DIAMOND

It isn't news to family and friends that I've been a New York Yankee fan since Lou Gehrig. So yes, there I was this week, pulling for the Yanks to win their 27th World Series.
But not with any great enthusiasm. Times change.
For one thing, this season I also took a liking to the Philadelphia Phillies, a very good and scrappy young team that gave the bombers a pretty good run for the World Series rings.
For another thing, as a long-time Yankee loyalist, I admit I'm starting to feel a bit uncomfortable about being one of those people. Why am I applauding a team of multi-millionaire mercenaries for beating up on a team of ordinary millionaires?
Hasn't George Steinbrenner bought enough championships?
Well, if so, something of interest may be happening. Time may be catching up with the Yankees. The newly crowned champions, the new "dynasty," simply are getting old.
Look at the roster in terms of future baseball years: Derek Jeter is 35. Andy Petitte is 37. Mariano Rivera is 40. Johnny Damon is 36. Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez are 34. Hideki Matsui is 35. A.J. Burnett is 32.
Sure, they're still good at what they do, but for how long?
By contrast, look at the Phillies: Cliff Lee is 31. Cole Hamels is 26. Chase Utley and Jayson Werth are 30. Later this month Ryan Howard will turn 30, Jimmy Rollins will turn 31 and Shane Victorino will turn 29.
Which of these teams do you think is more likely to win a pennant next year?
I'd say the Phillies. They've got a spark. The Yankees don't.
Of course nobody can predict what the profligate Yankee owner will be doing in the meantime. George can throw enough money around to turn baseball upside down.
For example, this would be in character for him: He could raid the Phillies to get Chase Utley, merely to complete an all-star Yankee infield, and grab Cliff Lee. just to get another ace pitcher.
And suppose, in the next few years, the great Derek Jeter should decide to hang up his spikes. To fill that slot, Steinbrenner could grab the most valuable propery of our beloved Rockies, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who turned 25 last month.
See? The Rockies could always bring up another rookie infielder from the minors and spend a few years getting him up to speed.
You think that isn't quite fair? It doesn't have to be fair. It's baseball these days.