You Heard It Here First

Call me crazy but the Yankees are going to win the World Series. Just remember that you heard it here first.

For a while it didn't even look like they were going to make the playoffs. And they still might not. But I have a pretty strong feeling that not only are they going to make the playoffs but also win the whole thing.

My reasoning is simple.

First off, they'll be fired up and ready to go when the playoffs start since they've had to fight their way in for the first time since 1995.

Secondly, with Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina pitching as poorly as they are now, constantly getting knocked out of games after fifty pitches, they'll be well rested for when they turn it on in the post season. Same goes for Jaret Wright who missed some time on the DL.

The acquisition of Matt Lawton, emergence of Felix Escalona, and return to health of Rey Sanchez and Ruben Sierra will give them a very deep bench. Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera are a potentailly lights out 1-2 punch at the end of games. Alex Rodriguez is having an MVP season.

Throw in the remarkable turnaround of Jason Giambi, the emergence of rookie standout Robinson Cano, the constantly stellar play of Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, and Gary Sheffield and you have the makings of a championship caliber team.

And above else they're hungry having not won in a few years.

The timing is right and you kind of get that feeling that this is gonna be their year. After all you don't survive the loss of your entire starting rotation to lose in the first round of the playoffs. You survive said loss to make for a great story when you win it all.

Just remember that you heard it here first.