Ground control to Major Manny

It's tough to dislike Manny Ramirez. He kills the Yankees. More than David Ortiz, more than that &*%#@$-ing pest Dustin Pedroia. The guy looks absolutely clueless, yet he plays a respectable leftfield and hits anything that's round and white. Speed doesn't matter. Bend doesn't matter. Location doesn't matter. Manny sees the ball. Manny hits the ball. And runs usually score.

Manny is always Manny.

The Yankees needed this win. With Chien-Ming Wang looking shakey - too strong maybe, everything was up and flat - their offense came to life, and more importantly, got key hits and maintained pressure. LaTroy Hawkins and Brian Bruney stepped up as well, providing four scoreless innings. Surrendering a 4-run lead and fighting back, in early April, when the Yankees traditionally stink, is big. A $200 million team shouldn't be happy with treading water, but history says otherwise.

And so, Hawkins finally gave up 21. It took a talk from Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada to get him to do so. It's unbelievable Hawkins didn't know the significance of 21 to Yankees fans. Morgan Ensberg did, and wanted nothing to do with it. Hawkins was booed Opening Day, and in every appearance at the Stadium, no matter what he did. I predict Paul O'Neill's 21 and Bernie Williams' 51 will be the first numbers retired at the new Yankee Stadium as a way to carry the dynasty of the late '90s into the new park. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees decided to retire 2, 6, 20, 42 and 46 while they were at it. Probably should retire 24. Twice. Rickey Henderson deserves it as much as Tino Martinez.

This picture should bring a tear to any Yankees fan's eye. It's one of the lasting memories of that team I have, and, aside from Jeter's flip in Oakland, it's the most unbelievable thing I've seen or heard on a baseball field. That Yankeeography still gives me goosebumps. That part anyway.