Whoo. Hoo.

#27. It feels good. The last title the Yanks won was in 2000, and I’m dating myself, but I was a senior in college. I appreciated it because it was against the Mets, but I can’t say I wasn’t spoiled by the 96, 98, and 99 titles that preceded it. To this day I still call them the “sh*tty” title team.

I say all that to say that as a Yankees fan, I really appreciated the opportunity to watch this team of clutch players deliver on every big stage. Over the next days, months, years, we’ll here a lot of sour grapes about buying a title (especially from Mets and Red Sox fans, which redefines irony and a lack of self-awareness.)

I plan on responding to the bile with a steady stream of “Who Cares?” and “So What?” We’re fans of the greatest franchise in baseball and North American sports, and no one can or will take that away from us.

Blecch. (But a chance for pie.)

Game 5 was a big letdown; however, I choose to accentuate the positive.

1. The Phils are the defending champs, which some seem to discount, and the Yankees showed their toughness by fighting back and almost coming back to tie the game. One hopes that will carry on to the next game.

2. Going back to the new crib. I like our chances there.

3. #46. Even on short rest, Andy has earned the trust of Yankees fans.

4. A chance for some season-ending walkoff pie.

The Yanks are still up and are in a good position to make history with their 27th title. It remains 27 to 27.

From The Looking For Something To Complain About Dep’t

Maybe it was because MLB was trying to avoid a beanball war on the big stage, but what was up with not allowing the Yankees at least one free shot after the A-Rod plunking?

And Tim McCarver, just because you think Joe Blanton & Co. weren’t throwing at Rodriguez because of the timing doesn’t mean they weren’t.

Horrible.

The Last Time The Yankees Lost Game 1 To The Defending World Champs

It ended well.

It's all good.

Huzzah. (And a “Hey There.”)

What an ALCS for the Yanks. There was some good, some bad, some ridiculous, but in the end they finally got the Rally Monkey off their back. Twas about freakin’ time.

However, let’s discuss the most important thing about the Yankees win and subsequent postgame celebration: The discovery of Christina Steinbrenner, aka Mrs. Hal. Hot Damn. It’s good to be the (new) king.

Has a manager ever been fired DURING a series?

Joe Girardi has been embarrassing himself regularly. Game 5 was off the charts. I sat on the BoltBus, refreshing pitch after pitch. Sending AJ out after the rally? Really? Are you serious?

Joe Girardi: You are officially a moron. Even if we win Game 6, you are a moron. If we win the Series, you will be a moron who stumbled into a ring. I have no use for you.

The Phillies Look Tough.

I’m not assuming a Yankees series win by any means, but the defending “World F’n Champs,” and 2009 NL Pennant winning Philadelphia Phillies look like a tough matchup. They beat us 2 out of 3 at the Stadium (many moons ago,) and when I went down the lineup matchups, they have a slight edge.

Posada v. Ruiz: Yankees
Teixeira v. Howard: Push
Cano v. Utley: Phils
Jeter v. Rollins: Yankees
Rodriguez v. Feliz: Yankees
Damon v. Ibanez: Phils
Cabrera v. Victorino: Phils
Swisher v. Werth: Phils

Then as far as the rotation goes:
Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte
Vs.
Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Pedro/Happ

I think we’d have a slight edge there, honestly.

The difference will be in the bullpen. As good as Lidge has looked this postseason, he is an implosion waiting to happen. Rivera is not. The Yankees supporting cast seems to be better too.

So would I predict a Yankees win in a potential matchup? Sure, but I think it would be an absolute Classic.

(This will be all for naught if the Yankees blow this ALCS which we all know is a possibility. Damn Rally Monkey.)

Overmanaging.

You happy, Girardi? Did that special little 3-ring binder tell you the right thing to do? How’d that work out for you?

Listen, I understand numbers as much as the next guy, but at some point; what one sees and plain common sense has to come into play. David Robertson was dealing and has better stuff than Aceves…

Gahhhhh…

The Yankees are still up 2-1, but that was a tough one to deal with. Damn, Girardi.

The Yankee Diet.

Win and eat.

Pick: Yanks in 6

This will be a fight. I think the Yanks are too good this year, I truly do. They have the edge at almost every position and the Yankees arms are better as well. The running gap has even closed between the teams.

Here is where the Yanks can run into trouble:

1. Mike Scoscia. When we had Torre, he out-managed the pants off him. Joe Girardi simply has to make the right moves and avoid over-management. That’s been a bit of an issue this year.

2. Get hot. A-Rod carried us to the ALCS. While I hope he continues, we can’t count on it.

3. Good AJ. He sort of showed up versus the Twins. We need more of that. He can’t make mistakes against the Angels like he did with Minny because they’ll eat him up.

These are my keys. I hope I’m right.