Oh, if only the Yankees played in the American League Central, you might say. They'd be beating up on the Indians and the Tigers. The team's entire winning record and then some is based on its 26-8 mark against the division. Imagine if the Yanks played 76 games there.
Further, imagine if the American League was still in its old two-division setup. You'd have the Yanks, Red Sox, Indians and Tigers (and the Brewers) in a mad dash for two spots, with the Angels and Mariners fighting for the West and the wild card. It's still dramatic now, but even more so in a two-division scenario.
Anyways, the Yanks have many things going for them. The hitting is generally consistent. They have an ace in Andy Pettitte, a generally solid, if not spectactular, Roger Clemens, Phil Hughes and Chien-Ming Wang, and a hit-or-miss fifth starter who just so happens to have 240+ career wins. The bullpen hasn't been this good since the 1996 playoffs, and the momentum is with the team.
Still, the Mariners and Red Sox need to lose games.
I don't have a prediction, quite frankly. It's too hard to judge. I made the early call to concede the division, but I do so partly because the mindset of chasing the wild card is important. Being eight games under .500 on May 29 is not good if there's a wild card; it's back up the truck if there isn't.
From now on, let's just enjoy the Joba show while it lasts. Let's enjoy the cagey vets Pettitte and Clemens when they are on; let's enjoy the greatest over-30 catcher EVER and two men who will get at least 3,000 hits (A-Rod and Jeter, don't ya know), and all the mystique that comes with the team. Let's enjoy the game as Phil Rizzuto would have, good or bad.
Because, if we do, I think the game will reward us back. Maybe even with a 27th ring.
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