Hank Steinbrenner's Heart Grew Three Sizes That Day

Every fan down in Bronxville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any playoffs at all!
He HADN'T stopped October from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Psycho Fan, knee-deep in beer number three,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be?"
"It came with out Jeter! It came without Mo!"
"It came without Jorgie or Robbie Cano!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Fan thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe a Yank-less October," he thought, "doesn't have to be a bore."
"Maybe October...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Still Not Over

Although the Yankees failed to take advantage of A.J. Burnett's absence yesterday, they can still win the A.L. East. They have six games remaining with Tamba Bay and Baltimore, albeit on the road. The Red Sox must play six against Oakland and Minnesota, who, while not world-beaters, are actual baseball teams. If the Yankees can take care of business and put up a 5-1 or 6-0 week, they have a real shot at the division.

She Said "Father Can I Tell Your Congregation...

...how a resurrection really feels?"

The Yankees are back from the dead, despite a flawed roster, woeful managing and a hideous start, thanks to a youth movement similar to what we saw in 2005 under similar circumstances, and one of the greatest offensive stretches in the history of the game.

The Yankees showed they're a legitimate threat by sweeping a Cleveland team that, while struggling, remains a serious playoff contender. The Bombers now lie in wait, 4 games behind Boston, and tied for the Wild Card lead with a Seattle team that everyone keeps waiting on to fade.

Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing will be given easily. The Yankees' amazing second-half run has only put them back in the picture after a terrible, hole-digging first half. They'll need to keep playing great baseball against far more difficult competition. But a tree grows in the Bronx. Hope is alive today.

Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano and Hughes and Joba have washed the taste of the first half out our mouths with talent and enthusiasm. (And we all know that when A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms.) Even the clueless hand of Joe Torre hasn't been able to slow the Yankees' run. Meanwhile, Eric Gagne isn't even looking as good as Kyle Farnsworth, let alone Joba. Money well spent, Theo. Oh wait, I forgot, Epstein's a boy genius who can never be criticized. Sorry, Gammons, I won't make that mistake again.

The Yankees are getting their swagger back. And that means Yankees fans are getting their swagger back. Bad times for everybody else. Maybe later in the week, I'll go through all the "Yankees Are Dead/Dynasty's Over" columns from May and June, and see who the biggest idiots were.

To be fair, I thought the Yankees were dead myself, and said so, repeatedly...but I wasn't gleeful about it. This still might not be a playoff team, but at least there'll be a race, and baseball will be worth watching in September.

So now it's Baltimore for three, a team that has given the Yankees fits this year. I'll be satisfied with 2 of 3. After sweeping Cleveland, you can't ask for more than that.

Survive and Move On

The Yankees didn't play great baseball over the weekend, but they survived, beating Tampa 7-6 on Sunday to take three of four from the D-Rays.

Every series at this point is a must win if the Yankees are going to entertain champagne wishes and post-season dreams. It doesn't really matter how they win, as long as they do.

The Yankees didn't play particularly well in this series, and they were particularly lucky to get through the eighth inning yesterday without a catastrophe. Kyle Farnsworth is no longer just a fire-starter, he's the serial arsonist from "Backdraft." So far this season, the bespectacled one has made 40 appearances. He has retired the side in order in just five of those appearances.

Mike Mussina, the finicky cat, was knocked around for 11 hits in 6 innings after a long layoff. We all know that Mike Mussina can only be effective when he is on exactly 96 hours rest, no more, no less. And the temperature must be between 63 and 78 degrees. And he has to sleep at a Holiday Inn if the team's on the road. And his eggs the morning he pitches must be runny, though the bacon must be burnt.

Game ball to Andy Phillips, for having a big day at the plate and making a spectacular diving catch/double-play to rescue Farnsworth from the fire he set himself.

Now the Yankees have more surviving to do, as they must somehow get through Kei Igawa's start tonight.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

I'm as happy about the Yankees' current six-game winning streak as the next guy, but let's not get carried away.

The Yankees ran up the victories against two of the worst teams in baseball, and even now, at their single hottest point in the season to date, they remain under .500, 9 1/2 games behind Boston and trailing several quality teams in the Wild Card race.

There is a glimmer of hope where none existed a week ago, but that's all it is. Much damage was done in April and May, and it will take more than a week of winning to undo it. Arizona will be a good test this week...winning two of three would be a very positive sign.