New York Yankees

In these harsh economic times, I have to wonder why the Yankees think this view is worth $85 per ticket.

They call it the "Batter's Eye View" because the seats are in the Bleachers Cafe, above the batter's eye (i.e. the background against which the hitter at the plate sees the incoming pitches).

One of the most talked about things in the game of baseball in this day and age is the pitch count that pitchers now adhere to. What makes this such a topic for debate is that 10, 20, 50 years ago, the number of pitches a pitcher threw in a particular game wasn't a huge factor of concern.

Back in the day, if a pitcher got to the seventh inning and just gave up the lead, he would likely be removed from the game for that reason, not because he had reached or was close to a certain amount of pitches.

Welcome back A-Rod, and thank you.

He's only just returned, had his first and second games at the new stadium, but already Alex Rodriguez is making a difference.

On Saturday, he helped the Yankees to consecutive win No. 4.

The Yankess finally seem to be clicking, and think what you want about A-Rod, his arrival is playing a big part.

It's early, and hardly time to worry or brag about a win, but defending that ridiculously awesome offseason spending spree is difficult when a championship-on-paper team is sitting on a mediocre .500 record.

Alex Rodriguez's walk off home run in the 11th inning of Saturday's battle in the Bronx proves that he is always a threat despite what the numbers may say. That game-ender put an exclamation point on a 4-game win streak for the Yankees in which they have played some of their most consistent baseball all season. In the month of May, the Yankees were 1-5 without A-Rod. Since his return however, they have gone 6-2.

The only running Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner was anticipating on Friday would occur during pregame warm-up activities.

Perhaps he would get the opportunity to pinch run for Alex Rodriguez or Hideki Matsui; the pair of damaged goods in New York’s struggling lineup.

Most people know the courageous story of Jackie Robinson. Anyone who does not should read no farther and google the life of a real American hero.

For those who do know about Jackie's life, you probably also know about Harold "Pee Wee" Reese. Pee Wee was the Dodgers captain, 10-time All Star, and winner of seven league championships while the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn.

Despite his Hall of Fame achievements, his accolades on the field will forever pale in comparison to his contribution to our fragile nation in 1947.

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About two years ago, my family moved into a new house.

I like the new house. It’s bigger, it’s nicer, and it’s in a better neighborhood. It’s an obvious upgrade in just about every physical way.

Friends of mine, who have been to both, would be hard-pressed to find even a single aspect of my new house that they liked better in the old one.

But after two years, there is an emotional attachment missing that I have been unable to develop.

Curious, I began thinking: What makes a house one’s home?