1st Place...A New MLB Record...and Tex Comes Alive!

I have to admit...I've been wrong. Wrong about quite a few things over the last month or so. Having watched the Bombers over the last 6 years or so, seeing less than stellar performances and effort when it really mattered, the first month of the 2009 baseball season looked eerily similar for the latest incarnation of the Bronx Bombers. I was wrong...for now. On May 1st, the Yankees sat in 3rd place in the American League East, 2 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays appeared to be this year's version of the Tampa Rays. Boy was I wrong about that....the bats died, and the young pitching looked young and beatable once again. Anyone who has followed baseball over the last handful of years who automatically think that if the Blue Jays stumbled, then in all likelyhood, the latest baseball dynasty, the Red Sox would ascend to their rightful place atop baseball's toughest division. Boy, was I wrong yet again! Injuries along with inconsistent pitching from the likes of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester left the BoSox playing a mere two games over .500 for the month. Jason Bay cooled off to his more human-like self, and David Ortiz is still nowhere to be found...

The Yankees on the otherhand, rather than sitting pat at 13-10 after the first month, woke up along with the return of Alex Rodriguez. The first swing of the '09 season for A-Rod produced a 3-run bomb and the Yankees never looked back for the entire month, posting a 17-11 record, and leapfrogged not only the Red Sox, but the Blue Jays to find themselves atop the division as of June 1st. Don't get me wrong, the great thing about baseball season is that anything can happen, and that there is plenty of time for things to happen. I was left for dead in my ESPN Fantasy Baseball league a month ago...now, perhaps a few of my fellow competitors are somewhat interested in how my team does every night.

With A-Rod providing the much needed lineup protection, Mark Teixeira has come alive, much in the same fashion that Peter Frampton did over 30 years ago! Tex should be the American League Player of the Month of the month of May. He hit over a dozen home runs, and raised his average well over 60 points. The starting pitching has shown some consistency, as C.C. and Burnett are pitching up to their respective contract statuses, and the bullpen is still an 8th inning lockdown guy away from as Peter Gammons said "the team". I would still like to see Xavier Nady come back and displace Nick Swisher in right field. Swisher is going to be a nice super utility guy, being able to play all three outfield spots, as well as first base occasionally. I still believe that Joba Chamberlain should be that 8th inning guy. Chien Ming Wang looks to have regained his filthy sinker in the bullpen, and Phil Hughes is a starter. Move Joba back and shorten the game to 6 innings. What is it going to take for Cashman and Girardi to realize this?

Melky Cabrera, even though he has been injured recently has proven his worth as the starting centerfielder when he comes back. I love Francisco Cervelli as the back up and the future catcher behind Posada. It's time to let Jose Molina move on. Now that June is upon us, the Yankees finished off the Indians, taking 3 of 4 and extending their slim lead in the East to a single game. Tonight, the Bombers open a three game set with the Texas Rangers, who are one of the biggest stories of the '09 season thus far. The AL West leading Rangers can still hit, but can now pitch just enough to get by. With the summer upon us, and the new stadium not holding baseballs very well, this series could be one for the ages offensively. Be sure to tune in and enjoy!

Last night, the Yankees set a Major League record by not committing an error for the 18th straight game, breaking the record of the 2006 Boston Red Sox. As I've always said, pitching, defense and timely hitting wins World Series titles, not payroll. The Yankees appear to be taking that advice to heart, as Mr. Teixeira once again shows why he was worth the $180 mil. Congrats Bombers and keep up the great work with the leather!

As always, be good, take care of yourself, and take care of your buddy next to ya!