The Crankee Yankee Fan

Brawl Brewing in Beantown

2007-06-02T09:13:00.000-04:00

Finally, the Yankees went after a Sox batter (Youk) with some intent after getting plunked 3 times last night, the last plunking (Cano's) was serious and intentional. Proctor, who seems to be the designated enforcer (until Rocket gets back), did the enforcing. Unfortunately, he went a little too high for any one's liking. Which means that the hit batsmen will continue into the weekend with both Schilling and Beckett going for the Sox. I fear for A-Rod, Jeter and Cano. I really do.

If you listen to sports radio in New York, specifically the Michael Kay Show, Mike & The Mad Dog, they both advocate pushing the Sox off the plate. For years, Manny, Ortiz, Nixon, Varitek and now Youk, are way to comfortable up there. I agree that the Yankees need to secure the inner part of the plate, but throwing above the shoulders is not the way to go about it.

Anytime you're up that high, nothing good can come of it. You don't want to mess with a chance of serious injury.

That being said, onto a little game analysis. The Yankees played inspired ball with Abreu showing signs of life and Cano carrying a little carryover from the 10-6 victory over the Blue Jays the other night. Wakefield again took a pounding from the Yankees.

What impressed me most, was after the Red Sox tied it up, the Yankees put up a 6-spot. They didn't roll over and play dead. Wang and the bullpen kept that score until the 9th when Mo (again) looked like he might be in some trouble, gave up a hit to Manny and let two inherited runners score.

Torre was thrown out last night. See, he is alive on the bench. It's about time too. Unfortunately, he was wrong to argue the call, seeing as how Abreu did come off the bag and was tagged. At least he showed signs of life and hopefully the Yankees have some carry-over into today and Sunday.

Let's hope the Yankees put up some fight in the remaining two games in Fenway, so they can trim the lead to 10 1/2 , which is slightly more manageable.

They need help from their AL Central foes in trimming the Tribe's lead and got no help from Todd Jones and the Tigers, who imploded in the 9th giving up 5 runs and losing to the Indians.

Now for the 800-pound stripper in the room. What to do with A-Rod's personal life? Personally, it his own. Some players and their wives have an "understanding" about the side stuff. Don't let it get in the papers and embarrass the family. Frankly, the Post went over the line publishing the pictures. We certainly don't need to know that. It doesn't affect the team. A brawl in the dugout (thank you Cubs) or in a bar at night, fine, report that. Not A-Rod's extra-curricular activities. The last thing you want to do is give Sox fans more help getting under Alex's skin (see photo on right...which is brilliant, I have to admit).

Let's hope this blows over for A-Rod and he can concentrate on baseball and help the Yankees climb over .500.

Fire Torre?

2007-05-19T11:34:00.000-04:00

The Daily News christened this 12 game stretch as the "The Dirty Dozen". The Yanks play(ed) the Chicago White Sox (1-2), the Mets (0-1), the Angels and the Red Sox. All 4 teams are incredibly tough and two of the teams (Angels and Red Sox) give the Yankees fits.

As you can see from the numbers above, we are 1-3 during this crucial 12 game stretch and losing ground fast. As Yogi liked to say, "it gets late here early". At no point in the Torre era have the Yankees been 10 games out of first. Welcome to that point in the era. Not only have the Yankees been losing, but they have looked uninspired. Lethargic, lax. Very un-Yankee like (we'll get to that point soon).

Quite a few factors have led to this debacle of a season. At first, the pitching was dreadful. Our lone bright spot, Andy Pettitte. Mo has looked human, the bullpen overworked due to dreadful pitching performances and Pavano is again injured and contributing nothing and stealing from the Yankees.

Our hitting had carried us through a rough patch of pitching. Now, the hitting has disappeared. We now have a very lefty-laden line-up and are 3-8 against lefty starters. On any given day, 5-6 players in the lineup bat below .300 and worse, below .260.

Abreu and Cano have been awful. Damon is injured. Giambi is injured. After A-Rod's ludicrous start to the season, he has cooled. Our only stalwarts....Jeter and Posada (again, the last of the Yankee dynast doing their part).

We signed Rocket. The biggest upside...his tenacity and his ability to show his emotions. No one on this current Yankee team is even remotely associated with fire and brimstone. Long gone are the days of Tino, O'Neill and Brosius. Rocket at least brings back some semblance of someone with the balls to call out his teammates for continually not showing any enthusiasm or caring.

That leads us to Torre. Torre has always had the right touch. His managerial ability has not changed. Just his team. It is no longer made up of grinders, self-starters and to borrow a phrase from the hated Sox, a dirt-dog. During the Dynasty years, Torre had players to police the clubhouse and set the attitude (Clemens, Stanley, O'Neill, Brosius, Tino, Raines, Strawberry, Chili Davis, Justice). Now, Torre is saddled with a Captain who leads by example and not by words. Damon is still "new", Moose is too quiet, Giambi might be the guy, but won't out of respect to Jeter and A-Rod won't say boo. Honestly, Posada is the only one who ever shows any emotion.

Besides having had players to police themselves, Torre always had coaches who were capable in their job description...Zim, Chambliss, Mel. Donnie did fine as hitting coach, so he gets a pass. But Gator as pitching coach? Too new. Donnie as bench coach? Too new. Where is the master strategist like Zim (2004 never happens with Zim there to challenge a gimpy Schilling on the mound in Game 6...cold, rainy...BUNT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. TEST THE FREAKIN ANKLE!).

Now, Joe not only has to coddle superstars but teach future managers (Willie, Donnie).

The names have changed and Joe remains. Maybe the face of the manager needs to change as well.

Return of the Rocket

2007-05-08T19:48:00.000-04:00

What more can be said about the dramatic introduction of Roger Clemens back into Pinstripes? It was a true Yankee Stadium moment. The people who went to the game, will never forget it.

How it was kept so quite is really amazing. Only a handful of people knew and from the reaction in the dug-out, not even Andy (BFF of Roger) knew. That's secrecy.

The bigger question becomes....will Roger push the Bombers over the top? We have gotten some very impressive outings recently from our rookies, namely DeSalvo and Rasner. Hughes pitched amazing in his second outing before popping a hammy. Our pitching is starting to come around.

The biggest concern is that the starters eat up some innings. Is that what Clemens can do at his age? I doubt it. 44 going on 45 is different from 34 going on 35. Not only that, but there will definitely be an adjustment period coming back to the power heavy AL East.

That being said, I would rather Clemens give us his version of 5-6 innings than Igawa or Pavano (who is clearly just robbing us).

I like the Clemens signing. It's not my money. He adds some leadership, toughness (which we sorely lack in the rotation and retribution department), mentoring ability and overall a kick in the ass.

That being said, is he the savior? I don't think so. Not if our bullpen continues to be used in the fashion it has been and especially if Mo doesn't return to form.

Last night was the third game this year where he has been tagged with the loss/blown save. His velocity is getting better, but his location is lacking. If he doesn't have his location or his cutter isn't cutting, the Yankees aren't the Yankees.

What has caused Mo's problems? In Spring Training, he looked unhittable. Is it the lack of work? If so, blame Torre. Use him even in blowouts. Get him work. Let him loosen up. Without Mo, the season is lost.

Boston Massacre - Part 4!

2007-04-27T23:52:00.000-04:00

Another game against our hated rivals, another loss. Andy took the mound for the 2nd time in a week against the Sox and instead of the pen blowing a lead, Andy did it to himself.

The Sox spotted the Yankees 2 runs and the Yankees answered back with 4 in the 4th. 3 walks from Dice-K, a timely 2-out hit from Damon and all seemed to be right with our Pinstriped world.

Not for long. Andy, having spent 25 minutes in the dugout, got the 1st batter and than promptly lost the plate. The result, 5 pitchers from the dugout and an 11-4 beating.

Joe, trying to learn from his mistakes, allowed Mo to get some work in the 9th. Entering the game with a 7-4 deficit, Mo got the 1st batter out. He gave up an opposite field single to Lowell, a single to Varitek, a single to Crisp (again with this light-weight!) and a walk to Pedroia.

In case you're scoring at home, that's another run (8-4) and bases loaded.

Joe brings in Myers, who is truly taking one for the team. He proceeds to give up another 3 runs. If you saw the game, I won't bore you with the gory details.

So much for this game being a push (Andy v. Dice-K). Tomorrow does not look promising, Karstens against our personal tormentor, Wakefield.

After that, we get a reprieve with Tavarez vs. Wang. We need a win. Bad.

7 in a row. Awful.

Pocket Rocket Debut

2007-04-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

It's not good folks. The Phenom has been called up way too early in the season. The kid wasn't supposed to be here until July of this year and if everything went according to Cashman's schedule, next April.

Instead, we are looking at April 26th, and picturing Phil Hughes as savior and the new version of Roger Clemens.

Let's look in on the Pocket Rocket's progress:

1st Inning:

2 runs, 3 hits, 1 wild pitch and 1K.

Not exactly an overwhelming beginning to the new Era in Yankee baseball. See you in the 2nd inning.

2nd Inning:

2Ks and 1 ground ball. Throw 2 innings - 40 pitches. Gonna have to be more ecnomical or we'll be seeing the bullpen in the 5th again.

3rd Inning:

2 Fly-outs, 1 K and 1 single. Not bad. Seems like the kid is getting into a groove.

4th Inning:

2 ground outs, a walk and a fly-out. Where the hell is the Yankee offense?

5th Inning:

The last inning for Hughes. He threw 91 pitches, had great poiste. Overall looked good out there. He is responsible for the men on 1st and 3rd. He gave up 7 hits and 3 runs. 5Ks.

Not bad. To me, he warrants another start. Let's see what the powers that be have to say.

Now, if we can just get some offense, we can get off this losing streak and perhaps inflict some payback on Boston this weekend.

Road Kill!

2007-04-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

I had a hard time deciding how I wanted to dissect the recently concluded road trip from hell.

We hit Schilling, Beckett and Dice-K. They had their rotation lined-up and couldn't put us away. No overly dominant outings by their starters. Their bullpen proved to be exceptional and Papelbon is ridiculous.

That said, we started 2 rookies, used a reliever who was working for the 1st time in 5 days, using a bullpen that is decimated by overuse, due to the inability of the starters to go more than 5 innings. Still, we were in every game and that is a morale booster. Lord knows you don't want to be swept by the Sox at any time of the year for psychological reasons, but still, it wasn't so bad. If our bullpen does its job, we win 2 maybe even sweep them.

Than comes our trip to our own version of Dante's Inferno and our own personal hell....Tampa. They have got our number. If they had any pitching they would absolutely kill people in the AL East. They have a ton of athletes. Baldelli, Upton, Young, Dukes, Crawford, Kazmir. They are going to be good....SOON.

The AL East is like beer league softball. Mashers up and down the lineups. Makes you wonder how we're supposed to win 95-98 games.

Unless the pitching gets healthy in a hurry, this is going to get a lot worse.

If it wasn't for A-Rod's history making April, we could be 4-15.

Joe is making some awful decisions and some panicky ones as well. He uses Myers against Crawford, when Myers has been overused. Where is Henn? Henn got Papi twice, let him get Crawford and rest Myers for a day.

Vizcaino, Bruney and Proctor are having some arm issues since they have been used in 13 or 14 games out of 19. Farnsworth is killing us by not being able to go two days in a row.

Mo is not himself due to lack of use. See Scutaro and the 8th inning of the Sox (bloop single, 40 bounce triple, dunked in single over a drawn in infield, reminiscent of Arizona 2001).

He takes out Wang after 74 pitches (I know, 1st game back, but he didn't labor out there), instead of walking Baldelli. He goes to Myers, instead of Henn. Awful by Joe, just awful. How soon before the Boss calls for his head? On top of that, Jeter gets hurt, by being hit by a pitch. Again, no retaliation. When will that stop? Someone has to pay. The pain should be reciprocated. How about Crawford? He goes 4 for 4 with his 1st career Grand Slam to beat us. Knock him down!

Things have to change in a hurry. Hughes is coming up, Moose is coming back soon. Matsui is back. Will it be enough?

The Error of Their Ways

2007-04-17T19:54:00.000-04:00

If the first 11 games of the season is any future indication of Yankee defense, than this is going to be a long, frustrating summer.

Granted, 11 games is a small sample, but the regularity with which errors are occurring is frightening. I don't say this to pile on Jeter, who if you see the back page of today's Daily News and John Harper, would have you believe that he's over the hill, has less range than normal and should be ready to pack it in.

This is a direct shot at the entire Yankee team. The errors are made (or not) on the most routine of chances and they are costing us big time.

Abreu cost us Friday night's game with a god-awful error on Piazza's drive to the wall. Abreu makes that catch, Piazza doesn't score and the Yankees win by a run (ain't hindsight wonderful).

Jeter's error on Jackie Robinson Day on Sunday cost Pettitte an unearned run and eventually bit them in the ass when Mo gave up a bomb to Scu, Scu, Scutaro (my Berman imitation...thank you, thank you...I'm here all week. Try the veal).

In the beginning of the Torre Era, GMs, scouts, fans always commented on the tight defense, clutch hitting and fantastic pitching that helped the Yankees win 4 out of 5 World Series. Recently, you can say that the defense has been porous at best.

Is that really the case? I did some number crunching, with the help of the stats compiled by the guys at Baseball Reference. The following numbers are error totals for the Yankees from 1996-2006 and the World Series winners from 2001-2006.

1996: 91

1997: 104 Marlins: 106

1998: 98

1999: 111

2000: 109

2001: 108 Arizona: 84

2002: 127 Angels: 82

2003: 118 Marlins: 78

2004: 108 Red Sox: 118 (always an exception)

2005: 95 White Sox: 97

2006: 104 Cardinals: 98

From 1996 - 2001, the Yankees, judging by their numbers, would lead you to believe, played tight. In 1996, Jeter had 25 errors (leading the team), in 1997 it was Jeter again and a combination of 2nd basemen. In 1998, Brosius, who we all remember as a glove man, had 23. In 1999, Knoblauch led the team with 27 errors, and the beginning to the end of his career. in 2000, Jeter had 26 and Knoblauch had 21.

2001, Brosius again led the team with 28 (a rookie named Alfonso Soriano had 23) and if you remember Game 7 of the World Series and if you've ever read Buster Olney's Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, you know that Mo thought Brosius should have gone for the double play in the 9th inning, instead of just going to 1st after Mo fielded the bunt. Is that an indictment of Brosius and our memories of our beloved Third basemen?

After O'Neill, Knoblauch, Tino and Brosius left, it starts to get ugly.

2002, the leaders are Soriano with 23 and Ventura with 33! 2003, Jeter and a combo of fill-ins, had 27. 2004, A-Rod's first with the Yankees, he has 25 to lead the team. In 2005, a return to the glove days, with a very respectable 95. 2006, saw A-Rod again lead the team with 26.

As you can see from the numbers above, the defense began slipping in 2002, with all of the roster changes and Soriano's lack of improvement at 2nd. Than, we import A-Rod, who volunteers to play out of position (and he has cost us).

We all know that the best shortstop on the team is playing 3rd base, even if we don't say it out loud. (If it were up to me, I would have Cano at 3rd, Jeter at 2nd and A-Rod at SS).

My point? You can't win championships without Defense. It goes for all sports. The question is, what is Torre doing about it? What is Cashman doing about it? We continue to employ defensive liabilities on the field. See Damon in CF, Matsui in LF and A-Rod at 3rd.

Jeter will work through the errors and will even out as the year goes on. I have faith in that. I have no faith in Torre being able to get these guys to play better D. It's 6 years and counting. Defense and Pitching. That's all I'm saying.

Home Stand

2007-04-09T20:16:00.000-04:00

Ugh. 2-3 agains the D-Rays and the Orioles. We're going to win 98 games this year? How? The AL East might not be loaded like the AL Central, but this division is loaded with mashers.

The D-Rays have a young, athletic and exciting team. With Crawford, Dukes, Young, Baldelli, Upton, they are going to give everyone fits in the East and will be a force to be reckoned with in a few years or when they get some bullpen help. They are relentless on the bases and have no problems taking the extra base, especially against the Yankees weak-armed outfield. The D-Rays will be good...soon (don't laugh, it's going to happen). I don't see the Yankees winning 15, 16 games like a few years ago. 11 or 12 might be more realistic.

As for the O's, they have a very good, young closer in Ray and a few starters that are worth watching...Bedard, Loewen. Their lineup is not so great, but it will put some runs on the board with Markakis, Mora, Tejada, Millar and Gibbons. Again, winning 11 or 12 might be more reasonable than 15 or 16, especially with the way the Yankees have pitched during this 5 game stretch.

If you're only winning 22 of 38 games agains the D-Rays and Orioles and you figure 9 or 10 wins against the Sox and Blue Jays, where are the other wins coming from? The AL Central will be liking facing a buzz saw if our pitching hits another rough patch and the AL West contains the always difficult Rangers (hitting) and the A's (pitching) and our own personal version of hell....Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels.

Jeter has looked pedestrian at best at Short. He doesn't cover 2nd during a delayed steal (nor does Cano) and he forgets to go towards 2nd on a bunt with Millar running from 1st (A-Rod should have gone to 2nd to get the lead runner, but no one was home. Cano went to 1st). Michael Kay glossed over this but Ken Singleton very gently tried to call the Captain out on this.

All I can say is thank God for A-Rod. If it weren't for his hitting, we could easily be 1-4 or 0-5. He has gotten off to a smoking start and is certainly winning back the fans. That walk-off Grand Slam was a frakkin bomb. In the Black, on a fly, at least 10 rows up (picture where it would have hit, if it hit the bleachers). Just a BOMB.

Here's hoping he stays hot on our first road trip and we're keeping our fingers crossed for the pitchers to finally enjoy some warm weather and some decent control.

Opening Day Observations

2007-04-04T00:24:00.000-04:00

Among all of the pomp and circumstance that surround our Beloved Bombers, was a truly touching moment. Paying tribute to Cory Lidle, a Yankee for a short time, his wife and 6 year old son threw out the ceremonial first pitches. Escorted to the mound by Giambi, a high-school teammate and friend, one couldn't help but realize how unpredictable life is.

Even watching at home, you had to feel touched by the video tribute and seeing his family out there. Besides the Lidle tribute, Bobby Murcer made a return to the YES booth and he was terrific. He sounded upbeat, funny as always and was able to bring some levity to the battle that he's facing as referenced by his "Bald-elli" quote.

As for the game, what can you say that hasn't been said. Our bullpen looked great and our starting pitching, average at best. This might be the formula all season long. Hold the fort down until the bats can wake up. The defense absolutely must be tightened up. You cannot give extra outs and force a very thin pitching staff to work harder.

Jeter looked bad on 2 throws, which is unusual for him. Phelps may be a defensive liability at first (we might get Philips up here sooner rather than later) and his bat better get hot, for his sake.

Damon and Matsui continue to prove that teams will run on them all season long as they threw like little girls. No disrespect to little girls out there.

A-Rod....oh, A-Rod. What to say, what to say. He looked terrible on a pop-fly (not his strong suit by his own admission) and he looked tentative at the plate in his first at-bat. He swings at ball 4 with 2 men on and 1 out. (thank god Giambi had a good day at the plate and was able to pick him up). Most fans will argue and harp on A-Rod hitting a bomb when it was "garbage time", but they will quickly forget that he manufactured the go-ahead run with his stolen base. Let's not forget that he's a top 5 talent in the game. Cheer him while he's here. We won't see another like him. That's not to say we can't be upset at his deficiencies, but let's not crucify him for every mistake.

It is going to be a roller coaster season for the Yankees and A-Rod. Check back here as we dissect the season and try to make some sense out of the Yankees on a game-to-game basis.

Mo' Money! Mo' Money!

2007-02-19T15:51:00.000-05:00

Like the "Homeboy Shopping Network" on In Living Color, this Yankee Spring Training has been more about the Benjamins and Mo' Money (and let's not forget R-E-S-P-E-C-T) than ever before. Don't get me wrong, the Yankees have had their fair share of Bronx Zoo moments during the Torre Era in Spring Training. There was the David Wells' tell-all book, Darryl Strawberry's drug arrests, Dwight Gooden's DWIs and Giambi's non-steroids apology.

This years' Zoo stories are a little more personal and could be a lot more costly. You have 4 cornerstones (a Foundation) of the last Dynasty all with expiring contracts or non-contracts (Bernie, Mo, Joe and Jorge). Add A-Rod's opt-out clause and 2008 could be a very expensive year for Cash and the Boss.

Torre is considered a lame-duck manager because he is only signed through this year. Cashman had to talk the Boss off the ledge and from firing Joe after the Detroit collapse. Much has been made of Donnie Baseball moving from hitting to bench coach. It would seem he is the likely successor to Joe. That will only happen if Joe retires, is fired or if he is not given an extension. Any of those scenarios could happen. They could win the World Series and he retires or is extended. The Yankees could crap out again in the 1st round and he is fired. The question is, if he is fired, who hires him? Boston, maybe? Would the Boss let that happen?

Posada has reached the end of his contract while playing much better D, thanks to Pena. His bat has rebounded nicely from the past two sub-par years (2004 & 2005) and has come close to his career year of 2003 (HR- 30, RBI- 101, Avg.- .281 and 2006: HR- 23, RBI- 93 and Avg.- .277).

The Bernie situation has shown that baseball is a cruel business and with Cashman in charge, sentimentality takes a back seat. It truly is about what you can do for us, plus youth and flexibility (both payroll and roster). Jorge is OK with that and is willing to see what the year brings.

Bernie has been discussed ad nauseum and I won't go over it again. Needless to say, his situation is greatly affecting Jorge and Mo. Of the 3, Mo is still considered irreplaceable. Why the delay with an extension? Exactly what Yankee Nation is trying to figure out.

To have Mariano, a quiet, classy, easy-going SuperDuper Star, start making waves in Spring Training and talking about respect, something must be bothering him. His contract extension seems to be at the heart of the matter, and to listen to him speak about Bernie, you worry if he thinks the Yankees are leading him down the same path.

Mo has said in numerous papers that if the Yankees let him hit free agency, any team will have a shot to sign him. That sentiment should frighten and appall any Yankee fan. He has been the Torre Era MVP. Without him, we only win 1 World Series. The Yankees would have been like any of the other teams they faced in the playoffs...mortal in the 9th inning. (see Wohlers, Hoffman, Kim, Benitez, etc.).

Cashman has said repeatedly that a contract will be worked out/talked about after this season. Is it smart to anger/upset the greatest Yankee of this Dynasty? The opinion of most fans is no. At least not while he is still Mo. I agree. Consider this a direct plea to Cashman...back the truck up for Mo, give him a blank check. Just keep him in Pinstripes and out of those damn Red Sox!

Pitchers & Catchers

2007-02-12T18:59:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, in just a few short days, we can fully embrace Spring. Now, I do understand that most of New York (upstate, anyway) is suffering from a record amount of snow fall (close to 12 feet in almost a week's time), but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our favorite past time from afar. I'm so giddy about the start of Spring Training that I am going to start lobbying my local Congressman to declare Pitchers & Catchers a National Holiday!

What phrase is more synonymous with Spring than "Pitchers & Catchers"? What phrase holds more promise than "Pitchers & Catchers"? Every MLB team is equal (not really), every team holds so much promise for the new season (not really, i.e. Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay). It just may be the best time of the year for a house-bound, snowed-in, sports junkie.

For the Yankees, the return of pitchers and catchers usually means the return of familiar faces and season-long plot lines. Our familiar faces: (Mo, Moose (his 7th season with the Bombers), the return of the Prodigal Son (Pettitte), Jeter (always an early arrival to Legends Field), Posada, and Bernie. Our season-long plot lines: Torre's lame duck status, Mo's contract renewal, Jorge's contract renewal, A-Rod's opt out clause, Carl "Crash Test Dummy" Pavano, Kei Igawa and his acclimation to the U.S., Philip Hughes and the youth movement and Bernie.

Over the next few days, I will try to take a little closer look at all of the above plot lines (not in one column, Lord knows I don't want to bore you to death....or give myself carpal tunnel syndrome). The first intriguing matter for the Yankee Universe to deal with....this could be the first Spring without Bernie or A.B. 1 (After Bernie, Year 1).

I commented on this in an earlier post, but not much has changed since than. The Yankee brain-trust has offered Bernie a minor-league contract, which is of course not guaranteed. Not only is it not guaranteed money, but it doesn't guarantee a roster spot either. Bernie remains a fan favorite, a classy Yankee and an all-around nice guy. However, in a sport as competitive as baseball, in a city as competitive as New York, it is tough to offer Bernie a full-time roster spot when you may be taking away at-bats from Melky Cabrera, a younger version of Bernie (ironic, no?).

Torre still supports Bernie and it is a testament to Bernie's Yankee legacy that Cashman offered a minor-league deal instead of doing nothing.

Why has it reached this stage? How has it gotten to the point as to divide Yankee Nation in to two camps "retire please" or "stay". Pride and Torre's inability to manage a bullpen are how we arrived here. Bernie still wants to play and he believes he can contribute. His 2006 stats would seem to bear that out. Can he do it with the Yankees? Probably not. Can he do it for another team? Probably (please keep away from the AL East...I feel some bad karma working here).

The Yankees are going to carry 12 pitchers, a full-time DH (Giambi) and a platoon at 1st base (Phelps, Minky and Philips). If Torre didn't have a track record for blowing out arms,(paging Mr. Quantrill, Mr. Sturtze, Mr. Gordon), we would have had at least another championship to celebrate (2003 or 2004), we aren't throwing up every time someone mentions "historic collapse" (2004), and we might have avoided one of the two 1st-round playoff exits of 2005 & 2006. Proctor and Bruney could be the latest victims of Torre's "trust". Mo is feeling the effects of all the love and trust that Torre has bestowed on him since 1997. With that in mind, Cashman is going with 12 pitchers.

Those two factors loom large in the equation. I think of the two, pride is the one that is hardest for an athlete to deal with. If Bernie walks away, retires or plays for another team, does that take away from his time in Pinstripes? Not at all. It would be nice to seem him retire with us, have his day in the Sun, retire his number and move on.

Paul O'Neill, on his former teammate, as told to the NY Post: "It is always sad to see players who have been a huge part of the organization go," O'Neill told The Post yesterday. "You have to realize that sooner or later, things go on. There is going to be a sad day, maybe 10 years from now, when Derek Jeter doesn't take shortstop or Mariano Rivera doesn't come in to close."

"He still is a very good player. I think any time you are not able to play where you want or with whom you want, you take it personally. You take it personally as a player. I think when it is all said and done years down the road, I think Bernie is going to be remembered as a great player and a great Yankee."

Bernie himself has been quoted in several area newspapers as understanding the Yankees' situation. He knows that the Yankees want him to retire or move on, but they want him to make the decision. If they force him out the door, it would be a PR nightmare.

New York Post: "If they wanted me on the team they would have signed me [to a major-league contract] already," Williams said. "The opportunity to go to spring training and see what happens is not something I would consider."

"It's part of the game," he said. "They have their way of thinking, they have a responsibility to do what's best for the team, and I have to do what's best for my family."

New York Daily News: "The option to go to spring training to see what would happen, I don't think at this moment is something I want to consider. . . . I'm working out, but I think the way it looks right now, it doesn't seem like I'm going to be playing with that team this year."

Newsday: "Bernie Williams couldn't bring himself to say his Yankees career is over, but the sad look on his face and his somber tone provided enough proof.Saying he is "leaning toward" declining the Yankees' invitation to spring training as a non-roster player, Williams on Friday night acknowledged it looks as if his time in pinstripes has come to an end."

This is an incredibly awkward situation for all parties involved. Bernie's teammates who have been with him for such a long time, are finding it difficult to picture a season without him (Jeter, Posada, Mo, Moose, Pettitte), yet they know the business side to baseball all to well (Pettitte).

They want him to stay, but privately, I am sure they are excited about having some young blood in their lineup and on the bench. Cashman and Torre don't want him to leave, yet they don' t want him to stunt Melky's growth. Bernie doesn't want to leave because he doesn't feel as though he has slipped. As with most sports "divorces", this is going to be messy and unpleasant before this gets any easier. I only hope it isn't a distraction for the entire season. We have enough of those to go around.

Goose is Cooked!

2007-01-09T18:03:00.000-05:00

The Hall of Fame balloting was released on Tuesday and announced after 2 pm EST. Again, Goose was cooked.

The only 2 entrants into the class of 2007 are Cal Ripken Jr., and Tony Gwynn. Those two are no-brainers, yet they were not voted in unanimously.

Ripken received 98.5 percent of all Baseball Writers votes and Gwynn received 97.6. An incredible amount of votes, yet still not the top vote getter of all inductees. That honor lies with Tom Seaver at 98.8 percent.

Are the voters who didn't cast a "yes" vote for Gwynn and Ripken not voting for them because they sent in a blank ballot to protest McGwire, Canseco and Caminiti (our holy trinity of steroid users?) or are they under the assumption of this "no one gets in unanimously if Ruth didn't get in" crap?

How do you look at Ripken's and Gwynn's careers and not think HOF? Seriously, what are these guys thinking?

Jayson Stark of ESPN: "There were two blank ballots submitted in this election, as steroid protest votes. But what's the excuse of those other six voters -- none of whom had identified or explained themselves as of Tuesday afternoon?

As someone who has said it makes more sense to vote for no players of that generation than it does to pick and choose based on guesses and suspicions, I at least have an understanding of why a voter would turn in a blank ballot. But there is no other responsible reason -- none -- to withhold a vote for Ripken. "

"And the same goes for Tony Gwynn, who should have been an easier choice than Ripken. Aside from the blank-ballot duo, 11 voters failed to vote for Gwynn -- owner of the second-highest career (.338) of any player whose career began in the last 75 years. (Only Ted Williams, at .344, is higher.) For even 11 writers not to have cast a vote for Gwynn is an embarrassment to the BBWAA. "

Let's get back to the Goose. His career stats are:

1809 IP
3.01 ERA
1502 K
310 Saves
9 Time All-Star

Let's look at Goose's contemporary, Bruce Sutter, who was recently elected:

1042 IP
2.83 ERA
861 K
300 Saves
6 Time All-Star

How is Goose not in? He has almost twice as many innings pitched and twice as many strike-outs? It's remarkable.

What about Lee Smith?

1289 IP
3.03 ERA
1251 K
478 Saves
7 Time All-Star

I just don't get. The only good thing is that Goose's votes continue to increase year to year. I suspect more people are figuring out how good and intimidating he was. Not only that, but I think the Writers realize that someone like Goose and Smith should be thought about differently than today's pampered closers. Today's closers only come in for 1 inning, 2 max. Goose and Smith pitched 2 to 3 almost every day. If Goose only pitched one inning a game, he might still be pitching. He also came in whenever a "save" was necessary. Bases loaded, 7th inning. Bring in Goose and keep him in the rest of the game. Don't get me wrong, I love Mo. You just can't compare the two eras.

I sincerely hope that the Writers realize the error of their ways and put a good man and a great closer in the Hall. Only time will tell though.

Go West Big Unit

2007-01-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

It's official. After days (weeks?) of speculation, the Yankees have traded Mr. Friendly, the Big Unit back to Arizona. Apparently Randy got homesick and decided that he would like to close out his career in relative peace and quiet among the other card carrying members of the AARP in Arizona. So much for one more ring.

Count me among the fanatics who are glad to see Randy go. Don't get me wrong, I was wet with anticipation at the prospect of having Randy toe the rubber every 5th day. The idea of having a big time ace to counter the Big Shill in Beantown and the hangover suffered from the worst collapse in sports history forced us to realize that the Yankees were not going to slug their way to a championship. We needed an equalizer. We thought we got that in one large Unit.

The guy was coming off a perfect game, 290 strike outs and a 2.60 ERA. The worst that I thought could happen was the ERA going up by a run. In 2005, it did just that, rising to 3.79. However, no one could predict the 5.00 ERA of 2006 (all stats courtesy of Baseball Reference). Where did that come from? It came from the brutal AL East, the AL in general (no more 7 man lineups like in the Quadruple-A NL), a bad knee, bad back, lack of bite on the slider and an inability to locate a fastball. What transpired in '05 and '06 was a statistical free fall. It was the worst 2 year stretch of his career. Why? I doubt he was comfortable in NY (see his run-in with a photographer on his FIRST DAY in the NYC), he was battling injury and he was getting old.

After another playoff collapse, I thanked god that we only had one more year on his contract. I never thought that he would play after this year. Coming off a second back surgery and another brutal post-season, I thought this was his last hurrah. Never would have thought the D-Backs would give up 4 guys to have him back. It seems like I'm making excuses for him, but I'm not. These are the reasons that everyone who is against this trade are using to damn the trade and damn the Yankees to an awful season.

Personally, Cashman should be applauded. He got 4 players (all younger than 43!), lopped off $14 million of payroll and jettisoned a clubhouse crank.

Bob Kapisch, who occasionally writes for ESPN says: "The Unit, cold and aloof from the first day, never fit in with the Yankees, spending most of his time at his locker with his back to his teammates. There was no emotional investment on either side; even the fans sensed Johnson was just passing through on his way to Cooperstown. Maybe it was Johnson's way of acting tough in a big market, or maybe it was his frustration at the stunning number of fastballs he threw over the middle of the plate, and the sliders that were usually flat.

Whatever the reason, Johnson was unhappy enough to look daggers at Johnny Damon last August when the outfielder tried to rally the slumping Yankees. In the middle of the clubhouse, Damon shouted to the whole team, "Come on, you [expletive]. Wake up!" From across the room, Johnson stared coldly, so unnerving Damon that he later asked a club official, "Did I do something wrong?" Sure sounds like someone I want in the foxhole with me.

Other pundits and sportswriters claim this is a bad trade because we lose 200 innings and 17 wins. Really? You mean out of Karstens, Rasner, Pavano, Hughes, Sanchez or Ohlendofer, we can't get 200 innings and 17 wins? With that Yankee lineup? That would be a shame. I remember in 1998 we got 10 wins from the "fat pussy toad" Irabu in the first half of the year and 10 wins in the second half from El Duque. This does not mean it will happen again, just that it could.

Obviously Cashman doesn't think that this is an inevitable truth. According to reports, the Yankees are pushing for a reunion with the Rocket.

"The fact that the Yankees plan to go hard after Clemens is not shocking, as it has been speculated since the signing of Andy Pettitte. What is interesting is that the Yankees, according to a report on Sports Illustrated's website, will attempt to have Clemens join the team much earlier than he did with the Astros. " reported by Andrew Marchand of the NY Post. Of course, not everyone is happy to hear about the reunion.

Mike Lupica of the Daily News: "Clemens, of course, is not younger. He is a year older than Johnson, 44 going on 45, a marvel of fitness and who knows what else. He walked away from the Yankees three years ago, saying he was done with baseball, that's it, goodbye, then followed Pettitte to Houston, both of them trailed by more talk of family than "The Sopranos."

The trade, as does all trades, has its pros and cons. We know that we are giving up 17 wins, 200 innings and a professional who takes the ball every 5th day. We also know that we get younger, more payroll flexibility, more trade chips, an improved farm system (Kevin Kernan of the NY Post) and the clubhouse becomes a little nicer.

I for one, am excited to see what the rotation has in store for us. Who knows what the young kids can do? I am excited to see Andy in Pinstripes again. Pitchers and Catchers can't get here soon enough.

Season's Greetings!

2007-01-02T20:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since my last post. I attribute that to the onslaught of the Holiday Season. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, etc. I hope you all had a happy and healthy holiday season.

This holiday season has brought great joy to the City of New York in the form of 2 Playoff bound football teams, yet only one playing a decent brand of football. I'll give you a hint.... J - E - T - S, JETS, JETS, JETS! The Giants, not so much. Neither team has a good draw in the first round, but for those of us hating the Boston area and its teams, we can turn to ManGenius to put a hurtin' on Brady and the Pats.

Enough with the small talk you say? Great, couldn't be happier to be moving forward to discuss the Bombers and baseball.

Let's see what Santa delivered to our doorsteps this Holiday Season shall we?

Head West Big Unit -- Jon Heyman of SI reports: "It was Johnson's offhand comment to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that he might prefer to play near his Paradise Valley, Ariz., home that provided the impetus to trade talks. Cashman took Johnson's remark as an opportunity to try remake a rotation that has disappointed at playoff time the past few years." "

Yankee fans should be ecstatic over the names being thrown about for a 43 year old coming off back surgery. "The Yankees' Arizona A-list list includes young pitchers Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, Dustin Nippert and reliever Luis Vizcaino. A couple other players believed to have been discussed include young pitcher Enrique Gonzalez and young infielder Alberto Gonzalez. " Again, thanks to Heyman at SI.

Ken Davidoff of Newsday says that the deal is getting closer to finalization. "The financial negotiations regarding Johnson are multi-tiered. The Yankees and Diamondbacks must agree on the Yankees' contribution to Johnson's $16-million salary in the 2007 season. Obviously, the more the Yankees pay, the better package of players they'll receive in return."

Return of the Rocket?! -- Andrew Marchand of the NY Post reports: "The fact that the Yankees plan to go hard after Clemens is not shocking, as it has been speculated since the signing of Andy Pettitte. What is interesting is that the Yankees, according to a report on Sports Illustrated's website, will attempt to have Clemens join the team much earlier than he did with the Astros. "

Personally, I welcome the return of Roger. Yes, he's a hired gun (i.e. his possible return to Boston to come "full circle" in his career) and he's a year older than the Unit. However, we know what we're getting when he arrives. A true rotation workhorse. Someone who is a tremendous influence on the young pitchers, players and the clubhouse. We subtract Randy's surliness along with Sheff's crankiness and it would seem the Bronx isn't so bad a place to play again. Plus, Roger might get in A-Rod's face and demand a little more from our $25 million man.

Bernie's Last Dance? -- With the arrival of a platoon at first base (possibly Andy Phillips, Josh Phelps (a Rule V pickup) and Doug Mientkiewicz), the full-time DH duties of the Giambino, keeping Melky as 4th outfielder and maybe getting Mark Loretta as Super-Sub, Bernie might have his at-bats taken away from him. Let us never forget the soft-spoken centerfielder. Let us remember him for his grace and dignity and the fact he gave the Yankees his all for 16 solid seasons.

Rotoworld is reporting that the Unit Deal is done by the end of the week. "The Yankees are reportedly set to get three players -- a major league reliever and two pitching prospects -- so it looks like they'll be paying a substantial portion of the $16 million that Johnson was owed. It was previously reported the Diamondbacks would have to give up just the two prospects if they were going to pay all or nearly all of Johnson's salary. The reliever the Yankees are getting is probably Brandon Medders, though Luis Vizcaino has also been mentioned. Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf and Micah Owings were the prospects most frequently coming up in talks."

Sounds like a pretty good holiday to me. The dismissal of the Unit, who let's face it, was not what we expected him to be. It's like getting your chance to date the head cheerleader, after sitting in the back of the classroom fantasizing for years about her. Sure she's terrific to look at, but up close you can see the warts and the pimples and the lack of anything interesting to say. Pretty much like Randy. George coveted him for so long, we couldn't see that he was past his prime and not the guy we thought he'd be.

The return of the Rocket is exciting. Not that the Rivalry needed it, but the Rocket brings an extra ounce of nasty to the party. The Fans at the Fens get a little more riled up whenever Raj-ah is in town and there is nothing I would like to see more than Rocket be able to stick it to Schilling in a great pitchers duel.

I would love to see Loretta as a super sub. Nothing against Cairo, who is a grinder, but Loretta actually can be trusted with a bat in his hand. If Loretta is number 9 in the lineup, it goes, Loretta, Damon, Jeter, Abreu, A-Rod, Giambi. Righty, Lefty, Righty, etc. and just an absolute grind for pitchers. Between them, they can work an extra 20-30 pitches easy.

I like where we are headed with this offseason.

In Cash we Trust!

Dis-Mantle-ing A Legend!

2006-12-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

Disgraceful. Tasteless and classless. Remember Judith Regan? The woman who wanted to get a "confession" out of O.J.? The woman who wanted to put O.J. back in the spotlight and further glorify what he did in a supposed tell-all interview and book deal? That is, until cooler heads prevailed and the champions of common sense finally had a victory.

Well, she's at it again. This time, taking on the Mick. The Daily News reports that Regan will sully the memory of the Mick in a "biographical novel" that has the Mick recounting an imagined past replete with pornographic passages and foul jokes.

Author Peter Golenbock admits that much of "7: The Mickey Mantle Novel" - including a steamy scene where Mantle beds Marilyn Monroe behind Joe DiMaggio's back - are based on "not documentable" stories, according to Daily News reports. Really. You mean a woman who would peddle O.J.'s story is not using facts for a story about #7? I just don't understand how this could even go to a publishing house and the editors decide that this is printable.

You absolutely have to read the Daily News article to get the complete idea of what is taking place here. Golenbock, the author, claims that some of the stories are from Mantle teammates. I can't think of one of Mick's teammates who would bash their best friend and greatest teammate.

I am appalled. Anyone who is a Yankee fan and who reads my postings, I urge you, do not buy this trash. Do not let this woman or Rupert Murdoch profit from this type of slander.

A Roll of the Dice-K

2006-12-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

It's official. The Red Sox have a finished deal, barring a physical with Dice-K for 6 years at $52 million. Negotiations went right down to the wire and Boras came away with another salary coup for a client.

ESPN reported: "The $51.11 million the Red Sox offered to pay for the rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka was enough to get the Japanese ace across the Pacific Ocean. It took that much again, and a little more, to fly him the rest of the way to Boston."

Boras convinced the BoSox "braintrust" that an un-proven (MLB level), non-AL East tested "rookie", is worth $52 for 6 years. That doesn't seem like much on the surface ($8 million and change per year), but when you add in the one year posting bid of $51.1 million, the first year salary is close to $60 million! That is a lot of coin.

"Boras argued that the posting price was part of the negotiations and therefore Matsuzaka should get more in his contract, but it didn't work. Seibu's fiscal problems demanded immediate cash; the Japanese team could hold Matsuzaka to a minimal contract if he didn't go to the Red Sox and provide the $51.1M -- and it could send him to the minors for a couple of weeks and make him wait until after the 2008 season to be a free agent."(ESPN)

The biggest question...did he deserve it? From a financial standpoint, the obvious answer is no. Considering that Dice is a "rookie", his yearly salary is almost 20 times more than Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera, Chien Ming-Wang, Cano, etc.

Reyes and Wright of the Mets, who were getting paid, typical rookie salaries just signed extensions for decent money. In the current baseball climate, their contracts are outright thievery. Could they have waited to get on the open market and test the waters? Sure. They didn't. They had no leverage and they chose to get immediate gratification (and slightly more dollars than what they were making), instead of taking a chance at free agency in a few years. Will they get burned by this? Possibly. The other possibility is that they crap out and have injuries, in which case the Mets get the short straw.

All that being said, the Sox still come out of this looking pretty damn good. The 51.1 doesn't count against the luxury tax (the Drew, Lugo and Dice-K contracts do), and they get an enormous amount of new revenue streams by having a Japanese "national treasure" playing for them every 5 days and they have a very imposing rotation (and lineup).

Financially, they gain the same type of revenue the Yankees do. In the same way that Japan stopped to watch Matsui play, the country will again stop every 5 days to see if Dice-K can handle Godzilla and his new playmates. Better yet, Japan, I am sure, is anxiously awaiting the Igawa vs. Dice-K matchup that is bound to happen. Picture it. Late September, Division title on the line and Japan's 3 most recent imports slugging it out to determine the AL East. That much interest is bound to give the Sox the same revenue chances that the Yankees enjoy. They can advertise NESN, D-Mat jerseys, his wife could be the NESN correspondent, they can advertise Seibu (like the Yankees do with the Yomiuri Giants) and set up Japanese baseball camps like they have in the Caribbean.

The Sox have done much to improve themselves after claiming last season that they just couldn't compete with the Yankees financially (see Abreu trade). Wow. Look what happens when you come in 3rd place for the first time in almost 9 years. Apparently, Theo, Lucchino and Henry started to shake the couch cushions for some loose change and came up with Drew, Lugo and D-Mat. Not to mention being involved on Gagne. They do seem a little hypocritical now, but you can't blame them. I can't imagine the tizzy George would be in if we came in 3rd place.

According to Peter Gammons, the Sox got Matsuzaka they way they wanted: "In the end the Red Sox stared down the gun and got Daisuke Matsuzaka for not only what they wanted -- an $8.7M AAV -- but they got him for six years.

They now have three high-ceiling power starters age 26 in Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett, with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz in the rearview mirror.

They kept him away from the Yankees, and while that seems a little silly west of Scranton, it is a market reality from Otisfield, Maine, to Southington, Conn. "

That just about says it all doesn't it. The Evil Empire vs. Red Sox Nation. Can't wait for the 2007 edition!

The Prodigal Son Returns...and other Weekend News

2006-12-10T23:54:00.000-05:00

"And just like the Prodigal Son I've returned

Anyone stepping to me you'll get burned

Cause I got lyrics and you ain't got none

So if you come to battle bring a shotgun"

Everlast couldn't have said it any better. Our very own prodigal son, Andy Pettitte, #46 in your programs, but #1 in our hearts, has returned. It took the Yankees 3 seasons to right a wrong that should never have happened.

Yankee nation welcomes #46 back with open arms. Our rotation has become a little clearer with the re-signing of Andy. We now have Wang, Andy, Moose, Unit and Igawa/Pavano/Hughes/Sanchez/Karstens/Rasner.

A nice mixture of young and old. Some inexperience for sure, but nothing

the 3 old warhorses can't handle.

For awhile, it seemed like Pettitte would allow for family ties to pull him back to Houston for at least one more season. The rumored deal for Jon Garland of Chicago for 2 minor leaguers from the Astros, firmed up in Andy's mind that they were ready to party ways. All it took was some extra loving by the Yanks to put him back in Pinstripes. That and a little fatherly advice.

Anthony McCarron says we should thank Papa Pettitte for helping get Andy back to the Bronx: "Tom Pettitte has five stents in a single artery in his chest. Last year, when Andy and his dad were on a group hunting trip their Houston church holds every winter, they had to leave early because Tom felt chest pains. Doctors inserted two of the stents three days before last Christmas."

"Don't make your decision because of me," Tom Pettitte told his son. "You've got to do what makes you happy, what makes you feel content and good with yourself."

On Friday, Tom Pettitte says Andy told him, "'I've made up my mind.' And I'm glad he did. He feels great about it."

Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports: "Andy Pettitte initially felt a desire to wear Yankees pinstripes again when he received a call from Joe Torre last month. But he didn't truly decide his fate until after the Astros tried to determine it for him Thursday.When Pettitte saw the Astros all but write him off by attempting to trade for Jon Garland of the White Sox, that's when the lefthander knew where he should play in 2007. "

The NY Daily News says that Andy is bringing some extra baggage with him this time around: "As Andy Pettitte returns to the Yankees, reminding fans of the team's best days, he will also bring a reminder of one of its ugliest episodes. Pettitte remains a devotee of trainer Brian McNamee, reportedly the "amphetamines" source listed in the infamous Jason Grimsley affidavit earlier this year, and a former suspect in a sexual assault investigation at a team hotel in 2001."

As much joy is shared in Yankee Nation about the return of #46, Filip Bondy wants us to remember that he might not be our savior: "Pettitte is a solid addition, a smart gamble. But he is not the move that breaks a three-series playoff losing streak. Right now, the Yankees still figure to be just another one of eight teams playing baseball in October, nothing more."

"So they will go into next season with a starting rotation of Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Randy Johnson and then maybe Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa or - who knows? - Clemens. This is better than the starting group on 90% of other teams, and more than enough to get Joe Torre into the postseason again.

But once there, again, the Yankees figure to come up short without a truly dominant ace. The position players, the middle relievers and the bottom of the rotation are what get you into the playoffs. The ace is the guy who wins the World Series. "

I think Mr. Bondy takes some of us for simple-minded fans. I am quite certain that we will have a tough time with the Sox and their formidable line-up and rotation. Still, they play the games for a reason. I also agree with Bondy in that we need a bona fide Ace. Do we have someone like that in the minors? Maybe we have two? Time will tell regarding Hughes and Sanchez.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post likes the Pettitte signing and thinks it helps to fill other needs: "The signing of Andy Pettitte is about putting a lefty into the rotation who has proven he can win in all of the vital cauldrons associated with being a Yankee: in The Bronx, in Fenway Park, in the AL, and in October."

Other items to note this weekend: The signing of Pettitte automatically starts the rumor mill on Rocket Redux in the Bronx. Is it possible? Sure, anything is possible. Do we want another 40 year old in the rotation? Not so fast. I think the Rocket has benefited greatly from going to the NL these last few seasons. That and his "schedule". Would he be able to handle the AL grind, specifically the AL East grind? Do we want to spend over $20 million to find out? Personally, I'll pass. Let him go back to the Sox and get past Cy Young's career win total. Let him go to the HOF as a Red Sox. I don't care.

George King of the NY Post tells us that the roles between Rocket and Andy have changed: "According to a person who has known Clemens and Pettitte since their Yankees days, the nature of the strong relationship between the pitchers has changed. "When Roger came to the Yankees, Andy followed whatever Roger did. Now, Roger takes a lot of cues from Andy," the person said."

Ken Davidoff of Newsday thinks that the Red Sox won't have the roster spot to allow for a reuniting of Raj-ah and the Fenway Faithful: "The Red Sox, however, already have a full starting rotation, with Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and soon-to-be-signed Daisuke Matsuzaka, not to mention recovering youngster Jon Lester. Last month, Red Sox officials floated the notion of recruiting Clemens as a closer, a preposterous idea."

Also floating around is the idea that the Yankees might go after Doug Mientkiewicz to play 1st base. Not exactly the right-handed bat they were supposed to go after, but as a glove man, definitely one of the best.

The Daily News reports that Mientkiewicz might be our future 1st baseman due to Gold-Glove caliber D. "He has emerged as a candidate for the Yankees' opening at first base. The Yankees have expressed interest in the 32-year-old, according to two baseball officials, and view the ex-Met as a better option to play first than Shea Hillenbrand while Jason Giambi is the designated hitter because of Mientkiewicz's superlative glove."

I love the idea of Minky at 1st. Definitely improves the infield D and lord knows A-Rod could use a helping hand. If Cashman can get him on the cheap, we can certainly live with the poor O we would be getting, since his D would help take away some runs.

Now that we have at least 3 ground ball pitchers in the rotation (Wang, Moose and Andy), we could use some more glove. No glove, no love.

Welcome home Andy. I'll leave you now with the immortal words of Mr. Barry Manilow (altered, slightly of course!):

Oh Andy well, you came and you gave without taking, but I sent you away. Oh, Andy well, you pitched for Torre and stopped us from shaking, and we need you today. Oh, Andy!

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

2006-12-07T23:34:00.000-05:00

John Heyman of SI reports that Brian Cashman met recently with Scott Boras about his clients. The two touched on Bernie, Zito, Villone and of course A-Rod.

"We love you, and you're not going anywhere.''

"A big stir was created at the Winter Meetings when Cashman and Boras hopped into a car and drove off, and the main purpose of the dinner was to discuss how they can best support Rodriguez, who had an off-year by his standards in 2006 when he batted .290 with 35 home runs and 121 RBIs and was occasionally the target of booing in the Bronx."

Can A-Rod be any more embarrassed? I mean, his agent and his GM are trying to figure out ways to make sure A-Rod knows how important he is.

What's next? Flowers, candy, a singing telegram? I respect A-Rod and I don't understand the booing either, but come on. Show some pride. Suck it up, puff out your chest and use the boos to fuel you to an incredible season.

It's now or never for Alex.

Stop The Insanity!

2006-12-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

Oh the humanity! First Soriano gets $136, than Carlos Lee tops $100 million. This is followed by the Red Sawx bidding over $50 million, just to TALK to D-Mat. Adam Eaton getting 3 for $24 causes Jason Schmidt to get 3 for $47 million.

Not to be outdone, the Cubs continue to throw money away by over-spending on Ted Lilly (4 for $40) and the most egregious spending spree....Gil Meche for 5 years at $55 million!

ESPN reports that: The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with right-hander Gil Meche on a five-year deal worth about $55 million on Thursday as baseball's winter meetings neared a conclusion. Meche has a 55-44 career record with a 4.65 earned-run average in 147 games, all of them with the Seattle Mariners.

Seriously? This is what the Royals have done with Yankees and the Red Sox money? It's like putting a band-aid on a shark bite! How are they possibly going to survive in an incredibly competitive AL Central with Brian Bannister and Gil Meche headlining a rotation! Selig should absolutely contract them. Put them out of their misery. Besides their short-lived glory years of the George Brett, Willie Wilson era, they have been perennial doormats. Can you imagine what their team would have looked like if they had an owner who would/could have spent some money (think an outfield of Damon, Dye and Beltran)?

Let's not forget the brief stay in KC by the A's, who were considered the Yankees professional farm team (i.e. Maris).

In other news:

Bill Madden of the Daily News reports that there is no nostalgia for Andy Pettitte, just a need:

"As he prepared to leave the winter meetings empty-handed, Cashman is monitoring the standoff in Houston. His conscience was clear about Lilly and much as he would like to bring back Pettitte, he has no delusions about it having anything to do with sentimentality."

The Daily News also reports: "Despite all the speculation about wild offers from the Texas Rangers and now the San Francisco Giants, baseball officials are convinced the Mets are prepared to do what it takes to land free-agent Barry Zito."

George King of the New York Post says that the Yanks are involved with Zito after all:

"Andy Pettitte is in play big-time with the Yankees and Barry Zito was on the table last night when Brian Cashman and Scott Boras spent four hours together outside of the Dolphin Hotel."

Joel Sherman, also of the Post says Andy is the pitcher they Yankees wanted most at the Winter Meetings:

"1) He has proven he can win in New York, the AL East and October.
2) He is a lefty and, under the best circumstances, the Yanks would love to have three southpaws (Pettitte, Johnson and Igawa) in the rotation.
3) He requires only a short-term contract and that better fits Cashman's vision. The Yankee GM believes that the Yankee pitching prospect base is close, but not quite fully ready, to blossom to the majors. Pettitte provides strong cover to allow the prospects to further grow.
4) There continues to be concerns about his elbow. But the short-term contract provides some security. In addition, Pettitte made 35 starts last year and improved as the season progressed, going 8-4 with a 2.79 ERA from July 1 on. Only Astro teammates Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt had lower ERAs (minimum 10 starts).
5) Pettitte's presence works as some allurement to bring Clemens back to New York, as well, should The Rocket decide to pitch and the Yanks decide another short-term deal for a high-end guy is worth it. However, Boston remains Clemens' most likely landing place."

Sherman is full of insight today as we learn that the Yankees not only asked A-Rod about waiving his no-trade clause, but the Giambino as well:

"The Yanks also put out feelers to Jason Giambi's camp to see if the slugger was willing to be moved, a person familiar with the Yankees operations told The Post. However, as with A-Rod, the Yanks were told Giambi has no desire to waive his no-trade provision because he wants to stay and win in New York. "

Doesn't it make you feel all warm inside knowing we have such devoted ballplayers that they feel the need to win here, in Pinstripes. I am goose-bumpily thinking about it.

John Heyman of SI has this to say about our quest to bring Andy home:

"Yankees people believe Pettitte would lean toward staying home in Houston, if all things were equal. So they are doing what they can to make them unequal, and that includes having Derek Jeter and other former Yankees teammates and friends call him to try to sway him."

With all of the clubs seemingly flush with cash, I guess I was wrong to assume that this would be a dull Winter Meeting.

I am keeping my fingers crossed we can sign Pettitte and focus on other clubs doing their best Pinstripe imitation.

Winter Mumblings & Grumblings

2006-12-05T18:48:00.000-05:00

The Winter meetings have begun. A land where the rich get richer and the GMs get dumber and common sense is checked at the door.

The amount of money spent in the last few weeks has been nothing short of staggering. What's really staggering is that the Yankees are not leading the high-spending charge. In the immortal words of one Dr. Peter Venkman "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria."

1. Manny might not be traded after all....really? Nothing of equal value out there for one of the best right handed hitters ever? Really, I'm stunned.

2. Andy could look dandy in Stripes. MLB.com is reporting:

"Pettitte, who is considering retirement, but has offers from the Yankees (one year, $15 million) and Astros (unspecified), is expected to make a decision before Christmas, but multiple sources indicated Pettitte could decide soon, perhaps within a week."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751300&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

Tom Verducci of SI reports: "The free-agent left-hander, who is strongly considering retirement, is said to be intrigued with the idea of returning to pinstripes and "could possibly have a deal by the end of the week" with New York, according to a baseball source familiar with the negotiations."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/tom_verducci/12/05/yankees.pettitte/index.html

3. Joel Sherman reports that the Yankees will not meet Hillenbrand's demands:

"The Yanks have informed Shea Hillenbrand's agents they will not meet his request for a two-year contract and believe, therefore, he will go elsewhere, possibly Anaheim"

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12052006/sports/baggage_handlers_sports_joel_sherman.htm?page=2

4. Tom Hicks is again suffering from a brain cramp and has allowed his 28 year old GM Jon Daniels (no really, 28) and has re-signed Vicente Padilla for 3 years @ $34 million. I'll let that sink in. Padilla and $34 million. This after, Chan Ho Park and A-Rod. Can one owner have a worse track record? What's going on with letting a 28-year old run your $100 million dollar business? Does this happen in any other industry? Of course not, but for the super wealthy, owning a franchise is like a hobby, so you might as well let a little kid run it.

5. Breaking news: J.D. Drew has just signed a $70 million contract. Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe reports: " Outfielder J.D. Drew has agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with the Red Sox, according to Drew's agent, Scott Boras. The deal will be completed after Drew takes a physical."

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

6. Ted Lilly could get 4 years for $44 million. Good Lord! How much for Meche?

7. Gagne is getting looked over by the Sox.

8. Answer: Tom Hicks

Question: Who could give Barry Zito over $100 million....

That's right folks. Hicks is truly the fool whose money is soon departed. "After meeting with Zito and Boras last week in Texas, in fact, Hicks was quoted as gushing about the lefthander's intelligence, mental approach and how he matured into a leader of the A's rotation the last couple of years."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/477270p-401554c.html

Keep it tuned here for the latest installment of "As the Money Burns" starring Tom Hicks and his fellow owners.

**** Breaking News **** Julio Lugo is the newest member of the Rivalry. 4 year deal for $36 million. Reported on ESPN.

Andy's Return and other Winter Meeting Rumblings

2006-12-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't it be nice to see #46 in your programs again this April? Wouldn't it be nice to know that Andy Pettitte would be a solid lefty to look forward to welcoming back when pitchers and catchers report?

"Pettitte, meanwhile, seems at least somewhat intrigued by the Yankees, the team he pitched for from 1995-2003, as he has not ruled it out to team officials. But just as Pettitte told the New York media three weeks ago at Joe Torre's foundation's dinner, he continues to tell people he is seriously contemplating retirement at the age of 34."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks045002244dec04,0,7372328.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

Signing Pettitte would go a long way to correcting a mistake that was made at the end of the 2003 season. We should never have let Andy go. He was too classy a Yankee, he pitched too many big games for us (and yes Dad, he had his share of stinkers. My dad is a Ford fan and no lefty can replace "the Chairman of the Board").

He's been a 20 game winner - twice (1996 & 2003, 19 game winner in 2000)

Career record of 186-104

Average of 216.3 innings a year (a workhorse)

33 games started a year (2004 was the only exception - 15 due to injury)

Career ERA of 3.81 (not bad considering he pitched in the AL at the height of the Steroid Era)

18-6 in the post-season

2001 ALCS MVP

2 time All-Star

Who wouldn't want to have a guy with a resume like that in the rotation? Sign him up for a David Wells like incentive laden contract (health, innings pitched, etc.). With all of the incentives reached he could make a nice salary. He certainly isn't pitching for money any more.

In the New York Post Kevin Kernan lets us know that Jeter does know how to treat his teammates:

"From Day 1, I've said time and time again, 'Alex is going to be fine.' When he was going through it, I said, 'He's going through a slump every player goes through, I don't care how good you are.' I said, 'He's a big part of the team.' I said, 'It's one of those things, and at the end of the year he's going to be exactly where he is all the time.'

"That's exactly what I said," Jeter calmly explained. "I said the only thing I wasn't going to do was tell the fans who they should boo and who they shouldn't boo."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12042006/sports/yankees/team_player_yankees_kevin_kernan.htm

"I got booed, Mo got booed, Tino got booed the first half of the season. Jason got booed," Jeter said. "Everyone got booed, but it's not your job to say, 'Hey, everybody should stop booing.'

George King of the NY Post gives us 5 things the Yankees may do at the Winter Meetings:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12032006/sports/yankees/boys_of_winter_yankees_george_king.htm

I especially like 2 and 3:

"2. Everybody says Dontrelle Willis isn't on the block. That won't keep Cashman from monitoring what other clubs are going to offer the Marlins for the type of pitcher (young and left-handed) the Yankees could team with Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes and build a rotation around for years. Melky Cabrera gives the Yankees a chip to be part of a package for a starting pitcher.

3. Entertain offers for Farnsworth. He is owed $10.75 million over the next two seasons. Though he wasn't a bust in his first year as a Yankee, there are concerns about a back that locks too much. A return to the NL - he came from Atlanta - and a change of scenery may help. Scott Proctor's development has him ready to handle the eighth inning, which was Farnsworth's job. "

The fine folks of Baseball Prospectus and SI team up to give us this tidbit regarding our beloved Pinstripers:

"New York: Quiet. Almost ... too ... quiet. They seem to be retreating from the $200 million payrolls of recent years. They need to add a first baseman or a DH, as Andy Phillips isn't the answer, and most people -- not me -- think they need to add a starting pitcher as well. One reader, a longtime guy whose stuff I take seriously, thinks they should be peddling Bobby Abreu. It's a thought, but the Yankee offense may need his OBP."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/12/04/bp.alpreview/1.html

We'll keep you posted on all of the rumblings and grumblings as they happen. I also promise to finally tackle the SI All-Time team and my thoughts on why Jackie Robinson doesn't belong.

Bernie's Last Ride

2006-12-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank one Beranbe Figueroa Williams. He has been with the Yankees since 1985 and our full-time Centerfielder since 1991. He has been a classy, soft-spoken, hard-working Yankee and someone I have enjoyed watching immensely.

We have watched him grow up, from a gangly teen-ager to a sweet-swinging, switch-hitting, Gold Glove Centerfielder. He has always been popular with Yankee Nation and last year was a way for us to show him our appreciation. Every at-bat was a standing O, every home-run induced a curtain call. When he was in the game, roll call seemed to be extra-special.

With that being said, have we seen Bernie play his last game in Pinstripes?

As reported in today's Newsday by Jim Baubach and Ken Davidoff, the Yankees may be leaning towards carrying 13 pitchers.

"When Torre spoke with Williams, the person said Torre echoed what he told reporters three weeks ago Friday: that Williams' future could be determined by whether the Yankees decide to go with an additional pitcher in the bullpen."

"The Yankees would like to lessen their bullpen's workload next season and the solution might be carrying 13 pitchers, which is something they have done for only short periods. That would leave room for only one reserve outfielder -- Melky Cabrera -- eliminating a potential roster spot for Williams."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks1201,0,4252088.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

A year ago, I am sure most Yankee fans would have been delighted to see Bernie ride off into the sunset. He was slowing down at the plate and he had been replaced by Bubba Crosby in CF (Sheff and Bernie DO NOT collide in Anaheim in Game 5 of the 2005 ALDS...DO NOT).

In 2006, the Yankees brought him back for one more year as a dependable 4th outfielder and sometime pinch-hitter. You know what happens next. Matsui goes down, Sheff goes down, Melky comes up. Bernie is back to being a full-time starter. He had a little over 400 at-bats and they were productive. After Abreu arrived, he went back to the bench. No complaints, classy the whole way.

With Torre's penchant for using arms and causing shoulder blow-outs (that has led to at least 1 huge playoff collapse...2004 ALCS), it's a no-brainer that they add another arm to the bullpen. It is a shame to see that it might cost Bernie a spot, but he has had a great career and he should be proud of what he has accomplished:

Where Bernie stands in Yankee lore:

3rd all-time in Yankee history in ABs.
4th all-time in hits
2nd in doubles
6th in home runs
6th in RBIs
.297 career BA.

He has 22 home runs, 82 runs scored and 80 RBIs in the post-season. All MLB records (though he did play in a 3 tier system, where the other Yankee greats only played in 1 or 2 rounds).

1996 ALCS MVP (our first time in the ALCS together)
4 straight Gold Gloves (1997-2000)
2002 Silver Slugger
1998 batting champ
5 time All-Star.

Altogether, an outstanding career. If 2006 was his last year, than I wish to thank Bernie for provding us with 15 years of memories. I hope that he retires a Yankee, it would pain me to see him in anything than Pinstripes.

I also hope that the Yankees do the right thing and add his number to Monument Park. It would be an honor that is well-deserved.

Domo arigato, Mr. Igawa

2006-11-29T15:32:00.000-05:00

Domo arigato, Mr. Igawa. Welcome to the Bronx and the biggest stage of your young career. Forget all the pageantry of playing for your country in the World Baseball Classic. Nothing should get the blood pumping more than facing fellow countryman D-Mat in the Bronx as the Yankees and Sox ratchet the rivalry up another notch.

"The Yankees are a team with a lot of tradition," Igawa said at a news conference in Osaka. "I was surprised to hear the team bid that much for me, and I feel like today I've taken another step toward realizing my dream."

http://www .newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks294994707nov29,0,6436496.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

"I'm looking forward to having a pitching duel with Matsuzaka," Igawa said. "I know the fans there have very high expectations and I'll do my best to live up to them." (gotta love his sense of competitiveness and flair for the dramatic...that game will be huge in Japan. D-Mat vs. Godzilla, Igawa vs. Papi, Igawa vs. D-Mat).

Although the Yankees may have overbid for Igawa, with the way free agency was heading, you couldn't blame them. Igawa is at least 3 years younger than most of the pitchers on the market and his annual salary will probably be half of what Adam Eaton just got from the Phils and will be half of what a Gil Meche or Ted Lilly is commanding. The bid that the Yankees posted does not count agains the salary cap. In other words, smart business move by Cashman.

George King of the Post is reporting that the Yankees, besides adding Igawa, are possibly putting together a deal for Dontrele Willis (sweating with anticipation).

"They could put together a package headed by Melky Cabrera and Humberto Sanchez to lure the Marlins into moving Dontrelle Willis out of Miami." (As I am typing this, I am busy helping Melky pack!)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11292006/sports/yankees/yan_kei_yankees_george_king.htm

YouTube has a few clips of Igawa. One is posted below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLSnX2bB_7I

The Yankee rotation is shaping up. Still not as impressive as our friends in Red Sox Nation, or the Tigers, Twins or ChiSox, but getting there.

Hopefully, Cash can pull off the trade for Dontrelle and we can move forward towards pitchers and catchers.

Turkey Hang-Over

2006-11-28T11:04:00.000-05:00

I'm back. Back from another year and another turkey induced coma. Love the holidays and the Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the countdown to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year's, etc.

It also might be the slowest point in the year for baseball fans. Not much was going on the last couple of days in Yankee Nation, certainly not anything to get excited about.

However, the hot stove is beginning to percolate. Maybe not for the Pinstripes, but around the league, it is certainly getting interesting.

Carlos Lee signed for $100 million. Add that to Soriano's $160 million and it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Do we want to re-think A-Rod's escape clause yet?

Here are a few odds and ends gathered from the Thanksgiving weekend:

1. A must read, for any Yankee fan is the Boston Sports Blob by Eric Wilbur at boston.com. He's a solid writer and if you need to keep up with the team you love to hate (the Red Sox, duhh), this is the place to do it. He has a great post, just before the holidays regarding Jeter's "snub" in the MVP voting. http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2006/11/22/thirdparty_snub/index.html

He even takes umbrage with Vaccaro in the Post:

"The voters will tell you differently, but know this: If Derek Jeter had the season he had playing for the Minnesota Twins, and if Justin Morneau had the season he had playing for the Yankees, it would be Jeter who would be reserving space on his shelf for the MVP plaque," Vaccaro rants.

Huh. That's rich. Because Twins catcher Joe Mauer did, in fact, have the season Derek Jeter did playing for the Yankees.

And yet, on voting day, the BBWAA garnered just three third-place votes for Mauer, who despite playing 14 fewer games than the Yankees captain, played the majority of his games behind the plate, a more physically demanding position than any other on the diamond. As pleased as Twins fans must be over Morneau's selection, Mauer's omission from so many ballots is ludicrous. How do numbers so seemingly similar result in 12 first-place and 14 second-place votes for Jeter, but none in either category for Mauer? "

2. Newsday breaks down how the sportswriters involved in the MVP voting actually voted (thanks to both Newsday and Wilbur for this nugget).

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spvotes1122,0,2346956.htmlstory?coll=ny-main-bigpix

3. ESPN is reporting the Sox are nearing a deal for Manny. First, let me say, good riddance. The guy has been killing us for years. Now we can officially walk Big Papi any time he comes to the plate. Who do you fear more? A combo of J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Wily Mo or Papi and Manny? Exactly. He can't be traded fast enough. The only way this really hurts the Yanks, is if he goes to the Dodgers for prospects like Billingsley. He's a stud. Just wait.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2677627

4. Adam Eaton signs for 3 years with the Phillies and is making $24 to $33 million. Good lord. That just priced Meche and Lilly in the $10 million per range. Say good bye to those guys. The "fiscally conservative" Yankees will now pass on that type of signing (think Pavano). Personally, I would still sign Lilly.

5. The big news. Hall of Fame ballots are going to be sent out soon and what that means for Big Mac.

Wallace Matthews of Newsday says absolutely no way does he deserve to get in and he will not vote for him.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spwally284993576nov28,0,4729069.column?coll=ny-main-bigpix

Tomorrow, my votes for the Hall of Fame (if I had one) and later this week I will dissect the SI All Time Baseball team.

No MVP this year.

2006-11-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

"Jeeted" That's the FRONT page of the New York Post.

Anthony Vaccaro of the Post has an article titled "Bronx Bias Strikes Jeter", in the article Vaccaro goes on to make the point that Jeter should get used to this kind of national snub. If he didn't when the MVP this year, when will he. Vaccaro even takes it further saying this may be foreshadowing for Jeter's possible Hall of Fame vote.

"And here's the thing: This is only the warm-up. Just wait another 15 years or so, when it's time for the same assemblage of writers to size up Jeter's credentials as a Hall of Famer. Just wait, especially, when the arbiters of immortality decide whether Jeter's career merits the honor of a first-ballot selection, or whether they'll force him to endure a few years of consolation phone calls first."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11222006/sports/yankees/bronx_bias_strikes_jeter_yankees_mike_vaccaro.htm
Mike Lupica of the Daily News says Jeter was not robbed (I don't think so either, but to give the award to the 3rd best Twin, speaks to the notion that the Baseball writers have no idea how to gauge value. Check out Keith Law's great piece over at ESPN. http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2670990&name=law_keith&univLogin02=stateChanged 02 =stateChanged)
"I would have voted for Jeter. I grade higher for shortstops and for catchers, which is why I wonder why more people didn't go for Morneau's teammate, Joe Mauer. I thought in a close year, with everything that happened around him, Jeter was a greater Yankee than he had ever been, that this really was his time. Everybody around here did. We see everything he does, every day. We know why he has become this kind of star, why he has become the Yankee kids most want to be the way Mickey Mantle was"

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/473817p-398607c.html

That's the point. The Baseball writers who didn't want to give it to Jeter for whatever bias they have towards New York, the Yankees, Jeter himself, the "intangibles" guy, still got it wrong. Santana or Mauer were more valuable than Morneau was/is. You can't tell me you can find an everyday catcher who does what Mauer does or that you can find a pitcher who is more dominant than Santana. A first baseman who hits over 30 homers and over 100 RBIs? A dime a dozen.

Rob Neyer will argue for Jeter statistically also. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=2670366

However, the loss of the MVP bothers Yankee nation way more than it does Jeter and we all know it. This is why we like him so much. He would give an arm to win another World Series. He would much rather take a champagne shower than win an award like this.

I agree with Wallace Matthews of Newsday:

"So for all you Yankees fans, and Jeter fans, out there who are working up a lather over your boy being edged out by the Twins' Morneau for the one honor that has eluded him in an otherwise charmed existence, remember this: You are probably a lot more upset over this than Jeter.Assuming he is truly the guy he has presented himself to be over the past 11 seasons, Jeter would rather be a world champion than an MVP any day of the week and any season of his career."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spwally1122,0,4645309.column?coll=ny-sports-headlines

Besides, I am pretty sure Jeter can find solace in the arms of a certain person. Paging Ms. Biel!

For other shoulders to cry on, check out the Page 2 pictorial.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jeter/women

Pictures of Lilly

2006-11-22T14:25:00.000-05:00

"Pictures of Lily, make my life so wonderful"....The Who.

Think of what Ted could do for our pitching rotation. Although he is not as accomplished as Pettitte or the Big Unit, he is certainly a better alternative than Gil Meche!

We've seen Lilly before, and we know he can pitch in New York. Besides that, he's a Red Sox killer. He has spent "much of his career in the brawny AL East and sports a 3.81 lifetime ERA against Boston and solid numbers against nemesis David Ortiz."
http://www.nydailynews.com/11-21-2006/sports/baseball/story/473435p-398303c.html

Personally, I hated to see him traded, especially for Weaver, whose biggest accomplishment, prior to this year's World Series, was serving up a Series-changing home run to Alex Gonzalez of the Marlins.

Apparently, Cashman has reached out Lilly, but nothing concrete yet.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11212006/sports/yankees/lilly_awaits_yank_offer_yankees_george_king.htm
Having a lefty in Yankee Stadium is a must. If you're an average, to above-average lefty, you force the other team to bat righties, which will help focus some of their offense to the deep part of the park.

Any chance you can get to weaken a division foe (Toronto), strengthen your rotation and add a Red Sox killer, you have to take it.

"Pictures of Lily helped me feel alright".

They paid him how much?

2006-11-20T13:44:00.000-05:00

Jim Hendry's Secretary: Mr. Hendry, you have a phone call.

Jim Hendry: Take a message. I'm working on the press release explaining the Soriano "coup".

10 minutes go by.

Hendry: Who called before?

Hendry's Secretary: Your village sir, they want their idiot back.

I kid of course, but really, Soriano for 8 years @ $136 million? Seriously?

This is just bad for baseball. Shockwaves have been sent out and the ripples are beginning to be felt everywhere. Carlos Lee is anxiously awaiting his agent's phone call when he says he topped the Soriano deal. Justin Spier gets a 4 year deal for $18 million. Uggh.

The Cubs have been the big spenders this winter, that's for sure. First, Aramis Ramirez is retained for $73 million. Than Kerry Wood is brought back into the fold. Mark DeRosa gets a 3 year deal. Lets not forget Derek Lee's enormous deal the year before (upwards of $65 million).

Does the big spending = desperation? I mean, they were thisclose to getting to the 2003 World Series before it all fell apart due to Mr. Bartman. Since 2003, they have been awful. 2006 saw them end with a record of 66-96, 2005 was 79-83 and 2004 was 89-73. They compete in a fairly competitive division (Cards, Astros), but certainly not like the AL East or West.

That being said, do these qualify as desperate times? If they do, do they call for this type of desperate measure?

Rick Morrissey, of the Chicago Tribune:

"A convergence of factors led to the feeding frenzy that is going on right now, though the biggest of all was the empty seats at Wrigley Field toward the end of the season. The Cubs hadn't seen anything like it in years. They got scared straight into spending oodles of money.There's winning and losing. And then there's business.This is all about business.No matter what the Cubs say publicly, a White Sox factor is at work here. The team probably has done surveys to find out why ticket-holders chose not to attend games at Wrigley late in the season (A, the Cubs stunk; B, public retching not my thing, etc.). But the 2005 world champion Sox played a role, either directly or indirectly. Some fans might have expressed their disgust with the Sox up/Cubs down status quo by staying away. Some might have even decided to give the Sox a chance. For the first time in 20 years, the Cubs are seeing inroads made on their empire by the team from the South Side. They are reacting. Good for them, and good for Cubs fans, who deserve a lot more than they have received."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-0611200161nov20,1,6221316.column?ctrack=1&cset=true

The brilliant Mr. Gammons of ESPN thinks that the Cubs are instant contenders based on recent moves:

"Now the Cubs have Lee and Ramirez around the electrifying Soriano, plus an above-average offensive catcher in Michael Barrett and Cesar Izturis and DeRosa in the middle of the infield. While the Astros are trying to retool, the Cardinals are trying to sign pitchers, the Brewers are on the rise and the Reds have signed Alex Gonzalez and Mike Stanton, the Cubs' explosion in the market could make them instant contenders. "

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=gammons_peter#20061119

The big question, what does this do to the landscape of the AL East? In a previous post, I mentioned what a bargain someone like A-Rod would be, if he decided to opt-out of his contract and either force a new deal from the Yankees or put himself on the market. Again, A-Rod will be able to leave $87 million on the table next year, in pursuit of at least a 5 year deal for a minimum of $100 million. Boras must be salivating thinking about another commission.

Who would you rather have? A-Rod from 32-37 making $20 million or Soriano from 31-38 making $17 million? Again, I vote for the guaranteed HOF and former 2 time MVP.

What do the Sox do with Manny? He's got 2 years at $20 million left. Very manageable if you're the Angels and are willing to deal a few arms. If I'm Epstein, I am working on Manny's trade right now.

Soriano's deal is great for him and other free agents, no doubt. It will definitely pinch the owners again and soon. It might also change the playing field in the AL East as we know it.

Weekend Update

2006-11-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

With the end of the General Manager's meetings and the Yankees a very quiet and almost in-active participant, the local media scribes brought attention to 2 hot-button issues facing Yankee nation. One issue will be resolved on Tuesday (AL MVP) and the other will be an on-going, season long situation (Torre as Lame Duck manager).

On to the weekend update:

Wallace Matthews of Newsday is in Jeter's corner for the AL MVP race:

"You can say what you want about Jeter, that he's too smug, that he's protected in a great lineup, that he's a bad teammate for not cradling poor widdle A-Rod to his bosom - it's all hogwash, by the way - but even the most fervent Jeter-haters out there would have to concede that not only does he play hard and play well every time out, he also plays clean."

"So on the first day, in the first game of a doubleheader, Jeter goes 3-for-6, scores two runs and knocks in one. In the nightcap, he hits a two-out, three-run double in the seventh to give the Yankees an 11-10 lead in what would become a 14-11 victory. The Red Sox go away quietly after that, losing all five games, and the fight is over. KO Jeter.

So what if Mauer edged him out for the batting title on the last day of the season, or if Morneau hit twice as many home runs as Jeter did? Despite what A-Rod told Esquire, I have yet to hear anyone in baseball say, "We better not let Joe Mauer beat us." I have heard plenty say it about Jeter."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spwally194982586nov19,0,3811564.column?coll=ny-baseball-headlines

Ken Davidoff, also a Newsday reporter is against Jeter (but does not mind if someone does vote for him):

"I have no problem with anyone who believes Derek Jeter should receive his first MVP trophy, and it looks encouraging for Jeter as we await Tuesday's announcement. But if I had a vote this year, it would have been cast for Minnesota's Justin Morneau. Because power still rules, and because we all know that as much as Jeter did to help the Yankees prevail in 2006, he could have done more. "

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spkdjeter194982587nov19,0,1224671.column?coll=ny-yankees-print

Over in the Daily News, Mike Lupica, in his "Shooting from the Lip" column, discusses Torre and his "lame duck status":

"If it walks like a lame duck and talks like a lame duck, it's usually a lame duck, except if it's Joe Torre, who has won four World Series and been to six and finished in first place nine straight times and is on his way to the Hall of Fame as a manager after a playing career when he wasn't so far away from doing the same thing."

"The story of the Yankee season isn't going to be whether it is Jeter who gives A-Rod a big hug before next season starts. It is going to be the manager. And the managers-in-waiting."

http://www.nydailynews.com/11-19-2006/sports/col/story/472742p-397796c.html

I find the arguments for Jeter's possible MVP chances valid on both sides. As a Yankee fan, I have had the pleasure to watch him his entire career. The intangibles are what are always discussed. Jeter has them in spades. The catch in the stands against Boston, the Flip, the lead-off home run in game 4 of the 2000 World Series, etc. It's not a life-time achievment award, as has been mentioned, but when is Jeter going to be more valuable than last year?

As for Torre, without Sweet Lou around, I don't see a difficult season unless the Bombers stumble out of the gate. Even than, a full year with Joe can be expected. After 2007, it's anyone's guess.

The Great Escape?

2006-11-16T15:54:00.000-05:00

Now it all makes sense. All the posturing and positive vibes emanating from A-Rod are making sense. As reported in today's Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sparod164978106nov16,0,5748901.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

A-Rod can opt out of the last 3 years of his contract, just like J.D. Drew did to the L.A. Dodgers. All that talk about wanting to win a championship with the Yankees, in Pinstripes, has possibly come down to 1 year, 2007.

Think about the bind this puts the Yankees in. Every team now knows that A-Rod can be had next year, if he opts out. That takes away all the barganing power that Cashman may have had.

If you're Arte Moreno of the Los Angeles/Anaheim/California/Santa Clara/Napa Valley Angels, are you counting pennies for next year? Damn straight. What about Kenny Williams in Chicago? Do you think he is burning up the phone lines to Cashman? Nope. Not anymore. Why give up 3 prospects or 3 players for a guy you might be able to get next season for just money?

Shhhhh....listen. That sound you hear, that's the laughter of the Beantown Moneybags (fka the Boston Bean Counters). After making that outrageous bid for D-Mat (which we will get to another day), they must be laughing silly at the idea of having a rotation of Schilling, D-Mat, Papelbon, Beckett, Wakefield facing an A-Rod less 2008 Yankee lineup. To borrow a line from the Sports Guy, "not good times".

Think about it this way. This contract wrinkle reveals 3 options for the Yankees.

1. A-Rod opts out of his contract and signs with someone else next year (and this could still be outrageous money, I will get to that in a moment).

2. A-Rod opts out of his contract and pushes the Yankees for another deal, for more years (a PR nightmare, since he's ringless)

3. The Yankees try to trade A-Rod and find.....(sound of crickets chirping). That's right folks, we could possibly lose a Hall of Fame talent and get nothing in return.

The first scenario would cause shockwaves through-out baseball as the free-agent market would have to take into account whatever contracts are given out this year. If you think Soriano, at age 31, getting $15 million a year for 6 years is ludicrous, well, what does A-Rod get back on the open market.

Remember, A-Rod has a chance to own the home run title. If he goes to another team, you get to put him back at shortstop. He's a two-time MVP. Does that command another $20 million per year pay out? Possibly.

Think about that. As it stands now, he will get $81 million over the next 3 years ($27 per after 2007), betcha no one knew that! If he voids the deal, Boras can re-sell his soul for a 5 year deal worth at least $20 million. Again, if Carlos Lee and Soriano are expected to get upwards of $15 million (and the Big Hurt is gettin $10 million per for the next 2 years), A-Rod is a steal at $20 million for 5. That means he will turn his $81 million loss, into a $100 million gain. Fantastic job Mr. Boras.

Anyway you look at it, 2007 will prove interesting.

The Wright Move

2006-11-14T19:58:00.000-05:00

The Yanks traded Jaret Wright to the Orioles. Not really an earth-shattering trade, but significant in the fact they get another young arm and erase a mistake from the winter of 2004 (i.e. the fall of the Yankees). This benefits both sides as Wright is reunited with Mazzone, his guru from 2003 when he had a career year (and a possible revival forthcoming in '07) and the Yankees add more depth to a depleted farm system.

More important, we no longer have to endure Wright and his 5 innings of nibbling or wondering when the next home run pitch will be thrown. I mean, how often do we have to see him wiping his brow with that stupid piece of chew in his mouth after giving up another bomb?

I admit he was gritty and gutty and when he asked to pitch he did, whether it was in the bullpen or not. Still, 5 innings is not enough to warrant $7 million a year. The Yankees were wise in trading him and eating some salary. Essentially, they bought him out and got an arm in return.

Here are Wright's stas with the Yankees, courtesy of Baseball Reference.

2005: Games Started 13, 5 Wins & 5 Losses, 6.08 ERA, 63.7 IP, 34K, 32 BB.
2006: Games Started 27, 11 Wins & 7 Losses, 4.49 ERA, 140.3 IP, 84K, 57 BB.

I love the strikeout totals. Remember, he was signed because Cashman wanted pitchers who would make opposing hitters swing & miss. That worked out rather well don't ya think?

We pick up Chris Britton, who as reported by Keith Law:

"Britton is a bad-body guy with plus control of a solid-average 90-93 mph fastball, with a fringe-average breaking ball. He's strictly a reliever, and he needs a better second weapon, but anyone with his control and huge strikeout rates is a valuable asset, especially while he's still making a near-minimum salary."

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20061112

As it stands now, our rotation is Wang, Pavano, Johnson (all under contract), possibly Moose (close to a 2 year $24 million deal) and a yet to be named 5th starter. We could use Karstens, Rasner, Hughes, Sanchez (from the Tigers for Sheff), or we could go out and sign Meche (god help us), Padilla (not bad, but another head case) or Lilly, who I would really be happy about getting back.

We don't need a high paid 5th starter, just someone who can eat innings until our farm system can help out. Definitely, the Wright move to make.

Can you smellllllllll.........what the Sheff is cookin!

2006-11-09T18:19:00.000-05:00

Oh, to be aYankee fan. You have an owner committed to winning, you've had the privilege of watching a true professional play Shortstop (Jeter), Center (Bernie), Relief (Mo), Catcher (Jorge) and in bygone years, Rightfield (O'Neill), Third Base (Brosius), First Base (Tino and Donnie) and a truly classy manager (Torre).

Now, you watch the aged and infirmed try to pitch every 5th day (Unit), you get the psychological mess that is A-Rod at third and the very bitter and always entertaining Gary Sheffield in Right. I mean, the man is a great quote. He was made for New York...but it's time to say goodbye to at least one headache.

For the last 3 seasons (ok 2 seasons), we have had one of the most dangerous right-handed hitters in the game. I have friends who are Sox fans, who swear they feel he will put a hole in the Monster when he is up. I don't disagree that he is a great talent, but his ego knows no bounds and his mouth might be bigger.

Let's reflect on some of Gary's more endearing sentiments:

From the New Yorker, 8/15/2005

“I know who the leader is on the team,” he says as he scratches his cartoon-villain mustache. “I ain’t going to say who it is, but I know who it is. I know who the team feeds off. I know who the opposing team comes in knowing they have to defend to stop the Yankees.” (sounds eerily similar to A-Rod's Esquire rants)

followed by this gem:

“I know this. The people don’t know. Why? The media don’t want them to know. They want to promote two players in a positive light, and everyone else is garbage.”

All that in the first 2 paragraphs. Enjoy the rest:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/12398/

L.A. Times, 12/20/2001

"Of the top five players in the game, I'm going to be right there with them, or somewhere close," Sheffield said. "So why would you trade somebody that's going to give you consistent numbers?"

L.A. Times, 2/21/2002

"I always wanted to play for the Braves, I always wanted to be with an organization that knows about winning, but I never let myself think about it because I didn't want to be disappointed," Sheffield said. "When you play this game long enough, you know that things that you want to happen usually don't happen, so I just tried to forget about it. Then [agent] Scott [Boras] told me about the deal and I knew I needed this.

"I just didn't want to be with the Dodgers anymore because of everything. One of the things I told my wife [DeLeon], when we heard all the [off-season trade] rumors, was that I didn't know what was going to happen but I just didn't want to play for an organization that did the things they did. I don't have any bitter moments or memories, I'm where I want to be, but I just didn't want to be there."

L.A. Times, 10/30/2001

"When I hired Scott, Scott made it known to them I won't ask for anything else, and they know I want to be here," said Sheffield, who has returned to his off-season home in St. Petersburg, Fla. "I don't want anybody to do anything for me. I just want to be here and help this team win. That's why I came here in the first place--to win.

"I'm just going to go out there and play like I always do. As far as [Boras] going to them and asking for a [new] contract, that's not going to happen.
"They don't have to worry about that because that's not what this is about. I just want to be able to put down roots here and feel comfortable. That's what I've wanted my whole career."

And now the latest salvo of a "team player", someone you want in the foxhole with you, for 162 games:

Newsday, 11/9/2006

When asked about Bobby Abreu, Sheffield said, "He's a good player, but like I say, you can draw it up any kind of way. He ain't me. And that's the bottom line. I understand them having to make this move for the remainder of the season, but to sit here and I'm leaving because of it, I always was told you leave because someone is better than you. I don't think that's the case here."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks094967813nov09,0,3552906.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

New York Times, 11/9/2006

“I’ve done more for the Yankees than he will ever do,” Sheffield said of Abreu. “When you lose your spot on a team, it should be because the other guy is better than you, but that’s not the case here. Why was I not given a chance to compete for the right-field job?”

Asked if life with the Yankees had been everything he might have expected, Sheffield answered flatly: “I will tell you that not everything is rosy in Yankeeland. It’s all a facade — it ain’t real.”

Sheffield was soon talking about Alex Rodriguez, who endured a tumultuous season. Sheffield said he was disappointed with the way “nobody on the team ever goes to bat for the guy.”

“When you have a teammate under fire like that, why would you keep your distance and just let people keep taking shots at him?” Sheffield said. “If it was anybody else, their teammates would have stood up for them.”

Asked if Derek Jeter, the Yankees’ captain, could have done more to help Rodriguez down the stretch of the season, Sheffield said: “I’m not naming names, it is what it is, but it tells you a lot about the situation here. I like Alex, but we have different personalities. He doesn’t fight back because he wants everyone to like him, but that doesn’t work here. I will not let anyone take shots at me like that.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/sports/baseball/09yankees.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

New York Post, 11/9/2006

Sheffield acknowledged he was Alex Rodriguez's sounding board last season. Asked who would take his place, he answered, "Nobody," a seeming shot at Derek Jeter and other team leaders.
"You all better get ready," Sheffield said. "There's nobody."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11092006/sports/yankees/sheff_is_stewing_yankees_michael_morrissey.htm

Wow, the man is certainly a chatter-box. I will definitely miss his violent swing and itsy-bitsy mustache (too bad nobody asked how he did shaved it so sm all), but his attitude and his ego have got to go.

Let's hope the lockerroom is a better place and his "replacement" (Abreu) is better than Sheff gives him credit.

An Ally for A-Rod

2006-11-05T16:16:00.000-05:00

There have been a few articles recently regarding the state of the Yankees and in particular, one beleagured soul. Mr. Alex Rodriguez. Recently, Mariano Rivera, one of the last members of the Old Guard (re: The Last Yankee Dynasty), was quoted in Newsday as saying: “I love A-Rod,” he said yesterday at Mo’s New York Grill. “I love the guy. He’s done a tremendous job. It’s not easy being himself … It’s tough. They don’t give the guy a break … New York doesn’t give him a break.”

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spynotes034958602nov03,0,3524173.story

To me, this one of the most important and public displays of support that A-Rod has received since he has been a Yankee and especially since the SI issue came out where Giambi and Torre decided to air their dirty pinstripes.

A lot has been made that Alex has never been made to feel comfortable. That responsibility belongs to the guys in the clubhouse and specifically the home-grown Yankees and even more to the point, the Old Guard. As most of Yankee nation knows, only 4 Yankees remain from the 1996-2001 team, Jeter, Posada, Bernie and Mo. Of the 4, only Mo has spoken out. Why? I can’t say for sure, but you can bet Bernie would never say anything. He’s much too introverted and Posada has Bigger issues to deal with, namely the Unit. That leaves Jeter. As we all know, Jeter was deeply offended by A-Rod’s remarks in Esquire a few years back. Apparently, Jeter carries a grudge (understatement of the day).

Quite a few pundits and sportswriters even go to lengths blaming Jeter for A-Rods’ continued mediocrity in the clutch and for all the booing he endures. A few days after the collapse to the Tigers, John Harper of the Daily News states:

“Jeter sets the tone for everything the Yankees do, so while he got tons of credit, and rightfully so, when they won, he has to take some of the blame now for allowing the A-Rod mess to seemingly suffocate this team. He has kept A-Rod at arm’s length, apparently all because he can’t get past the famous Esquire article of five years ago in which A-Rod allowed his jealousy and self-esteem issues to surface for the first time”

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/459941p-386970c.html

Harper continues by saying: “There’s only one person who can change the dispassionate climate surrounding the Yankees, and it’s the reluctant captain, Derek Jeter. But if he hasn’t been willing to embrace A-Rod by now, it’s hard to believe anything is going to change”

Phil Taylor of SI even states that Jeter should not win the MVP due to his lack of support for his teammate.

“Jeter is the Yankees’ Teflon shortstop, the golden boy to whom no criticism ever sticks. He is a clutch player, to be sure, and he is one of the few Yankees who earned his paycheck on the field in the Yankees’ ALDS flop against the Detroit Tigers. But in the most crucial area, the A-Rod area, he was a crashing failure.”

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/phil_taylor/11/01/arod.jeter/index.html

Both writers make valid points. Jeter should show support like Mo, it’s just not his nature to make a public plea. Remember, he endured his own booing when he was hitless in April a few years back. Jeter did not ask for the booing to stop and ask to remember the good times, he instead put his head down and went back to basics and being the player he was/is. I suppose Jeter expects the same of A-Rod. He shouldn’t let the booing get to him, but he does. Jeter should realize this and accept it and try to help him. If it takes a public appearance together so be it.

Jeter needs to realize that with a mentally stable A-Rod, the Yankees are in a much better position to succeed. If he does not want to help, than the string of disappointments may continue.

Heir Apparent

2006-11-02T01:12:00.000-05:00

With the recent release of Lee Mazzilli, the vacancy of Bench Coach is flashing like a neon sign in the middle of a Bronx night. This might be the most important seat in the dugout, in Torre's hip pocket. Not since the Gerbil (aka Zimmer) vacated his position rather hastily after the 2003 World Series, have we had a decent field manager.

Yes, yes, Torre is a tremendous manager. He is able to soothe egos, push the right buttons and insulate his players from the crush of the New York media and the Boss. However, Torre lacks in two areas, and these last few seasons it is blatantly obvious where he is lacking....Pitching and Strategy. Zimmer brought to the table a tenacity and National League quality of managing. I would be interested to see what the number is for amount of sacrifice bunts, hit and runs and sac flys during Zim's tenure and the numbers in his absence.

Girardi did a respectable job, but he wasn't here long enough to really have an impact. The job he did with the Marlins and their incredible shrinking payroll should prove that he has what it takes. His predecssor and successors both want onto managerial gigs. Willie took the cross-town Mets to game 7 in the NLCS and Maz couldn't manage Boog's Bar-B-Q, let alone the O's.

Again, Willie and Maz didn't hold the position long enough to make it their own, but by having 3 relatively inexperienced "managers" acting as bench coach in Zim's absence, that may have hindered the in-game strategy. Which is why I thought it odd that with all of the managers (former, of course) on the Yankee bench, they went with Maz, instead of Bowa (NL guy), Pena (had 1 solid year with KC, which should count like dog years...1 good year = 7 solid years for a real team) or even Kerrigan (bullpen coach). And lets not forget, the Gator was a first year pitching coach. How much hand holding did Torre have with that job?

So now, we hear rumor that Donnie Baseball is the next in line for the "throne".

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/11/01/yankees.mattingly.ap/index.html

Is this a legitimate step? Sure is. There is no quick fix now that Pinella is in Chicago. With Sweet Lou out of the way, it is safe to assume that Torre is a lame duck for the whole year and he will be tutoring the Hit Man.

Believe me, there is no one I would rather see as manager of the Yankees than Donnie. If it was up to me, I would get Rags to be my pitching coach too.

Donnie might actually benefit from Cashman's unified Yankee front office. The more high priced divas to leave the team, the less headache it would be for Donnie to manage. Instead of Unit, we would have Hughes. Instead of Sheff, we have Melky & Abreu. Will the Hit Man be able to survive the glare of the media once he becomes the manager? He certainly seems to have the personality for it. Being a home-grown Yankee helps and he is even more untouchable than Jeter (if you can believe it). Does all of that translate into a good manager, let alone bench coach? Only time will tell. I can't wait for 2008.

For the Birds.

2006-10-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

Wow. If anyone had predicted at the start of the playoffs that the St. Louis Cardinals would have won the World Series, I would have said they were out of their mind or a homer.

It happened. LaRussa added to his HOF plaque for Cooperstown with a great playoff run, helping the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals become the worst team in history to win the World Series, beating out the 1987 Twins (85 wins) and the 2000 Yankees (87 wins).

They also happend to be the seventh different World Series Champion in the past 7 years (or since the Yankee mini-Dynasty). Now, the question is, which is odder? That the Yankees won 4 of 5 or that there is this much parity? At this point, you have to recognize that what the Yankees did was extraordinary. In the era of 3 playoff rounds, to win 4 titles in 5 years is unreal (and also a discussion for another day).

Today is a day for Cardinal fans. They certainly had the hot team and all of their pieces clicked over the last 3 weeks. How do you explain them winning when Pujols had 3 RBI in 14 games? Scott Spezio is the answer. The man has never lost a postseason series. He has won 2 titles (2002 Angels and 2006 Cards). He has a .284 postseason BA (not great, but solid), a slugging percentage of .531 (very good), an OBP of .379 (again solid), and 25 RBIs (produced by 23 hits!). That is astounding. Another major piece...Eckstein (another Angel...God how I hate the Angels). He has 18 RBIs, 49 hits, .345 OBP, .335 SLG and .278 BA. Not great, just solid and clutch. Same with Spiezio (who may be hitting close to .700 with men in scoring position). All stats courtesy of MLB.com

You need the little guys, the grinders, the bench guys to know their roles and to fulfill them. You need to have pitching (Reyes, Anthony - Game 1), a good bullpen (Wainwright) and timely hitting. Says Jon Heyman of SI.com "Eckstein has now won two rings as a starting shortstop, one in each league. Not to rub it in. but he and Scott Spiezio are now each up two rings on A-Rod".

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/10/28/cards.wrap/index.html

Tom Verducci of SI goes into the "winners & losers" of the 2006 series:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/tom_verducci/10/31/winners.losers/index.html

The fact that Eckstein was named MVP, after starting the World Series 0 for 11, is a testament to his grittiness. These are the types of players needed to win a short series. These are what the Yankees had in abundance during the 1996-2001 Era. Everyone copied them and somehow the Bombers lost the formula. Who knows, maybe 2007 they'll find themselves again by looking at an old foe or two.

Shenanigans!

2006-10-24T18:43:00.000-04:00

Game 2 of the World Series should have been played under protest. Protest by whom, you might ask? By us, the fans. Kenny Freakin Rogers(!) pitched another scoreless game. This time under a cloud of suspicion....the illegal use of pine tar.

LaRussa knew something was up, the guys at Fox knew it and ESPN ran tape of his hand during the Division Series and ALCS and saw the same thing. He cheated. Right out in front of anyone. The best part? No one in baseball seems to care.

LaRussa says he doesn't want to deal in that BS. That statements smells something fierce. He has a tremendous relationship with Leyland and perhaps he did not want to show his buddy up. If that is even remotely true, he should be fired after the Series. Why? He did not do everything in his power as manager to help his team win a game. If Rogers is checked by the umps, he is caught. Thrown out of game 2 and the Series altogether. How does that not help your team?

The other side...maybe LaRussa's pitchers are just as dirty as Rogers (see Suppan and Weaver and their lifetime post-season stats) and he didn't want to call attention to his guys. Fine. Slightly more acceptable.

The main thing is Kenny Freakin Rogers cheated. He apparently did not get the better of the A's and Yankees on the up and up. Does that make the fan bases feel any better? I doubt it.

An old saying that I heard on the Michael Kay (ESPN 1050) show..."if you're not cheating, you're not trying". Lots of people try to get away with all sorts of stuff in baseball. Sosa using a corked bat, Albert Belle (with Jason Grimsley trying to steal them back like a scene from Mission Impossible), Graig Nettles. Gaylord Perry is a Hall of Fame cheat, as is Whitey Ford. Joe Niekro was caught. Lots of players cheat. http://torontosun.com/Sports/Baseball/2006/10/24/2114573-sun.html

Lots of players use pine tar. Catchers use it, plus their shin guards to doctor the ball. Pitchers use suntan lotion and shaving cream http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/10/23/scoop.rogers/index.html

Another question...how long has Rogers been cheating? Once he washed his hands, he continued to pitch brilliantly. Does that mean he really is that good, or is there another source of pine tar http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/061023?

Not only does baseball have a steroid and greenie problem, but in their showcase series, a cheater is amongst us. What do they do? How do the powers that be handle it? Like all of their other problems....heads buried in the sand. Not the way America's past time should be handled at all.

All things A-Rod

2006-10-19T17:44:00.000-04:00

It's been a few days since the "collapse" of the 2006 Yankees. Again, we are dealing with rumors of the trading of A-Rod.

There are two sides to this debate. The first side is the side that says..."you're trading an MVP, Hall-of-Famer, in his prime". The second side is the side that says..."he can't handle the pressure of New York, get him out".

Unfortunately, both sides are right. When Torre dropped him to 8th in Game 4 and when he and Giambi aired their dirty laundry in SI, well that sealed the deal for this year.

The Yankees lost Game 4 and the gnashing of teeth and wailing began. Torre has to go! A-Rod needs to go! We need pitching! Boston still sucks!

A few pundits and press folk wanted Torre out and had his farewell speech written and his bags packed. He lost the team. He didn't manage with any emotion (see the play at 3rd where A-Rod tags out Pudge...how do you not argue that if you still have a pulse?). Ok, fine. Torre didn't have his best series....but did he really get outmanaged? Who was going to hit 100 mph, followed by 103 out of the bullpen? Not Torre....no, just $200 million worth of ballplayers.

Do these guys need a kick in the arse? Maybe, but Pinella was not the answer for 162 game season...a short series maybe. Not 162. That you need Torre for. He is the best at massaging egos and getting the most out of the overprice prima donnas. Since Zimmer left, the Yankees have lacked the NL mentality. Not the Torre didn't try (see Cano, Melky, Abreu, Jeter, Damon). It's just when Matsui and Sheff (or another high priced big bopper was added) came back, whatever small ball was working was pushed out the door for the vets.

Enough about Torre. Why? He's here to stay. Unless he and A-Rod can sit down and hash out how to get over his fear of NY, 2007 is going to be a very short post-season again.

Lots of rumours over who and where A-Rod gets traded. If you trade him, I want a minimum of 3 guys in return. 2 of the 3 need to be in the majors or major league ready. You also have to start thinking about positions of need. Catcher and Relief Pitcher are screaming for attention.

Posada has a year left on his contract and Mo also has one. The only one I want back after next year is Mo. Replacing the old guard is absolutely necessary to the Yankees continued success.

The Angels fit the bill. Give me Santana, Mathis and any power arm for the bullpen and I'm sold. If we have to go Chicago, I want McCarthy from the ChiSox, plus Crede and another P. If we go to the Cubs, I want Hill and 2 other guys (I'll even take a 75% Mark Prior).

We need pitching. It's always been about the pitching (except 2002. That was an anomaly).

Tears in Heaven

2006-10-12T17:58:00.000-04:00

On October 11th, 2006, Cory Lidle, a very recent addition to the Yankee family passed away when his private Cessna crashed into a building in NYC. Both he and the flight instructor passed away. Thankfully, no one in the building was hurt.

Our prayers go out to his family and friends. Unfortunately, this is not the only tragedy to befall the Yankee family. Thurman Munson passed away in 1979 while performing take-offs and landings. The impact on the team might not be the same, but the impact on the players' personal lives certainly will be.

R.I.P. Cory Lidle.

Teflon Torre

2006-10-10T17:54:00.000-04:00

First, I would like to say that I am shocked that Cashman was able to talk the Boss off the ledge from firing Torre. He must have some seriously incriminating photos on the Boss or something. This might have been the only time in Torre's tenure that a firing would not have sparked a riot in the Bronx.

Secondly, I don't mind that Torre is back, but now A-Rod has to go. If Torre had left, than A-Rod could have stayed. I don't know how you repair the damage done to their relationship. Batting A-Rod 8th was a big slap in his face.

Thirdly, is keeping Torre still the right move? He is a lame duck manager (1 year at 7 million) and it seems like he is losing his motivational touch. Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't. The team that he has now is VERY different from the late 90s' dyansty. That team was made up of utility guys, role players and the occasional star. This group is made up of star after star. Getting down and dirty is something a lot of these guys are not accustomed to.

The bigger question is should Torre have stayed? His moves have been in question since 2001. His teams have tensed up in the post season since 2002. Is that a reflection on the manager, the player or both?

The players come from Cashman or Steinbrenner(think Sheff instead of Vlad) and due to Steinbrenner's insatiable appetite to win, he is willing to spend money to do so. That has its good and bad sides. It's good because you know he's not going to sit back and let an opportunity pass him by. It's bad because we still have not learned patience with prospects (though, it is getting better) and we continually go out and sign questionable make-up guys (sheff, unit), overrated players (pavano,wright), injury prone players (wright, pavano, unit) and not enough role players (cairo).

If this is Torre's last year, than he needs to go out with a win. He needs to find a way to reach A-Rod, Unit and Pavano. This is his last chance.

Back the Truck UP!

2006-10-09T17:48:00.000-04:00

Get rid of the bums! That's the cry in Yankee Nation after watching the Detroit series. Awful. Upsetting. Shocking. Pick an adjective. I can't believe how badly they played in Game 4, a must win. Sending Wright to the mound did not inspire much hope in yours truly. Following a predictable few innings by Wright, they follow that with Lidle. Cory Lidle. I'll let that sink in.

Not only did we have to endure Wright and Lidle, but Torre batted A-Rod 8th. I know, in Murderer's Row + Cano, you can expect RBIs anywhere, but batting a sensitive soul like A-Rod 8th, pretty much neutered him. This is not to say that this is all A-Rod's fault, but he makes $25 million per year and shouldn't shrink from the spotlight (after all, he orchestrated the trade to leave Arlington.) Let's look to see if we can find the guilty party or parites for the demise of the Yankee Dynasty.

All stats provided by baseball-reference.com

A-Rod
2004 ALDS MIN - .421, 1 HR, 3 RBI , 1 K.
2004 ALCS BOS - .258, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 K.
2005 ALDS ANA - .133, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5 K.

Not exactly awe-inspiring. He is far from being the only culprit in the Yankees going 3-10 since the 2004 ALCS collapse.

Let's look at the new "mouthpiece" of the team, Sheff.

2004 ALDS MIN - .222, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1K.
2004 ALCS BOS - .333, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 8 K.
2005 ALDS ANA - .286, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K.

Not bad, but not good either.

How about Giambi, A-Rod's buddy.

2002 ALDS ANA - .357, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1K.
2003 ALDS MIN - .250, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5K.
2003 ALCS BOS - .231, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 7K.
2003 WS FLA - .235, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3K.
2005 ALDS ANA - .421, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4K.

His 2003 ALCS is slightly misleading since he had 2 HRs in the Game 7 against Pedro, which kept us in the game. He disappeared in the WS citing a bad knee (or a bad hangover, since they were in Miami). 2004 was his "ailment" or "gland" issue, and 2005 he handled himself nicely.

So, if the big 3 boppers have done a slightly below average job (not everyone does well in a 5 game series), who else is to blame?

Jeter:
2002 ALDS - .500, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3K
2003 ALDS - .429, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2K
2003 ALCS - .233, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4K
2003 WS - .346, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7K
2004 ALDS - .316, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4K
2004 ALCS - .200, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K
2005 ALDS - .333, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5K

Well, it doesn't look like Jeter is too blame. He also batted .500 in 2006 (5 hits in game 1 though).

Posada:
2002 ALDS - .235, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3K
2003 ALDS - .176, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6K
2003 ALCS - .296, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4K
2003 WS - .158, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 7K
2004 ALDS - .222, 0 HR, o RBI, 6K
2004 ALCS - .259, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1K
2005 ALDS - .231, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2K

He also had a terrific 2006 ALDS batting .500, with multiple 2-hit games. Him and Jeter are classic Yankee grinders.

How about Bernie?
2002 ALDS - .333, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2K
2003 ALDS - .400, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2K
2003 ALCS - .192, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3K
2003 WS - .400, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2K
2004 ALDS - .278, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2K
2004 ALCS - .306, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5K
2005 ALDS - .211, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3K

Bernie seems to have contributed big time to keeping the dream alive.

Matsui?
2003 ALDS - .267, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3K
2003 ALCS - .308, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3K
2003 WS - .261, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2K
2004 ALDS - .412, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4K
2004 ALCS - .412, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4K
2005 ALDS - .200, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3K

Godzilla has decent numbers, so where is our problem?

How about pitching? These were the rotations from 2002 - 2005:

2002:
Clemens, Pettite, Moose, Wells
2003:
Clemens, Pettite, Moose, Wells
2004:
Moose, Lieber, Brown, Vazquez
2005:
Moose, Wang, Johnson, Chacon

2002 and 2003 are shocking as to how we lost. Although, 2002 the Angels were a team of destiny and 2003 was so draining that the Marlins just beat us. 2004 and 2005 rotations instill no fear, so we were supposed to outslug people. We didn't.

Looking at the hitting and piching from the past few years, it may have more to do with Torre than anything else.

A lot has been made of Torre's decisions and his managing ability. Each year since 2001, we have brought in a big bopper (Giambi, Sheff, Matsui, A-Rod) to supposedly help the offense. All it's done is force us to become a station to station team. It has taken away the ability to hit and run, bunt, steal, etc. because everyone is waiting for the 3 run bomb. That and a shaky middle relief spell disaster.

Chance are this is his last year and if not, than Game 4 was it. I disagree with not playing Melky more. I don't like Sheff being forced into the lineup and specifically 1st base (though he didn't hurt us), I don't like the decision to leave Wang at home instead of pitching him in Game 4 (again, Wright and Lidle to save our season?), dropping A-Rod to 6th, than 4th, than 8th? I know the statistics, but come on. A-Rod was having a decent September in the 4 hole. Why move him?

Why air the dirty laundry in SI? Why doesn't Jeter defend A-Rod like he did Giambi?

What will the Yankees do? In my opinion, either A-Rod or Joe have to go. Between the lineup problems, the SI article, the faith in Pinella, somthing has to give.

Moose can only get a 2 year deal, at 5 million per (if at all). We might get the Japanese stud (hopefully not Irabu redux), Wright is gone. Pavano has to grow up. Hughes has to come up. Lidle is gone. Johnson we suffer with one more year. Melky could be traded for pitching (Willis from Florida), if A-Rod is traded, I want Santana and 2 more guys from Anaheim and if it is ChiSox, Brandon McCarthy has to be in the deal. If it is LA, I want Billingsley. Bernie has to retire and Jeter has to stop holding a grudge and be more of a leader. Giambi is a full time DH. I don't know what the winter has in store, but I will be commenting the whole time.

Thanks for listening.

Kenny FREANKIN' Rogers!

2006-10-07T11:01:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I've been away for awhile. A lot has happened. Neither Jeter nor Cano won the batting title. Matsui is back as the full-time LF and Sheff is now a 1B!

Murderer's Row and Cano....Leyland was just pumping the Yanks up some more as were all of the pundits and sports writers who wrote the Yanks would sweep or win in 4. The Boys from the Bronx started to believe their own press and after the stomping of Game 1 actually thought they would hit their way through October. It's not over yet, but Jaret Wright is what is holding our season together.

We lose last night to Kenny Freakin Rogers. A guy who had an era of 22 during his 3 October games for the Bombers in 1996. A guy who walked in the winning run in the 1999 NLCS for the Mets. A guy who soft tosses. He showed more emotions and more guts than any of the Yanks.

I feel bad for Unit. He pitched well for having a herniated disc in his back. Jeter is Jeter and Posada has been solid this series. A-Rod, Sheff, Giambi and Cano are killing us. Would Abreu dive for a ball? Would it kill him to try? It's like if his uniform gets dirty, he might cry. Jeez....slide. A-Rod gets a bad tag on Pudge and Giambi throws not one, but two awful pick-off attempts.

If we lose today or Monday, back the truck up. Cut Moose, Wright, Sheff and Bernie. Trade A-Rod for Ervin Santana, or any of the stud young arms the ChiSox have. We have one more year with Unit and that's it. Bring up Hughes. I am tired of being overwhelmed by hard-throwers. Why don't we have one? Oh right, Unit.....awful.

See you tomorrow.

The Lost Weekend

2006-09-19T20:02:00.000-04:00

1st, a rain out on Friday night....which leads to a very rare double-double. Two double headers on consecutive days. Wow. Thank god I had no chores for the weekend. That, plus the Pats-Jets and Giants-Eagles. A weekend made for TV (except for the good weather).

Even though a 4 game sweep of the Sox would have meant celebrating another AL East title in front of them, it didn't happen. Lack of timely hitting, no Mo and bad bullpen spelled doom.

It would have been nice to clinch in the Bronx, but we'll take it anywhere it happens.

Notes from the games:

1. Big Papi is scary. He should ask 2005 MVP A-Rod if he is done with his trophy yet.
2. Wang looked so-so. We need him to start game of every round in the Bronx and be dominant.
3. Johnson has to figure out how to pitch better with his stuff lacking the trademark pop. It's nice to know we will face some free-swinging clubs in the playoffs.
4. Class act by the Sox and especially Terry Francona on Jim Kaat's first pitch of his last game.
I said it before and I'll say it again, we are going to miss Jim Kaat next year on YES.
5. Watching Cano hit is great. Best thing to happen to the Yanks since Jeter came up.
6. A batting title might solidify Jeter winning the MVP (he may not be the best candidate and this might not be his best year (see 1999), Morneau, Mauer, Santana all could be worthwhile, as is Dye and Konerko).
7. Sheff at 1st for the playoffs....WOW what a lineup.

Tremendous article about A-Rod on SI.com by Tom Verducci http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/09/19/arod0925/index.html. Really a good read. Giambi is priceless.

Random other thoughts:

Great game by Eli and the Giants. Looked awful in the first 3 quarters. Tremendous in 4th and OT. A must win game. Heading to Seattle down 0-2...not a place they wanted to be.
Jets vs. Pats was more entertaining than I could have predicted. The Jets put up a fight, but have a long way to go before they are good. No running game will do that to a team.
Fantasy advice coming soon. Still trying to put all of my notes down.
Hockey starts soon...does anyone care? I mean really care, besides our providers of Molson?

Have a good night.

Countdown to #9

2006-09-15T18:22:00.000-04:00

The countdown to #9 references the 9th straight division title for the Yanks, which could come this weekend. IF they sweep the BoSox, it's all over. Very anti-climatic. After the BM II (Boston Massacre II), the Sox were done. Though, with all of their injuries, it was easy to see that coming.

To be honest, at the beginning of the year, it didn't look good for the Yanks. The loss of Matsui and Sheff, Big Unit becoming just Unit and Pavano's pulled ass seemed like the makings of a long year. The addition of Abreu was the turning point. The man fits in with the "new" Yankee lineup. A lot of patience. The first 4 hitters can force a pitcher to throw almost 30-40 pitches before they get out of the 1st inning. A good sign heading into the playoffs. I am hoping for number 27, but I am being realistic. Are starting pitching is adequate. That plus the infield D spells a lot of angst through the playoffs.

On another note, Jim Kaat is retiring from his gig as Yankee annoucer. Tonight is his last game. Sad to see him go. I really liked listening to him on tv. He always was informative without being a know it all (yes that means you Mr. McCarver and Mr. Morgan). Good luck to Mr. Kaat in the next stage of his life.

I suppose congratulations are in order for the NY Metropolitans. Tonight they have a chance to win the division for the first time in 18 years. Been a long time coming for them. They have a solid nucleus (think 1996 Yanks), a good manager and an aggressive GM. They could be a dynasty in the making. Any Yankee fan should be wary of them if we get to a World Series. If we win, we were supposed to (George's deep pockets). If we lose, we will never hear the end of it (think Boston 2004 and Brooklyn 1955).

Now batting.....

2006-09-15T15:02:00.000-04:00

This is my first post ever. I hope to cover a wide array of sports related topics, specifically about the Yankees and the rest of the season as we gear up for the playoffs and an already too-hyped up chance of a subway series (there is nothing good to come of that scenario...trust me). Also for discussion will be Fantasy Football, tips & tricks, hints, suggestions and advice (whether you like it or not), Fantasy Baseball, NCAA Football (when I get around to watching it), NFL, NBA, etc.... All of this done with the strictest East Coast bias. There, I've said it. "East Coast Bias".

You'll get over it. For the record, I would like to say that this blog would not be possible without the writings of certain members of ESPN, SI and other notable newspapers. My blog will probably resemble these blogs until I find my own identity and writing style. Be patient and thanks for coming along for the ride.