What Happened to the Yankees?

It wasn’t too long ago that the Yankees were on top of the world.

After winning four of five World Series titles, the Yanks were ready to win another. Then, of course, Mariano Rivera blew a save, and, well, the rest can be explained in roughly 432 pages.

Now, with New York feeling good about its Yankees — deservedly so, after a four-game whooping of the Red Sox — some things just seem out of place.

In the past, there was little braggadocio in the summer from Yankee supporters. Most arguments typically ended with a “let’s talk in October.”

Now? Well, now there are articles on the New York Times’ Web site expressing happiness that the Yankees should make the playoffs.

"According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yankees have never lost a division lead of more than six games," the article says. "… So let’s think about that enlightening statistic. Unless something that hasn’t happened in the Yankees’ previous 106 seasons happens, the Yankees will make the postseason in 2009. The Yankees have definitely looked like a postseason team while winning seven straight games, 18 of 23 and 31 of 41. At home, the Yankees are 13-1 in their last 14 games."

The Yankees looking like a playoff team is news? Is that development surprising? A $200 million payroll, and the writers are excited the Yankees will probably be in the playoffs?

From an outsider’s perspective, seeing the current state of the Yankees is almost sad. Sure, the world-beating Yankee types weren’t too fun to be around in the earlier part of the decade, but the August beaters are hardly any better.

I suppose that being eliminated by the Angels (twice), Marlins, Red Sox, Tigers and Indians before not making the playoffs altogether last year is enough to change the psyche of even your average, brash Yankees fan.

Still, seeing the Yankees excited about making the playoffs is almost enough to make you want to see them win it all, just to restore some semblance of order to the universe.

Almost.