The flag that inspired the National Anthem. It resides in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. A good deal of part two of Ken Burns’ “Tenth Inning” was devoted to Baseball’s reaction to 9/11. Burns, who is always good at tugging the heartstrings, had me choked up with my ...

Brett Gardner slides in safely with his team-leading seventh triple Tuesday night. (AP) Save for Jay’s willingness/need to play devil’s advocate, yesterday’s “would you rather” series regarding the Yankees’ ideal ALDS opponent didn’t stir much debate among the ...

Whatever Javier Vazquez lost during his time with the Yankees, he certainly didn't find it Wednesday night in Toronto (AP). Inspired — if that is the word — by A.J. Burnett’s lousy performance on Monday night, I wrote a piece for Baseball Prospectus about the fact that his poor performance ...

Target Field is no New Yankee Stadium when it comes to the home run. (AP) With tonight’s loss, the Yankees’ chances of winning the AL East shrunk dramatically. Though they are just a half-game behind the Rays, they have just three games remaining on the schedule, and not only do they have to outplay ...

Anyone who’s seen my Playoff Prospectus pieces over at Baseball Prospectus knows I can go as deep as anyone in the business when it comes to breaking down a postseason matchup. But with the Yankees’ first-round opponent not yet set in stone, I’m not going to max out my pitch count in ...

A hoof-beat, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, "Hi-yo, Hamilton!" Riddled by injury issues and question marks, the Rangers would certainly be the best matchup for the Yankees in the ALDS. Sure, Texas did sweep the Yankees earlier this month, but as Cliff pointed out while encouraging the Yankees ...

Why struggle with overrated fiction when you can get the best from the YES-Men? The latest collection of links from the guys at the Big Thumbs Up, not including the custodians in the W.B. Mason commercials: Jack Curry: Showalter: Yankees ‘know where the finish line is’ Jon Lane: What now? Jon Lane: ...

The Yankees would be better off facing the Rangers' power pitchers, like C.J. Wilson above, in the home-run friendly Ballpark in Arlington in the ALDS. (AP) With the Yankees clinching a playoff berth Tuesday night, Steve has asked us to weigh in on what first round opponent, the AL Central champion ...

If the Yankees lose, Joe Mauer looms. (AP) With the help of the their ORP (Only Reliable Pitcher) CC Sabathia, the Yankees finally confirmed that they would indeed be participating in this year’s postseason and we can now stop anticipating a 2007 Mets-like defenestration into the Doubleday Memorial ...

A.J. Burnett: The horror... The horror (AP) Did you wake up this morning thinking that A.J. Burnett must be having the worst season of any pitcher to start regularly for a Yankees team that made the postseason (not that this team has made the postseason yet, but they will)? You might be right. Only six ...

Everybody's talkin' bout Joe and A.J., Mo and Derek, Jay and Clifford, bagism, shagism, isn't it the most? (AP) I initially thought our chat might be a monthly thing, but the response to our first two conversations with you was so good that this Friday we’re coming back for the third ...

Which of these failed prospects will be traded for Steve Trout? (AP) It was a terrific season for the Yankee farm system. Ranked near the back of the pack coming into the year, a plethora of prospects had breakout campaigns, boosting their trade stock and grabbing some attention from prospect gurus. ...