Giambi showing classic signs of Battered Yankee Syndrome

Last night, with the game in the balance, only one person in God's Creation believed that Jason Giambi swung at a strike three pitch.

That person was home plate umpire Ed Montague.

If such a travesty had happened to Big Papi, he would be pouring tea in the harbor today. Fox News would be running a countdown until Montague appeared for an interview. Bud Selig would rise from his ventilator and order a public caning.

The Yankee Matrix wants justice.

What does Giambi say?

"It doesn't really matter now. You can't do anything about it... I really respect and love Ed Montague. I'll never say anything bad about him. It's over now."

Of course, we understand the impulse. Giambi is in denial. He's hoping that Ed Montague will forgive him for striking out, and they can be together again. They can exist happily back at home -- the ump and his Stepford Yankee batter.

But Giambi needs to address the obvious. His low batting average won't go away. His tortured days and nights will continue.

The abuses will continue until Ed Montague is called on the carpet to acknowledge his crimes.

Last night, 50,000 people wanted Ed Montague to seek counseling -- to ask the third base umpire for the help that he needs. He refused.

We must not go back to the dark ages.