How they got here..............

It has been a while since my last post, partly because the Yankees have essentially been on cruise control since sweeping the Sox in that four game thrashing in early August, and partly because work is, well, work, and the idea of writing on the weekends seemed somewhat............disheartening.
But, today, on the 27th of September, after a well-earned sweep of the Sox yet again, the New York Yankees have clibched the American League East and the best record in the AL, meaning homefield advantage throughout the playoffs (including the World Series, if they make it that far. Thanks All Star Game!). So, I thought this would be a good time to rank the most important factors to the Yankees success this season. Without these different parts all coming togther, the Bombers never, ever would have gotten to where they are now.

5.) Nick Swisher - It is easy to overlook the Swish man on this team because he isn't an all star, nor is he one of the big guns at the top of the lineup. But Swisher's presence on this team has been one of the more important additions of the year.
First, look at the numbers: Swisher is batting an umimpressive .250, but he has 27 homers (most of which were not hit at homer-happy Yankee Stadium), 79 RBI, 80 runs scored, a .370 OBP, and 93 walks. By the end of this season he could have 30 homers and 85 RBI, with close to 100 walks. I would bet anything that, if one were so inclined, they could research all of the corner outfielders in the league and one would find that Swisher is comparable to all but the top, top performers. It is the type of year the Yankees were PRAYING to get out of Xavier Nady. It is the type of season good teams get out of their second-tier players.
Add in the fact that Swisher has gotten consistently better defensively in the outfield and has batted almost everywhere in the lineup effectively, and the strange and often baffling Nick Swisher has been a huge, underrated reason why this team has been on such a roll.

4.) Team Bounceback (Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, and Robinson Cano) - Coming into the season, none of us had any real idea how this threesome would do. Posada and Matsui were coming off of injuries that all but destroyed their 2008 seasons, and Robinson Cano had played such lackluster, uninspired baseball the previous season it was anyone's guess as to whether he would live up to his natural talent or fade away into a mediocrity. Well, the verdict is in, and all three would have to be ranked as unmidigated successes. Posada never really re-established himself as a top-notch defensive catcher, and his days behind the plate appear to be quickly coming to an end (especially with Francisco Cervelli looking like the real deal), but his offensive skills returned to form as he quickly reaffirmed why he has always been a middle-of-the-lineup type of hitter.
At times early in the season Matsui looked to be all but cooked, running on a stumpy leg that seemed to actually age him from game to game. Then, the old man proved that it doesn't take two legs to swing one bat. Big hits and pressure spots have been Matsui's specialty again this year, and it would take a super computer the likes of Joshua from Wargames to calculate how many big hits the veteran batter has gotten over the last six months.
Then, we come to Robinson Cano, who was one bad half of baseball from being shipped out of town. Cano, last year, became the symbol of the ills that plagued the Yankees all year long. He didn't seem to hustle or play with the desire that would be consistent with Yankee teams of the past. He also didn't seem to play smart baseball, always making the wrong choice at the worst possible time. And his entire demeanor seemed to scream Manny Ramirez.
So, with everything to prove, Robby C seemed to come into this season with a purpose. With a week left in the season, Cano is batting .321, 24 homers, 80 RBI, 100 runs scored, 47 doubles, and 200 overall hits. It is the type of season you should expect to see many, many more times over the course of Cano's career.
But, perhaps most impressive has been Cano's defense. He would have to be given major consideration for a gold glove and he has solidified the Yankees as one of the best infield defenses in the league. Coming into the year, most of us felt that Cano was either going to become a star or a bust. Well, the light is shining brightly right now for 24.

3.) Phil Hughes (and the entire bullpen) - It must have been somewhere around late May when, one day, I tuned into Mike Francesa on WFAN and his rotundness was spouting off that the Yankee bullpen would NEVER be any good unless the Yanks wised up and moved Joba back behind those walls. The guys just weren't there and, Francesa screamed, you can't just move anyone into the pen and have them be a success. A while later, the Yankees decided to move Phil Hughes from the rotation to the pen, slotting poor, lonely Chien Mien Wang into the rotation. Again. Francesa was incredulous about the move, stating as FACT that Hughes would be one step bellow dog dung in such a roll.
How's that prediction looking now, Mikey?
Phil Hughes hasn't just become a shut-down eighth inning guy, bridging the infamous "bridge to Mariano" as well as anyone in the past 10 years. He has become one of the most dominant relievers in the game, instilling confidence that is usually reserved for Rivera. Hughes has been every bit as good as Joba was in 2007, striking guys out on a consistent basis, and doing it with a quiet swagger that exudes intimidation. His blazing fastball (which now clocks at 95-96), combined with a 12-6 curve and a newly-rediscovered slider, makes him, at times, untouchable.
And his dominance has also translated to overall success for the entire bullpen. Everyone has been slotted into their appropriate roles. Phil Coke, Dave Robertson, Alfredo Aceves, and Brian Bruney have all stepped their game up knowing that they have ownership of certain moments and times in the game. Girardi seemed in love with the idea of sticking different guys in different roles on an almost everyday basis. Today, you might be a long man, while tomorrow you'll be the eighth inning guy. That just didn't work. Now, everyone has a role, and Hughes' success is what has allowed such consistency. Without it, one could see Girardi still trying to force such a hodgepodge approach to the pen.
Hughes may eventually live up to his billing as a top-quality starter (though I think all of us shutter at the thought of the Phil Rules replacing the Joba Rules) but, for now, he has been the backbone (along with Mo, obviously) of one of the, if not the best bullpens in the entire league.

2.) CC Sabathia - Yes, the entire rotation has been important. I agree. And, one can make the arguement that CC has simply been the pitcher Mike Mussina was for this team last year, when the Yanks missed the playoffs. But as GREAT as Moose was, Sabathia has been an ace. The big lefty has been tremendous, especially in the second half of the year when, in my opinion, he became the Cy Young award winner (Zach Greinke's numbers are startlingly good, but one has to give consideration to the fact that the next big, important, pressure-packed game in which Greinke pitches will be his first. Pitching for something meaningful in high-pressure situations has to count for something, right?).
Sabathia's dominance at the top has allowed the team to weather terrible stretches by both AJ Burnett and Joba Chamberlain and inconsistent starts from the likes of Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. He has also pitched well against the team's biggest rivals (Sox and Angels) and has matched up with the likes of Justin Verlander, always seeming to win that battle.
Having CC as the ever-present win, especially in the second half, has been invaluable, and having a player the caliber of CC, who signed for such a huge contract in the offseason, live up to expectations, has been even more important.

1.) Mark Teixeira Speaking of living up to expectations....................Tex gets my top slot for two very important reasons: first, he has been the main cog in the offense since the middle part of May, when Alex Rodriguez returned and teams couldn't pitch around him constantly. He has the most RBI's in the league, is second in homers, and is batting .294 with a .380 OBP. Teixeira lengthened the lineup the way Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield never could, and unlike those guys, who became all or nothing hitters towards the end, Teixeira has proven to be not only a great power hitter but also a terrific situational hitter, a great baserunner, and a hustler on every play (anyone remember Luis Castillo dropping that ball in the Subway series? It would have meant nothing if Tex wasn't busting it from first the entire way).
But, what makes Tex so special is his defense and his obvious ascension, already, as a team leader. How many errors has he saved with his glove? It would be hard to measure, but I doubt one could make an accurate count only using two hands. Forget the obvious scoop plays and high snags on throws that appear to be going astray, how about the errors that were saved simply by his mere presence? Don't you get the sense that Jeter, A-Rod, and Cano are all more confident and comfortable throwing to first knowing that, if one gets away from them, they have a guy there more than capable of cleaning up the mess? That kind of confidence has probably made them more accurate, simply by removing the fear of overthrowing or underthrowing the guy standing on the bag.
It is that kind of immense influence he has had on both the offense and the defense and it is why I believe Tex is the most important piece to the Yankee puzzle this season.

Honorable Mentions - Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez

I still hold out some hope that Jeter will be able to sneak in as the MVP this year, just because the future hall of famer has deserved the award, in my opinion, two other times. His year has been amazing from beginning to end and he has been the sparkplug of the team all year long. His play in the field and his overall offensive game (running, hitting, stealing) has been a joy to watch.
A-Rod has been the most impressive I have ever seen him. No, his numbers don't compare to his 2007 season, but forgive me if look at that year with a somewhat jaudiced eye, considering his admission this year that he used steroids.
Nope, this year, after missing 5 weeks, he has been brilliant. He has come up with HUGE hits, played very good defense, run the bases extraordinarily well, even when still hampered by his hip inury, and has played great defense. And, he has stayed off the back pages and truly become "one of the team."
The only reason I didn't include these two on the top list is because, in large part, these two future residents of Cooperstown (I think A-Rod will still get in) are doing what you would expect. They are great players playing great.