THANKS YANKS!

Congratulations Boys! Great Job!

As I type this the 2011 Yankees just signed off on the season. They've just conceded to the Central Div Champion Detroit Tigers, by one run in the bumper game. I shook my head when they left the bases jammed. I smacked the armrest when they did it again an inning later. And I could see the end in sight, even though I root-root-rooted till A-Rod whiffed in the 9th.

Only a week or so ago the New Yorkers hung up their 17th AL East banner to go with 40 AL flags and 27 WS trophies. That's a lotta t-shirts. I've already read the tired Yankees-must-win-World Championship-or-failed season stories that started popping up when NY went down 2-1 in the Motor City. It's long since gotten old... older than the left side of the Yankee infield.

The Yanks had no right to the postseason, let alone The World Series. C'mon people! Yeah the Bombers could...well, bomb. But did you seriously think early in the season, even at the all-star break that the Yankee pitching staff after CC would hold up this well, this far? Hughes was not huge. Garcia and Colon were minor miracles. AJ was like spotting the AL one game a week just to keep things even. Salary cap? Signing guys like Burnett is its own punishment.

And yet my boys fought hard. Came all the way back from deep in the rear-view mirror of the Bosox, zoomed by the stuck-in-the ditch favorites as they spun their wheels in the mud, and claimed the AL East brass ring. Yeah, the Red Sox did the el-foldo. But the Bombers seized the day - actually the month - and did what champs have to do.

Next year boys. Some of you, anyway. You need to get younger. On the mound. On the left side of the infield. Behind the plate. Sign CC or somebody else. Nobody over 30, ESPECIALLY on the hill. Give Nunez and Montero and Nova a chance at 'for real'. Next year.

But this year? Nice job! You see it here first. Hopefully not here only.