I can't tell you how often I hear people say "I just can't get into baseball." It's like there's something esoteric about it.

Worse is when people say "I don't understand why you like baseball." Why wouldn't I? I always offer the same challenge: Try it for a week. Put on a Yankees cap each night and watch every game. You'll be hooked.

The thing I like about baseball is that it isn't just a sport. It's a story. Every game is a story. Every season is a story. Certainly the entire history of the Yankees -- from Jack Chesebro to Joba Chamberlain -- is one long, wild soap opera that just keeps going.

Certainly this season has been one for the ages...

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Even the Yankees broadcasters had written the time off this year. At 14 games behind the American League East lead, the Yankees looked down, out and defeated.

I listened to commentators on sports radio laughing. I listened to callers celebrating the end of the Yankees post-season dynasty. When asked, I'd tell whoever I was talking to that I wasn't going to give up; the Yankees would be just fine.

In many ways, this was probably Joe Torre's toughest year as Yankees skipper. There were injuries, slumps, more injuries, disappointments. A harbinger of what was to come was most likely that Opening Day pitcher was Carl Pavano. Not a model of dependability (please note the understatement). A terrible April gave way to a terrible May...

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