still sort of unbelieving about leiter's performance. was predictably moved by his nod to Rags. last night was unexpected, it was welcome, it lets me hope they'll tread water over the next few brutal days.

For now, Leiter wanted to savor a most satisfying homecoming. A lifetime ago, on Sept. 15, 1987, Leiter's debut at Yankee Stadium was treated as the coming of a new day to a tired old franchise. The first six outs he recorded that night against the Brewers were strikeouts. He won, 4-3.

"I want to know that I belong here," he'd said that night.

Eighteen years later, he yearns for the same significance. He craves the chance to end things on his terms. He asked for No. 19 as tribute to Dave Righetti, and even called his old mentor Saturday night.

"He was happy," Leiter said. "He always said that 22 was a hitter's number."

The Yankees are equally delighted. "The way to beat this team is to have great left-handed pitching," Alex Rodriguez said of the Sox. "Al Leiter was beautiful tonight."

For one night, at least, he'd get no argument from Leiter. Or from anyone else. [ny post]

stumbled across this; i was mildly surprised joe morgan didn't take him to task for not playing the game The Right Way:

For a few fleeting minutes, it appeared as if the Yankees might have stayed one inning too long. Trailing, 5-1, entering the ninth -- which had seminal moment written all over it -- Manny Ramirez led off with a prodigious blast to left-center off Tom Gordon. He finished his swing with an emphatic flourish that seemed to tick off Posada.

Posada followed Ramirez a few steps up the line, then turned for the third base line, perhaps to say something to Ramirez on his way home. But plate umpire Jerry Meals made sure to occupy Posada as Ramirez completed his trot. The two players did not exchange any words, at least not at that moment.

''We try to play the game the right way," Posada said later. ''That's the only thing I have to say. You're down by three runs."

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