Quest for 27

Hello NYSS readers! It's been a while since the Yankees got some attention on this site. Let's face it with the Mets being eliminated by "Who's Your Daddy" & the Giants, and Jets getting off to good starts, now is as good a time as any to talk about the Yankees Post-Season chances (Not getting in but winning the whole-damned thing) Today, I'm going to tell you the things that excite me for October & November, and some of the obstacles that I am sure will provide interesting theater in the weeks to come. Unlike other sites like ESPN & CBSSports we are not going to fill the page with information that makes sports enthusiasts vomit. I won't tell you that the Yankees need timely hitting, or clutch pitching, solid bullpen or A-Rod to hit in the post-season. That is the easy way out, and every team needs these things in order to win the World Series. Hopefully you will read something insightful, funny and interesting. Talk Soon!

WHY I AM EXCITED!

The Road To 27 Starts with: GETTING THAT I OUT OF TEAM

The above fight indicates a team, that had each others back. If you messed with one of them, you messed with them all. The team concept has long been missing from the Yankees since Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams left. It has seemingly returned with likes of Pie Oh My (AJ Burnett) Nick Swisher, and clubhouse staples like CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. This has been the only year that I can remember out of the last 5 where the Yankee pitching staff remains in the dugout EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT PITCHING. Earlier in the year Johnny Damon passed around a championship belt to those who provided clutch theatrics. AJ has replaced that with the pie to the face. Also while talking about AJ, he was suspended in Toronto after throwing at a Blue Jay after Tex got hit. This certainly doesn't hurt team morale either. Can anyone tell me when Wang, Mussina, or Any other Yankee starter not named Clemens plunked anyone? Some people overrate chemistry as a key to success. I don't think its valued enough. The Red Sucks won with a team that began a whole sub-culture, the Tigers and White Sox had close knit teams as did the Cardinals after the passing of key organizational figures. Chemistry doesn't take you there, or win it, but it can provide an advantage in key moments when doubt creeps in see: A-ROD.

SPEED KILLS

If anyone saw Monday night's game with LAA you know exactly what I mean. In the dynasty years the Yankees could turn to runners like Ricky Ledee, Homer Bush & Chad Curtis. (how similar do they look alike)

The speed put pressure on the other team's bullpen late in the games. In post-season games you need to squeak a few out. (Dave Roberts Anyone?) Brett Gardner and Ramiro Pena provide that speed. Last Night following a Mark Texieira double, Jorge Posada was intentionally walked so the Angels could Bring Darren Oliver a lefty garbage man to face Matsui in a 3-3 game. Surprisingly, Girardi sent Gardner to Run for Texieira (losing a great hitter and amazing fielder late in a tie game scares me) and had Posada pinch ran for with a speedy Freddy Guzman. A minor league call-up. On the 2nd pitch both Gardner and Guzman took off on a double steal and when Napoli's throw went behind 3rd base, Gardner scored and Guzman went to 3rd. A base hit later the score was 5-3. Those types of BALLSY calls and great speed win games in October.


THE STATS DON'T LIE....YET

Lastly under the why I am excited about the Yankees chances...The Stats do not lie... In hitting,
the Yankees are leading the Majors in Runs, HR's, RBI's, BB's, Total Bases, On Base Percentage, and are 2nd in BA and 3rd to last in K's..I repeat 3rd to last in K's. I know what the haters say, they play in Yankee stadium...Well guess what haters, with home field advantage throughout the playoffs more than likely, that only adds to the argument. Now Dan, what about the pitching...Well the Yankees are 2nd in Majors in Innings Pitched (Starters) and K's. 7th in ERA, which considering the top 5 are National legue teams is pretty good. Fielding % and Errors Committed they are top 5 as well. All that sounds like a pretty well rounded team to me.

WHY I AM NERVOUS! THE OBSTACLES


If you are interested in the Obstacles that will get in the way of the march to 27...Please stay tuned or yell at me at twitter.com/dhalioua