Yankees-Red Soxs as It Should Be

It was the closest to the rivalry as it has been in a few years last night; starting with A-Rod's angry home run blast to left field. The elements were all there, a close game, a home plate umpire with a good eye (the same can't be said for the 2nd base umpire), a dangerous pitching jam, frustrated managers, heroes, villains, and hot headed fans.

The 3 most impressive things from the Yankees were Joba getting out of his jam without excessive damage, youngsters stealing bases, and Brett Gardner's last at bat. A sign of hope for a team that seems to be treading water.

The last 3 years it has been the youth movement that has carried the Yankees to the playoffs. The veteran Yankees could learn a great deal from the youngsters. The little things, careful at bats, speed, stolen bases and patience win you games; and to make the playoffs the Yankees have to climb two impressive Alps, The Boston Red Soxs and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Brett Gardner's 10th Inning at bat was however the most impressive. As I sat there, fearing who would come in from the bullpen in the 11th, I watched the youngster foul off pitch after pitch from John Papelbon. Papelbon is no slacker and in the terms of closers, while not quite at the caliper of Mariano Rivera, he will be if he stays healthy and continues to play. Papelbons' appearance on the mound in the 10th was not what I wanted, with the bottom of the order coming to bat. However those youngsters in the bottom of the order did the little things, Cano's blooper single, Melky's sacrifice and finally Gardner's long at bat, that took the speedy Cano to home giving the Yankees the win.