The one person that I know who is as big of a Yankee fan as I am is my friend Doug. When describing the Yankees and the reason for their incredible success, he says that they have an uncanny way of being behind in a game or in need of a win and they just have the ability to go, “Now?” And just pull a win out of nowhere. Judging from last night’s game – I agree with Doug.

If there is one player on the Yankees who is the man – it’s Derek Jeter. At only 25 years old, this powerhouse was definitely the most valuable player last night, hitting a solo home run off of the very first pitch of the night. If that was not a clear message to the Mets that the Yankees were taking last night’s game – and the Series championship – I don’t know what is.

From there, the Yanks scored another run in the second inning off of a triple by Paul O’Neill coupled with a sacrifice fly by Scott Brosius. Then, only one inning later, thanks to a triple by – you guessed it – Derek Jeter and a ground out by Sojo, the Yanks grabbed another run making it three-zip. With the Yanks ahead by three and the Mets in desperate need to take Game 4, Piazza tried to rally the Mets with a two run homer that same inning – but as in Game 2 – it was too little too late. The Yankees kept a tight grasp on their lead and held the Mets at bay until the bottom of the 9th inning when the last out was made and the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the Series.

That’s what I love about the Yankees. Just like Doug said, they can lose a game or be behind a few points and just rally back to take the lead. That’s why I am a Yankee fan, because this team is just unbeatable and plays from their heart. I once heard an interview with Joe Torre from last year’s World Series win and he said something that was very profound. He said, “There is baseball – and there is Yankees baseball.” He is so right.

I am not saying that the Mets are not a good team. I am simply saying that the Mets are facing a team that has a history of being able to overcome all of the odds and walk away with a World Series Championship every four years on average. If you look in the record books, most of the records are held by a Yankee. Since 1996, they have been in the World Series every year except in 1997. I am getting so used to the Yankees in the Series that the Yanks clinching the American League Championship is becoming somewhat anti-climatic.

Speaking of clinching, tonight is Game 5, and for the twenty-sixth time, the Yankees find themselves one game away from becoming World Series Champions. How great it would be to see them win the Series and celebrate at Shea Stadium.

By the way. I saw a sign that a fan was holding up at Game 2 that completely defines this Series. The sign had a picture of the Mets symbol and next to it was the team’s famous phrase, “You Gotta Believe!” The sign also had a picture of the Yankees symbol, and next to it was two simple words – “We Know.”