Mike Mussina is the Yankees MVP for 2008.  I believe that's a fair statement to make coming into September.  He has been terrific throughout the year.  His confidence is stellar and he has shown true grit all season.  At this point if you want a win or a good chance for a win pick Moose for your starter.  He gives the team a chance to win every time out even if the run support doesn't come.  He keeps you in the ball game and if he makes a mistake he comes right back at you and gets out of the jam.  He takes it upon himself, as all pitchers should, to get his team out of the situation he just put them in.  I can't remember a time this year when he has seemed flustered or down even when his stuff or the support wasn't there.  He has been a bulldog and we owe him for the "almost" playoff postition we are in.  Things could be alot worse if not for Mike Mussina.

Somehow we need to get Mattingly back in pinstripes.  I was watching old timers day from earlier this year and it just didn't seem right that Willie Randolph received the biggest ovation of the day.  I told my father that kind of reception was for one man.  Donnie Baseball.  Something was missing.  Something wasn't quite right.  I didn't think about this when I watched the first time around.  I love Willie but when he's getting the huge  applause reserved for Mattingly, you have to want him to come home somehow.  I don't care if he's the hitting coach again.  He belongs in New York.  He simply is not a Dodger.  I know if he was watching earlier this year he can't help but feel different.  He was and is a humble man but I think he knows he should have been at the stadium that day getting the standing ovation he deserves.  Forget old timers day.  He should be there period.  I don't blame him for sticking with Torre for the simple fact that both were railroaded out in my opinion.  In the perfect world Joe T would be at the helm leading us to glory once again with Donnie by his side.  I live and die with this team and am with them no matter what but you always think about what might have been.  What if Torre was still here?  What if Mattingly would have been named manager?  You can play the "what if" game all day long.  I don't know what the end of this year will bring.  Hopefully title 27.  Hankenstein may want to look at his coaching staff with or without Girardi.  I don't think Joe G matters in the equation like those surrounding him do.  I think the players are on board with Girardi but I don't know if they have the same feeling about Meacham as compared with Willie.  Kevin Long isn't bad but I'm a Mattingly fan.  If management wakes up maybe they will see that love for former players isn't bad.  If they love Donnie then put him in there to win.  Keep Joe Torre until he gives you a reason to hate him.  If you didn't know I'm a Torre fan too.  Something's missing for me.  I guess I was spoiled like we all were with the perfect world.  Torre, Zim, Mel, Willie, Donnie.  Just feeling a bit nostalgic.  

            I think it was time for Melky to have some time off the past few games.  Girardi and the Yanks may want to think about a more permanent time away for the milk man.  I was excited at one time for some youth in the lineup, which I still am for.  Someone took chances on Jeter and Bernie for example when they were young.  I don't see any improvement with Melky Cabrerra and unsure as to why Girardi is married to the idea of having him in the lineup daily.  I believe he has had his chance to shine.  I was actually suprised that he was not dealt during the recent trading time.  He doesn't hit.  He doesn't go to left field with pitches and always tries to jerk them over the short porch in right.  The speed he does possess is not utilized due to his propensity for flying out.  He is a liability injury wise to himself when on the bases.  We need no other injuries at this point in the season.  In my opinion he is an average outfielder.  I guess the tone of this post suggests that I am not a big fan of Melky and wonder why the Yankees are. 

            This weekend series with the sox would be a great time to make a big statement to the AL East as well as to the rest of the league.  Don't count us out.  I for one have never counted us out this year even if the Baseball Tonight guys have.  If the Yanks can win 2 of 3 or even sweep, what a position that would put us in.  We have been rolling lately and we need to keep rolling.  Pitching from Moose today was just outstanding.  Hitting with runners in scoring position is getting there and another great thing I see is Robinson Cano coming out of the first half funk.  From the beginning of the season I said that consistancy is the key.  Are you going to win every game? Of course not.  You have to take it a game at a time and a series at a time.  You can't look too far ahead or you will start making predictions like everyone else has about the Yankees being out for this year.  I think the team did do that to some extent at the beginning of the season.  They were playing with this urgency that wasn't needed quite yet.  They started taking it slower.  Taking pitches again.  Taking things a game at a time.  They have put themselves right back in it folks.  Watch out this weekend for the Bronx steamroller rolling through Boston. 

             A grind it out win today for the Yanks.  These are the games that give us hope for another postseason appearance in October.  Pettitte displayed a dominant performance and timely hitting did the rest.  These low scoring victories are what make a team great and seeing the bombers pull out a close one is very satisfying.  This type of win reminds me of (gulp) the late 90's.  I'm not carried away, I only said this type of win reminds me.  This series against Oakland shows that all is not lost.  There is life and heart in this team.  Winning with pitching and not the three run bomb is always just a little sweeter.  I love the big clout but these games are what it's all about.  Pettitte was like a bulldog and once again went deep into the game.  Our pen picked it up at the end and that was that.  Stringing together wins gives a team confidence and makes up ground in the standings.  Boston and Tampa Bay will be feeling the heat coming.  They know exactly who they're dealing with and deep down are concerned whether they admit it or not.  The bullpen clicking.  The starters going deep into games.  The offense coming through lately when it's time to roll.  The heat is on and we're coming after the usual suspect and the unusual suspect.  We are not running on empty and have just filled up for the long haul.  This is what I love.

        There have been many great teams in the history of the New York Yankees.  I think it is time to honor these special teams somehow in the new stadium or in monument park.  I feel something more than a flag or banner is due these teams.  With 26 world titles it may be hard to celebrate every team but you may be able to start with dynasties or time periods of success.  The 1927 team and the 1998 team come to mind as teams to be remembered forever in pinstripe history.  I hope they have thought of this for the new stadium.  I know they are working on a "great hall" of some kind but I hope certain teams and dynasties are celebrated in this hall as well.  I believe they should have some monuments in the stadium for the great teams of the past possibly with player names from those specific teams.  These monuments would be a great addition to the ones adorned to the players.  I hope the Yankees have thought of something like this for the new house.