Reggie Jackson can still stir the drink

Reggie Jackson may not have played in the big leagues since 1987, but he's still a good at-bat. Mr. October fields each question like he's at the plate, displaying patience in the beginning, checking the limits of the zone and then slamming a knockout shot.

Case in point: What does Jackson think of the newest October phenom, Texas' would-be ALCS Game 7 starter Cliff Lee?

"He's got great command, great control. I have no insight that you haven't already heard," Jackson told Newsday on Thursday. "Great control is what he's got, and a great confidence in himself."

Wait for it, wait for it ...

"I think if the record shows, Cliff Lee's got nine losses," said Jackson, who serves as a special adviser to the Yankees. "Somebody beat him. Somebody beat him nine times. He doesn't walk anybody, so you're gonna get a ball to hit."

Jackson's right. Lee went just 12-9 in the regular season, and that's got to be plenty comforting for a team that needs to win out to reach the World Series.

"Everybody's in the moment, waiting for the next day," Jackson said. "We'll have a good dinner, get some sleep. And we hope [the Rangers] have a good meal, 'cause we're gonna be ready."

Jackson was supposed to make an appearance in Manhattan Thursday afternoon to unveil a Gray Line double-decker tour bus that bore a decal of the slugging hall of famer on the front. Needless to say, he was a no-show.

"I was kind of glad I couldn't make it, 'cause we got more time in the postseason," said Jackson, who traveled to Texas with the team. "We're on borrowed time.

"I think when you're on the verge of going home after playing 162 games and then a couple weeks in the postseason, it gets really easy to stay in the moment. When you're up 2-0, 3-0, you can start looking at getting your tickets for the next series. But Wednesday we needed a ticket to Texas."