Bronx, N.Y., May 29, 2002 — “Someone might be gainin’ on ya.” It’s a famous quote from a baseball legend, and it may be truer in this American League baseball season than it has since the day Satchel Paige first uttered it. The Red Sox and their fans had to be feeling pretty good about themselves again tonight, as they won their second consecutive come-from-behind road victory in Toronto.

Finishing tonight’s game while Yankee bats were once again flailing ineffectively a little south and west in the Second City, they had to be feeling pretty good as they prepared for both an off day and their first 2002 trip to New York, the undeniable First City of the United States.

I submit that they may not be feeling quite as good about themselves just now. True, it’s not a bad a day at all in Red Sox land. They’re in first place; they’re getting timely hitting, defense and pitching; they have a great hitter and a good pitcher coming back. They are playing in front of loud and enthusiastic crowds (at least while they’re winning, and they’re doing that a lot). Historically it was this day in 1984 that the club retired the numbers of the Splendid Splinter Ted Williams (#9) and Joe Cronin (#4). Life is good. So why does one get the sense that they are, in the words of one veteran American League announcer, “the only first place team in baseball that are chasing the second place team behind them”? I get a cinematic flashback to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid the moment the Pinkerton riders emerged from the train they had just robbed. “Who are these guys?”

Only the Red Sox, and all the baseball world, know who these guys are. It is undeniably a new team in the Bronx, but Jason is not a household secret, Rondell, Robin and Karsay have had nice years, and Alfonso has made a huge splash. If there is a surprise, it’s Nick the Stick, who started slow but has amassed eight homers and 27 rbis from the number nine spot. He also has ignited the game-winning rally two nights running now, with a walk in the eighth Tuesday night, and a double on a 3-1 count tonight. He plays offense the old-fashioned Yankee way, wearing out pitchers with a good eye that has allowed him to achieve the following pitch counts during our three games in Chicago: 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 8, 5, 8 and 5.

Attention must be paid, of course, to the Rocket, who threw a great — make that dominating — game, putting any fears kindled by his ineffective start in Boston to rest with his 11 K’s and only eight hits. He actually threw 11 out of 12 first pitch strikes at one point, the twelfth unfortunately being to a Lofton who would triple on Rog’s 116th pitch.

But it was really a team win. I had looked forward to Robin having a good game. He was back in Chicago, and this was the 15th anniversary of his having attained a 57-game hitting streak in college. But even though he whiffed in his only plate appearance, it took the last six of 20 pitches Foulke needed to finish the eighth, weakening him for the critical ninth. And then, of course, it was the usual suspects. Following Nick’s one-out double, a Soriano unaccustomed to being 0 for 4 singled, and Derek Jeter, though he’ll always hear debates about whether or not two other guys are better shortstops, showed once more why he may be the best ballplayer we have ever seen in an eight-pitch, back-breaking walk. Bernie’s tying single and Jason’s winning bomb almost seem like the sequel to a great game. We may have heard the last boo during a Giambi at bat for a long time in the Bronx, though. I had somehow expected line drives from this fellow Mickey Mantle fan from California. But I’m getting used to the long, majestic fly balls with all that loft!

So enjoy your day off, Shea, Nomar and Brian. Sit back and relax, Pedro and Derek. Take a load off Johnny, Ricky and Jose. Ignore the growing thunder behind you. And whatever you do, don’t look back.

BTW,TYW

YANKEE BASEBALL!!!