I hate to bring it up....

But the pinstripes didn't make the playoffs in 2008, and it was clear well before the end of regular season play that it wasn't gonna happen. Humbling indeed.

Sure, you can say the Yankees fanbase has become spoiled and our expectations are too high, but despite the disappointing outcome of the 2008 season, I take comfort in the superior reputation of the AL East. This year's Rays were of course, a surprise and I was honestly somewhat irritated that they didn't put up a better fight against the Phillies in the World Series after their seven game struggle versus the Red Sox in the ALCS. The Red Sox went back to their usual routine of settling for the Wild Card slot, after finally taking the pennant last season. The main difference, obviously, was the fact that the Yankees were not the AL East victors they fell in second place to.

The Mets choked again, extinguishing the playoff hopes of the entire New York fanbase, so I also take comfort in the fact that, unlike Mets fans, I was emotionally prepared for the letdown well before the playoffs. I wasn't strung along until the bitter end. Here's the kicker. Not only do we have the most World Series Championships to boast, but the second best team, the Cardinals, has 10 titles, compared with our 26. Take that.

So everyone who's moaning and groaning about the end of a dynasty and making it out to be doomsday, I say not so fast. What other franchises can say one single season without a playoff appearance is a shocker, and hasn't occurred in well over a decade? It was only a few short years ago we were gossiping about Joe Torre's job security based on a two year World Series drought. We as a team, have a superior reputation to uphold and a higher set of standards.