Edwin Jackson, stolen from the Tampa Bay Rays in the head-scratching offseason trade, continued to throw peas at AL hitters and completely shut down the Yankees, except for a low inside pitch that Alex Rodriguez golfed about 440 feet into the Tigers bullpen in CF in the 4th Inning and a 3-1 pitch to Mark Teixeira, that followed a questionable strike on 3-0, that Teixeira sent screeching into the 2nd Deck in RF for the 2-1 lead.

For his part, Yankee starter, Joba Chamberlain had seemed fatigued in his recent outings, his energetic demeanor and upper '90s fastball seemingly gone prematurely in only his 3rd MLB season (he's 23). But he opened up his 2nd half stomping around the hill and dominating Tiger hitters, getting stronger throughout the game. He made one mistake, a hanging 4th Inning curve to Detroit Rookie Clete Thomas (a nice looking LH power hitter with a big RF arm) that he hit in the seats and overcoming a soft line drive single in the 5th that Nick Swisher butchered into a leadoff 3B by Curtis Granderson. Joba got out of the jam, ending it with a 95 mph fastball to Marcus Thames and a patented fist pump and primal scream, as previously parodied by Oriole Aubrey Huff. Apparently, Joba is learning the most important lesson ANY of us can ever learn - if you let the opinions of idiots like Huff stop you from expressing yourself - you are destined for nothing.

Phil Coke relieved Joba after 6 2/3 and got a 1 pitch out, and Phil Hughes was back for the 8th Inning, extending his scoreless innings streak to 19 with 2 more strikeouts, giving him 8 K's in the 9 outs he got from Detroit this weekend. Mariano provided the replay with his 3rd successive Close (26) on OldTimers Day in The Bronx to send the generations of Yankee legends, 50,000 fans in the yard and Millions at home into Sunday night feeling mighty fine about the 2nd Half that begins with a sweep of the Tigers and a pair of BlueJay wins over the Boston Red Sox, moving the Yankees within 1 game of the lead. The only downer being the collapse of the Kansas City Royals bullpen to blow three successive leads against wildcard pursuer, Tampa Bay, meaning the Yankee sweep did not result in a single game of gain over the Rays.

Next Up:

Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles for three game set in The Bronx and then the Oakland A's come in for 3 on the weekend.

2009 New York Yankees/Comprehensive 2nd Half Look

2009-07-16T22:22:03Z

By Matthew Storey

When last we spoke, the Yankees were through 57 games, sitting at 34-23. Since then:

Game 58 Loss at Boston Red Sox 7-0
Game 59 Loss at Boston Red Sox 6-5
Game 60 Loss at Boston Red Sox 4-3 (Lose series 3-0, Trail season series 8-0)
Game 61 Win vs. New York Mets 9-8
Game 62 Lose vs. New York Mets 6-2
Game 63 Win vs. New York Mets 15-0 (Win series 2-1. Lead season series 2-1)
Game 64 Win vs. Washington Nationals 5-3
Game 65 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-2
Game 66 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-0 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 67 Win at Florida Marlins 5-1
Game 68 Lose at Florida Marlins 2-1
Game 69 Lose at Florida Marlins 6-5 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 70 Lose at Atlanta Braves 4-0
Game 71 Win at Atlanta Braves 8-4
Game 72 Win at Atlanta Braves 11-7 (Win series, season series, 2-1)
Game 73 Win at New York Mets 9-1
Game 74 Win at New York Mets 5-0
Game 75 Win at New York Mets 4-2 (Win series 3-0, Win season series, 5-1)
Game 76 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-5
Game 77 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4
Game 78 Lose vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4 (win series 2-1, lead season series 2-1)
Game 79 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 4-2
Game 80 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 6-5
Game 81 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 (Finish 1st 81 Games, 50% of Season at 48-33, 96 win pace)
Game 82 Lose Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 (Win series 3-1, lead season series 5-2)
Game 83 Win at Minnesota Twins 10-2
Game 84 Win at Minnesota Twins 4-3
Game 85 Win at Minnesota Twins 6-4 (Win season series 3-0, season series 7-0)
Game 86 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 10-6
Game 87 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 14-8
Game 88 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 5-4 (Lose series 0-3, trail season series 2-4)

Yankees were 34-23 (after 57 Games)

Games 58-88 17-13

Current Record 51-37 (.580/94 Win Pace) 2nd Place (3 Games Boston), 1st Place WildCard (2 Games Texas)

Recap

Yankees went through their worst stretch of the season, followed by another surge and capped it all of with their typical drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, the only team to hold a winning record against the Yankees in the decade and who have now beaten them to the tune of 17-5 in Anaheim last Five seasons!

Individual Player Updates, First Half Grades and Second Half Projections

Note: Grade is based upon Players OWN potential. How much of what he CAN do has he done.

Outfielders/Designated Hitters

LF Johnny Damon (B)
.276 Avg/.362 On-Base/.510 Slugging/16 HR/50 RBI/8-8 Stolen Bases

Johnny is a horrible Defensive player at this point, his bad arm now matched by vision issues that have made his vaunted Ball-Catching skill more of a hit-or-miss thing. But boy can he RAKE. He has slumped badly in July, but even so, his numbers speak for themselves. He has hit for power, hit in the clutch, hit in situations and taken advantage of being moved out of the leadoff slot to put up 50 RBI's in little more than a half-season while continuing to be a source of excellent baserunning (5th in AL Runs, 8-8 in Stolen Bases). Johnny needs to be a full-time DH at this stage, but a team that gives him that chance can expect Edgar Martinez sort of DH performance. No reason to project any change for Johnny in the 2nd Half.

RF Nick Swisher (B)
.237/.360/.434/14/47

Nick has been an upgrade Defensively from Bobby Abreu, but the loss of Xavier Nady has made him the fulltime RF and his Offensive output is a steep downgrade from Abreu. In the midst of an awful July, Swisher is an On-base machine (5th in AL, just ahead of Abreu, who outhits him by 80 points) and his spirited, knucklehead presence has gone over well with his buttoned-down teammates, making him a positive intangible in a way the low-key Bobby was not, since he just added to the sleepy atmosphere. Not a knock on Bobby (there really aren't any, except his ball tracking in the OF), just a roster composition issue for the Yankee clubhouse.

Nick is a hit-and-miss, streak hitter and can't really be relied on day-in, day-out to contribute. Of course, the 70 Strikeouts that provoke that dire review of his contributions would only make him 4th Worst on the Rays (Pena 111, Upton 99, Longoria 77) or 3rd Worst on the Red Sox (Papi 78, JD Drew 74), so maybe I should be gentler?

CF Melky Cabrera (B)
.285/.347/.439/8/34/5-7 SB

Melky has been the Starting CF, but his versatility move him to RF or LF when Girardi sits Damon or Swisher. At any of the three OF slots, Melky is a Defensive Star, providing Gold Glove heroics in all three slots with a big arm that has so thoroughly proven his point - nobody runs on him anymore. Offensively, he is much improved from last season's fiasco and is back at the proven performance level of 2006 and 2007. He hits equally well from either side of the plate for Power and Average, plays the game with intelligence and has proven to be a terrific situational/clutch hitter throughout the first half. He rarely strikes out and runs occasionally (5 of 7 SB) and has been one of the Yankees best performers. With his glove, arm and smarts, if he can slug .439 - they should keep him his whole career, the versatility of playing all three OF slots with that skill, the big arm and the switch-hitting
make him the sort of asset the Yankee system never used to develop and now seems to do so from every corner.

Melky's next HR will be a new Career high and he will only turn 25 on August 11 so no reason not to expect continued improvement.

CF Brett Gardner (B)
.282/.352/.404/3/19/18-22 SB

Originally the starter in CF, Gardner lost his job to a hot Melky early on and skeptics (like Guru) clamored to forget him and ship him to the NL destination his Speed/Slap hitting seem to be destined for. But, like Melky himself, Brett didn't use the demotion to sulk, but rather has contributed every time he has been in the lineup. His blinding speed is on the short list of the AL's fastest (Crawford, Span, Gomez) and his ball-tracking skill and base-stealing are as good as it gets. His arm is weak, however, and were he a more experienced MLB player - LF would be the ideal spot for him (he replaces Johnny Damon's old role as a Basestealer/Table Setter/Ball Tracker). Offensively, he has gone out and PROVEN that he belongs in MLB. With his legs and glove, if he can post .280 with .400 slugging, he will always have an MLB role.

Brett is 25 and in his first full MLB season, so he should only improve.

RF Eric Hinske (Inc)

This recent pickup was a bit of a head-scratcher, Yankees have Swisher who is a similar OF/IB/DH type with thump and have better options to back up Alex Rodriguez when he rests his Hip at 3B (Ramiro Pena, sent to minors and Cody Ransom). But Hinske cost nothing (Pirates just dumping him) and is a professional power hitter (3 quick pops already) who has played in the AL East his whole career and been in last two World Series, like all Yankees, he is thrilled to be given the shot at wins and riches and will benefit from the RF porch. But his Defense already cost them the final game in Anaheim, which was ironic since it looked like an Abreu moment while Abreu was watching from the LA Bench. His presence makes one wonder if there may be another move before the trade deadline with one of the other marketable OF types listed above.

No clue what to expect from Hinske, his role or his potential tenure.

DH Hideki Matsui (B)
.265/.367/.517/14/40

At every one of these updates, I've pointed out how fragile Hideki's two surgically repaired Knees looks and how likely it is that the magnificent warrior is one slip away from retirement. But the NL Games provided and unwanted but, as it turned out, wonderful chance for Hideki to get a mid-season respite (he pinch-hit in each game) and he has been frisky since returning to daily DH. Despite his leg woes, that keep him from playing OF anymore, his production is comparable with other AL DH's and he hits in situations, hits in the clutch and walks as much as he strikes out (36/40).

Matsui will rake as long as he can stand, how long that will be is impossible to say, but Damon/Swisher/Hinske are similarly productive DH options and would allow the full-time presence of Melky/Gardner on Defense and the bases, so Yankees are not vulnerable in the OF.

Infielders/Catchers

1B Mark Teixeira (B)
.275/.378/.535/21/63

Mark has had an uneven beginning to his Yankee tenure as the latest in a string of great Yankee 1B from Chris Chambliss to Don Mattingly to Tino Martinez to Jason Giambi....While Teixeira's switch-hitting power and spectacular glove make him a worthy heir to the line, all players go through an adjustment to playing in The Bronx and all families/individuals go through an adjustment period as well. Roger Clemens took two years to fit in, Randy Johnson knew after two years, he never would. Teixeira is not only gifted, he is INTO IT...he wants it so bad and is so pumped over the moon about being in Pinstripes, he forgets to breathe...he struggled in April, flourished in May, playing like an MVP, then sagged a bit in June. His numbers are huge even though and his Defense, coupled with the two youngsters in the OF and suite of young, slick-fielding back-ups, gives the Yankees impact Defensively at every spot on the field. Mark has been outspoken about the lethargic approach the Yankees bring to the field, what he calls 'thinking we can just throw our gloves on the field', but he doesn't yet understand the Yankees play it that way because their season is designed to go long into October every year and the hype around the team makes every....single....day....high drama if you let yourself get caught up in the flow. They will always run into more energetic, competitive squads, particularly early in the year...but the Yankee way is just to show up, punch the clock and put the better players on the field, counting on talent, not desire, to win the day.

When Mark stops trying to 'make' things happen (like Alex does) and just LETS it do so, like Derek and Damon. The Yankees will hoist flags in The Bronx.

2B Robinson Cano (A)
.308/.341/.490/13/46

Cano has had a dominant year Defensively, with 3 errors in 87 games, while being 3rd in Total Chances for a commanding lead in fielding Percentage (.993) over his closest rivals in balls reached (Hill, Kinsler) both of whom have twice as many errors. His arm, range and double play prowess are unmatched in the game by any 2B. Then, there is the bat! Cano has ridden torrid 2nd Half Streaks to lift up sub-par first-half numbers in each of his previous 4 seasons, with his .300 plus 2008 2nd half salvaging a brutal early season slump. In 2009, the slow-start was avoided, putting down a solid foundation for his second half heroics. If Cano has his typical 2nd Half, the Yankees are looking at .320/30/100 and a Gold Glove from their 26 year old Second Baseman.

Cano, as noted, has been a 2nd Half/hot-weather player all his career, no reason to expect that to change. He will likely settle in with his infield mates in 2010 for an all Infield top-of-the-lineup of Jeter-Cano-Texeira-Alex that could be in those slots for 5 years, or until Derek breaks Rose's record.

SS Derek Jeter (A)
.321/.396/.461/10/37/17-20 Stolen Bases

Wherever Derek goes, he is the man. In every marriage, there is, since 1996 a contractual agreement that if Derek shows up at the door, the man will provide his wife and prepare food and drink for afterwards, and an understanding that to do anything less would be to deprive a woman and her daughters of a world where there ARE good men. Derek goes to the WBC and is the man, comes back to The Bronx and is told he will hit leadoff, so he goes back to stealing bases and hitting for average, clubs HR's when needed, responds to the lesser men who criticize his Defense with a 4 error (2nd) first half, while being 5th in Total Chances and 2nd in Fielding Percentage to a guy who plays indoors (Scutaro).

Likely to finish with an average close to his career number (.316), 20 HR, 30 SB and fewer than 10 Errors.

3B Alex Rodriguez (B)
.256/.411/.548/17/50

Alex should have listened to his body and had the hip surgery in the offseason, and should have had help with those decisions from a Yankee front office which mishandled every injured Yankee on its roster this winter. That said, his incredible healing powers and ability to maintain a pharmacological edge on MLB's testing regimen (for you Paranoids out there!), led to his surreal return in Early May and a 1st Half with numbers that any OTHER 3B would feel pleased with. He slumped badly as he was overplayed in his first 35 games back, but once rested adequately, he went on a typical Alex tear and blasted by MLB's greatest all-time sluggers on the all-time list, which will have him sometime in the next few days nestle into 9th place ahead of Harmon Killebrew, before his 34th Birthday on July 27. His hip has sapped his speed and burst on the bases, but he has been spectacular at 3B (5 errors) and the booming power is all the way back.

Will likely feel more comfortable with greater rest and the All-Star downtime for the first time in his career, he remains the indispensable Yankee. Call it .290/40/125.

UT Cody Ransom (D)

Cody was awful at the plate and in the field when filling in for Alex early in the year, then blew out his quad for two months, which revealed Ramiro Pena as a switch-hitting contributor with Gold Glove prowess in the IF. When Ransom returned, the Yankees sent Pena down and gave Cody back his job and he has thus far continued to show rust, but DOES have skills with both the bat and glove and is likely to reward the faith with steady 2nd Half contributions, OR be demoted and allow Pena to be that guy. Either way, Yankees are well covered around the entire Infield.

C Jorge Posada (B)
.285/.369/.508/11/40

Jorge has been the lone Yankee to return from 2008 Surgery with his game intact, as Joba, Wang, Bruney, Alex and Mariano all went through varying stages of after-effects in 2009. Jorge missed a few weeks with a hamstring pull, but the time off did his shoulder well and allowed the Yankees to discover the Defense excellence and Offensive pluck they have in Rookie Francisco Cervelli (threw out 10 of 21 SB attempts) and Jorge never missed a beat from either side of the plate or behind it either before or after the pulled hammy. He is one of four regular switch-hitters with power in the everyday lineup (Teixeira, Swisher, Cabrera), has been effective as a pinch-hitter or DH when called upon and been the leader they missed without him in 2008. Defensively, he has worked through shoulder surgery to throw out 30% of runners, many of them running to test his arm and succeeding early in the year. If the Yankees have a healthy Jorge and Hideki throughout this season, they may come to point to their unexpected time off as a key to their fortunes.

If Jorge is healthy, he rakes, defends and leads. He is healthy.

C Jose Molina (Inc.)

Molina blew out his leg right after Jorge and Cody did, Cervelli is the future backup and, perhaps, Jesus Montero, is the heir to Jorge, but Jose provides the veteran glove, smarts and top-gun wing to contribute the rest of 2009.

Starting Pitchers

LH CC Sabathia (B)

See Mark Texeira's summary for the reality of adjusting to life as a Yankee/New Yorker, its a big deal and a big change and takes awhile. CC is a horse, throws 98 mph heaters at the knees, sliders, curves, change-ups...he pitches deep in games, leads in the clubhouse, shows up, stands up, speaks calm. He can dominate with stuff or moxy, pitch a complete game with 10 K's or 2. Everything you could ask for.

CC will be his typical self in the 2nd Half.

RH AJ Burnett (B)

AJ pitched in some poor luck at times in the first half, as the Yankees went through some valleys with injuries and production that often found him being victimized by poor run support. Lately, however, he has been cruising and winning, striking people out and pitching deep into every start. Has embraced being a Yankee and being in New York more than anyone could have imagined, the Blue Jay players said they were amazed at the AJ they see in Pinstripes - a talented young person who has come into his own skin.

AJ looks good from here.

RH Chien-Ming Wang (D)

Poor Chien. Dominant throughout his Yankee career, he broke his damn foot in a freakish accident last June, sat out extra months to insure its healing and managed to rust from inactivity, then have to try and recapture his stuff on a big -league hill (Catastrophe), in the minors (worked), the bullpen (worked well) and finally, back into the rotation where, in his last start, he FINALLY looked like the Chien-Ming Wang who piled up the 54-20 record as Yankee ace from 2005-08. Then, he injured his arm. He's only 29, so even a lost year is no biggie, the important thing is to get him HEALTHY and bring him back to the guy he still can be, too young, too strong, too good to lose.

No idea what to expect, Yankees have lost Chien and Mussina, their best two starters from '08, defeating the purpose of the new 'depth' - with Wang, Joba and Bruney at a fraction of their previous ability, the entire staff has been shifted to plug Hughes into the spot Bruney occupied and the back end of the rotation has gone from the anticipated strength to the glaring weakness of this Yankee team.

RH Joba Chamberlain (C)

So much nonsense is written about this kid 'needing to learn how to pitch'. That is bullshit. He is smart on a hill and knows what to do, but his stuff is simply not the same since he walked off the mound with a sore shoulder last August 4 in Texas. As a starter in 2008, he threw 34% of his pitches at 95MPH or better, and with the other 2/3 of his pitches being the biting slider and change-up, that led to low BAA, low pitch counts and the ability to work in the strike-zone. In 2009, the loss of velocity has turned Joba into a nibbler, trying to work off-speed on the corners, getting into bad counts and managing walks and thumped baseballs from middling fastballs left over the plate. The Yankees and Joba insist his stuff is fine, but that is childish. The naked eye and the radar gun do not lie and, while an Andy Pettitte or Mike Mussina can be expected to adjust to becoming a finesse pitcher in their mid '30s, to watch the Yankees most exciting homegrown starters in decades BOTH (Wang, Joba) lose their arm-strength in the same season and battle to overcome injury has been the scariest thing about the season. Power pitchers go through this. Justin Verlander went from 102 to 92 last year and is back to his dominant stuff this season, so it CAN be done and Yankees have to hope it will be by Joba, because if he is bringing the stuff he has now to the mound, he aint Joba and they might as well call him 'Jason' and ship him to Kansas City.

The key not only to the Yankees season, but to many Yankee seasons. A dominant homegrown power pitcher with a brilliant future or an early-career blown arm?

We'll see.

LH Andy Pettitte (C)

This grade may be a bit harsh. Andy has been what he was in 2008, a guy who can win and cruise when he is feeling great and playing a team with young hitters he can fool or who lack lineup depth, but lacks the stuff to get outs against elite teams and hitters who are familiar with his arsenal. A decent back of the rotation starter, but of no value in a playoff setting, which points out the critical importance of getting Wang or Joba right during the 2nd half. He needs to make the adjustment that Cone, Mussina and other power arms made late career to throw more soft stuff and more variety to allow his bread and butter cutter to be more effective. If they keep trying to throw a ball by hitters who know their movement well, they get THUMPED (check out Schilling's 2006 HR numbers trying to throw his old heater by hitters, then his 2007 numbers when he figured it out).

Andy is strong, healthy and a winner. He'll win more than he loses, but struggle with the best teams.

Bullpen

RH David Robertson (C)

Called up to replace the previously brilliant but hopelessly lost Jose Veras (Cleveland Indians on waivers) and Edwar Ramirez (11 k's per 9 innings in his Yankee career, but walks by the bushel in '09). 24 year old Robertson has actually begun to pitch just like Edwar. He gets lots of Strikeouts with his biting curve and sneaky 93MPH (34 K's in 22.2 Innings), he can strike out any hitter...WHEN he throws strikes! (16 walks). He is young enough, talented enough and deep enough in the bullpen mix to be given the rest of the Summer to figure it out, but come September, he needs to be throwing strikes or be back in MiLB.

Up to him.

RH Alfredo Alceves (A)

Was great as a September starter for the Yankees in 2008, was great in the Rotation in Spring Training, was great back in the minors, was great as a long-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great a a short-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great throwing long relief (4 innings) and spot-start (3 2/3) in back-to-back emergency duty when Wang shifted from pen to rotation, Hughes went from reliable starter to short inning relief and then Wang hurt his wing after Hughes had been reconditioned as a short-guy. Aceves isn't the guy they plan around, he is simply part of the solution whatever the plan requires. The sort of guy they have suddenly come up with in abundance in this year when the bigger name, bigger gift guys are fighting their bodies. Aceves has the experience of pitching in regular rotation for YEARS in the Mexican leagues and is like El Duque working over hitter after hitter. Implacable and professional, just the way Yankees should be.

A gift. Will he keep on giving? He is only 26 and has a 2.45 ERA in 73 Yankee innings, as well as a ratio of 36 K's to only EIGHT walks in his 43.1 Innings this year. A strike throwing machine.

LH Phil Coke (B)

Yet another mid '20s Yankee arm with a terrific arm. Coke controls hitters (26 hits in 38.1 Innings), but can begin to cruise and leave pitches up in the zone. He has been victimized by control issues, resulting in walks (14, to 31 K's) and HR balls (6). Needs more experience and command to be a dominant force in the Bullpen for a long time.

Already solid, could be great or go backwards.

RH Brian Bruney (D)

Like Wang and Joba, Brian got hurt in 2008 and has struggled with his health and unable to return to previous arm strength in 2009. When right, Bruney is 98 mph heat and biting sliders on the black. Unhittable stuff and precision command. But he is clearly not there in his second return from the DL this season. Instead of 98 on the black, its been 94 in the middle, with predictable results. His issues have forced Yankees to move starter Hughes into Bruney's role, thus depriving themselves of a stud young starter just as Wang, Joba and Pettitte are wavering.

Not good.

Difficult to feel confident about Bruney, since his broken foot and strained elbow are fresh in all our minds. That said, he's another power arm who is only 27 and has proven stuff (200 K's in 199 MLB innings) and has worked to return from injury and remake his once portly body. He may not contribute in 2009, but should be kept healthy and given the chance to return to the dominant arm he was so recently.

RH Phil Hughes (A)

Phil had the same basic route as Aceves. His arm is a given and the wait with him has been about his experience and health. He did a serviceable job in the Yankee rotation early with 5 good starts and only one bad (a 5/9 Debacle against the Orioles at the Stadium) that is almost all of his 2009 ERA (8 ER in 1.2 IP). Once Wang reclaimed his Rotation slot, Hughes was moved into a short, late-inning role and has thrived. He surrendered a 2-Run pop to Kevin Youkilis in the first inning of his second relief stint against the Red Sox at Fenway and those have been the only runs he has surrendered in 13 relief appearances over 18.1 Innings, he has struck out 19 and walked only 5 and 5 hits in the 15 innings since Youk went yard. He is three weeks into his 23rd year, throwing 96 mph gas at the knees with what might be the best curve ball South of Halladay. A dynamic talent, who is HEALTHY, which is critical with Wang and Bruney down and Joba on the ropes.

Phil will be in the pen for now, perhaps all of 2009 and will move into a long-term starters job in 2010. Brian Cashman had the only word that makes ANY sense on the whole debate between the relative merits of staff members stating 'any decent starting pitcher is going to be effective in a set-up role, but only a few set-up guys can be effective front-end starters. Nobody in Baseball doubts that is what Phil Hughes will be for long and long.

RH Brett Tomko (C)

Veteran filler has adequate stuff (96 mph) but has never performed to it in 15 big league seasons or as a Yankee, purely a mop-up the slop guy who will be displaced by Labor Day from within by a returner (Damaso Marte) or a call-up (Mark Melancon).

RH Jonathan Albaladejo (B)

Big Jon is an effective middle guy who gets ground balls, throws strikes and can provide multiple innings in situations when the starter has left early or game is in need of a hold while the bats make hay. Another young (27) arm with moxy, who can help the Yankees now and in the future. He slipped early in the year, but made the most of his send-down and has been terrific since returning and could be here to stay.

Look for Jon to solidify a secondary role in the Bullpen in the 2nd half and continue packing donuts by the box full!

RH Mariano Rivera (A)

Mo had some hiccups after his typical brilliant Spring, with poor outings in 3 of his 36 appearances (4/24 in Boston, 5/7 and 6/6 against Tampa Bay), but has been casually brilliant for the rest of the time. He adds 43 K's and 3 Walks in his 37 2009 Innings to his 2008 totals, giving him a ratio of 120 K's to 9 BB's in his last two seasons, over 107.2 Innings, a period in which he has saved 62 of 64 chances. MOney in the bank and showing no signs that he won't be signing yet ANOTHER contract as Yankee closer come the end of 2010.

MOre Mo. The greatest of the great in all of sports, Derek may have privileges with your wives and daughters, but Mo has full access to your home, car, possessions and slave labor upon request. He owns you as he has owned the American League and makes the histrionics of men like K-Rod and Pap-B seem almost as dated as those of Al Hrabowsky, despite being a dozen years older than either man. Will remain long enough to outlast Trevor Hoffman and become the first man to save 750 games and to be a closer past his 50th Birthday. Will retire in October 2020 after his 26th Year.

Manager, General Manager and Coaches

Joe Girardi (A) is the ideal guy for this team. He leads by example, being the fittest Yankee with pipes, abs and ridiculous body fat. He has been masterful with the bench and the platoon of young CF'ers Melky and Gardner, and adjusted on the fly when the bullpen standouts of 2008 and arms they counted on for 2009 (Bruney, Marte, Veras and Ramirez) ALL failed to reasons of health and ineffectiveness and rebuilt things by switching from short-guys to recast starters (Hughes, Coke, Robertson, Aceves) who could pitch multiple innings and throw strikes. Juggling the health of veteran position guys nursing injuries and getting production from minor league call-ups. Has Yankees running the bases (5th in Stolen Bases, succesful 80% of the time) and been an arbiter of relaxation in the sometimes tense world of NY clubhouses where the hostile media (National and Local included) cover the team like the Nixon White House, thinking about making careers with nonsense and gossip. The new chemistry, that has been an adjustment for Yankee veterans AND Yankee fans has been an unqualified success. They have more fire but still have professionalism, are loaded with guys who LOVE being Yankees, play through pain and put their teammates first. The kind of team Joe Girardi PLAYED on. This is the best Defensive and Situational Yankee team since 1999, and, if healthy - the best lineup in MLB. The rotation problems with Wang and Joba are the only issues which can derail Joe from his first of many, many Championships. If Derek has dibs on your wife, and Mo on your assets and activity, think of Joe Girardi as the person who can come into your community and provide you and your neighbors with plans for the coming decades, all in about an hour.

He has seen all, done all, won all in the Uniform, but also been on terrible teams, on NL squads, managed a young, small market outfit as well as the Yankees. Knows everyone, knows everything about the situation he is in, remains in control of himself in all situations. Has less interest in the spotlight and is less fascinated by the media than Torre was, so silly little dramas don't pop up and appears genuinely in sync with his contemporaries Cashman and Yankee principal owner, Hal Steinbrenner. Yankee-haters speculate Joe might be on the hot seat if 2009 does not put the world of Baseball back on the footing it lost in the awful last half-decade, but the locker the team built for Joe's son in the clubhouse should signal everyone that Joe is here for a decade or more and will retire in the company of Stengel, McCarthy, Huggins and Torre for Yankee longevity and success. There is no greater bet in Professional Sports than betting on Girardi, and the Yankees know what they have.

Hitting coach, Kevin Long (B) has dealt with a lot of injuries and nonsense in the typical early season Yankee adjustments, but the team leads MLB in runs, homers, slugging, on-base percentage, OPS....they walk almost as much as they strike out and have yet to really see anyone perform at a higher level than previously established form.

Pitching coach, Dave Eiland (C), has managed to oversee devastating injuries to critical performers and varying degrees of unreliable performance from previously reliable arms. That said, the 3.82 staff ERA after the 15-17 early season struggles makes it clear the team has a comfortable position in all facets of the game.

GM Brian Cashman (B)

A nice job for a guy who will spend the next two decades with Manager Girardi and Owner Hal Steinbrenner counting championships, producing Yankeeographies and adding to the miseries of New England men and women who have suffered for eons from the deficiency of their menfolk between the temples and the hip flexors. Unable to achieve satisfying sexual interaction and limited to choices of programs about Dancers, programs about Fat people and programs about Fat people who dance - the 'Nation' will begin the post-Manny decades without continued on-field success, but at least they have clams AND cranberries!

In Conclusion

Yankees have answers at Bat, on the Hill, on the Bases and in the Field and control their own destiny. If Wang and Joba are healthy and contribute, the World Series is a formality. If not, they will scratch and claw and be in the mix. Either way, the future is bright and the present fruitful and the Yankees appear poised to lift the Black Cloud that has covered the game since 2001 the same way Obama has removed the stain of the Bush years. When America looks back on the these past years, in both Sports and Life - this time will be known as 'The Worst Time Ever', but the time since November 2008 will soon make it as forgettable as the years between 1981-1992 (previous worst time ever).

Luckily, the Yankees are here to insure all will be well in the future!