$26 million? Really?

As you say, Mark, only time will tell. But it's hard for me to think Kei Igawa is going to be the next Hideki Irabu. I trust in Brian Cashman. I think Igawa will be a more than decent No. 4 starter. But, again, only time will tell.

My Hideki is better than your Hideki.

Actually I think he may be a #3 starter. But then maybe not.

This is a low risk deal as Mark pointed out. AND he does not cost a draft choice.

Anybody else realizing that it seems numerous players who play for boston want out as soon as possible (nomar, manny, damon) and everybody seems to want to stay with the yankees (dotel, cairo, villone, mussina). Just a thought.

The reason, Vince? In just one word: CLASS

Paul--thanks. Got it.

If Igawa goes better than 11-7, 4.49 and pitches into the 7th consistently, then he is an upgrade over Jaret Wright. That's the way I look at it.

As stated, the posting doesn't count vs. the cap and he doesn't cost a draft choice.

Plus, he is 27 and lefty. I have documented the Yanks' paucity of lefty pitching prospects, esp. since the only lefty in the rotation the past couple of years is now 43 and coming off of back surgery.

Yep. I have to admit I'm not over the top excited. But I think thats a good thing. I'd say I'm reserving judgment, but I dont think it was a bad move necessarily by Cashman. $26 million is a LOT of money, but I'd rather see it go there, than it some other MLB owners pocket.

I was excited about Contreras and got bit burned, so I'm not going there with Igawa. But I will root for him to succeed. I like his attitude and generally I like the attitudes of Japenese athletes, they're hard workers and do most of their talking on the field.

I particularly like:-

*It not costing them a draft pick - I think they need to guard those as much as possible and not give them away for nothing.

*The luxury tax avoidance. I hate the luxury tax. While I can understand why its there, I think its done nothing but line the pockets of already rich owners - who dont put it back into their teams. I'd find it easier to see the yankees pay it out, if there was some rule that said that it MUST be spent on improving the team. After all, it was brought in to level the playing field, so it should be used on the playing field.

* I like it better than Lily and Meche.

* He could bad, yes, but he could be good. There's always that possibility. Steven Goldman on his Pinstriped Blog on the YES Network had an interesting look at him. I dont always agree with him, but he does call it like he sees it - no sugarcoating at all. I think he makes some good points about Igawa.

Well one good example of a player who wanted to stay in Boston and made concessions to their trusted team: Bronson Arroyo.

Surprised that Boston fans were not more upset to see him get shafted.

I'm so excited. Today at 10:00 P. M. ET will begin the semi finals of Mexican Soccer League. My favorite team (América) will visit our great rival (Guadalajara). I'm wearing my yellow T-Shirt (team's color) and will go to my sister in law place to watch the game with my kids and my nephews. So, tonight my mind will be far from my Yankees (but just for 90 minutes)

Paul it could be that because the Boston front office changes their mind so often, redsox fans have to follow suit so it doesn't make an "***" out of them.

I still think there are a lot of trade possibilities out there.

Rangers and Angels are desperate for big bats. Rangers also need pitching. Rangers need a lot of things but don't have much to offer other than Teixeira and Young.

Angels have a lot to offer as do the Dodgers and they are still looking. Each of them seem to be in the Manny sweepstakes, if he is traded.

Interesting that Curt Schilling has come out in public recommending a Manny trade. That certainly has to help the clubhouse.

I think that the Red Sox clubhouse will make the Bronx Zoo seem like a zen meditation parlor.

It should be fun.

One argument I sometimes hear is that a starter only goes once every 5 outings. But a good solid starter affects at least three games. How so?

Say you have a star. A Santana, a Pedro when he was in his prime, Seaver in his prime, Koufax etc. You know what I mean. Not many out there, but bear with me.

You can afford to use your bullpen more the day before he pitches---believing that your star will give you innings. Why? Because he usually does. You can count on him to go say, seven innings or so 3/4 of the time.

On the day he does pitch, it is like a day off for most of the bullpen.

After he pitches, some guys in the bullpen are now pretty fresh. They may not have been used in not only one, but perhaps two games.

Which is why hopefully Igawa can give the innings Wright did not. We remember the times last year where Torre jiggled the rotation so early on in the season Wright and Chacon would not be back to back or late in the season Wright and Lidle would not be back to back because those occurences would kill the bullpen.

Who knows how many innings RJ will give. We won't even talk about Pavano because we have to see him on a mound first. Hopefully Igawa can give innings as well as wins.

Interesting. Rangers traded Mench in the middle of last year (and he had that great HR streak early, remember) and have lost Lee, who they acquired. Goodbye to Matthews, DeRosa and possibly Barajas. Padilla could be gone. Eaton is gone.

You have to wonder about that team but I don't think the Showalter "charm" (year after he leaves, team wins WS) will hold out in 2007.

Igawa has pitched 200+ innings in 4 of his last 5 seasons. So I think he would help the pen more than Wright

Exactly, Jorge. We don't know how it will translate here, that's the thing. Hopefully it does.

Out for now. Good luck with that game tonight, Jorge.

Thanks, Mike. I'll inform you tomorrow

Yes, enjoy your game tonight, Jorge. Is it curling? Shuffleboard?

It's soccer, Paul. The second best sport. Just a bit behind baseball

Soccer scares me.

Well, not really the soccer game, but the stadium riots which follow.

People are crazy about soccer here...and they all make fun of me for calling it soccer...they insist that its "football".

Alex: In the whole world it is called football. Here in this site I call it "soccer", so I can make myself clear for all of you. But the real name is "football". It is the REAL "football". Not the sport which is called that way by people from the United States. England, Italy, France, Germany, México, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Spain, etc. call it "football". So, that is the correct name.

Do you follow the England and Spain leagues Jorge?

Yes, Alex. I like both leagues.

We can watch those games by ESPN and Fox Sports over here. We also watch some games from Germany and from Holland, because there are some mexican players in those leagues

Australia has football which is Australian rules football. Not soccer.

Who are your teams in England and Spain?

I doubt it Paul. Maybe you're referring to Rugby.
Soccer does not exist outside United States. It is football

In England I like both Manchester United and Liverpool. My son disagree with me. He likes Chelsea.

In Spain I like Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. My son likes Real Madrid and really hates Barcelona, although Rafael Márquez and Giovanny dos Santos (both mexicans) play for Barcelona

Haha I see Jorge...One of my friends roots for Chelsea and Real Madrid. I know Kaká is Brazilian but does he play in one of those leagues? I'd have to say he's my favorite player even though I no nothing about him...just his name. haha.

Kaká is one of the finest players in the whole world. He is playing in Italy. His team is Milán. There are rumors next year he will be playing for Real Madrid. But, in this case, we can use again the phrase "only time will tell"

Who's better though...Kaká or Ronaldinho?

To me, Ronaldinho. Kaká is still young. He will reach Ronaldinho's level. Not yet.

http://afl.com.au/

Official Website of the Australian Football League.

also known as footy

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/
Official Website of Australian Football Federation, which is affiliated to FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)

LOL, haha.

*sticks her nose into the discussion of Australia*

Okay, both of you are right, overall. Soccer is called soccer by mostly anglo-Australians. However Australia has a very large immigration population from Europe and South America. My uncle is from Peru and he calls it football and is passionate about it. Australian Rules football is known as footy, it is now a national sport, but originally came out of the state of Victoria (where Melbourne is). Rugby League is another version of football is played nationally but came out of New South Wales (where I'm from in Sydney). Rugby is a worldwide sport and is known as either footy or rugby.

End of lesson, lol.

Vince, saying that players in general want to leave Boston and want to stay with the Yankees is ludicrous, and makes you sound like you don't follow baseball.

Of course there are going to be certain players who want to leave a certain team - whether that team is the Red Sox, the Yankees, the Dodgers, etc. And, of course, there will be players who want to remain with a certain team or sign with a certain team.

Out of the players you mentioned, Damon was beloved in Boston and enjoyed playing for Boston. He left because he felt he didn't get fair market value. Manny is an oddball, buthe has not consistently said he doesn't want to be in Boston. He is up and down. Even if he was in NY or LA, he would have similar behaviors and comments. He was the same way when he was in Cleveland. Nomar wore out his welcome in Boston, pouting like a crybaby. It was good for the Sox when he was traded. You act like the Yankees rarely have players who want to leavue.

Over the years, there have been plenty of headcases on the Yankees who have had their share of outbursts - the latest being Sheffield. NY is a great place to play, and so is Boston. That is why both teams have no problems signing free agents. You made your list of Yankees players who want to stay. Well, there is a similar list over the last few years with guys like Millar, Mueller, Arroyo, Loretta, Doug Mirabelli, Alex Gonzalez, Alan Embree among others who loved playing in Boston but were traded or not resigned. Alex Cora could have gone to a team where he had a chance to start, but he chose to remain in a utility role in Boston because he liked playing there. Why wouldn't you. Each year you're in contention for a title, the stands are always filled with fans - at home and on the road, the stadium is a museum in itself and the owner is willing to pay well.

As much as I dislike the Yankees, I admit they are an attractive team for free agents and players on other teams, just as the Red Sox are. If you can't see that as a Yankees fan, then you just don't understand the current state of baseball. And, Jorge, saying that the Red Sox franchise lacks class, and the Yankees have it, demonstrates a lack of knowledge on your part. It's alright to not like the Red Sox if you are a Yankees fan. That is a pre-requisite in this rivalry. But not respecting your rival is a mistake as well.

Oh its Mr Nearly-A-Pine-Tree.

lol. Hi, Angel. I still haven't had the pleasure of your presence on my blog, www.bosoxbanter.mlblogs.com. A small cadre of Yankees fans vist semi-regularly, along with Sox fans, of course.

Oh, I forgot to put Trot Nixon on the list above of Sox players who want to stay but for one reason or the other, the Sox don't resign them or trade them. Mike Lowell is the perfect example of a player who loves playing in the Boston atmosphere, especially after playing before empty seats in Florida. Most players love playing for the Sox and the Yankees because of the history, the success and the fan support. So, the bottom line is, Vince's comment is off-base.

Baseball is a business. It sometimes involves hard decisions letting go players that like to play for your team, and our fan favorites. The Sox are especially facing that with Nixon as the Yankees are with Bernie Williams.

I may surprise you and stick my head over one day. I dont generally visit sox blogs, but I might just make an exception for yours. :-)

Jeff that is the exact point. Shef was outspoken when he sensed we were trading him. His reaction was because he wanted to stay in ny, not because he demanded to leave. I didn't say all sox players want to leave and I didn't say all Yankees players want to stay, but lately what you find in the media is boston seems to push players away more often than not. Nomar wore out his welcome because he wanted to leave boston for the west coast, Damon was offered an embarressingly low contract and then decided to leave (boston forced him out and this offseason is the proof of that). Can you name players on the Yankees in recent years that have demanded to be traded?

Yeah, you also forgot arroyo, remember him? Took a pay cut to stay because he loved boston so much and then was traded afterwards. It is like they demand to leave or boston treats them like **** and the Yankees are the "evil empire". I never once said everyone wants out of boston.

The yankees brought bernie back once already and at this point he is a 5th outfielder, the sox cut nixon loose and now are not positive who will even replace him. Many are unhappy about Pena. All you are doing is proving my point, the sox have a dispasstionate front office that contradicts themselves when sometimes they have no money and other times they have unlimited payroll. The only player they h ave truly treated with respect in recent memory is Wakefield. Millar, mueller, embree and all the other "idiots" who wanted to stay, yes were promptly traded. There is no loyalty and yes baseball is a business, nobody makes that point more than a Yankee fan when sox fans are crying because they do things like fix problems at the trade deadline with guys like abreu, but there is difference between a business and a front office that mocks one team's method of doing it and then does the same thing ten fold.

Anybody else realizing that it seems numerous players who play for boston want out as soon as possible (nomar, manny, damon) and everybody seems to want to stay with the yankees (dotel, cairo, villone, mussina). Just a thought.

Posted by: yankeevmm@yahoo.com | November 30, 2006 06:33 PM

That was the comment. Name me one false fact in there. Did those players not say they wanted out? has boston not had this controversy every offseason? Have you named a Yankee or Yankees that demanded to be traded? pavano could almost work except currently he is busting his bruised rump in arizona so he can stay. How do you make a statement like my comment makes me seem like I don't follow baseball when you effectively did nothing to prove anything I said wrong?

I was surprised when Theo signed Arroyo and then traded him. I do think that Theo recognizes that he made a mistake - not with acquiring Pena (who will be a great player), but because Arroyo signed at a discount rate and then was traded.

The Yankees, the Sox and every team treats players the same way. It is a business. Take Nixon, for example. I think the guy is great. He epitomizes what Red Sox baseball is all about with his work ethic and love for the game. Yet his numbers are in decline, and it is time to bring someone else in. You can't let your heart overrule your sense as a general manager. The same goes with Millar, Mueller, Embree and Damon. It was time to let them go.

Jeff

http://www.bosoxbanter.mlblogs.com

(I'm trying to see if I can make this an active link, thus the reason I'm listing it!)

If you need the difference in a nutshell look at arroyo and mussina. Both starters, both offered to accept less money to stay with their teams. Mussina is resigned and Arroyo is traded for a 4th outfielder. I wouldn't be surpised if Beckett has an off year and desires to be traded after next season.

You were wrong in the first sentence. Even if the guys you mentioned wanted out - which they didn't (except Nomar) - it wasn't as soon as possible. Nomar was with the Sox for several years, Damon enjoyed all three seasons in Boston and Manny is Manny (he was that way in Cleveland and he will be that way wherever he plays; he is a unique case). You also said everyone seems to want to stay with the Yankees, which is an overstatement. Some do, and some don't. The same applies with the Sox.

lol Damon was past his prime and ready to go? the guy hit 24 hrs and stole over 20 bases this year. Bernie's numbers were in decline and the yankees kept him and he contributed, I'm not seeing how we are straying on what the clear point of recent history is showing right now.

I'm asking for one Yankee player who has publically stated he wanted out of NY? We crucify A rod and he still wants to stay. All three of those players publically stated before they were traded that they wanted out. For damon it happened after his contract was already up but he still left on bad terms with their front office.

Mussina wants to win, so does Beckett. It's not a surprise that Mussina resigned with the Yankees. And it would be a surprise if Beckett wanted to leave. I think that he will have an exceptional 2007 season, as will Papelbon.

I think beckett will improve, to the beat of a near 4 era, over under .15. Anybody see the strahan interview, he flipped out.

Yes, it was time the Sox let Damon go. He wasn't worth the length and amount of the contract he was asking for. And, as far as naming players, I don't have the time to do the research, but it is common for certain players on every team to be unhappy and want a change of scenery. Manny is the only Sox player who was vocal about it, and he is wishy washy. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Sox reaca trade agreement and Manny declines with his 10-5 rights. Sheffield is the only player I can think of with the Yankees. Nomar didn't publicly ask to leave the Sox. As a Sox fan, I just wanted him gone because I was tired of his body language, and the fact that he wasn't giving his full effort.

I did see the Strahan interview. As a Steelers fan, I was glad to see them not resign Burress. He is a headcase, and he did quit on that ball, and then missed the tackle. I understand why his teammates would be upset. The Giants are just a frustrated team right now. The Steelers simply are not that good this season.

So then you are an advocate of manny being traded?

Sheffield again, did not demand to leave the yankees, he threatened that the yankees better not trade him. The guy learned first base to stay, and whined until the day he was traded, not because he wanted out but because he wanted to stay.

The steelers are very upsetting to me, I hate seeing a defending champ crash and burn the following year. The Giants were supposed to become more mature and organized with Coughlin, it seems like they are worse off now, I hate Coughlin. Everyone is bashing everybody and Burress has quit on a ball on two games in a row. That tackle and then letting go of young is the most disgusting display of a lack of effort I have ever seen, I don't buy that he thought he heard a whistle. That was the difference in the season right there, that one play. I am a diehard giants fan that truly believes they amount to nothing this year and that would be extremely underachieving. What a disappointment, I hope we get Hart in the draft so we have a prayer next year.

I don't know about Manny. As I posted on the redsox.com blog and my blog, a 3-4-5 combo of Ortiz, Manny and Drew would be very productive, especially if we have Lugo and Crisp atop the order and Youkilis, Lowell and Varitek at the bottom of the order with Pedroia. Yet, if the Sox can land some young players with a high ceiling, and deal a few of them for Andruw Jones in center and put Wily Mo Pena (who has 30-100-.300 potential), that would be a deep lineup as well. I think the Sox will be fine either way.

I meant put Wily Mo in left in Manny is traded.

The Steelers lack a solid offensive line, depth at running back and a dependable secondary this season. I'm sure they will rectify it in the draft, where they replenish their players well.

I am surprised that the Giants have fallen into a slump. The NFC is wide open. New England is looking good again in the AFC, though I think it is the year of the Colts.

I also agree about the colts, they lost at the right time this season to be comfortable headed into the playoffs. I think the ravens and broncos can also overtake them though the broncos are fading. I would prefer colts giants, but it will more than likely be a raider bucs esque superbowl with the offense of the colts vs the defense of the bears.

I just thought if you were against players who quit and don't give it their all you would be against keeping manny.

Well I am hoping for a Cowboy win on Sunday. All this Giant **** all week is making me sick. There is no turmoil in Giant land, it is all staged. If I would put money on it, I would take the Giants on Sunday. Dallas has stunk against them last few years. I can't stand Coughlin either. Good thing, even if Dallas loses on Sunday, three out of last four games are at home and should win three. When the Giants win, we'll have to listen to that for a week.....UGH.....

I'm fine either way with Manny. He is worth the headaches because he is the best or second-best all-around hitter in the game. And if the Sox deal him, they will have more top young players, some of which they can package for Andruw Jones, a deal that Ian seems to think will happen. Either way, the Sox will have a deep lineup in 2007.

Totally disagree on your comments about the Giants..I dont believe Kiwanuka just simply quit on the play or had a lack of effort, I take him at his word that he thought Young was in his throwing motion and got rid of the ball and didnt want to pick up a roughing the passer penalty on 4th down. The NFL has protected these QB's so much that it takes away aggresiveness from the Defense..Also I would not want them to draft Hart.Id be looking for upgrades in the secondary

Well, the Minnesota High School Hockey season kicked off tonight, and my high school scored its annual 9-0 win over Duluth Central. Always fun; it's like a Yankees-Royals game.

If Manny leaves Boston I expect to be happy to see him go. Someone I will be glad to be rid of.

Thank you, Andy, for those kind words yesterday.

Shawn do you think jacobs is the running back of the future? I question if he is an everydown back or not. Hart reminds me exactly of tiki barber's style of play.

I agree qbs are protected too much along with kickers, but there was just no way you could be confused on that play. His arms were completely wrapped around young and he never even lifted his arms, he was dead meat. Proof that that is a ******** statement is that when kiwanuka thought the play was over he was in the process of beginning to celebrate until his teammate noticed young was not down and then kiwanuka started going after young again, You do not celebrate when the qb throws the ball and u wrap ur arms around him for a split second, you celebrate when you think you have a sack on 4th down.

When he let go he turned to see if Young had thrown the ball. Regardless of what you think or I think happens, he is the only one who knows for sure, he is a young rookie who had been hit with penalties before..roughing the passer..I think he is smart enough to know he didnt want a roughing the passer in that situation, Im not going to question his effort on that play. Ive watched Hart for 3 of his 4 yrs in High School at Onondaga Central in Syracuse and a huge question about him coming out of hs was whether or not he was an every down back. Id at least like to give Jacobs a try, im more concerned with the secondary than the running game

I think jacobs is fantastic in his responsibilities now, I don't mind giving him a shot, but I think the thunder and lightning philosophy when utilized correctly has worked for the giants. I did not know that was an issue about hart, thank you for informing me. Granted, the giants would not have been in the situation where that play mattered if burress wasn't an idiot and the offense didn't take a nap

Agree totally on Plaxico..im sick of him, Moss etc..quitting on plays. The coach has got to go, I was all for them giving the job to Lovie Smith when he interviewed..I enjoyed the turnaround he did to the Defense in St Louis. Coughlin is supposed to be a tough guy, a disciplinarian..but he has that team so far from being disciplined and the chemistry is just not even there

Wade Boggs' advice to A-Rod:

"A-Rod just needs to go back to having fun and playing the game and not worrying about what everybody's saying and not being politically correct. He's gotta go back to playing the way he played when he was back in Seattle, when he was a kid."

I think Boggs was saying the same thing Yogi said long ago:

"How can you think and hit at the same time?"

I have advice for him also:

Go west, young man, go west.

My advice for A-Rod: Hit homeruns in the clutch.

Guys, just wondering if anyone heard anything further about that possible trade concerning - do i dare say it - our lil Melk Man... I certainly hope NOT!

Nope. Some things I'm reading from George King lately don't make sense. He wrote about the Melkman...and then about Pettitte/Clemens....

it's as if he ran out of things to write and needed to fill space.

As I wrote...Report the news, don't create it. It seems like King is trying to create it.

I can guarantee that Melky Cabrera will be a Yankee next season.

See Pete's blog for 2007 prices and schedule.

NEW THREAD>>>>>

I guess the Yankees believe Roger "fathead" Clemens is the answer to everything New York. They give up Johnson, (not that he's great anymore) which weakens an already weak rotation in hopes that the great one will honor us all with his presence in late May.
Sounds like good old day syndrome is sweeping across New York these days. Good luck with bad arm Pettite and bloated Roger. Have fun losing in the first round again.