This is what the Yankees play for every year. The AL East crown. The start of a traditional yearly affair, playing in the postseason in October to be the last team standing when it's all said and done.

During spring training, most reporters and experts predicted that the Red Sox would win the AL East, but look who came out on top! The Yankees failed to sign Cliff Lee, who returned to the Phillies, and it was almost certain that the Red Sox and Tampa Bay would come out first and second. Ivan Nova has done a terrific job with top notch pitching as a rookie and deserves to win rookie of the year in the AL. Without him, there is no way the Yankees would have won. The emergence of Brett Gardner as a base stealing threat, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeria and Robinson Cano being a pitcher's nightmare, with their ability to hit balls into the outfield and to the stands. Despite A-Rod and Derek Jeter missing time due to injuries, the backups and utility players have came through.

What a fairytale year this has been. First, Derek Jeter reaches 3000 hits, then Mariano Rivera breaks the all time saves record, now he's standing in a league of his own. Then Jorge Posada hits a tiebreaking single in the bottom 8th inning, with two outs, scoring two runs, sewing up the division crown. It felt fitting for Posada to be the hero of the night, after a season where he lost his job as starting catcher, to DH and falling out of favor to the bench.

Congratulations, Yankees. The chase is not over yet. It's time.