The Bronx Bombers are at it again this year. After a brief hiatus from the MLB playoffs, the New York Yankees entered this year’s playoffs hungry for their 27th World Series title. After losing four games to the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 American League Division Series and missing the postseason altogether last year, Yankees GM Brian Cashman did what he could to ensure that his team would be as successful as possible this year.

Winning is of utmost importance to Cashman, and missing the postseason is unacceptable. As a result, Cashman, always a big spender during the offseason, spent millions to upgrade his team in hopes that these new additions would help the Yankees revert back to their winning ways. Cashman spent this large sum of money on three key players: pitcher CC Sabathia ($161 million over seven years), first baseman Mark Teixeira ($180 million over eight years) and pitcher A.J. Burnett ($82.5 million over five years).

Much to Cashman’s dismay, New York struggled during the early part of the season. Part of this struggle was due to the absence of their great slugger, Alex Rodriguez, who was sidelined due to hip surgery. Later, Rodriguez was exposed for using performance-enhancing drugs early in his career, which created an overhead distraction to the team and its goal of winning baseball games. Without Rodriguez in the lineup, the Yankees were demolished by their hated rival, the Boston Red Sox.

New York could not find an answer to their woes against Boston, and they lost their first eight games against the Sox. Going into the All-Star break, Boston led the Yanks by three games in the AL East division. It seemed as if the Yankees would once again lose their division, and that their only hope would be to play for a wild card spot in the playoffs.

After the All-Star break however, the Yankees finally found their magic. They won nine of their final 10 games against Boston with a combined score of 70-44, so not only did they win, they won big. This success continued with all of their opponents, not just Boston, and the Yankees finished the regular season with the best record in the league. This, in turn, gives them home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

New York’s final regular season statistics are staggering. The team led the league in runs scored with 915 and home runs with 244. Even more impressive is that this home run hitting was spread throughout the Yankee lineup, as seven players hit at least 20 deep balls.

The individual statistics of some of the players are impressive as well. “I wasn’t about to change my mind now. Not after they got huge seasons from dynasty mainstays Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera,” said Sporting News writer Stan McNeal, who never wavered in selecting the Yankees as his favorite to win the World Series.

Later in the season, Derek Jeter eclipsed Lou Gehrig for most hits all-time as a New York Yankee. Meanwhile, Rivera earned his first career RBI on a bases-loaded walk. Also, Rivera, No. 2 to Trevor Hoffman on baseball’s career saves list, topped 40 saves for the seventh time in his hall-of-fame career.

The newcomers joined the Yankee mainstays in having impressive seasons of their own. Sabathia was tied with the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez for the most wins in the league, 19, while Teixeira’s 39 home runs were tied for the best total in the American League.

After sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series, the Yankees are confident in their abilities. Alex Rodriguez’s postseason struggles seem to be over, making the team deadly at the plate. The starting and relief pitching looks to be dominant as well. “From top to bottom, we’re put together real well,” Sabathia said.

Outsiders like the makeup of this team as well. “They have their most talented [pitching] rotation in a decade and have their most talented, versatile bench in years,” Sports Illustrated’s Joe Sheehan said.

“Joba [Chamberlain] in the eighth [inning], Mo [Rivera] in the ninth [inning], done deal,” former Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens said, referring to New York’s dominant relievers.

However, it is the turnaround by Sabathia and Rodriguez, two players notorious for their postseason failures, that has been the key in propelling the Yankees to win. Previously, Sabathia had a 7.71 ERA in five postseason starts and Rodriguez hit .138 in 58 postseason at-bats. This postseason however, Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA and Rodriguez is hitting .438 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. Rodriguez also had an eight-game RBI streak to tie Lou Gehrig and Ryan Howard for the longest ever in postseason history.

The Yankees fought off the Angels in the ALCS in a tight 4-2 series win that included two extra-inning games. As customary, Sabathia started the series and Rivera closed it out, earning his 37th career postseason save.

As the Yankees head into the 2009 World Series to play the Philadelphia Phillies, they will look to Sabathia, the ALCS MVP, and their sluggers to lead them to a 1-0 series lead. Game one will be Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Yankee Stadium.

This looks to be the Yankees’ year, and the team chemistry looks to be on a high.

“Together as a team, we know how to win,” Rodriguez said.

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