Looking Ahead to the MLB Playoffs

First of all, I would like to congratulate the Boston Red Sox for backing into the playoffs after being swept by the Yankees and losing the first three games to Toronto.

The fact that C.C. Sabathia is pitching in game one of the playoffs next Wednesday is a lock. With the way things are shaping up, it looks like C.C. will be opposed by Justin Verlander of the Tigers (if the Tigers can hold off the surging twins). I attended a Tigers Yankees game at the stadium this summer. What was the pitching matchup? C.C. vs. Justin. Let me tell you, forgetting about the numbers and all, Justin Verlander has unbelievable stuff. He made the Yankee lineup look like a bunch of little leaguers hitting for the first time after graduating tee ball. Regardless, the Yankees found a way to win the game on an Alex Rodriguez home run that just got over the right field wall.

C.C's struggles in the playoffs in the past have to be forgotten about. Both seasons in which he has struggled, his arm has been shot. He pitched on three days rest consistently last year to will the Brewers into the playoffs. The previous year with Cleveland, he had pitched a ton of innings before postseason. I am confident in C.C as he has been a workhorse all year for us, but hasn't been overworked.

Many debate who the number two starter should be in the playoffs for the Yankees. The obvious choices are A.J Burnett and Andy Pettitte. The two are such different pitchers. A.J is an overpowering hurler who has the stuff to no hit any team on any day, yet also has the moments where he simply implodes. Andy meanwhile, is a more consistent pitcher with honest stuff. Personally I would like to see A.J in game two as I truly believe he will step up to the occasion in the playoffs. We'll see who the Yankees choose.

Either way, the ALDS is always a hard series. A best of five is more of a crapshoot then anything. One bad start by a pitcher could turn an entire series around. As the Yankees have seen in recent division series, they are not easy to win.

The New York Football Giants

The New York Giants are 3-0. Some New Yorkers may be overlooking the play of the Giants so far this season for a few reasons. The first is that the Jets are also 3-0. The second is that the Giants have the expectation to do well. They haven't just done well so far this season, they have done great.

Let's be honest, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not a great football team. They have no offense whatsoever. Their quarterback situation is a complete mess, and they have a quite weak defense. Despite all of those things, the Giants completed an absoluter slaughter of them this past Sunday. The Bucs didn't get a first down until there were four minutes to go in the third quarter. That is unheard of. It was such a dominate Giant performance that the game was almost hard to watch. You knew after the first Giants drive that the game was over.

With a big win over the Cowboys in Dallas in week two, the New York Football Giants are being looked at with high expectations for the 2009-2010 season.

What a Day

What a day for New York Sports. The Giants move to 3-0 with a 24-0 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets move to 3-0 with a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, and the Yankees win their 100th game to clinch the Al East title and clinch home field throughout the playoffs.

What a season for the Yankees. They have 100 wins with six games to go. They lost the first eight games against the Red Sox this season, and panic begun. People were saying this team just did not match up well enough against Boston. Since then, the Yanks won 9 of 10 against their arch rival to secure the division title a week before the season is over. To make things even sweeter, they clinched with a win against Boston, to complete a sweep, at home. Another comeback win for the Yankees.

It was great to see the guys celebrating in the locker room after the game. This is a special group of guys who have one common goal: to win the world series. They have now accomplished all of their regular season goals, and I assume will give some guys rest this week while preparing for the starts of the playoffs on Wednesday, October 7th. C.C will start game one, that's as far as we know.

Magic Number is Five

The magic number to clinch the AL East division is now five games for the New York Yankees. A game is gained whether they win or Boston loses. When playing Boston this weekend, they can gain two games on that magic number with each win. If all goes right, the Yankees will clinch this weekend at home against the Sox.

Months ago the Yankees were 0-8 against Boston and trailing the division by about five games. No one thought they would be at the point they are at now during the stretch. It really has been an enjoyable season. Besides a few bumps in the road (the first month without A-Rod, Jobas struggles as a starter, a few very rough starts from AJ Burnett, and some other small bumps), this has been an incredibly successful team. They just took a series from the Angels on the road for the first time since 2004. It was a very big series win as the Angels are a possible playoff opponent and they needed to give themselves confidence that they could beat them in LA.

Although the Yankee attitude is "the World Series must be won for it to be a successful season," either way you look at it, it really has been a great season. A lot of luck is involved in short series in the playoffs. Hopefully this Yankee team can find the will and way to win 11 postseason games. They really deserve it.

State of the Yanks

What a season so far for the New York Yankees. After an average start while playing without Alex Rodriguez for the first month, they have been hot ever since. The Yanks now sit 39 games over 500, with the division basically won.

It will be nice to see recently called up Shelley Duncan get some at bats in the last few weeks of the season. Shelley has always been one of my favorite players.

When will Derek Jeter break Lou Gehrig's Yankee hit record? Four hits to go...we shall see.

Coming Back

Interesting game for the Yanks last night. Joba was once again awful. If they are not going to pitch him on normal rest, there is no point in starting him at all. Clearly it is messing with him as he hasn't succeeded at all when not given five days rest.

This Yankee team always gives you the feeling that they will come back. Down five runs in the ninth last night, they still almost won the game. I believe that Nick Swisher who has 20 plus home runs should not be bunting in that situation. However, the team will lose games, it is quite impressive how they come back all of the time. Exciting ninth inning until the end.

Let's hope the Yanks take tonight's game and set themselves up to win yet another series.

Big W

Big win last night for the Yankees. It has been rare this year to see the Yankees go on losing streaks. Last night they stopped the possibility of a three game skid with a 7-2 victory over the A's. C.C. Sabathia was great as he pitched eight innings and was able to get his 14th win of the season. With the way he's been pitching lately, there's still an outside chance that he will win 20 games. What a feat that would be in his first season as a Yankee.

The Yanks square off against the A's tonight in the series finale. They then have tomorrow off to travel and go into Boston for another three game series with their arch rival.

The Yankees have an opportunity to basically put the division away if they sweep in Boston. They would have a 10 game lead in the AL East.