Yankees' foursome among those who enhanced their reputations

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Hideki Matsui hit .615 with three homers and eight RBIs during the World Series. Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI

NEW YORK -- The unique Yankees foursome of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada probably didn't need to win one more World Series together to prove anything. But they did, anyway. And they did it 13 years after their first one together. No other foursome can say that.

In one word Rivera summed up how he felt to win another title with his three longtime teammates: "Wonderful.''

The reputations of that quartet were already secure, but they enhanced them by winning together in their mid-to-late 30s, just as they had done originally in their early-to-mid 20s.

Here are the men who enhanced their reps, furthered their cause and did themselves most proud in the 2009 postseason (followed by a few who missed their chance to do so).

1. Hideki Matsui. Never has a player done more damage in a World Series in such a limited role. Not only is he a half-game player, but he started only half the games, since there was no DH used in Philly. Nonetheless, he managed to stand out in what might be his last week as a Yankee, posting the third-highest average for a player with at least 10 at-bats in the World Series, and the second highest slugging percentage to Lou Gehrig. Yankees people seemed to view him as a square peg this spring, as they've started to believe that a fulltime DH doesn't make sense for such a veteran team. For that reason they still don't seem likely to bring him back. But now, in a place where sentiment has a place and there are dollars to spare, it can't be completely ruled out.

2. Alex Rodriguez. The October choker label is gone after a .365 postseason with 18 RBIs. "He's not the same man. He's a different guy, and we're all better for it,'' Yankees GM Brian Cashman said after Rodriguez won his first ring many years after it was expected. Maybe it took something bad to happen to him. Only eight months after he came clean about being dirty in Texas, his rep has never been better. "Sometimes out of the worst of times, people rise from it,'' Cashman said. Rodriguez carried the Yankees through the first two rounds, and after a rough first two World Series games that included six whiffs, he was awakened by a record string of hit-by-pitches and began tormenting the Phillies with big hits.

3. Johnny Damon. He showed his quick bat and otherworldly instincts in a wondrous World Series. His steal of second and third together in Game 4 is the single most memorable play of the best-contested World Series in at least the last seven years. Teammates marveled at it, and it turned the pivotal game in the Yankees' favor.

4. Derek Jeter. Can we all agree now that he isn't anything close to over-rated? His 11 hits fell one shy of the record for a six-game World Series. His lifetime World Series average is .321 after his .407 2009 Series. He is completely unfazed by the game's best pitching and continually comes through in the clutch (he singlehandedly spoiled the silly contention that there's no such thing as clutch). In 29 postseason series he has hit .300 18 times and .400 10 times. As Reggie Jackson said, "You just tip your cap to him and be thankful he's on your team.''

5. Cliff Lee. He turned in incredible performance after incredible performance this postseason. He was easily the best mid-year pickup and the man most responsible for getting the Phillies to their second straight World Series. The final tally of 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA shouldn't be diminished at all because he wasn't called upon to pitch on three days' rest, like the Yankees' pitching studs. The Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that the Phillies haven't decided whether they will try to lock up Lee beyond 2010, and word is that they don't have as much spending money as you'd think. But wherever he lands after 2010, he'll be making a lot of loot.

6. Mariano Rivera. For the 19th time in 29 postseason series, Rivera did not allow a run. His patented cutter is a mystery to practically everyone, but especially to National League batters who haven't seen it. He actually lowered his lifetime 0.77 postseason ERA to 0.74 by allowing one run in 16 innings. He might be the most valuable player of his generation.

7. Andy Pettitte. He may have turned out to he the best winter signing of the year, inking for $5.5 million guaranteed (plus incentives). "He made a life decision, not a business decision,'' Cashman said. "He chose to come back at a discounted rate because he felt there'd be a better chance to do something spectacular.'' He was superb through the season, then even better when it counted most. With four more postseason victories, he became the alltime leader with 18, and is looking more and more like a Cooperstown candidate. He also became the first starter to win all three postseason clinchers (Derek Lowe did it, too, but one of his wins came in relief). Pettitte's final one came on three days' rest, making old teammate Joe Girardi look good.

8. Chase Utley. He was accused of having a bad hip or a case of the yips. But all he did was rake. His five home runs in the World Series tied Reggie Jackson's alltime record, and three of them came against one of the best pitchers in baseball, CC Sabathia.

9. CC Sabathia. Nothing fazes this big fellow. He never complained about one thing all year, whether it was Jorge Posada's constant mound conferences or pitching on three days' rest, which he did whenever asked. "He's our ace, he's out horse. And thankfully, he's getting a well-deserved rest,'' Cashman said of the ALCS MVP, who was slated to start the Game 7 that became unnecessary. "He was our first block [this winter]. I remember talking to him in the winter, and you saw how badly I felt we needed him by the demonstration of the contract. He came to New York with a lot of hesitancy, and I think he's absolutely ecstatic with the move he made.'' A bonus: He's truly one of the nicest people in baseball.

10. Joe Girardi. It looked like he used the first two rounds as a warmup to learn the postseason ropes. In the World Series he threw away his boring book and put himself on the line by going with a three-man rotation throughout. He knew there was no sense throwing righty journeyman Chad Gaudin at the Phillies' killer lefty lineup. He also knew how to handle the bullpen, and it showed when he found a new hero in Damaso Marte. He also learned from last year and he loosened up, starting spring training with a billiards outing for the boys. Whether that was the reason or not, this Yankees team meshed like some other didn't. "Joe kept us al together,'' Rivera said. His players seemed slightly better prepared than the Phillies in the World Series, as well. That's probably because they were.