On the Yankees beat

next time thru...

certainly not against boston this weekend, not if joe has his say. that would be too nerve-racking, too intense, too energetic. 28 million reasons why it won't be boston.

not like the yanks could use a little fire under their anuse.

So how many games will the Yanks be out when Rajah makes his debut? 14? 15?

Great signing by Cashman!!!

According to MLB:

Roger Clemens sure seems ready to officially begin his 24th season in the Major Leagues.

In his third Minor League start, his first for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Clemens pitched six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out six against the Toledo Mud Hens before an overflow crowd of 11,310 at PNC Field on Monday. The crowd, which began filing in more than two hours before the first pitch at 5:04 p.m. ET, gave Clemens a rousing ovation as he left the field at the end of the sixth.

Clemens threw 89 pitches, 57 for strikes, and allowed just one baserunner to advance to second base.

It's unclear whether Clemens will require another Minor League start or whether he's ready to join the Yankees. Before Clemens' outing, Billy Connors, the Yankees' vice president of player personnel, said he would confer with general manager Brian Cashman at the end of the game before making a final decision.

There were two hits but one should have been caught by the first baseman. Should have been an error.

ESPN gave Clemens a B rating on this start. All they did was criticize him. They are like a bunch of old gossips.

another reason torre is a terrible manager

let's side-step the pathetic in-game management for now. anyone who's ever managed anything in their lives know that you need to adjust your style to different employees, each having their own buttons they respond to.
torre, who's not very clever, is unable to change the style that worked with the 96-00 team, which was laden with clubhouse leaders.

this team is different. it has slackers on it. it has casual careless performer. it needs a manager with guile, smarts and adaptability. these stupid meetings are going nowhere. it's a waste of time. it is now the 4th inning. do you see anything different?

QUOTE BY TORRE:

"But I don't know what you do about it," Torre said. "You still have to go out there, prepare and play. It's not that now it's time to panic. Now, what do you do once you do that?"

Doesn't all this confidence make you feel warm and toasty? eeeeeeeeekss

let's play a game -

who's the next no-name pitcher out of nowhere who's going to blank the yanks?

they say that good pitching will stop good hitting, but you only need mediocre pitching to stop pathetic washed up hitting.

Gil

I feel your pain. This is has far surpassed frustration.

a pure 2007 yankee capsule:

top of the 4th: a-rod leads off with a 2b. 3 outs later he hasn't moved an inch.

bottom of the 4th: glaus leads off with a 2b. scores.

if this is how they respond to the big one hour talk, shouldn't torre wonder whether this team is tuning him out?

just a reminder ahead of the post game excuses about the guy mcgowan having great stuff blah blah blah:
the guy has a 6+ ERA entering the game. but then again, i'm sure he wasn't aware he's facing the staten island yankees tonight.

Kevin Long, it's been nice knowing ya!

Gil L:

Agree with your post on Torre and the Slackers. In a previous thread I said I don't want Mattingly or Girardi, I want Bobby Valentine !

Just a thought...

Wouldn't it be great if MLB had contracts like the NFL... only signing bonuses guaranteed. Who'd be released for not performing to the level that their salary dictates:

Abreu, Damon, Farnsworth, Giambi, Vizcaino...

jeff,

if kevin long goes, another guy hired this year by the non-executive of the year, cashman knows he's signing his own termination papers.
the problem is not the hitting coach.

and torre throws in the towel, a.k.a. vizcaino.
i'm taking odds:
1-4 - grand slam
1-3 - base clearing double
1-2 - RBI walk
1-10 - and out

Embarrassing.

Why is Viscaidiot still up here? Why hasn't he been sent down?

bets on how vizciano does with bases loaded?

I just think Steinbrenner has to make some kind of change, and Long seems to be the easiest target. Guirdy and Mattingly are Yankee icons, Torre's success here, etc.

Vizcaino in bases loaded. Oh boy.

Forget about Clemens. We need one good stick to play 1B, or DH. Our current pitching is good, and will improve with the addition of Clemens. Once we add a bat, it will allow the pitchers to relax a little. Right now, if the opposition scores 4 runs, it's game over. Way too much pressure on the "chuckers" with every pitch.

lol... k (off the board)

HAH Torre is a GENIUS!!! Viczcaidiot comes thru!!

oh well, i guess there's a reason i'm not a bookie...

another 2007 yankee capsule:
the yanks are down 3 runs with 4 innings to go. toronto has no real closer to speak of. how many of you still feel this game is already over?

Our winning percentage this year wouldn't get any worse if we sent the whole Yankee squad down to AAA and called up the whole SWB squad.

Though it would prolly ruin the SWB postseason hopes.

Two hour meeting tomorrow. Jeter, bring the cards. This is a joke. It seems like every night, we bring back Cy Young.

Just keep scratching my head???
Melky needs to be at Triple A Scranton,he is contributing nothing offensively.Thompson has been hitting well of late.
I'm sure we'll begin to see player transactions begin to occur this week.
Like ROY said we need a good RH bat in the lineup,bottom of the lineup is killing us.
AMONG OTHER THINGS

This is abso-frickin-lutely- ridiculous.

Doug

2 hour meeting with Dr. Phil

Can somebody please destroy that dugout?!

Where's a Paul ONeill type to throw the damn water cooler?

Are they all on anti-depressants or what?

This year, I thrown 3 remotes. At this rate the hell with the gas prices, it going to cost me a bundle for remotes

Lexapro i believe...It's for dual diagnosis: Anxiety and Depression

Wow, the Yankees really suck. I mean full-on suck.

Roger Clemens. Hahahahahaha. Bet he wishes he had that decision back. Maye he should have included the Blue Jays! 13.5 and counting!!

Before the game, I checked out the two starters. The Jays starter had an ERA of over 7, so I figured the Yanks had a chance. Guess not...another nobody shuts down the offense.

Where oh Where has my underdog gone, oh where oh where could he be

This after a team meeting. Yikes. If this doesn't get Joe Torre fired, nothing will.

Nudges next prediction!!!

At the point that the Yankees are officially eliminated from the post season hunt(early August at this rate), Bobby Abreu goes on a tear and ends the season at .290 with 18 HR and 90 RBI,s. Kinda of like every year in Philly.

well Lets compare Sheffield VS Bobby abreau

any takers on posting the stats if the two??

chuckle

well Lets compare Sheffield VS Bobby abreau

any takers on posting the stats if the two??

chuckle

Most important Stat..Ones on a team 2.5 games out...the other on a team 13.5 games out!

I loved this city New York. People just was upset because I spoke the truth, Yeah I may have been to harsh but I am real with what I say. People was upset because I exposed Joe Torre and especially Bobby Abreau. He played well because he came to a new team and I was here

That is True.

The "CANCER" is 2.5 games out 10 hr's and making others around him look even better than the year before.

Gary dedicated this song from Beyonce to the Yankees and especially Bobby Abreau.

To the Left to the left pack all your things to the left to the left

You must not know about me , You must not know about me I can get another you in a minute you better not forget it baby.

The fact that the Yanks are considering holding Clemens back and not allowing him to start in Fenway later this week really is a microsm of the Yanks season so far. They are afraid that Roger will get too "hyped up" and excited.....Holy Hannah....if there is a team in MLB that needs a little "hyping up", it would be the Yanks.

As far as many people are concerned, holding Clemens back is sending a message to the league, the Yankee players, and the fans.....and it aint the right message.

At 13.5 games out, and 7 games below .500, it is time to put away the "it's still early" and the patient approach....I mean if a guy who has pitched for 24 years in MLB cant handle his emotions against the Sox....well then, it really speaks volumes eh.

Could be a very interesting month of June......I'd guess there will be a few trades and a plethora of trade rumors, involving the Yankees. I'm not sure that either Cashman or Torre will survive the month...although I still say it would be the wrong move to fire either of them at this point of the season. The problems the Yanks have wont be fixed by replacing either of these guys mid-stream. I do expect that after the season, both will be gone.

I also suspect that after the All Star break, assuming the Yanks are still mired....that there will be alot of "looks" at the young guys on the farm. At that point it will be time to look forward and see what might be possible in '08.

This season is quickly becoming a "lost season" for the Yanks....it has nothing to do with what this organization has done in the past, it has nothing to do with the level of "class", it has nothing to do with us fans...Yank fans, or otherwise inclined. It has, primarily, to do with the usual "cycle" of a organization.....not every team can be like the Braves....who put out division winning teams year after year (but only one WS title)...the Yanks are experiencing the "changing of the guard" that most teams go though when a once great team gets old and fragmented. With the resources this team has it wont be long before they are among the elite once again. It's easy in hindsight to point fingers and play the blame game...but this is the same team that won the division last year..and the year before..etc. Clearly, the organization has squeezed about all it's gonna get out of some of these guys and it is time to reload. They will, but I think it will be with a different manager and GM. The young fella in KC might be a guy to go after as far as GM, and Giradi would be an excellent guy to have in the dugout directing a new generation of Yankee players with a mix of the veterans that are not going anywhere. Although it is hard for fans of a team that expects so much year in and year out...rebuilding this organization could be a very exciting and fun event. Might as well enjoy the ride.

Gil L

Great post at 8:06. I couldn't agree with you more!

Casual

I agree with you on Clemens starting against the Sox. If the Yanks were just a few games out, I might agree with Yankee management, but at this point, what would it really hurt? They have nothing more to lose!

Torre has been tuned out by the players. They're fed up with hearing the same crap every day. Warm Torre up by canning hitting coach Kevin Long and tell him he's next unless he chooses to retire.

Casual, those were some great observations. However, I think the Yankees have a valid reason as to why Clemens will not be starting against the Red Sox. We have our three best pitchers already scheduled in those three spots, and they are going in on their normal schedule. Both Mussina and Pettitte don't like having their timing upset. All three pitched very well in his last outing, so there's no reason to replace any one of these three. Now if one of them were a rookie or a mediocre pitcher who hasn't pitched well in his last start, by all means Clemens should replace him. The way it stands now, Clemens is not on a Major League schedule at all, so it would make sense to start him in natural order right after our three regular starters. I don't know if this will be the best move in hindsight, but I think it's the most sensible move in foresight.

yeah, anyway...

yanks would be foolish to not start roger at fenway this weekend. then again, who would you bump off the start? pettitte?...been too productive so far. moose? oh the excuses and agony of going on 6 days rest.

could YES and other media outlets get quotes and post game talk from anyone BUT damon and mienkevitch please? like these two turncoats have anything productive to say.

I hope roger shows up this weekend in fenway, knocks out farnsworth, drop kicks giambi in the heel, breaks both of abreu's arms and buzzes some high and tight on manny and ortiz. too much to ask for?

The Redsox already beat three of top contending teams in baseball. Angels, Tigers and Indians.. As a Yankees Fan, I'm sorry to say It's their year to win World series this year.. I'm going throw up when man Terry Francona's is the manager for the Allstar game and seating in the dugout in Yankees Stadium

Lucy,

Good point. I wont argue with that logic...but why "bill it" as "We dont want Roger to get over-excited in his first start"?

Casual, do you know who made that statement? I heard something like that in the media, but I'm not sure if it's from a trusted source. I don't believe that was ever the actual reason behind not using him. The last thing I heard from Torre himself is that he prefers not to upset the rotation as it stands now, and that explanation sounds more logical than over-exciting Roger.

I think Torre realizes that throwing Clemens in at Fenway and taking out one of our present starters would be sending the wrong message. It would show a lack of confidence in the starter who was replaced and it would also appear to be an act of showmanship rather than sportsmanship. It would be done more for entertainment value and that's not what the Yankees are all about.

Anonymous, let's just hope by the All Star game next year that the Yankees will once again be in first place and that Francona will be the one feeling uncomfortable sitting it OUR dugout. I wouldn't worry about that scenario. I'd just worry about winning once again. The All Star game is merely irrelevant entertainment.

good point Lucy

it would be a sign of disrespect to the 3 starters this weekend, the same three whose shoulders we'll have to ride to get back into things.

Can someone tell me why Torre called a team meeting on a game that DeSalvo is pitching instead of one your best pitchers like Pettitte?!?!?

Very stupid move by Torre.

Then you look at Torre's expression in the dugout: sad, confused, a man who knows this is the end.

George, get rid of him now please!!!

Can someone tell me why Torre called a team meeting on a game that DeSalvo is pitching instead of one your best pitchers like Pettitte?!?!?

Very stupid move by Torre.

Then you look at Torre's expression in the dugout: sad, confused, a man who knows this is the end.

George, get rid of him now please!!!

Casual observer

very insightful post but i have to disagree with one point - the inevitable cycle of success and failure. you claim the yanks are due a down year just because that's how it works.

however, i claim that bad moves created this situation, not just a natural changing of the guard.
a few facts:
1) this is not the NBA/NFL where the salary cap equals the playing field and leads, together with the reversed order draft, to a cyclic progress of power.
2) the yanks have the deepest pockets and the willingness to spend, which under MLB rules could allow them to avert down periods - IF MANAGED SMARTLY.

and here we get to my personal fav, mr. teflon cashman.
1) the double standard. he claims he's on a mission to get the team younger and deeper by not committing to long term deals with older players, but he gave 30+ damon a 4 years deal and 30+ matsui an extension + traded for abreu. so bernie was getting old, true, and had a weak arm. so what do you do? beltran is available and young, you know that after the 07 season some high profile CF's are going to be on the market (torii, a jones...) - so obviously you sign an aging guy with a weaker arm than bernie's. no foresight, no ability to actually evaluate talent over time. and that's just one of many examples.
2) spin & lies. when the boss chewed him earlier this week, cashman kept spinning, saying that the price of restocking the farm system is taking its toll on the major league club, trying to show that he had motives.
now, "restock" means bring anew from the outside. all the guys we're seeing this year at different levels of success were already in the system (desalvo, clippard, hughes, karstens, rasner...) - some many years.
the NEW people for whom we paid with major league talent are sanchez (pre-injured, TJ surgery), ohlendorf (pre-injured, 5+ ERA), and britton (could be good if given a chance). so basically this heroic restock spin is one guy with unproven potential for 3 major league players.
3) terrible talent evaluation. kei igawa, carl pavano, luiz vizcaino. need i say more. that's around 90 million down the drain, and there goes your flexibility and your ability to change guard on the fly.

cashman ranks firmly in the bottom 5th of GM's in this league, and the state of the yanks today is clearly and directly his fault (and i didn't even mention the bench, or lack there of).

Lucy,

I'm not sure who is responsible...it may of been a media mutt, but it was done in such a way that it "sounded" like it came from the Yank management.

Gil L,

Very salient points....

You're right, Miguel, we have to rely on Pettitte, Mussina and Wang as well in the future (not just Clemens), and you can't disrespect them by showing a lack of confidence and favoritism towards another player for entertainment value, especially when these three guys are pitching well. It just wouldn't be a wise move.

Gil L,

I think, at least in part, the Yanks have had so much success in applying "bandages" over the past few seasons.. that they felt they still had a core that would prevail....that they could get away with short term fixes. This season has exposed some of the flaws of that approach.....that said, there is just nfw the Yanks are as bad as their record, or their performance. They certainly need to reload, and look forward by building and maintaining a craker-jack farm system...instead of running out and buying the afore-mentioned "bandaids"...I suspect they will...an approach that gave them those incredible teams of the late 90's.

casual,

i've watched most yankee games this year, and the fact it we're parading a bunch of names that on paper should be better than this, some of them had been better somewhere in the beginning of the decade.
it reminds of when gary payton and karl malone signed with the lakers for a quick fix championship. i mean, shaq + kobe + payton + malone = championship, right? not even close.

the game is played on the field, as a team, and not on stats sheets.
giambi is done, damon way over the heal, matsui is sliding, abreu is a joke and a disgrace to pinstripes, and the list goes on.

i don't know how many games you've watched this year, but i can tell you i'm going through a unique phenomena - for the first time since i've been a yankee fan, when we go down by a couple of runs, i expect a loss.
yesterday in toronto, the minute they went 2-0 up i wrote here (you can check the time...) that the game is over.
the reason is you see defeat in many player's eyes, and that's why it will take a lot to convince me the record can change.

another yankee "reject" Carlos Pena Is batting 305 10 hr's and 27 rbi . hmmmmh lets see if you equate Sheff's stats and Pena stats and compare them to the people presently in their positions we probally would be much better , just a thought

To be honest Gil L.,

I have watched only a handful of Yankee games.....I am, after-all a Sox fan (yikes!)and have not missed a Sox game in many years.

But, due to the fact the two teams are attached at the hip...I try to "keep up" with the Yanks...and I still think this team is under-performing over-all...I also think they need to "reload" as I stated in earlier posts.

pitching well lucy ?? Pettite maybe and Mussina is iffy, we trying to win and if the rocket can come and shut down boston followed by pettite etc. I would agree more if it was Clippard he was passing over to me even in defeat the kid looks good if the Yankees score 5 runs in his game he would look great.

Bronx Bomber, I said they each pitched well in their last starts, which they did.

Torre has to go. The problem is that it won't be until after the season. The same thing with Cashman. I read a prior posting regarding Torre's, lack of understanding, of the personalities on this team. That's the biggest indictment you can say of a manager. He does NOT know what makes his player's (employee's) tick. Here's my point. If you have player's that don't mind pressure(Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera) then guess what you can leave them alone. Their are players that clearly can't handle the pressure. (A-Rod, Farnsworth, Cabrera,Cano, Abreu, Vizcaino) How do you elievate the pressure from these athletes? Watch when they come to the plate or pitch. They are all trying to do too much. Watch when a runner is in scoring position and the Yankees hitter is ahead in the count. If the pitcher pulls a string they will chase after the pitch. Same things with their pitchers. They are trying to be perfect. That's the only reason for a hitting coach, pitching coach. How could Long be a sounding board to these players who have such success? With the pitchers could it be that Guidry is in over his head? Did you hear Mussina's comments on who helped him with his delivery and mechanics before his last game against the Angels? It was Stoteleymre and John Flattery. That is not what you want to hear from a pitcher on your team. This team is fighting itself. You can't force anything in baseball. You can't throw harder or try and hit home runs. The more you press the worse it gets. If their were any leaders anywhere on this team they would of snapped out of it. I thought this would of happened. Joe Torre has turned into Rich Kottite. The loser's lament. He(Torre) has a pedigree in this. He lost many games with the Mets, Braves, Cardinals. He can't win with a inferior team. He is not Billy Martin. Now Torre and his team have become a real losers because they expect bad things to happen. The media is loving this. Listen to the talk shows and the tabloids this all you hear. If everyone is against you, you have to turn and fight more. But when you come up to do your job you need to relax. This is not going on now. So to sum this posting up. When Torre had selfmotivated great players this team won. Since Cashman has dropped the ball and they no longer have these type of players. This is what we are left with. A scare crow team with warped ideas of themselves. They need a kick in the ass. And what they are getting is "if i had the answers i would convey them to the team." How many times have we heard this quote from Torre? This is a lost season. I like you, fell for the trap. I thought thye were better than they are. Once the players showed their true results the manager could not put them in the right frame of mind. So here we are. A team with a glass jaw and no leaders to make them whole again. Rocket i can only hope that you are that guy. But you don't hit and play everyday and you are not apart of the management of this team.

Are teams now dreading the days they have to play the Yankees...or gladly awaiting those days?

Well, I think it's official. While I'm not one for giving up (and I will still live and die Yankee baseball), I can not spout the mantra "it's still early" any longer. This team appears to have little fight in them. Pitchers such as Tavarez and McGowan (not exactly cy young candidates) shut the Yankees down with little effort. The pitching is inconsistent, and thanks to over use, the bullpen is blown out in May. Where do we go from here? I say we clean house and begin to shape the roster for next year. See if anyone is interested in Damon, Moose, Giambi, or Abreu (I realize these guys are hurt and may have little trade value, but I simply don't want them on the roster any longer). Maybe we deal Pettite to a contender for pieces (he has the best trade value on our roster of the aging vets except for Posada who I don't want to deal) and allow Rog to back out of his contract and pitch elsewhere or retire (God it would be great for the organization to tell that prima donna that we don't need you). The Organization needs to figure which key free agents to target next year to include players that are NOT 32 or older has beens. The model of overpaying proven veterans past their prime simply has NOT worked. Decisions need to be made about Torre (because of what he has done and his legacy you might as well let him finish out this lost season anyway). It is time to get younger and get some players on the roster who give a damn. It's apparent this team has already given up in May and from the perspective of either a fan or management this is just plain unacceptable. As I said, I don't give up easily and will continue to watch each and every game, but I've have seen enough to read the proverbial handwriting on the wall. The lumbering Dinosar that is the the 2007 Yankees is facing extinction. I'd love to hear what other heart-broken Yankee fans have to say about my concession as well as ideas to right this ship (if there are any out that that care to do so....)

Nudge

I know in the BBB fantasy league, if your mediocre SP is facing the Yanks, you are in for some major points on that night! Examples: Tavarez and McGowan.

MZ,

You are on target with your goals, problems with approach though. The Yankees have little history of successfully dumping non-performers in season for younger players. Most of the non-performers contracts have them handcuffed by either no trade clauses or the 5 - 10 rule that makes certain players unattractive.

Getting younger through free-agency is even harder these days. It is rare that a quality player under 30 is available. Usually most of the FA that are young are bullpen and support players. But the Yanks need help there too so that can be addressed a bit if they can evaluate talent properly.

The farm has a few young prospects, but outside of Hughes, few are top of the line guys, and even those are a few years off. The entourage of pitchers you have seen thus far this season doesnt represent a great class for the long term future. Maybe a bottom of the rotation guy or a long man out of the mix.

When you go barren in the farm for so long then it takes 3-5 years to rebuild. Cashman started last year(so he says) but saying it and accomplishing it are 2 different things. Somewhere along the line the Yankees either lost there talent people or stopped listening to them.

Nudge-

teams are glady awaiting the yanks. especially if a young pitcher is facing yanks. its gives that pitcher a sense of worth and accomplishment if, i mean, WHEN he can go 7 in, 2 er, 7 K's against a team conmprised of 200 million dollar hags. (with expection of course to jeter, posada, arod and pettitte, the few yanks that show up every night)

Let me pose the question to you all. I will put you in Cashmans shoes (or office). October 31, A-Rod opts out...He finishing this season .310 45HR 125RBI...he wants a 5 year deal with 2 option years average salary 30 million.

Deal....or no deal.

All a young pitcher needs to do is throw strike one to most Yankees hitters these days and they essentially give up. With the exception of Posada and Jeter, most of the others just roll over and convince themselves they are beat. If they get ahead in the count, it's a different story. Just look at Abreu's face when a pitcher gets the first pitch over for a strike, his whole expression drops and he just waits to strike out or hit a roller to the infield. The overall confidence of this team is gone, they have zero swagger. Sort of like punching the high school bully in the face and realizing he was just a scared kid hiding behind an act the whole time. The nerds are gaining power...it's The Revenge of the Nerds Part 27!

Jim A.

You mean I missed Part 26?

TORRE cracks me up he's quoted as saying "I've seen some tentativeness".Wow if there ever was a projection!And "We're going to keep rearranging the furniture until we find something that works..." What has he done to "rearrange" this club ??

well, first off, cashman wont be around until October 31.

if i were interm yankee GM on Oct 31st, i would sign A-rod. i have to. who will be the right handed power bat? a-rod is not the problem. the yankees got to the playoffs the past 3 years with him on the team...so dont say that it was him this year that led to what is now becoming the lost season.

no brainer...keep a-rod.

question is...will cash-man be around to resign him?

MIGUEL

AROD may not want to resign if Cashman is the GM.Star players more often want to play for winners.???

This ship be sinking!

Nudge - No deal. Over the next couple of years the Yankees will have far too many holes to fill to invest that kind of money in any one player.

Ruse - The line that cracked me up was Torre saying that people have to give credit to the pitcher on the other team. Sorry Joe, when a pitcher with an ERA over 7 shuts your team down it is not because he has great stuff and it all came together for him on the hill, it is because the Yankee ineptitude at the plate made him look like an ace pitcher.

According to today's NYPost there are members of the hierarchy (they speculated Hal and Hank Steinbrenner) who are working to convince George not to let Brian go. From George's comments, no one is getting fired in season (especially not without a clear successor in either position) but at the end of the season they need to decide if Cashman is going to be in the job for the next three years at least, because if not, with Torre's contract being up, you can't let a GM you're not sure about hire the next manager or extend Torre's deal.

For what it is worth, I don't know which is more to blame for this season: Cashman's moves, Torre's managing, or the team's under-performance. Of the three, I'm going to say the last one is the most obvious reason and unfortunately there can't be a wholesale in season turn over of the roster.

That said, if the rumors of an offer for Giambi are true, I suggest the Yankees take it. He has become a major distraction and if he's not healthy enough to play he has become a liability as well. While it would seem counter productive to move a hitter for a non-hitting back up catcher and a utility player who is struggling at the plate (the rumored trade was Giambi to LAA for Figgins and Jose Molina) it could also prove to be the slap in the face that this roster needs.

13.5 games out of the East, but only 7.5 out of the Wild Card.

Chip,

This may come as a surprise, but I agree with you on A-Rod.

CHIP
I don't think that alleged deal has any legs but if it does you take it in a NY minute.

Just for Shiggles, I was driving home yesterday and had WFAN in NY on - a caller made the following suggestions:

Torre out - Girardi in
Cash out - Stick in
Giambi, Rivera, Doug M to Angels for K-Rod and Kotchman

A-Rod, Abreu, $20 mil to St. Louis for Scott Rolen

I give him points for creativity only.

Nudge,

I think that there is a very good chance if A-Rod opts out the Yankees pass on any of the free agent 3b and instead move Cano over there. With his arm, he can make the throws and the team can either use Alberto Gonzales at 2nd or find a free agent for that spot as 2nd basemen tend to be less expensive than 3b.

I've heard that Cano move also as the A-Rod backup plan. Canos tough start may make them re-evaluate that though. His numbers as a 2B are still relatively good. At 3B they are a bit weak. 3B has become a real power producing postition and his numbers may not cut it there.

I think Gonzales to 2B works too since there is no SS opening in the near future. Hes gotta prove he can hit in the bigs still.

CHIP

No way Cano is moved to 3b.
Yanks go after Garrett Atkins a very good player who is having an off year.Ian Stewart is going to take his job anyway.

Ruse,
I agree with you, Cashman needs to go, along with Torre. The next GM better sign A-Rod long term - and an extentson for Jeter would be a good idea.
Got to give credit to the Agents in Baseball, they get these garuanteed contracts that teams are stuck with after signing - football does make a lot more sense.
As for the Yanks? This year is now over and we need to start planning for next year. Who are the managerial candidates? Girardi, Mattingly, Randolph (even though he is under contract with the Mets he would jump at the chance). Forget about Valentine, then again with the way Torre is managing I wouldn't mind seeing Showalter again, no one could od worse!

Atkins:

Coors Field .342 ave

Elsewhere .281 ave

Over the last 3 years.