The Anchoress

Watching the truly incredible Tino Martinez (long one of my favorites) and Bernie Williams trot off toward the dugout after scoring on Bernie’s seventh inning grand slam…sigh…it felt like old times. Tino is where he belongs. We’ve got Tino. Jeter. Williams. Posada. Four champtions who play with heart.

For all the dead weight that has been Jason Giambi - the biggest baby I’ve ever seen play the game, bar none - and the not-great fielding of A- “Slappy McBluelips” Rod (I still believe his slap-and-lie at first reversed the curse), if the rest of the team has heart we maybe can win, again.

I’m not saying we’re there yet. Our pitching is still scary, and right now we’re not playing the best teams. But. It FEELS good, and feels right, and it HAS felt right ever since Mike Mussina told Joe Torre, “go back to the dugout: I’m finishing this game.” The Yankees NEEDED that display of heart. I knew as I watched that it was going to make a difference, and it has.

Gary Sheffield has heart. I once heard him recall the moment when Derek Jeter flew into the stands to catch a foul - almost breaking his neck - as a defining moment for him as a ballplayer - a moment when he realized he’d been putting his ego ahead of the game…and he regained his heart. Matsui has heart. Tony Womack seems to have it in bunches. The young pitcher Wang seems to have the stuff. I believe Robinson Cano has it; he certainly LOOKS like a Yankee.

Baseball is a game of heart and optimism and wonder. I think if the Yankess can hang on to theirs…this might yet be one amazing seaon. A season of heart.