As a baseball fan, it would seem like there could be nothing better than rooting for the Yankees. Yankee fans get to cheer on a team that is full of all-stars, enters almost every season as a championship contender and earns a playoff spot as a virtual birthright. The life of luxury resulted in another championship season in 2009. Despite the consistent domination that Yankee fans are able to enjoy, I’m far from envious of their situation.

Depression. That’s right, the D word. You know, I’ve got to hand it to Yankees fans, depression is tough. I think it’s something you learned from your counterparts in Boston, especially after that loss to the Marlins in 2004. That was the last time the pinstriped knights from the Bronx were even close to being World Champs. I can understand why you’ve been depressed.

Apparently, there’s a clause within A.J. Burnett’s five-year $82.5 million contract that stipulates who he will and who he will not throw to. The latest adventure of Burnett’s inconsistent 2009 inaugural campaign with the New York Yankees has career backup catcher Jose Molina tabbed to catch Burnett in Game 2 of the ALDS tonight against the Minnesota Twins. Normally, I would not devote my column to a backup catcher, but when he replaces Jorge Posada, one of the premier offensive catchers in the last decade, I could not resist.

NEW YORK (AP) — Even Yogi Berra knew this was the end.

As baseball said farewell to Yankee Stadium, one of the game's most beloved players stood beneath the stands in a full vintage uniform. Now 83, the man who coined the phrase "it ain't over till it's over" put his own stamp on the day.

"I'm sorry to see it over, I'll tell you that," Berra said.

The goodbye completed an 85-year-old run for the home of baseball's most famous team. What began with a Babe Ruth home run on an April afternoon in 1923 was likely to end with Mariano Rivera pitching on a September night.

All the greats were remembered during a 65-minute pregame ceremony that included 21 retired players, six of them Hall of Famers.

"I feel like I'm losing an old friend," Reggie Jackson told the crowd.

NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium, singling in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

The hit off Gavin Floyd was Jeter's 1,270th in the 85-year-old ballpark, scheduled to close Sunday. It came in Jeter's 8,002nd major league at-bat, passing Gehrig for second on the Yankees' career list behind Mickey Mantle (8,102).

White Sox third baseman Juan Uribe, playing on the edge of the infield grass, tried to backhand the sharp grounder, which went under his glove.

There were camera flashes with every pitch thrown to Jeter in recent days. Jeter acknowledged the long ovation by taking off his helmet and raising it to the sellout crowd.

NEW YORK (AP) — After all he had accomplished — four World Series titles, 12 straight years in the playoffs, almost certain entry into the Hall of Fame — and after all the indignities, this was one Joe Torre wasn't going to stand for.

He wasn't going to take a pay cut from the New York Yankees, no matter that he still would have been the highest-paid manager in baseball, and he certainly wasn't going to prove himself all over again.

Torre walked away Thursday, turning down a $5 million, one-year contract — $2.5 million less than he made this season

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Still no decision on Joe Torre.

The New York Yankees manager remained in limbo Wednesday after a second day of meetings by team hierarchy failed to reach a conclusion.

"All we're worried about is the process of making sure that we come to the right decision. When we do, we'll get everybody involved," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said before leaving Legends Field and heading to the airport.

NEW YORK (AP) — Once Grady Sizemore hit a leadoff home run, the Cleveland Indians were headed to the AL championship series while the New York Yankees were braced for a showdown with their boss.

Paul Byrd and the Indians bullpen closed out New York 6-4 in Game 4 Monday night, completing another first-round debacle for the Yankees that might cost manager Joe Torre his job.

The Yankees came in streaking, overcoming a 21-29 start to win the AL wild card. But they were done in by poor pitching, an insect invasion and the latest October vanishing act by Alex Rodriguez, whose bat was quiet until a solo home run in the seventh inning.