-It is very strange to see a pile of rubble where Yankee Stadium used to be. The new place is stately and grand and elegant, but there was something about sitting under the french-fry lamps in the old press box and watching the Yankees win a championship. Or lose a championship. I think the most amazing sporting event I've ever covered, in terms of scope, drama, geography, rivalry and improbability, was the 2004 ALCS. Watching the Red Sox and David Ortiz come back from 3-0 to win it in Yankee Stadium is a memory that will never leave me.

-Gotta love the New York Post. The game-story lead in today's Post, regarding A-Rod's grand slam and personal life, is: ``Who needs Kate Hudson?"

Can you imagine that lead in my newspaper?

No, because Kate Hudson wouldn't date a Twin, and because we don't write about players' personal lives the way the Post does.

-The Post also handicapped the LeBron sweepstakes, listing the Knicks as the team most likely to land Prince James. Of course. Who wouldn't want to live in a city where they pile garbage on the street?

There are times I can't wait to get to New York, can't wait to explore the city. And there are times like this trip, perhaps because I traveled on Friday and went straight to Yankee Stadium, that I just want to survive, maybe have one good meal, and get the heck out of here.

-Great line by Mr. Reusse. To paraphrase, A-Rod gets a Saturday night off in New York, and can't decide who he's going to ask to dinner: Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz or Matt Guerrier.

-Follow me this weekend on twitter at Souhanstrib. I'm here with La Velle, then I head home to cover the NBA draft lottery and La Velle continues on with the Twins.

-The New York papers are calling the Twins' struggles ``Bronx-itis."

-One New York media member ran into Ron Gardenhire this morning, hours after he had Matt Guerrier pitch to Alex Rodriguez with the game on the line. A-Rod had crushed Guerrier, and hit a grand slam to win the game.

So Gardy sees this person and says, ``Just like the old days for me in New York. I pick up the papers and it says, ``Gardy boots another one."

-The Twins' pregame notes note that the Twins have the fourth-best record in baseball sicne the start of the 2002 season. The Yankees have a .606 winning percentage, the Red Sox are at .580, the Angels are at .569 and the Twins are at .549.

Imagine those numbers if the Twins could beat the Yankees once in a while.

-This stat always is revealing: The Twins are 17-3 when they get a quality start (six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer.)

-I'll check in again later.

-Reminder: 7 p.m. Thursday at O'Gara's, Steve Rushin book signing followed by our band, The Beat Writers, playing two sets. We should be playing well into the night.