Yanks' team effort overcame adversity

You read these words spoken about a wine or a car, but not usually about a Yankees team. Particularly before we reach the end of October.

Yesterday afternoon, in a near-empty clubhouse, Robinson Cano declared, "I love this year."

"You know why?" the Yankees second baseman continued. "Because everyone contributed. We had A-Rod out for a long time. We lost Jeter for quite a bit. The bench was outstanding the whole year.

"You've got Noesi, Ayala. That's what you're looking for. You don't want to count on the same guys every time."

It's a lovable year for Yankees fans. Cano's eighth-inning, two-run double off Tampa Bay's J.P. Howell vaulted the home team to a 4-2 victory over the Rays in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader. And that result clinched the Yankees' 16th playoff berth in 17 campaigns.

Those can blend and bleed into one another, yet this season stands out. For 2011 began as a year of doubt for the Yankees, and they nevertheless cruised into October.

So much work remains; Joe Girardi called this the "first step of three," with the AL East title and home-field advantage to follow, and then comes three postseason series to win. However, the Yankees earned a moment of pride with this one.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment," Mariano Rivera said. "Nobody gave us opportunities. Nobody gave us a shot when we were in spring training. Here we are."

Rivera went a little heavy on the "Nobody gave us a shot" stuff. Only a little, though. We all remember what last offseason felt like, as the Yankees lost Cliff Lee to Philadelphia and Andy Pettitte to retirement, while the Red Sox brought aboard Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.

Even Brian Cashman, the Yankees' 14th-season general manager, declared that the Red Sox should be favored on paper,

A tranquil-looking Cashman said that this clincher didn't feel extra special because of the journey.

"We've got a good team," Cashman said. "We definitely had some surprises. We needed to have some surprises. There were some areas that were extremely questionable but then solvable, and they did, on their own. So we're grateful for that."

You know the solutions: Bartolo Colon's remarkable rebirth. Freddy Garcia's surprising consistency and durability. Ivan Nova's maturation.

Cashman failed to land his two top targets Lee and Pettitte. It turned out more important that he built the organizational depth he has been touting since he gained full control of baseball operations for the 2006 season.

The touching story of the $202-million underdogs will fade quickly if the Yankees can't convert this depth and resilience into some postseason victories, and it's not like the club eyes October without concerns. The identities of the third and fourth starting pitchers remain unknown -- they can probably get by with three starters in the first round -- while the Game 2 starter Nova will be a playoffs debutante.

In the "sticky situations" department, it's difficult to envision Jorge Posada's inclusion on the Yankees' postseason roster for any reason besides sentiment.

The Yankees have time to tackle those challenges and more, and perhaps they'll have the personnel to handle them.

We'll see if this 2011 team becomes a savored vintage. We can say this: Already, it has risen from humble roots.