Yankees Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The never ending search for some encouraging Yankees' news leads to Baseball America:

• Venerable columnist Peter Gammons transitions from yesterday's glory to today's heroics: "After the strike canceled the 1994 World Series and led to the coldest winter, along came Cal Ripken, the dignity and might of the Joe Torre/Derek Jeter/Mariano Rivera Yankees and then the summer of '98 and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. And when the entire era went to black and the waste depository of the BALCO and aging clinics, Jose Canseco and gopher slimeballs reached the desk of George Mitchell and millions wondered if they could ever trust the sport again. There were 55,000 people at Yankee Stadium for the Home Run Derby--most of whom knew less about Josh Hamilton than Darrell Rasner--chanting Hamilton's name and rooting for a new hero.
• An encouraging scouting report on Jesus Montero : "I thought his lateral movement was good and I thought his footwork and his release was good. I thought his arm strength was at least average, maybe a tick above. I didn't like his accuracy--he came up and got a little too quick, but I thought he handled himself well." Potentially, the Yanks' catcher of the future, Montero had a reputation as an excellent hitter with dubious defense. It's encouraging to hear he's improving.