Enjoy the off-season, everyone.

Lee had the confidence with a good slider, an effective changeup and his usual good fastball and limited the Yankees to six hits, striking out 10 and issuing one walk. In his World Series debut, Lee got his third win in the postseason and lowered his ERA to 0.54, the seventh lowest all-time in postseason play among pitchers with at least 20.0 innings.

More importantly, Lee showed no signs of being nervous and now the Yankees are faced with trying to even the series at home Thursday evening, facing another lefthander, the familiar face of Pedro Martinez. It is the first time this postseason that the Yankees trail in a series.

“Game time is the time go out there and have fun and let your skills take over,” commented Lee who was acquired by the Phillies from Cleveland before the trading deadline on July 29^th. And his acquisition could be a major reason why the Phillies are in position to win consecutive World Series titles.

Sabathia got off to a slow start and got out of a bases loaded situation in the first inning on a misty and cold night in the Bronx. The Yankees, back in the Fall Classic after a six year absence knew they would expect Lee to be on his game. Sabathia also threw two  solo home run balls to Chase Utley who became the second left handed batter in World Series history to hit two home runs off a lefthander pitcher in one game.

“It’s kind of weird,” said Lee about his performance that had the record new Yankee Stadium crowd of 50,207 come to a hush when he constantly retired the powerful bats in the Yankees lineup. “Boils down to confidence and trusting your teammates,” he said.

Lee’s 10 strikeouts were the most by a pitcher in a World Series game since Florida’s Josh Beckett fanned 10 on October 21, 2003 in game 3 when the Yankees opposed Florida. “He kept us off balance,” said Yankee manager Joe Girardi about Lee. “He got us to chase some pitches when we were down in the count, up in the zone. He used his cutter very well. He used his curveball very well.”

The Yankees seemed to be frustrated, though Girardi downplayed that thought. “As far as  being frustrated, our guys will grind it out,” he said. I’m not concerned about that” The only concern may be how the Yankees bounce back Thursday evening when A.J. Burnett takes the mound.  Girardi also said he would also contemplate keeping catcher Jorge Posada in the lineup instead of inserting Joe Molina who usually is in there when Burnett is on the mound.

“He mixes it up,” said the Yankees Derek Jeter about the variety of pitches that Lee throws. Jeter had some success with three hits, including a single in the ninth inning that for a moment had Yankees fans thinking of another ninth inning comeback that was such a trademark of their season.

As for game two being classified as critical for New York Jeter said, “Critical they’re all critical now. As you go further in the postseason the games get tougher, so does the pitching.” And Jeter should know about the importance of winning the first game. He is playing in his seventh World Series all as a Yankee.

“We definitely don’t like this situation,” said Johnny Damon. “We can’t lose three more,” he said about the urgency now for the Yankees to take game two, If the Yankees don’t prevail Thursday evening it makes things that moiré difficult because the Series shifts to Philadelphia for the next three games.

These are the Yankees and everyone expects them to rebound with Burnett on the mound. Not that Sabathia had an off night in losing his first game this postseason, after going 3-0, his first loss as a starter in the World Series.  Of his four hits in seven innings, two were the home runs hit by Utley and he struck out six,

“I was just trying to get my fastball over the plate and missed my location,” said Sabathia about the pitches thrown to Utley in the third and sixth innings, which was enough run support for Lee.  As for any panic after a game one loss Sabathia said, “This is a pretty good team and veteran clubhouse. We know what is at stake.”

Rodriguez had a horrible World Series debut and made no excuses. Lee was that good. “When a guy comes out like that, you tip your hat and go on,” he said about Lee. “He made some pretty good pitches.” Philadelphia got the first draw, their first win over the Yankees in World Series play having been swept by the Bronx Bombers in their previous World Series meeting back in 1950.

And drama in game two with Pedro Martinez on the mound for the Phillies and hearing the taunts of Yankee fans at the new stadium. “It’s all just being fans,” said Martinez Wednesday about his return to the Bronx and pitching again in New York, “I have all the respect in the world for the way they enjoy being fans,” he said.

And for the Yankees they hope they can enjoy some of Pedro’s pitches. If not the Phillies could be that much closer to becoming the first team since the Yankees to repeat as champions.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“It’s just weird because a couple of years ago we were talking about maybe pitching in a World Series together,” commented Sabathia Tuesday at Yankee Stadium about his former Cleveland teammate Lee. Now, though the last two American League Cy Young Award winners are on opposing sides and can set the table for something special.

It is the first time that former teammates have matched up in the World Series for different clubs since game 1 of the 2005 Fall Classic when former Yankee teammates Roger Clemens (Houston) and Jose Contreras (Chicago) met at the series opener in Chicago.

Joe Girardi debuts as a World Series manager, the fourth such Yankee who has played and managed in the Series having been a player under previous manager Joe Torre in 1996 and 1998-99. Plenty of history then for the Yankees, and Girardi is well aware of the pressures involved with his team as favorites to get their elusive 27^th world title.

“I was pretty aware of the pressures, because I think as players you understood what the deal was every year here, because of the way that Mr. Steinbrenner and everyone put the club together,” commented Girardi after his team concluded their workout on a misty field Tuesday.

Of course there is pressure. George Steinbrenner has less authority now as the owner. Hank and Hal will welcome their father to the new billion dollar stadium in the Bronx Wednesday evening and have made it known, getting to and winning the World Series is a necessity when you sign on and manage the Yankees.   They have come this far, and the Steinbrenner family wants nothing but the brass ring and a championship for New York.

And for Phils manager Charlie Manuel, the pressure does not seem to be an issue. He has guided his team to a second consecutive Series appearance, the first manager since Torre took his Yankees to four straight from 1998-2201.  The Phillies, perhaps are attempting to become a dynasty like the Yankees, as no team has won back-to-back championships since the Yankees did that with three straight from 1998-2000.

“We have no pressure as the defending champions,” said Manuel when it was his turn to take the podium. “They have to take it from us,’ he said. “The games are won on the field,” commented Manuel when asked his opinion about the Yankees being the favorites.  His Phils have more experienced Series experience, 17 have been there before to the Yankees nine.

A classic Series perhaps because Manuel has opted to go with Pedro Martinez as his game two starter Thursday evening over  last year’s Series MVP Cole Hamels.  Martinez returns to New York, once again on the big stage and this time at the new Yankee Stadium.

“This may be my last big stage,” said Martinez who had a serious look in his eye at one of the many booths set up in the Great Hall at the Stadium where media met the players.  Afterwards, fans peeking in from the closed gates taunted the 16-year veteran. He was receptive and Pedro put on a show before testing his arm on the field

There were some questions in early May, before Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. After that the Yankees proved they were destined to get back to the World Series. They were the best team in baseball from then on, and now four more wins await them this time, before they can be called the best against the defending champions.

If Rodriguez continues his torrid hitting, which may be stopped by the numerous lefthanders the Phillies throw, well the Yankees could be in trouble.  If Mark Teixiera, who showed some signs of getting out of a horrid postseason slump at the end of the ALCS, then the Phillies will have their problems.

“Think we can put ourselves on the map to be the better team,” said the Phillies Shane Victorino who ignored a New York tabloid front page that mocked him. Victorino also pays no attention towards comparing his team and the Yankees. Getting 26 championships like the Yankees also can’t be compared, but consecutive championships would be an accomplishment especially going through New York.

“We want to put ourselves in that category,” he commented about a possible dynasty. “You know to win back-to-back would be fun.  They have power and pitching and ultimately it comes down to one game at a time.”

Both teams combined hit 468 home runs this season, and for the first time in 83 years the World Series features two teams with the most home runs hit in the Majors. Yankee pitchers will face a lineup of Philly hitters that have six players in double digits when hitting the long ball and they both have hit 14 home runs this postseason.

So there are some comparisons, and then there is the rooting interest of New York baseball fans. Martinez had a stint with the cross-town Mets and still respects that other baseball team in town. “They will get stronger and better,” he said, “and I know there fans won’t be rooting for us.

Of course not, because in New York a Mets fan has a dilemma. It will be heard. They despise the cross-town Yankees because they always get to this point of a baseball season. And the dreadful Phillies have become a nemesis taking the last three National League east division titles under Manuel, so a Mets fan may root for the Yanks.

But in baseball circles it does not matter who a fan roots for. Fans want to see a good World Series, so does everyone associated with Major League Baseball, and the Fox Sports Network may have a ratings buster due to the interest and magnitude of this series.

So when the Phillies Jimmy Rollins made a bold prediction, his team in five games that set the tone more.  Others believe it will be Yankees in six or seven games and a lot rides on how Girardi sets his roster. He may carry two catchers instead one instead of the three he has used in the previous postseason games against Minnesota and the Angels.

And the Yankees will probably use a game four starter. “You look at where you’re at and make decisions as you go,” says Girardi about who to start after Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.  “We have a plan of what we’re going to do and that plan can be adjusted depending on where you are in the Series.”

That relates also to the bullpen where the Series can ultimately be decided. Girardi still has plans to use Phil Hughes in a set up role, along with Joba Chamberlain. And one thing is certain, the Yankees have Mariano Rivera and the all-time best closer in postseason baseball just about assures a Yankees win.

The difference from Rivera and other postseason closers, you are seeing Cy Young and not Mel Rojas or Armando Benitez two former New York Mets who had no consistency when closing an important game. And don’t be surprised to see Girardi call his closer for a six out save like he did Sunday in the ALCS clincher against the Angels.

A classic in the making for all baseball fans the next week or so for sure.  In the end, home runs from both sides including Ryan Howard of the Phillies. “Just try and take advantages of some mistakes they may make,” he says about ways to overtake the Yankees.

.“Don’t know a thing about them, don’t know much about them,” said the captain Derek Jeter when asked about the Phillies in the new spacious Yankees clubhouse that got another dose of champagne Sunday evening. Jeter is a part of that core of four with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte who now go to their seventh World Series.

Who is better, Jeter or the Phils Chase Utley? In a matter of hours, the Yankees will know more about the Phillies than they did in the three games they played against each other earlier this season. Then the Phils took two of three in the Bronx.  They were good games then, and expect the same now.

Yankees have home field advantage.  That helps also and in the end they get their 27^th world championship in the Bronx next week in six games.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

There were some questions in early May, before Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. After that the Yankees proved they were destined to get back to the World Series. They were the best team in baseball from then on, and now four more wins await them this time, before they can be called the best against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies

And just like the ALCS battle with the Angels, the Yankees know their destiny to get championship number 27 won’t be easy. They don’t know much about the Phillies with the exception of the three games they played against them in June when the Phils came to the Bronx and took two of three games.

And so the mission for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner owned Yankees is almost complete. It was Cashman, last October, after seeing his team fail to make the postseason making a statement. “We are not satisfied and won’t be,” he said, “unless we are in the World Series.”

So they spent money again to make it correct. They had to with a spanking new billion dollar ballpark. And the hope is it will all culminate in the next week with another World Series trophy.  But these Phillies provide just as much power as the Yankees do, and play just as well at their ballpark as the Yankees do in the Bronx.

“Don’t know a thing about them, don’t know much about them,” said the captain Derek Jeter when asked about the Phillies in the new spacious Yankees clubhouse that got another dose of champagne Sunday evening. Jeter is a part of that core of four with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte who now go to their seventh World Series.

For Rodriquez it is his first time going to the Big Dance. And all of the demons of previous postseasons are history. He could have been ALCS MVP that went to Sabathia, but what is more important is how Rodriquez shut the mouths of critics and finally became a Yankee the past few weeks.

He reached base five times in the ALCS finale, batted .429, hit three home runs, and drove in six against the Angels. After two of the core players embraced after the final out, Posada and the closer Rivera, it was no surprise that Rodriquez was the first Yankee on the field that got hugged by Jeter and the rest of his team.

“I felt really happy and really blessed and all I cared about this year was winning games,” said Rodriquez who had a tense spring training with a steroid controversy and then missing time until May with hip surgery.  But all along the goal was to get where he is now, a World Series with the Yankees.

And for the manager Joe Girardi every thing now has gone to plan. Like his predecessor, Joe Torre, management provided the players and opportunity to get the elusive 27^th championship. The moves made out of the bullpen that may have cost a game three win last week are now in the past.

His mission from the spring was to get where the Yankees are, beginning Wednesday evening in the Bronx. “We’ve had big players do big things,” he said. “That’s why we are going to the World Series.” Sabathia is one of those big players with two wins, one on three days rest against the Angels, Rodriguez the other, and of course Pettitte who got a baseball record 16^th career postseason win getting the clinching win against the Twins also in the ALDS.

Perhaps this will be the last time Pettitte and the core are together for this special moment in late October. Pettitte signed a one-year contract to get there again. Jeter, Posada and Rivera still have some time together.  But for now, the agenda for them and these Yankees are the Phillies, a team that picked up momentum in September and will provide a bigger test than the Angels.

“They outplayed us, that’s’ the bottom line,” said Angels manager Mike Scoscia. His team made errors, and the Yankees like the good team they are will capitalize on that. And the Angels only stole two bases in the six games, so the Yankees had a way of stopping their running game.

With Sabathia pitching Game 1 Wednesday evening, the Yankees quickly have an advantage.  “That’s’ what you play for,” said Rodriguez. “In order to win a World Series you have to get there first.”

Mission accomplished for now. Bring on the Phillies.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

“It’s tough putting pressure on CC when you get nobody on,” said Angels, outfielder Torii Hunter who got a single off Sabathia in the first inning. It was one of four hits off Sabathia who got his first LCS win and recorded a postseason high in innings pitched. “It was just CC,” said Hunter. “CC is the cold weather. CC’s the real deal, man” he said.

And again, the Yankees as they do so well, capitalized on the errors by the Angels, a team that set a franchise low 85 and third fewest in the league this season. One in the first inning opened the door for a New York early 2-0 lead when left fielder Juan Rivera threw to the shortstop that put runners on second and third.

Then, in the same inning there was the probable miscommunication of a ball in the infield, or the wind playing havoc which saw a popup from the Yankees Hideki Matsui drop between third baseman Chone Figgins and shortstop Erick Aybar. The result was a single and Johnny Damon scoring a run.

“”We haven’t seen our guys crack the door open for a team like we did tonight in a long time,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia about that first inning, And like so many other teams that have been victims, now are the Angels. “And the Yankees are going to take advantage of that, and they did,” added Scioscia.

From there it was all Sabathia.  This series is supposed to be about the Angels speed and ability to take the extra base, if they can get there.  The Yankees with their power, though no home runs this windy night, and ability to hold a lead then go to their pen in the late innings. Sabathia threw 113 pitches, struck out seven and had great command.. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth and got the save,

“I noticed he was able to get ahead and change speeds,” commented Scioscia. “He threw some good change ups. I think he commanded both sides of the plate better than we had seen him before. He pitched a heck of a game. He obviously is one of the best in out league.”

The Angels know for sure how important it was to get on base. But Sabathia did not let the cold weather get to him and made the Angels know he could be the difference in this series. Sabathia could face then two more times if indeed there is a seventh and decisive game in the Bronx next weekend.

“He kept the guys that can create problems off the bases all night,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, “and he was sensational.” Sabathia has now won two opening games in the postseason, the other against Minnesota last week in the divisional series.  And for the first time this season, with over 49,000 fans chanting CC in the seventh inning, Sabathia showed emotion after striking out pinch hitter Mike Naploi with a runner on second with a 4-1 lead.

Said Sabathia about the emotion, “That was a great feeling to have the Stadium rocking and to be chanting my name and to be able to get a strikeout. I was pretty pumped up. I don’t really show a lot of emotion a lot of times, but it came out of me there.”

But that emotion is what the Yankees like. They feel confident when their work horse takes the mound. Johnny Damon who made a defensive gem in left and had a fifth inning double hoped to have a powerful pitcher behind him in the postseason. This is his first ALCS with the Yankees.

“This is the first time we’ve been into the ALCS since I’ve been here,” he said. “The other two times we were knocked off in the first round. That’s why we got CC. To be a work horse during the season, of course, But to shut down teams in the postseason. They didn’t have too many base runners tonight. And any time you can do that, it definitely plays in our favor.”

As for the errors that the Angeles rarely make, said Damon “We’ll take it. We don’t see them do that too often, so we’ll take it.”  Miscues that spoiled a good pitching performance from Angels, starter John Lackey who gave up four runs on nine hits.

A loss that Hunter said will be forgotten. “Wake up in the morning and feel like we had amnesia,” he said.  The Angels hope to readjust and get out of New York with a 1-1 split before going home for Game 3 Monday.

Girardi also has the ability to use the bullpen Saturday evening in Game 2 because Sabathia went deep. That may now go to the Yankees advantage when A. J. Burnett takes the mound for New York opposing Joe Saunders.  “If we need multiple innings out of guys we know we can get it,” he said.

“Having a guy like CC, A.J. Pettitte (Andy) and the strong bullpen we have, it’s allowed us to get to this point,” commented Damon.  So Hopefully tomorrow night A.J. shows up and pitches well, and hopefully we can score a few runs off Saunders”

And if the Angels want to make this a series they know they have to avoid those costly mistakes. Burnett is not Sabathia, but one mistake against the Yankees, as Scioscia said, will crack the door open.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

You don’t make those mistakes against the Yankees, and their next opponent, the Los Angeles Angels, won’t make those mistakes when they come to the Bronx Friday evening as game 1 of the American League Championship Series begins.  The Angels score runs, steal bases, and play smart baseball.

And as the Yankees prepared this week to get one step closer to another World Series appearance, they too know that this will be a tough task, maybe more difficult than their pervious ALCS battles with Boston  The Angels were tops in the American League in hitting and third in stolen bases.

But that will not matter if the Yankees keep them off the bases offering CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, a capable one-two punch on the mound.  You wonder if it will go to plan, the Yankees and Angels, who split ten games during the season. “We expect a war,” said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, the veteran, who has been around this many times before.

Posada wants that taste of another World Series appearance. So does the captain Derek Jeter, who always seems to get the big hit at the plate, or make the perfect play on the field when the Yankees are a part of post season October baseball.  So does pitcher Andy Pettitte, who got his record tying 15^th post season career, win Sunday against the Twins sitting there with John Smotlz

And there is the Mariano Rivera factor and his 35 career post season saves that will guarantee him Hall of Fame status.  A close lead, and get the ball to Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, all that now works well for manager Joe Girardi before Rivera takes over.

At least that is what the Yankees and Girardi hope for. They hit the most home runs in baseball and do it well at their new home in the Bronx.  “No easy out in their lineup,” says Angeles manager Mike Scioscia.  Especially in the late innings, as we saw with the lethal combination now of Rodriguez and Mark Teixiera who can change the complexion of a game quickly.

“They know how to play this time of year and the situation will not, phase them,” said Girardi Sunday night after the Yankees made their statement with a sweep over the Twins. They are factors in the post season again, just like they were in the 1990’s where Pettitte, Jeter, Rivera and Posada took control.

The only concern this time, not also forgetting that the Yankees were eliminated two times by the Angeles twice in post season play, is the availability of a fourth starter. Chad Gaudin probably will get the ball and has one inning of postseason experience when he was with Oakland. He got a no decision and gave up two runs on six hits, striking out three in a Yankees win out in Los Angeles on September 23^rd.

Other than that, the Yankees won with consistent pitching in the three games against the Twins. “How you win in the post season,” said Jeter.  Both teams score runs, 120 runs combined in their ten games and are about even at 5.85 runs per game.

Rodriquez would be expected to duplicate his performance against the Angels. The Yankees have the momentum and wait for the first pitch tomorrow evening, at their new ballpark that saw some magic come from across the street all season and in the series with Minnesota.

Important game 1 as always with Sabathia getting the ball for New York, He needs to make a statement right away. If not it gets more difficult, but in the end the Yankees will take it to a game 7 in the Bronx next weekend. They have home field advantage and the best record at home in baseball all season. Yankees take it.

And waiting for them?  Will be interesting if the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Philadelphia, and then all the story lines with their manager Joe Torre returning to the Bronx.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com: Log on to: www.keepitinthering.net

“It felt like the old place,” said Jeter who reached base safely four times as the New York Yankees took game one of the American League Division Series with a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. “We couldn’t have drawn it up any better for us,” he said. The Yankees win marked two years to the day of their previous postseason win, an 8-4 victory on October 7, 2007 in game three of the ALDS against Cleveland.

Jeter would tie the score 2-2 and starting pitcher CC Sabathia earned the win snapping a three-game post season losing streak. The Yankees bullpen took over for Sabathia after

6 2/3^rd innings and it reminded everyone of how the Yankees did it in the postseason when they won four world championships under then manager Joe Torre.

More importantly, Rodriquez snapped a 0-for18 career postseason mark with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was 2-for-3, all two out hits that included an RBI single in the seventh inning that drove in Jeter who scored three runs.

“It definitely felt good,” commented Rodriguez who was the center of attention when he came to the plate for the first time. The Yankees failures to advance past the first round of the postseason against Cleveland, and in their previous appearance in 2005 and 2006 partly was attributed to Rodriguez and his failure to get runners home from scoring position.

So Rodriguez getting the pos t season monkey off his back, Jeter doing his usual postseason heroics and Sabathia doing what he came here to do was definitely what the Yankees needed as they look to take game two Friday evening in the Bronx. In that game A.J., Burnett gets the start for New York, and they could go for a sweep Sunday with Andy Pettitte on the mound at Minnesota for game three facing former Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano. .

“This is what you come here for,” said Sabathia. “It was electric tonight,” he said about the ovation he received with every pitch and when manager Joe Girardi removed him from the game after throwing 113 pitches. “The place got loud,” added Sabathia. “Him (Jeter) starting out the game with a single and then tying the score right back. It just made me want to go back out there and get three quick outs.”

The Twins, who clinched the American League Central division the evening before at home in an extra inning tie breaking win over Detroit, were not blaming their late arrival in New York as the reason as to why they lost game one.  The loss was attributed more to Sabathia on a night when the wind was blowing to all sides of the field.

“I kind of think CC Sabathia stress,” commented Twins manager Ron Gardenhire when asked if the late night arrival of his team had an effect on the game. “That was what we envisioned when we signed him, that CC would be pitching in October and November,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi who got his first postseason win as a manager.

Added Gardenhire, “I think the big thing is you get a two-run lead quick and as soon as you get back out, it’s a 2-2 ball game with a homer. That’s a little deflating. When you get a lead, you want to go back out there and shut them down. And Jeter does what he does best. He got his team right back in it.”

Designated hitter Hideki Matsui hit his seventh career postseason home run, his third in the postseason against the Twins. That came in the fifth inning with one on and opened a 6-2 lead for New York. And of course, Mariano Rivera would close the game and lowered his all-time postseason ERA 0.76.“

Everything worked to perfection for the Yankees, just like it has the entire season. With the exception of a couple of passed balls that got by catcher Jorge Posada, it was the first of hopefully ten more wins that will get the Yankees their 27^th world championship.

“We wanted to come out here and set the tone,” said Jeter. They certainly did that Wednesday evening and as Jeter said, “we have to come out with the same intensity and win game two,”

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Pitcher A. J. Burnett attempted to get his the 100^th win of his career at Yankee Stadium Tuesday evening, but the Kansas City Royals with a two-run seventh inning, helped by a throwing error from reliever Phil Coke, put the Royals ahead.  The Yankees would eventually win 4-3 on their 15^th walk off win of the season in the ninth.

The rookie, Juan Miranda this time was the hero. Miranda, who replaced first baseman Mark Teixiera in the eighth inning, lined a pitch off the leg of former Yankees relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth that scored Eric Hinske with the winning run giving the Yankees their Major League leading 102^nd win and 50^th come from behind victory that also leads baseball.

Sunday, in the Bronx, the Yankees won their 16^th American League east title since divisional play began in 1969.  The work started since spring training returning to the post season was accomplished, and the Yankees can relax a bit having secured the best record in Major League Baseball and home field advantage in the playoffs.

However manager Joe Girardi has made it known the remaining games are there to win, also keeping the regulars sharp for the upcoming post season next week   Another seven game winning streak and more milestones make this ending significant. Still to come is a Friday evening start for CC Sabathia, who goes for his 20^th win of the season at Tampa Bay.

“Think you’re evaluating players and trying to keep them sharp and strong,” said Girardi in his post game comments. “But you are trying to win the game and we’ll continue to try and win series and games,” he said.

Still to be determined is who the Yankees will face in the first round of the American League Divisional series. It will be either Detroit or Minnesota who are still battling for first place in the Al central division. So the final games this week in the Bronx against the Royals, and down in Tampa Florida against the Rays, will be time for Girardi to also assess his roster plans and pitching rotation for the first round of October baseball.

Sabathia is slated to pitch game one of the ALDS, and then it could be Burnett or Andy Petttite in game two.  Burnett has held opponents to two earned runs in his last three starts and may have pitched his way to be the number two starter striking out eight, walking three on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Explaining his recent success, this after struggling after the all-star break Burnett said “If I am going to pitch in the postseason I definitely have to go one pitch at a time. That’s just me. A little bit of the streakiness was due to mechanics but we looked at some videos and straightened out some kings,”   Burnett also stated that most of his mechanic flaws may have been mental mistakes.

So Girardi will use his roster accordingly in the next few days. Some of the rookies will get playing time, including the newest hero Miranda who became the ninth different Yankee to record a walk off hit this season and the second rookie to do it, the other Francisco Cervelli at the stadium against Toronto earlier this month.

And as the Yankees play out the string and prepare for their quest of a 27^th world championship they also honor their players. Prior to the game Melky Cabrera got a ring for hitting a cycle, Mariano Rivera got the rubber from the mound at Citi Field for recording his 500^th career save and Derek Jeter received numerous items from the old stadium,.

Perhaps the only anticipation remaining besides the milestones is Burnett getting a chance to put a whipped crèam pie in the face of two important players who have yet to have a walk off hit for a win. Jeter and Teixeira are on guard.

“These are the two guys left on the list, Tex and Jeet,” said Burnett with a smile.  And the Yankees hope to continue that smiling, so does Burnett when it gets more interesting in the Bronx next week.

In the game New York continued their drive to home run prominence. Mark Teixeira hit his 39^th home run in the bottom of the sixth that got the Yankees closer and Nick Swisher hit his 28^th in the bottom of the seventh that made it 3-2 Kansas City. The Yankees lead baseball with 239 home runs and are four shy of tying their franchise record of 242 set in the 2004 season

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“It’s nice to get back and we are ready and need 11 more,” said Johnny Damon as the Yankees christened their new clubhouse with what they hope is the first of three more celebrations and a 27^th world championships.”   Last year the Yankees missed their first post season in 13 years under manager Joe Girardi who also wears number 27 on the back of his uniform.

In the middle of the champagne celebration was Nick Swisher, a key acquisition that General Manger Brian Cashman made during the off-season, “It’s nice to come here and do what we were capable of doing,” said Swisher who was mobbed by his teammates, including pitcher Mariano Rivera who got the last out and recorded his 44^th save in the Yankees 4-2 clincher over the Red Sox.

The Yankees, who took control over first place the Al East On July 21^st, have also secured home field advantage in the playoffs. They may also see Boston again in the American League Championship Series. If Detroit does not lose their slim division lead to Minnesota, New York would open the first round of the ALDS against the Tigers.

The Red Sox, on the verge of clinching the AL wild card will open their series against the impending Al west champion Angels, so the Yankees could see Boston again, or even the Angels who eliminated the Yankees in five games in the ALDS in 2005 and in four games in 2002.  There years ago it was Detroit eliminating the Yankees in four games in the ALDS

“Everything is clicking now,” said winning pitcher Andy Pettitte (14-7) who will probably get the ball and follow 19-game winner CC Sabathia as the third pitcher in the opening round playoff series. “When you miss out it makes you a little more hungry to get back there,” he said referring to the Yankees missing the playoffs last season.

As the Yankees celebrated, with what they hope is the first of three more, they realize there is much more work to be done.  The stigma of losing in the opening round of their last playoff appearance to Cleveland in 2007 remains, so they very well know that the playoffs are a different season.

“This is a fun group and exciting group,” commented Girardi who makes his first appearance as a playoff manager after being a part of the Yankees championship teams under former manager Joe Torre. “The way last year ended left a bad taste in our mouth and we worked to get here since spring training,” he said.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The Bombers had made the postseason 12 consecutive years under the tutelage of Joe Torre and staying home in October just isn’t acceptable. Joe Girardi was the successor of the throne and was given a pass in a way, Bronx style. The manager knew that if he didn’t produce a playoff berth now he would have been looking for a new job this fall.

Taking no chances, the front office went out during the winter and basically put together a fantasy team. Adding to an already talented roster, bringing in the likes of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixiera basically cemented the division.

On Wednesday, the Yankees became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff berth, albeit it as a result of a Texas Rangers loss. It was a moot point as the Yanks went out that same night and won their game in Anaheim.

“It’s good to be in,” third baseman Alex Rodriguez said to reporters. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. There’s no question the intensity level was very high.”

Girardi echoed a similar emotion. “That’s the expectation here every year, and that’s obviously very pleasing,” the skipper told reporters. ”We’re going to be playing in October, but there are still some things we want to accomplish before the season ends.”

Just making the playoffs is not suffice in Yankee land. That may be okay for the Rays or Tigers, but winning their 27^th World Series title is the only barometer of a productive season. Owning a league-best 96-55 seems to be something to build on towards reaching the ultimate goal. They are six games up on the Angels for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

By wrapping up a spot this early, the members of the Yankees can’t help but look ahead to possible opponents, regardless if they admit it or toe the company line. If the season ended today, the Yankees would face the winner of the AL Central. “You hope you play them – that means we’re there,” Derek Jeter commented to reporters. “But it’s still too early to think about match-ups. It’s important for us to play well against good teams.”

And that is exactly what is going to happen in the ‘second season.’ Since the Red Sox appear to be the clear-cut wild card entrant, the Yankees will face off against the winner of the AL Central in the Division Series. At press time, the Detroit Tigers were leading the Minnesota Twins by two and a half games.

That means that Anaheim and Boston will face one another in the other series and the survivors will square off in the American League Championship Series. Does the road to the World Series go through Yankee Stadium? (The AL has home field advantage in the Fall Classic thanks to a win in the All-Star Game.) Anything less and the season will be considered a failure.

Such is life when perfection is not only expected, but also demanded.