It doesn't get old

Bubbly
Originally uploaded by vegacura.

Every year I do my best to savor the season as it unfolds, and I think this one may have been the most enjoyable ride since '98. The sophomore non-jinx of Robinson Cano and Chien Ming-Wang; the emergence of Melky Cabrera; the vast improvement -- at age 35 -- of Jorge Posada behind the plate; the talent and style of Johnny Damon; watching Randy Johnson become a different, but still effective pitcher; surviving the loss of the team's corner outfielders (and their combined 250 RBIs); Brian Cashman pulling off the Abreu trade at the deadline; Derek Jeter's best season since 1999 (what should have been his first MVP); sweeping Chicago at home in July; sweeping a five game series in Fenway Park in August.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees, once again, and on to October.

“This year was a lot more difficult, because we had to overcome a lot of injuries,” said closer Mariano Rivera, who has missed three weeks with a strained muscle near his elbow. “It wasn’t easy for us, so definitely, we have to enjoy it.”

Rivera mostly stood to the side of the celebration, smiling as many of his younger teammates whooped it up. Robinson Canó bounded around the room with others, ambushing nearly every teammate with a flood of beer.

The group gathered around Jorge Posada, bouncing and hollering, “Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico!” For Jason Giambi, it was “G! G! G!” For Sal Fasano, “Sally! Sally!” On and on it went.

Torre gave a toast to kick off the revelry, and he went around the room hugging each player, from Bernie Williams to Andy Cannizaro. There were more young players than usual, a fact not lost on Torre.

“This is so different from a lot of Yankee teams, because so much youth was involved,” Torre said. “Last year, Robby Canó and Wang brought us a little more youthful spirit, mixed with the veterans, and they didn’t seem to back off this year. And Melky was sensational.”

Andy Cannizaro?