Watchdog

Before I get around to my newspaper column about Mr. Bonds' big hit, I guess I should mention a game that otherwise would be dominating the sports discussion around here today:

How did the YES Network announcers handle Roger Clemens' pitch to the back of the Blue Jays' Alex Rios? Very calmly. Too calmly. Michael Kay, Ken Singleton and Al Leiter had no problem with the umpire tossing Clemens, but also didn't take much issue with Clemens, who was, after all "protecting his teammate.''

They brought up the risk of a suspension but didn't take issue with Clemens for potentially hurting the team by getting slapped with one.

Kay did say, "It kind of taints what was really a splendid performance for Roger Clemens.''

I assume Kay will have stronger opinions on all this when he changes into his radio sports talk uniform and his personality undergoes its daily transformation.

Whatever. The Yankees' late-season rally has done wonders for YES, which a couple of months back looked like it might be facing its first irrelevant August.

YES said its prime-time Yankees telecasts have ranked first among all programs in the New York market on 27 of the past 29 nights.

Tuesday night's game attracted 7.4 percent of area households and 715,000 viewers, the highest-rated and most-viewed show on YES since a Sept. 29, 2005, Yankees-Orioles game.

Also, Monday night's replay of the Aug. 6, 1979, game against the Orioles on the night of Thurman Munson's funeral was the highest-rated "Yankees Classic'' ever. It drew 1.1 percent of area households.

YES is averaging 4.5 of households for the Yankees, up from 4.2 at this point last season.