World Series

Ever since 2004, Alex Rodriguez had to listen to the criticism, hatred and talk of under-performing in the biggest games.

The, "You're a bum, A-Rod, you strike out in the biggest spots," or the "you're never going to be as good as Jeter is," o ther "we won't win a championship with you because you suck."

On and on. 2004. 2005. 2006. 2007. Failed Octobers with the Yankees.

In 2008, the Yankees didn't even make the playoffs, though A-Rod signed a new 10-year, $275 million dollar deal the winter before the season.

The last Yankee ticker-tape parade I went to was in 1996. I was 16 years old and cannot recall a single thing about that day. Not a moment.

I have clearer memories of stuff that happened when I was five than what occurred on that afternoon in October.

Go figure.

Instead of braving the elements for an event I'd ultimately forget about, I opted to watch this year's parade telecast on NY1.

It may be the second-most often heard phrase in professional sports, trailing only "Brett Favre is considering (un)retiring": "The Yankees win the World Series!" All together, the Yankees have won 27 out a possible 105 World Series titles, that percentage (25.71 percent) meaning that this team has accounted for one out of every four championships.

I've heard and seen many theories this week as to why the Yankees won the 2009 World Series and their 27th overall championship this past Wednesday.

Some thought it was the offense, which was lead by Alex Rodriguez hitting .365 and blasting six home runs and 18 RBI, World Series MVP Hideki Matsui batting .615 and Derek Jeter, who batted over .400 in the series

Some said it was the starting pitching of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, who combined went 8-2, being the only team since the 1991 Twins to use three starters.

Shelley Duncan has seen brief success when he has played for The New York Yankees from 2007 to 2009.  It is a completely different story when he gets full time play with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Triple-A affiliate of the 27 time World Champs.

Duncan lead the International League in home runs (30) RBI (99), runs and extra base hits, thus being honored by the Topps Company of New York, as their Player of the Year.

The New York Yankees are the best team in baseball—for the 2009 season (as we predicted in our World Series Preview ). But is this one of the best teams in baseball history? Is it even one of the best teams in Yankees history? What about this decade?

In the wake of the Yankees' 27th and most recent World Series championship two days ago, we're likely to hear a lot of talk about parity in baseball. The arguments will mostly be divided into two camps.

One side will cry foul. "This is an outrage!" they'll say. "The Yankees bought a World Series for $208 million. I can't believe Major League Baseball would allow this to happen. We need a salary cap!"

Unless he's pitching against your favorite team, it's quite difficult not to be a fan of Pedro Martinez.

Martinez is more than just a future Hall of Fame pitcher. He's an entertainer that often leaves his opponents baffled one minute but cracking up with laughter the next.

So Jimmy Rollins proved once again that when it comes to playoffs and predictions, he's an idiot. Picking the Phillies to win in five games was clearly an act of a delusional man. Thank God the mighty Yankees proved him wrong.

Wait. Hang on. Scratch that.

Rollins shouldn't be criticized for making a prediction. He should be applauded for pointing out (indirectly and probably unintentionally) the laziness of sportswriters.