T-minus 10
By Jon Lane
The Yankees’ magic number to clinch the AL East is 10 games – don’t forget, it’s only four to clinch a playoff berth – but Joe Girardi was quick to say, “I believe this is going to go down to the end.”
Think about it: The Red Sox have won seven of eight and play the lowly Orioles this weekend, while the Yankees are out west to play the Mariners (not easy) and the Angels (you know their history in Anaheim). Making the playoffs isn’t good enough. The Yankees want the division and home field, and are determined not to slip to Wild Card status – I don’t care how many Wild Card teams ended up winning the World Series.
Furthermore, tonight is the start of the rest of the season for A.J. Burnett. Handsomely earning $82.5 million, Burnett is 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA in his last nine starts having allowed 25 earned runs in his last 29 1/3 innings. This man is starting either Game 2 or 3 in the ALDS. He has no choice but to turn it around.
Worse, Felix Hernandez (15-5, 2.52, 193 K) is Burnett’s opponent. King Felix may be 1-3 with a 5.92 ERA in four starts against the Yankees, but he hasn’t faced them since May 3, 2008. If he’s on, Burnett is good enough to be anybody. But when he’s off, whoa boy.
YES Blog 
I will say right now: There is NO WAY the Yanks don’t win the division. If that happens, I would be totally shocked. But it won’t happen.
I agree. I’d be shocked too.
Thanks for reading,
Jon
I dont usually make comments but the treatment of Jaba by this team has been more than ridiculous, disgraceful and truly idiotic. If I were him, I would ask for a trade to a club where I could be used as a pitcher instead of a piece of ming porcelain. Its a joke and it has done nothing but ruin what was a great pitcher in the past and create a delicate and incapable mess which worsens with every start. They are the laughing stock of baseball with this nonsense.
I must agree I do not understand at all the JOBA SITUATION, the more i see it the more its frustrating to think this is happening at the major league level, ill be honest I never felt Joba was the prize pupil as the yankees made him out to be, no matter if you pitch 3 innings or 7 innings, he does not show me anything as a pitcher, sorry to say but next year TRADE HIM!!!!!!!!