WS Game 6 - WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Andy Pettitte staired down Old Man River and defied the odds stacked against pitchers going on 3 days rest in the postseason. With Joe Girardi getting grilled about his decision to use a 3 man rotation in the Series, his plan came to fruition, as the Yanks rode the back of an ol' reliable horse. Pettitte tossed 5.2 innings of 3-run ball, with only Ryan Howard's 2-run shot in the 6th marring what was otherwise a brilliant pitching performance, but by then, the Yanks held a 7-3 lead and seemed to be perfectly in command of their 27th World Series Championship.

Hideki Matsui, perhaps in his last game as a Yankee, went out in style, earning the Series' MVP honors. Godzilla was a one-man wrecking crew, destroying Pedro Martinez and JA Happ for 6 RBIs on a 2-run bomb, a bases loaded single and a 2-run double. Matsui finished the Series 8-13, hitting .615 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs, despite not starting 3 games in Philly.

Mariano Rivera, the Rock of Gilbraltar of the Yankee bullpen for the past 14 seasons, came on to finish this one, as the Phillies and Jimmy Rollins never "figured him out". Mo was the only reliever in the postseason who did not blow a game for his team. Ryan Franklin, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbum, Jonathan Broxton, Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, and Brad Lidge all blew critical games for their respective teams. Yankee fans have been spoiled for a long time with Mariano, and one day, we'll all have our wake up call when the greatest reliever of all time won't be trotting out to "Enter the Sandman".

The "Curse of The ARod" has been lifted. Unlike the "Curse of the Bambino", which lasted 86 years, ARod's curse only lasted 5 years. Since ARod joined the team in 2004, when the Yanks had their epic collapse against Boston (largely due to Joe Torre's incompetence), the Bombers haven't even sniffed the World Series. But this postseason, ARod put the Yankee offense on his back and 3 times helped tie or put the team ahead in the 9th inning. I guess I can stop being an ARod apologist, as he's finally earned his due.

So the "Core Four", Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Pettitte and Rivera, finally earned their elusive 5th ring, after racking up 4 rings in 5 years between 1996-2000. I'm sure they never anticipated it would take this long, and perhaps later, had doubts if they would ever ascend to such heights again, but here they were, enjoying the fruits of their labors and entrenching their status as baseball immortals.

When these great ballplayers have finished out their careers, will we ever see the like of their talent and will to win again? Somehow, I highly doubt it.

Yankees Postseason: Mission Accomplished - 27th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP