yankees win playoff birth (again)

so.. the yanks did it again. i decided to make this the first official post on the psu blogging project; since i noticed that someone else had the title exit25 as their blog-title. there was also a post about phil.rizzuto.

having grown up at Exits144&138&63 on the gsp, lived a few blocks from scooter (my aunts saw him at the nursing home the week before he passed away), and being a lifelong yankee fan ---- i thought i might start here...

back on point... the yanks did it!, but it requires some explanation.

the yanks started out an abominable 21-29, looking like the worst-best-paid team in sports history. but, joe.torre -- who may have coached his finest season of baseball -- guided the yanks to the best record in baseball since the all-star break. this was no fluke.

following the ideas in his management/motivational book, joe didn't let his players panic. he integrated some talented and energetic rookies -- a cowardly lion, scarecrow, tinman and dorothy -- and, instead of having competition and fighting WITHIN the team, he was able to concentrate on the game and their opponents. a scrappy resilience, a historic season from a-rod (helped, no doubt, by jim.fannin), the resuscitation of mo, and the discovery of joba.

reminds me of something michael.jordan once said, "individual talent may win some games, but teams win championships."

it may sound trite, but: don't stop believing!!

go yanks!