Forget What You've Heard. The Yanks Will Win.

A rivalry will be renewed this October. A rivalry that has been a bit one-sided for the last 13 years. It’s been covered a million times over by a million different media outlets. The New York Yankees can’t beat the Los Angeles Angels.

When the Yankees take the field in the “House that Jeter Built,” they will be facing their very own kryptonite, a true thorn in the side. The Angels are the only team with a winning record against the Yanks since 1996. This we all know because it’s constantly shoved down our throats. However, this year will be different. This October the memories of playoff failures in 2002 and 2005 will be erased.

Fresh off first round sweeps in their ALDS match-ups the Yankees and Angels will meet in the American League Championship Series with a clean slate and the Yankees will win.

Each team entered the 2009 post season with compelling story lines.

The Angels overcame the tragedy of pitcher Nick Adenhart’s death in April to win the American League West and sweep away their post season nemesis the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.

 For the Yankees they entered the season with a renewed focus. A year after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1994 the Yankees entered the season ready to bring a World Series title back to New York. Yankees skipper Joe Girardi wears the number 27 on his back to signify the next notch in the Yankees championship belt. This group of Pinstripers seems poised to do just that and history is on their side.  

The Yanks swept the ALDS for the third time. They went on to sweep the World Series each of the previous two times (1998, 1999).

Alex Rodriguez entered this October 0-27 with runners in scoring position in the playoffs. Rodriguez then went 5 for 11 with two homers and six RBIs in three games against the Twins, all but erasing his playoff goat-like status. Rodriguez homered in back-to-back postseason games for the first time since the 2004 ALCS.

Mariano Rivera picked up his eighth career postseason series-clinching save. That's twice as many as the second place pitcher.

 Andy Pettitte earned his 15th career postseason victory, tying John Smoltz for most all-time.

All the signs are there. This ALCS will be less about the Yankees past failures against the Angels. Instead it will be a celebration of a team coming together to achieve one common goal, winning.

Baseball is a game of numbers and 2009 will be the year the Yankees celebrate their 27^th World Series title.