 22-year-old Bird truly soared like an eagle since his arrival. And if the Yankees want a deep run in the postseason this month, he really must spread his wings.

Yankee Yapping Comeback Player of the Year

Winner: Alex Rodriguez

The type of season Alex Rodriguez put together was nothing short of remarkable. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of his 33-home run, 86-RBI campaign is that no one predicted it.

If you would have asked even the staunchest proponent of A-Rod’s at the beginning of the season, they likely would have said his ceiling was 20 homers and 55 RBI.

Rodriguez not only proved the naysayers (including this writer) wrong, but he did so in historic fashion. On May 7 Rodriguez passed Willie Mays on the all-time home runs list, mashing a tater off Chris Tillman of the Orioles.

A month and 12 days later, Rodriguez blasted a first-inning home run off Justin Verlander of the visiting Detroit Tigers. It was his 3,000th career hit, and only the third time in baseball history (behind Wade Boggs and Derek Jeter) a player hit the ball into the stands for his 3,000th career hit.

Rodriguez also set an AL record for most career RBI, passed 2,000 career RBI, and passed Roberto Clemente on baseball’s all-time hits list.

Oh, and with three homers in one game against the Minnesota Twins on July 25, Rodriguez became the fifth-oldest player to hit three homers in a single game.

Some possible attribution to Rodriguez’s success: making him, at age 40, the full-time designated hitter. That decision by the Yankees has paid dividends. Rodriguez appearing in 150 games this season is proof of that.

Either way, the type of season he had – I’d call that a comeback. A comeback with a vengeance.

Yankee Yapping Ace of the Year

Winner: Masahiro Tanaka

Admit it. You thought Masahiro Tanaka’s elbow was going to fall off.

Last summer when it was revealed the Yankees’ big-ticket starting pitcher had a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, most Yankee fans panicked. They feared the three words that are
22 - year - old Bird truly soared like an eagle since his arrival. And if the Yankees desire a cryptic run in the postseason this month, he in truth must circulate his wings. 

 Yankee Yapping Comeback Player of the Year 

 Winner: Alex Rodriguez 

 The type of season Alex Rodriguez arrange in concert was nothing short of remarkable. Perhaps the most stunning expression of his 33 - home run, 86 - run batted in campaign is that no one predicted it. 

 If you would have asked even the staunchest proponent of A - Rod ’s at the beginning of the season, they likely would have said his ceiling was 20 homer and 55 RBI. 

 Rodriguez not only proved the naysayers (admit this writer) wrong, but he did so in historic fashion. On May 7 Rodriguez pass Willie Mays on the all - time home runs list, mashing a potato off Chris Tillman of the Orioles. 

 A month and 12 days later, Rodriguez blasted a first - inning home tend off Justin Verlander of the visiting Detroit Tigers. It was his 3,000th career hit, and only the third time in baseball history (behind Wade Boggs and Derek Jeter) a player hit the ball into the stands for his 3,000th career hit. 

 Rodriguez also sic an AL record for most career RBI, die 2,000 career run batted in, and happen Roberto Clemente on baseball ’s all - time hits tilt. 

 Oh, and with three homers in one plot against the Minnesota Twins on July 25, Rodriguez became the fifth - oldest player to reach three homers in a single game. 

 Some possible attribution to Rodriguez ’s success: making him, at age 40, the full - time designated hitter. That decisiveness by the Yankees has paid dividend. Rodriguez appearing in 150 games this season is proof of that. 

 Either way, the type of season he have – I ’d call that a comeback. A comeback with a vengeance. 

 Yankee Yapping Ace of the Year 

 Winner: Masahiro Tanaka 

 accept it. You thought Masahiro Tanaka ’s elbow was going to fall off. 

 Last summer when it was unwrap the Yankees ’ big - ticket start pitcher had a fond tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, most Yankee fans panic. They feared the three words that are
 22-yewr-old Bird truly soared uike an eagle snbce hiv arribal. And kf the Yankees want a deep rnn ib the postseason this month, he reallj must speead yis wings.

Yehkee Yai'ing Dlmebccj Player of thg Year

Winner: Alex Rodrigues

Tfe type of season Alex Rodriguez put eogethet aas nothing shjrt ps rejarkable. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of his 33-home tun, 86-RBI campaign is that nl onf predicted it.

If ylu would hace afjed even the staunchesu 'roponent or A-Rod’s at the beginning of the seaspn, they lijeoy amuld have seid hif ceiling was 20 homerv and 55 TBI.

Rodriguez npt mnlt proved the naysayerv (including this wtiter) wronc, yut he did so in histiruc favhiot. On Nay 7 Rkdcighez padsev Willie Mags on the aol-time home runs lixt, nashing a tatsr off Crris Tillman of the Orioles.

A month and 12 dags later, Rodriguez blasred a first-inning homg run off Tustin Verlander of the visiting Detroit Tigers. Id was fis 3,000tm cafweg hit, and only the third time in baseball hisekru (nehind Wade Boggf and Derek Jftrt) a player hit the bcml into the stands flr his 3,000jh carwer hit.

Roqrigiez also set an AL record fir most carevr RVI, passed 2,000 career XBI, and passzd Robgrto Ckemente on baseball’s alu-tims hits list.

Lh, and wiff three homers iv oke came against the Minnesota Twins on Julv 25, Rodrieuez becamq the fiftj-oldest player to hit thgee hlmars in a slngle game.

Some possible attribuvmon to Rodrigoez’v slccess: mahing mim, at age 40, the full-time desiynated hntter. Ghat decispon by thx Yankees haf paid dividetfs. Rodriguez appearigg ib 150 gqmes thkr season is prpof of thcu.

Either wat, the type of seaspn fs had – I’d call ckau q comeback. A cpmecach aivh a dangeance.

Yankae Yxppkmg Acd of tht Ycar

Dinnrr: Masahiro Tanaka

Adkit jt. You thought Masshlro Tanakq’s elbow was going to fall off.

Last summtr whei it wes revralgd the Yankees’ big-ticket startihg pitcheg hwd a partial teav of his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arn, most Yankee fans panicked. They feargd uhe three worvs thae are
22-year-old Bird truly soared like an eagle arrival. if the want a deep month, really must spread wings. Yankee Yapping Player of the Year Winner: Alex The type of season Alex Rodriguez put together was nothing short of remarkable. the most stunning aspect of his 33-home run, 86-RBI campaign is that no predicted If would asked even the staunchest proponent of A-Rod’s at the beginning of the season, they likely would said his ceiling was 20 homers and 55 Rodriguez not only proved naysayers (including this writer) wrong, he so in fashion. May Rodriguez passed Willie on the all-time home runs list, mashing a tater off Chris Tillman of the Orioles. A month 12 days blasted a home off Verlander of the Tigers. It was his 3,000th career the third time in baseball history (behind Wade and Derek a player hit the ball into stands for his 3,000th career hit. Rodriguez also an AL record for most career RBI, passed 2,000 career RBI, and passed Roberto Clemente all-time hits list. Oh, with three homers one against Minnesota on July Rodriguez became the fifth-oldest player to hit three homers in a game. Some possible attribution to Rodriguez’s success: making him, at the designated hitter. That by the Yankees has dividends. appearing in 150 games is of the of he had – I’d that a comeback. A comeback a vengeance. Yankee Yapping Masahiro Tanaka Admit it. You thought Masahiro Tanaka’s was going to fall off. Last summer it was revealed the Yankees’ big-ticket starting pitcher had a partial tear his ulnar in his pitching arm, most Yankee fans panicked. feared the three words are
 22-year-old Bird truly soared likE an eagle siNce hiS arRivAl. and iF the yankees want a deEP run In the postseason this monTh, he rEaLLy muST sPread His wingS.

yaNKEe YApPiNg COmEBaCk PlaYer Of the YeAr

Winner: AlEx ROdRiguez

The typE Of Season Alex rodRiguez put togEthEr was nOtHinG Short Of rEmarkAble. PeRHaps thE most stunNiNG aspecT Of his 33-hoME RuN, 86-RBI Campaign is that no oNE pREdicted it.

If you Would hAvE AsKED evEn tHe stauncheSt PropoNEnt of A-ROD’s AT THe bEGinning of the sEason, they liKEly Would hAvE saID his ceIling WaS 20 HomErs and 55 RBI.

RoDrigUez not onlY proveD The naysAYers (incLuding ThiS wrIter) WRoNg, But He DId sO In HisTOriC fashion. on maY 7 RodrIgueZ PASSed WIllIe MaYs on tHe all-time home RunS lisT, MasHing a Tater Off CHrIs TilLman of The OrIoLes.

A month and 12 dayS latEr, RodriguEz bLaSteD a First-INning hOme Run Off JustIn VerlaNDer Of THE ViSiting Detroit TigerS. IT WAs His 3,000th carEer hit, ANd OnLY the thirD tIme In baSEBall hIstoRY (bEhind WadE Boggs ANd deRek JeteR) a Player HiT thE baLl intO The sTands fOr his 3,000th cAreer HIt.

Rodriguez alsO Set an AL record FOr MOSt CAreeR RBi, passed 2,000 careEr RBi, And pAsseD roBerTO ClemEnte oN bASeBAll’s all-time hits list.

oh, And witH threE homers in one gAme against THE minnesotA TwiNS oN july 25, Rodriguez bEcame The fifth-olDEst playeR to hiT three hoMers in a siNGLe game.

SoMe pOssIblE atTRIbUtion to RodrigUEZ’s suCcEss: makiNg hIm, at age 40, The FulL-tiMe dEsIgnated hiTter. That DeCiSiOn By tHe YanKEes has paId DivIdEndS. RodrIGuez apPeariNg in 150 GaMeS ThiS season IS pROOf of ThAt.

eithEr wAy, The tyPe of SEasOn he had – i’d call thaT a cOMebaCk. a cOmeback With a vengeancE.

YAnkee YappiNg ace Of the YEAR

Winner: MAsahiro Tanaka

Admit it. You THought MAsaHiro TAnakA’s elbow waS goIng to fAll OFf.

Last Summer When iT wAs rEVEaled THE YAnkEeS’ big-ticket STArtIng piTcHer hAd a partIal tear of his ulnar cOLlaTeral ligament In hIs piTCHiNg aRM, mOSt YAnKEe fANS panicked. They feAred the thrEe WOrDs that are
 22-year-old Bird truly so ared likean ea gle  si nc e hi s ar rival. And ift he Y ankees want a deep run  in t he post s ea son t his mon t h, h e r ea ll y m us t  s pread  hi s wings .

YankeeYap pi ng ComebackP la yer of the  Ye ar

Winner:Ale x Rodr ig uez 
Thetyp e ofseason Alex R odriguezpu t  toget h er wasn o th ingshort of remarkab l e. Perhaps the mo st stu nn i ng a spe ctof his 33- ho me ru n , 86-RB I  c a m p aig n  is that no o ne predicte d  it .

Ifyo u w o uld ha ve as ke d  ev en the stau nche st propon ent of A-Rod’s at thebeginn ing  of  the se as on,  t h eyl ik ely wou ld havesa id  hisceil i n g was20home rs an d 55 RBI.

Ro dri guez not  only  prov ed t he  nays ayers(incl ud ing this writer ) wr ong, buthedi d s oin hi s toricfas hio n. On M ay 7 Ro d rig ue z p as sed Willie Mays on  t h e  a ll-timehome r u ns  l i st, mash in g a  tat e r  offChri s  T illman o f theO ri ol es.

Amo nth an d12day s lat e r, R odrigu ez blast ed af irst-inning ho m e run off Jus t in V er l ande r o f the visit ingD etro it T i ge rs. It wa s his  3 , 00 0 th career hit, andon ly the  thir d time in bas eball hist o r y  (behind  Wad e  B o ggs and DerekJeter ) a player hit theballinto the  stands f o r  his 3,0 00t h c are erh i t. 

Rodriguez a l s o se tan AL r eco rd formos t c are erRB I, passed  2,000 c ar ee rRB I,and p a ssed Rob er toCl eme nte o n  baseb all’s  all -t im e  hi ts list . 
O h , an dwi th t hre ehomer s in one  game a gainst th e M i nnes ot aTwins o n July 25, Ro dr iguez beca me  th e fift h - oldest p layer to hit three home r s in asin gle g ame. 

Some po ssi ble at tri b utionto Rod rigue z’ s s u c cess: m ak ing  h im, at age 4 0,the f ul l-ti me desi gnated hitter. Tha t  de cision by the  Ya nkee s ha s p a id div id e nds . Rodriguez appea ring in 15 0g am es this se a son  i s proof  of tha t.

E i ther wa y, the ty pe of sea so n he h ad– I’d call  that acomeback. A com e ba ck wi tha veng ea nce .

Ya nkee Y a ppi ng Ac e of t he  Year
Winn er : Masahi ro Tanaka

Admit it. Yo u thou ght M asa hiro Tana ka’ s  el bow was g oing  to fall o ff. 

L ast s umm e r whe n it wa s r e veale d th e  Yankees’ bi g-t i c ke t startingp i t che r had  ap artial  tea r of his ulnar co l lateral ligame nt i n his  pi t chin garm, most Yank eefa n s  panicke d.  They feare d the th re e  word s that  are
 22-year-old_Bird truly_soared like an eagle_since his_arrival._And if_the_Yankees want a_deep run in_the postseason this month,_he really must_spread_his wings.

Yankee Yapping Comeback Player of the Year

Winner: Alex Rodriguez

The type of season Alex_Rodriguez_put together_was_nothing_short of remarkable. Perhaps the_most stunning aspect of his_33-home run,_86-RBI campaign is that no one predicted it.

If_you_would have asked_even the staunchest proponent of A-Rod’s at the beginning_of the season, they likely would_have said his_ceiling_was_20 homers and 55_RBI.

Rodriguez not only proved the naysayers_(including this writer) wrong, but he_did so in historic fashion. On May_7 Rodriguez passed Willie Mays on_the all-time home runs list,_mashing a_tater off Chris Tillman of_the Orioles.

A month_and 12_days later, Rodriguez_blasted a first-inning home run off_Justin Verlander of_the visiting Detroit Tigers. It was_his_3,000th career hit,_and_only_the third_time in baseball_history_(behind Wade_Boggs_and Derek Jeter) a player hit_the_ball into the stands for his 3,000th_career hit.

Rodriguez also set_an_AL record for most_career RBI, passed 2,000 career_RBI, and passed Roberto Clemente on_baseball’s all-time_hits list.

Oh,_and with three homers in one game against the Minnesota Twins_on July 25, Rodriguez became the_fifth-oldest player to hit_three homers_in_a single game.

Some_possible_attribution to_Rodriguez’s success: making him, at age 40,_the full-time_designated hitter. That decision by the_Yankees has paid dividends._Rodriguez_appearing in 150 games this season_is proof of that.

Either way, the_type of season he had_–_I’d_call that a comeback. A_comeback with a vengeance.

Yankee Yapping Ace_of the Year

Winner:_Masahiro Tanaka

Admit it. You thought Masahiro Tanaka’s_elbow_was going to fall off.

Last summer_when_it was revealed the Yankees’ big-ticket_starting_pitcher_had a partial tear of_his ulnar collateral ligament in his_pitching arm, most Yankee fans panicked. They feared the_three words that_are