Yankees Lock Up East and Homefield

In one fail swoop the Yankees reached several of their goals for the season. Sunday's victory was number 100 on the season, it locked up both the AL East title and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and it also evened the season series at nine with the Red Sox.

While insignificant in the grand scheme of the season it will do much to boost the moral of Yankee fans in their ever going battle with Red Sox fans for bragging rights. It is the first time in MLB history that a team began the season 8-0 against a team and failed to win the season series. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing, but coming from where the Yankees were after CC Sabathia lost in Fenway on June 11 this team has to feel good about themselves.

The game was mostly uneventful as the Yankees seemed to forget that Paul Byrd was on the mound and the Red Sox could not break Andy Pettitte during his first few shaky innings.

One subplot to the game that may go unnoticed under all the champagne is that of Brian Bruney. Bruney faced five batters and retired five batters. Considering Bruney has thrown 17.1 innings since he re-injured his arm after spending two separate stints on the disabled list and in those innings he has allowed and absurd 33 baserunners, this perfect outing against the heart of the Sox order is a revelation.

Bruney is on the borderline when it comes to the playoff roster. Girardi likes the hard throwing right-hander as is demonstrated by his numerous attempts to right Bruney by inserting hiim into meaningful situations late in games. There are six games left for Bruney to show he can be trusted in the playoffs.

Those six games will also be a time for Dave Robertson to show that his arm is where it was earlier in the year. Having those two pitchers to jump in the game in either the sixth or seventh in front of Phil Hughes will dramatically improve the Yankee relief core. It may also give Girardi the dilemma of deciding if he wants the inconsistent right-hander in Bruney or the inconsistent left-hander in Damaso Marte.

These will be the biggest questions that face the Yankees over the final week of the season. And if your only things to worry about going into the last week of the season is which middle reliever you should take to the first round, then you've had a pretty good season.