In an article he wrote for the NY Post -

Right before Game 5 (of the 2003 World Series), I had back spasms. I threw five or six warm-up pitches and told pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre to get another pitcher ready because I wasn't going to make it. Mel was like, "No, you can do it."

I threw maybe 10 warm-up pitches total in the bullpen -- I spent most of the time lying on my back -- and said, "If you guys want me to pitch, so be it."

I went out there and my first pitch was like 78 mph. I soon came out of the game, and here is why Joe Torre is such a tool: I came out of the game and some guys were mad. I went in the training room and had no trainer, no doctor, no coach, nobody. I had to have one of the clubhouse kids put an icepack on my back. Then I had back surgery a week later.

If my back is healthy we win that World Series.

The only problem is that he was bragging before that game about how he didn't need to exercise, unlike those workout freaks Nolan Ryan, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

He also goes on to say the Yankees are the team of the decade. (h/t to BTF)

More photos » by Mark Lennihan - AP

Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, in New York.

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Check out a slew of photos from today's New York Yankees ticker-tape parade.

Have you heard about Joe Girardi's adventurous ride home after Wednesday night's World Series victory? Seems Joe Girardi ended up playing Good Samaritan at the scene of an accident.

Amazing way to end an amazing night.

By the way, Derek Jeter will be on David Letterman tonight.

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

The New York Yankees celebrate after Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. The Yankees won 7-3.

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World Series championshp No. 27 is in the books. Remember this feeling, Yankee fans? It's been a while. Hurry up, get to the store, buy some Yankee World Series stuff. Plan your trip to the Canyon of Heroes tomorrow, if you can.

Celebrate. The baseball world is back in its proper order -- with our New York Yankees on top.

Let's sample some of the reaction.

From a couple of the Yankees who have done this a few times.

"It doesn’t get old," Jorge Posada said. "This is amazing. I think you can take it for granted how tough it is."

"I forgot how good it felt," Jeter said before flashing that trademark smile that has made him the face of baseball. "You don’t ever know if you’ll get back here again, which makes this one so sweet. This is something that never gets old."

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More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

The New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 in Game 3 of the Major League Baseball World Series Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia. The Yankees take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

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Life is good as a New York Yankee fan this morning. A 2-1 World Series lead with CC Sabathia heading to the mound tonight -- against Joe Blanton instead of Cliff Lee.

Let's cruise the Inter-Google while we celebrate the Game 3 victory, and see what is being said Around the Yankee Universe.

• New York Daily News media critic Bob Raissman was highly critical of FOX for their reporting -- or lack of reporting on the Alex Rodriguez home run that resulted in the first-ever World Series replay reversal. The camera, of course, belonged to FOX -- a fact that was never mentioned. The other question is, of course, why would the network stick a camera in a place where it could interfere with play?
• Mike Lupica has plenty of praise for Andy Pettitte this morning, after Pettitte perservered through six difficult inning. 

None of it (the comeback) happens if Andy Pettitte doesn't stand in there against the Phillies, like a hitter standing in against the curve. There have been what feel like a hundred October nights when he had more fastball and more stuff than he showed you against the Phillies in Game 3, those three runs in the first two innings, two home runs by Jayson Werth, the second one a monster shot that went off the facing of the upper deck at Citizens Bank Park.

He pitched six innings, gave up five hits, struck out seven, gave up the two home runs. It does not look like a lot. It was. On this night, the night when the Yankees were trying to get ahead and then give the ball to CC Sabathia, Pettitte was as much a champion Yankee as he has ever been. He needed 17 minutes and 24 pitches to get out of the bottom of the first. He threw over to first eight times after Jimmy Rollins singled. He saw Rollins steal second without even drawing a throw from Jorge Posada. It is supposed to be easier stealing from an armored car.

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More photos » by Paul J. Bereswill - AP

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Lost in the bustle of Game 2's pregame ceremony (and mostly ignored by Buck and McCarver during their Pedro love fest), was that Derek Jeter won the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award.

Joba is following the Captain's example and will be hosting a benefit for Camp Acorn, a summer/winter social and recreational program for children and young adults with multiple disabilities.

Joba has gotten a lot of press for his hard childhood and for his off-field mistakes.  He's a professional athlete, and no one would really be surprised if he just went home in the offseason.  Most guys start foundations and charities after they sign big free agent deals, but Joba isn't waiting for his big payday before giving back.  It's a conscious decision to try to parlay fame into support for a worthy cause.

Camp Acorn is selling tickets for the benefit in Garfield, NJ on November 16th.  I'm sure Joba will have some great stories to tell, so if anybody goes, share so that we can all have an off-season laugh.

The 18-year-old Japanese flame-thrower, Yusei Kikuchi, has decided to play pro ball in Japan (at least for now). He'll enter the draft and likely be the top overall pick.

• Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman is apparently asking for 'up to $60 million.' The Mets quickly declined to sign him. That is crazy money, and I don't think he'll ever get near that. (via MLBTR)
  

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

A young spectator and security personnel stand in the rain in Yankee Stadium before Game 6 of the American League Championship baseball series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, in New York.

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Tonight's game has been postponed.

Rain postponed Saturday's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, and the Angels and Yankees hope for better conditions on Sunday in New York. Game 6 will be played at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday and aired on FOX. If Game 7 is necessary, it will be played on Monday at 7:57 p.m.

The Yankees -- leading the series, 3-2 --will stick with starter Andy Pettitte, who is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA so far this postseason, and the Angels will stay with lefty Joe Saunders, who has a 2.57 ERA in the ALCS. New York manager Joe Girardi said that postponing the game was a good decision.

"The one thing is you don't want to stop and start," Girardi said. "I don't think any of us are exactly sure when the rain is going to get out of here or how late it's going to be, so I respect the decision they made.

"I'm sure both clubs would've loved to have played. The weather is not permitting."