The Yankees aren't just great at home

The Yankees took a strong step toward being a top MLB team by going into Texas and taking a series from an American League contender this week. Any cries about the Yankees simply benefiting because of their home run-friendly park, or beating up on creampuffs such as the Orioles, fell silent as the Yankee bats roared to life yet again Wednesday night in their 9-2 stomping of the American League West-leading Rangers.

And as the story has gone, when the bats show up, the pitchers start throwing well, too. Pundits will say the Yankees' pitching has turned them around, but you only need to see who stepped into the lineup to start this tear to know that the bats have led the way. Since A-Rod has come back, New York has gone 14-5, with a nine-game winning streak. Mark Teixeira has arrived (14 home runs in May), and Derek Jeter's batting average has creeped up to .297 after he danced on the Mendoza line at the beginning of the season. Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera have been having career months.

My theory is this: when the hitting starts to happen, the pitchers settle down. They know someone has their back, and they don't have to take as many chances or pitch as perfectly to keep the game in hand.

Tonight was no exception. A.J. Burnett hadn't won a game since April 14, yet he came out and threw six innings, striking out seven and letting nary a run score. His previous starts have been walk-infested debacles, but tonight he entered the game with a two-run lead already under his belt and pitched well. Teixeira thumped a homer in the first to get the lead, and the rest of the Yankees just piled it on. Hideki Matsui emerged from his slump with two over-the-fence blasts.

New York's fielding has also improved; this was the team's 14th game in a row without an error.

Behind the scenes, the Yankees have also been doing some unnoticed things better. Jeter has nabbed 10 stolen bases, and part of that is because he's been walked 19 times even as his hitting lagged. Teixeira has collected 27 walks, and Nick Swisher has been given the free pass to first 31 times this season (and he rides the pine these days).

The Yankees are now 27-20, tied for the American League East lead with the Boston Red Sox. The only American League team with a better record? The Texas Rangers, at 27-19. Huh.

More Yankees posts