With the 8th ranked pitching staff in the AL the 94-68 Yankees went just as far as you could expect them to go in the post season. Chien-Ming Wang (19-7, 3.70) was the only starter who had a sub 4.00 ERA. The team got so desperate for pitching they coaxed "the Rocket", Roger Clemens (6-6, 4.18) out of retirement for one last shot at it. Even the great Mariano Rivera (3-4, 3.15, 30 sv) looked to be cracking. Andy Pettitte (15-9, 4.05) was the only starter to log more than 200 innings. The big story was the emergence of a 21 year old phenom named Joba Chamberlain, who set the New York sports world on it's heels with a 2-0 (0.38) record in 19 games. Chamberlain can with special instructions and kit gloves known as "Joba-rule". Basically GM Brian Cashman told manager Joe Torre that he could only use Joba in certain situations along with an inning cap for the season. Torre, who by this point in his tenure felt like he was being pushed out the door, had a history of burning through his pen and Cashman didn't want his phenom's are ruined in the process. Chamberlain was unhittable and the Yankees rode his strong right arm right until the post season. Neither man nor lumber could do him in, but just like superman every super hero has his kryptonite. In Joba's case it was a swarm of Lake Erie Midges, which attacked Jacobs Field (or whatever corporate name you want to give it) and threw Joba off his game. Cleveland took full advantage of Chamberlain and the Yankees, who they bounced out of the LDS in 4 games. The Midges didn't only take the armour off Joba they also cost "St. Joe" his job.
If the Bombers can get enough pitching they will find a way to out hit just about everyone. A-Rod (2007 AL MVP) hit .314 and blasted 54 homers to knock in 156 runs. Jorge Posada caught 144 games at the age of 35 and hit an incredible .338 with 20 homers and 90 RBI's. Jeter and Cano manned the middle infield and both hit over .300. The one disappointing player in the lineup was a "de-juiced" Jason Giambi, who hit .236 with 14 long balls. The Yankees bench is strong with Johnny Damon (.270-12-63-27 SB) and Andy Phillips (.292). Miguel Cairo returned to the Bronx to play the roll of utility man to perfection. Shelley Duncan hit 7 homers in just 74 AB's to create instant offense. Manager Chris Gotay, in his 2nd season, moves from managing the Pirates to the fish bowl called "Da Bronx". Chris did a marvelous job making the Bucs overachieve and win the NL East in KOD 13. Managing for the Steinbrenners might prove to be a tougher task unless he can average 5-6 runs a game.
If the Bombers can get enough pitching they will find a way to out hit just about everyone. A-Rod (2007 AL MVP) hit .314 and blasted 54 homers to knock in 156 runs. Jorge Posada caught 144 games at the age of 35 and hit an incredible .338 with 20 homers and 90 RBI's. Jeter and Cano manned the middle infield and both hit over .300. The one disappointing player in the lineup was a "de-juiced" Jason Giambi, who hit .236 with 14 long balls. The Yankees bench is strong with Johnny Damon (.270-12-63-27 SB) and Andy Phillips (.292). Miguel Cairo returned to the Bronx to play the roll of utility man to perfection. Shelley Duncan hit 7 homers in just 74 AB's to create instant offense. Manager Chris Gotay, in his 2nd season, moves from managing the Pirates to the fish bowl called "Da Bronx". Chris did a marvelous job making the Bucs overachieve and win the NL East in KOD 13. Managing for the Steinbrenners might prove to be a tougher task unless he can average 5-6 runs a game.
Robert Chisholm created 17 cards to round out the 2007 Topps set for the Bronx Bombers.
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