Damon often blows my mind when he’s interviewed. He frequently has strategy opinions that are so old-school gritty he’s a shoe-in to be a manager. His ideas about Joba in the bullpen last year were especially insightful: He should stay out there because it just feels good that he’s there.

And I can’t imagine actually being at the game. It was difficult to watch knowing my apartment was just a few blocks away; actually being there would have been stressful.

Let’s face it: great win – shit game.

Definitely a playoff atmosphere around the neighborhood before the game. Yanks and Sox fans exchanging taunts and insults over buckets of Dominican beers at Stadium Pizza. I hadn’t been to the bar row on River Ave. since last season. I don’t know why I had the impression it had turned into a ghost town, but it’s still a raging scene. Roy White was signing autographs outside one of the bars, Stan’s I think. He looks great.

The Ali ceremony was a little sad, but it was still something to see him in person, even if it was through binoculars.

Standout moments were obvious: Ortiz’s first at-bat, Melky’s blast, Po’s failure to slide.

Melk’s homer had the place going crazy, but the Ortiz moment was definitley the Stadium’s emotional high of the night (or low depending on your perspective). Everybody’s jacked up as the game starts. Then, Papi steps up. The Red Sox fans around me (including a row of 5 behind me all wearing their team colors) tried to cheer him on, but recognizing the futility of pissing into the Stadium wind they turned embarrassed, one even looked to me like he might cry while we Yanks fans gave it to Papi. A few of Sox fans (including guy in Papelbon jersey, with Jeter jersey wearing girlfriend) hissed back about the obvious hypocrisy of jeering a confirmed cheater. The kid behind him in the Rodriguez jersey (player’s name included) didn’t want to hear about it. But all the Sox fans around me pretty much just grumbled, knowing this was rightfully coming to their guy.

I wasn’t surprised that the Papi bashing subsided with each of his at-bats. It seemed everybody got what they wanted to say about him off their chests in the first inning. Only the hardcore haters stayed on him until the bitter end.

Oy, what a bitter end. Thought that game might never end. In the car by 11:30, in the driveway shortly after 12:30. Excellent night at the ballpark.

I though Posada’s IQ was 90 ; )

Their broadcast is unbearable without Remy.

getting po’s bat going would be huge.
it’s hard to remember it now – but melky’s hr was a big time hit.

i am just curious if the yankee pitchers walked anyone else after i went to bed around midnight?

monkeypants, you probably saw this by now, but the Yanks can easily make room on the 40-man roster for Gaudin by simply shifting Wang or Nady to the 60-day DL. My guess is you’re right, Claggett and Melancon go down, though I’d much rather see Bruney go. But I believe he’s out of options . . .

Hey Timmy – try this newfangled device called “Google” spelled G-o-o-g-l-e. All you have to do is type in “Verducci effect” and you find an answer.

He also raises a good point–not very elegantly–about weighing the value of the team winning potentially it all now versus investing in possible long term success for the player (and team).

This being said, he’s a bit off his rocker. And in any case, the Yankees may render the discussion “mute” if they move out to a bigger lead and can thus afford to skip a few of his starts.

Jorge Posada played with a No. 15 decal on his mask in honor of Thurman Munson, whose funeral was 30 years ago today. “Just something I wanted to do,” he said. “He means a lot to me.”

Posada is reading Marty Appel’s new book on Munson.

Timmy Mac…on the attack!