Reflections Of A Season To Remember

In 1996 I went to my first Yankee Parade. It never gets old just better. And as all the celebrations wind down and all of baseball gets ready for the hot stove league I would like to look back at one of the best and a real fun season in Yankee History.

1. The free agent signings of CC Sabahtia Mark Teixeira AJ Burnett getting Nick Swisher in a trade for Wilson Bentimt. And most of all getting Andy Pettitte to come back as he almost retired could of been out of the plans.

2. The Yankees come home to a new stadium even with a loss on opening day... it's still a great park.

3. After a slow start in April and not able to beat Boston A-Rod comes back in mid May. And in first at bat he slams a big home run to put all the A Roid things to sleep showing that he can do it clean.

4. After struggling in the middle of the division and taking two out of three from the Mets in interleaue play. And the series that turned the season around: a big come back win in Atlanta where the team won 10 in a row after that.

5. CC Sabahta and Mark Teixeira having big second half's

6. Putting Phil Hughes in the pen in the second half of the season

7. Role pitchers like Sergio Mitres with great starts down the stretch. Also Alfredo Aceves,
Phil Coke, David Robertson and Chad Gaudin in the pen to help in key games.

8. Guys coming off the bench Like Brett Gardner and Freddy Guzman to steal a base.
Francisco Cevelli helping when Jorge and Molina went down behind the plate. And key mid season pick ups like Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr coming though with big hits.

9. Pie in your face after all the Yankee walk off wins at home. A lot of older fans did not like this
but it grew on you.

10. A big year out of Nick Swisher after Nady went down and took over the rightfield spot.

11. Melky with a great year in center.

12. Aug 9th sweep of the Red Sox, showing Boston you can beat them and taking over 1st place.

13. A big September by winning the east early and giving the big starters time off to get ready for the post season.

14. Sept 11th: Derek Jeter breaking Lou Gehrig's all time Yankee hit record at 2,722 to put him at #1.

15. Getting to the Postseason

16. Taking care of a tough Twins team with Teixeira and a big home run in Game 2 to
swing the series the Yankees way.

17. Getting the jinx of the Angels off their back with a 2nd round win against this team they could not beat in 2002 and 2005.

18. A Rod with big homers all post season long against Brian Fuentes in Game Two then again out in Anaheim.

19. Getting back to the World Series.

20. After a lose in Game One Hideki Matusi with a homer to beat Pedero in Game Two at the Stadium.

21. Halloween in Philadelphia: a big win after trailing to Cole Hamels. A Rod with the homer off the camera. that kind of put the Yanks back in the series.

22. The Game 4 big hit by A Rod and the team taking a 3-1 lead.

23. Joe Girardi making the right call with the pitching staff and the 3 man rotation

24. Mariano Rivera with a 5 saves and a .056 era in the postseason.

25. Andy Pettitte with a Game 6 clinching win with 5 innings and 3 runs shutting down the Phillies.

26. The Wednesday night hero in game 6, Hideki Matsui, with a big homer double and base hit to win MVP for the World series with a .615 average

27. # of World series titles in the Bronx. Let make it 28 next year. From this Yankees fan...thanks for the great year..

We Are The Champions, My Friend!

As a Yankee fan or a fan of any team you live for this. You are on top of the hill you are the best and my team is #1.

It started with the new stadium in April a slow start a big finish. Two great playoff runs with the Twins then the Angels . The third was the toughest; the Phillies played a great series. But is was our turn.

Big pitching with CC AJ Burnett in game two and Pettitte in game 3 and 6 were key. Andy came up big a real strong post season pitcher and I hope he is back in the Bronx next year. Series MVP Hideki Matsui was great throughout the Series, especially in Game 6 with
a homer, a double, a base hit and 6 RBI's.

For the first time in a few years the Yankees had a real chemistry. Most people and
fans who hate the Yankees always say the Yankees buy their championships but you have to have a great chemistry and you have to go through 3 rounds of playoffs and it is not easy. Sure we spend a lot of money but who would not want their team to put the money back in to the club and that is what the Yankees do. They are just playing by the rules.

That story is for another day and who is coming back and who is not is for another day. Today is for the greatest franchise in sports to celebrate championship #27. It seems like a long time since 2000 but the drought is over.

As Joe Buck said on the final out of the game, the New York Yankees are back on top. Hats off to the Yankees. The New York Yankees 2009 World Champs. it great to be a Yankee fan.

Back To The Bronx

AJ Burnett did not have it from the beginning as he got rough up by the cheesesteaks.

The move by Girardi backfired to have Burnett go on three days rest. The Philly bats woke up against him, especially Chase Utley who is having a great Series.

The Yankees bats again did not wake up; they had Lee on the ropes in the first but only scored one run after Burnett left. The bullpen was shaky as they gave up another 4 runs.

Teixeira, A Rod and Canos bats fell a sleep again even with the late comeback
it still was not enough. Now its up to Andy Pettitte who will be on three days rest.

At least they will be in the Bronx away from the dirtbag Phillie fans. Lets see what happens. This series is far from over.

Lidge, A-Rod Put Yankees One Away

Johnny Damon had one of the biggest at bats of the year in the top of ninth.

With two outs against Brad Lidge he got a big base hit after stealing a base and with the shift on against Texiera got to third. A Rod came through with a big double. Jorge followed then Mo in the bottom of the ninth lights out we are up 3-1.

It would of been a tough loss. The Yanks had a 4-2 lead and gave them back with two Philly homers. The worst was Joba who had two quick outs in the eighth and then hung one to Pedro Feliez. CC was good not great.

Jeter had another big game. The Yanks had Blanton on the ropes but did not put him away.

This is so big because if the Yanks lose to Cliff Lee on Monday they still come back to the Bronx with a 3-2 lead. I hope so bad they win on Monday in Philly.

To All the Yankees fans like myself we would love to win in Philly.

Rain Delay Win

After a long rain delay and a day of trick or treating we got some baseball about 920pm.

The start of game 3 Cole Hamels looked like Whitey Ford though the first few innings. Andy Pettitte was on the ropes but he led on. When the umps made the right call on A Rod's opposite field homer we were back in the game.

Then the offense took over and Girardi's move to keep Nick Swisher in there paid off with his first big game of the post season. And with a Matsui homer off the bench and great bull pen work the Bombers took game 3 8-5.

It's far from over but with the win that means this series has to come back to the Bronx. As Yankee fans we will take that but we would love to take the next two down there, case closed.