And that is that.
Mike Mussina went six strong, Xavier Nady homered and drove in three and Mariano Rivera notched his 39th save of the season as the
Yanks downed the Red Sox 6-2 in Game 1 at Fenway Park.
I watched maybe six pitches of this game and it was after Mussina was out. Still, a big round of applause to The Moose for finally winning 20 games. At 39-years-old, Mussina became the oldest pitcher to record 20 victories for the first time. I don't know if Mussina is ready to call it a career, but if I were the Yanks, I'd bring him back for 2009. That said, Mussina will probably look for a three-year deal since he needs 30 wins for 300. It'll be interesting.
The Bombers had a chance at the sweep and a 90-win season, but couldn't get it done in the nightcap.
Sidney Ponson went six respectable innings, but Darrell Rasner allowed two runs in the eighth and Jose Veras gave up the game-winning hit with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning as the
Red Sox edged the Yanks 4-3.
The final tallies are in and they're not good. The Yanks finished in third place at 89-73, eight games behind the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays and six games back of the wild-card winner Boston Red Sox.
Next season will bring lots of change -- new ballpark, new players and a new attitude (Hank said so).
Brian Cashman said he'll make his decision about coming back soon and I think he'll return. Once that happens, it's time to turn the page and look forward to next spring.
This will be the first October in a while where I won't be coordinating with friends and family about where to watch Yankee playoff games. It's going to be strange when the playoffs start and the Yanks aren't there. Still, it makes me realize how lucky I was to watch all those games in the past 13 years. Fans have been getting spoiled and maybe this year will make everyone hungry again.
That's my hope anyway.
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I guess two bright spots in an otherwise dismal year. Jeter breaking the hit record at Yankee Stadium and Mussina getting his 20th. At least the Mets choked, again.