In the clinch

Though it wasn’t the way anyone wanted. The Yanks lost to Toronto - although going into the Henn-Halladay matchup, it wasn’t all that surprising.

However, in Boston, the Twins were kicking Boston while they are down giving the Bombers their ninth straight division title.

In the postgame celebration, several of the older guys - Jeter and (shockingly) Randy Johnson - gave the standard company line about not being satisfied, but it was clear from some of the pictures and video that guys like Melky and Cano who haven’t been there seemingly a million times before were reveling in the moment.

I say good, this was supposed to be the Yankee team that finally got passed by Boston, and for awhile it looked bleak. Sheffield and Matsui got hurt, Randy Johnson was ineffective for much of the season, ARod has his struggles (and recoveries) and for a while Boston looked like it might just dethrone the Bombers.

But guys like Melky and Scott Proctor emerged as huge parts of this team. Derek Jeter has had his best season since 1999. Jason Giambi, while not hitting for the high average he produced in his salad days was a terrifically productive player. Brian Cashman made great minor moves in bringing Ron Villone and Brian Bruney off the scrap heap, by finding Darrell Rasner on the waiver wire and major moves in getting Bobby Abreu at the trade deadline. A seemingly unimportant trade from years back produced a fill-in outfielder and arguably the team’s most important non-Rivera righthanded releiver in Scott Proctor.

The team’s allegedly barren farm system produced a productive 21-year-old corner outfielder and a few spot starters and looks to have more on the way. That same system also produced the team’s ace - a 25-year-old Taiwanese hero with a hellacious sinker and a confounding style that kept hitters bashing grounder after grounder after grounder.

Jorge Posasa quietly enjoyed another solid season, marked most notably by his much improved defense. Mike Mussina looked like he might finally challenge for his elusive 20-win season, but injuries and a run of bad luck ended that.

Bernie Williams took a nice victory lap in a season he wasn’t expected to play much.

Carl Pavano didn’t see the field, but his fellow disappointing signing, Jaret Wright did his best to tax the bullpen for both of them.

All in all, it was a satisfying season and like the Captain says, “the season is just beginning.” However, it’s been terribly enjoyable to see some of the fallacies and whining about the Yankees inability to produce their own talent get slapped around.

Oh, and that five-game beatdown in Boston was fun too.

Bring on the Central!