Frankie The Sports Guy

After 6 seasons of weak playoff baseball from 2002-2007, and last season where there was no playoff baseball, it finally seems as though 2009 could be the year. Since Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in May, the team has played fantastic baseball just about all season. Other than a silly series loss to the Nationals, and 2 tough series in Los Angeles and Chicago, the Yankees have played roughly .750 baseball.

To me, it all starts with pitching. CC Sabathia has had a spectacular 2nd half, and overall a very good season going for win #20 Friday night in Tampa Bay. That might be the only reason the Yankees should bother making the trip, since those games mean absolutely nothing in terms of where they stand going into October. AJ Burnett, although at times inconsistent, has put together a lot of great starts, and even more starts where he has given us length. Take away his 3 starts in Fenway, he would have an era under 4 and a 12-7 record. Andy Pettite is the 3rd guy worth mentioning in the rotation. He has put together a very solid 14-7 record, and given the Yankees more than they could have expected from him in the 3 spot.

Now the bullpen. Mariano Rivera has had a dominant season in the pen, having blown just 2 saves all season. It is also worthy of mentioning he has not blown a save at Yankee Stadium (either stadium) since 2007. Pretty damn good if you ask me. Secondly, Phil Hughes has to be mentioned. Originally a starter, he was converted into a reliever, and has been a savior to the Yankees through scoreless inning after scoreless inning in big spots to help secure Yankee victories.

Now, how could we forget the walk-off wins? 15 of them to this date and I will recap a few. Walk-off weekend when the Yankees walked off 3 times against the Twins in May with a single from Melky and game ending home runs from Arod and Damon. Also, lets not forget about Arod's 2 run walk-off against Boston in August in the 14 inning pitchers marathon as the Yankees finally broke through in a game that ended by a score of 2-0. Finally, the Luis Castillo game. I had the pleasure of being at that game. The game that on a 2 out bottom of the 9th dropped easy pop-up that scored 2 runs seemingly sent the Mets season in reverse, and sent the Yankees surging to where to this day, in their brand new ballpark, they never looked back. 

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