Two out of three from the Mets? Not bad when you can take a series from a division leader. In fact, the Mets (37-30) are now only two games better than the Yankees (35-32). I point this out for only one reason…pure spite. For every single Mets fan who told me about how great their team was three weeks ago and about how the Yankees were a $200 million piece of trash, this feels kinda good. Now, I’m not really a spiteful man. Oh no. In fact, I wish the Mets well and always will. And their team is even far more entertaining personality-wise than the Yankees. But when I think about every Mets fan who believed the season was done in May, this is pretty sweet.

Still, good luck to Willie and his club the rest of the way. Seriously. I like their vibe.

So, let’s look at what’s ahead for the red hot Yanks who finished 9-1 on this 10-game home stand. They fly tonight and open a three-game set in Colorado followed by three in San Fran and another three in Baltimore before heading back home. On paper it looks favorable for the Yanks. Of those teams, only Colorado is over .500 and that’s by one game. Yet, who are we kidding. With the Yankees this season it really hasn’t been about the opposition, has it? It’s been about them overcoming their personal demons (cough, Giambi…cough, cough Pavano…injuries…Abreu’s slump) and playing to their abilities. If they continue to do that, they should have a successful road trip.

Furthermore, Botson is on the road playing Atlanta, San Diego and Seattle, three teams all respectably over .500. In fact, San Diego (40-28) has the best record in the NL (something I had no idea about until just now…but I do know from fantasy baseball that Jake Peavy has been sick this year). This could be a good chance for the Yanks to shave another game or two off their deficit in the AL East.

However, let’s not forget we’re only a couple of weeks removed from some awful Yankee baseball. And now we’re seeing the return of Kei Igawa to an otherwise strong Yankee rotation. Igawa has been impressive in the minors giving up just four runs in 20 innings while striking out 21 over his past three starts. Will Igawa have learned enough in Yankee minor league boot camp to keep those minor league pop-ups from becoming major league home runs?

Time will tell, but the Yankees would love to continue their hot run with five solid starters.