"A second straight disappointing October might have fans screaming for changes, but all the Yankees really needed was a base hit by any one of a half-dozen players in Game 5 against the Tigers and they'd still be playing.

Is there a sure fix for coming up small in the clutch?

More to the point: is there a way to make major changes on a team of aging stars locked into largely untradeable contracts?

No, this doesn't figure to be an offseason of major changes for the Yankees, starting with GM Brian Cashman, who seems almost certain to sign a new deal as his contract expires in a few weeks.

Once that is done, this could be much like last winter, when Cashman was focused on one big move. There will be less fanfare in chasing C.J. Wilson rather than Cliff Lee, but perhaps the result will be different as well."