On the Yankees beat

A good news, I cant wait for that game!

Well Mussina asked who would they replace me with. Wow a shot to see the future.

Dice-K hit Arod , The Yankees didn't retailate . What a joke?? Joe doesn't protect his best players. Meanwhile Manny is showing off in batter box.

Looks like Roy was right all along on the Kennedy deal.

Wait… did I just said that Roy was right? Ha-ha! Although I have to admit Roy has been a bit better on his predictions. Except on Gagne, you were way off there.

Maybe Kennedy can put some pressure on Mussina and he fixes whatever problems he must have, either physically or probably mental. I just hope it all works out for the team. Let’s go Yanks!!!

ROY THIS ISN'T OVER!!!

YOU MAY HAVE WON THIS BATTLE BUT IT IS MY WAAAAAARRRR!!!!!!

Sorry i meant

"WAAAAARRRRRRRR"

You mean: "This is Sparta!"

THEUS

EZZE

SPAAAARTA!!!

LOL

Going to my first game of the year this year tomorrow afternoon.

Granted Giants vs Rockies doesn't have the juice of Red Sox vs Yankees... but it's a ball game!

I have the day off of work and the Mrs is looking after the boys

Sully,

You are up late ...

It was a good game for the Yanks ...

Pettitte is amazing and usually clutch as we all know.

Some interesting quotes on Yahoo! Sports about the win.

Damon "I can bring a lot of energy to the team."

Let others praise you ...

Also Jeter on the playoffs. A lot of the time he tries to give canned responses.

Torre spoke well in a separate story on Mussina.

Mussia did not comment which was disappointing to me ... he has no confidence. And this has never happened before to him.

I was thinking of the terrible time he gave Carl Pavano in Spring Training ... you know ... it ALWAYS comes back to you in life ...

Hey I have an idea ... maybe Mussina can come back as a hitter and play CF and hit 3 HR's in his first two games like Rick Ankiel.

Then maybe Newsday might even cover it!

I am catching up on all the Posts ... thanks Nudge and John G. and your Bern's steaks ... now I'm starving AND sleepless!

The USA Today published the post All Star break leaders ...

Abreu leads all of MLB with 46 RBI's ... A Rod and Masui and David Wright are all up there.

Andy Pettitte has the most wins, 7 and a 2.67 ERA in the second half.

Brandon Webb's second half ERA is 1.04 ... can you believe it? The usual suspects are dominating in the second half, Kazmir and Peavy. Adam Wainwright is doing very well.

Once surprise is ex Met Brian Bannister of KC, home of good steaks. They should have kept him. His father, Floyd of Arizona State fame, was a very good pitcher ... it's in the DNA ... I guess we know why Omar got rid of him ... also in the DNA ...

Best improvement in ERA ... E. Jackson on Tampa Bay, whom the Yankees hit hard one game ... but has good stuff ... - 4.44 decrease.

Ex Yankee and super millionaire Jake Westbrook is also doing very well of late ... Ex-Yank Tim Redding as well, with 3.10 ERA.

Abreu is third for best On Base Percentage increase ...

Another strange statistic, at least to me, Noah Lowrey of SF has 14 wins but has allowed 148 hits and 83 walks in only 153 innings. How is that possible? He must get out of a lot of jams.

Ted Lilly has 13 wins and 3.85 ERA with 140 K's. He's cut his walks in half.

Lilly
Westbrook
Redding

It's nice for the organization when guys leave and do well, or even better than they did with the original team. Says a lot about the scouts. Something else about the coaching.

Guess we couldn't have used Lilly all year instead of Igawa, right?

Like I said months ago Ian Kennedy would be starting for the Bombers by seasons end.
Let's hope he does the job.

Thank you! Great news!!! Kennedy is said to be similar to Mussina, back when he was young and a very good pitcher.

Hallelujah! Know we just need the rest of the Pitching staff to follow Pettitte’s lead. Let’s all praise Andy for what he really is…the heart of the pitching staff. This guy has more heart and determination then 100 Mussina’s. That comes from being s true Yankee and knowing what needs to be done to win. By the way, it was nice to Joba in his first pressure situation and come through. I also like to see his energy and excitement. We will see what Kennedy is like but I’d have to say that I think we have a bright future for the next couple of years. All you Brian Cashman haters will finally have to eat crow!

I just hope his arm doesn't fall off...

I hope Cash knows what he's doing with this kid.

Chuckie,

I do agree with you and that is one of my main concerns but I am sure they will watch his pitch count. He is young so he should be able to handle it.....I hope.

I think Mussina is total dogcrap. Not only should he be demoted he should be exiled to Washed up Island. TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERIBLE!!

I wonder if Kennedy is only going to make one start since he will (hopefully) surpass his 150 inning limit (he has pitched 146 so far)?

I can't help but think of Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy as today's version of Pulsipher, Wilson and Isringhausen. I just hope the Yanks stay the course and are careful here. I don't want our guys to follow in the Mets trio's footsteps.
However, I do believe the "Joba Rules" need to change a little, since he was a starter I don't see any reason why he can't thrown an inning every day.
I also agree with whomever it was (I apologize for being too lazy to go back and read the posts from yesterday) that Joba may be better suited for the bullpen as he has a limited arsenal of pitches and he gets pretty emotional and could wear himself out mentally in the big leagues. Just a thought.

"He's got a good arm," Francona said of Chamberlain. "A very good slider."

Jim,

Let's hope they produce better then Pulsipher, Wilson and Isringhausen did.

A few notes from last night:

I agree with Jim A on Joba being better suited as a RP. To me, he's the new version of Mo. Have him be the 7th & 8th inning guy for a couple of years before taking over for Mo as closer in 2010. He is a high energy emotional guy and really only has those two awesome pitches.

Yankees were "focused" last night and won a "close" game, AND against the best record team in the AL. Shows that they can do it!

Now only 1 game out of the WC. If they stay focused, quit worrying about the Red Sox, and just start winning every series, we will be in the post season! Then, everyone is 0-0 and we get a fresh start on the REAL 2007 season!

Good to see the captain come through with the clutch HR. Maybe that will get him going again?

I'm tired of seeing our guys get drilled by the Sox pitchers! We need to retaliate and send the message that we are not going to put up with it any more!

I see Manny has taken himself out of another September NY series. Seems like he does this every year. Remember when he was sooo sick a couple of years ago and then was seen out partying with one of the Yankee players (Lofton or another one of his ex-teammates)? I'm not complaining mind you, just making an observation about the guy. Maybe he just doesn't want to play today because Rocket is pitching and he knows what's coming after last night's AR drilling????

Well, gotta go play frogger on the highways. Let's go Yankees - the October season is right around the corner!

Yanks might relax rules on Chamberlain

BY KAT O'BRIEN kat.obrien@newsday.com
August 29, 2007

The Yankees might relax the so-called "Joba Rules" on how frequently and for how long rookie Joba Chamberlain can pitch.

The Yankees are very protective of the 21-year-old righthander, who began the year at Class A and is seen as a starter in the long run. They have been insisting that he get at least one day off for each inning he pitches both before and after every outing.

Chamberlain has pitched two-inning stints only twice since coming to the big leagues. But he had not pitched for three days entering last night's game, and when asked yesterday afternoon if Chamberlain could be used for three innings, manager Joe Torre said: "Probably tonight. Joba could pitch three."

Over the weekend, Torre said there had been talk of modifying the rules, perhaps based in part on how many pitches Chamberlain throws. Minor-league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras devised the guidelines, and any changes would surely go through general manager Brian Cashman.

Chamberlain pitched one inning last night, allowing a hit and a walk. He has not given up a run in 10 innings.

Rick,
I agree with just about everything you said except I don't think the Yanks can afford for Clemens to get suspended again. It's hard to retaliate in this day and age in baseball, they freak out and suspend you for a long time. The Yanks can't afford to lose a starter right now or we might see Ughawa (patent pending-I'm making up T-shirts right now).

Chamberlain's emotion is kind of like Zambrano's emotion on the mound and that's not a bad thing. He's a GREAT student of pitching as evidenced by his spending so much time with Mo in the bullpen and Roger everywhere else.

As far as a limited arsenal of pitches, are you kidding me? The guy has two more pitches that he doesn't really use as a reliever, but was using in the minors as a starter.

His arsenal has been modified because he is a relief pitcher and relief pitchers don't need to use a lot of different pitches.

Hughes,
Sorry, I don't buy that argument at all. The reason he doesn't use those pitches in relief is because he doesn't throw them for strikes and doesn't feel confident in them. No pitcher would decide to throw only two pitches if they could keep hitters guessing like crazy.

Rick and Jim,

Can't see Joba staying in the pen. I know why people would like it - he looks like the real deal out there and I think if he ONLY had the fastball and slider it would make sense. But yet again it was pointed out that the fastball and slider were all we have seen because as a reliever he hasn't needed to throw his other two pitches (a plus Curve and plus Change).

I just think if you have a kid who is projected to be a Justin Verlander type starter (as is the common comparison) you can't, given the lack of available starting pitching, waste him by using him as a set up man for a couple of years and then making him a closer.

If the need were more immediate I could see it more readily, but Mo will be around for at least a couple of more years. Whereas in the rotation the Yankees will lose 1 if not 2 starters this winter (Clemens and Mussina) With Carlos Zambrano signing on with the Cubs and Buehrle with the White Sox you're talking about a market of pitchers that is Curt Schilling, Livian Hernandez, and Steve Traschel - and that's the better pitchers.

Yes the Red Sox took one of their better pitching prospects and turned him into a dominant closer - but they, as an organization, have a plethora of top starters and needed relievers the Yankees are just the opposite.

The Yankees have young guys who project as back of the pen pitchers in abundance, Ohlendorf, Steven Jackson, Humberto Sanchez, JB Cox, Kevin Whalen, the number of pitchers that they have who could be front of the rotation starters are limited to Hughes, Chamberlain, and Wang - with Horne, Marquez, and Kennedy being looked at as back of the rotation guys.

Again, I understand the temptation to say "why mess with what obviously works" but I just think, in my opinion, that we've only seen the tip of the iceberg on what Joba can do and to see the rest he needs to be a starter. As I said yesterday, if it doesn't work out, there is nothing that says he can't be moved back to the pen.

Jim,

I don't know if it is on the level or just the party line, but we did hear how, for the sake of keeping it simple, Joba was only going to throw his hard stuff. That, due to the limited amount he would pitch in each game, there was no reason to save his fastball or mix in off speed stuff since he was only going for short appearances he could just dial it up and let fly with his heat and slider.

Jim: Simply put, THANK GOD Cashman is the GM and not you.

I live in NJ and attend Thunder games regularly. I've seen Joba pitch in person several times and the kid can hit the strike zone with all four of his pitches.

Chip,
I still don't buy it, we're just going to disagree. From what I read, his offspeed stuff gives him some control problems so that is why he was laying off them.
As far as putting him in the rotation, I'm just glad he's having success, and if he's a stud starter down the road, then who needs 10 bullpen guys? I still have hopes that Sanchez can turn into a closer, if his arm returns to form. The future will be fun to watch, that's for sure.

Whether he has two pitches or four pitches they still have to give him as shot as a starter. I really feel good about this kid. I think he will work very hard on whatever flaws he has only to become the best he can.

Dog,
Agreed, 100%.

Ok, show of hands if you thought 5 years ago that you would see the Yankees in a playoff race with a rotation featuring three guys under 28 years old (all from the system) and four other key contributors all with less than 4 years of pro baseball under their belts (Cano, Melky, Joba, Phillips)

For all the complaints that Cashman has done a "terrible" job lately - he's done exactly what he said he was going to do - rebuilt the farm system and allowed the Yankees to dip into it for reenforcments rather than having to make trades or pick up high priced players (Clemens not withstanding)

Jim Caple - Shut up, Red Sox Nation

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/070829&sportCat=mlb

After Game 7 of the 2003 American League championship series between the Red Sox and Yankees, I walked out of Yankee Stadium with a colleague. Just 48 hours earlier it had seemed very possible that the Red Sox and Cubs would meet in the World Series. Instead, we were getting the Yankees versus the Marlins.

Off Base
"Damn," I said. "I was really looking forward to a Cubs-Red Sox World Series."

"No, we didn't want that," he said. "Because right now we have one group of totally obnoxious fans we have to deal with. And if the Cubs or the Red Sox were to win, then we would have two."

If only we had that sort of foresight before invading Iraq.

It's true. While Yankees fans momentarily are neutralized by their recent embarrassing autumns and their current spot in the standings, Red Sox fans, sadly, have taken over the mantle as the most obnoxious fans in sports.

I say this as a former Red Sox fan. I spent a good chunk of my teens and early adulthood hating the Yankees and rooting for the Red Sox. I wandered into the rainy streets in stunned silence after the Bill Buckner play in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. I went into my room, closed the door, and fell weeping onto my bed during Game 7 that year. (Mind you, I was 24 at the time and I was crying while there still were two innings left to play.) But Boston fans were different then. They were the tragically loyal fans who always went home disappointed in the end. You might have gotten tired of our whining, but at least we weren't constantly in your face with it.

No longer. As soon as the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, Boston fans took on a swaggering, entitled persona, acting as if they alone invented sports fandom and behaving as if nothing else in baseball mattered but them.

It's like in "Can't Buy Me Love" when geeky Patrick Dempsey (in his pre-McDreamy youth) pays popular cheerleader Amanda Peterson to be his girlfriend for a month, and then he starts acting like an a**. (By the way, for some reason there is no photo of the amazing Ms. Peterson at the IMDb Web site. Meanwhile, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman have a reality show. And people are wasting their anger on Michael Vick?)

No one can stand to be around Red Sox fans anymore. Forget a fence between the U.S. and Mexico. What we really need is a wall, a moat and a mine field around New England to keep the spoiled citizens of Red Sox Nation from sneaking into the rest of the country and taking over seats in major league ballparks that should go to hard-working local fans. Everywhere the Red Sox play these days turns into a road version of Fenway Park, with Boston fans occasionally drowning out the hometown fans with their "Let's Go Red Sox!" chants. They were so over the top at a recent game in Seattle, I was surprised the Mariners didn't play "Sweet Caroline."

Whether this is an inspiring show of team pride by passionate fans or an annoying lack of manners depends on how close you have to actually sit to these people.

They call themselves Red Sox Nation, the same arrogant way the Cowboys call themselves America's Team. And the whole thing is getting a little old. Could I get a little help here from Miss Teen South Carolina? Where the hell is Red Sox Nation anyway? It seems to me Red Sox Nation only exists when the team is winning, like a country that only shows up on U.S. State Department radar when oil is discovered. Wherever Red Sox Nation is, I just wish Bush would invade it.

I would say that Red Sox fans need a humbling collapse -- say, blowing a 14½ game lead in the standings or a 3-0 lead in the ALCS -- but then we would just have to listen to them moan about that for another couple decades. Even now, we have to suffer through stories about how their once enormous lead was whittled down to four games last week. Good lord. Sorry, but the Red Sox days as a tragic, put-upon team are over. They died the instant the final out from the 2004 World Series landed in Doug Mientkiewicz's glove. This means no one wants to read any more stories about how a shriveling first-place lead or a Yankees pennant drive inspires "dread" in Boston fans. Hearing fans of a team with a $143 million payroll and a recent World Series ring worry about a seven-game lead is like listening to Bill Gates worry that Social Security might run out when he's 67.

Enough already. Get over yourselves, Red Sox fans. Better yet, follow the lead of White Sox fans Their team went 88 years without winning a World Series. They went 46 years without even playing in one. Yet when they finally won in 2005, they had the decency to keep their celebration to themselves.

And if their fine example isn't enough, then maybe this will be enough to sober you up:

You're acting like Yankees fans

Mussina is what, 38? i think that the Yankees should let him rest for a few weeks. this will let him get his arm strength back up for the playoffs (assuming we make it)

One quick question - where is that Anonymous guy who was irritating everyone claiming that Damon and Molina were spies sent to the Yankees by the Sox and Angels - curious how Damon going yard last night with the winning runs factors into that plan LOL.

Nice one Chip.

Damon got lucky, Matsuzaka throws up middle of the plate.. Let see if Damon hit Beckett and Schilling. He's still a spy , same that fat bastard Molina

That fat bastard cost Yankees two games ..

The Angels and Tigers series where Molina's started .

Good that you're around Anon.

Just for the heck of it I am on baseball america looking at how some of the baby bombers are doing - I realize that many of them are years off if they are going to make it at all, but it's good to finally look at Yankee prospect pages and read about players that "experts" are really high on. Guys like Justin Pope, Zach McCallister, Jesus Montero, Brad Suttle, Austin Romaine - that's all I've gotten to so far.

Chip,

Do we have any halfway decent catchers in the Minor Leagues? Anybody that can take over for Posada when he is done?

Btw - for those who follow the minors - keep one eye on Stephen Arzt in the Yankee farm system (currently playing for Charleston in the South Atlantic League) he could be the next Edwar Ramirez.

The Yankees picked him up from the Independent League (just as they did Edwar) sight unseen - numbers are obviously just numbers but thus far he's having a pretty easy time in the Sally League.

I know, I'm going a little overboard with this, but what's the harm in a little optimism.

Speaking of. There is a pitcher in the system - Chris Garcia. If you believe what is written his stuff is even more electric than that of Chamberlain and pretty polished. He is out for the year after having TJ surgery this spring, but should be back next year and may be a contributor to the big club by August of 2008.

Dog - there are a few possibilities:

Jesus Montero (17 yrs old - Rookie ball) - extreme power potential but given that he's already 6'4" and 225lb and still growing he may end up being too big for a catcher.

Francisco Cervelli (A Ball) - Baseball America says that defensively Cervelli could have been in the majors this year, he's that polished behind the plate. His bat is good. Next year he'll likely start the season at AA but won't stay there too long.

PJ Pillitre and JT LaFountain have both moved quickly through the system - they were in the Penn League (short season) last year and are now both at AA doing well.

And this year's 2nd round pick Austin Romaine is another one to keep an eye on - here is his draft scouting report:

In May, he reaggravated what was diagnosed as a torn ligament in his thumb and had surgery. Rather than sit out the rest of the season, he focused on being El Toro’s closer. His arm is his best tool, among the most powerful in a strong draft crop of catchers. Romine’s pop times to second base have ranged from 1.78 to 1.85 seconds, putting him near an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Romine’s receiving is less advanced, but he’s no slouch there and has the athletic ability to improve his deficient footwork. Offensively, Romine has gap power and makes consistent contact, and he’s got enough strength to project to hit for average home run power down the road.

I would love to see what Joba can offer as a starter. But he fact is it is to early to say what we will need him most as going into next year.

We can lock up our 1 and 2 starters as Wang and Pettitte. But after that it is all question marks. Clemens could come back for another year....Mussina will be here but what will he be able to contribute. We need to see what Kennedy and Hughes can do for us down this stretch.

I can see the Yanks trying to trade Damon away for another 3B (If AROD Opts) or 2B (Cano to 3B). If AROD does stay, they may trade Damon for some bullpen help.

The Yanks are also going to be heavily involved in the free agent market.

I hate talking about next year before we finish this season but it is going to be a very exciting off season and spring training for the Yanks because of all the options they have to improve the club. All thanks to Cashman and his ability to build up all of these young players for us.

I agree with Chip on Joba. This kid is going to be in the rotation next year. He'll work on his off-speed stuff in Spring training to get it right. Hughes Your Daddy attends Thunder games so he's seen Joba up close and personal. I'll take his word for it on how the kid did down there.

No way Chamberlain goes to the rotation next year. The Yanks have re-created what they had going in "96" with MO going 2 inn. and then Wetteland "staggering" thru the 9th. In spite of last night, MO does "stagger" now. The R\Sox got their "first look" at Chamberlain, so it will be interesting to see how they do next time they battle with him. I believe this is part of the strategy behind "The Joba Rules". The Yanks don't want to "over expose" this guy, especially this close to the playoffs.
Anyone who wants to praise Cashman should look no further than Igawa, Pavano, and Mussina. Absolutely horrible decisions, 2 of the 3 will haunt the Yanks into "08". As for the success of young players like Chamberlain, Hughes, maybe Kennedy, etc., no body should get credit for "keeping their hands out of the cookie jar". The guys responsible for the Yankee Draft selections are the real brains "behind the curtain".

But John....

Say we start the season with
Wang, Pettitte, Clemens, Hughes, Kennedy and Mussina??

We would be in a similar situation the Sox were in this past spring training. Where do we need Joba most?

Right now I say Bullpen if we have 5 or more starters already.

But the decision has to be made in spring training so Joba can work on being a starter.

Roy,

In order to blame Cashman for Pavano, Mussina, and Igawa you have to put yourself in his shoes at the time. Sure it looks bad now.

Pavano - was hit biggest mistake, but he did pitch well against the Yankees in the playoffs and looked to be a good young pitcher. No way he could know he would become the most injury prone player we have ever had.

Mussina - What other choice did he have this past off season????? Mussina has been a solid starter since 2001 for us, he was also coming off a solid year. It was also only a 2 year contract.

Igawa - The Igawa Project is not yet complete. He is a young player who has good stuff. He just has not figured out how to pitch in MLB.

Also....Cashman has final word on all of these deal/picks. He also has the final word on if they get traded. Therefor he gets credit for the fact we have these Young guys leading out team right now.

Chip,

Thanks for the information on the catchers. I am going to start calling you the Yankee answer man. I really appreciate all the information that you supply. Unfortunately between work and family I don't have time to keep up with all that stuff like I used to.

Clemens won't pitch a full season even if he does come back next year - and I think the Yankees will try to move Moose this winter. They might actually get a pretty good haul for him given how little pitching is available.

I'm not saying that Chamberlain won't eventually end up a full time relief pitcher, but when I hear him as a starter compared to Justin Verlander, I think it would be a disservice to the future of the organization to not at least SEE him start in the bigs.

My guess is that Joba comes to spring training as a starter, breaks camp as a starter and if it doesn't work out THEN he can be moved back to relief.

As for Damon - I think his future is tied to a couple of things - the futures of Abreu & Giambi and whether the Yankees feel Melky can be a lead off hitter.

Melky will be the starting CF next year, the question is whether either Abreu or Giambi will be moved instead, thus freeing up either RF or LF (with Matsui moving to DH).

If Damon is moved, I could see the Yankees sending him to the Indians for Andy Marte - Grady Sizemore should be batting in the 2 or 3 spot - Damon would be the perfect addition to that team.

McCarthy,

Is it okay to call you Mac? If not, then I'll stay with McCarthy.

I agree with Chip in that I think Joba will start next season. That's the plan that the Yanks have, but things can change. If the Yanks feel he's more valuable in the pen and the other guys in the rotation do their jobs, then he'll probably go there. There are too many variables that have to fall into place though for that to happen.
Is Kennedy the real deal? Everyone who's seen this guy pitch say yes and that's going back to his days at USC.
Is Pettitte going to come back next season? He holds the option on whether or not he does.
Do the Yanks want Clemens back and does he want to come back? When the Yanks won the "Roger Sweepstakes" in May, there were no better options. Now there are.
What about Moose? Can he reinvent himself over the winter and fine tune a new approach in Spring Training, or is his Moose cooked?
Can Sanchez come back from TJ surgery and be a stud setup guy to Mo and eventually take over?
Is Mo coming back?
Incidently, he looked vintage Mo last night in the 9th.

We shall see.

John,

Those are a lot of if's that Cashmen is going to have to deal with. I hope all the right decisions are made. It was nice to see the old Mo again last night. I hope he can keep it up for the rest of the season.

If there is true concern over Chamberlain and his arm, there is no way the Yanks will "yo-yo" this guy between starting and relieving. If he continues to "dominate", and does so thru the playoffs, he is the "bridge" to the re-signed MO in "08", and a "closer" in waiting.

Lot of people call me Mac so that is cool with me.

I think the one question that needs to be answered before any of this goes down is Arod.

With Arod we do not need to look for anymore offense because we can actually trade Damon or Giambi to bring in pitching.

Without Arod we need to hold on to our offense and spend big bucks on 2B or 3B.

Dog -

You're welcome - I have managed to perfect multitasking so that I can do my in depth Yankee research at work. My girlfriend would shoot me if I tried to do it at home.

Chip,

I think we all have that problem at home. I'm lucky I get to watch the games. LOL

Dog -

My girlfriend is a (sigh) Red Sox fan.

That's my point Guys. There are too many "ifs" that need to be addressed in the winter.
At least they're good "ifs" though.

It's up to A-Rod Mac on whther or not he wants to remain a Yankee, or if he chases the jack. If he stays, he's gonna make 32 million next season so if he goes, then we all know what his motivation is.

I'm not even going to question what Roy just wrote.

He called the Kennedy thing so he's "The Rajah" now. :-)

Roy -

A closer and stud set up reliever are useless if your pitchers can't get through 5 innings with a lead.

If the Yankees started him next season in the pen and then tried to make him a starter then you're right, the yo-yoing on his arm would be stressful, but if they start him as a starter and decide that it isn't working and he should go to the pen then that's easy enough (as proven this year) Frankly I would rather take my shot with Joba in the rotation than go out looking for the next Igawa, Pavano, Jaret Wright, Sidney Ponson, Shawn Chacon, Aaron Small, shall I continue?

I'm lucky in that my wife is into the Yanks (and that took 23 years of training Gents), so watching the games is not an issue in my humble household. She did kinda cringe a bit when I put the Angel/Mariner game on last night. She did however, understand the circumstances so she watched it with me.

I'm a lucky boy!

Chip,

I "feel your pain", Brother!

My ex-wife is a Sox fan.

Here's a tip for you:

Get plenty of Cheerios if you can't cook.

Stick with "Cocoa Pebbles". The chocolate milk that remains serves as desert. Nothing worse than a "soggy" Cheerio.

John,

I guess that is why she is your ex-wife right? Sorry I couldn't resist. I hope I didn't get to personal.

Doggie,

No you didn't. it's cool. :-)

I couldn't stand the accent. LOL!

Thunder games are really a joy to watch. No matter where you sit, you're close to the action and the seats only cost $10. They have lots of great giveaways and fireworks every Thursday. When you look at the talent in the Yankee organization top to bottom and what they've produced the past few years, you can really come to enjoy what you're seeing.

They are about to begin the playoffs and I'm excited about it.

On Moose: I could see the Yankees exploring trade options with a NL team looking for a trade similar to the Randy Johnson deal. As always, the more of his salary they're willing to pay, the more they'll get, but I'm sure someone will take a flyer on him for a one year 11 million shot. I mean, we're not talking much more than Jeff Weaver gets paid.

Abreu: This offseason, see Gary Sheffield trade from last year. Another great example.

Clemens: Not on the Yankees radar for next year.

Rotation: 1. Wang, 2. Pettite, 3. Hughes, 4. Chamberlain, 5. Kennedy with Igawa as the long-relief/spot starter.

Bullpen: Will be energized by some additional young arms. Mo, Edwar, Farnsworth, Viz, Britton are definites (plus Igawa as mentioned above). The others will be determined in spring training and based on trades involving Moose & Abreu.

Outfield: LF Matsui, CF Melky, RF Damon 4th OF Duncan

Infield: 1b Phillips/Betemit, 2b Cano, SS Jeter, 3b ARod (yes, I believe his contract will work out), Catcher Jorge

DH: Giambi/Duncan (right/left platoon) and also for "off" days for some of the others.

Big Free Agent Signings: None

Small Free Agent Signings: Backup catcher (Molina will leave to start elsewhere) if the job isn't given back to Nieves

I don't know about you, but I like the way that team would play. Then a year later, Tex is a FA option for 1b with Giambi gone.

Cash has a plan and that's how I see him rolling it out there. If one of the kids can't seem to get it done as an SP, the Yanks bid on Clemens.

If Pettite retires next year, the Yanks sign Santana.

Your "little click" may want to ignore the obvious but...... Kennedy for Moose - I TOLD YOU SO!!! Check the archives (I am a loner anyway) Don't like to hang out with these "steak eating" non-athletic types anyhow. But, I did get props from KG on NY1 on Last Word. Predicted this BEFORE last Moose slaughter. Enough said.....

If our bullpen next year is:

Mo,Vizciano, Edwar, Farnsworth, Britton and Igawa we are in big trouble.

Farnsworth is a cancer in the club house and can not be relied on in pressure situations.

Mo is not getting younger.

Edwar and Britton have not proved much of anything

Igawa has done the opposite of proving he can pitch in any situation.

Vizciano has looked good in the 2nd half and may be our most solid bullpen member next year.

Mike: It's not obvious if you don't post on the blog on a regular basis. It's not a click, it's memory. People remember what Roy said because he's a regular. Don't take it personally.

A better prediction would've been saying the Yanks shouldn't have signed Mussina to more than a one-year contract last year, but to predict Kennedy for Mussina was a soft prediction. The question still remains: how long will this last? I don't see the Yanks going too much above their innings cap on Kennedy. They're not in a mortgage the future for the present mode anymore.

I indicated Kennedy would be part of the September 1 call-ups a while back and would probably get a start. I think he's starting that game because 1. it's September 1, 2. it's against the Devil Rays, 3. they're hoping the time off and additional mechanics work will help Moose. I do not think it's a permanent change for the season, so I do not think your prediction, or Roy's, or anyone else that would like to take credit (sorry if I forgot your post), is a soft prediction that is a timing thing and not an actual occurrence.

Why don't you mark both of my last posts down Mike. Since you like getting credit, you can give it to me when both are at least 90% true.

Mac: There will be other arms in the bullpen, but that's all we know for now.

As far as Britton: he was good as a rook in Baltimore and has pitched great all year (Torre is an idiot). Edwar will need some work, but will be successful.

Farnsworth may get traded (since he'll only have a year left), but if not, I think managed correctly, he can be effective.

Mo has 1 - 2 years left. Winter after the 2008 season, Yanks push for Nathan. First year set-up, second year and beyond closer.

" I told you so " and " click " , is this 90210 or a sports blog?

Hughes Your Daddy:

You're a ham sandwich

Mo' is the exception, not the norm,in longevity for relief pitchers/closers. Joba is the second coming of Rocket (same type of stuff, pitching motion,etc..) Mo' is going to be hard to replace anyway, but the Yanks should not jeapardize the next Rocket by using him in the pen as a closer. The kid has 4 pitches (only needs 2 for the 'pen) and will probably win 200- 300 games as a pro. You heard it here first! Let him get his 3,000 K's and 3-4 no-no's. Number 1 starters might be more valuable than number 1 closers based on longevity.

Ask Toronto, Philly, Mets,etc.......

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm ham sandwich!

But they won't return my calls?

Hughes Your Daddy,
Credit given!

Didn't send the "ham sandwich" pun