ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shawn Chacon still has a hard time believing he's in the playoffs with the New York Yankees after spending his first four years in the big leagues losing in Colorado.
New York's clubhouse was chaotic as Chacon pulled on his gear for Monday's workout at Angel Stadium, and he's loving every minute of it. He only wishes his former Rockies teammates could experience the thrill of playing in October right alongside him.
"It's just unbelievable for me. I still can't really explain it," said Chacon, acquired by the Yankees at the trading deadline. "It's kind of a crazy road you take to get where I am."
For a team boasting a $200 million payroll, it's been the unfamiliar names such as Chacon, Aaron Small and Game 2 starter Chien-Ming Wang who played key roles in getting this club back to the playoffs for an 11th straight year.
Chacon, a cheerful right-hander, went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 starts and 14 appearances for New York. He pitched 79 innings, striking out 40.
"I have to be surprised that these guys have played such a big role for us," general manager Brian Cashman said, after the Yankees' 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Game 1 of their AL Division Series.
"You find a team and come together as a team in a lot of different ways," Cashman said. "You need everybody to step up, and that's going to have to come from places you didn't expect. That's the beauty of trying to put together great seasons where you have those unexpected bursts of output."
Playing in the Big Apple is a big change for the 27-year-old Chacon, who's from Anchorage, Alaska, and was a third-round draft pick by Colorado in 1996.
He's not guaranteed of pitching this series because he is slated to be the Game 4 starter.
Manager Joe Torre originally planned to use Chacon for Game 2, but opted instead to go with Wang.
"We've been very fortunate," Torre said. "Brian Cashman did a great job in getting Shawn Chacon."
Since this is his first playoffs, Chacon is encouraging all his family to fly East from the Denver area to watch him. He reminded them that in the baseball business, you never know when you'll return to the postseason or whether an injury might derail your career.
The last few weeks helped Chacon prepare for what to expect in the playoffs. The Yankees didn't clinch the AL East until the season's final Saturday -- against the rival Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"I still think that for me, I got a taste of what the playoffs are like," he said. "It felt like the whole two weeks leading up was 'This is it, you've got to win or go home' kind of attitude. I'm telling myself now, whenever I pitch, treat it like that."
Chacon made the All-Star game for the Rockies in 2003 after getting 11 victories by the break, but he didn't win again and finished 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA. He moved to the bullpen last year and saved 35 games but also blew nine chances and had a 1-9 record. Then he started this season 1-7 for Colorado.
Apparently none of those numbers deterred Cashman, who dealt two minor league pitchers for Chacon.
"We have good confidence if Shawn Chacon takes the ball that we're going to have a chance," Cashman said. "We'll be in the game and we'll have a chance to win it because he's done that well for us this year."
