Stats Say Yanks Will Get to World Series in 2010

Maybe the headline should say "Simon says," because one of ESPN's Stats and Information gurus, Mark Simon, is at it again. Here are the goods:

The Yankees win on Saturday made them 21-8.

Every Yankees team that has won 21 of its first 30 games (they played No. 30 on Sunday Night Baseball) has made it to the World Series.

This is the 16th time that the Yankees have won at least 21 of their first 30 games.

Of the previous 15 instances, they made the World Series every time, and won it 12 times.

That's a pretty interesting statistic in my mind. It's also one that I like because the last time the Yanks did this was in 2003, when they started 22-8, and they made it to the World Series to face the Florida Marlins.

I feel good about this Yankees team too. They are solid in every facet of the game, especially their offense. Furthermore, I'd say that their starting pitching and defense is even better than that of the 2003 team that reached the World Series.

Here's my prediction: Yankees over Cardinals in six games.