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It took 19 games, but the Rangers are back in first place. New York has proven itself capable of maintaining and/or reacquiring leads over the last two weeks. The Blueshirts have won four in a row and eight of nine. Last year, the Rangers would have lost a game like tonight. They dominated the opening eight minutes of the second stanza, and then conceded the tying goal. They were the better team in the third period, but gave up another equalizer in that period. But they didn't stop fighting.

It's abundantly clear that Tom Renney's Rangers should be playing (and do play) defensively in overtime. Thanks to #30, the Rangers appear to be favorites in any and every shootout. The 1.64 GAA isn't too shabby either.

Did I miss anything in baseball over the past few weeks? The Yankees still have A-Rod and Posada, right? And Rivera is on the way, right? Well then, we won't address it. Who's pitching the 8th, fellas? -LS

A-Dios?

If you believe Scott Boras and the Yankees' brass, A-Rod has played his final game in Pinstripes. Will we see him in Southern California by Christmas? -LS

O Captain, My Captain

When I haven't been suffering through the anemic Rangers' 2-5-1 start, I've been brooding over the Yankees' lost 2007. Six tumultuous months once again gone in a four-game flash. And just wait -- the Yankees' tradition may hurt them this offseason. With a $200 million payroll, they should adopt the tactics of the Dallas Mavericks and hire the very best coaching and training staff. I love reading about Ron Guidry and watching him frustrate batters on Yankees Classics, but that doesn't mean he should be our pitching coach. And just when Guidry appears to be on his way out, New York will likely hire another hometown hero for its manager. Was Charlie Hayes unavailable? What's Jimmy Key doing right now? Butch Wynegar? Kevin Maas?

I think the Yankees are being incredibly provincial with their "first round of interviews." There might only be one round. Of the three choices, I suppose I would choose Girardi to right the ship, but would it kill the Yankees to look around the league for a couple of other selections? -LS

Wow

I'm not sure what to say. There's clearly a whole bunch more to the Torre story. Even though part of me thinks the Yankees could use a change at the helm, it is a sad day for all Yankee fans. Tonight I am going to lift a glass to a man that helped bring me an awful lot of happiness over the last 12 years. And he most definitely did it with class.

One more thing: let's remember that this is the Yankees. George Steinbrenner has been known to go back on his word before. I doubt it will happen, but you just never know. -LS

Silence

Five days later, I am not prepared to comment on the end of the 2007 Yankee season. I don't want to talk about Chien-Ming Wang's two atrocious starts. I don't want to talk about the Yankees' bevy of solo home runs and outs with men in scoring position.

There's two ways to look at the manager situation. While Joe Torre is a wonderful man and has been a terrific manager, it might be time for a change. Let the Yankees play for their playing time. Torre has made the playoffs for 12 straight years, but New York has also won a grand total of four playoff games during the last three seasons. I have always been a Tony LaRussa fan. Some pundits have wondered about his ability to handle New York.

On the other hand, would the team play well under Torre next year? Certainly. And the Yankees' postseason troubles over the past few seasons can certainly be chalked up to starting pitching.

This year, Wang was terrible in two games, Clemens almost hurt the Yankees more than he helped them, and Pettite was gutty. I won't mention how I wanted Ted Lilly this offseason -- oops, too late.

The most important signing of the offseason needs to be Mariano Rivera. Posada is very important to this team, but I think everyone knows that at the end of his next contract, some team will be paying a DH (see the Chamberlain wild pitch for part of a preview). Scott Boras will almost certainly turn the A-Rod affair into a fiasco. Rodriguez was the best player in baseball this season, but you have to wonder if the Yankees would be better off with a role player at third base and some better arms throwing every fifth day. If the Yankees sign Rivera and a set-up man, they can put Chamberlain in the rotation with Hughes, Pettitte, Kennedy, and Wang. On paper, that appears to be a young, strong set of starters.

I have had little desire to watch the Championship Series of either league, but if I do, I may turn to Fox Sports en Espanol. For now, the Rangers and the Senators will have to do. -LS

Homage to Hitchcock?

A pair of very painful losses the last two nights. You can look at last night in two different ways. 1. Cleveland should have scored four or five runs during the course of the game and deserved to win. 2. The Yankees allowed the game-tying run without a hit in the eighth inning and probably should have sealed the deal. Either way, New York went 3 for 35 at the plate last night. I understand that Carmona pitched well, but the Yankees did not hit for two straight nights. Four runs in 20 innings = two losses even with the gutty performance of Andy Pettitte.

The midges, you ask? Two thoughts: they were certainly visible for both teams and the Yankees let the bugs affect them. Yet, would you rather play in a torrential downpour or a swarm of midges? I was asked the same question last night. Could they have stopped the game and cleared them? I suppose, but I am not sure how long they could wait. Talk about terrible omens.

Meanwhile, the middle of the lineup has been MIA: A-Rod 0 for 6, Posada 0 for 7, and Matsui 0 for 7. The series is not over. Backs against the wall, they must take this series one inning at a time. If they don't, I'm going to have the chance to watch an awful lot of Rangers games in the next two weeks. -LS

Futures

Back in February, I offered up five good bets and five bad bets to win the 2007 World Series. Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

GOOD BETS
Twins 25-1 - Minnesota hasn't been in the pennant race for a couple of months now.

Braves 30-1 - Despite a September surge, Atlanta will finish third in the NL East. More money wasted.

Dodgers 16-1 - LA has me feeling not thinking blue.

D-Backs 60-1 - A potential moneymaker. At 60-1, Arizona was a gold mine. The young pitching has developed in an up-for-grabs National League. If you want a piece of the Snakes now, you can only find 10-1.

Indians 25-1 - From 25-1 all the way down to 6-1. For Cleveland to win it all, they will have to navigate quite a gauntlet: the Yankees, Anaheim or Boston, and then an NL contender.

BAD BETS:

Tigers 5-1 - The bounceback was in full effect. Detroit sputtered in the second half.

Cubs 9-1 - I passed them off as too trendy, but they might represent the NL in the Fall Classic.

Cardinals 10-1 - Another bounceback selection came to fruition.

Astros 40-1 - I won't too much credit for this one.

Royals 350-1 - And even less right here. -LS

15-14-1...

...on the over/unders entering the day. Only Philly remains up in the air. I would have been easy money for the bookies, but I managed to edge out one of loyal readers in the asterisked games, 7-6.

WIN:

*Arizona Diamondbacks - 79 - Over
Atlanta Braves - 83 - Over
Baltimore Orioles - 74 - Under
Boston Red Sox - 91 - Over
*Cincinnati Reds - 77 - Under
Detroit Tigers - 88.5 - Under
*Florida Marlins - 78.5 - Under
Houston Astros - 78.5 - Under
*Kansas City Royals - 67.5 - Over
*Los Angeles Angels - 90 - Over
*Oakland Athletics - 84.5 - Under
Pittsburgh Pirates - 72 - Under
*St. Louis Cardinals - 85 - Under
Texas Rangers - 81 - Under
Toronto Blue Jays - 86.5 - Under

LOSS:

Chicago Cubs - 84.5 - Under
*Chicago White Sox - 87 - Over
*Cleveland Indians - 85.5 - Under
Colorado Rockies - 76 - Under
Los Angeles Dodgers - 88.5 - Over
*Milwaukee Brewers - 81.5 - Under
Minnesota Twins - 84 - Over
New York Mets - 89.5 - Over
*New York Yankees - 97 - Over
San Diego Padres - 84.5 - Under
San Francisco Giants - 81.5 - Over
*Seattle Mariners - 77.5
Tampa Bay Devil Rays - 67.5 - Over
*Washington Nationals - 67 - Under

TO BE DETERMINED:
Philadelphia Phillies - 89 - Under
-LS

Thursday It Is

Thanks to Boston's choice of the eight-game series, the Yankees will open on Thursday and Friday in Cleveland. Unless Sabathia pitches Game 4 on three days' rest (if they happen to be down 2-1), the Bombers will see Paul Byrd in Game 4 in the Bronx against either Phil Hughes or Mike Mussina.

For the record, I don't think any team should have control over the schedule. First of all, the length of series should be equal for both teams. TV schedules need to be constructed for fairness. But I do think the Red Sox may have helped New York as well; it could be a big boost to throw the #4 at home. Game 1 coincides with the debut of your 07-08 New York Rangers.

Huge sports day ahead. Game #162 for the Bombers, the NL Playoff chase, the Presidents Cup, and Eagles-Giants this evening. I'll attend the football game, and (win or lose) probably regret the trip when the alarm clock goes off tomorrow morning. -LS