The real Mariano Rivera has returned after the All Star Break for the Yankees.  In 29 games since the break, Rivera is 1-1 with 17 saves, a 2.05 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.  Rivera has worked 30.2 innings in the 2nd half of the season and he has allowed 27 hits, walked 5 batters and whiffed 36.  Rivera’s overall numbers look pretty good now.  In 62 games this season, Rivera is 3-4 with 29 saves, a 2.98 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  In 66.1 innings, he has allowed 63 hits, walked 10 batters and whiffed 69.  The Yankees have won 8 of their last 10 games which has them 5 games ahead of the Tigers in the Wild Card.  But the Yankees who are now 87-64 on the season are only 2.5 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East.

The New York Yankees appear to have saved their best for last so look out!  The Yankees have won 6 games in a row putting distance between them and the Tigers (4 games) and the Mariners (6.5 games) for the Wild Card.  The Yankees are now 82-62 which has them only 5 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East.  The Yanks main goal is probably to make a run at the division as the Red Sox are banged up right now.

It’s time for Yankee fans to all realize that once and for all…..A-Rod is a way better baseball player than Derek Jeter is.  A-Rod is treating September like he’s playing softball!  In his first 9 games of September, A-Rod is 18 for 34 (.529 avg, 1.865 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 8 homers and 15 RBIs.  Alex Rodriguez has now played in 142 games this season and he’s hitting .319 (1.096 OPS) with 133 runs scored, 52 homers, 140 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.  Yankee fans to bow down to the great Alex Rodriguez because without him this season the Yanks would be a .500 team.  You all better hope he stays around for 2008.

The Yankees have lost 1B Andy Phillips for the remainder of the season as he will undergo surgery to repair a broken wrist tomorrow.  That’s a shame as Phillips played pretty well this season for the Yankees.  In 61 games this season Phillips was 54 for 185 (.292 avg, .711 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 2 homers and 25 RBIs.  The Yankees will now likely use Doug Mientkiewicz (.226, 4 HR, 16 RBIs) and Wilson Betemit (.184, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs in 49 AB) will likely split time at 1B for the Yanks.  Also look for Jason Giambi to possibly get some playing time there.

The New York Yankees are in good shape right now as everything seems to be coming together.  After a slow start to the season the Yanks are now 76-61 which has them 6 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East.  The Yankees to lead the Wild Card Standings as they are 2 games ahead of the Mariners and 3 games ahead of the Tigers.  The Yankees lead the major leagues in scoring with 801 runs (5.8 runs per game) because everyone has been hitting lately.  But, Alex Rodriguez (.306 avg, 123 runs, 45 homers, 129 RBIs and 21 stolen bases) and Jorge Posada (.329 avg, 16 homers and 78 RBIs) have hit all season long for the Yanks and they deserve the most credit on offense.  Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang have been the only consistent starting pitchers for the Yankees this season as they are 28-14 with a 3.80 ERA between them.  The Yanks were smart in holding onto their young players at the trade deadline as starter Ian Kennedy and reliever Joba Chamberlain will have a say in if the Yanks make the playoffs or not.  Kennedy has replaced Mike Mussina in the rotation and he worked 7 solid innings for a win in his major league debut over the weekend.  Joba Chamberlain has been awesome as he’s working his way into the set-up role in front of Mariano Rivera.  He has done it with a blazing fastball as he has not allowed an earned run in 11.1 innings for the Yanks and he has whiffed a stunning 17 batters.