Questions

There are plenty of questions in the Bronx.

“Questions are fine,” says Javier. “It means we are moving forward with building a better baseball team.”

Not everyone in the group gathered along Gerard Avenue agrees.

“We gotta start signing some players,” someone shoots. “What’s going on with Mariano and Posada? And now we have to wait on Pettitte and we don’t know who’s playing third and we need to add some bullpen arms and, and…”

“Is that all you got?” Javier fires back.

Everyone laughs.

Javier continues.

“There wouldn’t be any questions if we had the same team as last year and that didn’t end well. I think it’s better to have questions because that means you’ll get answers.”

“I’d just like to hear a few,” someone says.

Patience.

Promise

News comes in papers and on the radio and sometimes it scrolls across the bottom of television screens. Promise comes in the wind.

It has swirled into the Bronx from places like Mission Viejo, California and Lincoln, Nebraska and Huntington Beach, California.

“I love the kids,” says Jon from Highbridge. “They have cannons for right arms and all the talent in the world.”

Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy are the talk of the neighborhood even as newspaper columns and radio shows and blogs buzz with plans to trade them.

“I don’t want them going anywhere,” Jon explains. “I know it can happen, but I hope we get the chance to see them grow.”

And there’s more on the way.

“Humberto Sanchez,” Jon smiles. “He’s a Bronx kid and I can’t wait to see him. I know he’s recovering from surgery, but he might be able to help later in the year. And wouldn’t it be something if he had a chance to start the first Opening Day in the new Stadium?”

Now that’s promise.

Steady

Javier pulled his hat low against the rain as he walked along Walton Avenue.

“It’s gonna be a lousy day,” someone said.

“It’s not so bad,” Javier smiled. “There are less than five months until Opening Day.”

“But who’s gonna start?” someone asked. “Pettitte might not be back.”

“You never know what’s gonna happen in baseball,” Javier shrugged. “I think Pettitte will be back, but we’ll be ready to play either way.

“That’s the only thing that really matters,” he continued. “Give me a team of tough, talented ballplayers and I can make it through just about anything.”

Even a rainy morning in the Bronx.

What A Waste

Javier from Walton Avenue admitted some regret to the group gathered around Juan Carlos’s coffee cart this morning.

“I didn’t do anything special with my extra hour,” he said. “It feels like such a waste since there wasn’t even a ballgame.”

“They take that hour away in the spring,” someone said.

“They can have it back right now,” Javier laughed. “Why would anyone need an extra hour in November?”

“I heard that is saves energy,” someone said.

“How much energy do any of us use?” Javier shrugged. “The whole thing is probably just some scam that bunch of rich people cooked up.”

“Yeah,” someone said. “It’s probably like when our lights went out and the CEO of Con Ed gets a raise and a pat on the back from the Mayor.”

Javier shook his head and wrapped it up.

“What a waste.”

Weekends

Weekends in this neighborhood are a bit empty these days. The streets are full, but time slogs along without much happening.

“Things do feel kinda dead,” Javier admits. “I guess everyone’s just killing time until we find out what comes next.”

“So what comes next?” someone asks.

“Something will come along,” Javier says. “I just hope it doesn’t take too much longer. We could all use some Yankee news.”

Agreed.

Time Piece

I always lose track of time in November.

There really isn’t anything going on that demands precision timing. Pitchers and catchers don’t report for 103 days and Opening Day is too far away to see.

A clock certainly isn’t needed to track the minutes.

I’ll just put my head down and grind through the next few months.

Gotta Love ‘em

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Fat Paulie says as he looks at a big one on Gerard Avenue. “I should have known better than to pour concrete on Halloween.”

The sidewalk in front of his building is marked with hand prints, initials, a “Joba Rules,” an “I love Derek Jeter,” and, of course, an “I (heart) Derek Jeter.”

“Those wacky kids,” Fat Paulie laughs. “You gotta love ‘em.”

Fat Paulie has worked his whole life in the South Bronx.

“I started cleaning up and bagging trash at a building over on Jerome,” he explains. “They just called me Paulie back then, but that was a bunch of donuts ago.”

Fat Paulie moves a little slower these days, but he still gets the job done.

“A little concrete will smooth out most of this,” he says looking at the sidewalk. “I’ll leave the Joba and Jeter stuff because I don’t want the kids egging my windows.

“You really do gotta love ‘em.”

Box Score

I hope Mike Lupica checked his line in the box score this morning.

They can be fun to look at after a good day and Lupica had a very good Wednesday. Two columns in The Daily News: A decent one on Joe Torre going to Los Angeles and a solid, two-RBI single on Brian Cashman.

1 AB - 1 R - 1 H - 2 RBI - 1 BB.

The Cashman column – Man Taming The Bronx Zoo – may not have been groundbreaking journalism, but it was a glimpse of what Lupica once was and could be again.

It all came down to one great quote from the Yankee General Manager:

“I don’t give a s--- about how the decisions I’m making might impact me. Just how those decisions impact the New York Yankees. I’m not here to keep my job. I’m not here to save my job. I’m here to do my job.”

Jimmy Breslin once revealed the secret of journalism:

“You’ve got to chase, chase, chase, and chase. And then you might find something that really gives the reader a lift and a jolt. That guarantees they’ll come back tomorrow and that’s the f---in’ ballgame.”

Lupica played a good ballgame yesterday.

Baseball Is Back

Sometimes you’ve just got to be honest with yourself.

It took me a few days, but I’ve finally accepted the fact that I’m thrilled with my baseball team. It didn’t make much sense at first – losing our manager and our cleanup hitter – but now it’s clear.

I’m happy and excited because we have a ballclub and not a drama club.

The Daily News ran a cover yesterday that said: Bronx Zoo II. It sold a few newspapers, but it couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Zoo is gone. It’s headed for Disneyland or Disney World or The City by the Bay or someplace else that’s a million miles from this neighborhood.

The Yankees – from the Steinbrenner family to Brian Cashman to Joe Girardi – have a clear direction and it’s all about building the best team.

Baseball is back in the Bronx and it feels good.

Pride

I like Hank Steinbrenner.

I like everything he says. I like the way he and his brother, Hal, are helping their father run the Yankees. I like the way he relies on baseball people to make baseball decisions. Mostly, I like the pride he’s shown in this team.

“We’re the Yankees,” Hank told reporters yesterday when asked about the direction of the team. “We’ll always be the Yankees. We are going to contend for a championship...”

The Steinbrenner family has always been committed to this baseball team and they expect the same from everyone.

“My example is Derek Jeter,” Hank continued yesterday. “He has wanted to play for the Yankees all his life, and he understands what this team is all about. That’s what we want.”

That kind of pride makes me feel good about counting on Hank Steinbrenner the same way I’ve always counted on his father.

Yeah, I like the man.

Stormy

They wore secondhand coats over sweatshirts with hats pulled low against the cold. Malik sat in the middle of the group on the 2 train and pulled the collar of an old Yankee jacket tight around his neck.

“You need layers to work construction on a day like this,” Malik explained. “I’ve got this coat and a sweatshirt and a heavy sweater and a T-shirt.”

But he didn’t have enough to protect him from the news that Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract.

“It really hurts,” he admitted. “I loved him and wanted him to stay. I thought a guy from Washington Heights would want to be here.”

The group nodded in agreement.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” Malik continued. “First Torre goes and now A-Rod. I hope this storm breaks soon.”

First Question

The end is coming.

“It can’t come soon enough,” says Javier outside a bodega on Gerard Avenue. “Every day there’s new speculation about which guy is going to get the job.”

Who will be the next Yankee manager – Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi or Tony Pena – has been the only question asked in this neighborhood for more than a week.

“It’s one baseball story I’m actually tired of talking about,” says Javier. “There isn’t a bad choice so all the debates just seem pointless.”

And there’s plenty of pressing business.

“We need to sign our cleanup hitter (Alex Rodriguez), our catcher (Jorge Posada), our closer (Mariano Rivera) and make sure the big lefty (Andy Pettitte) is coming back, too,” Javier explains. “And don’t forget about picking up Bobby Abreu’s contract option.

“There’s plenty of questions,” continues Javier. “So let’s answer this one and move on.”

Sit And Wait

I’ve finally accepted that things are going to stay quiet today.

The talk is that the Yankees will name a new manager on Monday. There’s also a rumor that they want to sit down with Alex Rodriguez and discuss a contract extension.

Around here we can just sit and wait.

Local Support

All baseball is local.

They can make rules that define when it’s okay for a team to make news. They can film commercials and talk up the World Series, but baseball will always be local.

There’s nothing more local than the Crown Diner at the corner of East 161st Street and Gerard Avenue.

“I heard we can’t announce our manager until after the World Series,” Jon says between bites of his BLT.

“Yeah,” Javier says. “I read that Hank Steinbrenner said ‘we will obviously honor the wishes of the commissioner.’”

Jon laughs. “The commissioner, huh? How many tickets does he buy?”

“The commissioner wants you to care about the World Series,” Javier explains.

“I care about my baseball team,” Jon says. “I care so damn much that I spend every spare nickel on it. They never have any trouble taking my money and now they want to tell me what to care about, too.”

“I just want to know who’s managing my team and what we’re doing to get ready for next year,” Jon continues. “Is that too much to ask?”

Apparently, it is.

A Great Day

The air clouded with opinions and cigar smoke has cleared a bit.

“I think it’s the rain,” says Jon from Highbridge.

The group huddled around a Grand Concourse newsstand seems content to wait out the storm.

“We should have a new manager by tomorrow,” Jon reasons. “It’s not an easy choice, but we’re going to get a winner no matter what.”

“I still think Pena is the best man,” says Javier from Walton Avenue.

“Are you still on the codfish salad?” Jon asks.

“That’s not the only thing,” Javier says. “I love what he said in the paper: ‘Any time you talk about baseball, it’s a great day.’

“You can’t put it any better than that.”

Favorite

Someone finally took a stand in the Bronx.

“I think Tony Pena should manage the Yankees,” said Javier from Walton Avenue.

“But you liked Mattingly yesterday,” someone said.

“I was thinking about it last night,” Javier said. “I really like ‘The Tony Pena’ at El Nuevo Caridad.”

“The codfish salad from that joint in Washington Heights?” someone asked.

“Yeah,” Javier smiled. “It’s my favorite.”

“So you’re backing a manager because of codfish salad?” someone laughed.

“The little things can make a big difference in a close ballgame,” Javier explained. “I think Mattingly and Girardi would be great too, but codfish salad gives Pena the edge with me.”

“It’s not much of a stand,” someone said, “but I guess it’s something.”

Comfortable

Marcus always finds a seat on the 2 train.

“It’s easy when you have to be in early,” he explains. “I used to get to go in later, but the trains were so crowded. I’m much more comfortable with this trip.”

He’s certainly more comfortable than the men – Joe Girardi, Don Mattingly and Tony Pena – interviewing to be the next manager of the New York Yankees.

“I haven’t had to interview for a job in a long time,” Marcus says. “I feel for guys having to go through that.

“They would all be great managing this team,” he continues. “I can’t even say I have a favorite, but when it’s over I hope they can all get a seat in our dugout.”

It’s a comfortable thought.

Family

This week’s agenda was sketched out on the 2 train:

“Getting a new manager is the first priority,” said Jon from Highbridge. “After that, we can move ahead with the rest of the coaching staff and the free agents.”

“You talk like you’re gonna have something to do with it,” said Edwin from Harlem. “Are you The Boss’s long lost son?”

The rest of the guys laughed, but Jon didn’t see the humor.

“I do my part,” he shot. “All the tickets and shirts and hats and scorecards I buy are part of what makes this team competitive every year. The other part is having an owner who invests my money in baseball instead of putting it in his pocket.”

The group nods in agreement.

“I’ve got a good deal with The Boss,” Jon continues. “I can trust him with my money because he always does his absolute best to put a winning team on the field.”

“So you are kinda like family,” Edwin offered.

“Yeah,” Jon said. “I guess I am.”

Something More

Javier took control of the conversation on an autumn day in the park.

“They can’t explain how we feel on television or in a newspaper,” he told the group gathered around his bench.

“But everyone believes the stories,” someone said.

“Why do you care what anyone else believes?” Javier snapped. “This is our home and our baseball team.

“Things change all the time,” Javier continued. “We get new neighbors and they always bring something more.

“Plenty of people can’t understand that,” he goes on. “They want everything to stay the same and they want everyone to look the same and dress the same and talk the same.”

Change is what makes this city and will remake it again and again.

“Other places stand still,” Javier explains, “but we keep moving. Joe Torre moves out and someone else will move in.”

And they’ll bring something more because they always do.

Lifers

The newspapers are full of Joe Torre explaining why he had to walk away from the Yankees.

Javier is explaining why the rest of us never could.

“We’re all Yankee lifers around here,” he says. “Joe Torre was great for this team and I’m sorry he’s gone. But this is our home and our team and we’re not going anywhere.

“We don’t have choices,” Javier continues. “We work hard jobs for little money and we are Yankees.”

Lifers all the way.

Confessions

I’ll start with a confession: I love Joe Torre. I love his style and his calm and his passion. I am taken by the heart and talent that made him a great ballplayer and the determination and skill that made him the finest manager of his generation and maybe the finest of any generation.

Someday, there will be a Joe Torre Day at Yankee Stadium. No one else will ever wear the number 6 and he will go into the Hall of Fame as a New York Yankee. He’s earned all the credit and all the memories.

I’ll finish with another confession: I think it’s time to move on. Torre knows it. The Yankees know it, too. There’s nothing to fault and no one to blame. This is just how baseball goes sometimes.

A Long Way Off

Henry is at Yankee Stadium today.

This isn’t exactly news because he’s always there, but people in this neighborhood will take what they can get these days.

“Brian Cashman came in early,” Henry says. “I haven’t seen any players because they’re all gone for the winter.”

Henry is not at his best because more than five months stand between him and the next game.

“I’m not sure of the exact date,” Henry says, “but Opening Day is a long way off.”

Henry will run through the schedule like lines of poetry once it’s released. He’ll have the answers if you need to know who the Yankees are playing on April 17 or July 10 or September 14 or any other day.

He can also tell you Derek Jeter’s batting average and Mariano Rivera’s saves total and Chien-Ming Wang’s ERA and Alex Rodriguez’s career home runs.

He’d like to talk some real baseball, but there isn’t much to say.

“It’s all a long way off.”

Park Summit

The Bronx news wire is full of cracks and there can be delays if, say, someone stops for coffee and donuts.

“Where have you been?” Javier shouts.

“I had to get us breakfast,” Jon says. “I got the newspapers, too.”

He unloads everything on a bench in Joyce Kilmer Park.

“Here’s your black coffee,” Jon says as he sorts through the bags. “There are two chocolate donuts and I got a couple of bagels, too. I’ll load up the cream cheese if you read the baseball.”

Javier digs through the papers.

“Not much here,” he says. “They had a meeting, but there were no decisions.”

“What would you do?”

“That’s easy,” Javier begins. “Get Joe squared away on a two or three-year deal with the idea that he moves into the front office when it’s finished. Donnie can slide in as manager after that. Then wrap up A-Rod, Mariano, Jorge, Abreu, Molina and Mientkiewicz.”

“What else?” Jon demands.

“Wait for spring.”

The Only Game

The only game in town isn’t even in town.

“The closest thing we have to baseball is a meeting in Tampa,” says Jon from Highbridge.

It’s better than nothing.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a week,” he admits. “Getting ready for next year is all we have around here.”

Everyone is hungry for news.

“They should do radio play-by-play,” Jon laughs. “Something like: ‘Before offering his opinion, Brian Cashman takes a bite of his glazed donut and washes it down with a swig of coffee…’

“We need something to fill the time,” he continues. “How many days until pitchers and catchers report?”

Cheap Seats

The 2 train has the best seats for the biggest fans.

“The Yankee big shots are on their way to Tampa,” someone says.

“This train doesn’t go that far,” says Javier from Walton Avenue. “We have to sit and wait for what comes next.”

He remains calm.

“We’re headed in the right direction,” Javier says. “They started making good decisions a couple of years ago and I expect more this week.”

“They’re not going to do anything to derail what’s been started with Hughes and Joba and Melky and Robbie,” he continues. “This was a very good team this year and next year will be even better if they keep it rolling.”

Javier settles back at the train rumbles south.

“I feel good about everything so far.”

Waiting Room

Baseball stories sell in New York. They are gobbled up on trains and in parks and along coffee-shop counters. That’s why the city is full of them even when there’s nothing going on.

“They know how to play us,” said Javier as he thumbed through the newspaper. “Just slap a picture on the cover to lure us in and then finish us off with some speculation about this and that.”

Most of this is about Joe Torre and all of that is about Alex Rodriguez.

“It’s not going to calm down until something‘s decided on them,” Javier said. “It’s supposed to get started this week with some meetings and I hope it’s wrapped up quickly so we can start looking ahead.”

What’s next is always the biggest baseball story in town.

“I can’t wait for next year,” said Javier.

Quiet

The neighborhood is quiet.

It cuts through the buildings and down the streets.

It’s the kind of quiet you can feel.

It’s a feeling you never want again.

The Way It Is

The Bronx began cold and rainy and the Stadium was bare.

“It’s a lousy start to the day,” said Jackson from Gerard Avenue.

The sun came out just after breakfast, but the Stadium remained bare.

“It’s still not a great day,” Jackson said. “It’s not the worst, but it’s certainly not great.”

And there’s no change in sight.

“Baseball means a lot around here,” Jackson said. “There’s always gonna be clouds hanging around if they’re not playing.

“That’s just the way it is.”

Wasted Promise

There’s been a lot of big talk in the newspapers and it’s taking its toll on the 2 train.

“What’s this guy’s problem?” asks Jon from Highbridge as he folds the paper in his lap. “He writes the same garbage every day. It’s Joe’s fault. It’s George’s fault. It’s Alex’s fault. Now it’s Derek’s fault and Jorge’s fault and Chien-Ming Wang’s fault.”

“The Yankees got beat and it’s nobody’s fault,” Jon continues. “Is that so hard to understand?”

“I guess it is for Mike Lupica,” someone says.

Lupica has never been too popular in this neighborhood and his stock is falling fast.

“He used to have opinions,” someone else says. “But now he’s just ‘The Queen of Mean.’”

Everyone laughs.

But none of this is funny.

There was a time when it looked like Lupica was going to be great, maybe the best New York sportswriter since Red Smith. But between becoming an author and a television star he lost what makes a newspaperman.

He still has the voice and the talent, but his humanity is gone. He no longer cares about the games and the players and the people they touch.

He’s just a highly-paid hit man who comes in when things go bad.

It’s a sad state for someone who had so much promise.

A Sorry Business

Baseball is a hard business. Only the toughest survive the meat-grinder of a path to the Major Leagues. Stepping on a big-league field is daily proof of a player’s mettle. Excelling on that field shows the kind of talent and determination that few can even imagine.

A baseball season is covered by hardworking journalists who understand the game and the grind, but when the season ends they call in the dogs.

The sorry business of attack-dog journalism is all the rage in New York these days and Mike Lupica of the Daily News is the lead hound. His headline on today’s page 6 column is “$200M for a bunch of bullies who can’t take a punch.”

There was a time when I thought newspapering was honorable, but Red Smith is dead and Jimmy Breslin doesn’t write much anymore.

Lupica’s words are the sorry result of everything that’s wrong with sports journalism today. He barges in at the end to take down a team he seldom sees and knows little about. He’s pocketed millions of dollars by making broad generalizations about men like Joe Torre and George Steinbrenner and Alex Rodriguez, who have the courage to try and build something rather than just pick it apart.

Nasty words may sell a few newspapers, but making Red Smith spin in his grave is a sorry business.

Empty

A few stayed in their seats and ignored the humid night and the departing crowd and the scoreboard, which read Cleveland 6, Yankees 4. The game was over. The season was over. But the heartbreak had just begun.

“It hurts,” said Javier from Walton Avenue. “I’m an old man, but it feels just like when I was a kid. I guess you never out grow this empty feeling.

“It sounds silly,” he continued, “but I feel like I came a long way with this team. The injuries and the struggles were rough, but getting to know the kids was a lot of fun. It was a great year around here and I just wish it wasn’t over.”

The end is the hardest part.

“The Yankees bring a lot of life to this neighborhood,” Javier said. “Next year seems so far a way right now.”

No Words

No words were needed at Yankee Stadium. Everyone knew what was on the line: Joe Torre’s job and Roger Clemens’s career and the whole season.

When Johnny Damon’s fifth-inning home run cleared the wall everything was swallowed by the roar.

“That was as loud as I’ve heard it in a long time,” Javier said outside gate 4 when it was all over. “The fans wouldn’t stop and the team wouldn’t either.

He smiled and said, “A big win.”

It was the biggest win because it means they are playing baseball in the Bronx tonight with everything still on the line.

No words needed.

A Challenge

Derek Jeter forced a grin when he was asked about Andy Pettitte’s performance on Friday night.

“He kept challenging himself,” Jeter said. “He put people on base and always got out of it.”

Pettitte held Cleveland down after leadoff singles in the first, fourth and fifth innings. He also allowed nothing after a leadoff double in the third and leadoff triple in the sixth.

“He was pretty tough,” Jeter said.

The Yankees will need to dig deep to get out of this hole in the American League Division Series.

“This is where we’ve been all year,” Jeter said.

Another challenge starts tonight.

Far From Over

Alex Rodriguez – born across the river in Washington Heights – brought it home for the Bronx after last night’s loss.

“This series is far from over,” he said.

I needed to hear that.

Everyone in the neighborhood needed to hear that.

The sun came up today and this team has the right to fight again tomorrow.

That’s all anyone needs.

Rough Ride

It was a rough ride last night.

“The Yankees just couldn’t get much going,” said Raul from Washington Heights. “They couldn’t get a big hit or a big out when they needed it.

“The good thing is that it’s only one game,” he continued. “They can turn this whole thing around with a win.”

That falls to Andy Pettitte.

“Who else would you want going?” Raul asked. “He’s been there before and you will get everything he’s got.

“This game is important and they need to find a way to win,” he went on. “It starts with Andy, but it needs to end with the whole team playing well.”

D Train

Baseball starts on the D train.

“We’re finally playing tonight,” says Jon from Highbridge. “It seems like it’s taken forever to get this thing started.”

Three days off have produce more stories than anyone could read, but Jon doggedly digs through a stack of fat newspapers as the D rumbles under Harlem.

“They all say the same thing,” Jon continues. “Wang is ready. Jeter is ready. A-Rod is ready. The Rocket is ready. Everyone is ready.”

“Are you ready?” someone asks.

Jon smiles.

“Yeah.”

That Smell

Juan Carlos’s cart smells of ham and eggs and coffee and hope.

“What are the papers saying,” someone asks.

“Matsui’s knee is fine and Clemens is ready to start game three,” someone else says.

“Anything else?”

“Nope.”

“What are the writers saying?”

“Do you need to conjugate a verb or something?” Javier asks.

“No,” someone says. “I was just wondering…”

“I used to wonder the same thing when I was a kid,” Javier admits. “But I’ve learned that writers don’t know much about baseball and the people on radio and television know even less.

“You watch all the games,” Javier continues. “You know what Torre and Jeter and Posada and A-Rod and Mariano are saying.

“You know more about your team than any writer,” Javier goes on. “So what do you think?”

Someone smiles.

“They’re gonna win this thing.”

The Law

Derek Jeter’s words are law in the Bronx.

He was recently asked to try and explain Alex Rodriguez’s season – a .314 average with 54 homers and 156 RBIs – in a USA Today interview.

“I don’t want to try to figure it out,” Jeter said. “I don’t want to ask him. You’d have to ask… No, don’t say anything to him. Leave him alone.”

Those words would stand on these streets, but the American League Division Series starts in Cleveland so Rodriguez is sure to get plenty of attention.

Not that any of it will bother him.

“He’s been focused all season,” said someone at the Crown Diner this morning. “Teams pitch around him and hit him and he just keeps coming. Sooner or later they have to put the ball over the plate and he doesn’t miss it.”

That’s the real law around here these days.

Prizes

The biggest hit of the last day of the season wasn’t even a hit. It was a bouncer to second that almost turned into a doubleplay. But Derek Jeter went hard into second and Bobby Abreu hustled down the line to collect his 100th RBI.

Everyone in the dugout jumped and Jeter pumped his fist.

Abreu – who finished with 101 RBIs – said, “It means a lot.”

Abreu clearly means a lot to his teammates and his presence in the lineup was a big factor in this run to the playoffs.

Alex Rodriguez was the biggest factor in everything this year. He hit .314 with 54 homers and 156 RBIs.

Joe Torre said it best, “Whatever you say is not enough…”

“I’m proud of the year I had,” Rodriguez said. “As a team, we overcame a lot of adversity.”

And there’s more to come. October is never easy, but the biggest prize waits at the end.

A New End

Today is the end of the season and tomorrow is the beginning of the postseason.

“It feels kinda weird,” said Javier from Walton Avenue. “I think the team just wants to finish this and get ready for Cleveland on Thursday. That’s what we’ve all been waiting for.”

Absolutely.

Balance

Javier went for a chocolate donut this morning.

“I know it’s not good for me,” he said, “but it’s tasty and this is the weekend. Oatmeal is fine most days, but you’ve got to have some balance in your life.”

Joe Torre is trying to find that same balance with the playoff-bound Yankees.

“Some of the guys are getting a break,” Javier said. “They need it because they’ve been climbing uphill for months.

“This is like Spring Training all over again,” he continued. “They just need to get everyone ready for next week because that’s when the games mean something again.”

Javier polished off his donut and washed it down with the last of his coffee.

“Okay,” he smiled. “One more chocolate donut and then it’s back to oatmeal.”

Easy

There aren’t many easy days in the Bronx, but this feels like one.

“What happened to all the pressure?” Javier asks the crowd bellied up to the counter at the Crown Diner. “Don’t you guys have anything to worry about?”

“Just regular stuff,” Jon says. “The rent’s due on Monday and I’ve gotta work this weekend and the laundry bag is full.

“But everything is coming together for the Yanks,” he continues. “That’s what really matters.

“More coffee for the whole place. I’m buying!”

Everyone laughs.

“You guys always have something to hash over,” Javier says. “Aren’t you worried about the playoffs? What about Cleveland or the Angels or Boston?”

“The Yankees can beat any of them,” Jon says. “They can play through October and knock off everyone. They are a good team and these are good days.”

Easy.

Along For The Ride

The Yankees wrapped up a playoff spot in Tampa Bay and Javier unwrapped a cigar in the Bronx.

“A Grande,” he said. “I lit it when Robbie squeezed that pop up.”

It was a big step in a steep climb.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy last night and they deserved it,” Javier said. “It’s hard to dig out of such a big hole and get past so many good teams.

“This will wear off in a few days and we’ll start looking ahead to the playoffs,” he continued. “But this has already been a fine season and I’m happy to be along for the ride.”

Cigars

Javier peeled the lid off his paper cup and scanned the faces gathered around Juan’s coffee cart this morning.

“Did someone die?” he asked.

“No,” Jon said. “We’re just talking about the game.”

“It wasn’t very good,” Javier shrugged. “Too many walks and two home runs and we go home a loser. It’s too bad they couldn’t wrap it up last night, but it’s not the end of the world.”

“We know it’s not the end of the world,” Jon snapped. “They just need to finish this and get ready for the playoffs.”

“They’ll finish it,” Javier smiled. “Buy cigars for tonight.”

Extending The End

The end always sneaks up.

“I can’t believe it’s the last home game,” Henry said to no one in particular outside the players’ gate.

A Yankees’ loss weighs on Henry and the end of the season makes it heavier.

“I wanted them to win this one,” he said. “Now we’ll have to wait for the playoffs. I’ll see you here for the playoffs, right?”

Anyone who waits outside the players’ gate sees Henry.

“I don’t get autographs,” he said. “I just like to see the players.”

And he’ll always talk about baseball. It may be the summer game to some, but the Yankees never stop in the Bronx.

You will see Henry at Yankee Stadium on the darkest winter day. He will run through every trade and signing and tell you when pitchers and catchers report and how long until Opening Day.

“The end of the season is sad,” Henry said. “I want the playoffs to last a long time.”

Monday Fun

Phil Rizzuto taught us about baseball.

“The Scooter never let you forget that this game is fun,” said Javier. “We take it seriously around here and sometimes we forget that. This was a refresher course.”

The Yankees honored Rizzuto’s memory before yesterday’s game. Reggie Jackson told stories and so did Bobby Murcer. Bill White and Yogi Berra were there and so was the Rizzuto family. There were video tributes and flowers and music and everyone cheered.

“He was the best,” said Javier. “New York will always love him because he made us smile and taught us how much fun baseball can be.”

And there’s nothing more fun than a Monday afternoon ballgame.

“Yeah,” Javier smiled.

Wild Ride

Javier from Walton Avenue had no trouble describing the Yankees’ extra-inning win on Saturday.

“It was like being on a bus going downhill with no brakes,” he said. “You couldn’t get off so just hold on tight.”

It finally rolled to a stop when Melky Cabrera drilled a game-winning single in the 10th inning.

“Melky was the hero,” Javier said. “Everyone will remember that last knock, but he had two other big hits to help us get to extra innings. And starting the relay that nailed (Matt) Stairs at the plate in the top of the 10th inning was probably the play of the game.”

They needed every big hit and every big play to keep the game from getting out of control.

“I’m just glad it’s finally over,” said Javier, “and that we survived.”

The Next Win

It was past midnight when Jon tugged my elbow outside gate 4.

“Long night,” he sighed. “That was a tough one to lose.”

“It happens,” I shrugged.

“We’ll get ‘em tomorrow,” Jon said. “We’ve always got to stay focused on the next win.

“The guys are right,” he laughed. “I sound more like Joe Torre every day.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Work To Do

Jon from Highbridge settled into a comfortable seat on the 2 train.

“You know it’s gonna be a good day when you get a spot right on the end,” he said.

“The Yankees are in a comfortable position, too,” someone said.

“Yeah,” Jon agreed, “but I’m trying not to get too excited.”

“It looks like they’ll be in the playoffs,” someone said.

“They’ve put themselves in a good position,” Jon said. “But there’s still work to do.”

“You sound like Joe Torre,” someone said.

“Good,” Jon said. “He’s the man in charge and has been through this before. He knows how the team needs to finish and then get ready for the postseason.”

Jon stood up as the train jerked to a stop.

“Let’s go to work.”

Rock

Mariano Rivera played rock against Scott Moore’s scissors.

It was a darting, two-seamed rock that clipped the plate for a called third strike. Yankees win.

It wasn’t easy because one-run games never are and wrapping up Andy Pettitte’s 200th victory added to the pressure.

“I wanted to get this save for Andy,” Rivera said.

Rivera has been the rock at the end of the bullpen forever. He has saved everything from Roger Clemens’ 300th win to three-straight World Series.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else closing out my games,” Pettitte said. “He’s absolutely amazing.”

The ninth inning got interesting when Nick Markakis blooped a one-out double to rightfield. After getting Kevin Millar to fly out, Rivera walked Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez to load the bases.

“It’s a one-run lead and you have the heart of the lineup there,” Rivera explained. “I was trying to be careful. When the situation was bases loaded, I didn’t know the guy who was hitting (Moore) so I’ll take my chances with him.”

The chances were: rock, paper, scissors.

Rock dulls scissors. Game over.

Focused

Derek Jeter – not wanting to waste those little sticky notes – is always posting verbal reminders:

“We haven’t accomplished anything,” Jeter said after last night’s win. “We have to stay focused and keep playing well.”

Message received:

“He always says the same thing,” said Javier from Walton Avenue. “The funny thing is that I still need to hear it. The mood of this neighborhood hangs on Derek Jeter’s words.”

Javier – like all serious fans in the Bronx – takes his lead from The Captain.

“If he says that we need to stay focused then we will stay focused.”

Tough Enough

Tough teams win tough games and tough players make the difference.

The Yankees needed every bit of grit to pull out a win against the Orioles last night

Phil Hughes was plenty tough after giving up two runs in the first inning. Edwar Ramirez got a bases-loaded strikeout in the sixth and Luis Vizcaino did the same in the seventh. Mariano Rivera finished the game with a strikeout, too.

Doug Mientkiewicz had the toughest at-bat. Hard-throwing Daniel Cabrera hit Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano to bring Mientkiewicz up with the bases loaded. He dug in and drilled a two-RBI single.

There was tough play all around: big hits by Cano and Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter and then there was Johnny Damon diving across home plate on a sacrifice fly by Alex Rodriguez.

Tough, tougher and toughest. That’s the way the team is playing these days.

Mystery

Mystery is creeping into the Sunday night showdown between Mariano Rivera and David Ortiz.

Rivera was hit on the right hand by a wild throw from Boston’s bullpen before he entered the game. He lost some feeling in his fingers, but still took the ball and sealed the win.

It may never reach the legendary and mysterious status of Satchel Paige verses Josh Gibson, but it’s a start.

Showdowns

Baseball stories age well.

The famous bases-loaded showdown between Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson in the 1942 Negro League World Series has taken many forms:

Paige may have “intentionally” walked two batters to load ‘em up for Gibson. And he may have said “I’m gonna throw smoke at your yoke,” and “I’m gonna throw a pea at your knee.”

The trainer may have come to the mound with a big cup of bubbling bicarbonate to settle Paige’s stomach.

The one sure thing is that Paige blew a fastball past Gibson to end the inning.

There is less mystery surrounding last night’s bases-loaded showdown between Mariano Rivera and David Ortiz, but it was still a classic.

“I tried to make it interesting,” Rivera said. “That wasn’t my intention at all. It just happens.”

A one-run lead with the bases full and Ortiz at the plate is often a recipe for disaster, but Rivera finished the game with a cutter that was popped to short centerfield.

“That’s my best pitch,” said Rivera. “That’s his powerhouse and we went strength verses strength.”

There’s no better baseball story than that.

The Way It’s Supposed To Be

Baseball parties never last long and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Short celebrations lead to more games dipped in drama.

The last party is always over.

And tonight will be every bit the drama-dipped game. Roger Clemens will take the ball after taking two cortisone shots in his elbow. The Yankees’ pennant hopes go to the mound with him and there is no one better to hand the season to.

Clemens is the greatest pitcher ever – to say any different isn’t even making interesting conversation – and probably the toughest customer this game has ever seen.

We will get no less than his best and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Replay

Lenny from Highbridge looked down a nearly empty 2 train this morning.

“When Abreu drilled that ball to center I knew Jeter was gonna score,” he said. “I was right with him.”

He eased up from his seat and dropped a newspaper on the floor. “He read it off the bat and nothing could stop him.”

Lenny scampered down the isle forcing the few riders on the train to lift their feet. He touched the far pole, flew back and slid into the newspaper. “Tie game!” he yelled.

Getting to his feet, he continued: “And Abreu went to third and A-Rod drove him in and Vizcaino was great and Posada’s throw and Mariano, wow, Mariano. You really had to see it.”

Or be on the 2 train this morning.

What’s Done

Chris Britton wrapped up the night.

“What’s done is done,” he told reporters gathered around his locker.

They were asking if he wanted any of the pitches back. “I’d like the two hits back,” he said. “I wanted to get that last one away from Frank Thomas, but it just didn’t get there.”

And the Yankees had to settle for taking two of three in Toronto.

“You can’t win ‘em all,” said Jon from Highbridge. “A tight ballgame can go either way.”

If Hideki Matsui’s line drive in the sixth or Melky Cabrera’s shot in the ninth had gotten past Lyle Overbay it may have gone the other way.

“You can’t look back,” Jon said. “Britton’s right: What’s done is done.”

Signs

The signs were clear.

Derek Jeter held out his hands and gave Mariano Rivera a sly smile after Lyle Overbay chopped an infield single to load the bases with two outs in the eighth inning. Rivera didn’t need the smile, but it helped Javier from Walton Avenue.

“I was getting nervous,” he said. “Anything can happen with the bases loaded, but Derek made me relax.”

Rivera stuck out Gregg Zaun to end the inning.

“Mariano is a cool customer,” Javier said. “The only thing you get from him is that the job will be done.”

Jeter is the team’s personality.

“Derek tells you everything you need to know,” Javier said.

He is the calm and the fire and the stare and the smile.

“I needed that little smile last night,” Javier said. “Sometimes you just want to know that everything’s gonna be alright.”

Jeter always flashes the signs.

Talking Mood

Juan Pedrosa from Gerard Avenue was in a talking mood this morning.

“Didn’t you think it was hard to get a read on last night’s game?” he asked no one in particular.

“I thought that ball Wells ripped in the second was headed for the gap,” he continued. “I jumped out of my chair when Damon ran it down.

“Then there was Giambi’s grand slam,” he went on. “Off the bat I was saying, ‘I hope it’s deep enough to score the runner from third.’ The ball went out easily. Sometimes I just don’t know when it’s on television.”

“What about Posada’s homer?” someone asked.

“I didn’t know it was out,” Juan admitted, “but I knew it was hammered. I don’t think it would have made a difference if I was there because it was a liner just like one of Reggie’s in the ’77 Series.”

“Were you there for that?” someone else asked.

“Yeah, but I was in the upper deck out in right so I got the best look at the last one. Reggie’s third homer in game six will always be from that view. It went up and just kept going and going. It was something.”

“This team is something, too,” someone offered.

“They’re good,” Juan agreed. “They’ve really come together in the last couple of months and I think they can make a run at the whole thing.”

“Who’s pitching tonight?” someone asked.

“Mussina against McGowan,” Juan said. “Man, I could talk about this stuff all day.”

Bad Moon Rising

Major League Baseball officials met with the Albany District Attorney’s Office yesterday. It’s being reported the MLB is “trying to gain the same kind of cooperation with investigators that the NFL has received.”

Beautiful. Big business cozying up with the government. How do you think that’s going to turn out?

We got a glimpse last week when someone in the Albany District Attorney’s Office decided to smear Rick Ankiel – along with Troy Glaus and Jay Gibbons – by leaking medical records to the media.

Ankiel is a great baseball story and a great baseball player.

His medical records don’t change that.

They can tap his phone and read his emails and track the Web sites he visits and that won’t change it either. They can follow him around and find out what books he reads and throw his friends in jail if they won’t testify against him and it still won’t change.

Ankiel was a good pitcher who remade himself into good hitter.

The people chasing him have only made a mess of everything this country is supposed to stand for, starting with the fact that no one should be branded by the type of medical treatment they receive. That’s why such matters are supposed to be between a doctor and a patient.

But I guess we are well past that now. The Albany District Attorney’s Office is part of the government that once stood for decency and now stands for torture. They are part of the team that’s ripped democracy out by the roots and shook out every last dollar.

If this government were as concerned with providing medical care as they are with disclosing confidential medical records there wouldn’t be more that 46 million Americans that can’t even go to a doctor when they’re sick.

But this government isn’t about what’s good for people anymore. It’s about what’s good for business.

A partnership between the Albany District Attorney’s Office and Major League Baseball is good for business.

And that’s perfect for America these days.

Everyday Baseball

I was digging through the newspaper on the 2 train when someone jabbed my arm. It was my friend Javier.

“What are you reading,” he asked.

“Baseball,” I said. “What else is worth reading?”

“Nothing,” Javier shrugged. “Unless you want to feel bad.”

“There’s plenty of news that will do that,” I agreed.

“At least baseball is good these days, right?” Javier asked.

“Yeah,” I smiled. “No matter how bad things get we always have baseball.”

Knees And Shoulders

Everyone wanted to talk about Derek Jeter’s knee.

“I worry about the kid,” said Javier from Highbridge. “I think he’s too tough for his own good sometimes. He probably shouldn’t have played at all. I’m glad they took him out when they did. We need him feeling better.”

There was also talk about Alex Rodriguez’s shoulder.

“The guys are having fun with him,” Javier said. “Johnny Damon said everyone thinks Alex is trying to win an Oscar. Later, some reporter asked Alex if he would settle for an MVP.”

“What did he say?” someone asked.

Javier smiled, “He said he’ll settle for a World Series title.”

Draw It Up

That’s the way you draw up Yankees wins these days – hand a lead to Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera and shake hands when it’s over – unless you’re my stomach which was tied in knots during the last three innings.

Maybe it was because I wanted so badly for Chamberlain to pitch well in front of his family – especially his father Harlan – who traveled to Kansas City from Lincoln, Nebraska.

It probably also had something to do with the tight playoff race and it certainly had plenty to do with being stuck in front of a television.

Television baseball is a poor substitute for real baseball and after a nine-game homestand it took some time to make the adjustment. It always does.

You feel like part of the game at the Stadium: watching, scoring, cheering, waving home runs over the wall and slapping hands with your neighbors.

In front of the television you are isolated and your wife keeps telling you to quiet down so the neighbors don’t call the cops.

Road trips are rough, but I’ll take it if the Yankees keep drawing up wins.

A Smile

Reggie flashed a smile this morning.

“That was a big win,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but the guys got it done.”

“They’ve got to get it done tonight, too,” someone said.

“Yeah.”

Day Off

Good days move too fast and bad days not fast enough. Street-corner philosophers can explain the phenomenon in a minute, but Reggie skipped the street corner this morning and was crammed on a downtown 2 train.

It had already been a long ride from Burke Avenue when he collapsed the newspaper in his lap.

“Nothing,” he said. “There’s no real news on the guys. I know A-Rod and Jeter and everyone else can use a day off in September, but it feels like forever since we played.”

It was quickly pointed out that the Yankees win over Seattle was a little more than 24 hours before.

“It seems longer,” Reggie said. “I’m always looking forward to the next one. We need every game we can get.”

He snapped open the newspaper and scanned the standings.

“Any day without a win is bad.”

Little Things

Everyone is talking about the big 7th inning.

“A-Rod is really something,” said Al from Washington Heights. “I was worried when he had to go for more tests on his ankle, but I guess he’s okay.”

Alex Rodriguez tied the game with a solo home run to start the 7th and put it away with a two-run shot later in the inning.

“It’s an honor to watch him,” Al continued. “He is, absolutely, the greatest player ever.”

The greatest player praised the little things. “The team did a lot of good things to keep us in the game,” Rodriguez explained. “With the way (Jarrod) Washburn was pitching we needed to keep it close.”

It started with the first ground ball that Robinson Cano barehanded to get Ichiro Suzuki. Then there was Jose Molina’s amazing throw to nail Ichiro trying to steal in the 3rd and Shelley Duncan digging a ball out of the rightfield corner to catch Raul Ibanez trying to stretch a single in the 6th.

And, of course, there was Phil Hughes’ great start and his big strikeout of Jose Lopez with one out and a runner on third in the 4th.

“The little things made a big difference,” Al said, “but I still loved the 7th.”

Directions

There isn’t much talk on the 2 train at 7 a.m. Most people are reading newspapers or taking naps, but a man piped up this morning.

“Can someone help me with directions?” he asked. “I’m trying to get to the Statue of Liberty.”

An awkward stillness hovered before a man looked over his paper and said, “You’re on the right train. Just transfer to the 1 at Chambers Street and it’ll drop you right there.”

“Thanks, I haven’t been to New York City before,” the tourist said. “I’m doing the sights early because I’ve got tickets to see the Yankees tonight.”

“Where are you sitting?” someone asked.

“Don’t know,” the tourist answered as he fished a ticket out of his wallet. “Have a look.”

“Tier box behind the plate,” someone said. “Good seat.”

“Cheer Phil (Hughes) to a win,” said someone else. “We need another big game.”

I Am Nicaraguan

I am Nicaraguan on this day when everything is on the line for my people.

I am Nicaraguan for everyone in Region Autonoma del Atlantico Norte and for those hit hardest by the hurricane in Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas.

I am Nicaraguan for Marvin Benard and Porfi Altamirano and Albert Williams and Tony Chevez and David Green and Devern Hansack and Vicente Padilla because baseball is most important when everything else is falling apart.

I am Nicaraguan for Dennis Martinez who defines baseball in his country.

I am Nicaraguan for Roberto Clemente who died nearly 35 years ago bringing relief to earthquake-ravaged Managua.

I am Nicaraguan for everyone suffering. I want them to pull together and pull through. I want that for them and for me and for us because we are all Nicaraguan.

Joba Shirt

The first Joba Chamberlain T-shirt was spotted at Yankee Stadium a week ago. It was homemade with “Joba” and “62” done in masking tape.

“I couldn’t wait,” said Marcus from Walton Avenue. “I really wanted a shirt and nobody was selling them.”

New York City is now full of Joba T-shirts. They are blue with “Chamberlain” silk screened in white over a big “62.”

“I bought one,” said Marcus, “but I like mine better. Those fancy ones should say ‘Joba,’ too.”

That’s what the crowd chants.

“Boy, he’s something,” said Marcus. “The place really gets going when he comes into a game. And when he gets a strike out, well, you’ve really got to be there. It‘s nuts.”

Chamberlain will get his chances against Seattle and Marcus will be there wearing the first Joba T-shirt.

“I’m going to stick with my masking-tape job,” he said. “It’s worked so far.”

New Kid

Shelley Duncan smiled as he walked toward the crowd gathered near the players’ gate. He headed for a kid holding out a ball and a pen and then moved on to everyone else.

“Give me a high-five,” said Lonnie from Highbridge.

Duncan laughed and kept signing everything thrust his way.

“Just one high-five,” Lonnie pleaded. “Give me one like you do the guys.”

Duncan finally leaned over and slapped Lonnie’s hand.

“All right!”

“We love you Shelley,” a woman shirked.

“Yeah,” another said. “You’re the best.”

“Hey,” someone yelled, “it’s Don Mattingly.”

The chant started: “Donnie Baseball. Donnie Baseball. Donnie Baseball...”

“I guess Shelley knows what it’s like to be the new kid in the neighborhood,” Lonnie said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being the new kid.

“Ian Kennedy should be coming out soon.”

Weird

I was totaling my scorecard just outside gate 4 when I felt a tug on my elbow.

“Weird,” Javier shrugged.

Last night’s loss was weird, but baseball goes that way sometimes.

“Come back tomorrow,” Javier said. “That’s all we can do, right?”

Right.

September Eve

Everyone looks ahead on September Eve.

The final month of the season is about big games and pennant races and getting to October. It starts tonight with Phil Hughes.

The youngest member of the rotation got a good look at how veteran starters work. Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and Chien-Ming Wang gave the team everything it needed against Boston. Hughes will try to do the same against Tampa Bay.

“The kid gets to learn from the best,” Javier said. “He has the talent and if he uses it like the big boys he’ll be a winner.”

He came out of the Stadium to a long “Huuuughes” chant yesterday. He will hear more tonight.

“Everyone looks forward to his starts,” Javier continued. “The kid is capable of anything so you get geared up for something special.”

Everything about baseball is special on September Eve.

Night And Day

The daily grind of baseball can start to wear in August, but the night and day nature of the game can provide a lift.

“We got beat up in Detroit,” Javier said outside the players gate last night, “but we came back the last two games. I feel better because this team is going to keep fighting.”

There’s more than a month of fight left and everyone will be bring their best game. This is the grind we’ve been waiting for.

Changes

Everyone is with Mike Mussina.

“I certainly know how he feels,” said Jon from Highbridge. “When things start going badly they seem to keep going badly and then you start expecting them to go badly.”

After his last start, Mussina said:

“When I release the ball I don’t feel that anything good is going to happen.”

“That makes two of us,” Jon said. “I don’t mean that as a knock on Moose. Sometimes it’s just not working so you try something different.”

Mussina will not make his next start.

“I’m mixed about that,” Jon said. “Moose has won so many big games for us, but I think some time off will help clear his head and get him back on track.

“I’ll admit that I’m excited to see Ian Kennedy,” he continued. “I’ve heard that the kid is poised and polished and has all the weapons to handle big-league hitters. I remember someone saying that he reminds them of a young Mike Mussina.

“Fitting, I guess.”

46

There’s really nothing left to say about how much Andy Pettitte means to this team.

Making Sense

Mike Mussina answered every question after last night’s loss, but he still couldn’t make sense of his last three starts.

“I don’t feel I can do much of anything right,” Mussina said. “I want to keep going out there and figure out what’s going on. I can’t believe in three starts that I forgot how to pitch.”

The guys gathered around Raul’s coffee cart tried to help.

“What else did he say?” Jose asked.

Javier snapped open the newspaper, scanned the page for Mussina’s quotes and started to read:

“Two weeks ago, I felt really good about the way I was throwing the ball and I felt good about what was happening with the team. We were playing some of our best baseball. Two weeks later, it’s completely at the other end of the spectrum.”

“That’s how is goes sometimes,” Jose reasoned. “Maybe they can skip his next start to give him break.

“Is there anything else?” Jose asked.

Javier read more from Mussina:

“When I release the ball I don’t feel that anything good is going to happen. It’s tough to pitch like that. You can’t play the game that way, to feel you have no control over anything, and that’s how I feel right now.”

“That’s not good for a ballplayer,” Jose said. “That’s how the rest of us feel. It really sounds like he needs a break. Even if he’s physically fine, a mental break can help a player, too. Maybe he can come back in a week or two and feel better when he goes out there.

“That’s what he needs.”

No Excuses

Mike Mussina knows there are no excuses in a pennant race.

He knows that his last two starts were not acceptable. He knows his team needs him to go deep into tonight’s game. He’s had five days to think about everything and he knows he can put it all in the past with one good start.

He’s been there before.

Mussina pitched seven shutout innings in a must-win, game three of the 2001 American League Division Series against the Athletics. The game will always be know for Derek Jeter’s “flip play,” but Mussina came through with one of the all-time greatest postseason pitching performances.

He knows he needs to dig out another great one against the Tigers.

He knows that better than anyone.

The great ones always do.

A Few Words

Derek Jeter knows how much a few words can mean. That’s why he talks to the media when the people in this neighborhood need it the most.

“It’s a little nagging thing,” Jeter said after sitting out Sunday’s loss, “but it’s really not that big of a deal. You have a day off and hopefully it helps. I’ll be out there playing tomorrow.”

Someone asked him to describe the injury.

“Annoying,” he smiled.

The Captain will be back on Monday night.

Yes, a few words can mean a lot.

Take Back

The clock flashed 3:30 a.m. when Carlos Guillen ended it in the 11th inning. Everyone called it a “tough loss.”

Is there any other kind?

When you invest yourself in a baseball game – whether it’s two hours, three hours or a four hour and 24 minute, 11-inning marathon that also includes a four-hour rain delay – it hurts to lose.

Victory would mean nothing if there wasn’t pain in defeat.

The difference between them can be slight – one pitch, one bounce or one big cut – but the emotional swing is huge.

Detroit took it last night and it’s the Yankees’ job to take it back.

Torre Rules

The Bronx is full of broken rules, but the one most likely to get you a broken nose is running down Joe Torre.

“Who said something bad about the Skipper?” Jon shoots across the counter at the Crown Diner.

“Some guy on the radio,” Jose says. “He thinks Torre doesn’t know how to manage the bullpen.”

“Really?” Jon snaps. “I’d like to discuss the matter with him.”

Everyone laughs.

Torre starts this weekend with 1,150 wins as the Yankees’ manager – second only to Joe McCarthy – and he’s earned every one of them.

People have tried to cut him down from the beginning. It started with the famous “Clueless Joe” headline and has continued with the constant picking at everything from lineup decisions to bullpen moves to what kind of tea he drinks.

“You can second guess anything,” Jon says, “but Torre is the man for this job. There have been plenty of times when the whole thing could have fallen apart, but he’s always held it together. We were down by 14 games this year and now we’re back in it.

“I guess there are people that need to complain about something,” Jon continues. “I’d just advise them not to do it around here.”

Radio Nights

Bobby Abreu drove a ball over the wall and into my apartment last night. It was the eighth inning of another close game against the Angels and I hung on every word until the ball finally cleared the reach of Gary Matthews Jr.

Listening to a game in the dark with the sheets pulled tight to your chin takes you back to basics. Back to a time when you had to be in bed by nine, but stayed up deep into the night.

It was always exciting and maybe a bit daring to listen to Yankees’ games from Los Angeles and Oakland and Seattle. I felt like the only one in the neighborhood still awake and the game was all mine.

My mother thought I would fade off to sleep, but that never happened. The road keeps you on the edge even if the end doesn’t come until 1:12 a.m.

Mariano Rivera ended last night by getting a lazy fly ball hit to Abreu. He caught it in the darkest corner of my apartment. I could really see it all.

Chapter 2

Marc’s eyes were worn and heavy.

“Another bad one,” he said. “The guys battled back, but they just couldn’t stop them. It was a long night, but I hung in. I saw Jeter in the dugout until the end so I figured I could stay in front of the television.

“It’s frustrating,” Marc continued. “We are beaten by the Angels again and now I have to stumble through another day with almost no sleep.

“But I’ll be ready tonight,” he went on. “Pettitte will give us a good start. I hate to see him always have to carry the load, but he seems comfortable with it.

“I’ll be comfortable if we can take the last game of this series,” Marc said. “Three days without sleep will go down a lot smoother with a win.”

Win Tonight

Marc’s stare cut across the 2 train.

“I’m coming off a bad night,” he said. “I stayed up until the end. I don’t really like West Coast games and I hate West Coast losses. Now, I’ve got to try and make it through the day on three hours of sleep.”

He works for the Sanitation Department out of a West Village garage.

“It’s cold and rainy so it’s a bad day to be a garbage man,” he said. “I wish I had a win to help keep me warm and dry.”

The Yankees’ extra-inning loss weighed heavily, but a new day brought hope.

“I’ll get through the day and Moose (Mike Mussina) will give us a good start,” Marc said. “I can deal with the cold and the rain and three hours of sleep, but I’d like to get a win tonight.”

Lost And Found

It’s easy to get lost in baseball. Every day is full of pitching forms and box scores and lineups and scorecards. Who’s in the bullpen and who can pinch hit? It’s wins and losses and standings and who’s pitching tomorrow.

But there are reminders that it’s not like that for everyone.

A boy chased his father down the ramp behind home plate at Yankee Stadium.

“When are they gonna have the Joba shirts?”

“Soon. We’ll get one when they’ve got ‘em.”

“And a picture for the wall, too?”

“We’ll get everything.”

“Joba’s really something isn’t he, Dad?”

“Yeah.”

Another boy pointed to a hat on a vendor’s cart and his father nodded.

A few hours worth of wages were adjusted and wedged snugly on the boy’s head.

“How’s that fit?”

There was only a smile as they walked to the 4 train.

History Lesson

Everything from Roger Clemens is history. His 353rd victory and 4,661st strikeout are in the books. The numbers continue to build his case as the greatest pitcher ever, but they don’t touch what he brings on the field.

Joe Torre said that’s because “He still cares so much.”

Everyone at Yankee Stadium yesterday could see that he loves to win.

“I’ve never seen anyone better with a runner on third and less than two outs,” Torre said.

Clemens and Jorge Posada pulled off a slick double play by striking out Marcus Thames and catching Brandon Inge off third base to end the third inning. He left runners on the corners in the fourth and the bases loaded in the sixth.

It wasn’t easy, but Clemens helped the Yankees get another win.

“That’s what we’re all about here,” said Clemens.

One more for the history books.

Andys

Andy Pettitte controlled the game and Andy Phillips put it away.

Pettitte has been doing this forever: Delivering his best when his team needs it the most.

Phillips is just getting the hang of it. He drove a double into the left-centerfield gap that scored two runs in the sixth inning. It was more than enough for Pettitte.

Every win is big in a pennant race, but this one felt a bit bigger. Maybe it was because it came against the Tigers who knock us out last year. Or maybe it was more about having Pettitte back on the mound. Or maybe it was just watching Phillips pull into second base, clap his hands and stare into the belly of the Stadium on a night that belonged to him.

And to Pettitte.

Sad State

Americas will believe just about anything.

Barry Bonds is bad. Check.

New Yorkers are following along.

Gary Sheffield is bad. Check.

The Bronx doesn’t buy it.

“I can’t believe Gary Sheffield was booed at Yankee Stadium,” Javier said. “He always played hard for us.”

He played hard and he played hurt and there were times when he seemed to lift the whole team on his shoulders. Mike Mussina once joked, “I think a piano would have to fall from the upper deck to get Sheff out of the lineup.”

Sheffield would have flicked a piano off like an errant sunflower seed. That’s how tough he was for this team and this city.

“The media is exploiting issues between Sheff and Joe (Torre) and people are eating it up,” Javier said. “Sheff speaks his mind and that makes him an easy target, but he gave us everything he had on the field and he shouldn’t be treated like this. It’s very sad.”

Very sad, indeed.

What Matters

Mariano Rivera strolled easily out of Yankee Stadium wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. He kept an arm around his son as he smiled and waved to the crowd at the players’ gate.

Moments before he answered questions about the loss to Baltimore.

“It hurts,” Rivera said. “Your team gives you an opportunity, they come back and you just have to be able to hold them and I wasn’t able to do that. It hurts a lot.”

Rivera is much too hard on himself.

“He’s the best,” said Raul from Tremont Avenue. “I want him in the game tomorrow because I know we will win.”

Roger Clemens once challenged a group of reporters. “Any of you can pick your two favorite superheroes and I’ll put Rivera up against both of them.”

Rivera sees it differently.

“I am just a simple worker,” he likes to say. “I’m nothing without my teammates.”

He felt like he let them down yesterday, but today will be different. Today is always different and no one knows that better than Rivera.

“You forget the past because there’s nothing you can do about it,” he always says. “The next game is all that matters.”

The Record Lives

“Take, my lad, what the great game gives,
For all men die, but the record lives.”
-Grantland Rice, New York Herald-Tribune

Phil Rizzuto – 1917-2007 – took everything from the game and gave even more back.

He was a seven-time World Champion and a five-time All-Star. He was the American League MVP in 1950 and the World Series MVP in 1951. He is a Hall of Famer and that’s all anyone really needs to know.

We’ve heard from his teammates and his friends and his family, but Rizzuto was so much more than that. He was a teammate and a friend to the Bronx and Manhattan and Brooklyn and Queens and he was family everywhere there were Yankee fans.

Everyone has a story because Rizzuto gave far more than he took and there is no greater complement you can give a man.

“For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He marks not that you won or lost,
But how you played the Game.”
-Grantland Rice, New York Herald-Tribune

Another World

They gave Alex Rodriguez two paintings, a sculpture, home plate and an engraved silver tray. But they couldn’t give him the ball he hit for his 500th career home run.

That ball is all tangled up in the sorted tabloid tale of Walter “Sonny” Kowalczyk who caught it on a beautiful afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He opted for newspaper headlines and talk radio instead of a handshake and some autographed balls and bats.

The whole thing has turned into a string of ugly demands and bizarre statements. The most recent twist has Kowalczyk’s representative calling area newspapers asking for money to interview him.

This sorry episode made me think of a story in Peter Bjarkman’s book: A History of Cuban Baseball.

Bjarkman was in the Pinar del Rio Hotel after a 2002 game. He wandered into the deserted bar where he found – openly displayed – the game worn jerseys and Olympic Gold Medals of Pedro Luis Lazo, Omar Ajete and pitching coach Julio Romero.

Bjarkman wrote that they were not secured in any way, but were completely safe in a place where memorabilia profiteering is still a foreign notion.

Don’t try that around here.

The Game

Neighborhood legend places Javier’s age near 65. He could be younger and is probably older, but 65 is in the ballpark.

“It’s as close as any of you are gonna get,” he tells the group. “I’m the same age Satchel (Paige) always was.”

He limps and has a cannonball gut, but his pitching motion is still nearly perfect. “You shoulda seen me back on the Island (Puerto Rico),” Javier brags. “No one could touch me.”

He came set with a crumpled soda can in his right hand. After checking an imaginary runner on first he fired a fastball the clanged off a Grand Concourse trash can.

“Strike.”

“Who are you kidding,” the group howled.

“I don’t kid about baseball,” Javier shot. “Baseball is serious business because every pitch can mean the game.”

That was certainly the case yesterday as Cleveland was set up for big innings in the seventh, eighth and ninth.

Andy Pettitte picked off Jhonny Peralta with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh and was able to escape with giving up only one run.

“I would say that was the game,” Pettitte said in the morning newspapers, “but then the eighth inning was the game. The ninth inning was the game, too.”

“Every pitch,” Javier repeated. “They can all mean the game.”

That’s What We’re All About

Mike Mussina and Joe Torre said it all after last night’s win in Cleveland.

“It’s a different atmosphere around here,” Mussina said. “You’ve got the youth mixed in and everything seems to be working for us.”

Torre added: “Moose is feeling good about himself. I know he’s proud of this 100th win (as a Yankee), but the thing I know he feels better about is that he helped us win another ballgame. That’s what we’re all about right now.”

Yeah.

Team

It started with the kids – Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain – and ended with the man – Mariano Rivera – but last night was really about the whole team.

Derek Jeter always says: “Everyone needs to contribute.”

That was certainly the story last night in Cleveland.

Johnny Damon: A hit and a run.
Derek Jeter: Three for four with a run and an RBI.
Bobby Abreu: A hit, a run and two RBIs.
Alex Rodriguez: He was on base four times but they only let him swing once and that produced his 37th home run and 110th RBI of the season.
Hideki Matsui: A hit, a run and an RBI.
Robinson Cano: Two hits.
Wilson Betemit: A sacrifice bunt that set up a run.
Jose Molina: A RBI.
Melky Cabrera: A hit and a run.

That’s the team they are and the team they need to be.

They Shoot Heroes Don’t They?

Alex Rodriguez has no chance. It doesn’t matter how well he plays or how hard he tries to please. This society will take him down just like it took down Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds and anyone else who dared to be too great.

This country is divided a million ways against itself, but nothing pulls people together like bringing down an easy target.

Rodriguez has always been that.

He came with a “can’t-miss” sign on his back. Strike one.

He has grown into the best player in the game. Strike two.

He is paid like it. Strike three.

Everything about Rodriguez is examined. How he walks and how he runs and what he says and how he says it. And certainly what everyone else says about him.

That’s the way we should examine the people responsible for starting wars and rigging elections and disabling subway systems and allowing levees to break and steam pipes to blow up and bridges to fall down.

But Americans never do that. We just zero in on the easy target and blast away.

Endings

Alex Rodriguez is the greatest baseball player of his generation and probably the greatest of any generation, but he still has something to learn.

After hitting his 500th career home run last week he said:

“I’ve had my trials and tribulations in New York and I’ve learned from them. I’ve had some great times and I’ve had some good times and I’ve had some tough times. Today kind of brings it full circle. Maybe there’s a happy ending for me somewhere.”

Rodriguez needs to understand that there are no happy endings in baseball. There are just endings. Mike Myers got one the next day when he was designated for assignment. Miguel Cairo got one a few days later. Bernie Williams reached the end this past winter.

Rodriguez will get there someday because all ballplayers do. Then he’ll understand what Lou Piniella told him when he first came up as a teenager. “The climb ain’t most of the fun, kid. It’s all the fun.”

Rodriguez is the most perfect ballplayer I’ve ever seen and I only hope that he enjoys every minute because when it’s over, well, it’s over.

The End.

756 In New York

People who don’t live in New York City can’t possibly understand this place. It is so different from the rest of the country that it should be its own country.

That’s why people on these streets view Barry Bonds so differently than most.

“I was really happy when he hit it,” said Carl from Highbridge. “I followed Hank Aaron to 755 and now Barry to 756. They are both great players and it’s been a disgrace the way so many people – especially the media and Bud Selig – have tried to play them against each other.

“That’s what they always do,” Carl continued. “Blacks against Whites. Blacks against Latinos. Blacks against Blacks. Everyone against ‘the terrorists’ and everyone against ‘the immigrants.’ It goes on and on and people keep buying it.

“The lies and witch-hunts they’ve been selling couldn’t stop Barry anymore than they could stop Hank. The same people shoveling the same garbage on the same men.

“They’re already trying to play A-Rod against Barry,” Carl went on “Things out there never change.”

He was reminded that something had changed.

“Yeah,” Carl smiled. “Barry Bonds is the Home Run King.”

And that’s something special on these streets.

A Place In History

Mahamadou Soumare was born on Saturday in the Bronx.

The day was special for his family, but the rest of the neighborhood barely noticed because everyone was focused on Alex Rodriguez.

Mahamadou – 8 pounds, 3 ounces and 18 inches – came into this world near the time Rodriguez’s 500th career home run cleared the left field wall at Yankee Stadium.

His place in history is secure.

I used to think my place was secure. As a child I heard that Mickey Mantle hit his 500th home run on my birthday. I didn’t confirm the information and was comfortable taking it as fact for most of my life.

I carried my bit of history around like a good-luck piece. It was comforting when my father died because he was about the only other person who cared about the obscure fact.

I later found out that I was born close to the day Mantle hit his 500th, but not on it.

Mahamadou Soumare doesn’t need to worry about that.

Coach

Marc Fiore has never lived more than six blocks from Yankee Stadium. He could see the lights and hear the crowd from his bedroom when he was too young to go to the games. His first job delivering groceries bought him tickets and baseball cards and a thick scorebook that he used every day.

“I’ve always lived for the Yankees,” Fiore said.

He still makes about half the games, but his love of coaching is taking more of his time these days. “I never thought I get so hooked,” Fiore explained. “The kids take everything you teach them and use it. It’s amazing to see them grow.”

Yesterday, they all sat in the bleachers. “The kids are from the neighborhood,” Fiore said. “But some of them had never been inside Yankee Stadium.”

The day was full of home runs and peanuts and soda, but the coach was still working.

“There’s always something to teach the kids,” Fiore said. “I usually teach them how to play, but today I taught them how to be a fan.

“I told them that they would hear a lot of booing and yelling,” Fiore continued. “Some people think they know everything, but have never really played the game. I told them to remember how hard they work and how hard everything is. It’s no different in the Major Leagues.”

Well coached.

A Bronx Ripple

This country has seen two presidential elections stolen and no one has made a sound. Billionaires are becoming multi-billionaires off a war that continues to kill Americans by the thousands and Iraqis and Afghans by the hundreds of thousands and no one gets too upset. Bridges fall down, the lights go out, steam pipes blow up, the trains don’t run, there’s no money for school books or baseball equipment, politicians line their pockets and people just shrug their shoulders.

Yesterday, the Yankees brought a NASA astronaut on the field who is going up to work on the Space Station. They gave him a banner and some dirt from the pitchers’ mound to take with him. At least that sent a bit of a ripple through the neighborhood.

“Work on the Space Station?” Javier shot. “Who lives there? How about working on those parks we were promised? We can send people into space, but can’t build a bridge that doesn’t fall down.

“Beautiful.”

Truth Telling

There are a lot of people with a lot of opinions on baseball these days. But the only opinions that really matter come from baseball people.

Bobby Abreu talked about batting slumps and losing streaks a few weeks ago:

“Everybody is going to struggle at some point in the season. The important thing is to work through it and stay together as a team.”

Roger Clemens addressed a second-inning error in yesterday’s game:

“Robbie (Cano) is playing his tail off, but that’s going to happen. You can’t worry about it. I need to take a deep breath and execute a pitch to get us out of it. I’m just disappointed that I couldn’t do it.”

Joe Torre discussed Kyle Farnsworth’s struggles:

“There’s a good arm there; he knows how to pitch. We just need to get him more comfortable. I still believe Farnsworth is going to be a contributor to this.”

There are plenty of people that think they know more about hitting than Abreu and more about pitching than Clemens and Farnsworth combined and everyone thinks they know more about managing this team than Torre.

I’m not one of those people.

I believe that the truth comes from those who play the game and not those who talk about it.

I’ll stick with the words of Abreu and Clemens and Torre.