Fire in the Belly

I was always skeptical of the criticism of the Yankees under Joe Torre that they lacked fire. Derek Jeter never seemed to need any extra motivation to play balls out. Ditto Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera or even Johnny Damon and Joba Chamberlain.

But one criticism I did agree with was that Joe Torre's sense of "gentlemanly" play was leaving the team vulnerable to its rivals. Now, under Joe Girardi, that doesn't seem to be a problem, as Shelley Duncan's take-out slide into second proved today.

Keep bringing that fire boys! And those bruising forearms, Shelley!