By George, the Yankees Are Turning It Around

What’s this? A New York Yankee team with no running, in-house feuds? No press releases from the owner ripping players? No clubhouse fights?

A Yankee team that is closer to first place in the American League East than it is to last?

Strange, but true. The post-George Steinbrenner Yankees, who bottomed out with last season’s 67-95, last-place finish and started 1991 by losing 16 of their first 23 games, are now the confident, harmonious Yankees, 39-40 and 8 1/2 games out of first place after Thursday night’s 2-0 victory over the Angels.

They might not be in the thick of a pennant race, but the Yankees have certainly saved face. An infusion of youthful exuberance and some inspired play by veterans have returned the Yankees to respectability.

“It’s a nice blend of young guys and veterans, and everyone seems to get along,” said New York first base coach Graig Nettles, a Yankee third baseman from 1973-83. “That wasn’t always the case with the Yankees. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to win, but it’s a fun atmosphere.”

Looking around the Yankee clubhouse, you’re not sure if this is Columbus, Ohio, home of the Yankees’ triple-A affiliate, or Anaheim. Three players who didn’t start the 1991 season with the Yankees--shortstop Carlos Rodriguez, third baseman Pat Kelly and center fielder Bernie Williams--were in the starting lineup Thursday.

The remainder of the Yankees’ starting pitching rotation for the weekend series is rookie Scott Kamieniecki tonight, rookie Jeff Johnson on Saturday and rookie Wade Taylor on Sunday.

But there are plenty of familiar faces--Don Mattingly, Jesse Barfield, Steve Sax, Mel Hall, Kevin Maas, Matt Nokes, Scott Sanderson--and they, along with what has turned out to be one of baseball’s best bullpens, have spurred the Yankee revival.

The Yankees entered Thursday’s game tied for second in the major leagues in home runs with 89, and their bullpen, led by Steve Farr and ex-Dodger Steve Howe, had a major league-leading 2.81 earned-run average and 203 strikeouts.

Mattingly, who had three hits and a run Thursday night, is batting .326 since May 10 and has improved to .307 after suffering through his worst season (.256) in 1990.

Barfield leads the team with 17 home runs and 48 runs batted in and Maas (14 homers, 35 RBIs), Hall (13 homers, 46 RBIs), Nokes (13 homers, 43 RBIs) and Sax (.294, 30 RBIs) are having outstanding offensive seasons.

Sanderson, an All-Star selection who didn’t play in Tuesday’s game, improved to 10-3 after a masterful, one-hit performance Thursday night against the Angels.

“The only thing we lacked was confidence, and that’s common for a young club,” Mattingly said of the Yankees’ slow start. “We were coming off a bad season, and no one expected much. To get by that, you have to start believing in yourselves. We’ve finally proved to ourselves that we can beat some people.”

The Yankees have also proven themselves to their fans and the New York press, which is giving Yankees headlines for all the right reasons, instead of bannering the latest Steinbrenner outburst.

“The fans are more excited, the crowds are picking up and the papers are treating us well,” Nettles said. “It’s a nice, healthy situation. It’s been a pleasant surprise.”