Defeat the Empire

Today marks the first day I've ever opened up with football, and it's for good reason. Ty Law's coming to town.

The three-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots still has some fire left in him, as evidenced by some of his statements during the introductory press conference yesterday. His words were along the lines of he had nothing left to prove in New England, and wants to win a championship with New York.

Questions are there about his health and age, and he's no doubt a risk. But ask yourself this: would the Jets win the Super Bowl this year with Ray Mickens starting at CB? Of course not. Peyton Manning could pick him apart like he did with Roc Alexander in last year's postseason. Law may be a bust, and he by no means guarantees a Jets Super Bowl win or even a playoff birth, but the Jets can't win without him.

2005 is our chance.

Yanks, BoSox Win, Stay 3.5 Apart

Boston keeps hitting. No matter who they play or who's pitching, they seem to score runs. Which is good, because they can't seem to find much starting pitching.

Wade Miller got rocked last night, albeit by an offensive juggernaut in Texas, but he hasn't been what Boston expected since coming off the DL in May. He's just 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 16 starts, and averages barely over 5 innings per start. Forcing any bullpen, and especially the weak Boston bullpen, to get 12 outs is not an economical thing to do. Miller may be the guy to lose his rotation spot when Curt Schilling returns to the top of the starting staff.

That said, Boston's still hot. They've won 9 of 11 and remained 3.5 ahead of the Yankees in the AL East with last night's victory over Texas. Tony Graffanino hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth that proved to be the difference. Jeremi Gonzalez got the win in relief, as he posted 2.2 innings of shutout baseball.

The Yanks beat an old friend in El Duque, 3-2, last night to keep pace with Boston. It was only the Yankees' second victory this season when they've scored under 4 runs. Alex Rodriguez hit his 31st home run, and Mike Mussina picked up the win with 6 good innings.

Today's Schedule

Rangers (Benoit, 3-1, 2.49) @ Red Sox (Clement, 11-3, 4.67), 7:05 PM

White Sox (Contreras, 6-6, 4.41) @ Yankees (Chacon, 1-7, 3.72), 7:05 PM

Mets (Martinez, 12-3, 2.81) @ Padres (Park, 8-5, 5.84), 10:05 PM

Other Notes

-To make room on the roster and on the cap for Ty Law, the Jets released Ray Mickens on Monday. Mickens' spot as a nickelback will be filled by second-year Oklahoma product Derrick Strait.

-Kaz Matsui comes off the DL today, but in a bench role. He has lost his job at second base to Miguel Cairo. To make room for Matsui on the roster, Doug Mientkiewicz may be DL'd because of injuries sustained during a mid-basepath takeout slide against Milwaukee.