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The Yankees are home and will work out at Yankee Stadium at 4 p.m.

Of course, there's uproar over the fact that the Yankees actually lost a game, this one Game 5 to the defending World Series champions, and Joe Girardi's decision to start A.J. Burnett on three days' rest instead of Chad Gaudin.

Take your imaginary scale and place it in front of you. Then weigh these options in a potential World Championship-clinching game: Burnett or Gaudin? Gaudin or Burnett?

I addressed your comments in my previous entry - great feedback, by the way, so keep it coming. Girardi's over-managed at times and has made some strange moves, but I stand by him in this case. You win and lose with your best. Burnett didn't lose that game because he pitched on three days' rest. He lost because he's an enigma and the

Nick Swisher is not in tonight's starting lineup. Jerry Hairston Jr. is starting in right field. Joe Girardi cited Hairston's .370 lifetime average against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez. It also hurt Swisher that he's batting .114 in the postseason.

"It was something that I kicked around in my head, and I talked to my staff when we got here, and we talked about it. We made the deicison to go with Jerry," Girardi said. "Swish is a team guy. He understands, and I told him be ready because you never know when we might need you, and he said OK."

The last time Hairston faced Martinez was July 26, 2004 when his Orioles played Pedro's Red Sox. Hairston went 2-for-3 in that game, but despite his overall good numbers, he had just four hits in 19 at-bats in 2002 and '03.  It makes you wonder

With Pedro Martinez starting tonight, and the day still young, I felt it was worth reprising his colorful press conference from yesterday. There's truly something captivating about Martinez, besides him being one of the best (if not the best) pitcher of our generation.

Here's the comments from yesterday. Lots more later on:

Pedro Martinez says he's "older and wiser," but he remains very entertaining. Check out these money quotes from his meeting with the media. Warning, he pulled no punches taking shots at the scribes.

"Because of you guys in some ways, I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium. I can honestly say that. I mean, I have been a big fan of baseball for a long time, since I was a kid. My first ball I ever got from a Big League player