It's a sight that we've seen oh so many times. One Yankee or another hitting a walk off homer in the playoffs. Then being bombarded by teammates, coaches, and media. It's a sight Yankee fans have longed for since 2003. The series against Boston which nobody will ever forget. Aaron Boone's homerun off Tim Wakefield sent to almost the same part of the yard as the one last night were the ghosts final appearance.
Since then it's been all disappointment. The Yankees lost in six games that year and followed it up by blowing a 3-0 lead in the championship series against Boston who would go on to break the curse. Then three division series losses followed by missing the playoffs in 2008.
That brings us to 2009. After an offseason makeover to bring in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira the Yankees went 103-59 to win the division by eight games over Boston. The Yankees have finally begun to play like the old guard did. In the days of Williams, O'Neill, Young Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte, Mussina, and Posada.
The Yankees have played well all year led by their Captain Derek Jeter. Teixeira, A-Rod, and Damon have provided the power. Finally the pitching led by free agent acquisitions CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. The Yankees have it all there to win the championship for the first time since 2000 and we'll see if they can.
Game one was quite easy for the Yankees, winning 7-2 over a Twins team that was running on six hours of sleep after a memorable classic of there own, on Tuesday night. Sabathia played very well allowing two runs in 6.2 innings of work. The Yankees bats took care of the rest.
So here we are at last night. Burnett and Nick Blackburn both pitched well allowing one run each. In the top of the eighth the Twins got two runs via small ball to put them ahead three to one. Then in the bottom of the ninth the ghosts of the New York Yankees woke from there six year long slumber.
Teixeira hit to get on base to start the rally then the suddenly rejuvenated Alex Rodriguez did exactly what the Yankees brought him in for. He smacked the Joe Nathan offering over the wall in right center to tie the game. New Yankee Stadium was ecstatic! A-Rod got a curtain call and the Yankees were back in it.
The Yankees blew a chance in the bottom of the tenth to win it with a guy on third and one out. The Twins then came up and Mauer hit what everyone in the world except apparently the umpire saw was fair! The Twins would load the bases with none out but couldn't capitalize. Then the ghosts came out in full force to begin writing the history of New Yankee Stadium.
Teixeira was up to start the bottom of the eleventh. His at bat started with two balls and one strike. Then he hit the ball straight down the left field line. It was a "wall scrapper" as he put it but it bounced out. It was extraordinary to see the stadium erupt the way it did. Teixeira was greeted by teammates at home plate after rounding the bases. The whole team was out there with him.
Teixeira went over for an interview and Burnett gave him the shaving cream pie in the face. He was greeted by Alex Rodriguez as he was also sent over. Teixeira talked about how Yankee fans were the best in baseball and how he knew he wanted to play in New York this year.
Now the Twins are all but sunk and Yankee fans are looking forward to what looks like a matchup with the Angels. The ghosts are what have made the Yankees the most magical team in sports for so many years. Hopfully they'll help lead the Yankees all the way to the World Series. A place they haven’t been since 2003.
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