And it's over

The end of a baseball season is always very weird. It's around for so long, you never expect 162 to roll around.

Considering how awful the Yankees were to start this season, the injuries they sustained, I didn't think they'd be anywhere near the top of the American. But, then again, I did vastly over-estimate the talent and depth of the Red Sox.

The Rays were a flash in the pan. I said that at the start of the season. Last season, everyone on that team had a career years, the Yankees were terrible, frankly, the American League was pretty bad, so ... we got what we got.

But this year ... oh, this year. I still hate Joe Girardi, but despite him, the Yankees are going to plow through the playoffs. They have depth and speed and pitching. The offense is clicking. And the bullpen, with Joba finally slotting back to where he belong, will be lights out.

I'm pulling for Minnesota tomorrow night, because their pitching is a mess. When Carl Pavano is your go-to guy in a must-win game, you're not in a good place. The AL Central is much like the NFC West. Someone has to win, but whoever does probably is a step or 10 behind everyone else.

Justin Verlander in a short series is bad news. And you never know with Detroit's offense.

I'd rather see the Yanks take their chances against Joe Mauer and his merry backups. With no Justin Morneau, that team is a shell.

Lost, at least to me, in all this was Chien-Ming Wang. He was mentioned yesterday in the post game and my first thought was "Who?" He went from ace to trainwreck with startling speed.

Michael Kay keep saying Freddy Guzman will make the postseason roster. Why? His speed. Aaaaannnnddd?

I've seen Guzman play rightfield once. Every time he's gotten into a game, his run for Matsui or whoever, stolen second and that was that. What other value does he bring to a limited roster? What justifies his legs taking the spot of a complete player? Nothing in my estimation. Brett Gardner will be on the bench: he can run, hit, play center.

So, you have the regular nine, which includes Matsui at DH, Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Rivera, Chad Gaudin, Dave Roberston, then Gardner, Molina, Hairston, Hinske ... and, um ... damn, maybe Kay is right. There's no one else? Hairston and Hinske cover whatever positions you'd need ... so, yeah, maybe Guzman is an option.

But barely. This isn't over Michael Kay, not by a long shot!