After a middling October in which key players struggled and the team gave away a first-place finish in the standings, I didn’t have a great feeling about the Yankees’ chances this October. Now, after a three-game sweep of a very good Twins team–one which was accomplished without much from Alex Rodriguez and only a very so-so start from C.C. Sabathia–the team looks like the scary Yanks of yesterday: powerful, resilient, and imperturbable. In Game One, the Yanks outlasted the estimable Francisco Liriano and won late. In Game Two, old reliable Andy Pettitte shook off a couple of poor September outings to handcuff Minnesota until Lance Berkman, who hadn’t produced much of anything since coming over in mid-season, chose this moment to hit a homer and double and bring the Yanks back from behind. Game Three followed a different script, as Phil Hughes, maturing into the formidable starter he had so long been projected to be, stymied the Twins, while the offense nicked the Twins pitcher until Marcus Thames blasted a two-run homer to end things early. In all three games the Yanks got big contributions from Curtis Granderson, who seemed lost most of the year, and the expected closings from Mariano Rivera, who this year went through his customary wobbly period unusually and frighteningly late in the season. Suddenly the team looks strong and deep, while neither Texas nor Tampa seems ready to seize their series. Well, one or the other will win, and will get to face the Yanks for the American League flag starting Friday.
