See ya, Sheff

I think this was a great move by Cashman. I saw Sanchez pitch last year in Erie and he was pretty nasty. I'm pretty excited about the future of the Yankee rotation. The future looks bright.

J

http://boogiedownbaseball.mlblogs.com/

Bye Sheff. You were great in 2004 on and off the feild until that Sports Illustrated article came out on the eve of the ALCS, ever since then he annoyed me. I think the trade will be a win-win for both teams. I like the young pitchers on paper and feel one, maybe two will pan out or one or two will be dealt for someone on major league ready. But the most exciting thing is for once the Yankees were trading the veteran for the kids and that they didn't have to eat any money. When was the last time the Yankees made a trade giving up more cash than they took on? Seriously? As for the Matsuzaka to the Red Sox rumbling, I would put much more creadence in it if other new organizations starting running with other than ESPN. And ESPN doesn't even have it as a headline, it's just a hyperlink on the side. So until it gets more legs I am also going to wait before "freaking out" or popping the champagne. Also, if the posting fee is 35-40 million,that's a lot of money for any team other than the Yankees to brush off if he doesn't pan out or gets hurt. If the Sox win the bid with that much dough and then pays him another 40-50 mil on top of that god bless them, but they are a team with payroll limit, unlike the Yankees and that could tie them up.

Scranton's gonna have a beastly rotation next year with Hughes, Sanchez and Clippard as the first 3.

Yes, Scranton does look awesome.

Hughes/Clippard/Sanchez, then throw in possibly Karstens or Rasner with White, put Cox and maybe Pope in the bullpen, and this could be some team to watch.

Attitudes are part of great athletes competitiveness. Gary is a monster at the plate, there is no denying that. He wanted to stay with the Yankee's obviously. I much rather would have seen Giambi go the Sheff, but Oh-well, let's see who put's up better numbers next year.

I seriously hope randy johnson does not come back, as of right now I know he plans to.. but c'mon already.

Hate to say it, with Sheff gone are line-up is not the same, it was obvious last season. Maybe you missed that by paying attention to what great job the replacements were doing.

I am no overly excited for next year yet.. we are still the same team, same pitchers but now minus Sheffield.

hopefully more changes will come this winter!! If not, I am not expecting anything more than last years performance.

Wow, I go away from here for a day and need an hour to catch up.

I'm so happy Sheffield was finally traded and we got 3 legit prospects. The front line of pitching in Scranton will be fun to watch next year. As for the loss of Sheff's bat...I believe the Yanks actually averaged more runs per game last year when he wasn't in the lineup. More Melky makes me very happy as well.

I hate ESPN and its rumors. I will laugh if this is a total lie on their part. Losers.

Why not try reporting news when it actually happens? It's too bad ESPN is a sports network and not held up to the standards of other news networks, in which case it would make FOX News look like the most reliable thing ever.

Getting rid of Sheff was a good thing. He's 38, would be more of a distraction (the Yanks would not have given him the two year extension he got from Detroit) and is coming off a major injury. There was no place for him to play, unless you wanted to put him at 1b again. If you wanted to put him at DH, then Giambi plays 1b, and the Yanks are committed to moving Giambi to full-time DH.

Sheff is the only guy they had who they could trade and get value for him. Go back to the previous thread and look at the players with no trade clauses. The only other players with value who you could trade because of the lack of a no trade clause in their contracts are players like Wang, Posada or Cano and you are NOT getting rid of any of them. Sheff was it.

As for the lineup, they do need to get a righty bat to compliment Alex. It doesn't have to be a great slugger. Cashman has discussed his desire to get a righty hitting 1b (no confidence in Phillips?? Wilson is gone). Millar and Hildebrand are on the market and perhaps the Yanks look into them. Whatever, they'd be hitting 8th or 9th. They need players who will use the whole field and provide a little flexibility, which Sheff wasn't going to do. More guys who will hit and run, better defense, and get younger (FYI--Hildebrand was born the same day as A-Rod)

...and of course get pitching. Younger pitching. Pitchers with a little mustard on the ball...which they have done in the deal.

Ken Rosenthal reports on Fox Sports that a 3-team trade was in the works that would have brought Scott Linebrink and prospects to the Yanks but Cashman would not do it.

Thus he must think the trade with Detroit was better. There seem to be some health issues with Sanchez as he has been injured a lot but Brian must think he is more valuable than Linebrink.

Here is the article.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6155678

Hmm, maybe Cash comes back to the Linebrink deal....only with different pieces. GMs meet this week, and maybe something else gets done this week.

I'm not sure Hillenbrand would be a good fit he seems to be a clubhouse cancer and the Yanks don't need someone like that. If the Yankees lose out on Matsuzaka then I think they might need to field offers for A-Rod because they really need a number 2 starter to go behind Wang. Zito could probably fit that role but you're looking at around $15 million a year for him for about 5-6 years...I'm not sure thats a very good deal.

Another Japanese pitcher, Kei Igawa, might be put up for auction. He's a 27 year old lefty and I read that he's got a good fastball and changeup, the downside is he's got a slight build and he's already logged quite a few innings.

I posted some links to Igawa on the prior blog. His numbers are not comparable to Matsuzaka at all. Yet he seems a decent pitcher and should be much cheaper.

The Yanks need a LHP I think. So he could be a sleeper.

What were his numbers last year?

Hillenbrand scares me and his defense is not really so good. I would rather have Andy P there every day.

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=igawa

He's 6'0" and 190lbs, so he's a bit bigger than Pedro...His numbers are very good, not like Matsuzaka's but still very good...He could be a great #4 starter.

The question is, translated into the AL East would he be better/cheaper than Ted Lilly?

Lilly has pitched in the AL East and does well against the Red Sox.

With Igawa there would be a posting fee also.

Or maybe get both and trade Wright for prospects or a reliever?

Frankly I do not expect Randy Johnson to have a positive impact on the Yankees hereafter. Coming back from baclk surgery once again he is a risk. Last time he had surgery it was done in September, 10 years ago and he was not back until April. Now, 10 years older and performed a month later in the year I would not expect him back at the earliest until mid-May.

No way Johnson will get 20 wins in the AL next season. Maybe he could on the Mets.

Randy could be a repectable #5 starter I think...If not, maybe relief? I know that's a big argument though.

The 20 win reference for RJ is from a continuing thread in here as to RJ's drive to reach 300 career wins. he needs 20 more. I contend it will not happen in the AL, especially the AL East.

Mark chastised me several times for suggesting Randy becomes a reliever for $16 million. Howver, I think that role would suit him well but not help a bit in his drive to win 20 more.

The WasWatching blog has a reference to the Ken Rosenthal article wherein the Yankees and Red Sox duke it out in the off season.

http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2006/11/sox_gamesmanshi.html

Steve, the WasWatching author, reminds how the Red Sox have long used dirty tricks to thwart the Yankee efforts such as when they rented out all the rooms in the hotel when the two teams were competing to sign Jose Contreras.

This piggybacks on my comments of last night of the Red Sox obsession to beat the Yankees. Not necessarily to be a better team, just so they could beat the Yankees.

Seriously. Redsox seem to do things for instant gratification. If they infact bid really high for Matsuzaka just to block from yankees,
1) They lost a shot at signing Matsuzaka next year

2) Boras will make sure every tie breaker for his clients will go against the redsox

3) The sox will lose credibility in Japan, which will hurt their future business in Japan AND even their popularity that they are trying to capture so desperately

4) They saved yankees atleast $30M on Matsuzaka (in exchange for delaying Matsuzaka's services by a year). What this also did is reduce the risk of the signing itself by A LOT. If he doesn't pan out in NY you can trade him and salvage atleast some or most of what we spent. The posting fee is unrecoverable.

So I really wish they Sox bid $45M on Matsuzaka making him really expensive OR making the Sox villians in Japan and in the minds of Boras and Matsuzaka.

AP needs to hit. Now. At 30, there is no more waiting. If he starts the year as the 1b, he better produce from the get-go. That's just the way it is. He has to be more patient (bb/k ratio not good) and get that average to .260+, not .240.

Craig Wilson is a F.A. and the Yanks will let him go.

Cashman's recent comments seem to indicate that the Yanks might be in the market for a 1b, esp. a righty hitter. Just looking at the market gave the names of Millar (not sold on that. His power went down the last 2 years, and that was at Fenway and Camden Yards!) and Hillebrand. Hillebrand's character does need to be called into question.

Checking the list, Phil Nevin is a F.A., but I'm not sold on him. Frank Thomas is strictly a dh at this point of his career. I doubt very highly that Nomar would come to NY.

Others that I see are lefty hitters.

The solution to prevent bidding high to block other teams is to give the japanese club a chance to accept the next highest bid. It may be good idea to fine a certain percentage of the bid (subject to cap) if a team fails to sign the player.

Hillenbrand seemed to have the support of his team mates in Toronto. Which tells me he's not a clubhouse cancer. Gibbons was the wrong guy there. Further supported by Lilly's punch.

John Henry gave the Yankees the "Evil Empire" name after the Yanks signed Contreras for $32 million over 4 years. If the Red Sox really did bid $40 million on Matsuzaka and then sign him for another $30-40 million, they're paying $70-80 million for the whole deal. Now I'm not very good at math but $70-80 million seems like a lot more money than $32 million. Wouldn't that make the Red Sox the "Evil Empire"? Does this make sense to anyone else?

Yeah alex, but the redsox don't do this with EVERYBODY. I mean come on, their 2004 team had one homegrown on it, they clearly have no history of paying for players, and they don't have a high payroll so you can't call even call them a big market club either....I mean their payroll is only nine times higher than the marlins, which simply is not enough

...and in other news, Bubba Crosby signed with the Reds...$400,000 if with Reds, $75,000 if in minors.

It almost makes you want to give them a donation Vince...

Good luck to Bubba, I hope he gets a starting job over there. I always thought he was treated unfairly with the Yankees.

I know alex, I feel bad, I mean henry is so strapped for cash, I heard his nascar team hasn't had money in years.

Umm....I don't see him beating out Ken Griffey, Jr.

There's been talk of the Reds trading Dunn though so a spot might open up for him.

The Red Sox are the More Evil Empire.

Ask all the players who left there after getting screwed, tattoed, and shampooed by an organization that favors loyalty no more than an assassin is dissuaded by a victim's whimpering.

Look what Bronson Arroyo's loyalty brought him.

I also think Bubba never got a fair chance and I think he will be a terrific player. I think I read Griffey is injured and will miss the next 16 months.

A fact few people know about John Henry calling the Yankees the Evil Empire, is that at that time he was a part owner of the Yankees.

While he was Marlins owner and even after he unloaded the Marlins in a sweet deal for both him and Loria orchestrated by Selig, he was still permitted to retain a minority ownership position of the Yankee.

He was supposed to sell that interest when he was the principal owner of another team but baseball turned its head during the time of Marlins ownership, but said they really meant it this time after he bought the Red Sox.

No word on whether he divested that Yankee ownership interest.

I don't know if Nomar would come to the Yankees, but it's a bit intriguing. He's turned into an excellent 1st baseman, he's still got a good bat, and he's the type of hitter everyone is clamoring for - smart, uses all fields, doesn't strike out, has power but isn't a "slugger". It would also be interesting to have the "big 3" shortstops of the late '90's all on one team.

I would guess that Nomar is an 80% probability to be a Yankee next year.

I recall when the Yanks got ARod Jeter said that now we have to get Nomar.

Some of you have met Ellen of the Red Sox blog as she has visited here, always pleasant. She is a diehard Red Sox fan, as many of us are diehard Yankee fans, but she seems to be a good person and has a kind word for everyone.

She posted on Jeff's Red Sox blog that she discovered that kaylee fake kid is also posting as a loyal fan of many teams.

A quote from Ellen:

But did we know that (?)she is a diehard, ... a)Mets b)Cardinals c)Pirates d) Astros e)Tigers f)bluejays g)diamondback etc etc etc 's fan??? Just google or ask.com her email address. What a fraud! Such deception hasn't been perptrated on Ian's or Jeff's blog since Danielfagan said he'd be nice.

and more:

But I think that this person who all of a sudden has gotten all this sports knowledge, that she didn't have 2months ago, but now can't remember how old ?she is or what grade ?she's in?? Something's is very fishy here. If you google her name she has 9730 entries. (kayleexxx@aol.com)

As Ellen said so well:

***BUSTED***

I also think Bubba never got a fair chance and I think he will be a terrific player.

Posted by: paul1040@aol.com | November 11, 2006 01:30 PM

Bubba is a terrific player! His skills at the plate as the Yankee DH are legendary! Too bad I'm talking about my MLK2006 franchise....

Back to reality: I think Bubba really got screwed over that collision in the playoffs against the Angels. As the CF, IMHO, he had every right to wave Sheffield off. I think Sheffield's thought was, "I'm the Shef, you're some no-name role player, get out of my way." Bubba, after the fact, got the majority of the blame for the collision. Not fair, especially since he had the better play on the ball. So, yeah, maybe he wasn't treated too fairly. But, fact is, at the time they had to make a decision to let somebody go this last season, he was the one who wasn't hitting well.

I wanted Nomar last year...I thought he could be versatile.

I think he would be a perfect fit at 1b for the Yanks, but I think he will go back to the Dodgers, being that Dodger Stadium isn't far from his home with Mia in Manhattan Beach.

When a sis outside of LA got married in 2003, Manhattan Beach is where I and other family members stayed in a Residence Inn...3 miles S of LA International Airport.

Agreed, Rob, his hitting this year was not up to any reasonable standards. But he hit well at the end of 2005 when he played every day.

I see a lot of talent there and I think he could be an Aaron Rowland type of everyday player. I think he would be a decent spray hitter and a terror on the bases.

Paul, the baserunning thing was the biggest reason I was disappointed they let Bubba go. Once he was gone, they really didn't have anybody to bring in that was a good pinch-runner.

In hindsight, I wouldn't be surprised if Cash is second guessing himself on that one.

Cairo was a good pinch runner as well as a good defensive player.

Good point. I completely forgot about Cairo there. Shame on me.

Okay, they didn't have a good pinch runner that could also play the outfield....oh wait, Cairo could play outfield also....uh, nevermind.

LOL, Rob.

Try this: they did not have another good pinch runner named Bubba.

Hmm, Righty bat at 1b...Nomar only made 4 errors last year, made $6 mil (he'll get more for 2007 for sure)... .303-20-93, will turn 34 ... just keep the guy healthy...

and

not to mention the pure pleasure of absolutely ticking off Red Sox Nation...

I'm liking this idea ....

not to mention the pure pleasure of absolutely ticking off Red Sox Nation...

I'm liking this idea ....

Posted by: yankeefan1@enter.net | November 11, 2006 02:59 PM

Ditto. lol

Just got a phone call. Ty and Joe will have me in tomorrow night as a studio guest.

LOL, Mike. I wrote to them after the last show that they needed you on the show every week.

BTW just in case any of you are out of the loop:

btw, just in case any of you need cold hard facts:

we really did IT:)When we won I screamed so loud i think i woke up my baby brother:/

-kaylee

Posted by: kayleexxx@aol.com | October 28, 2006 09:57 AM

...On a cardinals blog

umair um the yankees s*ck GO METS!

Posted by: kayleexxx@aol.com | September 30, 2006 11:35 PM

On a Bluejays site.

I am a huge diamondbacks fan

and it great to have you on board.I think they should focus on getting another quality starter in free agency.As for what i like to hear on telecasts i like to hear the announcers stay on topic with baseball some drift off not mentioning names but.........looking forward to listening to your telecasts during the season and reading your blog this offseason.

-kaylee

-kaylee

Posted by: kayleexxx@aol.com | November 6, 2006 05:54 PM

On a Diamondbacks site.

i have a new cards blog at

http://wwwthestlouiscardinals06worldchamps.blogspot.com

-kaylee

Posted by: kayleexxx@aol.com | November 4, 2006 10:12 AM

On a different Cardinals site

Interestingly enough that last post was a week ago, long after she repledged allegience to the redsox again.

Posted by: yankeevmm@yahoo.com | November 11, 2006 03:34 PM

And to think I once tried to defend her....

That Grrrrs me to no end.

She has also been 13, 14, and 15 in the last 6 months.

Posting on the Internet ages one strangely.

When asked what grade she was in at a time she was 14 she said 11th grade, as opposed to 8th or 9th.

Pure and simple, she is a fake. Why? No idea.

I keep reading all of these comments from Yankees fans about the Red Sox being the Evil Empire, etc. Yet, yesterday, many of the same people said that Red Sox fans are overly concerned about the Yankees, but Yankees fans don't care what the Red Sox do. Seems hypocritical to me. I am a lifelong BoSox fan, and baseball fan. I recognize the Yankees place in history, and that the BoSox-Yankees rivalry is the greatest in all of sports. And, as a Sox fan, I admit that I pay attention to and care about what the Yankees do. It's normal. As a fan, you should care about what your rivals are doing, and how your team will match up.

Red Sox and Yankees fans will just have to always agree to disagree, because our opinions are so strong. However, I ahd to bring up the point in the first paragraph. Don't tell me you are not interested in what the Sox are doing. You do. Just as we care about what moves the Yankees make.

Regarding Kaylee, I read on one of her blogs where she is autistic. I think we should curtail the comments. Autism is a condition, and I am not comfortable lambasting someone with a condition or a disease.

Now MLB has a news story saying the Angels are major players for Matsuzaka....

Maybe everyone should just hush up until the official announcement? From Yanks to Texas to Boston to Angels... the more you hear a new team the more credibility gets lost.

Thing is, until the official announcement, we have no clue...it's all speculation.

JoePa can rest easy today. For one thing, Temple is lousy, and PSU is already up 21-0 nine minutes into the game.

By the way, Paul, glad you posted on my blog. As the subject heading says, Yankees fans are welcome as well as BoSox fans to www.bosoxbanter.mlblogs.com. There are many good blogs to post on throughout Yankees and Red Sox Nation. I keep things clean on my blog just as Mark does here. The thing's comments are deleted as soon as they are discovered, and even debates between Sox and Yankees fans are civilized, so feel free to visit and post.

Jeff the comments about the Uber Evil Empire/Red Sox is truly about the hypocrisy of the Red Sox.

Oh woe is us, we have no money. We cannot afford players. We may have to have open tryouts.

Once again Red Sox fans are excited about Matsuzaka. Why? Maybe because he is a good pitcher, but more importantly so the Yankees don't get him.

I listened to Red Sox radio for hours yesterday and that was the pervasive attitude.

The Yanks want Matsuzaka because he seems to be a really good pitcher and NOT to keep him away from the Red Sox.

Do I need to explain this with more examples?

Jeff, the evil empire has nothing to do with the redsox team or players, it has to do with a media dubbing and a quote from a hypocritical owner....Comparing that to something like the sox blocking matsuzaka from coming to the Yankees or renting out every hotel room during contreras debates is hardly comparable

As for autism, it is a condition not to be mocked. It is also not a valid shield nor excuse for lying.

Her claim of the condition has as much validity as her status as a Yankee fan.

We'll agree to disagree about your comments regarding the Red Sox. As for Kaylee, perhaps she is lying about autism. Not sure why she would, but you never know. Still, I'm not going to post anything else about her. Though she definitely has commitment issues about what team she likes, she is harmless - especially compared to Fagan.

It is kind of a catch 22 in the makeups of the franchise. Sox fans attack the Yankees for spending money then their franchise spends money to block the Yankees from spending money (obviously they also spend money for players just like the Yankees do) so Yankee fans attack their hypocracy.

I don't know the conditions of autism so I don't know if lying and deception are characteristics or not.

Fox is reporting that Acta will get the Nats job.

Wonder if Pena stays with Yanks now?

Thanks, Mike, on the Angel rumor.

These rumors are irresponsible. But in the 24/7 media frenzy we have today clamoring for news all the time, unfounded rumors become news.

Even Ken Rosenthal wrote that ESPN reported that the Red Sox won the bid. Based on unnamed sources and rumor, if it is not true then ESPN will hopefully look even less credible than before.

First it was Arizona who allegedly won, then the Texas Rangers, then the Red Sox, then the Angels.

I still don't think we will know until Sunday night at the earliest and more likely at the deadline for Seibu. They are getting tremendous free public relations in the world press frenzy.

I hope Pena stays. He was such an asset to the Yankees and specifically to Jorge.

The only manager job still open is the A's.

By the way, Paul, your argument about Matsuzaka is not valid. The Yankees signed Sheffield for the sole purpose of keeping him away from the Sox. This is baseball. This is a business. Whether the Yankees fans want to admit it or not, the Sox are their main rivals - regardless of what happened in 2006. As a Sox fan, I admit that the Yankees are my team's main rivals. So, of course the fact that the Sox don't want Matsuzaka going to the Yankees plays into it. Believe me, Steinbrenner and Cashman do not want Matsuzaka going to the Red Sox. These are the games both teams play with each other. This is the Red Sox and Yankees. It's known as the sport's fiercest rivalry for a reason - especially in modern times when the Sox now have an owner who is willing to open his wallet. So don't try to act like the Yankees don't play the same games. They do.

Further, as much as I admire Don Mattingly, I really think when Joe leaves the Yankees that Tony Pena deserves a long hard look as a possible replacement.

He was very impressive when he took the hapless Royals and made them into a good team. Remember how bad their ownership has been and how well he did there. I think he is likely a very good manager.

Wrong, Jeff.

The Yankees signed Sheff because Steinbrenner wanted him while Cashman wanted Vlad.

Unless you mean more recently.

The Yankees had an option on a player they did not want. They could exercise that option and trade him for something or just let him go and get nothing.

Let's review. The Yankees could have:

1. something, or

2. nothing.

Despite what you may think, the Red Sox did not enter into that decision. Something is usually better than nothing, unless it involves Carl Pavano.

Now, it has been projected that the Yankees did not want Sheff going to the Red Sox.

On the other hand, some thought it would be a comedy adventure watching Sheff play RF in Fenway.

With the ManChild in LF and the stiff in RF the CF in Fenway will need to have a Medivac standing by in the hot summer weather.

No question the Yankee fans follow the Red Sox. I do. But I want the Yankees to field the best team because then it won't matter who the Red Sox coerce to play for them before they trade him away the next year.

"The Yankees signed Sheffield for the sole purpose of keeping him away from the Sox. This is baseball."

All I have to say about that is HAHAH, I guess his over .300 batting avg, and his 30+ homers had nothing to do with the yankee's signing him.It was all about 'sticking it to the redsox'. Wow, your smart.

I see the point Jeff was trying to make. The dynamics of the sport with free agency and the player's powers as opposed to the club in this generation make the aspects of front office competition stronger. That kind of stuff DOES happen in baseball (jose canseco).

Some teams just spend much more energy and resources to pull it off while others pay less attention to it, particularly in the offseason when free agents are stronger in numbers than in the regular season.

It is obvious that the Yankees did not want Sheffield going to the Sox. Even NY media mentioned that. Not that I mind. Who wants a head case like that who is in his late 30s? You can say what you want about the Sox outfield. Personally, I think Manny is adequate in left - not great, but good enough, especially considering he is one of the best all-around hitters in the game. Crisp is excellent in CF, of course there is a chance he will be traded. Who knows who will be in RF. Wily Mo Pena has a very high ceiling at the plate, and he is better defensively in CF than RF, so that is the risk the Sox will hve to take if they play him in RF.

I am straying a bit off the subject, which is - both teams try to keep players away from each other while at the same time making improvements to their own team. Why do you think the Sox and Yankees haven't made a trade with each other in so long? As I said, this is a sport, but it's also a business - a big business. NAd the game playing will only accelerate now that the Sox have an owner who is willing to spend, which you will see Henry do this off-season. At the same time, he will make moves to conserve salary in certain areas - thus the reason Youkilis and Pedroia will be starters, and Lowell may be traded.

I had blood lust almost hoping Sheff would go to the Sox. I wanted to watch him fiddle and diddle (former Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most reference) in the outfield at Fenway.

Manny is actually a decent fielder at Fenway and an adventure elsewhere, if, and let me reemphasize IF, he feels like playing that day.

But I think Manny is the best pure hitter in all of baseball and maybe in baseball history. It is just when he leaves the batter's box and has to interact with humans that he struggles.

I don't know about history but I wouldn't mind admitting he is the greatest hitter of this generation, bonds included, considering bonds uses science labs to help him hit.

I think Youklis is a good player, even if he would get a real salary he is great to have on the team. He is a solid fielder and a good hitter and extremely versatile.

He will make a good Yankee soon.

Actually, if Youkilis goes anywhere other than the Sox, it will be to the Reds. He is a UC graduate and has Cincinnati roots. But I think the Sox will keep him for the long term, at least until Lars Anderson and Chad Spann reach the big league level.

haha I know you were joking Paul, but Youkilis is too ugly to become a Yankee. He looks and acts like a Redsox player, only clean cut, good looking guys like mike stanley and ramiro mendoza can pull off both teams.

Poor Youk. Maybe he should let his hair return.

Loni Anderson?

Oops that was Lars Anderson. Never mind.

You'll wish it was Loni Anderson when Lars Anderson is crushing balls out of Yankees Stadium!

I meant, Yankee Stadium. I'm not Jeff Gordon, saying Wrigley Stadium!

The Red Sox will trade him before he ever makes the majors.

They are high on him, and they want a first baseman of the future. I think he is it. I would be surprised if he was included in a deal.

I am very happy that Sheffield is gone! I was beginning to worry that the Yankees would get stuck with him.

My thoughts on some of the comments:

-I think Bubba was treated poorly, too. But, when he had the opportunity to play more, he unfortunately got hurt. Maybe if he had stayed healthy and played well, he would have had a chance.

-I get the feeling that some Red Sox fans feel more strongly about hating the Yankees than liking the Red Sox. Why is it necessary to start chanting "Yankees ****" anywhere and everywhere? I can take it at a baseball game, but not at a concert. Anyway, I think the point being made is that the Red Sox criticize the Yankees' practices, but do much of the same.

-Re: Kaylee I am not surprised that she is a phony. She appeared on the blog as a Red Sox fan, then suddenly switched allegeances. How often does that happen. She (if she's even a she) was very inconsistent in her knowledge of baseball and academics, even though she was supposedly in honors classes. I don't know a lot about autism, but I doubt that's true. People who are autistic generally have communication issues.

-I wish I could just make stuff up at my job, but I am not a sports reporter. They all did the same thing after the ALDS, proclaiming Torre was out and Piniella was in.

That is an excellent point about the injury to Bubba, pinstripes. Your comment encouraged me to go look at his stats before the injury. His avg wasn't great, but it was @ .263 when he got injured and climbing, considering he hit .286 in the month of May. He came back mid -June and hit .188 for the month. In July, he hit .152.

I wonder if he could have kept his May production up for the season had he not been injured?

I mentioned the media in my last column for our fanclub, pinstripes. It seemed like various media sources were in a power play to try to show how powerful and influential they were by calling for or reporting Torre's dismissal. It was as if they were running the team.

Simple motto: Report the news. Don't create it.

?waz up ma peeps?
ima new poster hea. i luv da yankz n erbody dat has 2 do wit da yankz. i hate da sox but not all da sox fans so don get it twisted. im hea 2 talk baseball n i hope i am welcome. i kno all da s*hit dat happened wit dat idiot FAGan n i kno i might get ignored at first but ima sho im fa real n not FAGan.

*granny61805 stands fo ma man Jete hittin his 1st grandslam on 6-18-05 (im not no granny) i waz dea.

-CULIO

oh n don worry ima talk propa wen da tyme cums. i ain't dat ignorant. i jus wanted 2 make an unusual first impression.

About Youkilis: No keep the hair as it is, From what I saw of the hair, it wasn't much better LOL really loud.. But he sure can do a split off of 1st to scoop a ball.

Anything familiar about granny 61805?

Pilittere looks a lot like Posada.

wat u tryna say ellen?

r we goin 2 go bak 2 accusing ppl of bein other ppl?

You mean his face or the way he plays, Vik? I never saw him, just read about him.

His overall appearance from a side, Paul. There is pic on yankee home page.

*from THE side.
* A pic

Thanks, Vik, I had not gone to the site in awhile. I do not see the similarity yet.

I forgot that he was 25 and only in single A ball. His window of opportunity is declining. Maybe he will play in AAA this year?

I read the Arizona League article and it sounds like he is doing quite well.

Darrell Rasner also looks strong in that league.

im out
keep it real, aiight

one

May be it was just me, Paul.

Well, it's good to see Tony Pena will be back. I thought he did a wonderful job this year, especially with Jorge.

I read in some mlb.com article that the Matsuzaka winner will likely be announced Monday, so we won't have to agonize over this mess tomorrow. For now, just boycott ESPN, like I am (though not having cable TV may have something to do with that).

Yes, of course the Yankees signed Sheffield to keep him away from the Red Sox. They did not want the 30 hrs/100 rbi he gets every year, they just wanted to hurt Boston. duh. (sarcasm intended)

Placing an insanely large posting fee on someone just to block them is dirty. Signing a player to help your team is not.

Hmm, Kaylee is a fraud? Well, at least she's a harmless one. I'll just quietly ignore future postings by her; that seems to work.

Who the **** is Lars Anderson?

Nomar would make a lovely Yankee, and he's the only first baseman on the market now that I'd consider signing. He is a bit injury-prone, though, and the Yankees have bigger priorities such as pitching, pitching, and perhaps a little pitching.

Problem is, there isn't much pitching out there, esp. on the F.A. market. Latest rumor has Yanks discussing Miguel Batista. The only way I could see that is for him to fill a long relief/spot starter role, like a Sturtze. He will be 36 in 2007. He did close for Toronto in 2005, but I can't see him as a set up man.

I dont see anything wrong with doing all you can to block a player from going to your rival. It may appear they have nothing to lose. But they are losing credibility. That's an asset they are losing. They spent a lot (not in money, but credibility, goodwill etc) to delay Matsuzaka from going to a different by one year. Moreover they made it cheapER for the team thats going to sign him next year. The only loser because of this is the Siebu lions.

gonyy27: oops, i was just about to suggest that you tune into espnradio.com, I then read about boycotting espn, sorry. Just trying to help. I know this is a REALLY REALLY real long shot, but are there any Miami Hurricane fans up there?? What a disaster today, and earlier this week.

On Pete's blog, says Wright may be headed for Baltimore for prospects......stay tuned

How is everyone tonight? I just got back from the World Rugby Classic, England beat Austrailia in the Championship.

Hmm...which prospects....

Rookie Adam Loewen, who Yanks had trouble with this year??? 6-6, 5.37, turns 23 next April? Yanks NEED a lefty...Randy is it. None in system (unless you count Sean Henn, which I don't!)

I'd love Brandon Erbe, 19, 5-9, 3.22 133K in 114 2/3 IP at low A (and in 2005, averaged 16.9 K/9 IP with 2 short season clubs!)Ranked 79 on topprospectalert.com

Another I'd be interested in is SS Billy Rowell (18), hit .328 in 53 total games SS and Rookie League (SS--Short Season)...I know we have Derek, but he'll be 33 next summer and we are looking five years down the road here. Rowell is ranked #95.

I'd do Wright for any one of the three straight up. Don't know if the O's would go for that though. What kind of prospect(s) would be available?

Deadline for picking up Wright's option is tomorrow, isn't it? This could be another sign and trade, much like Sheff.

Someone on Pete's blog suggested Garrett Olson, a 23 y.o. LHP who was 10-9, 3.10 combined A/AA this year. 162 K in 165 innings.

As I wrote above, Yanks could use lefty pitching prospects.

Vik, how are the BoSox credibility? First, there is no certainty that the Sox posted the winning bid. Second, if they did post the winning bid, it is evident they will sign Matsuzaka. An article in the Herald provided great details about the Sox affinity for Matsuzaka for more than a year, and the fact that they like him much more than Zito and Schmidt. And the Sox brass believes it can recoup the bid post money through marketing efforts in Japan, should they sign Matsuzaka. You're getting ahead of yourself. However, you can rest assured that if the Sox win the bid, he will be playing in a Sox uniform in 2007.

I meant, "Vik, how are the BoSox losing credibility," since that is what you posted earlier.

If they just bid a ridiculous amount on rights to talk to Matsuzaka and they back out after low balling him. Thats how they lose credibility.

IF is the key word. Notice that I did not mention any team by name in my comment. Just the "WINNING TEAM"

May be it will help to read the posts without a pre-formed opinion abt what you are reading. I am not getting ahead of myself.

I dont see anything wrong with doing all you can to block a player from going to your rival. It may appear they have nothing to lose. But they are losing credibility. That's an asset they are losing. They spent a lot (not in money, but credibility, goodwill etc) to delay Matsuzaka from going to a different by one year. Moreover they made it cheapER for the team thats going to sign him next year. The only loser because of this is the Siebu lions.

Posted by: yankee_indian@xyz.com | November 11, 2006 09:24 PM

This was the post I was responding to. As I mentioned, the Sox are enamored with Matsuzaka, and with Henry's pocketbook, they can afford him. If the Sox post the winning bid, I would be very surprised if he is not signed. Henry and Theo are under a lot of pressure to rebound from the disappointment of 2006. Believe me, they will be making some promiment moves.

John Henry gave the Yankees the "Evil Empire" name after the Yanks signed Contreras for $32 million over 4 years. If the Red Sox really did bid $40 million on Matsuzaka and then sign him for another $30-40 million, they're paying $70-80 million for the whole deal. Now I'm not very good at math but $70-80 million seems like a lot more money than $32 million. Wouldn't that make the Red Sox the "Evil Empire"? Does this make sense to anyone else?

Posted by: btide21@aim.com | November 11, 2006 12:59 PM

If Matsuzaka is signed by the Red Sox, Cashman has every right to assign them the "Evil Empire" tag.

lol. That's funny, btide. I honestly do not think Henry's comment was directly in response to just the Contreras contract. It was a build up of Steinbrenner throwing money anywhere and everywhere and granting exhorbitant contracts for even players at the end of the bench. I do agree that the Yankees are making a concerted effort to bolster their farm system and they are shying away from that practice. If the Sox do win the bid and sign Matsuzaka, they will not shy away from their plan to fill holes from within. The Sox farm system is stocked, and many of the players will be MLB ready by 2008 and 2009. So you will see a couple big contracts, but many more financially prudent deals. Remember, Schilling, Clement and Lowell come off the books after 2007 ($30 million a year in contracts), so I think that Henry is just spending a little early. If they get Matsuzaka, with the depth of their rotation (and the pitching prospects like Bard and Lester), they won't have to spend on a big name pitcher for awhile.

Seriously, whoever gets Matsuzaka, it is somewhat of a risk. He hasn't pitched an out in the Majors. He could be good, he could be bad, he could be somewhere in the middle, right now, no one knows. I am thinking after 2007, RJ and I believe Pavano off the books, that is over $20 million......

Red Sox still laughing in our face about Contreres.....what a bust he was for us....can't stand him....

I knew you were refering to that post Jeff. What I don't see is where in that post I referred to redsox.

I rather have Zito than Lilly.....

I am not suggesting that the redsox are doing it one way OR the other

Take care, talk to you all tomorrow...have a good night!!!

Every signing is a risk Russ. What we should look at is the projected risk-reward ratio. So, the question is NOT whether a team signs Matsuzaka? It is how much they sign him for. I personally think he is not worth more 100M. In my opinion the risk reward ration will be less than 1 if the total spent on him is less than 70M. But I am not expert.

the figures are for 5yr deals.

We shall see. I think more of a risk signing someone who hasn't played in the Majors...but we shall see....I think whoever bid the most will make a good faith effort in signing him. Every team had a chance to bid on him if they wanted....

I do agree that it is always a risk signing a free agent pitcher, even when the have experience at the big league level. A few moments ago, on my blog I posted that, looking back, it was unwide for Theo to let Lowe go and sign Clement. But you can't fault Theo since he could not foresee Clement's problems. He actually pitched well until taking a line drive off his head. He hasn't been the same since. And now he has an array of physical ailments. I do think that the team that gets Matsuzaka will be getting an exceptional pitcher, from all reports I have seen. I don't think he will be another Irabu.

unwide = unwise

at what price??

Pete says it looks like Wright for Chris Britton. Britton is a righty, 24 next month, who went 0-2, 3.35 with 1 save for the O's this year. In 2005, he had 110 Ks in 78 2/3 IP in A ball.

According to Pete, Britton would be an 8th inning guy to take some of the pressure off of Proctor. Since the Yanks already have Bruney and Farnsworth, could this be the forerunner of yet another deal??

BTW, there was a contest in my area to name the AAA Phillies-affiliated team that is coming to Allentown (not that I'd see them, I'd go to Scranton to watch our boys)...You won't believe what the winner was...

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

...and the guy who suggested it is from my hometown (and I'm glad I don't know him...LOL!)...

Sheesh.

Iron pigs?

Sportscasts will have a cornucopia of bringing home the bacon puns they can make with that name.

or maybe sportscasters.

And another thing...

On Pete's blog comments one writer lists moves the Yankees should make and one of them made me laugh out loud.

4. Advise Johnson to retire; arrange accident if he declines.

Think George still does business with Howard Spira?

4. Advise Johnson to retire; arrange accident if he declines.

Think George still does business with Howard Spira?

Posted by: paul1040@aol.com | November 12, 2006 09:25 AM

Are you sure you weren't the one to suggest that Paul?

LOL, Alex. Nope. The Howard Spira line was mine, but the #4 suggestion was not, but I like it.

If Cashman really is going to trade Wright, he's definetly got some other deals up his sleeve...I'm anxious to see what they are.

Top 10 Excuses Manny Missed Games for the Red Sox

10. Manny’s knee hurt.

9. Was absolutely certain season ended August 15 and the rest were optional exhibition matches.

8. Sometimes when sitting on the bench and turning his head really fast he sees many pretty colors.

7. Johnny Damon looks different playing next to him and it is confusing.

6. Manny’s nose hurt.

5. Manny’s tummy hurt.

4. Misses daily back rubs from Kevin Millar.

3. Angry at official scorers for not giving him more hits against the Yankees

2. Stinking Yankees never called him “Daddy.”

And the Number 1 Excuse Manny Missed Games for the Red Sox:

1. It’s Manny being Manny.

Newsday reports the Wright deal is done.

Wright and $4 million to the Orioles for Chris Britton.

The Yanks would have had to pay $4 million to buy out Wright or $7 million to resign him. This way they paid the minimum $4 million AND got a reliever in return.

So far Brian Cashman has been doing very well.

Full Name: Christopher Daniel Britton
Born: 12/16/1982

Birthplace: Hollywood, FL

Height: 6'3" Weight: 280

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

College: N/A

MLB Debut: 04/12/2006

Biography:

Graduated from Plantation (FL) HS, where he was first team All-Broward County and second team All-State ... Played American Legion ball ... Hobbies are hunting and fishing ... Was signed by Orioles scout Nick Presto. ...And likes long walks on the beach...

2006 Career Highlights:

Britton worked in 28 games with a 2.20 ERA before the All-Star break, and he worked in 24 games with a 5.14 mark after the intermission. The rookie had a 2.65 ERA at home and a 3.68 ERA on the road. Britton's only month with an ERA over 6.00 came in August, when he pitched in six games and got blasted for an 11.12 ERA.

I am hoping there is a paperwork snafu and the Orioles send Chris Ray instead.

Or Adam Loewen.

In the never ending pursuit of money in professional sports...

Eschewing tradition, quality, pride, and self-sufficiency, the small market, impoverished NY Mets have announced that they have sold naming rights to their new stadium set to open in 2009.

Rights have been sold to financial giant, Citicorp/Citigroup. According to FoxSports the new name will be CitiField.

Apparently none of the kitty litter brands would provide the dollars the Mets sought.

When all is said and done, let's say what Bobby Abreau brings to the plate next season. I agree with Sheff's statement, he is much more dangerous a hitter than Abreau.

Oh well, that is baseball. Sheff is going to bring his quick bat to Detroit, and I am going to watch him with excitement like I always have!

Please retire Randy Johnson!!!!

I hope the Yank's make some other move's that HELP the team this year, not HURT it like they have done so far.

Hitters, not sluggers.

Sheff was a slugger. His situational hitting left something to be desired, in my eyes. Man on 2nd, no one out, and he is still trying to pull the ball. I've not been an advocate of him or Giambi for a while now.

More situational hitters, not more mashers. Game 2 (I was there) vs. Detroit. Five men LOB in the first two innings. Yanks wind up losing by 1 run.

Maybe to some it is a step back...but if I said that for 1 step back, they position themselves for the next eight years, would you take that? I know of the "win now" mentality that always prevails, but with Hughes, Clippard, Sanchez, Cox, Britton, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Betances, Garcia...that is nine names right there. If FIVE make it, FIVE, we will be happy. Remember Bruney is just 24. Cashman is building up arms in a system that developed NO ONE between Andy Pettitte and Chien Ming Wang.

I didn't even mention Whelan and Claggett....

...Or Karstens and Rasner

Don't forget: not only does Abreu have a better OBP than Sheffield, and is a better situational hitter, and is a better defensive RF, and, etc, etc....

He is also younger. Younger players are less likely to get injured (though they still, of course, can be.)

We have to be kidding ourselves to think Abreu will be more productive than Sheff this year. Sheff is more productive than Abreu although only by a little. AND we are not sure we will have Abreu next year. Having said that I would rather have Abreu playing right this year because of the baggage associated with Sheff and age etc.

Why on earth would Abreu not be more productive than Sheff?

Not to mention that Abreu is a decided upgrade in fielding.

There is a 2008 option for Abreu. His 2007 performance will determine its exercise.

I'd much rather have Abreu and I think he'll be more productive than sheffield in every category besides HR's. He'll hit for at least as high of an average, higher OBP, prob. have the same or more RBI's, he has more speed, better defensively, better situational hitter, younger, better teammate. In my opinion...no question i'd rather have abreu over sheffield.
-Ben

Sheff hits for power AND average. His average with RISP is better than his overall average. To say he is not situational is not fair. If he can get the job done JUST hitting to the left field, who cares. He's getting the job done. AND Sheff makes 3M less than Abreu.

He is also 38 and had NO position to play on the Yankees.

In the last year and a half Sheff lost as many games with his glove or legs than he won with his bat. He was a defensive liability.

He was a no show in the playoffs 2 years in a row, especially this year.

He would have had RF to play if not for Abreu. And the fact that he is 38 doesn't matter if we cant sign Abreu to an extension this season. Just for 2007 season give me Sheff over Abreu if it is just based on performance alone. But, based on performance AND attitude, give me Abreu.

Thats an unfair statement Paul. He was playing out of position with a crash course on how to play 1B.

*the fact that Sheff is 38 doesn't matter if we cant sign Abreu to an extension this season

"With Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth and Brian Bruney set to return to the bullpen next season, Britton could open the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre."

Not sure that I like the idea of bringing in so many minor league pitchers. It bodes well for the future, but there are holes to fill for next year. I wonder if Cashman is too overconfident about landing Matsusaka.

It is very fair Vik. I was referring to his RF play.

Vik, regardless of wheter Abreu or Sheffield is better, there was an overload in the outfield and the Yankees needed to make a move. Abreu has a no-trade clause, if I remember correctly. Sheffield didn't. That made Sheffield the expendable guy. Sheffield may be the better hitter, but Abreu adds more to the club in his defense and base running abilities.

Rob the stockpiling of arms also would allow Cashman to execute a trade for a veteran proven starter without harming the farm system.

Right now he has 4 young arms he could trade for a front line starter like a certain Devil Ray named Kazmir for example.

Paul, I dont remember any instances Sheff lost games for us LAST YEAR. Thats not to say it did not happen. Just that I dont know.

Rob, It is also possible that Cashman trusts Rasner/Karstens more than or atleast as much as he trusts Wright. Or may be he wants use some of these prospects are trade chips.

Rob, I am not against the trade. Cashman did the right thing and he did it very well. He infact worked out the best case scenario for all. But that doesn't make Abreu better than Sheff. Thats all I am saying.

Vik, the Yanks received THREE young prospects for him.

Two are relievers. I know all the talk is of Sanchez, but Whelan (who'll go to AA) had 27 saves and a 2.67 ERA this year.

Claggett had 14 saves and a 0.91 ERA in A ball. He'll go to Tampa.

Both are 22. Let's remember, Mariano Rivera turns 37 at the end of the month. Hopefully Cox, Claggett or Whelan can become the next closer.

We have to look ahead and look to the future here. Rivera said he is looking for three more years. We'd all hate to see Mo go, but three years from now he will be 40.

The Yanks are going with Giambi at DH full time. Sheff at 1b didn't look like it would work, and Sheff talked himself out of NY. He was starting to become a pain in the *** every time he opened his mouth. I thank him for a couple of good years. But in the end, they have some young arms. They are stocking up on young arms. GOOD!

Let's remember that the Yanks (because of Sheff's injury) HAD to go get Abreu. Let's remember the series Abreu had up in Boston in August. Abreu did a nice job in place of Sheff, hitting .330 with 42 rbi in 58 games. He even added speed with 10 steals.

There was no way the Yanks would have signed Sheff to a 2 year extension. NONE.

Read above. One step back, but possibly eight steps forward. The team needed to get younger. Cashman is remaking it in this direction. Remember the 11-19 start of 2005? 13 of the 25 players who started that year were 35 or older. Over half. We don't need to repeat that mistake. Younger and more athletic. Not to mention that there is a little more flexibility in the payroll to address other needs.

*he wants TO use some of these prospects AS trade chips.

I am typing yucky today.

Did I come off like I do not like the trade? Have to work on my communication skills.

I wish I had a list of the American League pitchers whose contracts expire after 2007.

Sorry, Vik. It did seem that way. We can always agree to disagree if such be the case.

I'm probably Mo's biggest fan. But even so, the Yanks have to look ahead. We got a glimpse of life without Mo this September, and I don't have enough Nexium to handle Farnsy closing.

Half an hour until Vince...

Dont have to apologize Paul. If three people read what I wrote the same way, there is something wrong with how I presented it.

Cubs keep Ramirez (good news...he doesn't bolt to the Angels) and sign Wood for a year.

I did not apologize, Vik.

I am sry. I meant Mike.

Sheff ran into Bubba in the playoffs last season and blamed Bubba. That was one game.

There were others. I recall at least one in Fenway. I was not sure if he was going to get to the ball or wait for the grounds crew to clean it up.

No problem at all, Vik.

Vince was supposed to have a list on his show today...should be interesting.

hello all, we are indeed having our show right now, we're on the backups

Backup to Boggs?....Frank Malzone would have been a nice shot...

Could have gone Pesky, too (Pesky 3b late 40s, Stephens was at SS)

Going back 100 years, Jimmy Collins is in the HOF at 3b for Boston.... Not that I'd remember him, LOL.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a decline in sheffield production next year. He'll be 38, coming off wrist surgery (keep in mind how much he uses his quick wrists to generate power & that crazy bat wiggle) that takes a toll on the wrist.I'd rather have abreu, just my opinion though. I think overall abreu brings much more to the table.
-Ben

Missed SS... I take it Rizzuto was backup SS...don't know who your Bosox friend took.

back....I have had trouble connecting. I have the Vince & Beavis Show™ loaded now.

There is another person there...is he a Sox fan?

I am also in mourning for the Patriot's season. They lost 2 in a row for the first time since 2002.

Yeah, he has a friend giving his Bosox list.

Thanks, Mike, yes Vince recapped.

The Red Sox fan seems to only remember the last 3 years.

What about Dennis Eckersly, Rick Wise, Roger Moret?

He has Wakefield and Lowe over Cy Young??

Hey, they did win in 2004 wouldn't hurt to have a lot of them stay together haha, yeah he is being very recent though pedro deserves the spot anyway

Mel Parnell...

I agree that Papelbon is the greatest closer in Red Sox history.

Very happy he is moving to being a starter.

**** Radatz... Yeah, his friend is very recent...lol...but then, I go back to the stone age...

Absolutely agree Gossage was the 2nd best closer. Also many times you needed to pitch 3 innings to get a save.

Mike Stanley did the job as a closer for the Sox for some time.

oops Bob Stanley, not Mike

Bob Stanley..LOL..Mike was a Catcher for Yanks and also was in Boston for a spell.

Speaking of stone age, Barney Rubble was a great SS and Fred Flintstone was a great slugger...LOL

Dino was a great fielder but not much of an arm.

1999 AL MVP---PUDGE.

ooHH...lYNN, good. Dom Dimaggio good.

but you have to go with Tris Speaker in CF.

Mike's show is at 6

6-8. Tyler and Joe will have me in the studio.

The Patriots were awful today. They continue to be poor at home.

Take care... I gotta leave and prepare for our show...later.

Good luck, Mike.

Did anyone else notice that both trades happened after it was reported that the Red Sox bid $38-45 million on Matsuzaka? Maybe Cashman bid even more than that.

OMG Alex. That would be really bad to bid more than 45M on Matsuzaka.

One thing that happened because of the 35M-45M rumor is that the redsox wont be whining if infact the yankees win the rights with a 35M bid because most redsox fans are excited by the rumor and they think thats a very good bid.

Or Maybe Cash has inside info that the Red Sox really didn't bid that much at all.

I will be really happy if the redsox bid 45M and sign him at 10-12M a year. That will handicap the redsox A LOT. That will put them in a position where they HAVE to trade Manny to do anything at all.

and they cant sign Soriano.

Vik I don't think that is necessarily true, Henry intends to raise payroll and the bid is not part of the payroll so he will teeter around the same price with maybe a little bit of a raise....plus Schilling, Lowell and Clement are probably gone after next year

According to bosox banter, there are rumors Teixera could be shopped....We took a rod from the rangers, what are the chances a switch hitting power hitter with a solid glove can fill out void at first base?

You know what that man can do to the short porch in yankee stadium?

What would it take to get Teixeira? Or Ryan Howard? Maybe we can take Pujols too.

Vince, do you if Teixeira is gonna be put up to trade or is he an FA?

"There's a belief first baseman Mark Teixeira might be shopped, and although Michael Young's name has also come up, don't hold your breath on that one"- The belief is they want a starting ace and can afford to get rid of Teixera, so maybe trade a starter we don't have haha. I don't know what cash is capable of doing but if he is really out there I think he would be an absolutely perfect fit for the Yankees.

OH MAH GAH!!!!!!! AL PACINO IS GONNA BE ON THE SHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can someone post a link to the show, I lost it somehow

Possible 3 way trade for Teixera? If we don't have a starter (Karstens? Rasner?) that somebody else might want, how about sending something else to another team that does have the starter to send to the Rangers?

I would love to see Teixera in NY. A gold glove caliber 1B, and he can hit.

I would really hate to see either Karstens or Rasner leave, though, so don't interpret that as wanting them to go.

Can we trade farnsy and another reliever, along with phillips and some other **** to the rangers for tex? The only three way trade I can envision is A rod, that is the only thing that can get us a Starter, third baseman and another player (wishfully a starter) so we can trade one to texas.

I would trade karstens, farnsworth and a tiger reliever/AP that we just got for tex if that is possible. Keep rasner.

I love the Pavano-bash.

Mike sounds exactly like Lietenent Dan

No way Hughes starts, he doesn't even know how to pitch more than 80 pitches right now. I can see clippard though.....Mike can you bring up Teixera, is he being shopped and if so can we get him?

No, Mike sounds like Al Pacino.

Vince, try IMing them.

NO! haha, I want some Teixera gossip Betance, I always forget that guy. I would think they will have to trade some of these pitchers

lol I got the link, and I did IM them

Yeah! A shoutout!

Yeah I heard it.

10,000.....3500? Fight to the death!

Scranton greatest pitching staff in AAA? That's not possible, we have no farm system.

The Iron Pigs

...

Mark, what happened to your 'Skins today? Figures, I want them to win and they get shelled....why couldn't they played that bad last week? LOL.....How is everyone?

can i get the link???

http://www.lvyankeefanclub.com

Click on radio and then listen.

thanks!!!!

Wow, Vince is on fire. Second shoutout on the night.

Very good, it is pronounced Quin i Pee Ack
and Yes we do the polls, I used to work there, but the job is terrible

They do need a first baseman, and tex plays gold glove defense.

Go Vince!!!

Oh, and I'd love if we got Texiera! He's a good player and a cutie :)

has there been any talk of how melky will fit in for the 2007 season??

Nomar left NY because he wanted to be close to home and couldn't handle the pressure of a big market team...no way he comes to NY

haha Hey kat!

hey vince!! how are you?

Well, another day of waiting. Is there an official press conference time on Matsuzaka that has been announced or something like that?

Though I would love to have him, I doubt Nomar will come to the Yankees, though it is aesthetically nice with all those great former shortstops.

In good news, the Packers won the Ineptitude Bowl 23-17 over the Vikings. Yay! They event looked..gasp..adept. They're starting to scare me into thinking they can contend.

I'm good how are you

I like the moves the Yankees are making so far. They have plenty of hitting, I'm glad to see they are bulking up on pitching. The Matsuzaka auction is still a big "?" but what if the Red Sox purposely made a huge bid only to use Matsusaka as trade material, who knows.

So far:

Damon CF

Jeter SS

Abreu RF

A-Rod 3B

Matsui LF

Giambi DH

Posada C

Cano 2B

??? DH (Bernie?)(Melky?)

Wang

Johnson

Mussina (?)

?

?

Pavano can be the bullpen catcher-warmer-upper

Hi there. It took me 2 hours to reconnect to the Internet after losing it.

I missed Mike's whole show. Except whatever comes from now til 8.

Seems I missed all the baseball stuff...now they are talking of tv shows. Grrrrr

What the **** just happened?

Good evening all! So we say good-bye to Jaret Wrong, LOL.. and get Britton in return without having to spend any extra money. Good job Cash! Now I can't wait to find out about Matsuzaka!

Anyway just reading some of the comments and to those of you talking about trading Farnsy, I told you he hears everything LOL. Remember, there is no theory of evolution, only men Kyle Farnsworth has allowed to live! :D

Today was a horrible football day for me BTW. I am hoping it improves mightily with the Giants/Bears game, which I anxiously await..GO BIG BLUE!

10:01AM in Japan...what exactly are they waiting for?

Hiya Gina.

I sort of feel bad to see Jaret go. He seemed to be a good guy. He had heart if not the talent the team needs.

I do think it was right to move him, but still sad to see him go.

Seibu will milk every bit of media exposure it can get I am sure.

When is their deadline?

Tuesday

Ok, now to go through all your posts to see how bad you may have ripped me....lol

Sorry I missed all but the last 10 minutes of the show, Mike, and that after I demanded you be a regular in studio on the show.

Jaret was a good guy. He may have struggled but at least he went out there every day. I also recall he was at the Cory Lidle memorial as well along with Jeter, Torre, etc.

I know what you mean Paul. I can't resist the pun in calling him Jaret Wrong but there were several times where he really labored thru starts and I have to say I came to respect him then. I hope he does well when reunited w/Leo Mazzone.. especially against the S*x. :)
I do hope this trade will cause the amount of Pepto stock we held to finally lessen!

They have podcasts. I don't have an Ipod, but if you do, maybe you can e-mail them to find out how you can download it and you could listen to it sometime this week. As for those who heard it, I hope you enjoyed it.

The Giants can be both the most rewarding and painful team to watch at the same time. Burress takes a huge **** on the bears, tiki is running downhill and then we miss a field goal and eli sails a pass, come on guys you can't make these mistakes against the bears. the crowd needs to stay into it

And now to make me happy they pick it back to the 1 yard line....This giants team might be bipolar

That field goal attempt was horrid.

It annoys me when people spell his name Jared instead of Jaret...I mean the NY Post this morning had that headline "Jared May be Dealt"...that's pretty ridiculous.

I hope we have the ill advised pass grossman all night....DING DONG LET'S KEEP IT GOING!.....Brandon Jacobs is an absolute menace. The guy is built like a Hummer

Yeah, unless a guy's name is Justin Duscherer or Kiki Calero, there really is no reason to misspell a name.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa, the greatest relief pitcher name to ever exist is not an easy one either, though it is rather phenetic

TOUCHDOWN GIANTS!
That unsportsman penalty was sooo wack!

How can "group" celebration be a penalty? A touchdown is a collaberation of 11 guys accomplishing their goal, it should have every right to be celebrated by everybody....though that time the call was on the ball being a prop by jacobs stuffing it under his shirt as an homage to his pregnant wife

How about prospect P. J. Pilittere? That's not easy.

Not to mention Connie Mack's real name was Cornelius McGillicuddy.

Yeah, you guys absolutely butchered his name on the show tonight.

How is it pronounced... could use help.

Darn keyboard doesn't have phonetic spelling...

Is Matsuzaka's first name pronounced "die-soo-kee" or "die-soo-keh"?

I heard Die-soo-Key (or kee)

I heard the same

I pronounce it die-soo-kay.

But I also pronounced Robbie's last name "kay-no" until I heard how it was supposed to be pronounced.

...I'm not good with names.

There are some topics we didn't get to...Acta to Nats, the name of the Mets' new stadium.

It better be Yankee Stadium. I'd hate for the Yanks to get a corporate name on the new place.

I like Alex's way better. It sounds more manly.

And about Cano, Silver Slugger in his second year. I'm really scared to see where he is gonna go in the next few seasons.

I mean the Yanks better have Yankee Stadium and not Chase Manhattan Stadium or something like that.

The Mets new park will be Citifield.

I pronounce Matsuzaka's first name as D-A-V-E.

Scared? Or excited?

I announced the new Mets name above. Right after my latest Top Ten.

Excited would be the better word.

Paul you never cease to make me laugh.

Yup. Saw it. Another corporate name...

kind of like the names of all the college bowls.

George said it will be Yankee Stadium. No naming rights will be sold. However the plaza rights may be sold.

Like Yankee Stadium at Bank of America Park.

Ewwww, the Mutts sold out! citibank has officially become a conglamorate. What a dumb name.

So Paul, to you

Daisuke Matsuzaka = Dave Matthews?

The guy can pitch AND rock.

Bank of America is my enemy.

Bank of America is an enemy to America. It has outsourced more American jobs overseas than any other US company.

Dates for the awards:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061112&content_id=1739280&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnered=rss_mlb

Trophies to be handed out now.

Actually I can pronounce Matsuzaka pretty easily.

I think our blog...ummmm Mark's blog....should get an award.

And maybe a $25 million honorarium.

So...how many of you are getting an Iron Pigs hat or shirt????

Hi everybody. Again, I'm glad with the job made by Brian Cashman. I think it was a very good move. And, since we only have right now for sure 3 starters (Wang, RJ and Pavano) two of them beeing big questions marks, surely Cash has a surprise for us. Like Alex said, to me it is a signal that he traded Jaret. The only reason is because he is quite sure he will hget the arms we need. And I think it has to be 3 more starters (Mussina, Matzusaka and Zito???)
And about the difficult in pronouncing the name of Japanese ace, let's call him as Mike does: D-Mat. Easy

If the Yankees lose out on Matsuzaka, it's A-Rod's fault for not contributing some of his $252 million towards the bid...hahahaha

That is an awful name, Mike.

But I do like the Toledo Mud Hens as a name.

Is it the Bethlehem Iron Pigs?

Why not the Kutztown Koalas?

Or the Dorney Park Droll Parrots?

Or the Easton Westerlies?

....................................................

In anticipation that an announcement could be coming soon on Matsuzaka, Torre has Proctor warming up in the bullpen.

Do the beat writers attend the GM meetings?

I think the worst name for a Minor league team is the Las Vegas 51s.

Sorry, just hate the name. Las Vegas Aces would have been better. Or Las Vegas Dodgers. Or Las Vegas Stars (what they used to be.)

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs...starting in 2008. AAA affiliate of the Phillies.

Like I mentioned on the show, I can't wait until Leno and/or Letterman get a hold of this.

Little known fact: Proctor has been known to wake in the middle of the night and begin warming up for no apparent reason.

Proctor doesn't know what to do with himself now. He may volunteer for the Arizona Fall League ;-)

Much in the way Bruney takes shots of Jack Daniels straight from the bottle...he doesn't need to wake up to do that though.

Wow. What a good weekend.

I wonder if there are any plans for Scott Proctor to be moved to the rotation, now that we have some extra bullpen help? I think he could be pretty good in a starting role. He certainly has enough good pitches to do it. Of course, we'll have to wait and see what happens with the free agent market.

Isn't tomorrow the last day for Seibu to decide whether or not they're taking the post money? I feel like they've gone beyond the deadline by now. At least, that's the way it feels to me...and I don't think I'm the only one.

Bank of America is my direct competition

Swo, if Proctor is moved to the rotation, I'm affraid Joe could send him to the mound each and every day.
Maybe that's the reason why Brian traded Jaret. And now he won't sign Moose. And he'll send Pavano to a University to make some conferences about how to stupidly get injured. And so on...........

The acquisition of Britton is supposed to relieve Proctor. Haven't heard of a Proctor move to the rotation yet.

They had 4 days...business days, so the weekend does not count.

The deadline for the 3b (darn, Imawara???) was today. I'm surprised the Phils weren't interested. They could use a 3b.

Mike: Do you know if there was any rumor about the Yankees beeing interested in that Japanese 3B? Not necessarily because they were thinking in a trade involving A-Rod. But maybe moving Alex to 1B, then we'll have that righty 1B Cashman was referring to.

Hey, Jorge! How are you. Wish you could have listened to our club's show.

No Mike, I couldn't. How was it?

I would highly doubt it. This 3b is 5'9" 175 and a lefty hitter. 5 Japanese gold gloves though.

Good, I thought. They had me in-studio for the 2 hours rather than a 20 to 30 min. feature. Different than what I was used to. Some here heard it and I hope they liked it. One thing we talked about was the team near me. A AAA team of the Phillies. They chose the nickname of this team.

Would you believe the Iron Pigs?

Jorge, A-Rod has enough trouble with third base...I don't know if he could handle another position change.

Those 5 gold gloves took my atention. He would get to lower levels our number of errors at 3rd.
And he is more than a decent hitter too.

The Iron Pigs????????????????
WOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

I gave a trivia question Jorge...and Paul...I think I may have said it on this blog before.

We talked about the death of Johnny Sain, a great pitcher from the late 1940s/early 1950s. I mentioned that the pitcher traded to the Braves for Sain in 1951 came back to haunt the Yanks six years later. Can you name him?

I also asked Ty and Joe (the show's hosts) a question. Can you name the last Yankee 2b to have the job for four consecutive years???

I played for a soft-ball team named "The Drink Team" instead of "The Dream Team"

BTW, Lola must be on cloud nine. Rutgers # 7 in the AP poll and # 6 in the BCS for college football.

I'm not sure about the pitcher, Mike. In fact, I do not know.
But about the other question, I think you're talking about Pat Kelly. He replaced Steve Sax in '92. Am I right?

I thought Andy Stankiewicz had the job for a while during that stretch?

Otherwise my guess was Pat Kelly as well. Not that that counts for anything, heh

The pitcher was Lew Burdette, who beat the Yanks three times in the 1957 WS.

And yes, it's Pat Kelly. Kelly came from the town next to mine. I know his mom. (I didn't meet her until after he retired). Kelly was the Yanks 2b 1992-1995. Injuries hurt him dearly. He did have decent years in 1993 and 1994.

Mike. I made a question yesterday, but no one answered it to me. Do you know when will we know the 2007 Schedule of the Yankees?

Wow Rex Grossman is having an atrocious game.

Mike I know nothing about baseball before I was born so no idea on that.

As for Yankee 2B for 4 consecutive years? Willie Randolph.

Kelly married a girl from Australia. The last I knew he was a Far East scout for the Dodgers.

We don't know, Jorge. Our club is wanting to know so that we can schedule bus trips. The Yanks haven't released anything yet.

A girl from Australia? Is she Olivia Newton-John???????????????

OK I see it was Pat Kelly.

Since we live pretty far from New York, we've never visited the Yankee Stadium. And I HAVE to be at a game over there before it is closed. I know I still have two seasons to make it, but I'd like this to happen next year. So, I'd like to know how is the schedule as soon as I can, so we can plan our trip.
Do you know if the Yankee Stadium is going to be collapsed?

Two of my nephews have just leaved my home, and they were talking with me and my son about going to Tampa next season to see the Yankees play against the Devil Rays. As I have told you, for us it's easier to go to Tampa, like we did last July, than to NY.

I'm still excited that I am going to the Orange Bowl.

I am a HUGE Beatles fan. I have some stuff that are incredible (LOL). I won't go further than that, if you know what I mean (LOL) Anyone hear of the Love show at the Mirage in Las Vegas? There is a new CD coming out that will be interesting. For example, hearing George Harrison's "Within You, Without You" played not to its original version but to the music of John Lennon's "Tomorrow Never Knows"....things like that. They took some songs that were in the same key and threw things in from different songs....interesting. CD coming out in about 10 days.

My Beatles collection is nice. I have some stuff you wouldn't believe. When they say (hasn't been heard in 40 years or so)...um....I have it. Wink wink.

I think the planners of the new stadium are making a couple of critical mistakes.

1. It should not be SMALLER than the present Yankee Stadium. If the team wants to expand its fan base it is a mistake to make tickets more difficult to buy with increasing the fan base and reducing the number of tickets available.

2. The new venue should have a retractable roof. If the plan is to create a state of the art arena that is fan friendly, little makes more friendly fans than keeping them dry.

Jorge, from what I understand, the lower shell from 1b to 3b will be maintained. The rest of the land will be used for public parks, like tennis courts, racquetball and stuff like that.

I agree Paul....Mike my parents have all the beatles albums ever made, it features songs never released on cd obviously...I also saw paul mcartney live last october

Led Zeppelin > The Beatles

I'm a Beatles fan too. I remember I had a LP called "Rarities", Have you heard it, Mike? In that LP you can hear Ringo singing "You know my name". I loved that song.

I have Zep, too. I saw Paul twice, once in 1989 and once in 2002. The last big one I saw was U2 last spring. Saw Phil Collins, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan also.

I have all the Beatles songs' on my iPod. Along with a bunch of other songs.

I have rarities. Released in 1980.

Have all the Ed Sullivan shows. Even the afternoon rehearsal for the 2nd show. Not shown. Quality not so hot.

McCartney II was intended to be a double LP rather than the single that came out. Have the double.

It's really difficult to say which ones are my favorite songs from the Beatles. But I'm sure that, in that list, you surely find "In my life", "Something", "All you need is love", "Michelle" and "Let it be"

I saw Paul some years ago, when he came to México City. There are rumors he will come again. I really hope so

Have so many. Some of these tribute bands are quite good. I saw Beatlemania at the Winter Garden in the late 70s. Saw a couple of their tribute bands also. Good.

A few years ago, I went to Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. It is basically a 10 day festival of music. They had back to back tribute bands that were good. Zep tribute followed by a Rolling Stones tribute band. The Stones band wasn't bad...they were quite good. But this Led Zep tribute band just blew them away. They were absolutely incredible.

Jorge, do you have Thanksgiving in Mexico?

Just wondering if you have the holiday & when you celebrate it.

No, Mike. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in México. But mexican wives love to celebrate it in the United States because of the sales. In fact, you should see my wife's BIG smile at this moment we're talking about Thanksgiving. She's asking me where am I going to take her. I've answered her she's crazy

"Estás loca"

In fact we were planning to go to Las Vegas next Monday Nov. 20 and spend 4 nights over there. So we would spend Thanksgiving in Vegas. We were going to see the Soleil Circus' Love. But we're not going nowhere.

Exactly, Andrew. How have you been?

He estado muy ocupado con escuela y los aplicaciones de colegió.

A fun place to go, Jorge, that is close to you is New Orleans.

It is a wild and crazy town. (I saw things there I never saw anywhere!)

It is a fun place for a long weekend, but allow time to recover after being awake at all hours and drinking a lot.

The food is great and the music, oh the music is amazing.

Hmm....right now 'tis 12:35 pm in Tokyo....and it is MONDAY...

They're just getting plain annoying with this now.

I can imagine Paul. I was once in New Orleans, but it was many many many years ago. I've never been over there with my wife.
But she loves Las Vegas. And she'd like to go over there every 6 months. NO WAY!!!!!

Hiya everyone...

Yeah. This japanese way is making me sick

hiya Angel. If you read earlier on the page 11/11 was outed elsewhere also.

My first time in Nawlins (New Orleans as it is pronounced by locals as 1 syllable), I walked into a club on Bourbon Street and there was Al Hirt, now playing in the great jazz club in the sky.

Also have seen Pete Fountain playing at a little hole in the wall club. It is all loose and informal in Nawlins.

You can walk into a club carrying a drink. They only ask that you buy your next one there. And almost all serve drinks in "travel" cups, just not glass.

I have seen spontaneous Dixieland parades form and head off marching with the crowd trailing, and of course drink vendors being available every few feet so you would not have to travel so far.

Southern Hospitality they call it.

The Big Easy.

There are many reasons the place was given that name, most all of which we may not discuss here.

Angel, sorry to tell you this but your boys (Austrailia) were beaten by England in the final of the World Rugby Classic last night.

lol Paul. She has a closet she lives in for each team she roots for, she must live at an Ikea or something. What a seriously strange person.

Have they announced anything on Matsuzaka yet? At this point the wait is just getting ridiculous.

Aww Alex. :( Thats disappointing.

I hadn't looked at the papers online from home yet.

I'm not sure it's actually that big of a deal because these guys aren't the main team they're like the retired players...the has beens ya know? haha but at least they didn't get embarrased like Bermuda did against Argentina...62-7.

Awww no, thats a bit evil. I guess they don't call off the dogs like they do in baseball. What a rude obnoxious scoreline.

lol our retired guys, still should be able to beat their guys.

Another sign that the Apocalypse is upon us.

THe 49ers won for the second week in a row. And it was on the road.

It was a close game I was rooting for the Aussies though. The France vs. Canada game before the Austrailia vs. England game was great because people were getting punched, kicked, and there was pushing and shoving after basically every play...the ref even gave out a yellow card...haha I didn't even know they had those in rugby.

Haha.. I didnt think they did either. Must be a special thing for the oldies.

Wow. 108.4 yard TD. Missed FG and it was run back for a TD.

Ever hear of John Heisman? The guy the Heisman trophy is named after? As a college coach, he won a game by the record score. 222-0.

Giants are screwing up badly.

Well, I'm out of here. Catch you all later.

Mybe we should send Kyle Farnsworth to tell japanese people that we are waiting for some news

Send Farns and Bruney. haha

If only we could send Billy Martin............

Wow the Giants completely **** the bed on this one.

SI.com's Jon Heyman believes the Red Sox may have won the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka, even if they didn't go quite as high as the reported figure of $38 million-$45 million.
Heyman says that while industry scuttlebutt had Boston's bid at "close to $40 million," one person indicated the reported $38 million-$45 million range was "not correct." Heyman believes both the Mets and Yankees bid closer to the $30 million neighborhood. An announcement from Seibu is due no later than Monday night in the U.S.

I'm so over this whole thing. Its been borderline ridiculous all this speculation and secrecy - whether the Yankees win the bid not.

It's 11:30 pm, Monday night in Japan right now. You would have thought they'd have announced it today.

Its ridiculous, Mike. I would have thought so too.
For process that is supposed to involve secret bids that no one knows - i've never seen so much written about a supposedly *absolute secret* process since the BALCO grand jury testimonies, lol. Doesn't say much for the "integrity" of the bid process, nor does it say much for the source that is leaking all this stuff.

I'm pretty sick of all the waiting, and I continue to refuse to listen to any of this ridiculous speculation that has been going around. Just like Olney, Heyman is just another writer looking for a means of keeping up readership during the offseason. Why not invent some "secret" information and pass it off as rumors if it'll keep you readers interested? If you're right then your readers keep reading your "insights", and if you're wrong, then they were "just rumors". It's win-win for those writers.

I don't know, Swo. I'm fairly disgusted (but not surprised) that its being written about at all. Its a joke.

This Matsuzaka event is what I'd call a circus. I wonder if Ringling Brothers made their bid

I know a guy who knows a guy, who told him under strict anonymity, as long as he promised not to tell anyone...

The winning bis was accepted on Thursday by Seibu and the announcement has been held as they try to deal wirh the potential repercussions.

The winning bid was $76 million and not won by an American League team.

Also was not won by a National League team.

The winning bid was from the NBA's New York Knicks. Seibu and Major League Baseball were shocked but there was nothing in the bidding rules that required the winner to be a baseball team.

Matsuzaka also stated a preference to come to New York. It is true he cannot yet play basketball, but such a factor has not guided the Knick's decisions on any of their acquisitions.

Just don't tell anyone who won yet. It is a BIG SECRET.

Thank you.

Thanks for the news, Paul. At least the winner was not The Circus of Soleil. I was thinking that the only way I could see Matsuzaka was in Las Vegas, at the Bellagio, at the middle of the great Soleil's performance called "O"

Gotta love that Mushnick...

He reports today (11/13) that MLB's auction website yesterday was accepting bids for....get this...

"an official CARL PAVANO game-used N.Y. Yankees baseball cap from the 2006 season. Pavano wore this hat during at least one live MLB game during the 2006 season. A Yankees-Steiner (Collectibles) letter of authenticity is included."

Of course we know that he may have worn in during a major league game while he was sitting his bruised buttocks on the bench while visiting his teammates during one of his stints on the DL.

What a travesty.

**it** during...

Oh yeah...you should see the comments on my local paper's website regarding the Iron Pigs nickname. There is even a poll.

17% like the name, 69% hate it. 5% or so think it's ok. The rest (9%) hate it but will give it a chance to grow on them.

Mike: You can say to all the people who didn't like that nickname that, at least, the team is not called "The sons of Pavano"

Looks like we are finally going to find out about D-Mat tonight

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...as/extra_bases/

Just so people are aware, there is currently a glut of arms in AAA. There are 6 legitimate AAA starters, 2 of which have seen MLB action and at least 4 of which are ready to go next year. Hughes, Clippard, Sanchez, White, Rasner, and Karstens.

Is it possible that the Yanks might not go on a FA starter spending spree after all?

Swo, I think that, if the Yanks can't get Matsuzaka, they're going for Zito. I don't think they're going for an entire season with two or three rookies in the starting rotation

Getting one free agent is hardly a spending spree.

I'm saying that some people think the Yankees need 3 FA starters. That's something I disagree with, and I think it's probably not going to happen based on what we've seen so far.

The posted link is invalid but here is the info that person attempted to post:

November 13, 2006

Wait ends tonight

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

NAPLES, Fla. -- The assembled Japanese media here at the annual general managers' meetings have been told this morning that the Seibu Lions' board of directors will meet at 8 p.m. Eastern (Tuesday morning in Japan) to mull over the bids submitted by major league teams to earn the negotiating rights to coveted righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka.

In fact, there is word now from the Japanese press that the Lions plan to hold a press conference at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Major league baseball spokesman Patrick Courtney said that MLB would announce the decision as soon as it was made known to them.

Matsuzaka's agent, Scott Boras, was also due here sometime today, but Sox general manager Theo Epstein, who arrived last night, said he did not have a meeting planned with Boras, who also represents a number of free agents, including Barry Zito, J.D. Drew and others.

Epstein will be joined by Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer as well as newly appointed assistant to the general manager Allard Baird. Other general managers and their staffs from around baseball trickled in Sunday night and this morning and will take part in a bowling tournament today and a dinner tonight.

In between, Epstein was about to buckle in for what could be an extremely busy and fruitful few days, particularly if Boston has made the highest bid on Matsuzaka. He would not make any comments on Matsuzaka.

Courtney clarified the rule pertaining to the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka or any posted Japanese player. Courtney was told by major league baseball operations officials that Matsuzaka's rights could not be traded. There is a possibility of a sign and trade scenario, but the Sox must sign Matsuzaka if their bid is accepted and have 30 days to negotiate with Boras. If the sides can't reach agreement, Matsuzaka returns to the Lions.

________________________

Now this article is either inaccurate or the rules have changed.

It says the the Seibu people are meeting to mull over the BIDS---- the word was that the team would learn of only ONE bid, the winning one. And the identity of the bidder was not known.

This is either more misinformation or plain wrong.

Thanks for reposting I didn't check to see if the link would work.

Is it just me or is Boston as a whole making this Matsuzaka mess so much worse than it should have been?

Boston or Buster Olney, take your pick, lol.

LOL Paul. Your post summed up exactly how much of a circus this as become perfectly.

I need Brian Cashman's cell phone number.

The Pirates are seeking a left handed 1B slugger. Egad, a perfect fit for Giambi and they have 3 LHP starters available and 3 LHP relievers including their closer. Maybe a starter and closer for a slugger like Giambi?

Brian, call me!

OOPS, forgot to give you the link to the Ken Rosenthal article.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6165654

I will be surprised if any of the NL teams are interested in Giambi. They play a lot more small ball than we do in AL. Which is exactly where Giambi struggles.

Interesting, but I can't see Giambi giving up his no-trade.

Rosenthal's report interesting on Lilly...

also he agrees Nomar would be a fit w/Yanks. I don't expect Nomar in NY, but yes, he would be a fit at 1b, as we discussed last evening. He'd be a decent pickup.

Someone here suggested Aurilia...a thought process Pete Abe agrees with.

::raises hand excitedly::

Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me! Me! I brought up Aurilia like a month ago! :-P

I hope he joins the Yanks. I think he'd be a good fit. He's older, but he's not going to be treated as anything but a stopgap. If he's good for 1 or 2 years, why not sign him? That's the way I see it.

Why do I feel like Mike Gonzalez will be a redsox set up man or closer by the time the new season starts?

I wouldn't mind swinging a deal for Zach Duke, I love that guy and his value is low since he ran into a sophomore slump...I think he has the stuff to bounce back and be effective in the AL.

Hanley Ramírez (Florida Marlins) and Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers) have just been named ROY

lol, no wonder the Red Sox management are making splashy bids, that news has gotta rankle them a little bit.

Thanks, Jorge.

I bet Hanley is glad he escaped from the Eviler Empire/Red Sox and had a chance to shine elsewhere.

Brian still has not called. I wonder if my phone is out.

Agree, Paul.

I hope Brian is talking to Omar about the suggestion of sending Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano to the Mets for something.

Howard Spira could discuss with each their individual no-trade clauses.

He's probably too busy smackin' down Theo at the bowling tournament.

What do you think we can recieve from the Mets in a trade for RJ and Pavano?

If Howard Spira is under government protection and not able to negotiate then Plan B is to use Tonya Harding.

Randy gone? Sounds great, but good luck dealing a 43 year-old with a bad back and little left in the gas tank. All things considered, RJ has been a bust.

Not sure what we would get in return, Jorge. Does it matter?

Randy Johnson did win 17 games so he has some value but I do not see him being better this coming year by any stretch, but rather some measure of decline a year older and one more surgery later.

Pavano has no value.

Here are some interesting info about Hanley Ramírez, I've got from MLB.com:

The gifted 22-year-old Marlins shortstop posted some first-year numbers that rival some of the game's all-time greats.

Consider, Ramirez is the first National League rookie to post 110-plus runs and 50-plus stolen bases. And he is the second Major League rookie since 1900 with 115-plus runs scored and 50-plus stolen bases. Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki accomplished the feat in 2001.

Ramirez joined the legendary Ernie Banks (19 in 1954) as the second rookie in NL history to log 17-plus homers while playing 100-plus games at shortstop. And he is the fifth MLB player since 1900 to collect 45-plus doubles and have 50-plus stolen bases. That exclusive club is occupied by Hall of Famers: Ty Cobb (47/83 in 1911), Tris Speaker (53/52 in 1912) and Lou Brock (46/62 in 1968). Rounding out the list is multiple All-Star Craig Biggio (51/50 in 1998).

Leading off for the surprising Marlins, Ramirez batted .292 with 46 doubles, 11 triples, 17 home runs, 119 runs scored, 51 stolen bases and 59 RBIs.

Ramirez set team rookie records for batting average -- tying Jeff Conine's .292 in 1993 -- doubles, triples, hits (185) and runs scored.

His 46 doubles are second most by a Marlin, topped only by the 50 Miguel Cabrera posted this past season. His 119 runs scored are second in team history, and tied for fifth most in the National League.

Additionally, Ramirez had seven leadoff homers, tying Nomar Garciaparra (1997) for a Major League season rookie standard. His leadoff homer total is a Florida season and all-time record.

And, after all this info, all we can say is:

GOOD JOB, THEO. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

However, to further validate my trade suggestion which is not entirely crazy, Johnson has had markedly better success in the NL in recent years. The Mets also provide good run support. So he will win more games in the NL than the AL East.

Pavano needs a fresh start elsewhere.

The Mets need veteran pitching with Glavine gone and Pedro not what he used to be or retiring.

Well, Cashman are Minaya are in Naples. Let's see what happens.

To defend Theo, he sent Anibal Sanchez and Ramirez for a front line starter and team ace pitcher Josh Beckett.

Oops, never mind. Have at him.

Yeah, I forgot Aníbal Sánchez was involved in that MAGNIFICENT trade. We should say Cheers for Theo!!!!!!!! It was a brilliant move :-)

On the other side, Justin Verlander won easily the award. He received 26 of the 28 first-place votes. Jonathan Papelbon was second and Francisco Liriano 3rd.

Sources tell Gammons it's $42 mil by Boston...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2660428

As all know, I've been advocating D-Mat to the Yanks for a few months, but I certainly would not have advocated him for that amount.

That's ridiculous.

I would not be surprised to see Beckett traded this offseason. They know his move to the AL was a failure.

The only really dependable pitcher they have is Wakefield. If they get Matsuzaka it will make 2.

I think Papelbon will be good as a starter, maybe eventually their ace, but it remain to be seen how he will transition to being a starter for a whole season. Big benefit to opponents that they took him out of the closer role. He was absolutely dominant there. Another great move.

Now if only they would sign Schmidt to share DL time with Clement. Wonder if they will give him a 14 year contract?

The Gammons article is interesting but inaccurate in suggesting the Yankees signed Johnny Damon AWAY from Boston.

Boston did not want him. They made it clear. So he went elsewhere.

Personally, I did not want him as a Yankee. But I was wrong. Very improssive season from him.

Very improssive original spelling there, Paul. :-P

Yes, Angel, you are rite. My plite is that tipo escaped my site.

Paul, the improssive blogger

Five hours left for the end of the D-Mat's Circus

Is anyone else getting a bunch of spam about some kind of drilling?

A pain in the butt.

Just wondering.

I blame the thing.

What do you guys think of vincente padilla as a F.A. pickup? I think he could be a cheap option and maybe a better one then a lot of what's out there if you don't wanna break the bank for zito or schmidt. I personally don't want to see them give expensive multi year deals to either zito or schmidt. I wouldn't mind picking up padilla though.
-Ben

PUERTO BANUS, COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN
Puerto Banus is the most fashionable resort in Southern Spain. The busy Marina is home to some of the most improssive yachts in the World. Puerto Banus is the ideal place to relax and admire the yachts whilst have a drink or something to eat on the waterfront.

http://costa-del-sol.suncentre.net/area/Puerto+Banus/

Ben, I read that Padilla is a head case, refused to talk to the media and his teammates. Not sure how true it is but it seems to follow him.

Oh ok paul, hadn't really heard anything about him. I just thought his stuff seemed pretty good and his numbers aren't too bad either. I know he shut us down in at least one start this year. But, if that's true he definitely wouldn't be a good fit in NY.
-Ben

If we're going to call Matsuzaka D-Mat, can we call Barry Zito B-Zit?
A-Sor?

R-Sex?

G-Size?

How about food:
C-Fig

J-Sup

P-Kon

And to go with G-Size there's:
C-Big

B-Med

A-Small

_________________

RESPONSE DELETED*

_________________

* Anything I would say to respond to Andy's observations could get me kicked off this blog forever.

I still dont see why MLB should not submit the next highest bid in case the winning bidder fails to sign the player to a contract within 30 days. It really amazes me how the experts/lawyers who create these procedures overlook loop holes as simple as this. Or did they do it on purpose?

LOL. I am ALL for original spellings. I make up my own words all the time, lol. If we use it enough around here, you could ™ it.

Lazy *lite* spelling does indeed baffle me though. Haha.

It could even be used in the sarcastic context of not being impressed even though you say you are.

1st person: "Hey that tower is 212 stories high!"

2nd person: "Really? I'm impressed!"

as opposed to..

1st person: "I'm an 11/11".

2nd person: "I'm so improssed."

*blinks*

Five hours left for the end of the D-Mat's Circus

Posted by: jtorresmesias@hotmail.com | November 13, 2006 03:15 PM

Don't hold your breath. 8 PM EST Tuesday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15702307/

What the **** is taking them so long? *stomps foot*

At this point, I'm with Mike. If that's the price the Red Sox can have him. If he were a proven ace in the U.S. okay. But most of you guys don't even want NL pitchers! Matsuzaka has pitched well in Japan, and likely will be good M.L. pitcher, but this seems like giving ace money to my best AAA prospect.

That's BS. If the Red Sox won the bid they would have announced it already. None of this "sources" and "reports" business.

Look at a guy like Roy Oswalt. He's posted a 3.05 ERA and a .675 Winning Pct. on a team that's around .500 for his career. But the prevailing sentiment here was he'd be a 3 or 4 starter in the AL. Yet everyone's ga-ga over a guy that's posted his numbers in Japan, where a handful of the best players are good enough to play here.

I know he pitched well in the WBC. But a lot of pitchers do well the first time they're seen by hitters and not so well the next time around.

I'm not saying I wouldn't like to have him. But I wouldn't commit that kind of money, or a long-term contract to such an unproven pitcher.

Andy,

If that is the price redsox want to pay to get him, fine, let them have him. But if they bid high just to block the yankees from signing Matsuzaka, I'll be pissed. Not with the redsox but with MLB for having such a vulnerable system.

I dont think its MLB's system though. I think they're going along with the Japanese system for posting of players in this situation.

I dont think so Angel. The only thing the japanese club does is accept or reject the bid forwarded by MLB. The japanese club wouldn't even know who the winning bidder is. Just the bid amount. So, it has to be MLB that oversees the bidding process.

I've also came up with the idea that the sox could make a ridiculous bid just so the Yanks can't have him.

I've send an e-mail to Mark about it and according to him, if the Sox don't negociate in good faith, the rights to Matsuzaka will go to the next high-bidder.

I still think the proces is vulnerable, because 'in good faith' is subjective and the commisioner has to decide about that when it gets a funny smell, but it's being watched at least.

Why have all that good faith BS? Why not just award it to the next highest bidder. Its just ridiculous. but you are right mns. Atleast it's being watched.

The problem with awarding it to the next highest bidder would be that it would give the agent a lot more leverage to hold out for a higher contract.

This way the agent knows he only gets one shot at negotiating a contract. If the second bidder got an opportunity, the agent could take his best shot at a best-case contract with bidder #1, if they didn't agree, he could try again with bidder #2. It would make it very difficult for bidder #1 to do anything other than accept the agent's highest demands.

I'm sure MLB foresaw the possibility of a team offering an outrageously high bid just to block the other teams. That's why the negotiating process is subject to review by the commish.

Does anyone else notice that ESPN is the only outlet reporting that the Red Sox had the highest bid?

Thats a valid point Andy. May be there should be a minimum (say 25% of the bid) that the team should offer per year to the player. After offering this minimum, if the parties cant come to an agreement then the player returns to the parent club. Otherwise, the next highest bidder should be awarded the rights to negotiate and the original winner should be fined a certain percentage of the bid.

I think if you cant work out a contract, you should be charged that bid for this season and have it count towards payroll

nah Vince. That gives too much advantage to the player. He'll ask for the sky.

All I know is that Red Sox fans can not use the payroll argument any more if they really did win the Matsuzaka bid.

100 million on a player with no MLB experience? Yikes.

And they thought $32 million for Contreras was a lot...

At least we know when the announcement will be now. 8 pm tomorrow night.

No word yet if there was a $10 million bid on when the date of the announcement would be.

Is Mark Buehrle a free agent? He's not on the White Sox roster.

He was a free agent. His option was exercised.

...meaning back w/the White Sox. Sox could still deal him, though. Rumors have them offering any of their starters in the right deal.

I read somewhere that the whitesox were offering any of their pitchers (other than Mc Carthy) for a top pitching prospect and another young player (prospect?) to the rangers. May be Cashman should look into it. Buerhle is only 27.

Cashman's got a deal or 2 up his sleeve and I'm talking major deals...I doubt he'll settle on Zito and/or Schmidt.

I have to watch the panthers on MNF tonight. Thiesman and Kornheiser. yuck. Talk abt a drop in quality. Madden and Al Michaels to these jokers.

If the yankees make a pitch for Buehrle, who should they offer.

Clippard and Vecchionacci?

Wait, not for Buerhle. Maybe somebody else, but not for a one-year loaner.

I've just read this article from our buddy Mark Feinsand:
NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi is back in the Yankees family, but he won't be wearing pinstripes.

Girardi was introduced as the newest member of the YES Network broadcast team on Monday, as he returns to the network as a game analyst. Girardi spent the 2004 season with YES before taking a job as Joe Torre's bench coach in 2005 and becoming the Marlins manager in 2006.

So, welcome back, Joe

25 minutes...... and counting

They said it would be 8 pm tomorrow night...sorry, but 24 hours and 25 min.

Check out this column.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnONtmkyC_cPAHOpGh.ZB_IRvLYF?slug=cnnsi-evilempirejr&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

"That's why the negotiating process is subject to review by the commish."

Yeah, because Bud Selig has never turned a blind eye to anything, haha.

Clippard and Vecchionacci?

Posted by: swolansky@mail.colgate.edu | November 13, 2006 07:26 PM

Way too much for Buehrle...especially after the season he just had.

Guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

"Clippard and Vecchionacci?

Posted by: swolansky@mail.colgate.edu | November 13, 2006 07:26 PM

Wait, not for Buerhle. Maybe somebody else, but not for a one-year loaner.

Posted by: swolansky@mail.colgate.edu | November 13, 2006 07:27 PM "

I corrected myself already, btide.

TOMORROW night???? Where did we hear the press conference was tonight?

Tomorrow night is Wednesday in Tokoyo.

I was out running errands and hurried back to find out it is TOMORROW????

They are 14 hours ahead of us so there is still some time. I really don't care anymore. This whole process has been ridiculously drawn out.

My post above at 12:05 PM from the Boston Globe said there would be a press conference tonight at 8 PM EST.

Boston Globe, wrong again.

MLB.com says the Red Sox have won it by highly places sources.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061113&content_id=1739983&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

Reading the MLB.com story is really an exercise in hearsay.

They refer to the ESPN story and also say the top bid was in excess of $50 million according to XM Radio.

What they don't say at the top of the story is:

"We do not have a freaking clue so we will repeat what we heard and present it as a story for the fans."

That would be the truth.

I am going to go on a few message boards and post that I have heard the Red Sox won the bidding with a bid of $76.3 million.

Let us see how soon it will make the national news.

Like I said, I stopped caring a long time ago. I really don't see why we should pay $100 million+ for a guy who's never pitched in a big league game. Especially when we have Karstens, Rasner, Hughes, Wang, etc.

LOL Paul please do that and show me the story that will unfold about the winning $76.3 million bid in the next hour.

This is really anti-climatic to me. Boston won the bid. Let's move on. We need a starting pitcher or two. Don't worry over something we can't control. Obviously Boston watned him really bad and they got him, that is that. I agree, paying 90-100 million on a pitcher who hasn't thrown a pitch in the Major's seems to be excessive, but if he is what everyone thinks he is, for Boston's sake, he is worth it.

Hey Paul, I don't know if you know this, but I heard that the Red Sox won the bidding with a 76.3 million dollar bid. It came from a very credible source, from what I hear. Have you heard that too?

:-D :-D :-D

I'm looking forward to Matsuzaka looking a lot like Josh Beckett at Yankee Stadium.

...assuming that the $76.3 million bid was the highest.

My bad Swo...sometimes I don't pay enough attention haha.

lol, no problem. I just wanted to nip it in the bud, lest more people think I want Buerhle for Clippard and Vecchionacci! :-P

That being said, if we substituted Freddy for Buerhle, would it be a good deal?

I heard that the courier mistakenly wrote "for Carl Pavano" on the Red Sox envelope.

The Yanks accepted the bid.

:-) LOL!

I had Vecchionacci once, but I put a salve on it and it cleared up in a few days.

Yikes it is too much work to register with a fake name on mlb.com. They ask you 23907490234 questions and by the time I finished I forgot the password.

Maybe it was a mistake using Fenway Park as my home address.

At least you tried, Paul. "A" for effort. :-P

Well placed sources high in the Red Sox organization, speaking under the condition of anonymity, have disclosed that the blind bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Siebu Lions was approximately $76.3 million. The Red Sox are reported to have won the bidding with that bid.

The above is what I posted somewhere.

Does ESPN have a message board?

Wow, that is a lot of money!

haha paul, you crack me up!

How's it going, theodore?

Moi?

Simon! Theodore! ALVIN!

Does anyone else remember the Chipmunks and Dave Seville?

C-H-I-P-M-U-N-K!!!

http://www.chipmunks.com/

Paul what drug did you take?

I used to get in trouble as a kid because I loved the Chipmunks and I would play my father's opera records on the hifi at a higher speed so the opera singers would sound like the Chipmunks.

heh heh Vince, iced tea here, but there was one tea bag of peach tea mixed in when I made it.

Hey everyone.

So it looks like Boston got Matsuzaka, but if they really wasted 50+ mill on him, they can have him. It's just overkill. Hopefully the negotiations won't work, though. The Yankees just need to move on and concentrate on Zito. I think they need just one ace of the market and things will look good. Zito is not Matsuzka, but he is effective, and, who knows, maybe Matsuzaka will be Hideki Irabu II-or even Contreras II. Either that or his overwork in Japan will catch up with him. I doubt either of those will happen, but you never know.

We can, however, thank Theo Epstein for his wonderful trades after the ROY announcements today. ROY Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez for their ace Beckett and a mediocre Lowell sure turned out well.

Hey All,

Just wanted to share some news. My wife and I are expecting and we found out today that it is going to be a boy.

There is a girl at my school, who is about 6'8" and on the larger side, who does the best chipmunk voice I have ever heard. It's one of the most amusing things.

We finally got substantial snow in Duluth today. Yay.

I'll catch up again tomorrow.

Congratulations Vik!

Thanks Karl

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congrats Vik. Hopefully in 18 years he will be the Yanks #1 draft choice.

Thanks Kat. Thanks Mike. I am not sure he will be in US 18yrs from now. But what the h eck I'll come back for the money. lol.

Congrats Vik. It truly is a miracle watching the birth of a child!!!!!

That is great news, Vik. Congratulations and best wishes!

You might want to get a hold of the Yankee schedule so your wife can go into labor on an off day and assuredly not during a series with the Red Sox.

She would much rather have you there with her than watching the game.

thanks Sam and everybody else that contratulated me already and everybody that will congratulate me later.

not worried abt it Paul. She's due in the last week of march.

oh, good Vik.

You still would not want to miss Spring Training games.

They are not on TV where I live. So, I'm ok.

It will be a joy watching the baby yankees next year. If I can.

I write a monthly column for our fanclub each month. Here is an advance peek at one section.

The WHAT?

Ok. I’m a Yankee fan. If I want to see AAA baseball, I am heading up to Scranton to watch the Yankee prospects, especially the corps of good young pitchers they will have in Scranton this year and beyond (it should be a very good staff, headed by Hughes). So there was little chance of me going to Allentown to watch the Phillies’ AAA team when the Yankees’ AAA team is 75 to 90 minutes away, even if the Phils’ AAA team isn’t coming to Allentown until 2008. But naming the team the IronPigs? You have to be kidding. I am just waiting for Jay Leno or David Letterman to get a hold of that. That nickname is just flat out awful.

Then, lying in bed and not being able to sleep, it hit me. The parent club of the IronPigs, the Phillies, have a funny looking furry mascot that the kids love and who takes attention away from what is going on during the game. It’s also a great marketing tool and fun to have in the community. A good thing too, when you realize that outside of an eight year glory run (5 division titles, 2 pennants, and its only World Championship) from 1976-1983, the Phils have only 3 pennants outside of that in their history—starting in 1883. So what SHOULD the AAA team have been called? How to tie it in with the Phanatic?

The Lehigh Valley Tickle Me Elmos. Imagine. Kids would have loved it. Merchandising would have sold. You already had the rallying cry—Elmo’s distinctive laugh could have filled the stadium when the Elmos were behind in the game, thus making the other team lose its concentration and helping the Elmos win the game. Heck, you could play Elmo’s laugh anytime someone made an error, a pitcher got bombed, etc. You would have Elmo and the Phillie Phanatic at charity events, etc. They would have made a perfect pair. No need to worry about sponsorship problems because Sesame Street and the maker of Tickle Me Elmos would be natural sponsors of the team. You could even show the games on PBS—right after Sesame Street. As far as promotions go, no need for a bobble head night. Just give away Tickle Me Elmos.

Yes. The Lehigh Valley really blew it. The Lehigh Valley Tickle Me Elmos.

Before you send the white coats, I AM being facetious.

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!

Derek Jeter's new fragrance, Driven, is NOW AVAILABLE from Avon. Order yours today.

http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.asp?newdept=&s=notifyme&c=email&otc=notifyme&bnd=&pf_id=30212&level1_id=300&level2_id=309&pdept_id=375

hahahaha... I am curious... I may just have to buy it!

To be fair though, while Beckett wasn't what they expected, Lowell wasn't mediocre for them.

Ugh, Avon. I hate them. Is it only sold through them?

Morning everyone! Thanks for the Jeter cologne update...WOOHOO! In just a few short hours every room in my house will smell like Derek! :)

Anyhoo, I read on Pete's blog that it is almost for sure that the S*x won the bid and as I said on there, I'm fine with not overpaying. But my question is, since the news hasnt been officially announced yet, why is everyone now more sure than before that the S*x won? Was a more credible story leaked or something?

Oh, and Hanley Ramirez wins NL ROY...ahh but the Yankees are the ones who trade away their future in favor of the right-now marquee names! Riiiight. ;)

And one last thing I was reading through Mark's latest mailbag and was equal-parts appalled and amused by this comment:

"To me, Sheffield is clearly better than Bobby Abreu, so why are the Yanks going with Abreu? He's more expensive and not as good defensively (doesn't have Sheff's arm) and doesn't have the fearsome power."

Aaahahahahaha!! Am I on glue or did this person really just write that Sheff is better defensively and has the better arm?!? Jebus I don't even know what to say lol.