YANKS SWEEP TWINS, ADVANCE TO ALCS

For the first time in a very long time, the world is starting to make sense again.  Tonite the Yankees beat the Twins 4-1 to complete the three-game sweep and advance to their first ALCS in 5 years.  A-Rod continued his heroics with a solo HR, finishing the ALDS batting .455 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs – the clear MVP of the series.  The Yanks’ victory capped off a weekend where everything – and I mean everything – went our way.

With all the great things that happened this weekend – the Yanks’ dramatic Game 2 victory on Friday; the Red Sox falling behind 2 games to none, then blowing today’s would-be victory in devastating fashion; the New York Football Giants blowing out the Raiders; and the Patriots losing to Denver in overtime – the Yankee victory tonite seemed inevitable.  Things did not seem so good at first, with Pavano mowing the Yankees’ down, and the Twins drawing first blood in the bottom of the 6^th.  But the Yanks answered immediately, with homeruns by A-Rod and Posada in the 7^th.  Then, with a leadoff double in the bottom of the 8^th by Nick Punto, and the tying run poised to score, a critical base running error by Punto sealed the Twins’ fate when he ran threw a stop sign at third and was gunned down by Posada as he tried to get back to third after Jeter, in a brilliant heads-up play, threw home instead of to first on a high bouncer up the middle.  Three walks and two insurance runs by the Yanks in the top of the 9^th removed any further suspense; and Rivera came out in the 9^th to finish the job. 

The Yanks’ win tonite completed a perfect 10-game sweep of the Twins for the 2009 season.  Certainly the Twins could not hope to measure up, their heart and their late-season run notwithstanding.  Not with Justin Morneau on the DL; Joe Mauer playing hurt with a hip flexor issue; an overpowering Yankees’ offense that wouldn’t quit; and the Friday night disaster in the Bronx still fresh on their minds.  With all these things going against Minnesota, all the Yanks had to do was lean on the Twins until they fell. 

The Yanks go on to face the Angels in the ALCS.  Historically, the Yanks have struggled against the Angels, losing two short post-season series to them in 2002 and 2005.  This year is different, however.  The Yanks are focused, and they are running on all cylinders.  They also recently took 2 out of 3 from the Angels in September, to even the season series at 5-5, for what that is worth.  But most of all, the Yanks are absolutely determined to win.  They play hard all 9 innings, regardless of the score, and they get results.  They are not without flaws; but they win despite them.  And, perhaps best of all, they really seem to be having fun being the Yankees again.  The irrational expectation of the last several years, that they must win the World Series or be declared a failure for not doing so, is gone.  This team has something to win, rather than something to not lose.  And with that levity, it really is a pleasure to root for them again.  It should be an interesting ALCS.  Go Yanks!

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