Bronx Bomber Ball

In the professional sports world, it's a known fact that cheating has occurred across all leagues, in all sports, for as long as professional sports have existed. That's not to say that news of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal was any less upsetting. While the Yankees weren't the only team to be seemingly robbed of a championship title as a result, news like this piece of news hurts more when it's your team who's victimized by said cheating. Photo Credit: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

In a series that has featured mostly nail biting, closely contested games, the Yankees took the field at Minute Maid Park for Game 7 of the ALCS facing a tall task. Coming off a tough defeat in Game 6 that saw the Astros offense wake up, it was clear Minute Maid would provide a hostile environment from the first pitch on. The home team had won every game in this series up to this point and the Yankees would have to break the trend if they were going to advance to their first World Series since 2009. The matchup saw Astros right hander Charlie Morton facing off against veteran lefty CC Sabathia. While CC has been the Yankees stopper all season, it would come down to whether the Yankees offense would finally be able to break through on the road. Although this Yankee team has risen to the occasion many times this season, they would come up short this time and falter just a game shy of the World Series. Credit: Eric Christian Smith/AP Photo

For the first time this postseason the Yankees finally held a series lead and looked to capitalize on it, to punch their ticket back to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The Yanks sent out young ace Luis Severino to face Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros in a decisive game six. The last time the Bombers face Verlander, the righty threw an immaculate 121 pitch outing in a 2-1 Yankees loss to Houston. After an early pitching battle, the Astros lineup roughed up Sevy in the fifth to grab a 3-0 lead. The Yanks would squander too many opportunities and lose 7-1, forcing a game seven tomorrow. Newsday

  The Yankees’ game plan for tomorrow night in Houston is simple: get to Justin Verlander early, get into the overworked and underperforming Houston bullpen early, and hope Luis Severino is at his best.  If all goes according to plan, much easier said than done I must add, then the Yankees will have booked their ticket to the Fall Classic for the first time in eight years. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Fresh off a dramatic come from behind win last night in game four, the Yankees looked to take a 3-2 series lead on Wednesday evening. The Bombers sent Masahiro Tanaka to the hill, who was the massive hero the team needed tonight with Dallas Keuchel on the mound for Houston. With some serious offensive contributions from a large portion of the lineup, Tanaka was stellar as the Yankees shutout the Astros in a 5-0 win.   Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch | USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees were put in a familiar spot down 2-0 in the series, and looking for a huge win at home to get right back into it.  It was C.C Sabathia on the hill for the Yankees in game three, facing off against Charlie Morton, both of which had surprising breakout seasons.  Sabathia was brilliant in the 8-1 win, throwing six shutout innings. The bats finally came to life in the series putting up eight runs, after only two runs combined through first two games. Photo Credit: Abbie Parr | Getty Images

After getting dominated by Dallas Keuchel in game one, it was the same story in game two as Justin Verlander silenced the Yankees’ bats, and another solid Yankee pitching performance went wasted. Neither team hit the ball well in this contest, but the Astros got to Chapman in the ninth as Carlos Correa hit a walk-off double to score Jose Altuve from first base. Photo Credit: David Phillips | AP

The Yankees have found themselves in the ALCS a year or two ahead of schedule, and with all the momentum in the world after erasing a 2-0 deficit in the ALDS to defeat the defending A.L champion Cleveland Indians behind some strong pitching and big time performances. This brought the Yanks to Houston, where it was a pitchers duel Friday night, as both Dallas Keuchel and Masahiro Tanaka brought their A games, yet it was Keuchel who continued his utter dominance against the Yankees, throwing seven shutout innings and making hitters look foolish all night, as the Yankees lost Game 1 2-1.   Photo Credit: AP

As I watched Todd Frazier showcase some heads up base running skills by coming around to score from first base on Brett Gardner's ninth inning single it finally hit me. The Yankees were going to defeat the mighty Cleveland Indians and advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2012. The same New York Yankees who hit rock bottom after an absolutely crushing game two defeat in the same ballpark had somehow managed to string together an improbable comeback, winning three straight elimination games. As an eternal pessimist and current law student, I thought the Yankees fate was sealed once Joe Girardi had the managing blunder of a lifetime. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic to see that the Bombers have proven me wrong. Photo Credit: J. Conrad Williams, Jr.

After Wednesday night’s exhilarating ALDS Game 5 victory over the Cleveland Indians, the Yankees are heading to the ALCS. The series against the Indians gave us many reasons to be hopeful about this current run but there are still some concerns that need to be addressed and some questions that need to be answered. One of the key points that need addressing heading into this series is the Designated Hitter position and how the Yankees can improve their productivity from it. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

Remember when the Indians were the best team in the AL and were supposed to steamroll the Yankees in the ALDS? Good times. The Yankees silenced EVERYONE last night and became the tenth team in history to come back and win a five game series after being down 0-2. Up next? The Houston Astros, who beat Chris Sale twice in the ALDS against the Red Sox, and ultimately closed it out in four games. They will be tough. However, they are a much different team than the Indians…and that might be what gives the Yankees an edge for the ALCS. Thomas B. Shea / USA Today Sports