With the passing of Al Kaline, I've been thinking of the ALL-TIME YANKEE OPPONENTS TEAM

The first sports magazine I ever bought - (actually, my dad bought it for me) - was a black-and-white thing called "WHO'S BEST IN SPORTS?" It featured one-page profiles of star athletes, most of whom I'd never heard of. But one I already knew too well. The headline said, "DON'T LEAVE OUT AL KALINE," and, goddamm, they were right. Any list of great outfielders - Mickey, Willie, Roger, Bob Clemente, etc. - needed Kaline. (R.I.P., Mr. Tiger.)

These days, turns out that I have some time on my hands. Time to think about not just old Yankees, but the demons who haunted my childhood, adolescence, salad days and - damn - they can still hijack a drinking jag. They ruined months, years, of my life. The great ones.

On that note, I invite you to join me in drawing up the IT IS HIGH ALL-TIME YANKEE OPPONENT TEAM. For now, we need nominees. If we can make a list, I'll set up a poll, we can vote and - damn - it'll kill a few Groundhog Days of this quarantine. I feel like Trump and his wonder drug: Whattaya gotta lose? So... here are easy ones, pulled off the top of my head. I suggest we go beyond simply naming the greatest players of all-time, but limit this to the ones who particularly drew the most blood. Some suggestions...

c: Lance Parrish, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk

1b:

2b: Joe Morgan, Roberto Alomar, Jose Altuve 

ss: Cal Ripken, Rick Burleson 

3b: George Brett, Brooks Robinson

lf: Manny Ramirez

cf: Johnny Damon

rf: Al Kaline Dwight Evans, Frank Robinson, Jose Bautista

dh: David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez 

sp: (Pick 5) Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Sandy Koufax, Frank Larry, Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez, Teddy Higuera, Gerrit Cole

bullpen (Pick 3): Rich Garces (el Guapo) 

closer: 

All right, everybody... suggestions?