At the moment, only one thought is going through my mind: No matter what, I will never feel like this again.

The Yankees will win more championships, but there’s nothing like the first time you’re really old enough to appreciate it, and the first time you get to watch it with the same people you have watched with the entire season.

There were seven of us tonight–Amanda, Ben, Joe, Mark, Larry, Brent and myself–and from the get-go, you knew something was up.

The Angels long having been left in the dust, we wanted more. The ALCS alone was not enough.

Brent and I were among the first to arrive. See how clean, how prepared the bar looks? Yeah, by the fifth inning, not so much. By then you could sense it.

A very blurry Ben and Larry.

If you ever get a chance to go to a bar and watch a game with Larry, I highly, highly recommend it. He is an optimist prime!

Brent and Mark.

I have it on good authority that those wings are very, very good. I can’t eat anything fried so I’ve got no idea, but Blondie’s has amazing soft pretzels, so I gorged on them. Actually, by the fifth inning I was so distracted by the game and OHMIGOD CHRIS MELONI that I wasn’t hungry at all.

Brent is gettin’ jiggy wit it!

If you’re an astute observer, you’ll notice who the baserunner is–it kind of sums up everything.

We can sense it. Us and our pitchers of Brooklyn and Miller Lite–so many that we get one on the house–we can sense it.

Mark wanted proof he was here. Ergo, proof he was here.

Celebrating someone doing something in front of a CBS camera man. I can’t really remember what it was, except that after Matsui’s double we all jumped up and started chanting MVP! MVP! and really, at that point, there was no doubt.

Oh, and, GUESS WHO WAS IN THE BAR WATCHING THE GAME?!?

CHRIS MELONI THAT’S WHO!

They handed these signs out towards the end

I’ve also got videos:

1) That girl playing air guitar and generally making an ass of herself? Yeah?

That’s me.

2) The final out. We kind of went crazy. If you can’t tell.

3) New York, New York, one more time:

It was after this last song that tragedy struck:

I’ve had my camera for three years. In those three years I have without fail remembered to use the wrist strap when doing stupid things. Without fail.

Except last night.

While celebrating, one of us who shall remain nameless, knocked the camera out of my hand and it hit the table and then landed on the open lens on the floor.

Had the camera been off, or had it landed on the backside, it would have been fine.

Alas, such was not the case.

Meh.

BUT DUDE. MELONI! MATSUI! TWENTY SEVEN WORLD TITLES!

The best part?

Being able to experience it with friends that have been there every step of the way.

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[I will have a recap with photos and videos from the bar--AND OMG DID I MENTION CHRIS MELONI WAS THERE?!--a little later on]

Let us now praise famous men.

Let us praise men that took Twenty-Seven, that did so easily in a 7-3 fashion.

Let us praise them.

Let us praise Hideki Matsui, who had six RBI, a home run, single and double. Matsui, who had the third highest batting average this World Series ever (min 10 ABs). Matsui, who’s six RBI ties Bobby Richardson with the most RBI in a single World Series game. Matsui, who’s eight RBI total in the World Series are the most since Reggie Jackson. Matsui, who is the first full-time DH to ever win the World Series.

Let us praise him.

Let us praise Andy Pettitte, who pitched his 37-year-old body on three days’ rest to the tune of three runs over five and two-thirds’ innings. Pettitte, who clinched everything this year–the AL East, the ALDS, the ALCS and the World Series, all for the Yankees, the first time any pitcher has ever done that. Pettitte who became just the second pitcher after David Wells in 98 to win four postseason games for the Yankees. Pettitte who did everything the Yankees asked and then more.

Let us praise him.

Let us praise Mariano Rivera, who saw it to the end. Rivera, who’s World Series ERA is now 0.99. Rivera, who’s 41 pitches were the most he has ever thrown in a World Series game. Rivera, who has now been the finishing pitcher in the final game in each of the Yankees’ last 6 Series appearances and in 15
overall playoff Series.

Let us praise him.

Let us praise Alex Rodriguez, who may be the sole person responsible for the Yankees making it to the World Series. Rodriguez, who’s ALDS and ALCS for once and all rid him of the playoff demons and the unfair scapegoating. Rodriguez, who can now say he is a True Yankee in every sense of the word. Rodriguez, who has proven, once and for all, that he can play for a World Series winner.

Let us praise him.

Let us praise Joe Girardi, who has now won the World Series in just his third year as a manager and second with the Yankees. Girardi, who guided his team to 103 wins in the regular season–and 114 overall. Girardi, who became the first person to play for and manage the same team to a World Series title since Billy Martin.

Let us praise him.

Let us praise the Yankees, who have now won their 27th world title, the most ever for a professional sporting team. The Yankees, who never gave Philadelphia a chance last night, who knocked Pedro out in the third inning, who played smart baseball and had the game more or less decided by the sixth inning.

Let us praise them.

It is said that some are born great, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

This is wrong.

It does not allow for the fact that some become great, not because they were born that way or because they found themselves in extreme circumstances, but because they themselves decided to become great.

In 2009, greatness came to those who took it.

It came to New York.

It came to the Yankees.

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Generally speaking, I try to remain calm. There are few things that really get me riled up–human rights, civil rights, etc…and fans that have the gall to ask if Mariano Rivera can handle the pressure.

Look, I know we’re all on edge. I know the Yanks missed the chance to clinch on Monday and that we’re scared to death of a Game Seven given recent history.

That doesn’t give you license to lose all semblance of reality, however.

Has Mariano failed before? Yes. I don’t deny it.

The thing is, those failures are so rare, so abnormal, that they stand out because they are so deviant from the norm.

Just remember, over fifteen years, Mariano’s postseason ERA is still less than one. Regardless of what he may or may not do tonight, you don’t have a postseason ERA over a time period that long and that low if you can’t handle the pressure.

The Yankees have some issues. Pettitte on short rest, Canó not hitting at all, the possibility Joe Girardi might start Hairston again–all of these are legitimate concerns (though, as I’ve argued, starting Pettitte is still the right move).

Mariano Rivera is not one of them.

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It’s tempting to judge a decision as right or wrong based on whether or not it works out.

While this may be the case in some aspects of life–ie, surviving on a desert island–it is not necessarily the case in baseball.

Since so much in baseball depends simply on pure luck, it is entirely possible to make the wrong decision–starting Hairston in Game 2 of the World Series–and not be penalized for it.

On the other hand, it’s entirely possible to make the right decision and have it backfire. History abounds with plenty of these and I’m sure you can find an example without much thought.

The decision to go with a three-man rotation–invariably one that requires each pitcher to make at least one start on three days’ rest, could end up the most egregious example of a right decision that doesn’t work if the Yankees cannot win tonight or tomorrow.

I’ve had this argument with a few of you, but let’s rehash why the three man rotation is the right decision. It goes something like this:

1) Chad Gaudin has pitched one inning since September. One. Asking him to suddenly make a start–against the Phillies, no less-would be like asking my brother, who hasn’t done much running since the birth of his son six months ago, to have run the NYC marathon last Sunday.

2) Joba Chamberlain, the other option for a fourth starter, utterly bombed in his last start. Don’t try to tell me different–I had the misfortune of seeing that one in person!

Anyway, for what it’s worth, the Yankees actually really have needed Chamberlain in the bullpen, as Hughes has more or less run out of gas, and Girardi, for whatever reason, still seems scared of using Robertson (though he’s getting better).

Joba’s last performance from the bullpen, in Game Four, was stellar, even with the mistake to Pedro Feliz.

***

That the Yankees would go to the postseason with a three man rotation has its roots in the injury to Chien Ming Wang and the fact that, well, Sergio Mitre is still Sergio Mitre.

A healthy Wang that pitches anywhere near his performance pre-June 2008 is a more than competent fourth starter, and this discussion never happens. In fact, it’s tantalizing to think about just how good the Yankees would have been this season if Wang had been healthy and, well, Wang all season long–they won 103 games more or less without him (he had two wins).

***

Such as it is, the three man rotation is the best choice the Yankees could have made given their circumstances.

It should also be noted that Gaudin in the bullpen has allowed Girardi the flexibility of playing bullpen mix-and-match (even if sometimes he shouldn’t), but that has kept the bullpen from being burnt out.

Tonight, the Yankees have a full bullpen available–even AJ Burnett in an emergency–to back up Pettitte’s start.

It’s not a bad place to be.

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(Idea h/t to Amanda Rykoff)

With apologies to the Blue Jays, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Twins, Rangers, Mariners, Athletics, Nationals, Mets, Braves, Cubs, Pirates, Brewers, Reds, Padres and Dodgers.

We have waited.

Since Luis Gonzalez blooped and since the demons of the Angels and since the great ALCS hangover and since the Collapse and since the Angels again and since the underachievers and since the midges and since the Final Season.

Since Spring Training ‘roids scandals, since an inauspicious start, since April rain, since 0-8, since having to start a .190 AA catcher (and the dreamy eyes of doom), since a Return, since the first walk off, since a dropped pop up, since the Boston Sweep Party, since it was cold, then warm, then cold again.

Since the start of October, since the excision of demons with one ninth-inning swing, since parting finally with the idle among us, since out-fundamentalling a team that couldn’t handle cold weather, since Halloween, since fall back weekend.

We have waited.

Now there is only one thing left us: One more win.

So close, and still we wait.

We wait as the college basketball season starts and football reaches the midpoint of the season.

We wait, leaving no discussion point unturned: Can Andy pitch on three days’ rest? Should Girardi be fired if Hairston starts for Swisher? Can Mariano pitch two? Even three? Will it rain? Is Utley still the MVP even if the Phillies lose?

We come up with playoff play lists and theorize as to how much someone would have to pay for us to part with game six tickets. We muse about the travesty of nightfall at 5.30 in the afternoon and laugh as beat writers post game threads 24 hours in advance (a mistake, they say…).

We wait.

In Spanish, the verb “esperar” means to wait.

It also means to hope.

We wait, and we hope.

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With the help of some friends via Twitter, I’ve compiled a preliminary 2009 NYY Playoffs Playlist.

A few caveats:

1) This playlist is supposed to be more about the team than any individual player, so I haven’t included At Bat music–yet. I did include “Enter Sandman”, because it’s significance–a game about to end, a win about to go down–transcends just Mariano.

2) Please add any you think should belong in the comments below.

So here we go:

“New York, New York” –Frank Sinatra. This one is, of course, timeless. It belongs on any Yankees-related playlist.

“Enter Sandman” –Metallica. As discussed above, while it’s Mo’s song, it’s about more than just Mo. If Mo’s coming into a game, 9 times out of 10 it’s because the Yankees are winning–something the entire team does together.

“We Weren’t Born to Follow” –Bon Jovi. Interestingly enough, while TBS played this song all the time, FOX has not. This is remarkable if only because of Bon Jovi’s association with the state of New Jersey, which is the Connecticut of the Yankees-Phillies. You follow?

“I Gotta Feeling” –Black Eyed Peas. This is one of the songs featured in the YES season-ending montage/”Get Ready for the Showdown” video, and, well, it’s really catchy. It also describes the way many of us have been feeling this entire season and now postseason: pure optimism. We’ve got a feeling, it’s going to be a good night. Mazel tov!

“Run This Town” and “Run This Town Yankees ’09 remix” –Jay-Z/Rihanna. Right now, is there another artist more associated with New York City and New York City sports than Jay-Z? You’d be hard pressed to find one. The Yankees ’09 Remix is my preference over the other one because it’s, uh, slightly more family friendly.

“Empire State of Mind” –Jay-Z/Alicia Keys. I’m not a rap/hip-hop person. Most of my music is either alternative rock or medieval folk music (don’t ask). However, seeing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys perform it live for Game Two–there’s just something about the atmosphere of being there.

“Glory Days” –Bruce Springsteen. Always have to give Bruce a nod. If we’re talking New Jersey music, then one can’t mention Bon Jovi without mentioning Bruce Springsteen. At any rate, this is exactly what this season’s felt like: a return to Yankee Glory Days of the end of last decade–when I was, indeed, back in high school.

“Let it Rock” –Kevin Rudolf/L’il Wayne. At one point, Nick Swisher’s walk up music, it’s a stadium anthem that’s kind of just stuck with me. Anyway, there’s something about the line “stuck his middle finger to the world” that’s just too New York to not include.

“Don’t Stop Believing”–Journey. Okay, so this song might be a little more apt for the small market teams like Minnesota that didn’t have much of a chance to do anything, but even so, being a baseball fan is like being religious: keeping the faith, keeping the hope and keeping belief.

“Don’t Stop Me Now” –Queen. This one’s featured in a YouTube mashup of all the Yankees’ walk off wins from the 2009 regular season. In the immortal words of Eric–who was at the Stadium to watch game three of the ALCS along with me–WE. CANNOT. BE. STOPPED.

(Added at request)

“Showdown” –Black Eyed Peas. Do you need me to explain this? Really?

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(h/t: The Yankee Universe)

The City, it seems, is in a groggy funk this morning.

Lots of people who think a Game 5 loss automatically means the Yankees are going to completely collapse and Philadelphia will win the series.

Clearly, these people did not watch the 2009 ALCS.

Philadelphia’s a good team. The Yankees have their work cut out for them, yes, but don’t forget, it’s the Yankees–not the Phillies–who are up three games to two.

The Yankees haven’t been this deep in a postseason in almost a decade–a series that either the Yankees will win or a series that will go seven games.

How many of you would sign up in February for a team that will play in the sixth and possibly seventh game of a World Series? I guarantee you every single one of you would do so.

Let me say this again, for dramatic effect: the Yankees are in the World Series.

As far as baseball is concerned, you cannot ask for more than that.

The Yankees are the only team in the American League left standing; better than the Red Sox and the Angels and the Rays and the Twins and the Tigers and on and on.

As much as we may worry about Andy Pettitte going on three days’ rest, remember also who Philadelphia is throwing on the mound–Pedro Martinez, who’s had a decent postseason, and Cole Hamels, who is so utterly lost he provoke a teammate to ask “Hey, didn’t you quit?”.

The Yankees, instead of turning to infighting and public remarks about wanting the season to end, have instead chosen to wear it, owning up to when they don’t play well, and taking it in stride when they do.

That’s class.

There is no good reason, no way to convince me, that these 2009 Yankees, that these fine men and centaurs cannot finish the task set before them.

Even if calamity strikes and they do not, I will still hold my chin high–this is one of the best, most fun to follow Yankee teams that there ever has been, and I am honored to be a fan the whole way through. Whatever happens from here on out, nothing will invalidate how much fun this season has been, and how much it has meant to be able to remember why it is we are Yankee fans in the first place.

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You will want to blame Derek Jeter and Phil Coke.

You should not.

If AJ Burnett pitches past the third inning, none of what happens in the later innings becomes an issue.

Not being able to record an out in the third inning is bad pitching any way you slice it.

Part of you may feel for AJ. That is now twice this postseason he has been on the mound for a clinching game and twice now that he has been unable to accomplish it. There is no doubt that unlike some other pitchers (I am looking at you, Hamels) Burnett wanted to be on the mound.

Alas, a twenty-seventh was not in the cards tonight.

It’s not so bad though-Andy Pettitte is on the mound in game six, in the Bronx and the Phillies are without their best pitcher.

There is no reason to dispair.

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In 1996 the great Mariano Duncan summed everything up in one now-immortal sentence:

“Play today, win today, ‘das it.”

Now here, in November 2009, it has come down to this.

Play today, win today, and literally, that is it.

Romantic notions aside, few–if any–Yankee fans want this series to see any part of New York again. No one is that anxious to see Andy Pettitte pitch on three days’ rest or to see a notorious Game Seven.

Play today.

The Yankees have survived this long in the postseason because when it’s mattered, they have played the game right: no stupid mistakes, no blaming the cold weather, no forgetting to cover third base with two down in the ninth inning.

They have survived where the Twins and the Angels did not and where the Phillies came up short last night.

We’re asking for one more game of clean fundamentals, of never forgetting what you learned in Little League and playing baseball the right way.

Win today.

AJ Burnett on three days’ rest is, all things considered, the best option the Yankees have at the moment.

He came up huge in Game two, all we’re asking here is one more Good AJ performance. One more, just one more.

One more quality start.

The game plan for the bats against Cliff Lee is not complicated: Work the count, make him throw pitches, get him out of the game, get into that bullpen.

That formula hasn’t changed since the days of Mariano Duncan.

Cliff Lee is a very good pitcher. He is not immortal.

‘Das it.

Win it for yourself.
Win it for your team.
Win it for George.
Win it for your fans.
Win it for New York.

Win it, because somewhere Mariano Duncan will smile.

Play today, win today, ‘das it.

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I know this has been said before, but one play in last night’s game was so important that it bears repeating: Johnny Damon’s steal of second and third base with two outs in the ninth inning.

First, let’s go over, really simply, how he did it.

Damon stealing second itself is not that earth shattering, though to do so with two outs in the ninth inning of a tied game on the road involves some risk that should not be overlooked.

The key part of the play, however, is that the Phillies–just like the Twins and the Angels–picked a bad time to forget their fundamentals.

If you want to shift for Teixeira, that’s all well in good–but when you do so, either the pitcher or the catcher is supposed to cover third base. Simple, right?

Well, no one on the Phillies was able to remember this one, simple thing, so third base remained unconvered. Damon saw it, and Damon went. As Damon would later say (via the fine folks at LoHud):

“I think what I had to see before I could start running to third base was how Pedro (Feliz) caught the ball,” Damon said. “So I knew it drug him off some. I’m just glad that when I started running, I still had some of my young legs behind me… You know, it worked out, because I felt like being on third base, it possibly takes away a slider, a tough slider in the dirt that I may be able to score on. Alex got two fastballs. Hopefully it, well, it did work out for us.”

Since the play occurred so fast–not more than nine seconds–one has to imagine that it was something that was based more on gut than something overly-thought-out, perhaps a nice contrast to Girardi’s conservative risk-safe managerial style.

Here’s how important the play is:

Imagine Damon steals second, but not third base.

The entire way Lidge pitches to Teixeira changes. There are still breaking balls in the dirt, pitches that Teixeira might very well swing-and-miss on–and could send the game to extra innings.

Imagine the game goes into extra innings. Girardi plays it conservative, pitching Coke when he should probably be pitching Mo as the top of Philadelphia’s lineup is due to come up. Coke’s a decent enough bullpen guy during the season, but he has been known to give up the occasional home run.

Now imagine him pitching to Victorino and Utley and Howard. Not a pleasant thought–though,here I must admit that the one Philadelphia bat that scares me more than any is Werth. Anyway.

The thing with extra innings on the road, as we saw in Anaheim, is that it’s incredibly hard to win because if the other team scores even just one run the game is over.

At home, the Yankees are in their element in extra innings, but that is because they are home.

Extra innings on the road does not definitely mean the Phillies win, but it certainly increases their chances.

If they win, the series is tied at two games apiece and all of a sudden we have a best-of-three set, and the Yankees have to face Cliff Lee in game one.

The possibility of going back to New York down 3-2 is not one that would make any Yankee fan happy, even with Pettitte and Sabathia on the bump for games six and seven.

As it is, though, third base was stolen.

Third base was stolen, taking away any pitch in the dirt. Teixeira was hit and A-Rod’s double scored Damon. With Rivera looming–in games 3 and 4 he’s thrown 13 pitches combined–one run would very possibly have been enough, but just for good measure Posada got the Yankees two more, and the Yankees pushed the Phillies to the brink.

All because Johnny Damon had the foresight to take a base no one was covering and, once again, the Yankees took advantage of poor fundamentals from the other team.

After all, Johnny Damon, the former Red Sox, should know how important a stolen base can be.

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