I wrote this when I finally got out of bed circa 2:30 in the afternoon.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

My fellow crazies and I were out celebrating the World Series Championship of the New York Yankees up until about 7am. None of us wanted the night to end.

Ball game over. World Series over. Baseball season over.

Listening to asinine hating anti-fans drop the "who's won more in this century" over.

Having to hear people say they "can't wait til the Yankees choke" over.

First year at new stadium over.

Nine years without a ring over.

Ball game over. The Yankees win.

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Arod, Jeter, Rivera, Teixeira, Sabathia, Matsui, Pettitte, Hughes, Posada, Burnett, Damon, Marte, Swisher, Chamberlain, Cano, Coke, Robertson, Cabrera, Aceves, Gardner, Molina, Wang, Cervelli, Hinske, Hairston, Kennedy, Pena, Bruney, Nady, Guzman, Gaudin, Mitre, Ransom, Veras, Ramirez, Berroa, Cash, Duncan, Miranda, Melancon, Albaledejo, Claggett, Dunn

Ladies and gentlemen of Pinstripe Alley, your World Champions.

I'm proud to say that these Yankees are cut from the same never-say-die cloth as the Phillies.  Every game was a battle and every AB brought me more butterflies than any game I can remember.  Here's to all the Philly fans who made their way to PA in the last few days with class and respect.  Here's to the Phillies for the tensest, most exciting World Series in several years.

The Yankees have shown perseverance.  They have show their talent and determination.  They are the champions we have wished and prayed and hoped for.

Yankee fans, your faith has been reward.

Matsui is MVP.

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If we knew beforehand that Cliff Lee would give up five runs in seven innings, we'd have taken it in a second and never looked back. I'm also sure we would think we'd be celebrating right now if we could score five off Lee. It was not to be.

A.J. Burnett wasn't fooling anyone. He gave up as many runs as outs: six. He was pulled in the third with runners on the corners and no outs. To give you an idea of how good Yankee starters have been, this was the first postseason start that didn't go at least six innings.

Would Burnett have fared better on full rest in Game 6? We'll never know, only that he got hit early and often. He gave up three runs (on a - who else? - Chase Utley homer) before ever recording an out.

Then, when the Yankees were making their inevitable comeback, Phil Coke served up two gopher balls (to two lefties) in one inning. That really put the game out of reach. A six-run deficit in the eighth was a bit too large for the Yanks to overcome, though they gave it their all, rallying to get within two. It's not like Marte should have been unavailable: yes, he he saw action in the previous two games, but only threw four pitches last night.

If there were some positives to take from this game, it would be the performances of Robertson, Aceves and Hughes, the avoidance of Mo, and that the Yankees are swinging the bats well. Hopefully it means Pedro gets tattooed in Game 6.

Let's not all go crazy during the off-day tomorrow. There will be a lot of anxiety, but it doesn't mean we have to kill each other.

Marte had pitched the last 2 days, and the Yankees weren't in the game when Coke came in.

I believe this to be true.

AJ was ugly, pushed by a tight strike zone.  The offense was quiet, but I expect this late eruption to carry over.

Travis will have the full write up soon.

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"Well.. one of Knuke's eyelids are jammed, and we need a live chicken?.. live chicken to get the hex off of Jose's glove, and nobody seems to kno what to get Jimmy or Millie for their wedding present. We are dealing with a lotta shit out here."

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CC was not sharp, handing out 3 walks in addition to 7 hits over 6.2IP.  He managed to work out of significant trouble, leaving runners in scoring position in the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th.  He wasn't the immovable object of the ALCS, but with some offense behind him, he didn't need to be.

Sabathia didn't seem to be locating well, which may or may not have been influenced warning issued by the umps in the top of the first when Arod was plunked for the 3rd time in 4 games.  But he reminded the world that what makes him special is that he gives depth as well as quality.  

The Phighting Phils scored their first run on back to back doubles in the 1st, and another on a single + Johnny Damon's arm in the 4th. CC left in the 7th following another Utley solo shot on a hanger.

Joe Blanton kept the Yankees off balance for 6 innings- striking out 7 but also walking a pair and surrendering 5 hits.  The ump certainly helped with one of the most questionable strike zones I can remember in a long time.  Pitches called strikes half way down the shins, both sides of the plate growing and shrinking as the night stretched on.

The top of the order was the catalyst for the Yanks tonight, both Jeter and Damon collected a pair of hits and scored runs in the 1st and 5th.

Marte looked good closing out the 7th, giving way to Joba for the 8th.  Joba struck out Jason Werth, touching 97 with his fastball.  Then Joba struck out Raul Ibanez, throwing 3 straight sliders to set up another 97 mph fastball.  He was up 1-2 to the light hitting Pedro Feliz.  He missed with a pair of sliders, and came back with a fastball that Feliz turned around so quickly that Joba didn't even have to watch it fly to know it was gone.

In the top of the ninth, Matsui and Jeter went down in order.  Johnny Damon worked a nine pitch AB, finally lacing a single to left field.  The Phillies put the shift on Tex (though the broadcast team didn't mention it or show it well), and when Damon stole second, then popped up and took off for third most of Yankee Universe committed bushido before realizing that it was a great heads up play.  Tex was HBP, putting an exclamation point on his 0-fer, and bringing the Lighting Rod to bat with runners on 1st and 3rd.  Arod did what Arod do, doubling in Damon (Joe Nathan, Brian Fuentes, Brad Lidge- it's like a little collector set).  Jorge followed with a single, plating Tex and Arod, though Posada was out at second on the play.

Mariano took the hill with a 3 run lead (protecting a vulture W for Joba Chamberlain).  Goodbye Matt Stairs.  Goodbye Jimmy Rollins.  Goodbye Shane Victorino.  MVP?  Maybe, maybe.

The night's disheartening news concerns Melky Cabrera, who pulled up lame on a grounder to first in the top of the 6th inning.  If the Melk Man hits the DL, I figure either Freddy Guzman or Fransico Cervelli will return (though I'm personally rooting for Cody Ransom  /sarcasm).

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Joe G. gave Swisher a game off; Swisher came back with two crucial extra base hits.

Joe G. pulled Andy early.  Andy wasn't great tonight, but he was gutsy enough that I was willing to send him back out there.  He also collected the first World Series RBI by a Yankee pitcher since Jim Bouton in 1964- part of a game changing 5th inning in which the wheel came off for Cole Hamels (who pitched a great game- Victorino had caught the lazy flies by Pettitte and Jeter it could have been a very different game).

Joe G. showed uncommon trust for his set-up men, sticking with Joba against Chase Utley with 2 out.  His confidence was rewarded when Joba got Utley, allowing Joe to double switch Matsui, who promptly homered. Joe then stuck with Marte against the righties Werth and Ibanez.

My only complaint is about how Joe handled Hughes.  I like bringing him in with a safe lead in the 9th inning even though he gave up the homer to Ruiz.  I think you have to give Hughes 1 more batter in that situation.  One more batter would not be the tying run, and instead you deny yourself the chance to use Mo for 2 tomorrow (though he did only throw 5 pitches).  I like what Joe Buck reported Hughes said, "I was worrying too much about scouting reports and got away from my strength."

Speaking of Buck, after giving so much attention to the lack of volume at New Yankee Stadium, he didn't say a word about the disappearing Philly fans.  "Let's Go Yankees" "Huuuughes" and "Hip Hip Jorge" were the loudest chants from the 6th inning on.

The Phillies have established a pattern: if they hit homers they hit them in pairs.  Let that be a lesson for tomorrow- if someone gets into one, walk him the next time up.  Keep that in mind during Ruiz's first AB.

On the offensive front, Alex Rodriguez reminded the world that even if he has a rough couple of game, he's still one of the best players in the game.  Joe Buck will probably still be complaining tomorrow about the 'questionable' home run off the camera that had to be reviewed, but Arod did what was needed.  He also reached base on a walk and a pair of HBP.

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An awkward homerun celebration, but a homerun celebration, nonetheless...

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Ahh, much better.

The Yankees beat the Phillies in a much-needed, if technically not "must-win" Game 2, with A.J. Burnett outdueling old friend Pedro Martinez.

The Phillies took an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd with an RBI single from Matt Stairs, but the Yanks answered in the 4th with a solo shot from Mark Teixeira. Two innings later, Hideki Matsui went yard to give the Yanks a 2-1 lead, and then they collectively abandoned the longball game in favor of the small ball one.

If we had lost that game, I would have undoubtedly been arrested, and they would have needed dental records to identify the first base ump's mangled body.

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Burnett was great.