Another Yankee Classic for the Ages

It was the biggest question for the Yankees heading into the playoffs and it's been an Achilles heel for the stagnant team in every playoff series since 2004. Alex Rodriguez is unquestionably one of the best players in baseball today, but his substandard post season performance the past few years has Yankee fans questioning if he would ever come through in the clutch like their beloved shortstop Derek Joete. It looks now as if Rodriguez, along with Teixeira, has finally earned his pinstripes.

Watching the game last night I couldn't help but to hold my breath as the Yankees and the Twins played an amazing gritty game that came down to extra innings. There were actually two things that happened that as a Yankee fan I'd never thought I'd see: A-Rod coming up big in a clutch spot and Mariano Rivera giving up a run in a playoff appearance, albeit it wasn't his runner when he inherited him from Phil Hughes who had a less than admirable performance. Low and behold though, I witnessed both.

A-Rod's RBI single in the sixth tied the game up at one and put a little life into a team that struggled to reach base all night against Twins starter Nick Blackburn. After his single the night before to drive in a run, you could tell this was a new Rodriguez and a new Yankees team. When Hughes came in in the 8th I had the whole game planned out in my head. Hughes shuts down everyone in the 8th and Rivera shuts down everyone in the ninth and the powerful Yankees lineup would muster at least a run in two more at bats. When the Twins scored two, I felt the air get sucked out of the room and I thought back to all the disappointments of past Yankee's playoffs, 2001, 2003, and 2004 the most prominent in my mind.

As the Yankees came to bat in the bottom of the ninth down two with their two big sluggers and biggest earners due up, both unproven in the playoffs, I had a glimpse of hope but still wished that Jeter would appear in his Superman cape and save the day. Teixeira's ripped single down the left field line got a fist pump out of me and cheer from the Yankee faithful at the game. When A-Rod came up all I thought was just don't pop up, put the ball in play hard. When the count ran to 3-0, I thought what a cop out it would be if he didn't get one pitch to hit. I was dead set on thinking he swinging at the next pitch, but the off speed pitch from Joe Nathan wasn't the one. On 3-1 Nathan threw his first fastball of the plate appearance to Alex and he payed dearly.

It was one of those hits that you knew was out as soon as he hit it. I jumped off his bat, the crowd jumped up, the stadium was shaking and when the ball sailed into the night and landed in the Yankee bullpen, A-Rod got me to stand up and yell and put both of my fists in the air. He had done it, he had earned his pinstripes, even if it was only the ALDS. With so much momentum and Matsui, Swisher, and Cano following and nobody out I thought Nathan would snap again and let up another magical walk off. It wasn't to be, this night belonged to the new toy the Yankees picked up this past off season.

After a gut wrenching bottom of the 10th when Brett Gardner made a base running blunder and was doubled up on a Melky Cabrera liner and a white knuckle, bases loaded top of the 11th, Teixeira came to the plate as a righty, his less powerful side. Teixeira along with Jeter have carried this team all year and ironically are the two of three starters not to have a walk off hit. Jeter, winner of four World Series, earned his pinstripes long ago and has donned them well especially in the playoffs. Teixeira, a viable MVP candidate with Jeter and the Twins Joe Mauer, needed a big hit to start the inning and get the crowd back into it. Did he ever.

He sent a rocket down the left field line that hit the top of the low walls at the new Yankee Stadium and bounced into a sea of outstretched hands. The Yankees had did it...again...against the Twins...again. This was the fourth walk off against the Twins this year for the "Cardiac Yankees" who seem to have an affinity for the dramatics in 2009. Teixeira rounded the bases pumped up and yelling and moving so fast so he could get to the swarm that waited for him at home plate. He threw off the helmet and plunged into his teammates as The Stadium shook around them.

Two of the biggest names on the most decorated team in the most famous city in the world earned their stripes together as they sent bombs into the New York night. Teixeira got his whipped cream facial during his post game interview in which he was nothing but humble, a younger more powerful version of Derek Jeter. He loved it and so did the Yankee fans. The game on a macro level put the Yankees up 2-0 in the series and all signs are pointing to an Yankees-Angels ALCS. On the micro level though, the two guys who wanted to prove they could make it anywhere, made it in the city which breaks down even the best ball player. Not only are Teixeira and Rodriguez Yankees now, they are New Yorkers. Welcome to the playoffs boys, welcome to the post season, welcome to the expectations of winning the World Series of bust every year.

The ghosts have crossed the street and haven't missed a beat.