I was asked this morning if I were worried about the Yankees yet. And "worry" as a real Yankee fan is a different animal. Am I worried that the team won't make the playoffs like 2008? No, I have very little doubt that when post-season play begins that New York will be represented and not by the Mets. But having grown up in the Steinbrenner-era (and I am sure it was like it back in the day when "rooting for the Yankees was like rooting for US Steel") we really don't settle for anything less than winning it all, putting up another championship flag, hoisting another trophy and celebrating down the Canyon of Heroes.

In that, we are very alone as fans and it's not as easy as some of you may think.

Yes, the Yanks would make the playoffs should they start today, but they would be hard-pressed to take the whole thing. But, it is still July and my calendar isn't marked for the post-season until October. So what has to happen between now and then?

* A-Rod needs to come back off the DL next month looking like a man who has 600 home-runs and not like the world's most overpaid singles and double hitter.
* Jeter needs to put away the distractions and the naysayers and continue to hit (a .333 clip give or take) like he has since coming off the DL.
* Phil Hughes needs to figure it out and soon. Nova is waiting in the AAA wings (where he really doesn't belong and everyone is aware of that) but he is not post-season-seasoned and is not the answer.
* The bullpen cannot get so worn down that they don't have anything left for the playoffs.

Obviously, injuries as well as how guys (Chavez is really needed now; the jury still out on Soriano) come back and fit in. I have a lot of confidence in Bartolo Colon and will continue to do so until what time he proves I shouldn't ie breaks down from too many innings pitched. There are some major league arms down in Scranton and other miracles and trades are not to be discounted.

Swisher has finally started to heat up along with Gardner and both of them are proven spark-plugs for this team, but Texeira has become something of an all or nothing slugger, Granderson, who is having a great year, still strikes out way too much and Posada still isn't comfortable in his DH role. Yet, the Yankee lineup is one of, if not the most formidable in baseball, but the old adage of good pitching beating good hitting often bears out.

That's my just past mid-season update. Optimistic for sure, but not confident that this team has all the pieces firing on the cylinders that they need to for that 28th World Championship. And yes, I am aware that I didn't mention AJ Burnett (until just now) or Freddy Garcia (ibid); CC, on the other hand, is as rock-solid and trusted a #1 starter as they come...

Game on,
Brian