New York Yankees

The Yankees have just lost two out of three to the Rays, and hold a tight one-game lead in the American League East. It was a great series: every game was extremely well-played and came down to one or two key moments. Here are my thoughts for the final game of this series:

The stage is set for an exciting September

If you watched all three games, these two teams looked extremely well-equipped and very even-matched. When you look at how these teams have matched up over the course of the season, the numbers are striking.

The Yankees are about to enter a very crucial stretch in their season, playing the Rays, Jays and the hated rival Red Sox. The current series finale vs. Tampa Bay is about to get underway, and as the hero from last night Robinson Cano put it, "It feels like a playoff." It was a big win, because now the Yankees are assured to leave Tampa Bay in first place.

Today, it's CC Sabathia vs James Sheilds as the Yanks go for the series win. Personally, I think this is a huge game for the Yankees.  

Well, that was unexpected.

For weeks leading up to MLB’s trade deadline, the Yanks were mostly quiet. Once the Cliff Lee deal fell through, the only names being thrown around were bats off the bench and middle relief help.

Well, the Yanks got their bench bat in Austin Kearns. And they paid the Indians $1.4M to rent Kerry Wood for the rest of the season.

But the one guy who came completely out of nowhere (and has the most potential to improve the team) was Lance Berkman.

Well, that was unexpected.

Cliff Lee, Lance Berkman , Jorge Cantu, Austin Kearns , Bengie Molina, Kerry Wood, Cristian Guzman. All players that are now wearing either a Texas Rangers Jersey or Yankee pinstripes now, as the smell of October baseball grows stronger with each passing day.

New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia will square off against Tampa Bay Rays James Shields, in the third and final game of this series.

Let’s check out this matchup:

 
Tampa Bay Rays: James Shields (9-9)

James Shields is a lights-out pitcher, if you are referring to his high strikeout numbers.

In 2010 Shields has posted 122 strikeouts over 135 innings. He maintains a minimal number of walks with 31.

So what explains Shields ERA being 4.79?

The Yankees were among the busiest teams at the trade deadline yesterday, significantly changing their roster in hopes of another World Series title.

Each new player coming in will have a role to play, while the players they're replacing will move on to different things themselves.

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Robinson Cano had another MVP performance again tonight. 

His home run in the top of ninth inning gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Tamp Bay Rays.  And more importantly, the Yankees will maintain their AL East division lead when leaving St. Petersburg after tomorrow’s game.

The New York Yankees acquired three veterans by the July 31st trade deadline. The three players are Austin Kearns, Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians, and Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros.

Last year, the Yankees acquired Jerry Hairston Jr., and he was a key to their World Series Championship.

We all know these three new Yankees can play, but will they be able to shine in the city that never sleeps?

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