Frankly, I’m stunned.  Back when I covered the Yanks in the ’05 and ’06 seasons, Chacon often appeared to be a few hours removed from a session with the peace pipe.  In my interactions with the guy, he was nothing but relaxed and pleasant, exercising a vocabulary that including surfer terminology.  I recall him admitting to “taking a serious digger” once when he slipped on the field.

Still, he choked his boss.  I don’t see the mellow reputation saving him.

As for the Yanks, it’s been a typical two-game stretch where the world has both deemed the season over and then praised them for getting hot at the right time.  I love this town. 

The fact is, Joe Girardi did what he needed to do after Tuesday night’s loss by tearing into his team.  Tuesday was pitiful.  Jeter and Abreu swinging against Tom Gorzelanny after the Pittsburgh starter walked Daryl Rasner (a pitcher) and then Melky Cabrera on four pitches.  The result, of course, was a fielder’s choice ground out and a double play against a guy that couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. 

I turned off the game after that…the Yanks were destined to lose.

As for last night, the Yanks got the message.  When I saw Bobby Abreu leg out a single in the first and then Alex Rodriguez go hard into second to force a wide throw from Jack Wilson — allowing two runs two score on what would have been an inning-ending double play — I knew the Yanks were going to win.   The fire was there last night.

This weekend it’s the Mets…I’ll be at the Yankee Stadium end of things to watch Dan Giese take on Mike Pelfrey.  I hope, somehow, Hank Steinbrenner has Willie Randolph back in a Yankee uniform either tomorrow or at least to showcase at the All-Star game.  What happened to him was awful.  He’d be a great mentor to some of the young players on the Yankees and is the kind of guy who excels in a professional atmosphere…something that I hear was lacking across town.