Billy Ball

I'll admit - seeing Billy Crystal's name on a Yankee roster is a little strange. As you all know, the actor and avid Yankee fan has signed a one-day minor-league contract with New York, and will wear No. 60 today.

He's also leading off.

I have no problem with this. It's spring training, after all, where it's OK for games to end in ties. So why not let Billy get his cuts in? I consider myself a purist, so if this stuff was going on during the regular season, I'd be screaming and kicking and passing around petitons.

But he's not taking a roster spot. He's not hurting anyone. And how much progress will he impede being here for one day?

So let the man play. It's the least we can do for Crystal directing "*61," a great HBO movie documenting the Mickey Mantle-Roger Marris home run chase during the summer of 1961.