Around the Yankee Universe: How sweet it could be

by Ed Valentine on Sep 27, 2009 9:49 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

For a regular-season game, how much better does it get than clinching sweeping the Boston Red Sox, clinching the AL East and setting off the first real celebration in the history of the new Yankee Stadium?

That, of course, is what can happen tonight. I would have to say it doesn't get a whole lot better than that as a New York Yankee fan. John Harper of the New York Daily News expressed it this way.

If only the fans could break out the old "1918, 1918" chant, it would really feel like old times here at the new Yankee Stadium. As it is, this weekend is turning out to be the most fun New Yorkers have had with the Red Sox in town since The Rivalry changed forever in 2004.

And why not? This is a season when the Yankees have reclaimed a sense of superiority between the teams, with the obvious caveat of a possible reengagement in the ALCS, and now they have a chance to make it official by clinching the AL East title today by sweeping these Sox.

Short of winning it all, it's hard to imagine anything Yankee fans would enjoy more.

Harper is right, of course. It's different now, but this would be sweet. Oh, and I don't want to hear Terry Francona's excuse-making that the Red Sox are not showing all their cards this weekend. We all know Boston does not want to watch the Yankees celebrate tonight.

Here are a few other stories making news Around the Yankee Universe today.

I might be a little late to the party on this one, but it seems The Sporting News has decided that the Red Sox are baseball's team of the decade. Both Mark Feinsand of the Daily News and the folks at Zell's Pinstripe Blog have issued a collective cry of 'What the ...?" Feinsand puts it this way and, again, I find myself agreeing with a Daily News writer.

To this point, you’d have to say Boston is the frontrunner, but what if the Yankees win the World Series this season?

The Red Sox have been to the postseason six times this decade (I’m assuming they make it this year), played in four ALCS and two World Series, winning them both.

If the Yankees win it all this year, they would have been to the postseason nine times, played in five ALCS and four World Series, winning two of them.

So how can you possibly call the Red Sox the team of the decade if the Yankees win it all this year? You can’t. If the Yankees have added No. 27 to their trophy case, the Sporting News will owe them an apology. If the Yankees don't win, then the Red Sox are the right choice.

Not much doubt the folks at TSN jumped the gun on this one. A Yankee World Series title this year would swing the balance in their favor.

Peter Abraham says there is little question CC Sabathia has earned his money this season.

CC Sabathia was asked his definition of being an ace after today’s game.

"The definition of an ace is just giving the team a chance to win every time out," he said. "The guys feel like you have a chance to win every time you go out there. That’s what I try and do. I go out and give everything I have, leave it all out on the field."

By that definition, Sabathia is truly an ace. The Yankees have won the last 11 games he has started. The left-hander is 9-0 with a 2.04 ERA in those games.

"He has been everything you can ask for and more," Joe Girardi said. "From the way he’s pitched on the field, the way he right away in spring training came and brought the pitching staff together and the players together. … He is an ace."

Think of the expectations heaped on Sabathia when he agreed to that mega-contract in December. Now consider what he has done. He is 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and the Yankees are 7.5 games ahead of Boston and have the best record in baseball.

Not even the most demanding of fans — and let’s admit, you’re a demanding bunch — could have expected more.

Other stuff

That should give you plenty to read in-between football games today.

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Comments

One additional observation.

With the Angels’ loss last night, clinching the A.L. East also means clinching the best record and home field advantage through the playoffs. That extra game at the Stadium could be a big advantage.

by django48 on Sep 27, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

you have got to be kidding me!

With this were not showing all our cards bullshit! They are playing as hard as they can, just because they gave a few guys the day off that means their not trying to really win? We gave our guys the days off earlier in the week. We are just the better team, and them trying to pull this shit is disrespectful to our entire organization. This is just making excuses for us owning that ass since they went 8 and 0. Enjoy your slow demise assholes!

by swanny4eva on Sep 27, 2009 11:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Just be glad

that the NY media aren’t such homers & we get real analysis rather than the fluff that comes out of the Globe. If you read their stuff regularly (I live in Boston area), than you wouldn’t be surprised by that crap.

by potroast on Sep 27, 2009 11:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

that was such a stupid article. i love some of the coments. they went all out on the o's, but when it comes to the yanks, they need rest.

"Hey, you F*?ked up! You trusted us!"

by GTWYankee on Sep 27, 2009 11:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Easy, Swanny

We agree with the sentiment, but let’s go easy on the language. Please!

by Ed Valentine on Sep 27, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

These Team of the Decade things are tough

The 90s was also tough…do you count the 3 Yankee WS at the end of the decade, considering the mediocrity of the first 4 years? Or do you go with the Braves making it every year, but falling short?

Let’s say -1 point for a losing season, 1 point for making the playoffs, 2 for making the CS, 4 for making the WS, and 8 for winning the WS:

-1990s Braves: 1 WS Win+4 WS+3 CS+1 DS-1 Losing = 30 (Of course, many of the Braves appearances were before the LDS).
-1990s Yankees: 3 WS Wins+2 DS-3 Losing = 23

I think Boston gets major credit in writers eyes:

-For winning those two with the same team in a short time-span, whereas 2000 feels like a completely different era.
-For exceeding expectations (the Yanks are SUPPOSED to make it to the WS, so all those first-round losses look like failures).
-For throwing off the “curse,” but having it not just be a fluke.

Something lost in this conversation: What about the Cardinals?

~~7 post-season appearances (counting this year), 5 NLCS, 2 WS, 1 WS win. If the Cards end up winning it all, you could make a strong case, though they’ve had a sub~~.500 year this decade.

2000s “Point” totals:

-Yankees: 1 WS win+2 WS+1 CS+4 DS = 22
-Red Sox: 2 WS wins+2 CS+1 DS = 21
-Cardinals: 1 WS win+1 WS+3 CS+1 DS -1 Losing = 18

Any one of these teams could win the WS and be the “team of the decade” in my mind.

by PortlandYankee on Sep 27, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

It’s too soon to call a team of the decade because the three team race is so close.

by GMan83201 on Sep 27, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

The team of the decade

will be decided this year. If the Yanks win it all, then it’s them. If the Sux win it all, then it’s them. If the Cards win it all, then it’s them. If someone else wins? Well then, I like your system best.

by nyyrocks29 on Sep 27, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Loser Dead Sux fans making excuses!

rip nicky a!

by Static Shock on Sep 27, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

Yankee in first and all is right with the world!

The universe knows that the Yankees are the rightful kings of baseball and when they didn’t make the playoffs last year, we all heard the pain of the cosmos!
So glad the Yankees are in their rightful place! Thank You Brian Cashman and Yankee front office and most of all the players!

by AlStar9111 on Sep 28, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions