Optimist

In other news, the sky is blue and it's cold out.

Just saw a picture of Hideki in the Angels uniform. Do not like.

Look forward to him returning to the Stadium at some point this season. Hopefully he doesn't hurt us too much.

This one has gone official. Wow, it's going to be weird seeing Figgins in a different uniform. Big loss for the Angels.

Yawn. Moving on to 2010...

No. Homegrown is homegrown...whether the player started playing in 1995 or 2009. I'd say the former is actually more impressive, developing a player that has been productive for over a decade and been retained by the team for that entire time (minus Pettitte) is no easy task.

Those four players were developed by the Yankee farm system and the Yankees have retained them. That's homegrown to me. Might just have to agree to disagree on that.

Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Posada say hello. The Yankees developed these players and they've managed to keep them because of their success. And some strong homegrown talent (Soriano, etc.), and financial capabilities, lead to A-Rod coming here. Why is it that Red Sox fans think the title "homegrown" expires? It does not.

The Yankees earn the most money, they spend the most money. They worked to build themselves a huge advantage, on and off the field, and they use that advantage to put together the best team. You can whine about "buying" championships, the concept is laughable at best, money alone does not produce results. Honestly, everyone can complain and whine, but Yankees are a model franchise. Their roster is loaded with homegrown talent, pieces which were essential to this year, and when they've needed to fill a major hole on the roster, they're willing to go all out to get it. They don't let the team suffer competitively for a few years before finding a cheap solution. They don't cry poverty, while pocketing profits. They don't have a billionaire owner who sells the team's best to the highest bidder as soon as their price tag goes too high. If I was a fan of a team like that, or a team pretending to be in that situation, I'd be angry at the owner...not the Yankees for using their resources to the full possible extent to provide the best possible product on the field. Give me the choice of an expensive team winning it all or one with a "fair" payroll doing anything less, I'll choose the former 11 times out of 10. And you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't...saying you wouldn't, well that'd be pretty "hollow." But, seriously, you guys need to move on. Doesn't look good when Yankee fans are focused on 2010 and you guys are still complaining about this year.

Does this one feel hollow? NOPE. I can assure you, this one was just as great as any other I've seen. Better probably, because of the last couple years. World series win is a world series win. :dunno:

It's going to take me awhile to fall asleep now, but it's a lot better than the sleep I lost towards the end of 2001, 2004, 2008....and pretty much every year in between...

Mo plans on pitching for 5 more years...good to hear....

Are they going to interview all 25 guys on the team on stage or something? Oh and....YESSSSSSS!!!! WORLD CHAMPS! WOOO!!!!

Rollins could be the last out. That would be the cherry on this sundae.

Onto the 9th....

Great job by Marte. Now time for Mariano to close this one out...

DAMASO! Okay, time to get Mo up...

Andy needs to go one more inning...then use every arm it takes to get through the 7th and Mo for 6 outs. Then time to celebrate.

Johnny Damon pulls a calf muscle running the bases. Hairston in left...

That'll do Hideki, that'll do.

Pedro gets lucky. Hopefully Matsui makes the call moot.

Tex probably grateful for that HBP.

Great play all around Yankees.

Huge HR from Matsui. Keep it going Yankees...

Did Chase Utley just make two outs? What?