Yankees Back In Familiar Place, First Place That Is

There was no big celebration, which I believe is a good sign

. It shows that there is a concentration on the next hurdle, which is winning the American League pennant and ultimately the World Series. This hurdle is going to be a difficult one to leap as the archrival Red Sox are playing their best baseball of the season down the stretch. With

Assuming the Yankees win the division, the next big goal would be securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Again another huge task considering the team right behind the Yankees the Los Angeles Angels are also playing some stellar baseball. Home field advantage would be crucial in a series with LA considering the Bombers track record in Los Angeles. The best scenario for the post-season for the Yankees would be, win the division and secure home field advantage and face either Detroit or Minnesota in the first round. Let the Red Sox and Angels got at it and worry about the winner when the time comes. Either way the Boston-LA series goes, the second round will certainly not be a cakewalk.

On a side note, when the Yankees made the decision to let Joe Torre go I was upset. Mostly because it seemed as though they were blaming Torre for the way the Yankees were playing when in fact it was the lack of pitching. Then they made the decision to go with Joe Girardi; again I was upset feeling that if anyone should be given the chance to fill Torres shoes it should have been Don Mattingly. After all Donnie Baseball was there with Torre, saw the manner in which Torre controlled and handled this team of, lets face it, superstars. So who better to slide into the roll with as little change as possible? Well then came the final decision on who the new manager would be, Joe Girardi. Not going to lie, I hated this decision.

Last season only confirmed my feelings, as Girardi began to make little changes here and there and seemed much too uptight to lead this team in the way that had made them successful. His first season was not a good one. Reasons in my opinion were 1) he tried to change too much to fast. 2) The tight-lipped manner in which he ran the team and 3) PITCHING! (Hmm, same problem Joe Torre had.). Now I was really upset, thinking they let Torre go and he made it at least to the playoffs, with lack of pitching. Girardis first Yankee edition failed to make the playoffs, the fist miss for the Yankees in over a decade.

This year the Yankees had made the decision to go after some of the best pitching talent available. They signed C.C. Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett and gave Girardi something to work with. They have both shown to be worth their price tags. Mark Teixeira, has been a huge addition to this team and well worth the money. Without Tex, I dont think the Yankees are in first place. With the off-season acquisitions made, the eyes were on Joe Girardi. How would he manage this team? Well to my surprise Girardi has done a complete 180. He has come into this season a much more relaxed manager, but with the same determination to win.

This new style for Girardi seems to be working; my confidence in his ability to lead this team in to the post-season has grown. I guess the Yankees brass did make the right call. Girardis determination and drive to win have not changed, but there is a much more relaxed feeling around this team. They are having fun again and in turn are in first place in the American League East, with the best record in baseball. This could be the year when they add number 27 to their collection of World Series titles.

The only question I have left in my mind is which team will they face from the National League? The most interesting match up of course would be a Yankees, Dodgers series. Torre against Girardi would be an entertaining series for me. For the first time I would have to root against Torre. It seems a little weird for me to say that, as Joe Torre is one of the best Yankee managers of all time. However, there can be only one winning team in this game. It is Girardis turn to enter the Yankees history books in a positive fashion by winning the first of hopefully many World Series Championships as the Yankees Skipper.

Lets go Yankees!

by: Frank Bilotta

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