Mr. Clean

Immortal

"When we was 8....we went to bat day to see the Yanks..."

Ghostface Killah - Impossible

The inclement weather was the story prior to Game 2 of the ALCS, however it wasn't the rain that made a difference...it was ARod.

99 Problems

The game began on a frigid overcast inky Bronx Saturday night...and ended with a Yankees 4-3 win on Sunday morning. Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano had some fielding errors, however the Yanks stayed calm, after playing most of the 5 hours, and 10 minutes tied at 2.

Chone Figgins struggled all night for the Angles, but his single to shallow left scored Gary Matthews, Jr. in the top of the 11th inning, as Anaheim led 3-2. Nevertheless, it was the resurgent Alex Rodriguez that smashed a 0-2 pitch into the stands to knot it up at 3.

Two innings later the Yankees won as Leche (Melky Cabrera) hit a chopper between 1st and 2nd, and Maicer Izturis misplayed the ball, which allowed Jerry Hairston Jr. to cross home plate in this amazing win.

A lot of things went wrong for both teams tonight, as throwing and fielding mishaps proved costly, and the hitting woes of Vladimir Guerrero, Figgins, and Abreu, continued...providing another win for the Yankees.

The series moves to southern California on Monday afternoon, and as Yogi Berra once said..."it ain't over, 'til it's over..."

Patience has been paying off for both the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies, and amidst all the miscues in both series, things are a long way from being complete. The remedy in the NLDS, and ALDS is solid pitching, and a team's ability to manufacture runs. Everyone has relied on the long ball...and that's fine as long as the pitching holds up.

Photo: Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Empire Strikes Back

Teammates

NY State of Mind

Pride

"Remember Bronx River, rolling thick...with cool DJ Red Alert and Chuck Chillout on the mix..."

KRS-One - South Bronx

I absolutely LOVE the game of baseball, and the past season has boiled my fervor for America's pastime. From the collapse of the New York Yankess, and Mets...to the rise of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Tampa Bay Rays...things have been outright interesting. However it is the off season that has somewhat overshadowed the joy of October, as the Yankees have, as always gone shopping for new talent and headlines.

A Bronx Tale

The Yankees had plenty of highs and lows last summer, from the 2008 MLB All-Star game, and the closing of their historic stadium, to missing the playoffs, and finishing with a sub par 89-73 record...times have been tough, and CHANGE was very necessary.

Like his father before him, Hank Steinbrenner has invested millions of dollars into All-Star caliber players, in an effort to put the most famous team in all of sports, back on top. After signing the top free agent pitchers CC Sabathia, and AJ Burnett, the Yanks have emerged as a true contender by adding power and dexterity with Mark Teixeira. The first basemen brings youth, and power from both sides of the plate, infusing an offense that boasts the likes of Derek Jeter, AROD, Robinson Canoe, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera, and Johnny Damon. 

Unlike Sabathia and Burnett, the signing of Teixeira came out of nowhere, as the Yankees made one offer several weeks ago, and stayed pat, while the Orioles, Rex Sox, Nationals, and Angels vied for his services. Yesterday at about 2pm, it was announced that he would don the pinstripes, becoming a New York Yankee...coming from another American League franchise, much like Reggie Jackson did over 30 years ago. 

Will the World Series return to the South Bronx...only time will tell, as Yankees look good on paper, but the Phillies are champions until proven otherwise. 

Happy Holidays baseball fans.

Photos: Jeffrey Zelevansky/Getty Images