The Yankees finished the first half of the season at 61-20, a breathtaking 162-game pace if they could keep it up. Obviously we know they didn’t quite manage that, but still. What a magnificent opening half. Coming out of the All-Star Break, the club opened a set against Tampa at the Trop, looking to keep the train rolling.
Joe Torre handed the ball to Andy Pettitte to start the second half of the season. Andy had gone 10-5 in the first half, hurling 120 innings for the Yanks. In the opener against Tampa, it was more of the same.