THE YANKEES WIN

There is no way possible to draw any similarities or parallels to the United States Civil War and the New York Yankees baseball team..but I'm going to. Not because one has any relevance on the other, only to prove a point. April 12th, 2011, marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Early on the Confederate armies defeated Union forces at the Battle of Bull Run under the leadership of Stonewall Jackson, followed by the retreat and defeat of the Union troops because of the combined forces of Lee and Jackson, followed by the defeat again at the second Battle of Bull Run.

But does early success always equal assured victory?

Just ask the 2004 New York Yankees. During the 2004 ALCS series, to determine who would go to the World Series that year, the Red Sox came from behind 0-3 to win the next 4 games, advance to the World Series, and WIN the World Series. That feat, (not one easily admitted to by me, a Yankee fan) had never been accomplished before.

So with good reason I was so upset when all the baseball gurus had already rendered their decision of each team coming into the season. The Red Sox, after landing Carl Crawford in a $142 million dollar deal, had come out the strong team, the Rangers were looking good, and the Yankees should just sit back and watch this years baseball season.

As of April 12, the Red Sox with newly acquired Crawford, were 2-7. And days before, Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton suffered an injury that will have him out for 6-8 weeks.

The Yankees, on the other hand, were seeing Mark Texiera have an outstanding April, Alex Rodriguez was swinging the bat with NOTHING on his back, and Jorge Posada, who had recently been demoted from catcher to designated hitter, was on fire. Again, there is absolutely no way that these two stories could ever end up in the same article, except for one line:

Yankees win.