The New York Yankees Are the 2008 World Champions?

Not since the Subway Series in 2000 have the Yankees hoisted the World Series trophy. Not a long time for some teams, but for the boys in the Bronx, it is nearly an eternity.

I have followed this team's every lineup card since then. Every big win and every heart-breaking loss. You sometimes think that this is your year, but the earth crumbles beneath you when it isn't.

We all know how 2001 ended, with Luis Gonzalez's bloop single over Jeter's head in Game Seven in Arizona. The only year most of America actually pulled together and wanted a Yankees victory, but it wasn't to be.

In 2002, the Yankees cruised to their AL East crown, 10.5 games ahead of Boston.  However, they lost to the Anaheim Angels in four games in the Division Series.

2003 saw the Yankees make it back to the World Series. How they got there is probably the biggest moment since winning in 2000. Aaron Boone's walk-off home run to win the ALCS in Game Seven at Yankee Stadium against Boston.

The Florida Marlins would quickly spoil this season, winning a dramatic World Series in six games.

With Alex Rodriguez now on board in a deal that sent Alfonso Soriano to Texas, the 2004 season was one to remember, and one to forget. With the Yankees up three games to none against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, Boston climbed back to win four straight games, something no other team has ever done.

The Yankees finished in a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the AL East crown in 2005, but got the crown because of the head-to-head advantage. But the Angels once again defeated the Yankees in the ALDS in five games.

The Yankees won their ninth AL East title in a row in 2006 but were defeated once again in the ALDS for the second year in a row. This time, the Detroit Tigers won in four.

Same story in 2007. Yankees lost in the first round to the Cleveland Indians in four games. They also lost their AL East title streak, getting in via wild card.

So why recap the past seven seasons to prove my point in 2008? Well you can't prevail in the future until you learn about the past.

To me, it's the Yankees' destiny to win a World Championship in 2008. Most people that don't hate the Yankees would agree with me.

It's the final season of "The House That Ruth Built". In conclusion of the 2008 season, Yankee Stadium will be closing its doors to open up a new Yankee Stadium the following season. How could you send it off without a World Series crown?

The Baltimore Orioles are scheduled to play in the final three games of the regular season at Yankee Stadium on September 19-21. I highly doubt those will be the final three games ever, but you just never know.

Joe Girardi also wears the number 27, for obvious reasons as the Yankees chase their elusive 27th World Championship.

So where can I come up with this assumption, and how can I back it up?

While the Yankees have a great team right now, other teams are indeed better at this point in time.

The Tampa Bay Rays are holding onto the division lead, with the Red Sox and Yankees hot on their tail.

The Los Angeles Angels are baseball's best team, with an astounding 68-40 record. They have just swept Boston in Fenway and are currently visiting the Yankees right now in a four-game set.

While I would love to get into the other teams and their lineups, I will focus on the Yankees and why I think they have the best shot at winning it all since they came so close 2001.

With recent acquisitions of outfielder Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates, Brian Cashman filled two voids of a solid left-handed arm in the bullpen and a hole in the outfield due to the injury of Hideki Matsui and a banged up Johnny Damon.

Also, they traded up-and-down reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Detroit Tigers for 14-time All Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez. A great move for the Yankees in my book, as Jorge Posada has shutdown his season with shoulder surgery.

Ivan Rodriguez can't hurt this team and can only help them in their championship run.  He is nearly a .300 hitter, and he will be batting near the bottom of the order. He can also work well with the pitchers and is a great defensive catcher. While Jose Molina was great behind the plate, his bat was a huge hole in the lineup.

So here is how the lineup currently looks for the most part:

DH Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Jason Giambi
2B Robinson Cano
LF Xavier Nady
C Ivan Rodriguez
CF Melky Cabrera

Maybe I am just a Yankee homer, and I am biased, but I am very pleased with what this lineup is capable of.

However, it's the pitching I am worried about, and we all know you can't do it without pitching.

Joba Chamberlain has been amazing for the Yankees this season, as he started out in the bullpen, but he has not converted over to one of their best starters. With Wang out and Pettitte being inconsistent, Joba is pretty much the Yankees' ace at this point. 

Chamberlain showed he can win big games by defeating the Red Sox in Fenway on July 25, when he out pitched Josh Beckett in a 1-0 victory, with eight innings pitched and nine strikeouts against a very tough team in a tough place to play.

Meanwhile, the Yankees' bullpen has been excellent as of late. With Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez staying consistent, and with the addition of left-hander Damaso Marte, they can bring him in against tough lefties in late-game situations. Marte struck out David Ortiz in a big spot on July 26 with runners on the corners to end a Boston threat.

Don't forget about the players who aren't currently on the team right now either. Phillip Hughes and Carl Pavano both pitched well recently, on rehab assignments, and could be a part of this team soon.

Also, Chien-Ming Wang went down with a right-foot injury in Houston while running the bases, which is something he doesn't normally do. But due to NL rules, he was part of the Yankees' offense.

Despite not requiring surgery, he was on crutches and wearing a protective boot. The cast was removed recently, however, and he is scheduled to start a rehab assignment soon and could be available in mid-September into October.

So, for me, after their 15-10 July and hot start out of the All-Star break, and key additions to the ballclub, I feel we can at least make the playoffs again this season.

Once we are there, I think we can make some noise and put some teams away. The seven-game series do not make me as nervous as the Divisional round. If they can get by that pesky ALDS, then they should be able to seal the deal.

Nothing is set in stone though, that's why they play the game and why we watch it.

Of course, every camera in the park will be on Alex Rodriguez during the postseason, should the Yankees make it. A lot of people feel he hasn't proven himself, but I see it otherwise.

Hey, at least they don't have to worry about that Manny guy anymore.