The Yankees season may be over, but there are hopeful, future Yankees working hard in Arizona right now, as the Arizona Fall League is underway.  During the offseason you can expect weekly updates on how Yankee prospects are faring on their fall or winter league teams.  There are seven Yankees playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the AFL this year, and they have all seen some action in the first week of play.  While there have been a few high points in their performances, for the most part the Yankees’ prospects are still looking for their groove.

The Desert Dogs are 3-2, having won two games against Mesa and a game against Peoria, before dropping their next two games to Scottsdale.  David Phelps made his first start of the season, and it did not go smoothly.  He lasted just three innings and gave up three runs on four hits, a walk and two strikeouts, picking up the loss.  Preston Claiborne has seen action in relief in two games, throwing two innings and allowing one earned run on three hits, a walk and to strikeouts.  Daniel Burawa picked up a win in one of his two relief appearances.  He has thrown 2.2 innings and given up one run on two hits.  Chase Whitley rounds out the Yankee pitchers, throwing 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball over two games.  He gave up three hits and two walks.

Corban Joseph started the season off with a bang, knocking a three-run homer in the Desert Dogs’ first game of the year.  He went 0-5 in his next game, and was 1-4 in the other game he played.  Ronnier Mustelier has played in two games, going 3-7 with a walk and a RBI.  Rob Segedin has played in three games and gone 2-11 with three runs scored, three walks and five strikeouts.

The Playoffs returned to the Bronx on Thursday, as the Yankees and Tigers played the deciding game of the ALDS.  Ivan Nova started the game, but was pulled after just two innings due to tightness in his forearm, leading Joe Girardi to using his bullpen for most of the game.  The Yankees trailed early, but were always in the game.  Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on their offensive opportunities, taking a 3-2 loss to the Tigers and ending their 2011 series in the ALDS.

Nova got Austin Jackson to strikeout to start the game, but gave up back-to-back homers to Don Kelly and Delmon Young, as the Tigers took an early lead.  Nova shook it off and struck out Miguel Cabrera before getting Victor Martinez to ground out and end the inning with Detroit ahead 2-0.

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While the Yankees extended their season with a trip to the playoffs, some of the Yankees’ prospects are putting in some time in the Arizona Fall League now.  Pitchers Dan Burawa, Preston Claiborne, David Phelps and Chase Whitley join Corban Joseph, Ronnier Mustelier and Rob Segedin on the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Phoenix beat the Mesa  Solar Sox 12-8 in their first game yesterday. The Yankees did their part in getting the victory, as Joseph had a three-run homer, going 1-4 with two runs scored.  Mustelier was 2-5 with a triple and a RBI and Segedin was 1-4 with two runs scored.

With the Yankees facing elimination, their playoff hopes rested with A.J. Burnett, whose struggles this season had many wondering if he would even make the postseason roster.  After a shaky first inning, Burnett found his stride and the Yankees used some big offense and defense to take a 10-1 win over the Tigers and force a Game Five.

Burnett got into trouble immediately, walking Austin Jackson to start the first inning.  Ramon Santiago popped up a bunt, which Alex Rodriguez caught for the first out.  Jackson stole second, and a ground out by Delmon Young moved him to third.  Burnett intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera and loaded the bases with a walk to Victor Martinez.  Don Kelly lined the ball to center, and Curtis Granderson was able to pick the ball out of the air to end the inning, after initially misreading the ball off the bat.

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The Yankees got off to a quick start in Detroit on Monday night, but Justin Verlander slowed them down as CC Sabathia struggled.  The Yankees were able to keep the game close and battle back, but the Tigers held on to take another game and pull ahead 2-1 in the short series.

Derek Jeter started the game with a single up the middle.  Curtis Granderson then knocked a deep fly ball to center for a triple.  Alex Rodriguez grounded out to first, but Granderson scored as the Yanees took a quick 2-0 lead.

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For the third day in a row, Yankee Stadium saw playoff baseball as the Tigers and Yankees played Game 2 of the ALDS.  Detroit took an early lead and Max Scherzer dominated the Yankees lineup for six innings.  The Yankees rallied in the ninth, but came up short as they took a 5-3 loss.

Freddy Garcia opened the game with a strikeout of Austin Jackson, but Magglio Ordonez lined a single to left.  Delmon Young flew out, but Miguel Cabrera knocked a homer to the short porch in right, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

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The Yankees and Tigers kicked off the Postseason with two of the best pitchers in baseball on Friday night.  Unfortunately, neither one of them lasted very long as rain,  the theme of the Yankees’ regular season, followed the Bombers into the postseason.  Game was delayed into Saturday, and New York and Detroit were back to work.  The Yankees used a big sixth inning to put the Tigers in a big hole, as they took a 9-3 win.

The Tigers drew first blood, as Delmon Young knocked a solo homer for a 1-0 lead.  The Yankees fought back in the bottom of the inning, getting on the board in a less conventional way.  Derek Jeter struck out swinging, but was safe at first on a wild pitch.  Curtis Granderson drew a walk and both runners moved up as Robinson Cano grounded out.  Another groundout by Alex Rodriguez brought Jeter home, and the Yankees tied the game at 1-1.

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In case you have not been following the debacle in Scranton, PNC Field will be closed next season as it will undergo a $40 million renovation.  There have been some problems with PNC in the past, so it is good the Yankees are getting this done.  The downside, however, is that the Yankees Triple-A affiliate will be without a home stadium next season.  There have been multiple discussions about possible places for them to play, a missed deadline and then some outrage as the Mets blocked them from being able to pay in Newark. Now, according to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog, the Yankees have announced that they will be splitting their home games across six different fields.  The breakdown is this:  37 games in Rochester, ten in Syracuse, seven in Batavia, six in Buffalo, and twelve to be split between Pawtucket and Lehigh Valley.  So watch out for the Scranton/WB Yankees – they could be coming to play a home game at a field near you!

(This post was originally published at ESPN’s Sweetspot blog)

Here’s five reasons the Yankees could emerge from the 2011 postseason as World Series champions for the 28th time:

1. Their offense is really good. In terms of wRC+, they’re second among playoff teams to only the Rangers, and they’re the best in baseball against lefties. That could prove to be a big in potential matchups with Texas and Philadelphia.

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