23-year old righty swinging catcher Francisco Cervelli has really played pretty well for the Yanks this season. He has played in 38 games this season and he is 27 for 91 (.297 avg, .683 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs. Cervelli was the Yankees’ #21 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees elect to let Cervelli battle Jose Molina in spring training for the right to back up Jorge Posada in 2010. The 34-year old righty swinging Molina has played in 50 games this season for the Yankees and he is 28 for 130 (.215 avg, .557 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs.

This will be a very interesting decision for the Yankees but they won’t likely have to make it until the 2nd round of the playoffs. 26-year old righty Chad Gaudin or 23-year old righty Joba Chamberlain will be the #4 guy. The Yankees would probably be smart to use Gaudin and use Chamberlain out of the bullpen where he was very effective last season. Gaudin has started six games for the Yankees this season and he is 1-0 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. But overall this season Gaudin has pitched in 30 games (25 starts) for the Yankees and Padres and he is 6-10 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Chamberlain has started 30 games for the Yankees this season and he is 9-6 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has allowed 160 hits in 152 2/3 innings for the Yankees this season while also walking 72 hitters and hitting 12 of them. He has better stuff and control as a relief pitcher.

The New York Yankees clinched home-field advantage throughout the 2009 playoffs with a win last night at home.  The Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox last night with a 4-2 win.  The Yankees, who did not celebrate at all after clinching the division, went wild after clinching home field.  Mariano Rivera got his 44th save of the season and the Yankees look like the favorites to win the World Series heading into this year’s playoffs.  They have got all of the tools in place to win it all, and I see them meeting the St. Louis Cardinals this October in the World Series.

The Yankees have refused to part with 22-year old outfielder Austin Jackson in trades for a couple of years now. He was the Yankees’ #1 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He showed why this season in AAA-ball playing in 132 games in which he was 151 for 504 (.300 avg, .759 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 4 homers, 65 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees bring back Johnny Damon as that could effect how much of a chance Jackson gets next year.

39-year old righty closer Mariano Rivera just seems to be getting better with age. He has pitched in 60 games for the Yanks this season and he is 3-3 with 40 saves, a 1.94 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Sandman has whiffed 66 batters in 60 1/3 innings while only allowing 44 hits. He is #2 on the All-Time Saves list in major league history with 522 of them. He is 66 saves behind Trevor Hoffman and it will be interesting to see if Rivera will want to pitch long enough to best him or not.