Hero!

Dallas Braden is going to start against the Yankees in the Bronx on Thursday. He knows he's going to get an earful over all that "get off my mound" stuff. Rather than tighten up about it or spout cliches about the past being the past or whatever, he's owning it. When asked about the reception he might receive:

    "You guys wouldn't be New Yorkers, right, if that wasn't the case?" Braden said at the Stadium yesterday when asked if he thought he'd get an earful.

    "That's part of the excitement. They've had a while to think of some good stuff, so don't disappoint."