The Yankee infielders gathered around.

Two Yankee infielders underwent relatively minor surgery in the last five days.

Randolph, the former Yankee infielder who had been an assistant general manager the last three months, will return to the field and could be the third-base coach.

After all, the Yankee infielder said, "most taller infielders have to work on getting down on the ball.

Another home run over the Wall by another Yankee middle infielder off another aging right-hander who formerly pitched in New York.

For nearly two months, a host of Yankee infielders have ridden the third-base merry-go-round.

"The way he's pitching right now, you would like to see him there at the start of a game," said Luis Sojo, the Yankee infielder.

If a Yankee infielder had done that, the owner might have accused him of being incompetent, ungrateful and probably even unpatriotic.

As Jerry Coleman, the Yankee infielder, remembered it: "Casey was livid.

"If they want to cut their throats by crossing the line, we can't hold them back," said Mike Gallego, the Yankee infielder.