Inspired by Raul Ibanez

Part of my challenge in posting every weekday is finding a picture that's timely, as well as visually appealing. I went looking for one of Raul Ibanez to honor his triumphant return to New York. After all, he's smacked three home runs in his first two games back at Yankee Stadium since re-joining the Mariners as a free agent. Just recall that remarkable performance in game three of last year's ALDS against the Orioles -- coming off the bench to hit the tying and winning homers. All told, he's hit nine home runs in his last 11 games in the Bronx... quite a homecoming! Keep in mind Ibanez was born in New York but moved with his parents to Miami while still a baby. So New York is always a part of his soul.

Turns out that I didn't have any unused images of Ibanez. But I did find this nice panorama of the Stadium from a game he sat out last June. So you can just mentally pencil in last night's grand slam and two-run blast while soaking in the pre-game vibe from a sunny spring afternoon in the Bronx.

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