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I was at Target Field tonight. Here are some observations.

At the beginning of the game, Pavano had far better stuff than Pettite. Pavano was absolutely razor sharp in locating his pitches; Pettite seemed to struggle a bit.

But Pettite is such a good pitcher that he muddled through, and then he seemed to get into the Twins' heads and had them swinging at bad pitches. Pavano, on the other hand was worn out by the Yankees. I don't think Yankee fans truly appreciate how good their line up is. It's got to be nerve wracking to face guys like Berkman and Gardner at the bottom of the order.

Jeter was shockingly bad. I had not seen him in-person since May. Boy, he was awful. He seems overmatched and lunges at pitches. But when the game was on the line he absolutely willed a run scoring hit into right center. He also made a fine double play in the field. So, I've got mixed emotions about Jeter. He's struggling, but he's still someone who always finds a way to beat you. There is something inspiring about that.

Berkman is something else. He has a long easy golf-type swing that generates tremendous power to left center when he hits lefty. There was no way I thought his home run was gone. The ball simply does not carry out there. But Berkman's ball was like a golf ball - it just kept going. Same thing with his double. What a hitter!

Granderson is a money ballplayer. As is Gardner, who single-handedly manufactured an insurance run in the top of the ninth. The Yanks have a lot more weapons than the Twins, and it's leaving the fans here shaking their heads.

Wood was unhittable. Jack Morris said that Wood had, without a doubt, the best stuff on either team. Quite a compliment given that Rivera looks like his old self again.

Well, as the cliche goes, you're never as good as you look when you're winning and you're never as bad as you look when you're losing. This team sure is winning and sure is looking good.

Good color Corey.. I think Wood is pitching himself into a new Yankee deal and its a very good fit. Agreed on Granderson. The bottom line tho is that Pettite really came through and that makes me very comfortable about our chances. At 2-0 up, I really prefer pitching AJ game 4 if we can't finish this Saturday night, but I got a good feeling its a moot point.

Peter,

Thw Phillies rotation is plenty scary as it is. I read a quote where a Phillie said that the past few weeks Oswalt has been pitching the best of the their "big three". That is one heck of a 1-2-3 punch.

I think the Phillies were annoyed that Lee rejected their contract offer out of hand, and were determined to get something -- anything -- for him. Really, the Oswalt trade was an admission that the Lee trade had been a mistake.

I have to say I admire the Phillies organization. Ever since they moved into their new stadium their revenue stream has jumped and they're taking full advantage. They're right up there with the Yanks and Red Sox in going all out.

Pettite gutted out another one. Makes our post-season chances look that much better. September is beginning to feel like ancient history. Let's hope it stays that way.

Corey,

Thanks for the writeup -- a nice read. Jeter is going to get more years and far more $$$ than he merits given his deteriorating skill set and advancing age, because of who he is and what he's done, not what he will (and will be) capable of doing. Normally, in sports it's "what have you done for me lately?" but Jeter's career has been so extraordinary, he'll be the exception to the rule. That stands as a tribute to what he's accomplished, but will not be best for the Yankees long-term.

Corey - I could not agree with you more about Jeter these days. When I last saw him at Fenway, I could tell, easily, that his bat speed and bat-head control was way off. He needs to start his swing earlier in order to time hitting the ball as a fair ball. He needs either to get younger (nice trick) or stronger or use a lighter bat. We'll see how this plays out next year.

And yep, I was really wrong about Granderson when I complained about him on this board earlier in the season. That guy has really become a gem. Speed, power and fielding range.

Wood amazes me. Sometimes he can't throw a strike and sometimes (like Game 2), he pounds the zone with stuff that is, like you say, unhittable.

Mo? I have sat behind home plate a few times and watched Mo's stuff come to the plate. It doesn't move very much, maybe 3 to 4 inches - but it moves so incredibly late that it's close to impossible to put good wood on the ball. I was smiling like crazy when I finally got a chance to see it from that vantage point. It's not like AJ's stuff that breaks so much that it drills for oil behind the plate, it's just sneaky late and always around 90/91 mph.

About Andy/ The announcers were talking about Eiland and Andy huddling in the tunnel between innings (I think it was the 2nd) and Andy making a tweak to his motion - after that, he was rockin through the 7th.

Corey- Way to bring home the win! I feel the same about Jeter, but the more I watch him the more I think the Yankees have to move him down in the order against tougher pitches. If they make the ALCS and face Cliff Lee, Jeter should not leadoff.

Greg

You're right, the Phillies are plenty scary, I hope someone knocks them off in the NL playoffs.

Tim

I can give you two arguments against pitching AJ Sunday-

1- The Yankees would have to win that game. They do not want to head back to Minnesota tied 2-2 after losing both at home.

2- Game 1 of the ALCS is Friday. Pitching CC on Sunday, puts him on regular rest for that.

Mitchell

If you figure out the getting younger trick, please share!

Peter - younger? It has something to do with a big canvas, some paint and, uh, well ... I'm a little fuzzy on the rest of the details.