We're On Our Way Home

Just a little over a half a day until the raising of the glorious 27th World Championship banner and the handing out of championship rings to the players, coaches, and front office personnel.

The Yankees arrived home after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The victory game the Bombers a 4-2 road trip that was comprised of series wins over both the Rays and the Boston Red Sox. Not a bad way to start the season.

Sunday's win was also big for A.J. Burnett, who had a rocky first outing in Boston and started out yesterday's game in shaky fashion. Burnett, the tattoed, pie smashing, right-hander allowed two first inning runs and admitted to not having confidence in his stuff. But Jorge Posada and pitching coach Dave Eiland helped settle him down and Burnett rewarded his teammates with six scoreless frames.

Alex Rodriguez hasn't homered yet, but he's getting darn close. A near miss in Boston, a near miss in Tampa. I expect him to break out any day now.

Posada and Nick Swisher both went deep on Sunday, with Posada's go-ahead shot coming against former teammate Randy Choate. Not the first time Yankees fans have witnessed a Choate failure.

In addition to the banner and ring presentations, one of tomorrow's highlight's will be Bernie Williams throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Now, Bernie hasn't offically ever announced a retirement date, but isn't time the Yankees front office set up a Bernie Williams Day? Retire #51, etc?
Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra (who I thought for sure would be throwing out the first pitch) will be on hand to present the rings. Ceremonies to kick off at 12:15. (thanks to the Star Ledger's Marc Carig for providing ceremony info. Click here to see the complete schedule of events).

An added bonus of tomorrow's opener is the opponent. Because the Yankees start their home schedule against the Los Angeles Angels, Hideki Matsui will be on hand to receive his ring. Godzilla is off to a great start in his new home. He's already had 2 game winning hits and is hitting .370 with a couple of home runs and 5 RBI.

Old Guard Brings Home #27

17 players on the Yankees 25 man roster are first time World Series champions, but it was the "old timers" that helped bring home the New York Yankees' 27th championship, and first in nine years. Andy Pettitte jabbed and counter punched his way to his record 18 post-season win with 5-plus innings of work and Mariano Rivera came on to get the final five outs in the Yankees series clinching 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

But it was a first-timer that played a key role and took home the hardware as series MVP. Hideki Matsui, playing in what could be his last game as a Yankee tied a series record (also held by Yankee Bobby Richardson in 1960) with 6 RBI. His 2-run home run off Pedro Martinez gave the Yankees an early lead and increased the volume of the "Who's your daddy" chants from the crowd. Godzilla later added a 2-run double and a 2-run single to cap an amazing night.


Derek Jeter had three hits to finish the series with a .407 and scored twice. Though he went 0-3, it was Jorge Posada once again behind the plate for a big Pettitte performance. And though the native Texan didn't have his best stuff working on three days rest, he gave the Yankees just enough of what was needed.

Pettitte allowed just one run through the first five innings, getting Jimmy Rollins to hit into a key double play in the fifth before the Phillies' big bats came to the plate. He heard his name chanted throughout the night just as Paul O'Neill had in 2001. Pettitte finally exited, one batter after Ryan Howard finally hit a series home run, to a standing ovation.

Joba Chamberlain got the final out of the 6th before putting two aboard with two outs in the 7th. But unexpected World Series hero Damaso Marte struck out Chase Utley to end the inning and K'ed Howard to start the 8th. That's when skipper Joe Girardi went to his closer to finish out the night.

Rivera gave up a hit and a walk along the way, but after a long at-bat, induced Shane Victorino to bounce out to Robinson Cano for the 27th out. Rivera's teammates poured out of the dugout and bullpen to join in on the wild celebration taking place on the field.


Series Notes

Despite not starting the three games in Philadelphia and having only 14 plate appearances, Matsui finished with 3 HR and 8 RBI. Oh, and a .615 batting average.

It was the fifth championship for Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Posada. It was the second time around for Johnny Damon, Marte, Eric Hinske, and Jose Molina.

Pettitte also picked up the clinching victory in 1998. He's the first pitcher to get two winners since Bob Gibson accomplished the feat for the St. Louis Cardinals in '64 and '67. Rivera has picked up the final outs in four of the five championships the Yankees have won since 1996.

Joe Girardi joined fellow managers Joe Torre, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Ralph Houk, Casey Stengel, Bucky Harris, Joe McCarthy, and Miller Huggins in winning a World Series title with the Yankees. Girardi, who wore number 27 this year, announced today that he will wear number 28 next season as a new incentive to the team.

I Love a Parade

I Love a Parade

A PSA for Red Sox Moronation

A PSA that recently aired on Jimmy Kimmel's show...

A PSA for Red Sox Moronation

A PSA that recently aired on Jimmy Kimmel's show...

Trenton Grabs 'AA' Title

From Trenton Thunder.com

(Akron, OH)- Matt Carson had four hits, including a home run, and three RBI to lead the Trenton Thunder to an 10-5 win on Saturday to win the Eastern League Title. Trenton wins clinches their first championship in the 14-year history of the franchise.

The Thunder, who finished the post-season with an 6-2 record, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st Inning off Akron's Bobby Brownlie. With two outs, DH Juan Miranda doubled home SS Reegie Corona from 1st Base for the lead. Carson followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. 1B Cody Ehlers capped the inning with an RBI double. Akron came back with four runs off Dan McCutchen in the 3rd Inning to take the lead. McCutchen got the win allowing those four runs over five innings.

The Thunder came right back to re-take the lead with three runs in the 4th Inning. A sacrifice fly from Gabe Lopez along with a two-run double from Corona gave Trenton a 6-4 lead. Brownlie took the loss allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Trenton added two more runs in the 5th Inning and one more in the 6th Inning for a 9-5 lead. Carson capped the night with a solo homer for a 10-5 lead.

Trenton finished the night with a scoreless 8th Inning from Scott Patterson and a scoreless 9th Inning from Justin Pope to clinch the title.

The Thunder finish the season with an overall record of 89-61, the second most wins in franchise history.

Trenton Grabs 'AA' Title

From Trenton Thunder.com

(Akron, OH)- Matt Carson had four hits, including a home run, and three RBI to lead the Trenton Thunder to an 10-5 win on Saturday to win the Eastern League Title. Trenton wins clinches their first championship in the 14-year history of the franchise.

The Thunder, who finished the post-season with an 6-2 record, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st Inning off Akron's Bobby Brownlie. With two outs, DH Juan Miranda doubled home SS Reegie Corona from 1st Base for the lead. Carson followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. 1B Cody Ehlers capped the inning with an RBI double. Akron came back with four runs off Dan McCutchen in the 3rd Inning to take the lead. McCutchen got the win allowing those four runs over five innings.

The Thunder came right back to re-take the lead with three runs in the 4th Inning. A sacrifice fly from Gabe Lopez along with a two-run double from Corona gave Trenton a 6-4 lead. Brownlie took the loss allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Trenton added two more runs in the 5th Inning and one more in the 6th Inning for a 9-5 lead. Carson capped the night with a solo homer for a 10-5 lead.

Trenton finished the night with a scoreless 8th Inning from Scott Patterson and a scoreless 9th Inning from Justin Pope to clinch the title.

The Thunder finish the season with an overall record of 89-61, the second most wins in franchise history.