You heard the cheers from the Bronx last night in the 8th inning. Sure, the home team had just scored 5 runs to widen their lead over Baltimore to 12-0…but smearing of the O’s was not the only thing that had fans cheering. Yes, the final word had just come down from Toronto that Eric Gagne had blown another game for the Red Sox who fell 4-2 to the Blue Jays.

2.5 back in the East, 2 in the loss column, 11 games to go…

So what are the Yankees playing for?  Well, the playoffs are nice…but so is the right to avoid their nemesis, the Angels, in the first round. Win the Wild Card and open out West where the Yanks have been spanked time and again. Win the East and the Yanks are playing the Indians, most likely opening on the road. Not to say one’s tougher than the other, but Torre’s boys have tried their hand plenty against the Angels and have been run into the ground. At least Cleveland brings an element of the unknown…

A few weeks ago the Yankees and their fans would have been happy with just any old playoff birth…now, with 11 games left and an outside shot at the Eastern Division, it’s time to get greedy.