The LoHud Yankees Blog

Finally tonight, enjoy this shot Derek Jeter.

Two comments as well:

Joe Girardi: “It feels great. We had a lot of kids mature, we had a lot of people step up. We had a lot of people have great years, MVP-type years, Cy Young-type years. We got a lot out of this year. But this is only step one.”

A.J. Burnett: “This is why I came here, moments like this. We’re feeling good right now. But we ain’t done.”

A.J. is in the air now, I believe, headed back to Arkansas to be with his father. Bill Burnett is having triple-bypass surgery tomorrow.

Mark Teixeira preferred a brew to the bubbly.

Suffice it to say, Nick Swisher was pretty pleased.

It’s always the young guys — and oddly those didn’t have much to do with it — who celebrate the most after a baseball team clinches.

Mo, Andy, Derek, Jorge, Johnny, CC and A.J. were pretty composed, repeatedly mentioning that the Yankees still had a lot of work to do.

Meanwhile a marauding gang of champagne sprayers led by Robinson Cano did a conga line through the clubhouse looking for victims. It was sort of funny to see Freddy Guzman, Edwar Ramirez and Jonathan Albaladejo trailing after Cano and dousing the veterans.

A-Rod seemed genuinely pleased as he spoke about his tumultuous season. Nick Swisher hit it hard as did Brett Gardner.

Assuming I have anything that is listenable, I’ll try and post some audio later on.

UPDATE, 7:01 p.m.: Here is Brian Bruney talking about his performance and what the reaction of the crowd meant to him:

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The Yankees have beaten the Red Sox 4-2 to secure the American League East title and the best record in the AL, which brings with it home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

After a gloomy start to the day, the sun broke through the clouds late in the game and there were blue skies over the Stadium for the final inning. The crowd of 47,576 was standing and cheering for the final out.

The Yankees (100-56) won their first division title since 2006 and have 100 wins for the first time since 2004.

They will start pursuit of their 27th world championship on either Oct. 7 or Oct. 8 against either Detroit or Minnesota in the Bronx.

Back later with reaction from the clubhouse. Tell you what, I get the feeling these two teams are going to play again.

YANKEES (99-56)
Jeter SS
Gardner CF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Molina C

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (13-7, 4.15).

RED SOX (91-63)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Bay LF
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Gonzalez SS

Pitching: RHP Paul Byrd (1-2, 6.04).

TIME/TV: 1:05, ESPN.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: It’s pretty simple. The Yankees need one win in their last seven games to clinch the division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Only the Red Sox can catch the Yankees in the division and for the best record in the league.

RIVALRY REVERSAL: After losing the first eight games of the season series, the Yankees have won eight of the last nine games against Boston. The Red Sox lead the season series 9-8. Each team has scored 97 runs.

ON A ROLL: The Yankees have won four straight, 12 of 18, 21 of 30 and 37 of 51.

STAGGERED SOX: Boston has lost four of its last six.

MILESTONE WATCH: Robbie Cano needs one hit for 200. … Johnny Damon is one home run shy of a career-high 25.

BRONX BATTERING: The Yankees have won six straight games at home against Boston. It’s the longest such streak since 2001 when the Yankees won seven straight.

JOHNNY DURABLE: Johnny Damon needs one more game to mark his 14th consecutive season of at least 140 games. Only four players in history have been as durable. Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson and Pete Rose played at least 140 games for 16 consecutive seasons. Willie Mays did it 15 years.

Cal Ripken Jr., in case you were wondering, did it 16 out of 17 years.

DARN THOSE SOX: Pettitte is 17-9, 3.76 in 33 career starts against Boston.

PROFITABLE: Pettitte need 5.2 innings to reach 190 innings and an additional $750,000 in bonus payments.

STREAKING ON: Victor Martinez has hit safely in 25 consecutive games.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Stars and Boulevards by Augustana.

Back later with more.

UPDATE, 10:04 a.m.: Yes, I am aware that it is raining. There are no windows in the press box. But it’s a 1 p.m. start and they’ll stick around as long as it takes to get the game. So if you have tickets, be advised that there will be no BP but they’ll eventually play.

We will, as always, keep you posted.

UPDATE, 12:07 p.m.: Here’s the deal … The gates are open, the tarp is down, it’s drizzling and they plan to play eventually. I wouldn’t be in a rush to get here, but if you have tickets be advised that they’ll wait to play as long as it takes.

Posada is feeling better today but they’re being cautious. Just a regular day off Molina. … Phil Hughes was rocking a new Rey Maualuga No. 58 Bengals jersey today. The Franchise is a big USC fan.

UPDATE, 12:16 p.m.: The tarp is coming off the field. If things hold up, we could have an on-time start or close to it.

UPDATE, 12:46 p.m.: Spoke too soon. Tarp back down now. We will not start on time.

UPDATE, 1:13 p.m.: The Yanks are showing the Giants game during the rain delay.

UPDATE, 1:36 p.m.: Tarp coming off. 2:05 approximate start time.

UPDATE, 2:09 p.m.: We are underway after a delay of 63 minutes. It’s still a little misty.

UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Anthony McCarron of the News hates bunting as much as I do. Atta boy, A-Mac.

UPDATE, 2:47 p.m.: Meantime, Paul Byrd’s pitches aren’t registering on the scoreboard radar gun. The gun is either broken or the pitches are too slow.

UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: What part of “Robbie Cano can’t run” isn’t clear? He is 17 of 38 in his career. That’s 45 percent. That means he should not run.

Byrd started this game praying he could get 15 outs. The Yankees have handed him two of them. Makes no sense.

UPDATE, 2:58 p.m.: Pettitte has so far put nine runners on base in three innings and is closing in on 60 pitches due to a lack of command. Either he has a temporary case of the stinks or his shoulder is bothering him again.

That cutter he was getting so many swings and misses on the last few weeks is missing so far.

UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: Melky homers to make it 2-1. Good thing Cano ran last inning.

UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Jose Molina is 0 for his last 17. Did they send Francisco Cerveli home and I missed it?

UPDATE, 3:27 p.m.: Usain Bolt, the word’s fastest man, is at the game. He’s just lucky Brett Gardner took up baseball and not track.

UPDATE, 3:31 p.m.: Pettitte has retired eight straight. He has his groove back. Yanks trail 2-1 in the fifth.

UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: Red Sox will appeal at second. Swisher might be out. Looked like he left early.

UPDATE, 3:37 p.m.: Yep, he’s out. Yankees continue to hand cheap outs to Byrd.

UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Swisher is very agitated in the dugout. It would not be a shock if he said something to umpire Tim Welke on his way out to right field and got tossed. Swish can be a hothead. This is where a coach needs to calm him down.

Replays showed he left on time. Bad call.

UPDATE, 3:44 p.m.: Swish gets a warm reception from the Bleacher Creatures. They love him.

UPDATE, 3:58 p.m.: Paul Byrd did his job. Saito to face Matsui with runners on first and second and no outs.

UPDATE, 4:07 p.m.: Matsui does it again. What a season he is having. That two-run single gives him 90 RBI and it gives the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Came back from 0-2. A-Rod’s at-bat was the key to the inning.

UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: I hate to tell you this, I really do. But Brian Bruney is coming in to pitch.

UPDATE, 4:22 p.m.: Bruney gets it done, 1-2-3. Yankees six outs away from a clinch.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m.: The sun has broken through here at the Stadium.

UPDATE, 4:37 p.m.: Wow, more Bruney. Girardi will not use Hughes three days in a row. That makes sense. This is where they could use Dave Robertson.

But if Bruney can get through this, he’ll improve his odds of making the postseason roster.

UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Five up and five down for Bruney and he gets a nice hand from the crowd. Phil Coke to face David Ortiz.

Two things here: Coke has allowed six homers against lefty hitters this season and Ortiz has homered in three of his last four games.

UPDATE, 4:48 p.m.: Tex drops one over the fence in right for his 38th home run, one behind Carlos Pena with six games left to play. Yankees give Mo an insurance run to work with.

UPDATE, 4:56 p.m.: The Yankees hand a 4-2 lead to the Sandman in the ninth inning. Three outs from clinching at home and against their rivals.

Hi all, Sam here. Just wanted to mention something that stuck with me while listening to Johnny Damon after Saturday’s game. At one point, Damon was asked about the difference between what was happening with the Yankees right now vs. what they were doing a year ago. When he heard the question, Damon’s eyes got wide; a year ago, the Yankees closed down the old Yankee Stadium on the second-to-last Sunday of the season and were eliminated from postseason contention two days later.

This year? They enter the second-to-last Sunday of the season with the Champagne on ice, in preparation for a celebration of the franchise’s 16th division title. Joe Girardi even admitted on Saturday that he’s allowed himself to get excited about finally managing in the postseason. “I’ve had a chance to do it as a player, I’ve had a chance to do it as a coach,” he said. “But never as a manager.”

This season, he will. Not a bad turnaround for a year, no?

I’m off the next two games so that I can spend Yom Kippur with my family, but I’ll return on Tuesday for Pete’s finale. Then on Wednesday, we’ve got the “official” re-launch. Enjoy the next couple of days and, to all who are celebrating: May you have an easy fast.

CC Sabathia continued to be an ace as the Yankees moved a step away from the division title.

A.J. Burnett is headed home and will have his start pushed back. This notebook also has updates on Dave Robertson and Jorge Posada.

Sam Borden reflects on the impact Johnny Damon has had on the Yankees.

The Baseball Beat looks at how Alex Rodriguez has exceeded expectations this season.

CC Sabathia was asked his definition of being an ace after today’s game.

“The definition of an ace is just giving the team a chance to win every time out,” he said. “The guys feel like you have a chance to win every time you go out there. That’s what I try and do. I go out and give everything I have, leave it all out on the field.”

By that definition, Sabathia is truly an ace. The Yankees have won the last 11 games he has started. The left-hander is 9-0 with a 2.04 ERA in those games.

“He has been everything you can ask for and more,” Joe Girardi said. “From the way he’s pitched on the field, the way he right away in spring training came and brought the pitching staff together and the players together. … He is an ace.”

Think of the expectations heaped on Sabathia when he agreed to that mega-contract in December. Now consider what he has done. He is 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and the Yankees are 7.5 games ahead of Boston and have the best record in baseball.

Not even the most demanding of fans — and let’s admit, you’re a demanding bunch — could have expected more.

And Sabathia has done all that on the field while being a true professional. He has been a good teammate, forged strong relationships within the organization and cheerfully participated in a series of community events. The Yankees couldn’t ask for a better representative of their interests. Heck, he’s even polite to the media.

Terry Francona marveled at Sabathia’s command after the game, calling it “amazing.” The Red Sox were literally shaking their heads when recounting how good he was.

Good luck to the Tigers and Twins as they fight it out in the Central. I know this much: The winner is going to have their hands full in Game 1 of the Division Series. CC Sabathia is doing man’s work this season and he’s not done yet.

The Yankees (99-56) beat the Red Sox and have clinched at least a tie for the American League East title. They can celebrate tomorrow with a series sweep.

Sue, Billy Martin would have been the easy choice for the magic number. But the late Bobby Murcer knew most of the players on this team and was close friends with Joe Girardi.

Plus he was one of the nicest guys in the game. So as the Yankees move a win away from clinching, let’s remember Bobby.

Back in a bit with clubhouse reaction.