The NY Yankees crazy season ends with yet another playoff appearance
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by Behbigben15
The New York Yankees clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in the AL on Wednesday, after defeating the TB Devil Rays 12-4, giving the D-Rays their 93rd loss of the season. NY Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang picked up his 19th win of the season, and TB Pitcher J.P. Howell got hit with the loss. Yankee hitters had a big day, going for a combined 18 for 42, with 12 runs, and racking up 5 doubles and 2 HR's. Wang survived 6 innings, giving up 2 ER, 7 H, and 1 HR, while striking out 6. TB pitching really struggled, starter J.P. Howell pitched 4 2/3 innings, and gave up 6 H, 8 ER, 2 HR, and walked 3 guys. NY walked away with an easy 12-4 victory, and earn a spot in the playoffs, (no surprise there).
The Yankees have had a long and bumpy road this year on the way to yet, another playoff appearance. The Yanks have won 9 consecutive Division titles (since '98), although the BO Sox haven't won the division yet, it looks as if they will end up with the AL East title, eventually ending the Yanks 9-year streak.
The Yankees started off the '07 season on the wrong foot, going 9-14 in the month of April. By the end of May, the Yanks were 22-29, and were really struggling with their pitching. Throughout the season, the Yankees had struggled with injuries, and analysts, writers, etc. were jumping all over the Yankees struggles. In particular, the media had jumped all over the Yankees highest-paid player, and third baseman Alex Rodriguez. The media was always finding a way to take a stab at "A-Rod", whose wife was even on the front cover of the New York Times at one point. But, it doesn't matter what the media thinks of him, A-Rod will end up being the AL MVP. Rodriguez has a BA of .309, with 53 HR's (2nd most in career), 151 RBI's (career-high), 93 walks, .418 OBP, .637 SLG, 1.055 OPS, and just 118 K's (lowest since '99). A-Rod absolutely crushed his previous career-high in RBI's (142 in '02 with TEX), and is becoming more valuable to the Yankees offense, not to mention that he is gaining more respect from the Yankee fans.
After May, the Yanks were 14 GB the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox, who were 36-16, and looked unstoppable. Around July, the Yankees looked much better, and for about a month (July), the Yankees looked as if they could be getting back to their usual Yankee form, the Yankees were 19-9 in the month of July, which made them 7 games over .500. In August and September the Yankees have been a much bigger threat, as they made a big run. The Yanks were 18-11 in August, and so far in Spetember, are 17-7, for a total of 35-18 in August and September.
The Yankees finish off the '07 regular season with a three-game series at Baltimore. NY has a shot at the Division, only if they sweep the O's, and the Sox get swept by the Minnesota Twins. I don't think the Sox will get swept by the Twins, and the Sox will hold off the Yanks for the Division title.
One more thing, in case your'e wondering, no, I am not a Yankees fan, I actually hate the Yankees, but I think that the Yankees roller coaster season was worth pointing out. But, you better watch out, the Yankees always play their best ball when in the playoffs, I am looking forward to seeing how Rodriguez does in the Postseason. I predict another Yanks/Sox ALCS, and I would really love to see it.
