Hey, anything new going on? I was at the game yesterday and went to the bathroom during the seventh inning stretch and suddenly everyone was acting all nutty. What gives?

The Yankees played a quick yet contentious game against the Mariners yesterday, winning 5-0. Josh Phelps plowed over Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima–it looked like a needlessly aggresive play, and was later plunked at which points both teams were issued a warning. Then, with two out in the top of the seventh, Scott Proctor threw a pitch behind Yuniesky Betancourt, which caused tempers to flare, and bullpens to empty. It was much ado about nuthin but a fitting prelude to what happened next during the sevent inning stretch when Roger Clemens appeared with a microphone in the owner’s box. “Well, they came and got me out of Texas, and I can tell you it’s a privilege to be back,” said Clemens. “I’ll be talking to y’all soon!” Then a message on the scoreboard announced that Clemens was once again a Yankee. By the end of a long day of talking to the media, where it was disclosed that Clemens will earn a prorated contract worth $28 million, there was Clemens out in the Yankee bullpen, surrounded by Yankee coaches, pitching.

While it wasn’t exactly Old Timer’s Day in 1978–when Billy Martin, who had been fired five days earlier, was dramatically announced as the manager for 1980–it was certainly an unusual way to announce the return of Clemens. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so strange considering the team and the circumstances. Regardless, the return of Clemens upstaged a fine performance by Darrell Rasner and the Yankees who are now just one game under .500. Somehow, I didn’t hear many fans complaining.