Last week, Yankee captain Derek Jeter honored the recently deceased Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and announcer Bob Sheppard.
For that minute-long speech, it was hard not to think back to Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech, as Jeter’s statements drew an explosion of applause.
These are the type of moments that transform this player into a captain, this shortstop into a winner, this Yankee into a legend.
Let’s take a look at the other moments that have made Derek Jeter seem impeccable.
The Yanks have been leading the AL East for almost the entire season. However, earlier this season they were doing it without what we expected from Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia.
Instead, players like Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Andy Pettitte, and Nick Swisher were keeping the Yankees in control of their division. Within the past month however, Teixeira and Sabathia have found their groove and the Yankees are loving it.
Teixeira has reached base safely in the past 30 games, has driven in 60 runs, and ha s 17 dingers . What a turnaround!
Sabathia now has 12 wins, giving the Yanks’ top three pitchers a combined 34 wins, which is five more total wins than the Orioles.
Alex Rodriguez has come back after a slow start, hitting the 70 RBI mark prior to the All-Star break.
Robinson Cano continues to have an MVP-type season, hitting .336 with 16 home runs.
All of these performances have put the Yanks at 24 games above 500 at the break.
This begs the question, can this be the best team of all time?
I’m not saying they are absolutely going to win 110 games and bring home number 28. All I’m saying is that they have a fighting chance. The 2001 Seattle Mariners of course won a record 116 games.
In order for the Yanks to match that, they will have to go an outrageous 60-14 in the second half of the season.
I gotta say though, I can count on one hand the number of times I remember the Yankees being this hot. Their rotation is ridiculous and the superstars in their lineup are finally doing what’s been expected of them.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
It was a bitter-sweet sight.
Last weekend was the first series that the Yankees faced former manager Joe Torre, after a bitter breakup in 2007.
Before the game, Torre and the players he coached in New York embraced.
It was like watching a former couple seeing each other again after breaking up for mutual reasons.
It feels like far more than three years since Torre switched coasts.
The image of him in a Dodger uniform is still so disheartening, and I know why.
I, as a Yankee fan, feel guilty for the way he was treated at the end of his tenure.
Torre saw the revival of this historic franchise and lead the Yankees to four championships.
Steinbrenner and company did not welcome him back with open arms, so he left.
Now, as I look in the opposing dugout and see his same, calm demeanor, it just reminds me of the greatness he helped bring back to New York.
There’s also a tinge of jealousy for the team that has the honor of having such a classy manager.
So, here’s to you Joe. You’re still missed.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
The Bombers are barely leading the pack.
What started out as a four-horse race with the Yanks playing second fiddle is now a crowd of three with the Yanks on top.
With Toronto currently down seven games, the Yankees are preoccupied with keeping the Rays (two games back) and Red Sox (two and a half games back) at a distance.
I must admit, I am a bit disappointed to see Toronto fall out of the race (for now at least). Sure, everyone knew that four teams weren’t going to be fighting over first place for the season’s entirety, but it was still fun to watch.
But don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.
A two and a half game span encompassing the three top teams in the division means that if it stays this close until August even, all eyes will be on the AL East.
Definitely a viable candidate for the best division in baseball, the wild card might not come out of it if the Rays, Sox and Yanks beat up on each other.
With the Sox coming back from a pretty substantial deficit (albeit in June), David Price dominating the hill, and Robinson Cano having MVP-type numbers, anything can happen after the All-Star Break.
The Yanks play seven more series against the Rays and the Sox.
With Sabathia pitching much better and Hughes’ and Pettitte’s continued dominance, all eyes will be on the Yanks’ bats to carry them to a division championship.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
The Yanks are in first place in the American League East for the first time this season.
After winning six out of their last seven games, including a sweep of the Astros over the weekend, they are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot of the division.
However, questions still loom about big-name players who were key for the Yankees winning it all last season.
The Yanks have plenty of overachievers that are keeping them atop, or near the top of the East.
Still, New York will be in serious trouble if their big fish don’t step it up.
As reigning World Series champs and with another lineup that is dangerous from the captain leading off to the nine hole, the number 28 on manager Joe Girardi’s uniform has quickly turned into a target on his back ever since opening day. However, having three starters being on the DL for a couple weeks and being in the middle of what looks to be a four-horse race in the AL East, the Yankees are still in the thick of it because players who may not be front-runners for the All-Star game have stepped up. With Alex Rodriguez and Mark Texiera not performing like they are used to, allow me to give you the top 5 players that are keeping the Yanks within striking distance of David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays.