'You've got 7 days, Seinfeld. That is one week'

Yup, seven days (one week) until pitchers and catchers report.

I could have used a picture of Mickey Mantle to celebrate this occasion, but I figured this rather obscure "Seinfeld" reference would be better.

Yankees Legendary Sports Prints on sale

I received an e-mail from former PR director of the Yankees Marty Appel yesterday. He wanted me to inform my loyal readers of a company he's working with.

Legendary Sports Prints is selling two exceptional prints by Bill Purdom: one with Mickey Mantle at-bat with Roger Maris on-deck in 1960 and another with Babe Ruth up and Lou Gehrig on-deck in 1929.

These pictures make a great holiday gift for Yankees fans. Visit their Web site for more details.

The hitting returns

After getting two-hit by Roy Halladay last night, the Yankees scored nine runs and pounded out 11 hits to beat Jesse Litsch and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Derek Jeter led off with his 200th career home run. However, the Blue Jays would score four runs in the bottom of the first against Darrell Rasner who has been struggling after his May success.

The Yankees would then score eight runs in the next three innings to give them a comfortable 9-4 victory. Included in that outburst was Alex Rodriguez's 537th career home run, passing Mickey Mantle.

Rasner won his first start since June 18, going five innings and allowing four earned runs. He struck out six and walked one, throwing 108 pitches. The bullpen threw four scoreless innings and allowed only one baserunner (a walk by Kyle Farnsworth).

Brett Gardner went 2-2 with three RBI, two runs scored and two walks. He has struggled since being called up, so hopefully this can get him going. Melky Cabrera, Rodriguez and Jeter also had two hits apiece.

Jason Giambi's struggles have seemingly gone unnoticed in the wake of his All-Star bid. He has one hit in his last 22 at-bats with no home runs and two RBI.

Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett will square off in tomorrow afternoon's rubber game.

After the game, many Yankees players reflected on Bobby Murcer's passing. Manager Joe Girardi cried during his postgame comments and many others very visibly shaken.

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)

I'll take it

All it took was a little dribbler up the middle by Brett Gardner to split the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

Gardner, in his first game with Johnny Damon on the disabled list, went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored and his third stolen base of his short career. If he can get on base - which has been a struggle for him so far - he can prove to be a huge spark for the offense.

Joba Chamberlain had control issues for his second straight start, walking four in six innings and allowing three earned runs, the most he has allowed in the big leagues. He has now walked eight batters in his last 10 innings pitched.

The Yankees showed some fight after Joe Girardi was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. They were trailing 3-1 and 4-2, but eventually came back to tie the game when Robinson Cano hit a two-run triple.

The Yankees had a 1-0 lead after Alex Rodriguez hit his 536th home run, tying him with Mickey Mantle.

Kyle Farnsworth had another solid outing, and Mariano Rivera (3-3) threw two dominant innings, rebounding nicely from his struggles yesterday.

The Yankees will play two games against Tampa Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday. They currently are nine games behind them in the East standings.

Tied for the league-lead in wins

Mike Mussina is tied for the league-lead in wins with nine. Considering where he was last year and where he was early this season, this is quite remarkable.

En route to recording his ninth victory of the season tonight, Mussina struck out six and allowed one earned run over six innings.

The only run he gave up was in the sixth inning, when it appeared (at least from my perch directly behind the plate in section two of tier reserved) he was squeezed by C.B. Bucknor.

Mussina's effort helped put an end to the Yankees' three-game losing streak and hopefully Chien-Ming Wang can right his ship tomorrow night.

Cool moment in the third inning: Derek Jeter passed Mickey Mantle on the Yankees' career hit list. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and Jeter eventually tipped his helmet.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Derek Jeter's in my Fave 5...Who's in yours?

I have only been a Yankee fan since 1996. I know what you're thinking: bandwagon hopper. This is not true. In 1996, I was 8 years old. It just so happens that at the age I was able to fully understand and appreciate baseball, one of the greatest dynasties was being formed. Don't hold that against me. Since that time, I have made a valiant effort to learn pretty much all that there is to know about Yankees baseball.

Now, the point of this post is to stir up some conversation. Who are your five most favorite baseball players of your lifetime? They can be from your favorite team, but they don't have to be. Mine will all be from the Yankees because all the other teams are irrelevant.

1. Derek Jeter

I have been watching Derek Jeter since he first became the starting shortstop in 1996. His career started right when I first started watching baseball, so I feel that I grew up while he was growing up as a professional baseball player, much like older adults today grew up watching Mickey Mantle, Don Mattingly, etc. I have talked to some friends, and we all agree that we will first feel old when Jeter retires. The emotional attachment is there, and all of the criticism he gets is unwarranted. The man is a winner and he is the definition of a New York Yankee (whatever that means).

2. Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams will always be a favorite of mine. Like Jeter, much of my childhood was spent watching Williams play. From the clutch hits to the sliding catches in center field, he always tried his hardest. While he has since moved on from baseball, and the ending was rather ugly, he is most certainly missed.

3. Paul O'Neill

I hate to use the George Steinbrenner cliché terms, but Paul O'Neill was truly a "warrior." He was the team's emotional leader during the late 90's and the team fed off of him. You could tell when he was pissed off and the fans loved him for that. He has been gone for six years now, but he has never been adequately replaced, and frankly, he is rather irreplaceable.

4. Andy Pettitte

I had always felt a special connection to Andy Pettitte: we are both left-handed and we are both named Andrew. He is a big game pitcher and can always be depended on to pick the team up after a loss. I was so disappointed and upset when he signed with Houston after the 2003 season that I decapitated my Pettitte bobblehead doll that I received at a game in 2001. Obviously, I am thrilled he is back home this year. I just wish the team would help him out a little more.

5. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez

Orlando Hernandez is loved by all Yankee fans. He was a great clutch pitcher and always pitched well in October. We first saw him in 1998, crazy leg kick and all. From then until 2002, and again in 2004, he was a fixture of the Yankees pitching staff. Now he is pitching for the Mets, and while it is a little disappointing, I still love watching the man pitch.