Opening Day was a success in the Bronx earlier with the Yankees defeating the Tigers 6-3 before 48,000 or so who braved the elements. The first ever March baseball game saw the Mark Teixeira deliver a “Teix Message” and Curtis Granderson morph into “The Grandy Man” with each going yard to make a winner of reliever Joba [Jaw-bah] Chamberlain, who tossed a 1-2-3 seventh.

C.C. Sabathia wasn’t great but battled through adversity, including permitting only a run around a bases loaded no out second threat. The big southpaw who dropped some 30 pounds in hopes of a new extension- allowed only two earned on sac flies while fanning seven in six frames. Sabathia threw 106 pitches (70 strikes) before giving way to a Yankee pen which should be a huge weapon, featuring Joba, David Robertson, Boone Logan, new setup man Rafael Soriano and the best closer in the business, Mariano Rivera.

Not shockingly, Chamberlain, Soriano and Rivera each tossed scoreless innings to hold the Tigers at three. In fact, no Tiger reached base with each Yankee reliever striking out one, including Mo freezing former Yankee prospect Austin Jackson to end the game for career save No.560.

Sabathia’s counterpart Justin Verlander threw gas to get out of a two out threat in the first. After walking Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, he got Robby Cano swinging on a wicked 96 heater. Verlander has some of the nastiest stuff featuring a tough changeup. However, a loss of focus in the third cost with Teixeira bombing his first into the second deck. New catcher Russell Martin had an auspicious debut, getting the Yanks’ first hit of 2011 and stealing third after Verlander lost Derek Jeter. After Martin swiped third, a Teix message was sent a bit early for the notoriously slow starter. Perhaps that’s cause the calendar still read March. It was nice to see Teixeira swing the bat.

“I’ve been petitioning the league to start in March for years. “Finally they let us start in March because everybody knows my Aprils,” Teixeira joked. “It’s great to start this way. … Last year was awful, it was embarrassing.”

Detroit scratched out a run each in the fourth and fifth highlighted by a Brandon Inge RBI single down the third baseline. Some good hustle by Brett Gardner kept the Tigers from scoring more. The speedy left fielder also sacrificed twice, including a dangerous run to first where he landed awkwardly with Miguel Cabrera covering. Luckily, he didn’t turn his ankle. A Cano error allowed the Tigers to tie it. The All-Star second baseman dropped a routine throw off a sacrifice, giving Detroit two baserunners with no one out, which they parlayed into a Cabrera sac fly. But Sabathia battled back by K-ing Victor Martinez to end the half inning.

Verlander dialed it up to pitch out of a jam, fanning eight over seven innings before giving way to former Yank Phil Coke. Jim Leyland’s decision to send in the lefty to face Granderson backfired in one swing, with Grandy taking Coke deep to right for the go-ahead run. Jeter tacked on another run with a short fly to center that still allowed the speedy Martin to beat a good throw from Jackson.

Nick Swisher’s runscoring single plated A-Rod for the final tally in the eighth on a dreary cold 40 degree day in the Big Apple.

“It was great—except for the weather,” said Granderson after taking part in the Opening Ceremonies that included former Yankee starter Mike “Moose” Mussina tossing out the first pitch.

“That’s the way we drew it up,” pleased Yankee skipper Joe Girardi said.

The Yankees and Tigers met for the first time in the Big Apple on Opening Day since 1966 with Detroit prevailing 2-1. Today’s lineup that included an outfield of Gardner, Granderson, Swisher along with an infield of Rodriguez, Jeter, Cano and Teixeira was the first time since 1926-27 that the Bronx Bombers began consecutive seasons with the same starting outfielders and four infielders. The only change was behind the plate with Martin debuting while Jorge Posada shifted to DH. Credit goes out to the always reliable Elias Sports Bureau for that remarkable gem.

Thankfully, the Yanks and Tigers get a day off with rain/snow expected before reuniting Saturday with A.J. Burnett going against former Florida ’03 World Series teammate Brad Penny. Max Scherzer opposes Phil Hughes in the series finale Sunday.

The Mets open tomorrow in Florida for the 9,887th time. Other Opening Day winners included Atlanta shutting out the Nationals 2-zip behind Derek Lowe and the Reds scoring four in the ninth, including a three-run walkoff blast from Ramon Hernandez to stun the Brewers 7-6.

We’ll have much more baseball stuff tomorrow, including some predictions.

In yesterday's Yankee win over the Blue Jays, Alex Rodriguez finally made history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach 600 home runs.

Yesterday, Alex Rodriguez finally snapped out of it to hit his 600th career home run in the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Blue Jays- salvaging the final game of a three-game series.

In doing so, the future Hall Of Famer (yes, he still is in our book) became just the seventh ballplayer to reach 600 and the youngest ever beating out who else but The Babe. A-Rod recently turned 35 reaches a special milestone at 35 years, eight days with Babe Ruth next youngest at 36 years, 196 days in 1931. However, as was noted in the Yahoo recap, Ruth accomplished it in fewer games (183) due to being a pitcher first with Boston before becoming a full-time slugger. Pretty amazing stuff.

In finally reaching 600 homers, Rodriguez joins tainted record holder Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), recently retired former Mariner teammate Ken Griffey, Jr. (630) and no habla engles Sammy Sosa (609). Pretty exclusive company even if the chase was marred by his steroids admission last year. Sadly, nearly half the list cheated with Bonds and Sosa front and center. It’s still odd that A-Rod also did it because we always thought he stood for integrity. Especially being a baseball guru who prides himself on being the best. Guess it just goes to show that even the most gifted athletes can slip up. Simple message. Trust no one.

It’s a shame that such a remarkable feat which saw the Yankee third baseman hit one off Shaun Marcum into Monument Park is basically acknowledged with a shrug. Something like this should be more celebrated but unfortunately, it was anti-climatic due to circumstance. Baseball is a great sport filled with legions of diehard fans who take pride in the history books. The home run has always been the greatest thrill. Now, it’s forever tainted making the legends before them turn in their graves.

How many of Rodriguez’ 600 blasts were performance enhanced? If you buy the story he gave last year about it just being with Texas, then that’s still a good chunk. He totaled 156 in only three seasons, averaging a gaudy 52-per-year. In already his seventh year in the Bronx including Wednesday’s 17th dinger of 2010, A-Rod is at 255 long balls (36.4) with over seven weeks left. Yes. It’s true that his production has curtailed since a monster ’07 that saw him hit 54 homers and drive in a career high 156 en route to an MVP.

A-ROD IN DECLINE???

Year      GP          HR

’07          158        56

’08           138        35

’09            124        30

*’10            101         17

*Current season

Part of this is due to the chronic hip he had surgery on last year, costing him over a month. Perhaps it’s also a sign that age is finally catching up. During his prime years, Rodriguez was deadly- rarely missing pitches. Even if he’s slowing down, the New York native answered critics last year by still reaching 30 homers and 100 RBI’s while having a memorable postseason filled with clutch home runs- leading the Bronx Bombers to their record 27th championship and first in the A-Rod Era.

What else is there for Rodriguez to accomplish? Well, the questions already started about whether he can catch Bonds, who’s still 162 clear of him. It all depends on health. If he stays healthy and can recapture the stroke that once made him a gimme for 40, then he should be a lock. However, homers are down since Major League Baseball (MLB) cracked down on performance enhancers. When Jose Bautista’s leading the majors with 33 homers, it tells you plenty. It’s become a pitcher’s game again.

A-Rod will still have the advantage of being in the middle of the most potent lineup with Mark Teixeira and Robby Cano providing plenty of support along with Jorge Posada and All-Star Nick Swisher. Will finally ending the 0-for-17 drought and longest between home run 599 and 600 among the Elite Seven get Rodriguez going? You have to think it’ll relax him with a hot streak just around the corner. Amazing that he still has knocked in 87 despite less dingers. No doubt, he’s making his RBI’s count as he paces the Yanks ahead of Teixeira (81) and MVP candidate Cano (71).

If anything, he should be a lock for 27 taking him to 610. Ten more isn’t a lot to ask for one of the greatest superstars the game’s ever seen. Then, it becomes a matter of math. Can he average 30 HR the next four years before he turns 40 in 2015?  If Alexander The Great can get back to that level, that would be at least 120 pushing him to 730- making the record attainable.

It should be interesting to follow the plight of A-Rod and whether he can become the new Home Run King. Even if it won’t be fully embraced despite his unique talent.

The big bat of Ike Davis has changed the Mets season.

-The Met season didn’t truly begin until Ike Davis was recalled. Since, the Amazin’s have turned it around going 5-1 on a huge homestand, including an impressive sweep of the Braves which only featured the big first base slugger’s first home run. A moon shot that went 450 feet. Still amazing to think they played the first dozen without him, opting for Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis. Makes you question what the thinking was. Well, that and Jerry Manuel’s decision to bat Frank Catalanotto cleanup. But hey. At least they didn’t wait till May.

-Is Mike Pelfrey really this good or will he hit a rough patch? In Year 3, the true test won’t come till July-August. Still have to love what they’re getting from a guy who was a huge question mark entering the season.

-Jose Reyes third at least gives them a solid middle even with David Wright scuffling.

-Jonathon Niese has pitched well meaning maybe 1-2-3 are good but Oli Perez and John Maine remain sore spots.

-Amazing what happens when Robby Cano takes advice from Alex Rodriguez on hitting in key situations. He’s finally starting to look like the player we always envisioned. MVP year??? Ironic too because A-Rod’s struggles were well documented till last October. Well, at least the Yankee second baseman hasn’t followed Alex’s other oddities. Some things are better off not being explained.

-I was in favor of bringing Javier Vazquez back. Especially for Da Melk Man. But here he is in phase II emulating the nightmarish 2004 that ended with one swing of the bat from Johnny Damon. He’s pitched well everywhere else including the White Sox. So, the AL argument is weak. Yes, Javy serves ‘em up but maybe it’s a New York thing. Uh oh.

-Joba’s better in the pen while Phil Hughes is better in the rotation. Just what we thought all along.

-How come I think of the Curtis Granderson trade as not just for Austin Jackson and Phil Coke but also Damon? Nice to see Jackson off to a good start in Motown.

-If only the rest of Melo’s Nugget teammates had the same kind of determination he does. He did all he could before they woke up which turned out a little too late to get it even against the harder working Jazz coached by Jerry Sloan. Coincidence? We think not. Especially with Denver minus George Karl. Charles Barkley’s right. They need a good kick in the ass. Adrian Dantley was a great player but he’s way too passive. Just look at his press conferences. Still, what a disappointing series for the Nuggets. Can they save it? It says here they win Game Five big and won’t lose Game Seven. All comes down to Salt Lake. We’ll see what they’re made of.

-Anyone else surprised that the Mavs are down to the super experienced Spurs 3-1?!?!?!?!?! Quoting 2Pac, “Some things will never change.”

-Watching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s Thunder is refreshing. It’s also what young legs are capable of against older ones. Especially the banged up Lakers. Figure Kobe to will them through.

-Gotta love D-Wade, whose team trailed 3-0 to the Celts. With it tight and it essentially over, all he did was set a franchise playoff mark with 46 points, including five from downtown and a couple of monster jams including a poster on KG, who looked like he was biting his lip after getting victimized. Considering what a cheap shot artist he is, it was perfect.

-Everyone talks about the Magic who derailed LeBron and the Cavs last year. But the Hawks also could make some noise. First, they have to get Game Four at Milwaukee and ice this series. We’ll see if they’re up to the challenge.

-The Garden is quiet with little going on in May. Great job Jazzy Jim! When the Knicks don’t get LeBron, Wade or Chris Bosh, what will they think?

-I’ve always been a big fan of Jameer Nelson and now he’s showing why. How do you think all those teams that passed on him feel these days?

-Gotta love Joakim Noah. The dude is a great interview. That stuff he said about Cleveland following Game Two was classic:

But also, the kid from the Bronx can also ball. He’s developed into the Bulls’ leader. Yep. They got that one right.

-I still say the Celts are too old and can be picked off in the second round.

-One chance to win or lose. Who do you want with the ball? Kobe, LeBron, Wade or the Spurs big three: Duncan-Parker-Ginobili?

Happy Monday

Yankee closer Mariano Rivera and teammates had plenty to smile about while Met skipper Jerry Manuel and his team didn't this weekend.

It’s been an interesting week here. So let’s get to it. Shall we?

1.Is Jerry Manuel really wrong about his battered team? I mean they do have to basically be perfect just to win games. Against the Cards, they were and took three of four. But this weekend that wasn’t the case with too many mental mistakes leading to Yankee runs as their crosstown rivals came into Citi Field and swept them. So, they fell short. What does Manuel’s sarcasm in a postgame have to do with that his players aren’t that talented right now? Zilch. He is begging Omar Minaya to wake up from the doldrums and do something. Maybe if the Phillies were eight up, there’d be more urgency…

2.The two games off seems to have done the trick for one Alex Rodriguez and that couldn’t come at a better time for the Yanks.

3.When does Robby Cano, who statistically speaking is having a solid season finally deliver a big hit?

4.Daniel Murphy can’t be the best the Mets can do at first. What happened to Fernando Tatis?

5.Phil Hughes is pretty automatic these days out of that Yankee pen.

6.So wanted to see Team USA hang on over Brazil yesterday but there’s a reason they’re so skilled and unfortunately, it showed in that second half of the Confed Cup championship. Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and especially Tim Howard have nothing to be ashamed of. Tell ya one thing. That Kaka is some player. What a soccer name!

7.Looking forward to seeing how Roger Federer fares in the French Final rematch later today in the same Round of 16 situation Robin Soderling slayed the dragon on clay in Rafa Nadal. Wimbledon did Roger no favors with either big serving Ivo Karlovic/Fernando Verdasco waiting in the quarters and Novak Djokovic on pace for a semi clash, assuming the five-time All England Club champ gets through.

8.Really want to see that Andy vs Andy semi between Murray and Roddick on the other side. Might Lleyton Hewitt have something to say about it? Yes. He’s playing well. We’ll see.

9.It sure looks like Venus will cruise past Ana Ivanovic and through her section to another final. Can she three-peat? Bigger question is will younger sis Serena make it with a potential tough quarter against emerging power house Victoria Azarenka? Have to figure Serena will take care of looker Daniela Hantuchova today to help set it up.

10.Only Knick fans could boo the first round pick of Jordan Hill which was really a no-brainer once Stephen Curry went to Golden State. Way to be. Speaking of the Draft, loved the Nets’ pick of Terrence Williams. Not just cause we called it either but because he’ll be a good pro. Great move too getting rid of Vince Carter. Now, Orlando can deal with that headache and relive his cousin Tracy McGrady.

11.So much for all that suspense regarding the Islanders’ first overall selection. John Tavares and Isles’ fans breathed a huge sigh of relief. Still found it amusing how they celebrated like they won a Cup.

12.Is trading for Darko Milicic really the best Donnie Walsh can do? Let’s see Mike Lupica defend that one.

13.How the heck does Tim Wakefield have 10 wins? Remarkable.

14.Imagine if the Mets played in the AL East.

15.At least Mark De Rosa was traded for a top 100 prospect.

16.It doesn’t get more bizarre than Francisco Rodriguez walking Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded. Just listening to Howie Rose told ya all you needed to know. Wonder what Brian Bruney thought at that moment? You know. The invaluable setup guy who couldn’t get three outs against Buffalo before Mo bailed him out by getting Omir Santos looking en route to his 500th career save.

17.Does Lori Rubinson realize how bitter she comes off when she asks Yankee fans if they should really be happy that they swept a bad team? The same scrappy bunch that took three of four against the game’s best hitter that’s tied for the NL Central. Word to the wise. You don’t get style points. Like Bill Parcells used to say, beat who’s on your schedule.

18.Okay. I get that Citi Field isn’t a hitter’s paradise but how come the Yanks had no problem hitting a few out including lightweight Brett Gardner?

Besides, doesn’t this fact baffle some?

David Ortiz: 8 HR

David Wright: 4 HR

It doesn’t mean the Met All-Star third baseman’s having a bad season. He’s still hitting for a great average (.342) with 39 RBI’s, 47 runs and 20 steals. But at some point, he has to start going deep. With how battered his team is, they need him to.

19.Fernando Nieve or Oli Perez?

20.Given all the weird injuries and even odder end results, any truth to the rumor Dr. Seuss is employed in Queens?

21.Finally, this just in. The local JCC is run better than the T-wolves. That’s not a ringing endorsement.

Rafael Nadal won't be able to defend Wimbledon. We'll sure miss him but will Roger Federer as he goes for history?

It’s early Saturday morning and the start of another unpredictable New York weekend. Here’s a few things floating around our sleepy head:

1.The Mets must never want the Phillies to hit the road given how brutal they’ve performed. The losing streak’s up to four allowing Fernando Nieve and the Amazin’s to gain more ground, pulling within two games of first thanks to a 5-3 home win over the Rays. Meanwhile, the Phils were routed by the Orioles de-proving to 1-6 versus AL East visitors. Yikes.

2.The Yanks did just fine without Alex Rodriguez, who gets the first two games back in Florida off. Apparently, the Marlins were the right elixir for Andy Pettite, who allowed just a run fanning seven for his seventh win. And hey. A-Rod’s replacement Angel Berroa chipped in with an RBI hit. It added up to a 5-1 win, gaining a game on the Red Sox, who fell to Atlanta 8-2.

3.The Yanks and Mets are both two out of first. Weird.

4.I really am bummed about Rafael Nadal pulling out of Wimbledon due to a chronic knee. The exciting 23 year-old Spaniard won’t be able to defend his crown. So, there will be no Nadal-Roger Federer rematch. He made the right call after dropping consecutive exhibitions the past two days to Lleyton Hewitt and Stanislas Wawrinka. That wouldn’t have boded well the next two weeks trying to win seven competitive best three of five matches.

5.The door is now open for Federer to reclaim the grass with a sixth Wimbledon and pass Pete Sampras. The toughest competition should come from No.3 Scot Andy Murray, who has a decent draw. Perhaps this major could be his breakthrough as he tries to become the first English player to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry (1936). Other possible men’s contenders should come from No.4 Novak Djokovic and sixth seeded American Andy Roddick, who has a great draw with possible competition coming from Nikolay Davydenko and Juan Martin Del Potro. The best a tennis fan can hope for is a Roddick-Murray semi with Federer taking on Djokovic. A Federer-Murray final would at least help make up for no Rafa.

6.If the Knicks are smart, they’ll go for Ty Lawson over Stephen Curry. While I do believe Curry will be an excellent pro, he’s not what the Knicks need. Lawson is super fast and a true point guard, who guided the Tar Heels to the NCAA title. Forget his lack of size. He can get to the basket but is pass first and can finish when needed. Try telling that to Mike Lupica and the rest of the so-called experts in this city.

7.If the Nets really are serious about trading Devin Harris for a first round pick, they’re even dumber than first thought.

8.I’m so glad Shaq and Kobe are on good terms again.

9.Sidney Crosby winning the Stanley Cup is great for the NHL but he still should have showed up for the Awards in Vegas the other night. Speaking of which, will Sid The Kid, Evgeni Malkin and the Pens be making an appearance on Letterman? Or will NBC try to get them for Conan? You’d think they would considering the kind of ratings that Game 7 generated.

10.Gotta love two-time Hart/Pearson winner Alex Ovechkin making wise cracks about fellow Russian Malkin’s lack of English.

11.Phil Mickelson. Not Tiger would be the better story this weekend. That’s if they can actually get some holes in before the rain.

12.Dante Stallworth getting 30 days for killing a bystander while being impaired has to be some sorta bad joke. So what if he settled with the suffering family. That’s hardly enough punishment. Drinking irresponsibly costs lives. When will the double standards with star athletes finally end? How does Mike Vick serve 18 months for dog fighting losing everything and Stallworth doesn’t even get half that?

13.He deserves to serve serious time for what he did because it was disgusting but 45 years seems like a lot for Mel Hall.

14.When it does get going Monday, I”ll miss those rain delays at the All England Club.

15.Can a woman other than a Williams sister win the crown? I hope Maria Sharapova takes out Serena. What will be her excuse this time? She needs to be more like older sis Venus. Lose gracefully.

16.Five NBA Draft sleepers this Thursday who likely won’t get scooped up till the second round:

1.SG Wesley Matthews, Marquette

2.PF Dante Cunningham, Villanova

3.SF Danny Green, North Carolina

4.PG Darren Collison, UCLA

5.SG Dionte Christmas, Temple

17.As a huge hockey fan, I really hope the Islanders make the right choice with the No.1 overall pick next Friday in Montreal.

18.Don’t the Devils need to find a coach before July 1?

19.Every Ranger fan is praying Glen Sather doesn’t screw up yet again.

20.Every now and then, America needs an old classic to appreciate like The Animal’s “House Of The Rising Sun” seen here:

21.That’s for you Dad. You’ve always supported both me and my brother no matter what. I can’t say enough in this space to make it up to you. You’re the best father anyone could ever ask for. Here’s hoping one day soon, we all get to celebrate something special with our Rangers at our second home. So it’s a day early. Happy Father’s Day!

Luis Castillo drops a routine A-Rod pop up in another excruciating Met loss to their crosstown rivals in the Bronx.

Sometimes, baseball’s a funny game. You just never know when you’re going to get the bounces/breaks. As someone who’s covered the Low-A Staten Island Yankees four summers, I know all about that borrowing that quote from a former player who used it quite a bit.

I’ve seen my share of wild endings where the Baby Bombers came out on top. I can recall one huge walkoff win over the bitter Verrazano rival Cyclones a couple of years prior in which it was the wild pitch that scored the winning run was very predictable, concluding a topsy turvy game filled with mistakes. Sometimes, baseball can be a sloppy game. It’s to be expected when you cover most kids only out of college who were just drafted and still adjusting to their first summer of pro ball.

Errors are part of the game and it even can happen to guys at the highest level as was the case during last night’s unreal finish in the Bronx where Luis Castillo botched a routine A-Rod pop up- muffing it allowing both Derek Jeter and a hustling Mark Teixeira to come in and score the tying and winning runs in a stunning 9-8 win over the Mets.

You just can’t make it up. There I was watching the wild conclusion following a great Game 7 that saw the Pens shock the Red Wings winning Lord Stanley 2-1. As the celebration ended, we flipped to SNY to watch Francisco Rodriguez try to close out the Yankees. The new Met closer entered perfect in 16 save chances. And here he was one out away from save No.17 with Jeter in scoring position and Teixeira, who earlier took Livan Hernandez deep for his AL leading 20th was on first with K-Rod opting to give an intentional pass and take his chances versus the Lightning Rod.

It was a night before that Alex Rodriguez delivered a big two out two-run double giving the Yanks a 3-1 lead on the Red Sox only to see teflon skipper Joe Girardi stay with C.C. Sabathia too long before not going to Mariano Rivera as Boston plated three in the eighth to make it eight for eight in 2009 (nine in a row dating to last year). This time, here was the big third base slugger in another huge spot looking to deliver in the clutch. And he was being pitched to over Teixeira due in large part to K-Rod’s history against him. Surely, one of the game’s best players would make the cocky Met closer pay. When he missed with three straight, the deck was stacked in Alex’s favor. After taking a 95 MPH heater down the middle, he had the green light on 3-1. Here it came. A perfect fastball that had “hit me” on it yet all he could manage was one of those dreadful uppercut swings producing a weak pop to second.

The game was over, right? A-Rod felt so slamming down his bat in frustration while jogging to first probably pondering how he didn’t crush it. But a funny thing happened. Here was Castillo calling everyone off backing up to short right. That’s when I noticed how messed up his footing was with the ball traveling further left than the Met second baseman anticipated. It was at that moment that I actually wondered, ‘Is he really gonna drop it?’ in not believing fashion.

You never figure a routine pop could somehow elude a major league player. Especially one the caliber of Castillo, who once was an All-Star who helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series. Especially an experienced guy who once won three consecutive Gold Gloves. So, he’s certainly capable defensively. Maybe at 33, Castillo isn’t quite as sure handed and has lost some range which happens to middle infielders as they get older. Entering last night, he had five errors- one fewer than all of last year in half a season and all of two of those three Gold Glove seasons in Florida.

Still, even the biggest Yankee homer had to figure the game was over with Girardi once again the goat for bringing in his aging closer in a tie game only to see him see his shadow with David Wright driving one to the right center gap for the go-ahead run. Instead, here was Castillo struggling with his footing as the ball came down. And then it happened. No. Not George Foreman stunning Michael Moorer with a big right to once again claim the heavyweight title as HBO’s Jim Lampley excitedly called last decade.

Listening to Gary Cohen describe the action was something else. When A-Rod popped it up, the SNY play-by-play man got excited anticipating the end of the game and what would’ve been a good win in which the Amazin’s showed grit coming back three separate times. And why not? Especially after two bitter extra inning defeats to the Phillies and this was at the new evil Yankee Palace. A chance to get back on track and gain a game with Philly losing in 13 to Boston. But instead of calling that final out for K-Rod’s 17th save, he couldn’t fathom what happened next.

There was Castillo backing up and the ball bouncing off the heel of his glove. Stunned disbelief as Jeter scored and Teixeira came around from first sliding in with Alex Cora’s relay too late. Why did he have the ball? Because Castillo panicked tossing into second. We’ll never know why. Was it the moment? Who knows. Just like that, the Mets had invented a new way to lose.

What followed from a Yankee standpoint was pandemonium as they mobbed A-Rod like he was some hero for his weak pop that 999 out of 1,000 times would’ve ended the game. Afterwards, he called it a huge break referring to it as “a gift from God and Castillo.” You don’t say.

For Castillo, who was the whipping boy last year, he came under huge fire from angry Met fans who now want him banished. Only thing is the Mets don’t exactly have a replacement. And last we checked, he has bounced back entering today at .277 with 14 RBI’s, seven steals and a solid .376 on-base percentage (29 walks). Good on Jerry Manuel running him back out there for today’s game which his team is currently leading 5-1 halfway thru.

Can they hang on with no-name call-up Fernando Nieve’s only mistake a solo shot to A-Rod? Hopefully for Castillo’s sake, that’s the case. After all, this is baseball. Where you get to comeback after a brutal loss the next day and try to win and forget the previous night. If the Mets show character and take these next two with ace Johan Santana going tomorrow and go on a run, will anyone remember Friday night? For now, the lingering thoughts will remain until we get to September when the games take on a whole new meaning.

So, Castillo will hear the boos when the Mets return to Citi Field next Friday. But hey. He didn’t duck the postgame interview and there weren’t any excuses. It’s baseball and sometimes, these things happen. So, the radio experts will continue to kill him for only using one hand to make the catch. But how many ballplayers use two on routine pops? And it starts at a young age.

We can always second guess from our armchairs but are we playing a kid’s game having made it as far as Mr. Castillo has? Hell no. Of course, it doesn’t keep us from ripping into him for not squeezing it. At least Jeter understood that these things can happen. He is human and last we checked, we all are bullet proof. Unfortunately in this town, you’re remembered for what you just did. It can change though. Maybe it does a month from now with the Mets still chasing the Phils.

That’s what makes baseball so unpredictable. A funny game indeed.

Rather than bother with the Alex Rodriguez daily circus, I decided instead to do a more fun video feature of one of my all-time favorite legends Bob Marley.

Sometimes, sports can be downright annoying. Music is far from it even if it has its own set of agendas as this fellow Gunner knows all too well. But if you’re a little tired of the A-Rod Saga, you can always find time to chill out and listen to a good song and not have trouble smiling as with the state of baseball.

Since it does look like the world’s most egocentric superstar will be out an extended period to a torn labrum in his hip caused by a cyst causing him to miss the World Baseball Classic for adopted country Dominican Republic, perhaps the media can get back to what’s in their job description which would be covering the rest of the Yankee team during Spring Training and the game itself rather than their Ea$y Target.

And now, for some classic Marley to lighten the mood.

“I wish [Jose Reyes] was leading off on our team, playing on our team. “That’s fun to watch. Anytime you have that type of speed. I mean, we have a guy in [Brett] Gardner that’ll be fun. That’s probably the most you can have, watching those guys run.“-Alex Rodriguez

Ever since Alex Rodriguez became a Yankee, it’s been a three-ring circus. Arguably the game’s best player who during his time here has won two MVPs including a memorable 2007 eclipsing Joe DiMaggio for the greatest season by a right handed hitter in Bronx Bomber lore, it’s always something else with this guy that makes him such a distraction.

We could cite all his postseason failures resulting in only one Yankee playoff round victory but what’s the point? It’s old news around these parts with the admitted steroids user creating a whole new reason for teammates to hate him.

Oh. They won’t say it to his face or publicly as with that phony press conference with him faking tears while pausing a couple of weeks ago in Tampa looking totally uncomfortable reading a written statement he didn’t even write.

Anything for needless PR even in a time when Mr. Rodriguez should’ve been more sincere not worrying about his image which already had been destroyed by the stunning discovery forcing him to come clean even if he protected his cousin. Of couse, that became a running joke around here with the “My Cousin Vinny” references. If only it were as amusing as Joe Pesci’s classic character from the 1992 box office hit.

Nothing A-Rod does is ever funny. Have you ever heard him try to make people laugh? They had him speak at a University of Miami dinner for their baseball facility which he donated thousands having it named for him. All well and good for the kid who grew up in South Florida. It just was a little awkward watching him attempt humor referencing his tough week leading up. Sometimes, it’s better not to say anything.

In that spot, the focus wasn’t performance enhancing drugs but something one of the game’s greatest stars did out of kindness. Perhaps he should’ve stuck to the topic leaving the other stuff for the media vultures when Spring Training continued at the Yankee complex.

It’s true that nobody’s perfect no matter what the Mike Lupicas of the world tell you acting all high and mighty while cashing in on a fake home run race with books and then acting all stunned when the truth comes out. Everyone makes mistakes. Rodriguez committed a bad one making a poor choice which he was forced to fess up to because his Player’s Association didn’t destroy some random positive tests in 2003. The general public was never supposed to know proving you can’t rely on anyone.

It hasn’t been entirely fair to A-Rod whose name has been kicked around in the mud ever since while 103 other players haven’t had their reputations damaged. You almost want to feel bad for the guy because a dark storm cloud seems to follow him no matter what he does.

If only he’d let us in and not come off so fake. It’s why the whole notion of him being referred to by former bench coach Larry Bowa in Joe Torre’s book The Yankee Years as A-Fraud wasn’t a surprise. It just reaffirmed what we already knew even if it was meant to lighten the mood taking pressure off.

Alex Rodriguez is a magnet who will always attract a large crowd. That’s what happens when you go from a 10-year $252 million deal to 10 years $300 million while becoming the youngest slugger to reach 500 home runs in line to chase down another cheat Barry Bonds who has his own battle in court coming. Speaking of circuses.

So, was it any shock that on a day Rodriguez learned he had a cyst in his hip which could sideline him from competing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic that he’d make another silly comment indicating that he wished Mets shortstop Jose Reyes could play on the Yankees and bat leadoff?

While it was a nice notion paying tribute to how great and exciting Reyes is, it probably wasn’t the brightest idea given that Rodriguez is a teammate of Derek Jeter and another pretty good leadoff guy in Johnny Damon.

Predictably, it created another big story for the New York media to discuss while panicked Met fans already have the sky falling due to their ace Johan Santana being pushed back from Opening Day to the fifth game of the season due to his elbow which the club won’t take an MRI on. That is a whole other topic about a franchise which clearly needs a good kick in the ass. Maybe they’ve been hanging around A-Rod.

Is it bad to say what he did about the rival shortstop in the big city? Probably not. Jose Reyes is a very fun player to watch. The way he worded it wasn’t the best and immediately put him on the defense indicating that’s not what he meant.

New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro had a good column entitled, “Alex Not In Same Class As Captain America ” about the big difference between Jeter and him when it comes to leadership.

This excerpt sums up why so many respect the declining Jeter including Phils’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins who will sit out most games despite being a better player:

A leader? Would you like to know what a leader does? A leader, when asked the other day about David Wright, says something like this: “I have a great deal of respect for him, because he’s talented and he loves to win, and he plays hard. It’s a great challenge playing against him, so I’m happy to have the chance to play with him for a little while.“

That’s what Jeter said about Wright. He didn’t say how wonderful it would be if Wright joined the Yankees – even though there have to be moments when he feels exactly that. He has been criticized for not publicly defending A-Rod more, but it is on days like this that you realize his silences are as loud as any words he might employ.

You can’t be appointed to that kind of leadership. You either have it or you don’t.

 

Some friendly advice for Rodriguez. Next time, think before you speak.

Perhaps this might sum up how Alex Rodriguez feels at the moment. But then again, it’s Weezer and they totally rock!

I still can’t believe I saw them last September at a rocking Garden. Amazing talent! Plus Rivers Cuomo’s a maniac full of pure energy on the stage.

They shall always be one of my favorite acts! If only they had played the epic, “Dreams” at that concert. That song is utterly amazing!

Here’s one which sounds darn good live:

Who doesn’t love holidays?!?!?!?!?!

There’s been so much negative reaction to Alex Rodriguez’ admission that indeed the SI story that he used performance enhancing drugs while as a member of the Texas Rangers was true.

Making matters worse, the three-time AL MVP admitted during an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons that he juiced for the first three years as a Ranger from 2001-2003 feeling the need to fulfill heavy expectations due to the then richest contract in MLB history (250 million over 10 yrs) even if it meant going outside the boundaries.

The haunting reality here is that the man known to many as A-Rod never needed steroids to be a great player. We’re talking about one of the most gifted superstars of our Era with God given ability that most athletes could only dream of.

Is what former Yankee skipper Joe Torre said in his controversial book The Yankee Years true about him needing the game along with gaudy statistics to go with it? Might that be the answer for why he felt it necessary to cheat even though at the time, MLB was only first testing with promises that the 104 positive tests would remain anonymous?

So much for that promise. Once again, baseball has failed miserably here and deserves all the blame it gets for what’s now known as The Juiced Era (Error) that claimed stars such as home run record holder Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, Andy Pettite and definitely Mark McGwire, whose own brother published a book to get the truth out.

So much for family loyalty, huh? But I guess in Big Mac’s world, Denial Ain’t Just A River In Egypt. What is it about lying with these big name ballplayers? Deny, deny, deny until the cows come home only for the proof to come out that they in fact lied to the public.

Roger Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers this game’s ever seen but instead of  all the wins, strikeouts and Cys, he’ll best be remembered for his humiliating performance last year versus former trainer Brian McNamee during trial which influenced a case of perjury against The Rocket. Expect to see him in an orange suit. Might he be next to Bonds?

As for A-Rod or A-Fraud or A-Roid depending on what you prefer, it’s been a rough month for him first with the stuff coming out of Torre’s book even if then bench coach Larry Bowa’s “A-Fraud” reference was supposed to be in gyst. You do wonder though if his own teammates felt that way about Mr. Supersensitive who always wants to make everyone happy.

It’s good that he came forward and admitted on air that he cheated but this was the same man who went on with CBS News anchor Katie Couric and denied ever using steroids. His reasoning is that he couldn’t be honest with himself. What in the heck does that mean?!?!?!?!?!

These days, sports are becoming sadder and sadder with baseball taking the biggest hit. How would you feel if you were the father of a kid playing Little League who looks up to Rodriguez? The cold harsh reality is that there just aren’t many heroes left in sports for kids to idolize.

Can juicing start at a young age? Certainly. Kids in high school can succumb to the pressure of performance on the field. You just don’t know anymore which is very scary.

What’s happened to baseball is sickening and will continue to haunt the game even if it does pick itself back up. How are the Yankees feeling? It seems like players who have worn Pinstripes have been unfairly targeted while other teams haven’t had to deal with as much backlash.

Is Daily News baseball writer Bill Madden right in saying A-Rod doesn’t belong in Cooperstown and that the Bronx Bombers should get rid of him? Does anyone actually believe any of the other 29 teams would get rid of a player the caliber of this man?

I probably would still say he belongs in the Hall despite those three seasons. He did come out and say he’s been clean since becoming a Yankee in 2004. The question is who believes him?

Can he recover his reputation or will it just be another nightmare? How will the biggest star the game has deal with the heavy media and intense fan scrutiny in what’s supposed to be a bounce back year for the Yankees? Will it become too much of a distraction?

There’s no way of really knowing until the real season starts up in April. For now, it’ll continue to be a three ring circus which A-Rod always seems to draw.

I remember when sports used to be fun and some still are like the college Div.III women’s basketball game I attended last night at Baruch College with them defeating New Paltz. I’m going to write more about that sometime later.

Games still can be fun for everyone if played for the right reasons. I just wish we could get back to that instead of the garbage that’s on the front covers these days.

Who’s with me?