YANKS FINDING WAYS TO WIN

***TWO OUT OF THREE FROM THE METS***
Okay, they aren't one of the Al East Beasts, but they play harder against the Yanks. Since I last posted the Yanks took two from Baltimore and the series from the Mets, the last one not really a beat-down, in spite of the score, but, a win is a win, is a win.
After a couple of seeing-eye hits, the real Mets started showing up, starting with SS Jose Reyes. After listening to McCarver (and it was painful) talking about Reyes on Saturday I kept looking for a guy with a big "S" on his chest. I found him on Sunday, but an "A-S..." seemed to appear at the same time. I especially liked how he charged out after a pop up and then kept running instead of trying to pick up the ball, even though it landed about a foot from him. A reporter did a little street poll on Friday, asking fans if the Yankees would be better if Reyes were the shortstop instead of Jeter. That play is why the answer would always be no.
A-Rod got four hits tonight, which were reminiscent of Nellie Fox of the '50-'60 White Sox. Nellie never hit a ball into the outfield that took less than two hops to get there.
Next up are the Blue Jays with Jose Bautista acting like the next Babe Ruth. In a post-game discussion, David Cone quoted the old baseball saying, "Don't give him anything to hit, but don't walk him." Then he added, "I'm sorry, no. Walk him." Might be a good idea.

I also heard McCarver make a big deal out of the fact that A-Rod hit a home run one-handed. Then had them show a replay to show the fans. Big mistake. It was a typical A-Rod swing: hit through the ball with two hands and then let go with the right hand. Didn't help McCarver, though. He still insisted it was a one-handed swing. Listen hard, Tim. Can you hear Joe Morgan calling? Retire! Retire!

***THE NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS***
Three terrific ballplayers are suffering from cancer and one, Harmon Killebrew, has already passed. He was a great hitter, a wonderful person and a true and deserving Hall-of-Famer. The other two are Gary Carter and Bill "Moose" Skrowron. The prognosis for both is not good. We will miss "Killer" and wish the other two the best.

Two of my favorite columnists did not write this week. Cam Hutchinson has left the Star Phoenix in Saskatoon to join a start-up paper and may soon be publishing again. The other is Stan Kegel, who writes the "Weakly Humerous News," a collection of the weeks best quotes. Stan is off for just this week to attend, and I looked this up to confirm, "The Austin Texas O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships." There is no truth to the rumor that first prize is the Dwight Perry Master Punster Trophy. ...........but it should be.

It was reported that a Vancouver Canucks fan flashed her breasts at the Sharks' Ben Eager as he sat out a penalty late in Wednesday's game. When he was asked about it, he said, "All I can say is that it wasn't my wife.

CP-