New York Yankees

I have always been a fan of the New York Yankees. I loved them through the dynasty, through the early 2000s, and I still love them today. But sometimes you just get frustrated with an organization, especially one that is inarguably the greatest franchise in all of sports.

Yesterday's win against the Phillies epitomizes everything that is right with the Yankees and yet everything that is wrong with them. This is a star-powered offense that can't hit for eight innings, but breaks out against none other than Brad Lidge.

Nick Swisher heard MVP chants early in the season, when he recorded 13 hits, 10 of which were extra-base hits, in his first 10 games.

The fact that Swisher's career batting average was .243 meant nothing to Yankee fans, who began talking about how the trade for the former Ohio State Buckeye would make the Yankees' season. As Borat would say, "Ehh not so much!"

Today I was lucky enough to go to "The Palace that George Built," and frankly, it was so much nicer than the old one.  The wide open aisles and the many different eating establishments made it much more enjoyable than the old Yankee Stadium.

In doing all of this, the Yankees have created a truly state-of-the-art facility but, the one problem that I found is it is missing the Yankee Stadium mystique it once had across the street.

The Philadelphia Phillies were playing like the defending World Series Champions up until the ninth inning.

The game on Saturday afternoon seemed all but over when Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate with closer Brad Lidge on the mound.

The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season.

(Author's note:  This is the first in a series of articles designed to educate the younger readers about some of the greats from years gone by.)

Jack Chesbro does not hold the Major League record for wins in a season, as most people believe. In fact, he doesn’t appear in the Top 10. He does own the record beginning with the Dead ball era which started in the year 1900.  In 1904 Chesbro won 41 games for the New York Highlanders (an ancestor of the Yankees).

The New York Yankees have reeled off nine victories in a row after starting the season poorly and having player after player on the disabled list.

But they have hit more home runs than any other team; are on pace to set a major league record for home runs; score runs in clusters and have more pitching depth than any other team.

An analysis of the Yankee team one fourth of the way into the season gives New York fans many reasons to hope for postseason glory five months from now.

There are a number of excellent second basemen in the major leagues.

A few of the best would have to include Ian Kinsler of Texas, Placido Polanco of Detroit, Brian Roberts of Baltimore, Dustin Pedroia of Boston, Jeff Keppinger of Houston, Freddy Sanchez of Pittsburgh, Chase Utley of Philadelphia, and Brandon Phillips of Cincinnati.

But at this time in his career, at age 26, the New York Yankees have the best of the entire bunch in Robinson Cano.

Cano carries a career batting average of .304 and a career on-base percentage of .336.

On the eve of what could be the Yankee’s first double-digit game wining streak in quite some time, I’m beginning to see that old Yankee fire burning again. The team is hot, and critics can finally see the impact of Alex Rodriguez's return to the lineup.

The Phillies make one final stop on their road trip to play the New York Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium. Both teams bring high octane-offenses to the table, and the way Yankee Stadium has been giving away free souvenir balls to fans in the outfield this season, there is no reason to expect a slow weekend in the Bronx.