PORT ST.LUCIE - The low point probably was Shea Stadium, late June, the Mets struggling just to take one out of three from the dreadful Seattle Mariners, the fans getting increasingly restless at the banana-peel struggles of their baseball team...

ALL afternoon, as the Yankees kept slipping on banana peels, Jason Giambi quietly waited for a look from his manager, a glance, an opportunity to put on a batting helmet, try to stanch the bleeding. All afternoon, as the Blue Jays built a 7-2 lead...