Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Getting in the mood for tomorrow's Old Timers Day, here's a look from the upper deck towards Monument Park. Do you know all the names that go with the retired numbers? Which Yankee greats should eventually join them in this distinctive honor? How does this space compare to the Monument Park in the previous stadium? Share your comment.

June 27th, bottom of the 6th inning. We're watching from the upper deck as Robinson Cano bats with Alex Rodriguez on 2nd base, and the Yankees down a run. The quick swing, the rapid extension... and then everyone watches as the ball flies toward and past the left field wall.  High-five time: A-Rod waits for Cano at home plate as the Yankees take a 4 - 3 lead. But, after learning that Andy Pettitte would be sidelined for two months with that broken bone in his leg -- and CC Sabathia's troublesome groin meant he'd miss a couple of starts, the exhilaration of the victory was certainly dimmed.

This afternoon's Yankees game with the Indians began in typical fashion -- Andy Pettitte was quite effective over the first four innings. But things can change quickly: Pettitte's season was suddenly put on hold after being hit on the lower leg by a line drive off the bat of Cleveland's Casey Kotchman. The impact caused a fractured fibula which forced Andy out of the game -- and, following x-rays -- onto the disabled list. With an expected six weeks to heal and another couple of weeks to round back into shape, Yankee fans won't likely see Pettitte back on a mound again until September.

We're at New Britain Stadium on June 26th, as the Rock Cats outfielder Oswaldo Arcia knocks his first home run at the AA level against the Trenton Thunder. And below, it's high-five time as he touches home plate. In contrast, it's been a difficult year for Matt Rizzotti. After a breakout 2010 for the Phillies' Reading club, he failed to produce at AAA, and within a year, found himself off the 40-man roster. Traded to the Twins organization this spring, he didn't stick at Triple-A for them and was dropped down to New Britain without the numbers that brought him attention. Finally, an image with an almost Norman Rockwell feel. During the 7th inning stretch, one of the ballclub's on-field MC's brings a couple of kids atop the dugout to join him for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Reflecting the opponent being the Yankees' Trenton club -- and it being June 26th Derek Jeter's birthday, notice the boy in the #2 Jersey.

On Derek Jeter's birthday, I'll let the pictures tell the story. These are from a Yankees-Twins game back in April. At bat, and soon to be on base. Outside the elevator leading from the field level to the press box, there's a gallery of Yankee immortals. A picture of Jeter is already on display, alongside Yogi Berra. While others might post gaudier statistics, is there any doubt that Jeter is the best Yankee since Mantle? Post your comments here, whether you agree or not.

You've heard me mention my pal Dennis in a number of posts. We often go to games together, not just locally but in Philadelphia, spring training in Florida and years back, some "road trips" through the Midwest and West Coast. Last night at Citi Field (when I didn't join him) he was sitting behind 3rd base when a foul ball off a Baltimore bat came right at his section and landed in his lap ! He says it's the second time he caught a ball (the first was back in '85). Luckily, the guy he was with had a camera to capture the moment. Notice the special Mets 50th Anniversary logo, which makes this an even nicer souvenir! Plus, it was thrown by Johan Santana, who fired six shutout innings for his first win since tossing a no-hitter.

Wilson Valdez is the kind of valuable bench player you find on contending teams. While he doesn't play regularly or post awesome numbers, he contributes when called upon -- when his team needs him most. Starting in center field for the Reds in their weekend series against the Mets, he drove in three runs on Friday night, got on base in the 1st inning Saturday night (and scored on Jay Bruce's three-home homer) and drove in the first Cincinnati run Sunday afternoon as the Reds swept New York. A year ago, while capably coming off the Phillies bench, he pulled off a feat that no major leaguer had done in 90 years -- moving from a "regular" position to the mound during a game -- and earning the victory. The previous player to do that was some guy on the Yankees you might have heard of named Ruth. Rather stunning that the Phils, who've been decimated by injuries this year, traded him to Cincinnati in the off-season as a cost-cutting move.

Four seasons ago, Brad Lidge was the perfect closer for the Phillies -- converting all 48 save opportunities for a club that went onto win the World Series. It's been different since then. Slowed by injuries and age, he left the Phils last winter -- and had trouble landing a deal elsewhere. Signed at a bargain rate by the Nationals, Lidge never came close to recapturing his old form. After posting an ERA of 9.64 through 11 appearances, Washington cut the onetime Philadelphia hero today.

Mets left fielder Jason Bay has had zero luck since signing with the club as a free agent. Since leaving the Red Sox for a big money deal (with high expectations), he's endured injuries (including a concussion that ended his 2010 season in July when he crashed in a Dodger Stadium wall) and performance far below his levels in Boston and Pittsburgh. Last night, his sliding attempt to catch Jay Bruce's line drive led to his crashing into the wall...  ...and forced him to leave the game with concussion symptoms... ...while Bruce circled the bases for an inside-the-park homer in Cincinnati's 7-3 win. Is Bay's tenure with the Mets a Shakespearean tragedy? This Yahoo Sports contributor thinks so.

Last night, Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey tossed another gem -- allowing just one hit and an unearned run, while striking out 12 in a 9 - 1 win at Tampa Bay. Retiring 22 batters in a row at one point with his remarkably confusing pitch, Dickey also claimed a piece of history, running his consecutive inning scoreless streak to 32-2/3 before the Rays pushed home a run in the bottom of the 9th. Boosting his season's record to 10 - 1, he made a strong statement about being the NL starting pitcher in the All Star Game. But Dickey's game won't be the lead story on your morning sportscast or online source. That goes to the Giants' Matt Cain who threw the first perfect game in Giants history!

Tyler Pastornicky opened the season as the Braves' everyday shortstop. The above image is from Atlanta's April visit to Citi Field. But less-than-impressive fielding alongside a .246 batting average landed him back in Triple A. When the Braves welcomed the Yankees to "the Ted" last night, he'd been replaced by another young player Andrelton Simmons.

It was building into a very special night for the well-traveled Kevin Millwood. Last night, he was six innings into a no-hitter against the Dodgers when he didn't feel right warming up for the 7th inning. (It turned out to be a groin strain.) Five relievers later, the M's had a combined no-hitter, anchored by the veteran righthander. You're right if you thought Millwood had an earlier no-no: it came in 2003 while he was with the Phillies.

From July 2011, Darryl Strawberry, who starred for both the Mets and Yankees, greets Yankee GM Brian Cashman near the Citi Field batting cage before a Subway Series game.

On June 4th, 1972, the Dodgers retired Jackie Robinson's number 42, along with those of his teammates and fellow Hall of Famers Roy Campanella (39) and Sandy Koufax (32). Although in declining health, Jackie was on hand for the ceremony that night at Dodger Stadium. 25 years later, Commissioner Bud Selig would honor Robinson's legacy by retiring 42 across the game.

Friday evening, Johan Santana brought the Mets to a place they'd never been before, throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history. It took 8020 games, two months into their 51st season, before the lefty, coming off a shutout early in the week, shut down the defending World Champion Cardinals and their top-rated offense. It capped a long road back for Santana (seen above in April 2009 and below in May 2010),  ...who missed all of 2011 recovering from shoulder surgery. On a team long known for such home-grown pitching legends as Tom Seaver (who twice took no-hit bids into the 9th inning) and Dwight Gooden, the first-ever no-no came from the former Twins ace who earned a pair of Cy Young Awards during his Minnesota years. Santana's gem is also linked with a pair of historic Mets: it was the first no-hitter thrown by a pitcher who sat out the previous season since Dwight Gooden (with the Yankees in 1996) and the first no-hitter against the reigning World Series ch...

Just back from 12 wonderful days in Israel, where soccer and basketball are what matter to local sports fans. Although an effort to launch a professional baseball league failed after just a year, Israel is planning to send a team to the upcoming World Baseball Classic, as reported recently in the leading newspaper HAARETZ . Despite a resemblance to Safeco Field, the impressive venue you see above isn't made for baseball. Located just outside Tel Aviv, it will be country's largest soccer stadium when it opens, perhaps by year's end. I was lucky enough to snap a picture while passing it on the freeway.