The one thing I think I can say for the 2011 season is that is was a much more fun season than 2010. Girardi trying to lose the division in September was the last memory, but 2010 was just a long slog for me. I had more fun this year, especially here.

The site rocks, Alex. You and your collaborators put up great work everyday, and it's much appreciated. Thanks for being the soul, and MC of this fine establishment.

"This place rocks" is something my 9 year old son would say. There's probaly a more appropriate way for his 45 year old dad to express that, but you get the picture. High praise, man.

Thanks, AB and all the gang. Looking forward to the crazy/quiet/crazy/quiet of the offseason, and getting turned on by all the stuff y'all put in front of us.

One of my bestest friends whom I love with all my heart says she loves Bronx Banter, "It's hot!" I told her now that I know she's been following us, I have to make sure I bring my A game on the comments. Well, we know we can't use last night as an example so I have this whole stupid thing called off-season to deal with...

Too soon?

I agree with MattPat, last night doesn't change the fact that this was a damn enjoyable season. There were years when the Yanks lost and I was ready to say good riddance (last year, 2002, 2006) but not this team. They were a fun bunch and didn't pull a no-show in the playoffs. They lost two 1-run games, happens.

I put this season with '95, '03, and '07. In no way the best Yankee teams I ever saw, and all met disappointing ends, but I dunno...sue me, I liked 'em.

Given that this was a team picked for third place, and spent the summer relying on question marks in Colon and Garcia, I think we did alright.

Looking at the numbers for the last 17 years, Yankees have won 21 series out of 51 possibles, a 0.4118 average, 21 out of 48 for the years making the playoffs for a 0.4375 average. And of the series actually played it is 21 out of 32 for a 0.656 average. Not too bad, considering they were playing other division winners or wild cards.

Not too shabby.

Now we gotta figure out next years rotation.
And plan Posada's retirement party.

would you guys trade the 2009 world series to go back in time and not give Arod a dime in 2007? everyone I know is screaming "yes" right now.

i don't care if arod is overpaid if he is good over the next few years, that's ok. good = .280/.370/.520 with 30 bombs and 140 games.

i love my yankees and i love bronx banter.

THANK YOU, JORGIE!!!

[8] never trade away a WS title. For me, A-Rod's value lies in getting the Yankees to the post season, then playing good defense in the PS. I'm resigned to him having lower numbers in the PS, as he's facing only higher quality pitching.

2011 was a much better Yankee season for me than 2010, due in no small part to this site, which I don't think I stumbled on to until pre-season 2011. Thanks to all -- including the comment-makers -- very much.

Count me in the camp that doesn't subscribe to the all or nothing mantra. I've always been a big advocate of winning the division and honestly look at it as one of two equal goals for the season. That's why last year was such a disappointment. Not only did they not win the division (or WS), but it seemed like they didn't care.

[10] that's my feeling on the ws series titles in the bank.

the yanks job is to make sure that arod's 27 million doesn't cost them anything other than a roster spot.

I've never agreed with [12] on that - the idea that they are "equal goals for the season" strikes me as insane.

The Braves during that run were failures. Even they know it. Now maybe we have to navigate something harder, so there's that. But equal? Heck no.

Maybe it's something. I don't know. I do know they aren't the same at all.

I still say A Rod comes back stronger next year.

I think I'm most frustrated today - and I am *very* frustrated - by Swisher's placement in the lineup. Our "long lineup" was full of easy landing spots. But I don't know who you replaced him with in that spot. In fact, the greatest thing I saw highlighted was the lack of an additional left-handed bat. Chavez kind of faded, even if you were looking for bench options. Gardner in that spot probably promises another guy who has a chance at least coming up in those spots.

Swisher was a no-hoper, and I don't want to hear about his hits when it didn't matter. Swisher, Martin, and Teix lost the series, as far as I'm concerned, but I'm not sure what could be done. When Cervelli went down - *and* Romine - Martin couldn't be pinch hit for. And who really was the option to Swish in that spot? Andruw Jones late, once Swish has participated in driving pitch counts up? We know the numbers weren't good against righties - but something still tells me he delivers a fly ball.

I think you can say Girardi failed by not *trying* something different - by accepting a failure outcome which didn't even offer the possibility of success. I want to say that Swisher was nicked up and it had something to do with it, but not trying someone else in any of those key spots, just rolling the same weighted dice - that just says wrong move to me.

Pinch hitting Jones for Martin in that spot. Numbers be damned - I still say he was a better bet to get the run in. And it ain't just hind sight saying you have to get that run in.

I enjoyed parts of this season. I'm going to miss some guys, it seems, who I suspect won't be coming back. But this was a very frustrating end. I think Joe botched the line up and didn't try enough things on the offensive side. I think credit must be given where it's due, though, in how he got through 9 innings on 3 runs. As was said above, that was damn near masterful.

Seems to have just come in. Forearm strain only! No Surgery required! Will they be right? I sure hope so. I sure hope so. Still excellent first news. Huge for next season.

One thing I've been hearing a lot today, and it's driving me crazy, is this idea that the new Stadium is somehow to "blame" because the old one "rocked" and the fans "willed the Yankees to wins."

First off we've already won a Series in this stadium, so right off the bat it's an asinine argument.

But even more than that, as much as people would just love to believe that they somehow "made" Tino hit a grand slam from their seat in Sec. 402 or "made" Mo close out a playoff series from the bleachers...it's all a crock.

But whatever, I guess blaming HOK Sport for everything is still better than blaming A-Rod.

[16] I think you have to see both sides on that one. I think your side is *very* legitimate. It just may not tell the whole thing.

But regardless, two home runs in the first inning and failures in every big spot - seemed like the Stadium rocked at the times when they could, when Detroit pitchers got rattled.

That moat system, though, they may have lost something. I was THERE for like 80% of the playoff games in 96-01. And not in Sec. 402. I'm talking everywhere from 8 rows just left of catcher to still within 30 rows. Where you can be heard.

And we were wild. I swear the Padres couldn't handle it. The Yanks were most of breaking them, but we were frightening. The Stadium in the '01 WS was like nothing I've ever experienced or will experience again. Although truth be told on that one - it was dead for long stretches. When it erupted, though...

I found the vacated top seats during the drizzle utterly disturbing, though.

Clear as day, though, the Yanks lost this series. Failing in every big spot in the losses - they would have lost in any Stadium.

Honest, though, I haven't even been to the new Stadium. Mostly, I've been out of NYC, but I'm profoundly uncomfortable with the class system in place right now.

[17] I was there for plenty too, and believe me: in my perfect world we'd still have told old place.

But I just think its lame excuse making, a notch below complaining about the rain or the strikezone.

You think NYS is bad?

At least it isn't the Miami Marlins new park

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/10/7/2474722/miami-marlins-ballpark-home-run-structure-what-is-that-gaaaaaaaaah

[18] Weird thing is that the strike zone really affected the whole series, though, didn't it?

Only one game was downright unfair - Game 3 was a flat out disgrace.

But the rest, they were what they were - still, a whole series where the strike zone was just some fat guy's *concept*?

I don't blame it for anything - except Game 3 - I will never forgive Game 3 - but the series was there for the taking, and I think there are enough Yankees-related causes that we can stop there. Isn't it wrong though - and shouldn't it be a little embarrassing to mlb - that there was a whole series where the strike zone was egregiously incorrect, night after night after night?

Unfortunately, just like the Tigers lack of left-handed pitching ended up being part of a perfect storm to leave us with compromised bench options, the flaw in the strike zone just happened to be where their pitchers leak, every damn time. I view it is as more unfortunate, disgusting, disgraceful - a vile curiosity - but it's certainly not my focus as to where the series went.

I'm mostly fixated on the idea that you had to pinch hit for Martin there. I think you had to.

And seriously, what has happened to the commitment to having an actual strike zone? When did that meet its quiet death? These umps were fearless alright. They called balls and strikes like fat men with absolutely no fear of doing their jobs atrociously in front of an international audience. I mean, what the hell happened?

Randy Levine is a major grade a-hole. Yanks won a division that NO ONE thought they would. Many people picked them to miss the playoffs!

I really hate the ownership..makes it hard to be a fan sometimes.