“It’s just weird because a couple of years ago we were talking about maybe pitching in a World Series together,” commented Sabathia Tuesday at Yankee Stadium about his former Cleveland teammate Lee. Now, though the last two American League Cy Young Award winners are on opposing sides and can set the table for something special.

It is the first time that former teammates have matched up in the World Series for different clubs since game 1 of the 2005 Fall Classic when former Yankee teammates Roger Clemens (Houston) and Jose Contreras (Chicago) met at the series opener in Chicago.

Joe Girardi debuts as a World Series manager, the fourth such Yankee who has played and managed in the Series having been a player under previous manager Joe Torre in 1996 and 1998-99. Plenty of history then for the Yankees, and Girardi is well aware of the pressures involved with his team as favorites to get their elusive 27^th world title.

“I was pretty aware of the pressures, because I think as players you understood what the deal was every year here, because of the way that Mr. Steinbrenner and everyone put the club together,” commented Girardi after his team concluded their workout on a misty field Tuesday.

Of course there is pressure. George Steinbrenner has less authority now as the owner. Hank and Hal will welcome their father to the new billion dollar stadium in the Bronx Wednesday evening and have made it known, getting to and winning the World Series is a necessity when you sign on and manage the Yankees.   They have come this far, and the Steinbrenner family wants nothing but the brass ring and a championship for New York.

And for Phils manager Charlie Manuel, the pressure does not seem to be an issue. He has guided his team to a second consecutive Series appearance, the first manager since Torre took his Yankees to four straight from 1998-2201.  The Phillies, perhaps are attempting to become a dynasty like the Yankees, as no team has won back-to-back championships since the Yankees did that with three straight from 1998-2000.

“We have no pressure as the defending champions,” said Manuel when it was his turn to take the podium. “They have to take it from us,’ he said. “The games are won on the field,” commented Manuel when asked his opinion about the Yankees being the favorites.  His Phils have more experienced Series experience, 17 have been there before to the Yankees nine.

A classic Series perhaps because Manuel has opted to go with Pedro Martinez as his game two starter Thursday evening over  last year’s Series MVP Cole Hamels.  Martinez returns to New York, once again on the big stage and this time at the new Yankee Stadium.

“This may be my last big stage,” said Martinez who had a serious look in his eye at one of the many booths set up in the Great Hall at the Stadium where media met the players.  Afterwards, fans peeking in from the closed gates taunted the 16-year veteran. He was receptive and Pedro put on a show before testing his arm on the field

There were some questions in early May, before Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup. After that the Yankees proved they were destined to get back to the World Series. They were the best team in baseball from then on, and now four more wins await them this time, before they can be called the best against the defending champions.

If Rodriguez continues his torrid hitting, which may be stopped by the numerous lefthanders the Phillies throw, well the Yankees could be in trouble.  If Mark Teixiera, who showed some signs of getting out of a horrid postseason slump at the end of the ALCS, then the Phillies will have their problems.

“Think we can put ourselves on the map to be the better team,” said the Phillies Shane Victorino who ignored a New York tabloid front page that mocked him. Victorino also pays no attention towards comparing his team and the Yankees. Getting 26 championships like the Yankees also can’t be compared, but consecutive championships would be an accomplishment especially going through New York.

“We want to put ourselves in that category,” he commented about a possible dynasty. “You know to win back-to-back would be fun.  They have power and pitching and ultimately it comes down to one game at a time.”

Both teams combined hit 468 home runs this season, and for the first time in 83 years the World Series features two teams with the most home runs hit in the Majors. Yankee pitchers will face a lineup of Philly hitters that have six players in double digits when hitting the long ball and they both have hit 14 home runs this postseason.

So there are some comparisons, and then there is the rooting interest of New York baseball fans. Martinez had a stint with the cross-town Mets and still respects that other baseball team in town. “They will get stronger and better,” he said, “and I know there fans won’t be rooting for us.

Of course not, because in New York a Mets fan has a dilemma. It will be heard. They despise the cross-town Yankees because they always get to this point of a baseball season. And the dreadful Phillies have become a nemesis taking the last three National League east division titles under Manuel, so a Mets fan may root for the Yanks.

But in baseball circles it does not matter who a fan roots for. Fans want to see a good World Series, so does everyone associated with Major League Baseball, and the Fox Sports Network may have a ratings buster due to the interest and magnitude of this series.

So when the Phillies Jimmy Rollins made a bold prediction, his team in five games that set the tone more.  Others believe it will be Yankees in six or seven games and a lot rides on how Girardi sets his roster. He may carry two catchers instead one instead of the three he has used in the previous postseason games against Minnesota and the Angels.

And the Yankees will probably use a game four starter. “You look at where you’re at and make decisions as you go,” says Girardi about who to start after Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.  “We have a plan of what we’re going to do and that plan can be adjusted depending on where you are in the Series.”

That relates also to the bullpen where the Series can ultimately be decided. Girardi still has plans to use Phil Hughes in a set up role, along with Joba Chamberlain. And one thing is certain, the Yankees have Mariano Rivera and the all-time best closer in postseason baseball just about assures a Yankees win.

The difference from Rivera and other postseason closers, you are seeing Cy Young and not Mel Rojas or Armando Benitez two former New York Mets who had no consistency when closing an important game. And don’t be surprised to see Girardi call his closer for a six out save like he did Sunday in the ALCS clincher against the Angels.

A classic in the making for all baseball fans the next week or so for sure.  In the end, home runs from both sides including Ryan Howard of the Phillies. “Just try and take advantages of some mistakes they may make,” he says about ways to overtake the Yankees.

.“Don’t know a thing about them, don’t know much about them,” said the captain Derek Jeter when asked about the Phillies in the new spacious Yankees clubhouse that got another dose of champagne Sunday evening. Jeter is a part of that core of four with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte who now go to their seventh World Series.

Who is better, Jeter or the Phils Chase Utley? In a matter of hours, the Yankees will know more about the Phillies than they did in the three games they played against each other earlier this season. Then the Phils took two of three in the Bronx.  They were good games then, and expect the same now.

Yankees have home field advantage.  That helps also and in the end they get their 27^th world championship in the Bronx next week in six games.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The New York Yankees, for all of the drama A-Rod brings into the clubhouse for both his on and off field antics, are a better team with him in the lineup than on the sidelines.  No one knew how the Yankees would respond following an examination of A-Rod’s right hip, which revealed a cyst and a partially torn labrum that would require some kind of surgery to repair it.  After a further examination by Dr. Marc Philippon of Vale, CO it was determined Rodriguez could have a less invasive surgery to clean up the hip in order to play this year and after the season undergo a more thorough procedure to completely restore the hip.

A-Rod underwent surgery on March 9 and was expected to miss approximately 9 to 10 weeks.  That would’ve projected his return to the club around mid-May if everything went according to plan.  In the meantime the Yankees started the season with journeyman Cody Ransom playing the hot corner.  Ransom, although talented with a glove, was not an offensive charge in the lineup.  Ransom’s offense was pretty offensive. Before he went on the disabled list with a torn quadriceps muscle Ransom was hitting .180 with no home runs and 6 RBI in 50 trips to the plate.

Also feeling the effects of a missing Alex Rodriguez has been Mark Teixeira.  Teixeira was brought in during the off season to replace an aging Jason Giambi at first base.  Teixeira signed a huge 8-year deal with New York to provide offense and upgrade the defense Giambi couldn’t provide.

“Tex” had a good spring training, and although he is regarded as a notorious slow starter at the beginning of the year (career .249 BA including 2009) it was hoped that his hot spring would carry over into the regular season.  However, with the absence of A-Rod Teixeira has struggled.  In April, without Rodriguez to protect him, Teixeira saw a lot of breaking balls and pitches off the plate.  Tex ended the month with a .200 average with 3 home runs and 10 RBI.  He struck out 12 times or one strikeout per 5. 83 at bats.

His struggles continued going into May as Teixeira’s average continued to plummet.  By May 12 Teixeira was hitting just .191.  His strikeout total had jumped to 25 in 109 at bats (every 4.36 AB).  Frustrated by his lack of production Teixeira began hearing the boos from fans as he looked completely lost at times in the batter’s box.

However, on May 8, a week before he was projected to return, A-Rod made his first appearance of the 2009 campaign.  Facing the Baltimore Orioles and RHP Jeremy Guthrie Rodriguez made a dramatic statement as he hit the first pitch he saw out of the park to give the Yankees 3-0 lead.  In one swing A-Rod lifted the spirits of the entire team, which had been scuffling from the opening bell.

Prior to May 8 the Yankees were 4.5 games out of first place, standing in 3^rd place behind the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox with a 14-15 record.  They had been embarrassed by the Red Sox losing five straight times both in Boston and New York.  They had a habit of getting behind in games or if leading the game, losing the lead and then losing the game.

Since A-Rod’s return the Yankee clubhouse seems to have refocused and reenergized.  In the past 9 games, with Rodriguez in the lineup, the Bombers have posted a 7-2 record.  They took 2-of-3 from the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, 2-of-3 from the AL East Division leading Blue Jays and after coming from behind again today hold a 3-0 series lead over the visiting Minnesota Twins. The Yankees go for the Sweep on Monday.  More on that series later.

Although, A-Rod has struggled so far with his timing at the plate, because of his inability to perform in live game situations, he has picked his spots to elevate his team.  Besides his spectacular first at bat, first pitch, 3-run home run against the Orioles Rodriguez has chosen other moments to shine as well.

On Saturday night Rodriguez hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 11th inning to record his first hit at the new Yankee Stadium.  The home run also broke a 4-4 tie and stunned the Twins for the second game in a row.  In Sunday’s game against the Twins Rodriguez etched his will on the game again.  Trailing 2-0 to a brilliant pitching performance by Kevin Slowey A-Rod hit a solo shot in the 7^th inning to cut the lead to 2-1.

The big beneficiary in all of this has been Teixeira.  With Rodriguez batting cleanup behind him, Teixeira has been seeing better pitches and has responded.  In the 9 games since his return and proceeding A-Rod in the order Teixeira is hitting .324 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.  He is still striking out more than the Yankees would like, but overall they have to be very pleased Teixeira has begun to thaw out at the plate.

Getting back to today’s game at the Stadium against the Twins, New York won for their third straight come-from-behind victory is this 4-game series.  All of the wins have come in surprising fashions.  In addition to A-Rod’s heroics Saturday night, hot hitting CF Melky Cabrera added his own brand of excitement.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 9^th with two on, two out and the bases loaded Cabrera strode to the plate to face premier closer Joe Nathan.  Cabrera lifted the ball into the left-center field gap scoring Teixeira and PR Ramiro Peña to secure a 5-4 win.

In Sunday’s game the Yankees faced an outstanding start by Slowey who only surrendered two earned runs in 7.2 innings of work.  The Yankees countered with A.J. Burnett, though struggling at times, kept his team in the game.  Burnett gave up two earned runs in 6.2 innings before giving the ball to the bullpen.

After A-Rod’s solo homer in the 7^th inning DH Hideki Matsui doubled off Slowey and then scored the tying run by advancing on RF Nick Swisher’s sacrifice and Cabrera’s fly out to left field.  Slowey’s day was done and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire turned it over to his bullpen.

The Twins kept the game even until the bottom of the 10^th inning when LF Johnny Damon turned on a fastball from RHRP Jesse Crain and sent into the right field second deck to give the Yankees their third come-from-behind victory.  It was Damon’s third career walk off bomb, but his first with the Yankees.  The three consecutive come-from-behind wins hadn’t been accomplished since August 27-29, 1972 the season before principal owner George Steinbrenner purchased the club.

The win also was the Yankees 5^th straight victory, which is the longest string of wins this season.

After the game, YES Network’s Kimberly Jones caught up with Damon outside the Yankees dugout.  Just before going on camera Damon was given a cream pie in the face by Burnett.  Jones asked Damon what all of the recent drama meant to him and the team.

“This is great.  Three straight walk offs, you know it’s pretty exciting for us,” Damon said.  “Hopefully, this means we’re going to start playing better.  Things feel real good right now.”

It’s also pretty exciting for Yankee fans as well and you can bet they’re feeling real good right now too.

Notes: This was the 11^th anniversary of David Wells perfect game against the Minnesota Twins who lost to the Yankees 4-0.

The list reads like an All-Star squad for the era. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Raphael Palmiero, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez and the latest, Manny Ramirez.

The Dodger leftfielder had a 50-game suspension handed down on Thursday, perfect timing for the subject of performance-enhancing drugs to be drummed up again with A-Rod making his regular season debut the next day.

It’s not as if Rodriguez was going to fly under the radar, anyway, but the topic will reach new heights over the weekend. He can deflect all the questions that he wants and say that he is only going to talk about baseball, but the media frenzy that is sure to follow him around for the rest of the season and possibly longer is not going to let up.

Some may feel that with Ramirez being suspended some of the negative attention surely awaiting Rodriguez tonight at Camden Yards in Baltimore will be offset and directed towards the Washington Heights native. While that may be somewhat true, A-Rod should not get too cozy.

It is true that Rodriguez has not been penalized and his steroid admissions, no matter how inaccurate they may seem, should be viewed as an attempt to gain some sort of compassion  and forgiveness. In Ramirez’s case, the only information we have to go by is what has been the short statement he released and what was reported by Major League Baseball.

“Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue,” Ramirez said in the statement. “He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing: I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.”

What Ramirez was actually suspended for was human chorionic gonatropin, more commonly known as hCG. Without further information or the ingredients of the prescription Ramirez’s doctor gave him, we can only speculate why he would be ingesting it. Known as one of the more potent concoctions used as Post Cycle therapy. hCG is popular amongst steroid users following a period, or cycle, to help maintain the effects of the substances and kick-start the natural production of testosterone after ingesting the synthetic version.

What triggered all of this was Ramirez having one of his Spring Training tests come back with a high testosterone level. All of that would seem to add up and point to Ramirez using performance-enhancing drugs to the point of including PCT, something a beginner does not normally have the knowledge of doing.

It will be hard for Ramirez to lean on the “amateur hour” excuse that Rodriguez used during his admission press conference while explaining how he and his then-unnamed cousin were taking steroids.

Hughes, specifically, was viewed as an immediate starter for the Yankees.  Making the Opening Day roster in 2007 Hughes made his first start on April 26 against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Hughes lasted just 4.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, absorbing the loss.  Making his second start against the Texas Rangers on May 1 Hughes flashed the brilliance seen by others assessing his talent.  He was throwing a no-hitter until, with one out in the sixth inning; Hughes injured his left hamstring while throwing a 0-2 curveball to Ranger first baseman Mark Teixeira.  Hughes would miss the next three months rehabbing his injured leg.

Hughes returned to the Yankees on August 4, making his next start against the Kansas City Royals.  He went 4.2 innings, earning a no-decision.

2007 also marked the first time Hughes pitched in the post season.  Once again, Hughes took advantage of the spotlight.  In Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series Hughes faced the Cleveland Indians, entering the game in relief of starter Roger Clemens.  Hughes sparked as he shut down the Indians in 3.2 innings of work to earn the victory.  It was the only win the Yankees would produce against the Tribe.

Another bit of trivia, Hughes was the youngest player (21) on the roster and he replaced the oldest player (45) in Clemens who left the game with a hamstring injury of his own.

During the winter Hughes was sought after by many teams, with the most notable being the Twins.  The Twins as a small market club needed to unload their premier pitcher, Santana, because they knew he was going to fetch a huge contract that the Twins could ill afford to meet.  The Yankees contacted the Twins about Santana, but they wanted Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera in return.  The Yankees ultimately said NO!

Hughes and Cabrera stayed and Santana signed with the New York Mets.

All-in-all, things were looking up for the young righty.  Hughes and Kennedy both made the starting rotation to start the 2008 season.  Hughes, who wore the number 65 in 2007, switched his number to 34 for the 2008 campaign.  It was the number he wore in high school and at the 2006 All-Star Futures Game.

Coming out of Spring Training everything appeared to be on track for Hughes.  He did well in his first start of the season where he went 6.0 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 3.  Hughes earned a no-decision, as the Yankees nipped the Jays 3-2.  In the game Hughes struck out four, walked one and gave up two earned runs.

After that Hughes season unraveled in a hurry.  In his next 5 starts Hughes’ record dropped to 0-4.  He averaged 3.06 innings of work, and his ERA ballooned to 9.00.  To add to Hughes’ woes he landed on the disabled list on April 30 with a strained oblique and a cracked rib.  On May 2 Hughes visited an optometrist and it was discovered he was nearsighted.  He began wearing glasses on the mound.

After recovering from his injuries Hughes spent the summer in the minors at Scranton/Wilkes-Barrie helping the Yankees Triple-A team win the 2008 International League title.

The Yankees recalled Hughes on September 13 and he made his first start on September 17 against the Chicago White Sox.  Hughes threw 4.0 innings, but showed signs of life again.  He surrendered just one run while striking out 4 and walking two batters to help the Yankees to a 5-1 win.  In his next start Hughes pitched 8.0 innings in Toronto.  His line was very encouraging to the Yankees as he only gave up 2 earned runs on 5 hits, while striking out 6 and walking none.  In that one game Hughes lowered his ERA from 7.96 to 6.62.  It was a tremendous building block for Hughes to carry with him into the off-season, which came early as the Yankees failed to make the playoffs.

Hughes had a marvelous 2009 spring training where in 4 appearances (12.1 innings of work) he only gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits, and had a terrific ERA of 2.19.  However, when camp broke to start the regular season Hughes returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

As it has been said many times, “fate is the hunter.”  Fate found Phil Hughes.

No one in their right mind expected the start RHP Chien-Ming Wang has had to start this season.  A two-time 19-game winner, Wang was 8-2 in 2008 before going on the DL after injuring his right foot on June 15, while facing the Houston Astros in an interleague game.  Wang was attempting to score a run when he pulled up lame and was taken out of the game.  It proved to be a season ending injury.

Wang had a pedestrian spring training, but announced himself ready for the start of the season.  Wang was penciled in by manager Joe Girardi as the No. 3 starter behind newly acquired pitchers C.C. Sabathia (Milwaukee Brewers) and A.J. Burnett (Toronto Blue Jays).  In Wang’s first 3 starts he has allowed 23 earned runs on 23 hits in just 6.0 innings of work.  That worked out to an ERA of 34.50.  Wang was pulled from his next start as the team contemplated what it was going to do with him.

“We have some time. We have a day off I think Thursday and we’re going to have to decide what’s best for Chien-Ming Wang and the team,” Girardi said at the time.

What they decided was to put Wang on the disabled list, which opened up the slot for Hughes.

Hughes made the most of the opportunity, and yesterday he was stellar in his start against the Detroit Tigers.   Facing a very formidable lineup Hughes allowed no runs, only 2 hits, while striking out 6 Tigers and walking two.  He also hit a batter.  Hughes mixed his pitches well and kept the Tigers off balance for the most part.  He kept it even, until the Yankees took advantage of an outfield fielding error, and broke the game wide open for an 11-0 win.  The victory snapped a 4-game losing streak.

“It’s a good feeling,” Hughes said to reporters after the game. “I didn’t have one all last year, so to get one in the first start is nice.”

Hughes was just what the Yankees needed.  His performance was the positive, feel good tonic that has been missing from the clubhouse since the Yankees hit the road nearly a week ago.

“That’s the best that I’ve seen him throw,” Joe Girardi said. “It was something we needed. That’s a pretty good hitting lineup and he shut them down.”

Another guy that may be on the hot seat, if Hughes continues to shine, is No. 5 starter Joba Chamberlain.  Chamberlain, who made a splash in 2007 coming out of the bullpen, hasn’t looked as good this season in the starting rotation.

In three starts Chamberlain is 0-0 with a 3.94 ERA.  He has not pitched deep into a game, averaging 5.37 innings per start.  Flashing a near-100 mph fastball in 2007 while coming out of the bullpen Chamberlain has barely reached the mid-90s this year.  He went on the DL in 2008 with a shoulder injury, which was diagnosed as shoulder tendonitis.  He returned to close out the season, but so far this year his performances have been mixed.  Chamberlain has struck out 11, but walked 10.  He is averaging a little over 90 pitches per game.  This is in accordance with the “Joba Rules” imposed upon Chamberlain by the team.  According to Girardi wants Chamberlain limited to 150 innings this year, but at the same time make approximately 30 starts.  Girardi admitted that may necessitate pulling Joba from games after 5 innings.

However, there is no restriction on Hughes, and if he can continue to pitch as he did Tuesday that is going to create some interesting headaches for Girardi.

For one, the bullpen has been a mixed bag of tricks since the season started.  The Yankees have the highest team ERA in baseball and the bullpen has been a large part of that.  Chamberlain has proven he can dish coming out of the ‘pen so that is a great option for Girardi.  RHP Brian Bruney who also went on the DL the same time as Wang had been the one bright spot in the relief corps and once he comes back the Yankees could be looking at a triumvirate much like the Nelson-Stanton-Rivera trio of the 90s.  With both Bruney and Chamberlain in the bullpen with Rivera the Yankees could go a Bruney-Chamberlain-Rivera pairing to shorten the game to six innings.

Secondly, you have to reward effort.  With Wang on the DL for a few more weeks Hughes is going to get the opportunity to show management he belongs in the majors full time.  If he continues to perform like he did against Cleveland sending him back down to the minors would be counterproductive.  It could hurt Hughes psyche as to whether he feels like he’s wanted or not.

The next couple of weeks are going to be very telling for the Yankees and their pitching corps.  If Wang comes back strong and reverts to the pre-injured pitcher he was Girardi is going to have to make some heavy duty decisions (and he won’t be making them alone).  Personally, if Hughes and Wang are pitching at their optimum levels, sending Chamberlain back to the bullpen is the correct move.  He would instantly shore up a leaky group of relievers, and, along with Bruney give them legitimacy.

Decisions, decisions!!  This is why they pay Girardi the big money, because he is the one who is eventually going to have to figure this roadblock out.  It’s a nice problem to have for a while, but ultimately whether or not some personnel like the moves that are going to be made Girardi is going to have to make them for the betterment of the team.

In the meantime, all Phil Hughes can do is take the ball, pitch the best he can, and let the chips fall where they may.

The stadium will now be known as Moscone Bail Bonds Ballpark, and the Mets seem very pleased with the results.

“We are very happy with the transaction,” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. “After months of bad press and financial losses, it’s nice to be affiliated with a company which we know does not accept bailouts.”

In business for over 30 years, the Moscone Corporation gained notoriety from the movie Midnight Run, which chronicled the wrong doings of former employee Jack Walsh by accepting a $300,000 bribe after releasing bail jumper Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas.

Moscone almost went out of business but sued Walsh for the money.  After successfully winning and then investing the $300,000, he built what was a local Los Angeles based firm into a multinational corporation.

“Moscone Corp. has done very well,” said Moscone, who serves as the CEO. “And now with the economy tanking, we know there will be a plenty of bail jumpers, especially in New York, so we wanted to make a splash. What better place than in baseball.

“With guys like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens up on charges and A-Rod visiting prostitutes, it’s just a matter of time until one of these guys jumps [bail]. And who are you going to call? Moscone Bail Bonds.”

Even with both sides pleased with the name change, some Mets didn’t like the move.

“I don’t know about this,” said first baseman Carlos Delgado. “There are innocent people out there, who get arrested and not going to get a fair deal. Bail bonds companies thrive on that.”

“It kind of stinks,” added catcher Brian Schneider. “Midnight Run is one of my favorite movies, because of Jack Walsh. Moscone was just a secondary character. And now this stadium will be a secondary place.”

Although some grumbled, one Met seemed satisified.

“My dad was in law enforcement,” said third baseman David Wright. “So to be involved with a company that brings criminals to justice is a good thing.”

Already the Mets are answering the phone “Moscone Bail Bonds” but won’t be able to get all the former Citi Field signs down in time for Friday. They do hope the “Moscone Bail Bonds Ballpark” sign will adorn the Jackie Robinson Rotunda by opening day on April 13^th.

Happy April Fools Day from the staff of NYSD.

Barkley has always been a great quote and an even better pot stirrer.  Back in 1993, while doing a commercial for Nike athletic shoes, Barkley looked into the camera and said, “I am not a role model.”  He told the public athletes shouldn’t be looked up to, but that the job of being role models fell on the parents at home.  Although it sparked a lot of controversy at the time it turns out that Sir Chuck hit the nail right on the head.  You shouldn’t look up to an athlete and expect them to be a role model.

We all have our childhood sports heroes.  Mine was Mickey Mantle.  Was Mantle a role model?  The answer is no.  Mantle was a hard drinking, womanizing, absentee husband and father who happened to be a great baseball player.  Back in Mantle’s playing days the press chose to basically turn a blind eye to his antics and the antics of other players before and around him.  To a kid like me the Mick was the sun and the moon, and that’s because I didn’t know anything about what went on with him once a ballgame was over.  It wasn’t until Mickey’s liver went bad and he later contracted cancer that he looked in the mirror and got himself turned around.  He told kids, young and old, “Don’t be like me.”  It was a simple and sincere message.  He didn’t want anyone to emulate him.

The list in baseball is a long one of great athletes, who in their private lives, and sometimes their public ones, are miscreants.  Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Raphael Palmeiro, and Miguel Tejada are just a few of the well known names who are poor role models.  And now, after confessing his use of performance enhancing drugs they are joined by Alex Rodriguez.

Not that A-Rod’s public persona was squeaky clean to begin with.  Remember the mysterious blond bombshell he was seen with on the cover of the NY Post?  The cover of the paper said “Stray-Rod?”  Witnesses had them hanging out together in Seattle, Toronto and Dallas, allegedly going into strip clubs.  How romantic.    How about just last year when he was romantically linked to Madonna, though both slugger and singer denied any intimate relationship.  Interestingly enough, both Rodriguez and Madonna divorced their spouses shortly afterwards.  A-Rod is a magnet to controversy.

It just isn’t in baseball where poor role models exist.  How many times have you seen the names of NBA and NFL players pop up in the sports section or police blotter after getting into some unlawful situation and they end up with their latest pictures being booking photos?

It doesn’t stop there.  You see lousy role models in the Olympics, track and field, cycling, and tennis.  You name the sport and you’re sure to find men and women you looked up to who have seriously disappointed you in how you used to view them.

Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros was quoted in the Houston Chronicle, regarding A-Rod’s public admission of cheating.  Berkman said, “The problem with this whole sordid mess (is) … nobody’s going to be believed anymore.”  Berkman, as far as we know, isn’t a steroid abuser and he is absolutely right.  It will be extremely difficult for anyone to believe anybody in sports has an absolute clean past.

That’s the sad part of it all.  The real victims are all the athletes who are clean, who are good citizens, who are good husbands and wives and who lead upstanding lives.  Their sport has once again been spoiled by another athlete who decided to play by his own rules.

One thing I will commend Alex Rodriguez on.  Even though after going back over his interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons on Monday where I think he did a little too much justification about why he cheated with steroids, I will commend him on coming straight out and saying he did it.  He didn’t lie about it although he did try and paint himself as an unwitting, naïve and young player who went with the flow.  At least he put the onus on himself and didn’t blame anyone else for getting caught.  He told the truth.

Something Miguel Tejada will learn about in federal court today.

We can all guess as to who’s in that lot.  Maybe Roger Clemens.  Apparently, Barry Bonds was not part of that group.  How about Jason Giambi, who’s been caught and apologized before?  Andy Pettitte?  Jason Grimsley?  Remember, he’s the one who gave The Mitchell Report investigators loads of info after getting caught for ordering performance enhancers and having them delivered to his house.  Could Rafael Palmeiro be in there?  Paul Byrd?

We just don’t know who those 103 players are.  Yet.  Do they know?  Did A-Rod know he was one of the 104 before the Sports Illustrated piece told us?  Did he know in 2007 that damning evidence existed to refute his testimony when Katie Couric asked him if he’d ever used and he said no?

If the balance do know they’re part of this historical grouping, are these 103 players walking on eggshells today?  Are they wondering when their names will somehow leak out?  What would you do if you know you were on the list?  You have options.

1.  Denial

Here’s the worst option an MLB player who has been caught using performance enhancers can choose.  The only one being convinced is yourself, which is bad because that means nobody believes you.  Already in a hole, you are now digging it deeper.  Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens chose this route.  So far, the results have not been favorable to either man.  A risky move, especially if you did do some form of steroids, the only way out is to somehow have enough evidence to absolutely prove you did do them, which is hard because you did do them and the evidence exists.  Here’s where the risk can prove fatal: When you try to bring others down with you.  Maybe a trainer.  Or a doctor.  Or your father.  Or a friend.  Or aliens who injected you on some barren Arizona highway and you don’t remember a thing.  You become convinced that you were set up and somebody else is doing all of the lying.  You need an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all the people you bring in and all of the statements you make about them and their friends and the lies you begin to toss around like a new Rawlings ball in spring training.  Denial.  Choose this one and expect the worst.

2.  Huh?

Huh? means you admit you took something but didn’t know what it was.  Bonds has used this.  Gary Sheffield too.  Rafael Palmeiro combined his Huh? defense with the Denial defense.  He now lives a secluded life in a shack deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, typing manifestos all day on a broken typewriter.  It’s not just a coincidence that the Huh? defense can be misread by the human eye as the HgH defense.

3.  A Sorry Silence

This is the option most all of the minor leaguers who get caught use.  This is generally an involuntary choice, because these guys were most likely using because they needed an edge.  Their natural skills couldn’t get them to the big leagues, so they felt they had to use performance enhancers.  After being caught, we see their names in a short Baseball Notes blurb in the Sunday paper or at the end of your favorite team’s game recap.  And we don’t hear from them again.  Not enough people cared when you were using.  And now that you’ve been caught, you are branded as a cheater and, unless some scout with loads of organizational pull sees you’re a future no-doubt All-Star, you’re back home in the Dominican months later, playing baseball for a dollar a day; the hopes of your family ever dragging itself out of poverty lost for another generation.

4.  Admission

Andy Pettitte used this successfully in 2008.  After his inclusion in The Mitchell Report, he spoke about how and why he used performance enhancers.  Because he had always been considered a “clean” player and was respected in the league and by fans, this worked for him.  Sure, he suffered some embarrassment and his family became involved in his and the Roger Clemens scandal, but by mid-season, it was mostly a footnote to his career.  He was believed and that was that.

Paul Byrd took the same approach during the 2007 ALCS, when the news broke that he had used HgH, his name found in some seized records.  That same day he took on the media.  He wrote about his use in his book, Free Byrd, and he spoke to me about it candidly as well.  Paul will be the first to admit that he was never a Roger Clemens-type pitcher, with an incredible pitching resume and massive fame.  But he had been successful enough to make headlines when “caught.”  And he explained his side of the story.  Like Pettitte, it was largely forgotten as the 2008 season wore on.

Of course, Jose Canseco is the one who has influenced MLB and its surrounding worlds of fans, media & agents when it comes to admission to using performance enhancers.  While he’s considered a joke when it comes to his lifestyle and attitude, he broke the Clubhouse Rule of telling stories and naming names, especially his own.  While he reasons for doing so were not pure; he wasn’t trying to better society and save the lives of kids, since he needed the money from the sales of the book and movie rights, his legacy will be that of someone who gave legitimacy to the allegations players, lots of players, used performance enhancers.  Love him or hate him, Canseco admitted and has reaped benefits for doing so.

5.  Surprise Admission

This has not been used yet.  This is what a guy like A-Rod could have done months ago, or years ago, and been praised for.  Let’s say you are one of The Unnamed 103.  It’s just days before spring training begins.  You know time is short when it comes to your anonymity.  You know, as we all do, that someday, maybe next week, maybe next year, those names are all going to come out.  You can still take control.  The message will be delivered.  Before the world hears it, you can be in charge of the delivery method.  Let it leak.  Let Bud Selig release the names, with union approval (and public & government pressure), formally.  Or stand up now and admit you believe, or you know, you’re on the list.

This cannot hurt you.  You can appear respectable.  When you are inevitably asked if you know who the now Unnamed 102 are, you honestly say that it is not for you to say.  You can say you may know, or have some idea, who a handful of them are, but you can say it’s not your place to name names.  “The only name I feel I have the right to reveal is my own.”

Suddenly, you have character.  You came out and spoke the truth.  And you didn’t pull a Canseco and bring down others with you.  Instead, you are now instantly compared to Clemens and Bonds and Giambi.  And you are looked at as a stand-up guy.  People will respect you for telling the truth about yourself.  And they’ll respect you more for not being a tattle-tale when it comes to others.

The natural reaction of someone when they are caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing is to say, “I didn’t do it.”  Look at politicians.  Look at people who cheat on their spouses.  The mind’s first defense is to lie and deceive and hope that tact works.  But, in the public forum of the early-21st century, you are guilty until proven innocent.  This is based upon so many people actually being guilty and just not admitting to it.  Maybe if there was more truth-telling from the outset, there would be more forgiveness as well.  While we wait for these Unnamed 103 players to be dragged through the mud, maybe the smart move for some of them would be to come clean now.  If you’re going to get caught, you might as well tell us on your own terms.

Jimmy Scott is probably the greatest pitcher you’ve never heard of.   Visit  Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight to read more from Jimmy.  You’ll also hear a new interview every Monday morning with former MLB players, agents, wives and others, giving new perspectives on this great game we call Baseball.  Go now to hear Jimmy’s latest interviews with Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Valent.

Sure, many Hall of Fame voters will hold it against him, but without a full admission, A-Rod will have this hang over him for the rest of his career.

Right now, Rodriguez has nine years left on his Yankee contract. An immediate admission will give the slugger enough time to repair his tarnished reputation. Although he could still be on the juice in some undetectable form, nine years of clean pee may be enough to erase the stain of his 2003 mistake.

Rodriguez needs to admit the mistake and move on. (Pete Borriello/NYSD)

In this country, honesty is the best way to go. For some odd reason, cheating is a forgivable sin, but to deny it just insults everyone’s intelligence. Bonds and Clemens decided to go the other route and they will forever be known as not only steroid abusers, but the sneaky kind that have been trying to cover it up. And let’s not mention the legal issues they both face. By lying under oath, both face perjury charges, which could put them in orange jumpsuits, if the government goes through with the trials.

Yet, coming clean does work. Andy Pettitte admitted his use after the Mitchell Report came out last year. He was forgiven and allowed to move on with his career. Jason Giambi also said he was sorry – although never actually said what he was sorry for – and was able to somewhat repair his reputation.

Now, A-Rod needs to do the same.

Sports Illustrated would never have published the story if they didn’t think there was enough credible evidence behind it and A-Rod would have been appalled if he was innocent, rather than telling SI to go “talk to the union.”

A-Rod is now at a crossroads. He needs to come to New York, admit his guilt to the Yankees, and ask for forgiveness. Although the Bombers probably won’t be able to void his contract, which they now think was negotiated in bad faith by Rodriguez, the third baseman has a major bridge to repair with his employer.

Then he needs to admit it to the general public. Call a press conference under the Yankee watch and just tell the world he did test positive in 2003 and he’s sorry. That act of contrition will go a long way with everyone in the baseball world.

Otherwise, this scandal will hang over his head for the rest of his career. Every home run, every RBI, even every hit will be looked at as tarnished. And no matter what he says to the press, he will always be considered a liar.

And then there’s the Yankees themselves. Does Rodriguez want to subject his teammates to question after question on the subject? This is supposed to be a banner year for the Yankees. With a number of new stars and a shiny new building, 2009 is supposed to be the year the Yankees comeback to prominence.

Now it took a turn for the worst. All the goodwill built up this offseason by the Yankees is now gone. They were able to pretty much dodge the Joe Torre bullet, but can’t avoid this.

And there’s only one way to solve this A-Rod conundrum – have Rodriguez come clean and move on.

But here’s the thing: He never really quit.

Bernie never held a press conference and told the world, “I have retired from baseball.”  He never had some “family spokesperson” speak for him, never issued a statement from behind “The Williams Compound” walls that he was out for good.  Until a player does that, he always has that little bit of Nolan Ryan in him, a little Roger Clemens; the part that is 99.9% sure it’s over. The end of a baseball career is the only time when a .1% outweighs the rest; when you still have a part of you that wants to come back for one more season.

PROS & CONS

If you’re in Bernie’s shoes and you stop playing at 38 years old, and not necessarily voluntarily, you keep wondering if you can make it back.  You put together lists in your head of why you should even consider playing again.  It’s a Pros & Cons list, with the Pros being reasons to try to play again.  Since it’s your list and comes from your head and is biased because of the .1%, the Pros usually outnumber the Cons.  For example:

CONS: Being away from my kids for long stretches, being away from my wife for long stretches (for some this is a Pro, I know), can sit home and play guitar all day, can come and go as you please with no manager or coach or agent screaming at you to wear a jock even though you’re sick of the chafing.

I could go on, but there aren’t any more major Cons.  Let’s look at the Pros:

PROS: Money, pride, desire to stay young, desire to be with the guys again in the clubhouse, the need to satisfy your competitive mojo, faith in yourself that you can still play, wanting to prove to everyone who thought you were done that you weren’t, the cheering sound of a 50,000-person crowd, love of the game, the feel of the bat in your palms, the glove on your hand, the ball traveling from your fingertips to a cutoff man who may possibly be named Derek Jeter, a manager or coach or agent screaming at you to wear a jock, playing guitar in the clubhouse or the hotel or the airplane every free moment, being a good example for your kids never to give up, showing your wife she married a M-A-N.

It’s possible to come up with more Pros, but you get the idea.  If a guy like Bernie really wants to come back, it’s never hard to justify it to yourself.

PUERTO RICO

Once you’ve made the commitment to give it one more shot at 40 years old, the hardest part isn’t stepping onto the field.  The hardest part is staying there.

You don’t realize what two years of inactivity does to you.  You don’t realize what two years of others improving, of the game going on without your contributions, means until you face that first pitch and think, very quietly, “I don’t remember balls traveling that fast from pitcher to catcher before.”  You’re two steps slower.  Your arm is two years older.  Your body at 40 isn’t the body of a svelte 20 year old.  But you don’t care.  All that matters is the grass under your cleats and the uniform over your shoulders.  You’re playing again.  The Cons at this point never seemed to exist.

Bernie felt this in Puerto Rico this year.  He went down to his native domicile to play in the Puerto Rican winter league and got a hit in his first at bat.  You know how that feels?  Joy.  That’s what that is.

Then he hit a snag.  He didn’t get a hit in his next 5 at bats.  Then he got hurt, straining his right quad.  If you’ve never strained your right quad, be very happy.  It’s not fun.  It’s not pleasant.  And it takes a while to heal.

There are guys who would take that 1 for 6, suffer the strain, and say to themselves, “I gave it my best shot.”  Then they’d go home.  Would they be satisfied?  Yes, they tried.  Yes, they made it back onto the field.  But is 1 for 6 enough?  Depending upon how the guy justifies it in his head, maybe.  Or maybe not.

For Bernie, it looks like a “maybe not.”  He has been added to the provisional 45-man roster for the Puerto Rican team participating in this year’s World Baseball Classic.  That’s a big step.  He has until February 22nd to heal up his leg and catch up to fastballs and curveballs and the occasional circle change.  On that day, the team’s roster is cut to the final 28.

Bernie Williams fans can circle 2/22 on their calendars.  That will be a big day for him, when all of the Pros and the mental justifications are either satisfied and celebrated or wiped away with one quick Con.  Make the team and your journey back continues.  Get cut and get out for good.  It’s a time when that 99.9% finally equals 100%.  And maybe the big press conference will follow soon after that.

Or maybe not.

THE EVENT

Meanwhile, you can see Bernie Williams this Saturday, January 24th at the Hillside Food Outreach 7th Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors event. Bernie is hosting the event, with special guest Robinson Cano, in Thornwood, New York.

Bernie’s going to play guitar and make it worth your time.  Ticket prices range from $275 to $1500.

What is Hillside Food Outreach?  “Hillside Food Outreach exists to provide food to those in need throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties. It is our Mission to deliver food to people who are, for whatever reason, unable to access local food pantries.  We also provide food bags for special needs diets, such as diabetes.

“It is our objective to meet the needs of the poor and destitute of Westchester and Putnam Counties by delivering food and friendships.”

If you can, go see Bernie on the 24th.  And say hey to Robbie for me.

Jimmy Scott is probably the greatest pitcher you’ve never heard of.  You can hear a new interview every Monday morning with a current or ex-MLB player, agent, or wife on Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight.  Go to www.jimmyscottshighandtight.com and listen.

Childhood Heroes: “I used to love Willie Mays. I used to love Juan Marichal. And Roberto Clemente.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Playing with my kids (Teddy and Justin). And now I guess I like to go to a good restaurant for good food and wine.”

Favorite Movie: “A Bronx Tale.”

Omar Minaya

Musical Tastes: “Good question … musical tastes … I like diversity, so probably Brazilian jazz.”

Favorite TV Shows: “I don’t watch much TV. The only channel that I watch is The History Channel.”

Early Baseball Memory: “I think the early memories were coming to Shea Stadium and sitting up in the upper (Omar looks up into the upper deck area behind third base) and watching the Giants and the Pirates play when I was a kid.”

First Job: “Working in a grocery store in Queens when I was about nine years old.”

Favorite Meal: “Anything my wife (Rachel)cooks.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee ice cream.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “Something that made me laugh in baseball … for me a funny baseball memory is having association with Rickey Henderson, who I love.”

Childhood Dream(s): “Growing up, I always wanted to be a baseball player. I was always a baseball player. And if it wasn’t a baseball player, it probably would have been a police officer.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I’d say being part of The Subway Series (in 2000), when I was part of the Mets (as senior assistant GM). Being a New Yorker and being a part of the Subway Series, just being a part of that was exciting.”

Most Painful Moment: “Probably getting released. When I was getting released from the Oakland Athletics, when I was a kid.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Fiercest competitors that I encountered … I think guys like Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. Those are guys that I love to watch compete.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “Rickey Henderson. He’s funny, in a good way. Rickey’s very … he knows baseball, but he’s one of the best teammates I’ve been around.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Castiglione della Pescaia in Tuscany, Italy.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Every day is different. It’s just the anticipation that something good is going to happen.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People that are honest, just good-hearted, honest people.”

Career Accomplishments: Became baseball’s first Hispanic general manager in 2002 when appointed vice-president & general manager by the Montreal Expos; Was invited and honored (along with Vladimir Guerrero) by The President of the United States at the 2003 gala dinner celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at The White House; current GM of the New York Mets.