Tampa, Fla., March 3 — New Year’s image cliché: Infant confronts Father Time. Little did we realize that this image would await us when our late-morning flight to Tampa landed yesterday. But less than an hour later, there we were in Legends Field, sitting in the third base boxes.

The numbers on the stadium walls were inescapable and I’m sure Yankee fans will be seeing — and celebrating — them all year: 100 26 38. One hundredth year, with 26 World Series titles and 38 American League pennants. But although this team would seem to be all about “the glory years,” once new first baseman Jason Giambi’s windblown drive to left cleared the fence for a 3-0 lead in the first, it was obvious that today was a party for the new as well as the old. We missed both of Jason’s jolts, though we heard the crowd reaction to the second from across Dale Mabry as we parked the car.

New outfield phenom Juan Rivera, pictured here in left in front of the big scoreboard, is just one more reason this team may have better days in its future than in its past. His one-out seventh-inning line drive off the left center wall would have cleared most major league outfield walls, but not to worry. Future (again) third bagger (and truly “big” guy) Drew Henson calmly stroked a hard grounder past the shortstop to give the Yanks a 6-3 lead, ending the Blue Jays hopes for the day.

We’re in Kissimmee against the Astros today, a two-hour-plus drive. I’ve got to go. Happy New Year!

BTW,TYW

YANKEE BASEBALL!!!