I used to compare rooting for the New York Yankees to rooting for the Empire in Star Wars. They are the easiest team in baseball to root against because they take advantage of the lack of a salary cap and spend, spend, spend. Yet, who wouldn’t want their own team to buy the best players? This process tends to raise ticket prices, but one can not argue with the Yankees successes. They are the defending champions, after all. While they still have to battle the Rays and Twins for the best record in the American League, they have been slumping a bit in September as they try to get some rest for their veterans.

As we headed down the stretch, the biggest concern for the Yankees was their starting pitching. Each of their starters had one really horrible outing, which has been quite unusual. The ace of the staff is C.C. Sabathia who has had yet another outstanding season. The nine-year veteran has made 30 starts eight times in his career and has not missed a turn in the rotation in his last four seasons. He allowed slightly more hits and walks in 2010 compared to 2009 (his first year in New York), but he has permitted fewer runs and won 21 games. The concerning start for him was on September 23 when he allowed seven runs to the Rays in 5.1 innings. He bounced back on Thursday with a three-hitter over 8.1 innings against the Blue Jays. Sabathia did not meet the Twins this year and had fine starts in two other games against Tampa Bay as well as a quality start against the Rangers.

The Yankees were hoping for big things from either A.J. Burnett or Javier Vazquez, but both pictures have submitted disappointing seasons. Burnett has made 32 starts, but his 5.33 ERA and 1.52 WHIP are well above career norms. Even his strikeout rate (140 K’s in 180.1 innings) is down, so the 33-year-old may be running out of steam after 11 years. Burnett had one quality start in four attempts against the Rays, but held the Twins and Rangers at bay in five different starts. Vazquez gave up seven runs to the Blue Jays on Friday and has his worst statistical season in ten years. Like Burnett, his ERA is above 6.00 after the All-Star break and he was sent to the pen for a stint. All three playoff teams hit Vazquez hard and he has a higher than 7.88 ERA against the Rays, Twins, and Rangers.

If the Yankees pursue other starting options, they may look at Phil Hughes or veteran Andy Pettitte. Hughes won 17 games and submitted a decent 4.21 ERA with 1.25 WHIP. He did not pitch well in the playoffs last year out of the bullpen. He gave up six runs in 6.1 innings. This season, he held the Rays to a 4.74 ERA in three starts, but had minimal contact with the Twins and Rangers (one inning). The 38-year-old Pettitte has plenty of postseason experience, but allowed seven runs (one unearned) in his last appearance on September 24 against Boston.

The September pitching malaise even hit closer Mariano Rivera who converted just five of eight save opportunities. The 40-year-old still provided another wonderful season with a 1.83 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and at least 30 saves for the thirteenth time in his career. He converted all three save opportunities against the Rays, but blew one apiece against the Rangers and Twins. Kerry Wood has given up one run over 25 innings since coming to the Yankees and has not been scored upon since August 3. Joba Chamberlain has given up runs in three of his last four appearances, but has three wins and three saves out of the Yankee bullpen.

The pride of the Yankees, as it were, is their infield. You really can’t go wrong drafting any of their infielders. Somewhat surprisingly, it is second baseman Robinson Cano who has had the career year. The 27-year-old native of the Dominican Republic leads New York with a .314 average and has produced 28 homers and 106 RBI. He hit just .193 in last year’s championship run. This year, he hit above .340 against both the Rays and Twins, but had some troubles with Ranger pitching. Cano was particularly prolific against the Rays with a .378 average and 12 extra base hits.

Cano’s double play counterpart, Derek Jeter, has had an off season compared to his Hall of Fame career. The 36-year-old has seen his average dip to a career-low .268. After stealing 30 bases in 2009, he has fallen to 17 this year. He does have ten homers for the fourteenth straight season but has only hit the ball out of the park twice since the All-Star break. Fortunately, Jeter has had success this season against all three possible playoff opponents and is hitting above .300 against the Rays, Rangers, and Twins.

After a brutal April, in which Mark Teixeira hit just .136, the Yankee first baseman has rebounded to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs for the seventh straight season. Teixeira has also slumped in September, possibly due to a wrist injury, and his .259 average is equal to the lowest of his career (his rookie season in 2003 with the Rangers). Teixeira has been baffled by Ranger and Ray pitching and is hitting below .170 against both teams. He does sport a .400 average against the Twins in 25 at bats.

Finally, there is Alex Rodriguez who was the big bat in last year’s playoff run. A-Rod hit .365 with six dingers in the 2009 playoffs and hit 30 homers and drove in 100 runs for the thirteenth straight season. Like Teixeira, Rodriguez has had a tough season in terms of average and is hitting just .272, his lowest average since 1995. Speaking of average, the Yankee third baseman has been just that against the Rays and Twins. He did hit .360 against the Rangers.

The remaining Yankee hitters will make for nice mid- and late-round picks. Nick Swisher has had a fine, if somewhat underrated career. He has hit 28 homers with a career-high .289 average. He has just three hits in 19 at bats against the Rangers but has hit the Rays well. Curtis Granderson was the Yankees big addition prior to the season, but he is hitting .249 for the second straight year. He does have 24 homers and 12 steals, and has hit 17 homers since the All-Star break. Granderson did play against the Twins and had little success against the Rays and Rangers. Last but certainly not least are a pair of veterans: Jorge Posada and Lance Berkman. The former Astro has struggled this season and is hitting just .248 (career average of .296). Since coming to the Yankees, he has one homer in 36 games. He does have a record of postseason success with the Astros in 2004 and 2005. The 39-year-old Posada has hit 18 homers this year (nine before the break and nine after). He is hitting .250 against the Rays and Rangers, but bashed Twins pitching for five hits in seven at bats (.714 average).

***All stats through October 1, 2010

Perry Missner provides content for Fantasy Postseason. He is also the lead writer and editor for College Fantasy Basketball Insider, a writer for the Fantasy Football Oasis, and the Secretary of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.