Yankees Clinch AL East (Yawn) - Proposal to Ban Connecticut From New England - DD Perks Rewards = Whole Bunch of Awesomeness

Dustin Pedroia looks on as the AL East Title Officially went to the Yanks. (AP Photo)

The NY Yankees clinched their first AL East Title since 2006 yesterday completing a three game sweep over the Red Sox. The Yanks have had the East wrapped up for quite some time now and this was more of a formality than anything. Props to the Yanks though for overcoming a slow first half and gaining home field for as long as they're in the playoffs, something any team would love to have. NY and Boston has, not surprisingly, been the toughest places for opposing ball clubs to play all season long - with the Yankees going 55-23 in their new Stadium and the Sox going an equally impressive 52-22 at Fenway - both home records tops in baseball. The Yankees effectively won the division with the torrid hot start they had after the All-Star break and never really looked back. Despite the Red Sox being the hottest team in the last fourth or so of the season, the Yanks really didn't falter at all, and always kept the Sox at arms length away. So again - props.

Aside from listening to the first half of Friday nights game on the radio I didn't pay attention to an additional pitch of the series because the games really had no weight attached to them. The division was lost long ago for the Sox, and the real nail in the coffin was when they lost those first two games to the Royals last week. When you have less than half a percentage point in your favor, it's time to start looking elsewhere. I think the Lester indecent on Friday night confirmed how the Sox were approaching this series, as the lineups Francona was marching out there with were fairly passive - sitting Jason Bay and Victor Martinez on back-to-back days. The Sox most likely will clinch the Wild Card in the next three days as their magic number now sits at two. It'll be good for them to celebrate in Fenway, and who knows, there may even be a Papelbon Bud Light Head sighting, one can only pray. Either way, it's all about staying healthy now, and aligning the team for the postseason.

Early yesterday afternoon, after driving through a rain soaked Bronx, I finally entered what I assumed was going to be friendly territory in Connecticut, and more importantly, Pats Country. Prior to entering CT I was flipping between the Jets and Giants games on the radio while only getting the occasional updates on the Patriots game. I thought nothing of it though, for I was after-all bombing down the Saw Mill River Parkway in NY, so that's what I expected. However upon crossing over into CT (a half an hour in mind you) these still were my only options. Not only were those the only games I could listen to on the radio, but the billboards, bumper stickers, etc. were all NY based. I understand that CT is the purgatory battle ground between Massachusetts and

New York, however - if it really is divided 50/50 with their sports loyalties, than I say we cut CT off like a bad case of gangrene, they don't deserve to embrace the title of New England if no true loyalty is defined. I say we create our Mason Dixon at Massachusetts. We'll keep Rhode Island obviously because of Narragansett Beer and Block Island, but I say Sainara to Connecticut. It's like the spoiled rich brat cousin of New England who'd really rather hang out with the kids from Shelbyville then the good ol' citizens of Springfield anyways. Long story short - After much scanning and hissing I realized my rental car had SIRIUS Satellite Radio and problem solved, still, CT's on the blacklist.

Lastly, SawxBlog will be representing at Fenway Park tomorrow as part of the Dunkin’ Donuts DD Perks Rewards program. If you're not a member of the Perks Program yet then I highly suggest you get down on it. As part the program you'll have the opportunity to win all sorts of great New England sports packages. SawxBlog will be accompanying 50 DD Perks Winners with a personal tour of Fenway which will culminate with some batting practice in their batting cages as well as meeting lasts years AL MVP - Dustin Pedroia. Pictures and a full report to be placed after, and if you have any questions you'd like me to ask Dustin holler in the comments section. Please read below for more on the Perks Program:

DD Perks is a customer loyalty program that gives Dunkin’ Donuts customers the opportunity to “Earn, Save and Score” unique rewards simply by using their Dunkin’ Donuts Card. The program runs through December 31. Consumers can easily enroll in the program by visiting www.DunkinDonuts.com/score and register their Dunkin’ Donuts Card.

Comments

[Erik]

D,
I'm surprised you didn't know this about Connecticut. I'd say the Western half of the state is very much Yankees territory... where as the Eastern half is very much New England. My Fathers side of the family is from Southington... which I would say is a little over 1/3 of the way into the state... and that's kind of split.
You can definitely find Sox games though. i know because I've listened to a few. But maybe not as far East as say... Danbury. But Danbury is right on the NY border practically.
Anyway... I dont know it was uch of a "yawn" with the Yankees clinching. Sure it was a foregone conclusion... but sweeping the Sox to do so,(and we had guys sitting too) and tying the season series at 9-9 after an 0-8 start... that means something. It just does. I mean you guys haven't beaten un is... well it seems like forever... in fact it seems like last season... because it might as well have been. The team is completely different now. but it was cool of you to give props, even if it was begrudgingly. haha I dont know about you... but I want a NY/Boston ALCS bad. I wouldn't have said that the past few years... but I want it.

[Kris]

just not the same if they're not battling it out in the ALCS. let's hope the Sox continue their dominance of LA, and the Yanks don't stumble against Detroit...

baseball at it's finest! (this is why non-sox and non-yankee fans hate our teams...)

[Darryl Mrowka]

What! You need to re-check your facts about Connecticut. I've been a die-hard Sox's fan since the Dr. smack my @ss. If any thing I would say the lower western part has fallen into the dark side long ago because of the 90 mile rule of the TV gods. If there were no fans in Ct. Than why did Red Sox Nation (Which included John Henry and Tom Werner) come to both New Haven and Waterbury the past couple years in the beginnings of the Nation. I was there in 2004 when New Haven's own Joe Castiglione was on hand talking about the old days hanging out with his brother a famous Dr. in the New Haven area and having some Cannoli's from Disorbo's bakery and having pizza from Wooster street. Don't throw all of Ct under the Bus. Bad enough that I have to put up with Yankee fans on a daily bases. Red Sox Nation is in the blood, not created like the "Universe" I laugh everyday when I can name more facts about the Yankee's than their own fans. So,show the love for CT and add a note to the DD commercial: " Manhattan chowder I've never heard of it either but the chowder at the "Black Rose!" enough said! Go Sox's!

[Seth Gottlieb]

I agree that Connecticut has become a suburb of New York and no longer belongs in the New England family. However, we shouldn't just give the state away. Perhaps, in return, we can allow Vermont and Massachusetts expand our borders West to Lake Ontario? They have Yankees fans up there but it is sparsely populated so a re-education program would not be that expensive. How many Bills fans would love an excuse to stop being Bills fans?

[Erik]

Doubtful Scott. Vermont is split in two Yankees and Sox. Because the state runs parallel. Trust me I spent 14 summers of my life up there. You can have New Hampshire. While you'e at it.. take Long Island... that slop hole that it is... Most of them are Mets fans anyway... and they would gladly convert. It's not like they dont root for the Sox anyway as Mets fans, because they have nothing else to root for come... oh... June... usually.