Just a bit outside

Three great storylines so far in the ALDS:

Curtis Granderson is smacking bee bees everywhere because of one tiny adjustment. I assume Kevin Long told him to keep that top hand on the bat through the strikezone, that's the obvious change in Granderson's stroke. That and he's hitting everything on the barrel. Pretty sure being a hitting is more than "Curtis, hit the ball better."

Andy Pettitte came off the DL and had a great start. In his next two, he looked uncomfortable in his own skin. Last night, he looked like postseason Andy Pettitte. There's something tremendously comforting about him on the mound. He's not blowing guys away, he's locating pitches and setting batters up. You never expect a complete meltdown.

Lance Berkman had two hits and 2 RBIs last night. He drove in the game winning run after taking what some people, including the Twins manager, thought was a strike. Fine, that pitch may have been a strike, but no one's talking about the two pitches Berkman took for strikes one and two, which were clearly outside. Plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt's zone was 8 inches off the plate for lefties and and there was no outside edge righties.

So shut up whiners. The Yanks look as if they flipped the proverbial switch after being so terribly and completely awful in September.

Can't wait for Saturday.

Oh Yankees, was that heart I detected? Way to be Grandie ...

Fine Roy Halladay. We get it. You're good.

New season

Same old Yankees.

Here's to hoping the nightmare that was September pulls a Maverick, slams on the breaks and lets the enemy MIG fly right by.

Hmmm ... but of a stretch there.

Anyway, the Yankees had the sense to bench Burnett and go with CC, Pettitte and Phil Hughes, who apparently was granted bonus innings for the post-season run.

I'm not worried about the Twins (minus Morneau), and considering how brutal the AL has been, it's really anyone's title to take.

It'll be Yankees/Rays in the ALCS, and because I'm a homer, I have to pick the Yankees.

NLDS will by Phillies/Giants with the Phillies easily getting into the World Series.

Sadly, it looks as if the Phillies are the best team among the eight. Their offense is fine, but the pitching, oh, the pitching ...

The lesson here being the Yankees better do what they can to get Cliff Lee in pinstripes next season.