Manager Joe Torre and Captain Derek Jeter enjoy their annual champagne bath.

The New York Yankees wrapped up their 9th consecutive A.L. East division title Wednesday night, not with a win, but with a Red Sox loss to the Minnesota Twins. NY has gone to the post season every year under Torre's watch—11 straight, and the 12th consecutive when you add in Buck Showalter's wild card in 1995.

Even as a fan watching the clubhouse celebration on TV, I could tell what a different feel this year's version was. There is a looseness, a better sense of fun on the team. Some of this can be attributed to the addition of Johnny Damon's mischievous personality to the club, but also to all the young blood. New guys like Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano—seen below partying— are HUGE contributors to this year's success. Then you have the veterans like Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Randy Johnson, who have been through it all—and are totally focused on winning the World Series—but appreciate the enthusiasm of the young players. It rubs off on them. That's what makes this team so great, the balance of experience with hungry youth. This is what separates the 2006 Yankees from the more staid 2004 and 2005 version.



In the upcoming Division Series, the Yanks will face the loser of the Central Division. Detroit is currently 1/2 game ahead of the hard-charging Minnesota Twins. The winner of the Central will play the Western Division Oakland A's, while the wild card will go to the second place team, with the series starting in New York.

The good news for the Yankees is that with the Tigers and Twins battling it out for the Central Division, they won't have the luxury to rest players, or set up their starting rotation in the order they would prefer for the Division Series. The Yanks do have that luxury, and have been resting guys like Mariano, Giambi, Damon, Jeter to let some of their nagging injuries heal. And Torre and Guidry can select the proper order for their starting pitchers for the ALDS.