A trip back to the circus

Paul Maholm, Pittsburgh's starter tonight, has been involved in two rather large moments in recent Yankees' lore.

Last year, on June 9, he was on the mound when Roger Clemens made another of his numerous comebacks. Clemens and the Yankees won 9-3, and Maholm was shelled over 5 1/3 innings.

With that loss, Maholm fell to 2-9 on the season. He eventually finished 10-15 with an ERA a shade over 5 that year. Clemens, overall, was a disappointment and is now a disgraced former pitcher.

Maholm will also be remembered as the only pitcher to ever face Billy Crystal in an actual game. This came on March 13 of Spring Training this year. Crystal, batting leadoff, actually made contact, lining a ball foul just past first base. He eventually struck out and left to a standing ovation.

Tonight, Mike Mussina is going for his 11th victory of the season. That's a pretty big deal, I guess.

Crystal is in the building

Billy Crystal was scheduled to work out with the team today and will play in tomorrow's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game will also be on YES, so we'll all get to hear Michael Kay and friends gush about this.

In other news, Moshe Mandel of The Bronx Block is hosting a contest to name "The Big 3." If your name is chosen, you can win a DVD set and a Yankees Century Book.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Yankees add another player to their crowded camp

The Yankees signed Billy Crystal to a one-day contract with an invitation to spring training tonight. He will work out with the team on Wednesday and play in Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Commissioner Bud Selig had to sign off on this deal.

“I’ve been waiting 50 years for this call,” Crystal exclaimed. “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the Yankees and Commissioner Selig. I know this’ll be tougher than the Broadway Softball League, but I’m looking forward to helping the younger players…which, by the way, is all of them. Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”
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“The Yankees are excited to welcome the newest member of our team known for his humor and wit as well as his undying love for the Yankees,” said Lonn Trost, Yankees Chief Operating Officer. “The Yankees are very grateful to the Commissioner’s office for allowing us to extend this special invitation to Mr. Crystal.”

Stranger things have happened, I guess. Crystal, who will turn 60 on March 14, will wear No. 60.

Crystal hit .348 as a senior for his high school baseball team in Long Beach, N.Y. I bet Crystal at age 59 is a better hitter than Wil Nieves is.