The New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 last night in New York to capture the franchises 27th championship crown.

The Yankees spent heavily on the open market before the beginning of the 2009 regular season dishing out close to $450 million to three players CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett & Mark Teixeira to fortify their aging ball club.

The moves paid off as the Yankees were the holder of the best record in baseball this season, ultimately reigning victorious in the postseason over the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim & finally the Philadelphia Phillies.

Two of the aging veterans for the Yankees were major contributors in helping the team win last night’s game.

Firstly, Andy Pettitte, who holds the record for most postseason victories by a pitcher all time, did what he was supposed to do last night. The 37 year old left hander came into the game on three days rest with only one expectation from manager Joe Girardi, keep the team in the game and let the offense do the rest.

This is exactly what Pettitte accomplished as he pitched five and a third innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, walking five and striking out three. It was not the best postseason performance of Pettitte’s career but it was an admirable one.

For the Phillies, future hall of famer Pedro Martinez took the mound and seemed unlike himself from the get go. Martinez struggled early with the simplest tasks (catching a return throw from catcher Carlos Ruiz) as well as had major velocity issues. Perhaps Martinez’s poor start stemmed from the flu he was suffering from earlier in the series, or perhaps the Yankee fans were getting to him, either way Martinez struggled mightily.

Martinez’s greatest nemesis on the night was Hideki Matsui. Godzilla, as Yankee fans like to call him drilled a two run home run off Martinez in the bottom of the second inning while singling in two more runs off Martinez in the bottom of the third inning.

Matsui also doubled in two more runs in bottom of the fifth inning off reliever Chad Durbin.

The six runs batted in by Matsui tied the record for most runs batted in a World Series game.

The amazing performance by Matsui earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, certainly raising his free agent value as Matsui hits the open market this offseason.

The complete domination of the Phillies pitching by Hideki Matsui and his Yankee teammates combined with an admirable start from Andy Pettitte mixed with outstanding bullpen work from Joba Chamberlain; Damaso Marte & Mariano Rivera earned the Yankees the victory in exciting fashion.

The title is the first for manager Joe Girardi as a coach, the first for the new stadium and the first under the helm of Hank Steinbrenner, but the championship surely isn’t the last you will see from the Yankee organization as their baseball dynasty is certain to continue.

Baseball is officially over for the 2009 season. It was a great year. The end of the Steroid Era signaled the return of the type of baseball this writer enjoys. The diminishment of the long ball has made it a more exciting occurrence. The return of the stolen base, the bunt and actual managing has been exciting as fans are returning to the ballparks to witness true baseball played by the best the world has to offer.

I will be continuing my Toronto Blue Jays baseball articles during the offseason so fans are aware of everything and anything to do with the club.

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