Girardi finally lights a fire...

Thank you, Joe Girardi, for doing what a manager should do. For getting yourself ejected at a crucial juncture. For firing up your guys and the fans.

Girardi was just ejected for arguing balls and strikes after Derek Jeter was called out on a third strike that was about 2 inches inside. The call was close -- certainly not egregious enough to justify an ejection under normal circumstances -- but Girardi got himself thrown out in about 1.5 seconds, presumably to wake up his players. The Yanks were down 4-0 in the 5th inning of a heavily rain delayed game, and morale was low, as you might expect.

So Girardi makes a fiery exit. The result? Johnny Damon promptly hits a 2-run HR and Mark Teixeira homers on the very next pitch to cut the deficit to 4-3. The fans come alive with a (relative for the NYS) thunderous "Let's go Yankees" chant and Lester promptly throws the next pitch in the dirt. He eventually got out of the inning, but for the first time in a LONG time, the Bombers are playing with some heart. Thank you, Mr. Girardi, for finally motivating your team to play hard...even on a cold, rainy, much-delayed night.