Bronx & Beans

It's time to use the "M" word, Bronx Boys.

Meatballs? Nope, even though Fernandez loves them. Mooooooose? No way, not even after win No. 15 the other night. Moronic? Now we're getting closer.

Wait, how about ... Mediocre?

Now we're gettin' somewhere.

The season is nearing the three-quarter mark and the Yankees look like they are making a run at mediocrity. They're 63-54, a "meh" nine games over .500, 7.5 games behind the Yes-They're-Real Rays and 4 games behind the Wild-Card-Leading BoSox. And the Other Sox are also in front of the Pinstripe Patrol. How does this year's crew stack up with the last few installments of the Bronx Bombers after 117 games?

2005: 65-52, 3.5 games behind the Sox in AL East.

Result: With a furious 30-15 streak to end to season, the Yanks take the division on second to last day. The Yanks even have a chance to keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs with a Game #162 victory and a Tribe win. Unfortunately, they send Jaret Wright to the mound, and he stinks. Yanks eventually crash and burn against the Angels in the playoffs anyway.

2006: 70-47, 2 games up in AL East.

Result: Yanks roll into Boston for a five-game series and obliterate the Red Sox by a combined score of about 54,976,340,976 to 6. The Bombers took the division and looked poised to go deep into October ... but then the Tigers exposed New York's lack of starting pitching depth in the NLDS.

2007: 66-51, 4 games behind the Sox in AL East.

Result: The Yanks crawl out of the coffin in August and September to go 28-17, good enough to seize the wildcard berth from the fading Tigers. But seriously, do I have to say anything other than one word: midges?

Bomber-lovers beware: the Yanks have a deeper pit to crawl out of this year, and their squad isn't as formidable as in years past. Joba is hurt. Ian Kennedy looked horrible against the Angels. Sexson can throw all the helmets he wants, but he's still not enough to save the offense ( which is a blah 7th in the league in runs scored).

In the Bronx, it's dial M (as in mediocre) for Yankees.

--Whittle