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Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

The Red Sox don't worry about individual awards. They don't even like to talk about them out of fear that it might distract them from the task at hand, winning a third World Series in five years. That's probably part of the reason why they've been baseball's most successful franchise in the past decade.

If Kevin Youkilis finishes with a bang, they might have to start.

The player once dubbed "a fat third baseman, who couldn't run, throw or field," in Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" is having quite the season. He entered play Thursday with 24 home runs, 88 RBI and a .321 batting average. He ranks in the top 10 in those categories as well as on-base percentage, slugging average, OPS, total bases, doubles, triples and walks.

He might not look like an MVP. He certainly doesn't act like one, grinding hard in every at-bat and taking every out personally in a manner ex-Yankee Paul O'Neill would be proud of, but like it or not, he's a serious contender for the award with under six weeks to go in the season.

"It's been fun to watch," says Dustin Pedroia of Youkilis' season. "He's been the biggest part of our offense."

"He's growing into his power," says Jason Varitek. "He's always been a really good hitter."

My colleague Matt Watson brought you the story about LaTroy Hawkins changing numbers in the face of intense booing from Yankee fans. He dared to wear Paul O'Neill's number 21, a no-no to a fan base that still idolizes the hard-nosed leader of four championship teams. Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog shares his thoughts on the mess.

Paul O'Neill was a good player but not one worthy of having his number retired. At some point, the Yankees have to have some standards. Beyond that, Hawkins wanted 21 to honor Roberto Clemente.

The nod to Clemente is nice but not something that was disseminated to the majority of fans, some of whom were booing Hawkins because he stunk in his first two appearances at the Stadium. The rest of the fans who booed Hawkins are dopes. Booing one guy doesn't honor another in any way, shape or form.

Beyond that, though, Abraham is wrong about O'Neill's worthiness of having his number retired. He's perfectly worthy. He was the starting rightfielder on the Yankees for nine seasons which featured five trips to the World Series and those four titles. He amassed nearly 1500 hits, won a batting title and, as mentioned, was beloved by Yankee fans for his style of play and role on great teams.

If O'Neill did all that for the Padres, you don't think his number would be retired? He's exactly the kind of player who gets his number retired, just not by the Yankees.

Mob justice has won, and common sense has lost. LaTroy Hawkins has been hassled by fans since spring training about his decision to wear No. 21. He was attempting to honor Roberto Clemente, but Yankees fans were offended that someone would trounce on Paul O'Neill's memory. But while it's one thing to deal with fans chanting O'Neill's name whenever Hawkins took the mound, it's another fending off Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. From Scott Miller of CBS Sports:

Hawkins, in the midst of a fan-induced uproar because nobody had worn the still-revered Paul O'Neill's old No. 21 since O'Neill's retirement in 2001, said Tuesday he will switch to No. 22.

Hawkins made the decision after discussions with shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera and a couple of other Yankees veterans. Their message: It's simply not worth the headache it's causing.

"I figure if it's important enough for Jeter and Mariano and some other veterans to ask me about it, it's not worth it to keep wearing the number," Hawkins said.

The most annoying part of all this? O'Neill doesn't deserve to have his number retired! The front office recognizes this, which is why No. 21 keeps getting assigned to people -- Morgan Ensberg had it earlier in spring before giving it up after seeing the fan's reaction. The Yankees already have 15 numbers retired, but they'd triple that amount if they retired everybody's jersey who had a similar career. Hawkins' decision to switch numbers doesn't solve the problem, it merely compounds it for the next guy who tries wearing it.

(Also, Rivera barely has room to say anything -- he's the only guy still wearing No. 42 after it was retired by the rest of Major League Baseball in honor Jackie Robinson. Yes, I know he wore it before MLB honored Robinson, but he more than anyone should understand someone's decision to wear a number when it goes against the majority's opinion.)