Text messages from press row ...

FROM NEW YORK — Outside his Southern California cocoon, Manny Ramirez should expect less adulation and more agitation tonight in Queens. . . .

New York Mets fans already are in a foul mood because David Wright & Co. have fallen below .500. . . .

A weekend sweep by the Philadelphia Phillies prompted this New York Post headline: "Just Aw-Phil!" . . .

The same cannot be said of the new Yankee Stadium. . . .

Pitchers who have given up cheap, wind-aided home runs might disagree -- and a price tag of $1.5 billion seems a tad excessive -- but the new ballpark in the Bronx is spectacular. . . .

It's a shrine to Yankeedom. . . .

As Lonn Trost, the club executive who oversaw construction of the new stadium, said upon its opening this spring, "We consider this whole building to be a museum." . . .

For sure, it celebrates the past while embracing the future via countless television monitors, a giant video board in center field and unusual, fan-friendly touches such as a farmer's market. . . .

The coolest attraction might be a holdover from the previous Yankee Stadium, still standing across the street: Monument Park, where Yankees immortals such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the like are honored in a leafy, reverential setting. . . .

Speaking of all-time Yankees greats, Derek Jeter has an aura about him that only deepens with time and carries himself with a style and grace reminiscent of Joe DiMaggio. . . .

Or Roger Federer. . . .

Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal, declining to choose between Sunday's championship match at Wimbledon and last year's epic All England Club finale as the greatest of all time: "We prefer to look at these terrific two finals like 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather: Part 2': long, different and equally brilliant, with fabulous period costumes." . . .

For your consideration: Andy Roddick, best actor in a supporting role. . . .

A streamlined Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels seem poised for a strong second-half push to the playoffs. . . .

Steve McNair appears to have lived the last few months of his life the way he played football: recklessly. . . .

Trevor Ariza's agent owes the former Laker an apology. . . .

Ron Artest might turn out to be a handful, but he's a more prolific scorer than Ariza, a bigger and stronger defender than Ariza and might be eager to remake his head-case image. . . .

Or so Lakers fans hope. . . .