So, it's the Friday before Memorial Day which traditionally marks end of the first quarter of the MLB season and surprise! surprise! The New York Yankees are in 1st place. And while there is a whole load of baseball yet to be played, this great start despite all the injuries and the prognostications, the Bronx Bombers and their fans have to be pleased with how things have started.

If there was a Manager of the Year Award for the 1st quarter, Joe Girardi gets it hands down. What kind of a job has he done? Nothing short of amazing, actually. Much credit has to go to GM Brian Cashman for finding the castoffs and re-treads that Girardi has maneuvered through the first 40+ games as well, though.

What does the team look like? On the left side of the infield, we have the 4th string guy playing third-base and the the 3rd string guy at shortstop following the injuries disabling Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Kevin Youkilis and Nunez. Overbay, filling in for the injured Tex, has probably delivered more offense than could have been expected from the traditionally slow starting Texeira. Behind the plate, currently it is rookie Austin Romine, the 3rd string guy at that crucial spot with Francisco Cervelli on the DL with a broken hand.

The aforementioned Overbay has been bolstered by Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner who are all playing like it was 5 seasons ago. Will they be able to sustain the early season production? Maybe yes, maybe no, but now the regulars are starting to come back. Granderson came back this week and is getting his stroke down. Tex and Youk should come back in the coming weeks as well as Joba to go back to the 7th inning spot.

The bullpen, even minus Chamberlain, has been outstanding; Mo has never been better: he is perfect closing through the first 40+ games. The starting rotation - which is missing 40% of its regulars (Andy Pettitte & Ivan Nova) has been stellar, lead this year by Kuroda. The fill-ins be they Phelps, Nuno or Warren have delivered starts that have kept the Yanks in the games where they were needed.

The Yanks are winning the close games, they're winning series, they're avoiding losing streaks all despite the steady rotation (currently 39 different players on the major league roster in 2013) of guys coming and going. This team has been more fun to watch than of many seasons past. Some of what I predicted in my pre-season blog on this team's chances have come out to bear. Sure looks like some of the "washed up" guys and the "baby Bombers" are playing very well as a team. Outside of Robinson Cano, most of the star players have been non-existent and yet, they're playing at a .609 clip which is second best in the AL only to Texas and 3rd overall in baseball when you add the Cards into the mix.

Again- a lot of baseball yet to play, but if the goal of the early season was the tread water and not get buried in the tough AL East, then the 2013 New York Yankees are already way ahead of that curve.

Play ball!

Cheers
B.