Mo gets #602 now it's time to get #28

Right before the 2009 Major League Baseball Season got started, there was something special going on in New York. The team had reloaded and brought in some additions in CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher. The old guard that previously won four World Series titles were now the grizzled veterans. They also had players like Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez, and Johnny Damon who had been with the club for sometime but (save for Damon) not won a championship.

The season began on a discordant note when Rodriguez underwent pre-season surgery that forced him to miss part of the season. Once he got back, the effect was instantaneous as Teixeira’s bat came alive. Three magical games against the Minnesota Twins turned the season around. New York won nine of their last 10 games with Boston. And Mariano Rivera got his 50th save.

Do you know that it’s destiny when history repeats itself in the World Series? How about that great at-bat by Damon where he took nine pitches from Brad Lidge before he got a hit? As it was happening, I remembered Paul O’Niell’s marathon 10-pitch at-bat against fearsome Mets’ reliever Armando Benitez in the 2000 World Series.

And then there was Charlie Manuel channeling Grady Little when the old goat, Pedro Martinez, stayed in a little longer than he needed to and he got shelled in the process.

Here I go about signs, déjà vu, and hopes for more aura and mystique this 2011 MLB season. Derek Jeter got his 3,000^th hit this season and now Rivera owns the record for the most saves with 602.

The season hasn’t been as magical as the 2009. But there have been moments. Curtis Granderson who inherited centerfield is having an MVP-like season. And there are the achievements of Jeter and Rivera.

With 10 games left in the regular season, New York is five games up on Boston. The Yankees have scored 20 more runs than the Philadelphia Phillies, the best team in the majors. Should the Bronx Bombers make it to the World Series they will not have home field advantage.

That’s fine because New York is a resilient side. Plus, we’ve got Mo. World Series title #28 beckons!

Both photos are by Getty Images' Patrick McDermott.