On the Yankees beat

Well the latest he is saying the only other team he will play for is the mets, Willie, Westchester Home but is leary because he does not want to tarnish his Yankee legacy

It would be nice for him to get a job somewhere in the organization, where he can conveniently unretire if he is needed in mid summer like he was last year.

Jim- Glad to hear your digits are all intact, but it's not good that you have already been relegated to the basement by your wife. I notice you didn't mention the wife going to Ireland with you. Now that's a real vacation. Bernie will not play anywhere in "07". The Yankees have kept him in limbo so long, that most teams have their rosters pretty much set. He might get an invite to Spring Training with some team, but with no guaranteed spot on any 25 man roster, I think he will just retire.

Jim B

You didn't injure your finger swinging a machete, did you?

My thoughts on Bernie haven't changed. This man has EARNED a right to be on this team, unlike many of these useless imports who sign on to get a ring.

As far as the whole platoon idea goes for 1B, I say again, let Cairo get a few AB as the RH 1B. Lord knows, he won't play much for the other 3 IF's. And, 85% of the P are RH anyway. We don't need four 1B (Doug M., Phelps, Cairo, and Giambi). Give me a spot for BERNIE! Now, where in the hell is that machete???

If nothing else, have Bernie come to ST and make him a player/coach at Scranton so he can be ready in case we have injuries like last year, or Melky DOES get traded for a Willis.

I hope Bernie Williams retires Yankee. If there is no room on the roster, and having Doug Mientkiewicz, Andy Phillips and Miguel Cairo on the roster, it appears there will not be a roster spot for Bernie. He is a great Yankee and should not tarnish this reputation by going somewhere else to play for a year or two. I am sure he will be offered a position in the organization.

I do not understand why not a position change for Bernie to first base. He is a lethal right handed bat. I take him over Phelps or Phillips on anyday. I think his professionalism would have made him an easy transition to first.
I am really looking forward to ST and finally I can look at the Scranton rotation that gives me hope that it can actually help the big club for once.
Go Yankees and I hope Bernie stays with the Yankees. What are your thoughts of Bernie playing first?

I think Bernie is going to play for the Mets if the Yankees don't find a spot for him. I wish the yankees would just resign him becuase you never know if anyone will get injured. Get rid of Mike Myers and Resign Bernie, Thats what I would do.

Jim B: Welcome back. I wish my circumstances were such that I had the opportunity to go overseas prior to college. It would have tied in the college experience, so much better.
As far as your spelling. I wouldn't know half of the misspelled words and some I would adopt as correct.

Bernie Williams has meant so much to this team over the years. He's endured much for his own sake and the organization. If, no spot is available on the Yankees. I hope that he does the classy thing and retire as a Yankee.

There should be a spot in the organization for such a classy guy.

Did you guys read Boston Herald by Idiot Tony Massarotti -Ca$h bag Yanked shut referring to Cashman and Yankees spending?

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=175770

"Quote"
"Hilarious, isn’t it? For all of the crazy money thrown around in baseball this winter, the Yankees have been rather frugal. The Yankees now seem to be doing the opposite of what their instincts have told them in past years, suggesting that the George Costanza influence is now greater than ever before"

"As things stand - and, remember, Clemens is still out there - the Yankees starting rotation includes Pettitte, Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Carl Pavano and Igawa. The hope going forward is that they’ll get help from the minor leagues in pitchers such as Philip Hughes and Jeff Karstens, meaning that the Yankees have been trying to do precisely what they Red Sox have been attempting in recent years."

What Did Massarotti means Red Sox have been attempting in recent years? Redsox spent more money this offseason and yet Redsox nation are jealous about yankees and their spending. Yankees have more homegrowns than Redsox. This Redsox Team are bunch of hired mercenaries.Massarotti forgot to mentioned that Mike Lowell and Wily Mo Pena are former yankees homegrowns. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are free agent signings.

The boston herald article states the red sux are $20million behind the Yanks at this time in salary. They are spending big time while Cashman is taking a more prudent approach.

A few random thoughts on some recent postings.

1)In Hibernation III, Pinstriped Player hit a home run with all of his comments, especiaslly regarding how lucky we are as Yankee fans. I've been a fan of the Yanks since I was nine years old in 1953 and have lived through some of baseball's (hell, sport's!) finest moments. Speaking of such, my favorite Yankee moment (s) was the 1958 WS when the Yanks came back from a 3 - 1 deficit against the Braves, "Bullet Bob" Turley pitching superbly in three consecutive games (!), all of 1961 (need I explain) and the original Boston Massacre of 1978. There certainly have been plenty of others, but they rank as the top three.

2)Someone mentioned giving rookies in the farm system encouragement by giving Phillips the job at 1B, thereby letting them know that they'll also get a chance. But I don't think they need further encouragement after witnessing the rise of Wang, Cano and Cabrera.

3)I love Glavine's comments. Since when must every minor league pitcher be a power pitcher to get a chance. I don't think you could exactly call Whitey Ford (or Eddie Lopat) a power pitcher. Mel Stottlemyre, by the way, was a sinkerball specialist, so I don't think Wang has anything to worry about relying upon it as his out pitch. He should develope another pitch to 'show' hitters but he doesn't have to be a strikeout artist to continue his success.

4) Does no one else wonder about the lack of versatility among current players? Just taking the Yanks as an example, we shouldn't be too amazed at ARod's transformation to 3B, even if last year we weren't exactly enchanted with his backsliding, but he's one of the few 'regulars' that have moved around, position-wise on the Yankees. Does anyone recall that in the 57 WS, Tony Kubel put in time at LF, £B, CF and SS! Elston Howard, who caught and played in the OF during the regular season, actually played in three games at 1B that WS, even though he didn't play a game there all year prior to the series. Do you remember Gil Mc Dougald who, in different years was the starting 3B, starting SS and startnig 2B, and played all those positions when needed in other years. Bobby Richardson also played a bit at 3B, SS and eventually became the starinmg 2B. How about Tommy Tresh, who played all over the infield and outfield. Those are just a few I can think of off the top of my head. It kind of amazes me that great and gifted athletes of today don't or can't be moved around. Anyone have any thoughts?

yanks61: The versatility of 50's Yankee teams had more to do w/ Stengel' managerial style ,he liked to platoon players ,also he was handed an abundance of talent every yr,when Houk became manager in 1961 he pretty much put an end to it ,Richardson,Boyer,Kubek became regulars at their positions.When Kubek was fulfilling his military obligations in 1962 Tresh took over at SS for him ,when he returned Tresh was moved to LF and learned how to play on the fly ,but that move was made out of necessity, it's interesting that both Berra and Howard made the all-star team from I believe 1957 thru 1962 at the same position,catcher...Why weaken your defense moving players around the field?

Yanks61: I have to agree with it being Stengel's Mgr. style as ruse,Ca.said. He wanted the same core of players on the field. What I find disturbing is the thought processes of baseball mgrs. especially during the game with pitchers. The lefty against righty situations. As the batter changes, so does the pitcher unless the sacrifice of hitter and removed after announced as a pinch hitter. A lefty pitcher who cannot get a majority of the righty hitters out should not be pitching. This burns a bullpen out. Warming up has to be included with arm fatique then come in for 1 or 2 pitches.

Yankee example Meyers is a waste of a relief spot on the team. He can bring it at 76mph than he should be gone. I would much prefer S. Henn at 92-93mph pitching. And the reverse for hitters against pitchers. Way too much thinking for the games sake. I believe it undermines a players confidence to perform when the optimum switch can't be made.

Mike Francesca said Who cares about phony Igawa's press conference?

I thought he was yankees fan.. He's phony and fraud.. He loves and enamored Matsuzaka signing with Boston .

My guess is Bernie will retire a Yankee. I don't think the Yankees were stringing him along, they probably let him know they were not going to have room for him a long time ago and didn't say it publicly, you know, politocs. I'm looking forward to Bernie Williams day at the Stadium!

Thanks Bern you're a class act and a great Yankee!

What if Gimabi plays first against the tougher left handed starters and Bernie DH's those days? Phelps was released for a reason and Phillips is a 31 year old rookie. I say we keep Bernie as a righty DH and occassional OF. Or hopefully Cash has something up his sleeve-as in trading Melky and one of these pitching prospects for Willis, brings Bernie back for one more year and has Tabata ready for 08

Post #1: 2:39 pm Quote | Report Violation
Total Posts: 515

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14183

Aaron (Cincy): Do you think, as one of your fellow ESPN columnists suggests, that the Yankees are stockpiling prospects on the outside chance they can make a run at Santana? Or are they just clearing dead weight?

Keith Law: (1:10 PM ET ) Ton of questions on Yankees and Santana ... I do think that keeping Santana is going to be next to impossible for the Twins, at least under their current ownership and payroll setup. He has to be a $20 million pitcher, given the contracts we saw this winter. That said, there's no reason for the Twins to trade him when they can win that division by keeping him. I think the Yanks are stockpiling arms to make a deal, but I wouldn't put Santana in pinstripes just yet - definitely not in '07, since his contract runs through '08.

Doug (NY): Hey Keith, Did the Yanks choose the right Zona prospect in Ohlendorf rather than Nippert or Owings?

Keith Law: (1:12 PM ET ) I would have gone for Nippert - whom Arizona has made available - because I think he's more coveted by other clubs. If the idea is to acquire tradeable assets, Nippert would be the best choice. Owings' makeup is a big concern, especially if he'd gone to New York.

tom, (NJ): Without Clemens, do you think the yankees have enough starting pitching to win the division?

Keith Law: (1:55 PM ET ) I think so, but it's tight. The Red Sox could have a 95-100-win team if they sign Drew and if Matsuzaka is what I expect him to be, but I also think the Yanks will have a 900-run offense and probably have enough pitching to make it work. Set your Hughes-o-meters, though - the RJ trade really clears a spot for his eventual arrival.

Dominic, NJ: Hey Keith...are the Yankees just gonna let Bernie fade away, or are they gonna give him a proper send off(i.e. a 5th outfielder spot)?

Keith Law: (2:12 PM ET ) I think they're really hoping he retires. And I hope so too. Great player, time to go.

Rob - Western Mass: Bernie Williams: Hall of Fame?

Keith Law: (2:15 PM ET ) No, one level down, with Dawson, Morris, etc.

Jim (LA): Hughes or Lester?

Keith Law: (2:22 PM ET ) Before Lester got sick, I liked him a touch more. I think Red Sox fans, while meaning well, aren't considering the immense physical toll that cancer and its treatment take on a patient's body. He's going to be exhausted for a long time.

Chris (NJ): Can we expect Igawa to be a decent 4/5 starter, or did the Yankees just re-sign a younger, Japanese version of Frank Tanana (circa 1989)?

Keith Law: (2:24 PM ET ) I think Igawa finishes that deal in their pen or in another team's rotation. Granted, I've only seen Igawa on video, but I don't see his stuff working in the AL right now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will (NYC): I thought Hughes was supposed to be a stud. Willl he ever be a 20 game winner for the yanks?

Keith Law: (2:30 PM ET ) With the offenses they tend to run out there, he'll have several years where he wins 15+.

Mike Hunt (Idaho): What is your take on Drew will he pan out and Pavano
Keith Law: (2:50 PM ET ) With the addition of drew the Redsox should be better at that position. However extra padding must be placed on the right field wall due to drew running for a catch and flipping over and yelling out "OPT out! Opt Out!! and Boras saying you want a band aid - Boo Boo. As for Pavano he reminds me of a Jail shower.... AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! Now get back to work!

It's foolish to ask Law (or anyone else) how many games a player will win before he ever throws a pitch in the majors. I remember chats in August last year where people were wondering whether Liriano, Verlander and Jared Weaver would be Hall of Famers?!?!

If Moyer can pitch in the AL with his junk, I don't see why Igawa couldn't.

As for Bernie - A) the team worked him out at 1b a little last spring, it was a terrible experience and both he and the team decided not to go down that road again and B) as much as we may all want him to stay, the point is from a baseball standpoint it doesn't make sense, he's not fast enough to pinch run, he was bad pinch hitting (not spot starting but pinch hitting) he's not good in the field and with Giambi DHing, he can't do that either...on the days when Giambi doesn't DH either Abreu, Matsui or Damon will and Melky will play.

Jason: If I want to hang on every word Keith Law has to say I would tune in his show,but I don't , I can't speak for everyone but would you please refrain from posting that stuff,comparing Lester to Hughes is a total waste of time,most of us on this blog have covered this stuff any number of times,also scrolling becomes a chore.

Chip

Good points, but does it make sense to carry 4 guys (Phelps, Doug M., Cairo, Giambi) who can play 1B? Especially when the 1B will be batting 9th?

Rick:

It does for a couple of reasons

1. Giambi will be starting games at DH so lets say Doug M. starts at 1st and gets hurt, Giambi can't move over there for him or else the pitcher will have to bat

2. Both Giambi and Doug come with injury questions

3. If they play Cairo at 1st then they have no back up infielder in case of injury to Cano, Jeter or A-Rod

Rick: The Yanks are not going to carry 4 guys.Phelps is not guaranteed a spot and neither is Phillips...this is not inclusive to resigning Bernie,that's an all together different subject,putting aside our sentimentality for BW,Melky is the future and if the Yanks chose to carry another outfielder my guess it would be Thompson,who's hungrier?,faster,and has a better arm than Williams...he would make more sense,don't you think?

I know you "old timers" like Bernie, but the guy is done. Cashman rewarded him for his past contributions by keeping him last year. Let the guy retire with some dignity and not go out like Willie Mays did.

Ruse -

Sounds like the Yankees are going to carry 12 pitchers, though at the start of the season, when they won't need a fifth starter, they may go with an extra position player, either Thompson, Phillips/Phelps or Canizzero.

In general it looks like the bench will be Phelps/Phillips, Cairo, Nieves, Melky.

The way Torre wears out the bullpen, we need all the relief pitchers we can possibly carry.

Chip

On your first scenario, a PH can be used when the pitcher comes up. Torre started doing that manuever last year some.

On your third scenarion, an IF gets hurt. Cairo moves over to that position and Doug M. (who was on the bench) takes over at 1B in the batting slot of the injured IF.

There is no need to carry four guys that play 1B.

Chip: Yeah that sounds about right,but do you think Nieves is the final choice for back-up? I still think the Yanks make a move to upgrade the back-up catcher position...Roy :let's hope the Yankee starters can pitch deeper into games,that way Torre keeps a fresher pen.

ruse

They are going to carry Doug M. and a RH 1B (Phillips/Phelps winner), Cairo, and Giambi. BC has already stated that he will have a platoon at 1B, not counting Cairo.

As far as Bernie, I know it makes more "sense". It is a sentimental thing plus the guy hit .281 with 12 HR last year. I just can't stomach watching all these "outsiders" who aren't going to play anyhow come in and take away BW's spot. He is a Yankee and has earned his stripes!

Roy

If we had SP who could actually go 7 innings, or RP who could pitch more than one day a week, we wouldn't have to carry 12 P. What a joke these stiffs are.

Ruse -

I don't see many other options out there and I think that Nieves, at least with the glove anyway, will be fine starting a couple of games a month, and if not...There is a chance that lots of young relievers show enough to convince Cashman that Farnsworth can be traded and he brings back a catcher in return, but if not, back up catchers are not terribly hard to find in mid-season, either via trade or on the waiver wire.

As for the pitching - it all comes down to trust factor with Torre. If he's willing to trust his 4th and 5th starters and not yank them the first time they give up back to back hits in the 5th or 6th innings, the pen will be fine. If he's willing to listen when Guidry tells him not to use Proctor on a day where he comes into the game having thrown 7 innings over the previous 4 back to back days...then they'll be fine. If he doesn't listen, relievers in August will fall apart like Villone did.

Wang was the only starter that Torre could count on to go at least 7 innings. Problem is, Torre left Wang in numerous times when Wang was outta gas. I hope when the "young guns" get their chance, Torre doesn't "burn them up", or ruin their confidence by leaving them in to get pounded.

Rick

The guy taking Bernie's spot is not Phelps or Doug it is Melky.

He is a younger, cheaper alternative to Bernie who is faster and better defensively.

Yes, Bernie hit well last season in his spot starts, but that was not the role they wanted him in last year...he was signed to pinch hit (which he did horribly). For Bernie to get that type of playing time again it would take long term injuries to two of the group of Melky, Damon, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi. And even if two of those guys do go down, the team thinks that young players like Sardhina, Gardner, Thompson can fill in just as well.

By reading some of the comments it seems the message (unconscious) is that torre is horrible with his pitchers and could be damaging to the young crops, which can spell disaster. Could this been part of the reason his stay is questioned?? the team is in a rebuild mode in a sort of matter is this the right person for this transaction, now in this department Buck excelled

Bomber:

I think there's no question that this is Torre's last season...his contract is up and after everything I'm not sure he wants to come back anyway.

With Cashman's turn towards restocking the minors and so many of those young players expected in the next couple of years: Hughes, Sanchez, Olendorf, Clippard, Chamberlain, Tabata, Gardner and so on...I think the best move for next manager will NOT be Donnie Baseball. I just don't want him in a position to fail. The most logical choice for next manager would actually be Girardi. He's going to spend this season around the Yankees as a commentator for YES, he did great things with the young talent on the Marlins and is as respected as anyone in the Yankee clubhouse by the veterans who played with him.

Chip , i agree with you 10000 % the giradi situation is funny , remember he declined a return to the coaching family of the yankees, and was questioned as if he can question torre or any move while he is a broadcaster, so by accepting the broadcaster position he is away from the fire and can stay in the booth until showtime . WOnder if he was told anything behind the scenes??

I believe the main reason Torre is still at the helm is the fact the Yanks are now counting their pennies. There is no way they would fire Torre and pay him $5 million,(or whatever he gets), to sit at home, and pay a new guy like Pinella another $3-$4 million. We were just to cheap to fire him.

Roy -

Torre was retained because
a) Pinella would have been an atrocious choice to replace him - look at his track record with young players plus his relationship with A-Rod would have driven Jeter nuts
b) Cashman is calling the shots and was showing some loyalty

Hummh Interesting Roy,

Torre went Hollywood and that PR hurt the Yankees especially if they found reason to fire him but the overall support for him is large , but remember so was the support for buck. That is why the DONNIE situation is brought up in terms of PUBLIC support to EASE out Joe , but in reality and honestly Joe giradi is the more seasoned canidate. would you want to mortage your YOUTH movement on a untested manager. now the coaching staff is such that anyone of them can lead the team. honestly i thought Pena or Bowa should 've been promoted to bench coach. ever saw what tony did in KC

Torre's relationship with Steinbrenner has been strained for a while now. George somewhat resents the amount of credit Torre gets for bringing the championships - in some ways he's correct to do so. Torre was a failure as a manager until he teamed up with the Boss's deep pockets. At the same time when things go wrong with the Yankees it is often blamed on the front office for bringing in bad players.

But that's neither here nor there. After this season Torre will likely retire...the Yankees will move on with a new manager and we'll see what happens.

or if the YAnkees start out abd torre is a goner and Donnie interns and if sucks giradi comes downstairs .

I like Giradi, and the fact he has already been successful with a very young rotation. I still think the "bottom line" is now more important than PR in Yankee Land. We signed Pettitte for $16 million, and dumped Randy and his $16 million dollar salary. That's a "bottom line" wash. I really don't expect us to shell out $16 million for Clemens and wreck this philosophy. If Clemens is waivering between us and Boston, Cashman will have a real problem, but then there is always the deferred money approach.

What I will say is that Torre did the team a disservice hanging A-Rod out to dry. Now I'm not going to sit here and talk about batting him 6th or 8th in the playoffs (though 8th was nuts). What I am talking about are the unreal quotes and access Torre gave to Verducci for his SI piece this past August. I can't imagine Frank Robinson or any other manager for that matter, so publicly selling out a player like he did.

Hell, Robinson was brought to tears because he had to pull his third string catcher and was upset that it might embarrass the player!

Incidentally, if not Girardi I would like the Yankees to hire an old school manager who can teach the young kids coming in how to play hard and right from the start...though with Jeter and Damon on the team that too pretty much takes care of itself.

Chip you are on the money today. but even with that Arod diss I still believe in the end arod handle it well. remember when the Boss dissed Jeter and his partying? on how Jeter was considering leaving, now i'm not trying to start anything. but can you imagine a slumping jeter batting eigth??

Roy -

How can you possibly say that the Yankees have started becoming cheap? Did the team not just shell out over $46 million for Igawa?

The signing of Pettitte and trade of Johnson were moves made independent of each other that were made for baseball reasons and not money. Well at least not strictly for money.

Pettitte has shown he can pitch in NY and did not want a long term contract. Unit was pitching badly, coming off injury and not going to stay with the team beyond this year. The Yankees got FOUR players back for him...that's like found money...you take that deal in a heartbeat no matter what GM you are or how much money you have.

The only guy that really knows how to handle A-Rod is Giambi. Giambi tells A-Rod straight up,"how the cow eats the cabbage".

Bomber:

Jeter and A-Rod have shown they are two totally different people in how they handle dust-ups like that.

What would have been interesting is if Torre had been fired and replaced by Pinella you would have a situation where Jeter's biggest fan would be replaced by a man who is a father figure to A-Rod.

That change of dynamic would have had some very tangible effects in the clubhouse.

Sheffield too. He gave him some pointers some time ago , and pulls him aside and let him know. Remember when sheff went at jeter ?? This was when sheff was in the running for MVP, the shift and attention was still on jeter espeically when he was in that awful slump

That is true Chip, That is why a Giradi is perfect for the group , but as for Lou I do think he would have been well here yes Jeter would have lost Torre and arod would recieved lou. but remember LOU IS A YANKEE so hte club house would not have been as bad , remember donnie and lou played together as well was manager and playerso if that adds up and that get AROD into feeling and playing like a yankee more then heck ya know what i'm saying. They grown men now arod has no father i beleive so yes there is a bond. arod also bonds well with donnie

If A-Rod has "father figure" problems, or other off the field mental hangups, maybe we can get Dr. Phil to manage the Yankees and help him out. This is ridiculous. No manager will be any easier or more comforting for him than Torre has been. This "huggy-feely, bonding" stuff concerning A-Rod is worthy of "Oprah", not the Yankees. Billy must be rolling in his grave.

I agree with Chip's statement that Torre is done after this Season. However, my feeling is that Don Mattingly is named Torre's successor, not Girardi - especially if General George still has a voice in the Team's operations. Girardi did a fine job with Florida, but he was quite abrasive, not only with the owners but with some of his young players and the Press. For those that point to Donnie's managerial inexperience, dont' forget that several MLB owners expressed the same reservations about Girardi, who had no managerial experience other than a 1 year stint as bench coach.
Now that Donnie is the bench coach, I believe the Front Office feels that it would be a PR disaster if they now pass him over to select Torre's successor.

Yanks61: You bring back some fond memories, especially of the 1958 Series. In those days WS Games started about 1 or 2 PM - no night games! I went to a parochial school, and the "Nuns" would allow us to listen to the radio from 2:30-300 PM provided that we "behaved" during the schoolday. As soon as the bell rang, we would run home, usually 2 or 3 to a single household, to watch the Game's finish.
In Game 7, after the Yanks scored a run to go ahead
3-2 in the 8th, I remember Moose Skowron hitting a 3-Run homer to virtually "put the game on ice", 6-2. "Bullet Bob" actually relieved Don Larsen in that game to win it.

Speaking of guys playing different positions, Jerry Lumpe contributed much that year at 2B/SS/3B and Norm Sieburn played 1B and LF. I'm sure you remember big righty reliever Ryne Duren, who would come in a game squinting through his "coke bottle" glasses and throw his first warmup pitch back to the screen -
Intimidating!

I think the Yanks are making a mistake if they bypass Girardi as the next manager. In general, catchers make very good managers, as they handle pitching staffs well. I would guess that everytime a manager gets fired next year, Girardi will be on the "short list" to fill the job. If Torre lasts all season, Girardi may be employed elsewhere by then, giving Mattingly the position by default.

Jim,

I love your Blog and try to keep up with your postings. I would like to see Clemens come back. And what about Mark Mulder?

I hope you have fun in Ireland, and please, no more home remodling, you can´t type without fingers.

I am in Lago Atitlan, Guatemala ... I did some intense journalism today, found Maximon the Mexican idol here in Santiago de Laguna and a seemingly possessed man who was there, foaming, snot all over and got it on film, it was so so creepy ...

Remember how about a thousand died in the mudslides here ... I went to the site of the disaster and I did an interview with an archetype CSI Guatemala forensics expert. The disaster hit with Hurricane Stan on Oct. 2nd, 2005, and they are still looking for more bodies, there was a mass grave too ...

I then went to a post disaster refugee camp built by the EU and Oxfam and did interviews with the survivors ... nice families, very religious. And what gorgeous and loved children, so poor but they were having fun, playing pick up baseball and soccer, drinking sodas and so forth. They were so smiling and friendly to myself and a few Scandinavians who came along ...

I am putting together a pilot for an Internet and Mobile series ... so that is why I am here.

Bless you on your trip Jim, and keep up the great journalism. I need the Yankees and the Blog as an escape, it´s a lot of fun to play in the Hot Stove League.

Anthony C. LoBaido
purejournalism.blogspot.com

Roy

Here, Here! Finally, someone else has had enough of this pyschobabble crap dealing with A-Rod!!!! I have been a lone voice on this issue. Thank you Roy! And yes, Billy is turning, over and over, and over.....

Latham Joe

You are correct. Donnie Baseball will be the next manager of the Yankees. That is what he has been groomed for and why he is the bench coach. I agree that Girardi would be a better manager, but slighting Mattingly after all this grooming is just not going to happen.

To all my regular buds,

Please endulge me this one football post. I know you will understand...

GO BUCKEYES !!!!

Thank you.

ESPN is reporting that RJ passed his physical and the trade is complete.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2724800

...so, not counting the money part of it... we basically traded Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey and Dioner Navarro, for
Luis Vizcaino, Ross Ohlendorf Steven Jackson and Alberto Gonzalez.

Does that change anybody's perspective of this trade?

just curious

A lot to read through and consider as I catch up. But it is discouraging with the freaking Red Sox troll of 1000 names posting chatroom and radio show transcripts, stupid trade demands, death threats to journalists, and just about any other extraneous crap that makes reading this and all the other Yankee blogs on which it posts the identical stuff a pain in the place Pavano hurt last year. Well, one of the places.

By the way, today is Pavano's and Giambi's birthday. Take a supermodel home with you.

A few topics addressed above:

1. Bernie: truly a gentleman and an all time great Yankee. I hope he retires. He really is unable to successfully pinch hit and is even less adept in the field. Really, it would be a shame were he to hang on somewhere and embarrass himself.

Bernie will always be a great Yankee. If for some reason he feels the call to play for another team, he still deserves our cheers for all he did. But he really cannot take up a Yankee roster spot as long as Giambi is the DH.

2. Next Manager: It is early to prognosticate on the next Yankee manager, for a couple of reasons. Joe may wish to continue and the early favorites are not the best choices.

Girardi was a firey guy and rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He was successful with the kids in Florida but here it is a different story. There is a mix of vets and kids and will be next year. Piniella would have been an awful choice as he really could not handle a young team in Tampa.

The best choice I think is one of the coaches, and not Donnie, though I like him a lot. I think Tony Pena would be a great manager with Larry Bowa as his bench coach. Donnie at 3B. Pena is great with kids and veterans, a very knowledgeable baseball man, respected by many.

3. ARod: Enough already with the concern for ARod being comfortable. The guy is paid $27 million to play baseball in 2007. I am really tired of the deferences to him, especially in view of his poor playoff performances. Rick, you were a lone voice? I have spoken clearly on this topic since 2004, but since the summer on this blog.

4. Randy Johnson: Thank you, Don, for the good word. I am so glad Johnson is gone. The Yankees improved just by his departure. His acquisition was one of Steinbrenner's last major mistakes pulling the strings for everything that glitters.

Those are my thoughts at the moment. There will be more later.

Pinstriped Player, first of all, good post on the prior blog, and welcome to the polemics.

Take a step back on your question and strike Vazquez and replace him in the consideration with Nick Johnson, Juan Rivera, and Randy Choate, who were sent to Montreal for him.

Any way you look at it, I am glad RJ is gone.

Rick-

Sorry about the loss tonight. I suffered yesterday seeing my Giants go down in flames. Hey at least we can look foward to baseball season.

Funny, AJ.

When the Yanks lost, we said, "at least, we can now look forward to football."

Now, it's back to baseball.

Lol.

but it is ok for torre to be Jeters father figure , oh hfor torre to defend Jeter when the Boss was in his ass about partying, See it's this phoniness that us Yankees fans posess that divides club houses , torre Backstabbed Arod in the end. any manager will tell you the SI article topped with the playoff batting order spelled doomsday. As for Billy Martin what are you Kidding ya'll obviously do not know him entirely becasue MANY players said he was like a father figure . from Minn to OAk- Tex. The man came over in trade accepted a position change because we all KNOW the other guy who is such a TEAM dude WOULD Never do such a thing. And ya;ll say he is not yankee material due to the playoff's ?? show me how many rings donnie is wearing , love the guy and all, even he did baby like things like complain about the hair rule . OR QUIT becasue he Buck was fired and he did'nt want to be a role player , even though HE knew he was in decline, YEah i still harbor (haha) feelings when donnie left, i felt like he quitted on the movement. as for jeter He needs to man up, Torre will be gone one day and guess what ?? the manager may not be a Pro Jeter manager, so what gonna happen Jeter is going to want to be traded because he cannot go to the China club night before game day?? haha seriously Jeter is coddled just as much as Arod. and the truth is Neither one is at fault these kids was stars from day one and was media and team darlings, this is natural

Sorry the above post was me

Paul: Your mgr. choice if JT leaves the Yankees in 2008 with Pena as Mgr. is right on. The guy is another class act plus experience with adversity during his KC tenure which teaches a mgr. much about temperment and getting the most out of players. Sometimes showing confidence because your only choice is out on the mound or toeing the rubber.

The best all around choice for Yankee manager is managing in Flushing. But sometimes I wonder if that kind of hiring ESPECIALLY with the Yankees would ever go down?? I feel they are beyond that in my heart but..

Thank You Anonymous for that insightful post, finally a voice of reason. Jeter is coddled just as much as A-rod if not more. But these die Jeter Christ fans think that he can do no wrong.

As a matter of fact, Jeter can do no wrong. Not only is he a good person, he has been one of the best players in the league since 1996. He is close to Mr. Perfect as you can find. Listen to his articulate answers in interviews. He looks you in the eye and tells you how it is. He is a true leader. He was raised right, and is the perfect role model.

I actually posted it , but my main point is this . Both these players was young studs instant supersatrs, one hired a suspect agent , but rememebr this BORAS is a player / agent , he was a minor leaguer who got shafted by the owners long ago on some money issues . hear me out so yes a player is going to feel at ease with him , so when you a 20 something year old player as AROD was free agent and considered to be the BEST ballplayer. I dare ya'll to tell me ya'll would'nt accepted the same contract as he did. Plus on a historical note , remember when the GREAT Joe D DISSED the GREATER LOU Gehrig??????????

You cannot be serious. Yes he is a good player and speaks well but no wrong, so you telling me the Boss was wrong about the partying. and if he tells it like it is what happened last season? do not get me wrong I love jeter's style BUT I ADMIRE AND LOVE THE UNIFORM and EVERY ONE WHO WEARS IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not segregate clubhouses , did'nt this franchise learn after the MARIS mess??

He is young, and he can have some fun and a social life. Didn't DiMaggio and Mantle etc etc have fun when they were young? He has never abused anything, again because he was brought up by excellent parents. His social life has never interferred with his play. George was being too worried. Eventually, the did a Mastercard commercial spoofing Jeter's social life.

Bernie has nothing to prove to baseball, fans, or the Yankees. He can go out with his head high and a ton of respect. There's no point in leaving with anybody feeling sorry. They'll always be a place for special Yankees if he decides to stay connected to the team. Everybody's time comes sooner or later. They'll be a day for him, his #51 retired and a plaque in Monument Park alongside other Yankee greats. Thank you Bernie ......

There is no defending A-Rod. He is the most gifted player in the game today, yet he goes into these "head-funks", where he can't even throw the ball from 3rd to 1st on a routine grounder. Every player has batting slumps during the season. A-Rod is the only Yankee I have ever seen, that hurts his team with the glove when his bat goes silent. The guy is a "head case", and shouldn't be compared to Maris on an emotional level. Maris went through hell in "61" and still managed to hit 61 homers. The fans boo A-Rod, and the guy kills his team with defense that would embarass a Little Leaguer. No comparision.

Roy -

Did I miss something or did A-rod not win the MVP award 2 seasons ago with the Yankees?

As for his defense, I'll bet all the money in my pockets against all the money in your pockets that his error totals will drop like a stone now that the team has a first baseman who can catch the ball. Remember, any throw that the first baseman can't handle gets charged as an error on the player who throws it.

so becasue arod or others was raised by single parents th