The New York Yankees knew that coming into the 2012 season they would face a much tougher division. The Yankees have reclaimed first place in the East after defeating the Atlanta Braves 3-0 Monday night.
With timely hitting, a great pitching performance from Ivan Nova and stellar defense, the Yankees look like they are ready to control the East.
Nova went seven innings, had six strikeouts and only one walk, surrending only five hits in the night.
Raul Ibanez keeps hitting clutch homers for the Bombers, coming up with his 10th homer of the season in the second inning, giving the Yanks a 2-0 lead.
Nick Swisher kept the Braves off the scoreboard after a leaping grab that robbed Brian McCann of a homerun and would have made it a 3-2 ballgame. The slugger thought it was a homerun, but Swisher kept his eyes on the ball and hauled it back into the playing field.
The Yankees are in first place for the first time since April 24th, when the AL East was in a four-way tie with records of 10-7. The Boston Red Sox were the only team missing out from the bunch.
From then on, the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays battled between first and second place, while the Yankees silently crept back in it.
They are winners of 8-10 and are currently tied with the Rays for first. The Yankees are also enjoying a four-game winning streak.
It is only right that one of the top three payrolls in baseball is actually in first place. The Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies have struggled all season long and are in last place.
Other teams around the Majors, primarily the Rays, have been able to put together teams without having to spend so much money.
The Yankees are finally under the $200 million payroll mark, but have had trouble competing against teams with smaller budgets.
Since 1999, the Yankees have led the Majors in payroll. They were built to win championships and failed that mission from 2001-2008. It is great that they won two championships, but it was very disappointing for them to not have captured many more.
With their stars aging, the Yankees will try to make a run. They must watch out for the Orioles and Rays as these teams are young and have proven, at least in the first month of the season that they are ready to compete.
The Yankees continue their series in Atlanta tonight. Two southpaws will take the mound as C.C. Sabathia will face the Braves' young left-handed pitcher Mike Minor.
The Yanks will try to continue rolling and stay atop the AL East.